Boosting the immunogenicity of the CoronaVac SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine with Huoxiang Suling Shuanghua Decoction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Introduction: In light of the public health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting the safety and immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines is of great concern. Numerous Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations have shown to beneficially modulate immunity. Based on pilot experiments in mice that showed that supplementation with Huoxiang Suling Shuanghua Decoction (HSSD) significantly enhances serum anti-RBD IgG titers after inoculation with recombinant SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD protein, we conducted this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the potential immunogenicity boosting effect of oral HSSD after a third homologous immunization with Sinovac's CoronaVac SARS-CoV-2 (CVS) inactivated vaccine. Methods: A total of 70 participants were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to receive a third dose of CVS vaccination and either oral placebo or oral HSSD for 7 days. Safety aspects were assessed by recording local and systemic adverse events, and by blood and urine biochemistry and liver and kidney function tests. Main outcomes evaluated included serum anti-RBD IgG titer, T lymphocyte subsets, serum IgG and IgM levels, complement components (C3 and C4), and serum cytokines (IL-6 and IFN-γ). In addition, metabolomics technology was used to analyze differential metabolite expression after supplementation with HSSD. Results: Following a third CVS vaccination, significantly increased serum anti-RBD IgG titer, reduced serum IL-6 levels, increased serum IgG, IgM, and C3 and C4 levels, and improved cellular immunity, evidenced by reduce balance deviations in the distribution of lymphocyte subsets, was observed in the HSSD group compared with the placebo group. No serious adverse events were recorded in either group. Serum metabolomics results suggested that the mechanisms by which HSSD boosted the immunogenicity of the CVS vaccine are related to differential regulation of purine metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, folate biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Conclusion: Oral HSSD boosts the immunogenicity of the CVS vaccine in young and adult individuals. This trial provides clinical reference for evaluation of TCM immunomodulators to improve the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines.

The GRAS transcription factor CsTL regulates tendril formation in cucumber.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus, Cs) tendrils are slender vegetative organs that typically require manual removal to ensure orderly growth during greenhouse cultivation. Here, we identified cucumber tendril-less (tl), a Tnt1 retrotransposon-induced insertion mutant lacking tendrils. Map-based cloning identified the mutated gene, CsaV3_3G003590, which we designated as CsTL, which is homologous to Arabidopsis thaliana LATERAL SUPPRESSOR (AtLAS). Knocking out CsTL repressed tendril formation but did not affect branch initiation, whereas overexpression of CsTL resulted in the formation of two or more tendrils in one leaf axil. Although expression of two cucumber genes regulating tendril formation, Tendril (CsTEN) and Unusual Floral Organs (CsUFO), was significantly decreased in CsTL knockout lines, these two genes were not direct downstream targets of CsTL. Instead, CsTL physically interacted with CsTEN, an interaction that further enhanced CsTEN-mediated expression of CsUFO. In Arabidopsis, the CsTL homolog AtLAS acts upstream of REVOLUTA (REV) to regulate branch initiation. Knocking out cucumber CsREV inhibited branch formation without affecting tendril initiation. Furthermore, genomic regions containing CsTL and AtLAS were not syntenic between the cucumber and Arabidopsis genomes, whereas REV orthologs were found on a shared syntenic block. Our results revealed not only that cucumber CsTL possesses a divergent function in promoting tendril formation but also that CsREV retains its conserved function in shoot branching.

A pragmatic randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an oral short-course regimen including bedaquiline for the treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in China: study protocol for PROSPECT.

INTRODUCTION: The lack of safe, effective, and simple short-course regimens (SCRs) for multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) treatment has significantly impeded TB control efforts in China. METHODS: This phase 4, randomized, open-label, controlled, non-inferiority trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of a 9-month all-oral SCR containing bedaquiline (BDQ) versus an all-oral SCR without BDQ for adult MDR-TB patients (18-65 years) in China. The trial design mainly mirrors that of the "Evaluation of a Standardized Treatment Regimen of Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs for Patients with MDR-TB" (STREAM) stage 2 study, while also incorporating programmatic data from South Africa and the 2019 consensus recommendations of Chinese MDR/RR-TB treatment experts. Experimental arm participants will receive a modified STREAM regimen C that replaces three group C drugs, ethambutol (EMB), pyrazinamide (PZA), and prothionamide (PTO), with two group B drugs, linezolid (LZD) and cycloserine (CS), while omitting high-dose isoniazid (INH) for confirmed INH-resistant cases. BDQ duration will be extended from 6 to 9 months for participants with Mycobacterium tuberculosis-positive sputum cultures at week 16. The control arm will receive a modified STREAM regimen B without high-dose INH and injectable kanamycin (KM) that incorporates experimental arm LZD and CS dosages, treatment durations, and administration methods. LZD (600 mg) will be given daily for ≥ 24 weeks as guided by observed benefits and harm. The primary outcome measures the proportion of participants with favorable treatment outcomes at treatment completion (week 40), while the same measurement taken at 48 weeks post-treatment completion is the secondary outcome. Assuming an α = 0.025 significance level (one-sided test), 80% power, 15% non-inferiority margin, and 10% lost to follow-up rate, each arm requires 106 participants (212 total) to demonstrate non-inferiority. DISCUSSION: PROSPECT aims to assess the safety and efficacy of a BDQ-containing SCR MDR-TB treatment at seventeen sites across China, while also providing high-quality data to guide SCRs administration under the direction of the China National Tuberculosis Program for MDR-TB. Additionally, PROSPECT will explore the potential benefits of extending the administration of the 9-month BDQ-containing SCR for participants without sputum conversion by week 16. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05306223. Prospectively registered on 16 March 2022 at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05306223?term=NCT05306223&draw=1&rank=1 {2}.

Mechanism of the Visible-Light-Promoted C(sp3)-H Oxidation via Uranyl Photocatalysis.

Uranyl cation, as an emerging photocatalyst, has been successfully applied to synthetic chemistry in recent years and displayed remarkable catalytic ability under visible light. However, the molecular-level reaction mechanisms of uranyl photocatalysis are unclear. Here, we explore the mechanism of the stepwise benzylic C-H oxygenation of typical alkyl-substituted aromatics (i.e., toluene, ethylbenzene, and cumene) via uranyl photocatalysis using theoretical and experimental methods. Theoretical calculation results show that the most favorable reaction path for uranyl photocatalytic oxidation is as follows: first, hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from the benzyl position to form a carbon radical ([R•]), then oxygen addition ([R•] + O2 → [ROO•]), then radical-radical combination ([ROO•] + [R•] → [ROOR] → 2[RO•]), and eventually [RO•] reduction to produce alcohols, of which 2° alcohol would further be oxidized to ketones and 1° would be stepwise-oxygenated to acids. The results of the designed verification experiments and the capture of reactive intermediates were consistent with those of theoretical calculations and the previously reported research that the active benzylic C-H would be stepwise-oxygenated in the presence of uranyl. This work deepens our understanding of the HAT mechanism of uranyl photocatalysis and provides important theoretical support for the relevant application of uranyl photocatalysts in organic transformation.

Application of Fe-MOFs in Photodegradation and Removal of Air and Water Pollutants: A Review.

Photocatalytic technology has received increasing attention in recent years. A pivotal facet of photocatalytic technology lies in the development of photocatalysts. Porous metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, distinguished by their unique properties and structural characteristics, have emerged as a focal point of research in the field, finding widespread application in the photo-treatment and conversion of various substances. Fe-based MOFs have attained particular prominence. This review explores recent advances in the photocatalytic degradation of aqueous and gaseous substances. Furthermore, it delves into the interaction between the active sites of Fe-MOFs and pollutants, offering deeper insights into their mechanism of action. Fe-MOFs, as photocatalysts, predominantly facilitate pollutant removal through redox processes, interaction with acid sites, the formation of complexes with composite metal elements, binding to unsaturated metal ligands (CUSs), and hydrogen bonding to modulate their respiratory behavior. This review also highlights the focal points of future research, elucidating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in harnessing the characteristics and advantages of Fe-MOF composite catalysts. In essence, this review provides a comprehensive summary of research progress on Fe-MOF-based catalysts, aiming to serve as a guiding reference for other catalytic processes.

Rationally Designed Fluorinated Polycation Electrolytes for High-Rate, Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Batteries.

The investigation of high-performance polymer-based electrolytes holds significant importance for advancing the development of next-generation lithium metal batteries (LMBs). In this work, a quasi-solid-state electrolyte (EFA-G) comprising pyrrolidinium type polymeric ionic liquids and fluoropolymers was synthesized through a photoinitiated free radical copolymerization process in the presence of solvate ionic liquids. EFA-G not only exhibited high ionic conductivity (9.87 × 10-4 S cm-1) but also had a wide electrochemical stability window (0-5.0 V vs Li+/Li). The improvement in Li+ transport number (tLi+ = 0.33) of EFA-G was attributed to the enhancement of the Li+ migration ability and the hindrance of anion mobility. Due to the shielding effect of the polymeric ionic liquid on the lithium electrode and the formation of a LiF-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), EFA-G supported stable long-term plating/stripping cycling (>1000 h) of lithium symmetric cells. Li/LFP cells assembled with EFA-G at 30 °C exhibited excellent battery performance with a discharge specific capacity of 78.1 mA h g-1 at 8 C and long cycling life (>600 cycles) with high discharge specific capacity (127.8 mA h g-1 after 600 cycles). EFA-G also enabled decent performance for high-voltage cathode batteries. This work provides insights into the design of high-performance polymer-based electrolytes for LMBs.

Transcriptome analysis revealed the existence of family-specific regulation of growth traits in grass carp.

The grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is the world's most prolific freshwater fish. Little is known, however, about the functional genes and genetic regulatory networks that govern its growth traits. We created three grass carp families in this study by using two grass carp parents with fast-growing offspring and two grass carp parents with slow-growing offspring, namely the fast-growing × fast-growing family (FF), the slow-growing × slow-growing family (SS), and the fast-growing × slow-growing family (FS). Under the satiation and starvation feeding modes, the average body weight of these families' offspring exhibited a consistent ordering (FF > FS > SS). The transcriptomes of grass carp whole brain and hepatopancreas were then acquired for each family, and it was discovered that the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the different organs demonstrated family specificity. DEGs were mostly identified in the hepatopancreas of FF and the whole brain of SS, but they were more evenly distributed in FS. There were 14 DEGs that were found in all three families, including three that were negatively correlated in hepatopancreas (ahsg2, lect2) or in brain (drd5), and 11 that were positively connected in hepatopancreas (sycn, pabpc4, zgc:112294, cel, endou, ela2, prss3, zbtb41, ela3) or in brain (fabp7, endod1). The deletion of ahsg2 boosted the growth rate only in certain zebrafish, suggesting that the growth-promoting effects of ahsg2 varies among individuals. Furthermore, we examined the SNP in each family and conducted preliminary research on the probable genetic pathways of family-specific control of growth traits. The family specificity of the growth regulation mechanism of grass carp at the transcriptional level was revealed for the first time in this study, and it was discovered that growth differences among individuals in the FF family were primarily due to differences in nutrient metabolism, whereas growth differences among individuals in the SS family may be primarily due to differences in foraging ability caused by differences in brain development. This research adds to our understanding of the genetic regulatory mechanism of grass carp growth.

GRAS family member LATERAL SUPPRESSOR regulates the initiation and morphogenesis of watermelon lateral organs.

The lateral organs of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), including lobed leaves, branches, flowers, and tendrils, together determine plant architecture and yield. However, the genetic controls underlying lateral organ initiation and morphogenesis remain unclear. Here, we found that knocking out the homologous gene of shoot branching regulator LATERAL SUPPRESSOR in watermelon (ClLs) repressed the initiation of branches, flowers, and tendrils and led to developing round leaves, indicating that ClLs undergoes functional expansion compared with its homologs in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), rice (Oryza sativa), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Using ClLs as the bait to screen against the cDNA library of watermelon, we identified several ClLs-interacting candidate proteins, including TENDRIL (ClTEN), PINOID (ClPID), and APETALA1 (ClAP1). Protein-protein interaction assays further demonstrated that ClLs could directly interact with ClTEN, ClPID, and ClAP1. The mRNA in situ hybridization assay revealed that the transcriptional patterns of ClLs overlapped with those of ClTEN, ClPID, and ClAP1 in the axillary meristems and leaf primordia. Mutants of ClTEN, ClPID, and ClAP1 generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system lacked tendrils, developed round leaves, and displayed floral diapause, respectively, and all these phenotypes could be observed in ClLs knockout lines. Our findings indicate that ClLs acts as lateral organ identity protein by forming complexes with ClTEN, ClPID, and ClAP1, providing several gene targets for transforming the architecture of watermelon.

Waterproof, Light Responsive, and Highly Sensitive Fabric Strain Sensor for Flexible Electronics.

Corrosion resistant, durable, and lightweight flexible strain sensor with multiple functionalities is an urgent demand for modern flexible wearable devices. However, currently developed wearable devices are still limited by poor environmental adaptability and functional singleness. In this work, a conductive fabric with multifunctionality in addition to sensing was successfully prepared by assembling zero dimensional silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) layer by layer on the surface of the elastic polypropylene nonwoven fabric (named PACS fabric). Polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS) added as binder materials favored strong interaction between conductive fillers and the fabric. Benefiting from the synergistic interaction among the conductive fillers with different dimensions and the fabric, the strain sensor based on the conductive fabric showed high sensitivity (GF up to 8064), wide detection range (0-200%), and excellent stability and durability (more than 10000 stretch-release cycles). Besides, the prepared conductive fabric showed superhydrophobicity (water contact angle = 154°) with excellent durability. This ensured the performance stability of the fabric sensor in harsh environments. At the same time, the fabric also showed excellent photothermal conversion performance (90 °C at a power density of 0.2 W/cm2 within 20 s). The PACS fabric strain sensor proved excellent performance and environmental adaptability, revealing great potential to be applied in human motion monitoring, self-cleaning, biomedicine, and other fields.

Liquid-Free, Self-Repairable, Recyclable, and Highly Stretchable Colorless Solid Ionic Conductive Elastomers for Strain/Temperature Sensors.

Solid-state ionic conductive elastomers (ICEs) can fundamentally overcome the disadvantages of hydrogels and ionogels (their liquid components tend to leak or evaporate), and are considered to be ideal materials for flexible ionic sensors. In this study, a liquid-free ionic polyurethane (PU) type conductive elastomer (ICE-2) was synthesized and studied. The PU type matrix with microphase separation endowed ICE-2 with excellent mechanical versatility. The disulfide bond exchange reaction in the hard phase and intermolecular hydrogen bonds contributed to damage repairing ability. ICE-2 exhibited good ionic conductivity (2.86×10-6  S/cm), high transparency (average transmittance >89 %, 400~800 nm), excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength of 3.06 MPa, elongation at break of 1760 %, and fracture energy of 14.98 kJ/m2 ), appreciable self-healing ability (healing efficiency >90 %), satisfactory environmental stability, and outstanding recyclability. The sensor constructed by ICE-2 could not only realize the perception of temperature changes, but also accurately and sensitively detect various human activities, including joint movements and micro-expression changes. This study provides a simple and effective strategy for the development of flexible and soft ionic conductors for sensors and human-machine interfaces.

Cucumber NUCLEAR FACTOR-YC2/-YC9 target translocon component CsTIC21 in chloroplast photomorphogenesis.

Light signals promote photomorphogenesis and photosynthesis, allowing plants to establish photoautotrophic growth. Chloroplasts are organelles responsible for photosynthesis in which light energy is converted into chemical energy and stored as organic matter. However, how light regulates chloroplast photomorphogenesis remains unclear. Here, we isolated a cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) mutant albino seedling (as) from an ethyl methane sulfonate mutagenesis library with an albino phenotype. Map-based cloning revealed that the mutation occurred in a component of cucumber translocon at the inner membrane of chloroplasts (CsTIC21). Subsequently, virus-induced gene silencing and CRISPR/Cas9 analyses confirmed the association between the mutant gene and the as phenotype. Loss-of-function of CsTIC21 induces malformation of chloroplast formation, leading to albinism and death in cucumber. Notably, CsTIC21 transcription was very low in etiolated seedlings grown in the dark and was upregulated by light, with expression patterns similar to those of Nuclear factor-YC (NF-YC) genes. Here, 7 cucumber NF-YC family genes (CsNF-YC) were identified, among which the expression of 4 genes (CsNF-YC1, -YC2, -YC9, and -YC13) responded to light. Gene silencing of all CsNF-YC genes in cucumber indicated that CsNF-YC2, -YC9, -YC11-1, and -YC11-2 induced distinct etiolated growth and decreased chlorophyll content. Interaction studies verified that CsNF-YC2 and CsNF-YC9 target the CsTIC21 promoter directly and promote gene transcription. These findings provide mechanistic insights on the role of the NF-YCs-TIC21 module in chloroplast photomorphogenesis promoted by light in cucumber.

Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of the siRNA JNJ-73763989 in Healthy Chinese Adult Participants.

JNJ-73763989, composed of the 2 short-interfering RNA triggers JNJ-73763976 and JNJ-73763924, targets all hepatitis B virus messenger RNAs, thereby reducing all viral proteins. In this phase 1, single-site, open-label, parallel-group, randomized study, participants were given 1 subcutaneous injection of JNJ-73763989 (100 or 200 mg) to investigate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of JNJ-73763989 in healthy Chinese adult participants. Plasma and urine pharmacokinetic parameters were determined for each trigger up to 48 hours after dosing. Eighteen participants, 9 per dose group, were enrolled. The median age and weight were 33.0 years and 73.65 kg; 83.3% were male. Exposure of both triggers increased dose proportionally. Median time to maximum concentration ranged from 6.0 to 10.0 hours, and mean elimination half-life ranged from 4.5 to 4.8 hours across both triggers and doses. Mean urinary excretion for JNJ-73763976 and JNJ-73763924 ranged from 17.7% to 19.4% and 13.1% to 13.2% for the 100- and 200-mg dose groups, respectively. All treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were mild and resolved by study end, and no AEs or serious AEs resulted in premature study discontinuation or death. Overall, the pharmacokinetics of JNJ-73763989 in healthy Chinese participants were consistent with previous studies, and JNJ-73763989 was generally safe and well tolerated after a single dose.

Dynamic Transcriptional Landscape of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Reveals Key Transcriptional Features Involved in Fish Development.

A high-quality baseline transcriptome is a valuable resource for developmental research as well as a useful reference for other studies. We gathered 41 samples representing 11 tissues/organs from 22 important developmental time points within 197 days of fertilization of grass carp eggs in order to systematically examine the role of lncRNAs and alternative splicing in fish development. We created a high-quality grass carp baseline transcriptome with a completeness of up to 93.98 percent by combining strand-specific RNA sequencing and single-molecule real-time RNA sequencing technologies, and we obtained temporal expression profiles of 33,055 genes and 77,582 transcripts during development and tissue differentiation. A family of short interspersed elements was preferentially expressed at the early stage of zygotic activation in grass carp, and its possible regulatory components were discovered through analysis. Additionally, after thoroughly analyzing alternative splicing events, we discovered that retained intron (RI) alternative splicing events change significantly in both zygotic activation and tissue differentiation. During zygotic activation, we also revealed the precise regulatory characteristics of the underlying functional RI events.

Self-Repairable and Flexible Polymer Network Electrolyte with Enhanced Lithium-Ion Conduction for Lithium Metal Batteries.

Developing high-performance functional polymer-based electrolytes is important for realizing next generation safe lithium metal batteries. In this study, a new type of quasi-solid polymer network electrolyte (SIPH-x-y%) was prepared by combining synthesized polymer network (SIPH) containing urethane bond linked ionic liquids (ILs), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and disulfide bond moieties, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt (LiTFSI), and glyme type additive. It was found that SIPH-20-40% was mechanically flexible, self-healable, and showed high ionic conductivity of 2.67×10-4  S cm-1 . Also, SIPH-20-40% possesses a high lithium ion transference number of 0.43 and good electrochemical stability. These properties enabled the SIPH-20-40% electrolyte membrane to support Li/Li symmetrical cell to cycle stably during long term Li plating and stripping. The Li/SIPH-20-40%/LFP showed high delivered specific capacity and good stability (166.1 mAh g-1 after 106 cycles at 0.2 C). Such glyme doped polymer network electrolyte provides new experimental findings for developing polymer-based electrolyte with excellent mechanical integrity and battery related properties.

Disruption of REC8 in Meiosis I led to watermelon seedless.

In triploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), the homologous chromosomes of germ cells are disorder during meiosis, resulting in the failure of seeds formation and producing seedless fruit. Therefore, mutating the genes specifically functioning in meiosis may be an alternative way to achieve seedless watermelon. REC8, as a key component of the cohesin complex in meiosis, is dramatically essential for sister chromatid cohesion and chromosome segregation. However, the role of REC8 in meiosis has not yet been characterized in watermelon. Here, we identified ClREC8 as a member of RAD21/REC8 family with a high expression in male and female flowers of watermelon. In situ hybridization analysis showed that ClREC8 was highly expressed at the early stage of meiosis during pollen formation. Knocking out ClREC8 in watermelon led to decline of pollen vitality. After pollinating with foreign normal pollen, the ovaries of ClREC8 knockout lines could inflate normally but failed to form seeds. We further compared the meiosis chromosomes of pollen mother cells in different stages between the knockout lines and the corresponding wild type. The results indicated that ClREC8 was required for the monopolar orientation of the sister kinetochores in Meiosis I. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis between WT and the knockout lines revealed that the disruption of ClREC8 caused the expression levels of mitosis-related genes and meiosis-related genes to decrease. Our results demonstrated ClREC8 has a specific role in Meiosis I of watermelon germ cells, and loss-of-function of the ClREC8 led to seedless fruit, which may provide an alternative strategy to breed cultivars with seedless watermelon.

Practical Synthesis of (Z)-α,ß-Unsaturated Nitriles via a One-Pot Sequential Hydroformylation/Knoevenagel Reaction.

Herein, the synthesis of (Z)-α,ß-unsaturated nitriles by a sequential hydroformylation/Knoevenagel reaction has been first developed. A variety of crude α-olefins from Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, internal and special olefins, as well as alkynes could be transformed into value-added alkenyl nitriles (39 examples) up to 90% yield. Remarkably, compared with commonly used tedious multistep reactions, the one-pot protocol features cheap and easily available raw materials, excellent chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity, very mild reaction conditions, and easy scale-up production.

Global gene expression profile under low-temperature conditions in the brain of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus).

Grass carp is an important commercial fish widely cultivated in China. A wide range of temperatures, particularly extremely low temperatures, have dramatic effects on the aquaculture of this teleost. However, relatively few studies have characterized the molecular responses of grass carp exposed to acute cooling in natural environment. Here, we investigated the transcriptome profiles of the grass carp brain in response to cooling. Through regulation pattern analyses, we identified 2,513 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that responded to moderate cold stress (12°C), while 99 DEGs were induced by severe low temperature (4°C).The pathway analyses revealed that the DEGs sensitive to moderate cold were largely enriched in steroid biosynthesis, spliceosome, translation, protein metabolism, phagosome, gap junction and estrogen signaling pathways. Additionally, we discerned genes most likely involved in low temperature tolerance, of which the MAPK signaling pathway was dominantly enriched. Further examination and characterization of the candidate genes may help to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning extreme plasticity to severe cold stress in grass carp.

Cyanide-Bridged Fe-Co Polynuclear Clusters Based on Four-Coordinate Cobalt(II).

Treatment of CoCl2·6H2O and tris(pyrazolyl-1-yl)borate tricyanoiron(III) anions at 55 °C afforded a series of new Fe-Co polynuclear clusters: {Co2Cl2(DMF)4[(Tp4-Me)Fe(CN)3]2} (1; Tp4-Me = hydridotris(4-methylpyrazol-1-yl)borate), (H3O+)@{Co4Cl4[(Tp4-Me)Fe(CN)3]4} (2), (MePh3P)4{Co6Cl6[(Tp4-Me)Fe(CN)3]6}·15CH3CN·3CH3OH·2H2O (3), and (BnEt3N)4{Co5Cl8[(Tp*)Fe(CN)3]4}·4CH3CN·2H2O (4; Tp*= hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate). They feature an asymmetric [Fe2Co2(CN)4] square, a pseudocubic [Fe4Co4(CN)12] cluster, a distorted-hexagonal-prism-shaped [Fe6Co6(CN)18] cage, and a bis(trigonal-bipyramidal) cluster of [Fe4Co5(CN)12] fused at one cobalt center, respectively. The Co(II) ions adopt a four-coordinate tetrahedral geometry except for half of 1 in an octahedral geometry. It should be mentioned that 3 and 4 provide two novel molecular skeletons in the cyanometalate family. Interestingly, 1 behaved as a single-molecule magnet with an effective energy barrier for spin reverse of 30.7 K at zero dc field. Our result demonstrated a possible self-assembly route toward high-nuclearity cyanide-bridged clusters by introducing four-coordinate cobalt(II) ions.

Construction of a high-density genetic map and mapping of growth related QTLs in the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus).

BACKGROUND: Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) are important species in Asian aquaculture. A draft genome for grass carp has already been published in 2015. However, there is still a requirement for a suitable genetic linkage map to arrange scaffolds on chromosomal frameworks. QTL analysis is a powerful tool to detect key locations for quantitative traits, especially in aquaculture. There no growth related QTLs of grass carp have been published yet. Even the growth trait is one of the focuses in grass carp culture. RESULTS: In this study, a pair of distantly related parent grass carps and their 100 six-month-old full-sib offspring were used to construct a high-density genetic map with 6429 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by 2b-RAD technology. The total length of the consensus map is 5553.43 cM with the average marker interval of 1.92 cM. The map has a good collinearity with both the grass carp draft genome and the zebrafish genome, and it assembled 89.91% of the draft genome to a chromosomal level. Additionally, according to the growth-related traits of progenies, 30 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), including 7 for body weight, 9 for body length, 5 for body height and 9 for total length, were identified in 16 locations on 5 linkage groups. The phenotypic variance explained for these QTLs varies from 13.4 to 21.6%. Finally, 17 genes located in these regions were considered to be growth-related because they either had functional mutations predicted from the resequencing data of the parents. CONCLUSION: A high density genetic linkage map of grass carp was built and it assembled the draft genome to a chromosomal level. Thirty growth related QTLs were detected. After the cross analysis of Parents resequencing data, 17 candidate genes were obtained for further researches.

Thyroid function of twin-pregnant women in early pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is higher in twin than that in singleton pregnancies. As hCG stimulates the thyroid to produce more free thyroxine (FT4), which may lead to decreased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, the reference ranges of thyroid-related indicators may differ between singleton and twin pregnancies in the first trimester. This study aimed to establish reference ranges for thyroid-related indicators in early twin pregnancies and to compare them with singleton pregnancies. METHODS: Data of 820 twin-pregnant women were extracted from the established database of all pregnant women who delivered at Peking University First Hospital from October 2013 to May 2018; 160 who met National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry criteria were included to establish TSH and FT4 reference ranges. We screened 480 (3:1 paired) women with singleton pregnancies from the same database as controls. The Mann-Whitney test for TSH and FT4 levels was applied for comparisons between singleton and twin pregnancies. RESULTS: First-trimester reference ranges (4-12 gestational weeks) for twin pregnancies were: TSH 0.69 (0.01-3.35) mIU/L and FT4 16.38 (12.45-23.34) pmol/L. Median TSH was significantly lower at 7 to 12 gestational weeks than that at 4 to 6 gestational weeks (0.62 vs. 0.96 mIU/L, Z = -1.964, P = 0.049); FT4 was not significantly different between the two groups. Compared to singleton pregnancies, median TSH was significantly lower (0.69 vs. 1.27 mIU/L, Z = -6.538, P = 0.000), and FT4 was significantly higher (16.38 vs. 14.85 pmol/L, Z = -7.399, P = 0.000) in twin pregnancies in the first trimester. CONCLUSIONS: Specific reference ranges for thyroid-related indicators for twin pregnancies are needed to avoid a misdiagnosis of thyroid dysfunction. Moreover, establishment of separate reference ranges for 4 to 6 and 7 to 12 gestational weeks in twin pregnancies may be considered.