Spin-Phonon Coupling in Iron-Doped Ultrathin Bismuth Halide Perovskite Derivatives.

Spin in semiconductors facilitates magnetically controlled optoelectronic and spintronic devices. In metal halide perovskites (MHPs), doping magnetic ions is proven to be a simple and efficient approach to introducing a spin magnetic momentum. In this work, we present a facile metal ion doping protocol through the vapor-phase metal halide insertion reaction to the chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown ultrathin Cs3BiBr6 perovskites. The Fe-doped bismuth halide (Fe:CBBr) perovskites demonstrate that the iron spins are successfully incorporated into the lattice, as revealed by the spin-phonon coupling below the critical temperature Tc around 50 K observed through temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, the phonons exhibit significant softening under an applied magnetic field, possibly originating from magnetostriction and spin exchange interaction. The spin-phonon coupling in Fe:CBBr potentially provides an efficient way to tune the spin and lattice parameters for halide perovskite-based spintronics.

The beneficial roles and mechanisms of estrogens in immune health and infection disease.

Multiple epidemiologic studies have revealed that gender is considered one of the important factors in the frequency and severity of certain infectious diseases, in which estrogens may play a vital role. There is growing evidence that estrogens as female sex hormone can modulate multiple biological functions outside of the reproductive system, such as in brain and cardiovascular system. However, it is largely unknown about the roles and mechanisms of estrogens/estrogen receptors in immune health and infection disease. Thence, by reading a lot of literature, we summarized the regulatory mechanisms of estrogens/estrogen receptors in immune cells and their roles in certain infectious diseases with gender differences. Therefore, estrogens may have therapeutic potentials to prevent and treat these infectious diseases, which needs further clinical investigation.

Spatially Resolved Anion Diffusion and Tunable Waveguides in Bismuth Halide Perovskites.

Bismuth halide perovskites are widely regarded as nontoxic alternatives to lead halide perovskites for optoelectronics and solar energy harvesting applications. With a tailorable composition and intriguing optical properties, bismuth halide perovskites are also promising candidates for tunable photonic devices. However, robust control of the anion composition in bismuth halide perovskites remains elusive. Here, we established chemical vapor deposition and anion exchange protocols to synthesize bismuth halide perovskite nanoflakes with controlled dimensions and variable compositions. In particular, we demonstrated the gradient bromide distribution by controlling the anion exchange and diffusion processes, which is spatially resolved by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Moreover, the optical waveguiding properties of bismuth halide perovskites can be modulated by flake thicknesses and anion compositions. With a unique gradient anion distribution and controllable optical properties, bismuth halide perovskites provide new possibilities for applications in optoelectronic devices and integrated photonics.

Orientation and morphology control in acid-catalyzed covalent organic framework thin films.

As thin films of semiconducting covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are demonstrating utility for ambipolar electronics, channel materials in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), and broadband photodetectors, control and modulation of their thin film properties is paramount. In this work, an interfacial growth technique is utilized to synthesize imine TAPB-PDA COF films at both the liquid-liquid interface as well as at the liquid-solid interface on a Si/SiO2 substrate. The concentration of acetic acid catalyst in the aqueous phase is shown to significantly influence the thin film morphology of the liquid-solid growth, with concentrations below 1 M resulting in no film nucleation, concentrations of 1-4 M enabling smooth film formation, and concentrations greater than 4 M resulting in films with a higher density of particulates on the surface. Importantly, while the films grown at the liquid-liquid interface are mixed-orientation, those grown directly at the liquid-solid interface on the Si/SiO2 surface have highly oriented COF layers aligned parallel to the substrate surface. Moreover, this liquid-solid growth process affords TAPB-PDA COF thin films with p-type charge transport having a transconductance of 10 µS at a gate voltage of -0.9 V in an OECT device structure.

Tuning Local Atomic Structures in MoS2 Based Catalysts for Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction.

In recent years, there has been a substantial surge in the investigation of transition-metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2 as a promising electrochemical catalyst. Inspired by denitrification enzymes such as nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase, the electrochemical nitrate reduction catalyzed by MoS2 with varying local atomic structures is reported. It is demonstrated that the hydrothermally synthesized MoS2 containing sulfur vacancies behaves as promising catalysts for electrochemical denitrification. With copper doping at less than 9% atomic ratio, the selectivity of denitrification to dinitrogen in the products can be effectively improved. X-ray absorption characterizations suggest that two sulfur vacancies are associated with one copper dopant in the MoS2 skeleton. DFT calculation confirms that copper dopants replace three adjacent Mo atoms to form a trigonal defect-enriched region, introducing an exposed Mo reaction center that coordinates with Cu atom to increase N2 selectivity. Apart from the higher activity and selectivity, the Cu-doped MoS2 also demonstrates remarkably improved tolerance toward oxygen poisoning at high oxygen concentration. Finally, Cu-doped MoS2 based catalysts exhibit very low specific energy consumption during the electrochemical denitrification process, paving the way for potential scale-up operations.

Area-selective atomic layer deposition on 2D monolayer lateral superlattices.

The advanced patterning process is the basis of integration technology to realize the development of next-generation high-speed, low-power consumption devices. Recently, area-selective atomic layer deposition (AS-ALD), which allows the direct deposition of target materials on the desired area using a deposition barrier, has emerged as an alternative patterning process. However, the AS-ALD process remains challenging to use for the improvement of patterning resolution and selectivity. In this study, we report a superlattice-based AS-ALD (SAS-ALD) process using a two-dimensional (2D) MoS2-MoSe2 lateral superlattice as a pre-defining template. We achieved a minimum half pitch size of a sub-10 nm scale for the resulting AS-ALD on the 2D superlattice template by controlling the duration time of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) precursors. SAS-ALD introduces a mechanism that enables selectivity through the adsorption and diffusion processes of ALD precursors, distinctly different from conventional AS-ALD method. This technique facilitates selective deposition even on small pattern sizes and is compatible with the use of highly reactive precursors like trimethyl aluminum. Moreover, it allows for the selective deposition of a variety of materials, including Al2O3, HfO2, Ru, Te, and Sb2Se3.

Deciphering DNA repair gene mutational landscape in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma patients using next generation sequencing.

Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (UCEC) is a significant health concern with a complex genetic landscape impacting disease susceptibility and progression. This study aimed to unravel the spectrum of DNA repair gene mutations in Pakistani UCEC patients through Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and explore their potential functional consequences via downstream analyses. NGS analysis of genomic DNA from 30 UCEC patients was conducted to identify clinically significant pathogenic mutations in DNA repair genes. This analysis revealed mutations in 4 key DNA repair genes: BRCA1, BRCA2, APC, and CDH1. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis was employed to assess the prognostic value of these mutations on patient overall survival (OS) in UCEC. To delve into the functional impact of these mutations, we performed RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blot analyses on the mutated UCEC samples compared to their non-mutated counterparts. These results unveiled the up-regulation in the expression of the mutated genes, suggesting a potential association between the identified mutations and enhanced gene activity. Additionally, targeted bisulfite sequencing analysis was utilized to evaluate DNA methylation patterns in the promoters of the mutated genes. Strikingly, hypomethylation in the promoters of BRCA1, BRCA2, APC, and CDH1 was observed in the mutated UCEC samples relative to the non-mutated, indicating the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the altered gene expression. In conclusion, this study offers insights into the genetic landscape of DNA repair gene mutations in Pakistani UCEC patients. The presence of pathogenic mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, APC, and CDH1, coupled with their down-regulation and hypermethylation, suggests a convergence of genetic and epigenetic factors contributing to genomic instability in UCEC cells. These findings enhance our understanding of UCEC susceptibility and provide potential avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions in Pakistani UCEC patients.

Toward Controlled Synthesis of 2D Crystals by CVD: Learning from the Real-Time Crystal Morphology Evolutions.

The rich morphology of 2D materials grown through chemical vapor deposition (CVD), is a distinctive feature. However, understanding the complex growth of 2D crystals under practical CVD conditions remains a challenge due to various intertwined factors. Real-time monitoring is crucial to providing essential data and enabling the use of advanced tools like machine learning for unraveling these complexities. In this study, we present a custom-built miniaturized CVD system capable of observing and recording 2D MoS2 crystal growth in real time. Image processing converts the real-time footage into digital data, and machine learning algorithms (ML) unveil the significant factors influencing growth. The machine learning model successfully predicts CVD growth parameters for synthesizing ultralarge monolayer MoS2 crystals. It also demonstrates the potential to reverse engineer CVD growth parameters by analyzing the as-grown 2D crystal morphology. This interdisciplinary approach can be integrated to enhance our understanding of controlled 2D crystal synthesis through CVD.

UBC9-mediated SUMOylation of Lamin B1 enhances DNA-damage-induced nuclear DNA leakage and autophagy after spinal cord injury.

Recent studies have shown that nucleophagy can mitigate DNA damage by selectively degrading nuclear components protruding from the nucleus. However, little is known about the role of nucleophagy in neurons after spinal cord injury (SCI). Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence were performed to evaluate the nucleophagy after nuclear DNA damage and leakage in SCI neurons in vivo and NSC34 expression in primary neurons cultured with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro, as well as the interaction and colocalization of autophagy protein LC3 with nuclear lamina protein Lamin B1. The effect of UBC9, a Small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) E2 ligase, on Lamin B1 SUMOylation and nucleophagy was examined by siRNA transfection or 2-D08 (a small-molecule inhibitor of UBC9), immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence. In SCI and OGD injured NSC34 or primary cultured neurons, neuronal nuclear DNA damage induced the SUMOylation of Lamin B1, which was required by the nuclear Lamina accumulation of UBC9. Furthermore, LC3/Atg8, an autophagy-related protein, directly bound to SUMOylated Lamin B1, and delivered Lamin B1 to the lysosome. Knockdown or suppression of UBC9 with siRNA or 2-D08 inhibited SUMOylation of Lamin B1 and subsequent nucleophagy and protected against neuronal death. Upon neuronal DNA damage and leakage after SCI, SUMOylation of Lamin B1 is induced by nuclear Lamina accumulation of UBC9. Furthermore, it promotes LC3-Lamin B1 interaction to trigger nucleophagy that protects against neuronal DNA damage.

Identification and pathogenicity of Fusarium spp. associated with tea wilt in Zhejiang Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, with significant economic and cultural value. However, tea production faces many challenges due to various biotic and abiotic stresses, among which fungal diseases are particularly devastating. RESULTS: To understand the identity and pathogenicity of isolates recovered from tea plants with symptoms of wilt, phylogenetic analyses and pathogenicity assays were conducted. Isolates were characterized to the species level by sequencing the ITS, tef-1α, tub2 and rpb2 sequences and morphology. Four Fusarium species were identified: Fusarium fujikuroi, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium concentricum. The pathogenicity of the Fusarium isolates was evaluated on 1-year-old tea plants, whereby F. fujikuroi OS3 and OS4 strains were found to be the most virulent on tea. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of tea rot caused by F. fujikuroi in the world. This provides the foundation for the identification and control of wilt disease in tea plants.

Terahertz tunable vanadium dioxide metasurface for dynamic illusion and cloaking.

Realizing camouflage by illusion and cloaking based on the metasurface has received widespread attention recently. However, existing metasurface-based illusion and cloaking devices are valid for the incident wave with a specific frequency, angle, or polarization, or exhibit a single function. Therefore, a terahertz tunable vanadium dioxide (VO2) metasurface carpet cloak is proposed for dynamic illusion and cloaking. Simulation results show that by controlling the state of the VO2, the metasurface carpet cloak can simultaneously achieve illusion and cloaking functions, working at 0.45 THz and 0.6 THz, and is effective for orthogonal circularly polarized waves with different incidence angles. That is the function, frequency, incident angle, and polarization of the metasurface carpet cloak are dynamically adjustable. Besides, the metasurface carpet cloak is robust to the incident angle and is capable of polarization angle stability. This work has potential value in the real-life application of metasurface-based illusion and cloaking devices.

One-Pot Hydrothermal Method Preparation of Cerium-Nitrogen-Codoped Carbon Quantum Dots from Waste Longan Nucleus as a Fluorescent Sensor for Sensing Drug Rifampicin.

Currently, the large-scale application of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) is usually limited by their low quantum yield and detection limit. Herein, the abandoned longan nucleus was used as a carbon source to synthesize cerium-nitrogen-codoped carbon quantum dots (Ce/N-CQDs) with strong luminescence intensity. In this work, the fluorescent properties and fluorescent quantum yield of CQDs may be improved by the single cerium-doped carbon quantum dots (Ce-CQDs) and the single nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs). Nevertheless, the Ce/N-CQDs exhibited intense fluorescence with a high quantum yield. Compared with CQDs, the quantum yield of Ce/N-CQDs was significantly increased from 5 to 32% and showed high photostability and good water solubility. The Ce/N-CQDs can be used for the direct detection of rifampicin (RFP) in human serum. The concentration demonstrated a good linear relationship in the range of 1.0 × 10-7-9.0 × 10-6 mol/L, with a detection limit of 9.6 × 10-8 mol/L.

Estrogen regulates duodenal glucose absorption by affecting estrogen receptor-α on glucose transporters.

The mechanisms of estrogen in glucose metabolism are well established; however, its role in glucose absorption remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of estrogen on glucose absorption in humans, mice, and SCBN intestinal epithelial cells. We first observed a correlation between estrogen and blood glucose in young women and found that glucose tolerance was significantly less in the premenstrual phase than in the preovulatory phase. Similarly, with decreased serum estradiol levels in ovariectomized mice, estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERß) in the duodenum were reduced, and weight and abdominal fat increased significantly. The expression of sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) and glucose absorption in the duodenum decreased significantly. Estrogen significantly upregulated SGLT1 and GLUT2 expression in SCBN cells. Silencing of ERα, but not ERß, reversed this trend, suggesting that ERα may be key to estrogen-regulating glucose transporters. A mechanistic study revealed that downstream, estrogen regulates the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway. Overall, our findings indicate that estrogen promotes glucose absorption, and estrogen and ERα deficiency can inhibit SGLT1 and GLUT2 expression through the PKC signaling pathway, thereby reducing glucose absorption.

Neuroprotective α-pyrones from Nigrospora oryzae, an endophytic fungus residing in Taxus chinensis var. mairei.

Endophytes coevolve with plant hosts and thus are more probable to acquire the character (in favor) of producing undescribed bioactive metabolites. Consequently, the topic has been intensely investigated for over two decades, but endophytic metabolites with neuroprotective effect remain scarce. The study presents the discovery of eight undescribed (named solanapyrones U-Z and prosolanapyrones A and B) and six known pyrones (solanapyrones A-C and E-G) from the culture of Nigrospora oryzae, an endophytic fungus associated with Taxus chinensis var. mairei. The structures and absolute configurations of undescribed pyrones were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, modified Mosher's method, and induced circular dichroism (ICD) spectrum. Solanapyrones A and B and an undescribed pyrone (solanapyrone U) were demonstrated to be more neuroprotective than clenbuterol in inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) to secret nerve growth factor (NGF). The work updates the pyrone chemodiversity in nature and extends the biofunction repertoire of solanapyrone-related polyketides.

Identification of autophagy-associated circRNAs in sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy of mice.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a role in sepsis-related autophagy. However, the role of circRNAs in autophagy after sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM) is unknown, so we explored the circRNA expression profiles associated with autophagy in an acute sepsis mouse model. At a dose of 10 mg/kg, mice were intraperitoneally administered with lipopolysaccharides. The myocardial tissue was harvested after 6 h for microarray analysis, qRT-PCR, and western blotting. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis were evaluated, and a competing endogenous RNA network was constructed, to evaluate the role of circRNAs related to autophagy in SICM. In total, 1,735 differently expressed circRNAs were identified in the LPS-treated group, including 990 upregulated and 745 downregulated circRNAs. The expression level of the autophagy-specific protein p62 decreased, while the ratio of LC3 II to LC3 I increased. Additionally, 309 mRNAs and 187 circRNAs were correlated with autophagy in myocardial tissue after SICM. Of these, 179 circRNAs were predicted to function as "miRNA sponges". Some distinctive circRNAs and mRNAs found by ceRNA analysis might be involved in autophagy in SICM. These findings provide insights into circRNAs and identified new research targets that may be used to further explore the pathogenesis of SICM.

Knockdown of ARHGAP30 inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness by suppressing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

The mortality and morbidity rates of ovarian cancer (OC) are high, but the underlying mechanisms of OC have not been characterized. In this study, we determined the role of Rho GTPase Activating Protein 30 (ARHGAP30) in OC progression. We measured ARHGAP30 abundance in OC tissue samples and cells using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-qPCR. EdU, transwell, and annexin V/PI apoptosis assays were used to evaluate proliferation, invasiveness, and apoptosis of OC cells, respectively. The results showed that ARHGAP30 was overexpressed in OC tissue samples and cells. Inhibition of ARHGAP30 suppressed growth and metastasis of OC cells, and enhanced apoptosis. Knockdown of ARHGAP30 in OC cells significantly inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Treatment with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitor buparlisib simulated the effects of ARHGAP30 knockdown on growth, invasiveness, and apoptosis of OC cells. Following buparlisib treatment, the expression levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR were significantly decreased. Furthermore, buparlisib inhibited the effects of ARHGAP30 upregulation on OC cell growth and invasiveness. In conclusion, ARHGAP30 regulated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to promote progression of OC.

Understanding the Chemomechanical Function of the Silver-Carbon Interlayer in Sheet-type All-Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries.

All-solid-state batteries with lithium metal anodes hold great potential for high-energy battery applications. However, forming and maintaining stable solid-solid contact between the lithium anode and solid electrolyte remains a major challenge. One promising solution is the use of a silver-carbon (Ag-C) interlayer, but its chemomechanical properties and impact on interface stabilities need to be comprehensively explored. Here, we examine the function of Ag-C interlayers in addressing interfacial challenges using various cell configurations. Experiments show that the interlayer improves interfacial mechanical contact, leading to a uniform current distribution and suppressing lithium dendrite growth. Furthermore, the interlayer regulates lithium deposition in the presence of Ag particles via improved Li diffusivity. The sheet-type cells with the interlayer achieve a high energy density of 514.3 Wh L-1 and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.97% over 500 cycles. This work provides insights into the benefits of using Ag-C interlayers for enhancing the performance of all-solid-state batteries.

Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based metabolomics unveils the metabolic alterations in colon cancer mice during CT-guided radiofrequency ablation.

Colon cancer (CC) is a malignancy of the digestive tract, and computed tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been extensively adopted in cancer treatment. We aimed to explore the changes in fecal metabolism after CT-guided RFA in CC mice. The orthotopic CC mice received CT-guided RFA upon modeling. Subsequently, we quantified tumor volumes and weights to assess treatment efficacy. Next, because metabolomics is useful for evaluating therapeutic validity, feces were collected for metabolomics analysis. CT-guided RFA inhibited tumor growth effectively. Additionally, metabolomics results showed that the contents of bile acids and fatty acids were downregulated in CC mouse feces. Moreover, the levels of amino acids and carbohydrates were decreased while the levels of fatty acids, organic acids, phenols, pyridines and short-chain fatty acids were elevated in feces after CC mice received CT-guided RFA. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that those differential metabolites were closely related to fatty acids degradation and synthesis. CT-guided RFA possesses a strong ability to suppress CC development in mice, accompanied by a significant increase of fatty acid content in feces. This study proposes a novel approach and target for CC treatment, which provides hope for CC patients and establishes a solid basis for future in-depth studies.

Superior mechanical properties of multilayer covalent-organic frameworks enabled by rationally tuning molecular interlayer interactions.

Two-dimensional (2D) covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) with a well-defined and tunable periodic porous skeleton are emerging candidates for lightweight and strong 2D polymeric materials. It remains challenging, however, to retain the superior mechanical properties of monolayer COFs in a multilayer stack. Here, we successfully demonstrated a precise layer control in synthesizing atomically thin COFs, enabling a systematic study of layer-dependent mechanical properties of 2D COFs with two different interlayer interactions. It was shown that the methoxy groups in COFTAPB-DMTP provided enhanced interlayer interactions, leading to layer-independent mechanical properties. In sharp contrast, mechanical properties of COFTAPB-PDA decreased significantly as the layer number increased. We attributed these results to higher energy barriers against interlayer sliding due to the presence of interlayer hydrogen bonds and possible mechanical interlocking in COFTAPB-DMTP, as revealed by density functional theory calculations.

Focused ultrasound restrains the growth of orthotopic colon cancer via promoting pyroptosis.

INTRODUCTION: Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a non-invasive tumor therapy technology emerging in recent years, which can treat various solid tumors. However, it is unclear whether FUS can affect the pyroptosis of colon cancer (CC) cells. Here, we analyzed the effect of FUS on pyroptosis in the orthotopic CC model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After an orthotopic CC mouse model was constructed by injecting CT26-Luc cells, BABL/C mice were allocated to the normal, tumor, FUS, and FUS + BAY11-7082 (pyroptosis inhibitor) groups. We monitored the tumor status of the mice through in vivo fluorescence image analysis. The histopathological injury of the intestinal tissue and the expression of IL-1ß, IL-18, caspase-recruitment domain (ASC), cleaved caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD), and NLRP3 of the CC tumors were examined utilizing hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical assay, and Western blot. RESULTS: FUS restrained the fluorescence intensity of the tumors in orthotopic CC mice, while FUS-mediated suppression of the bioluminescent signal of the tumors was alleviated by BAY11-7082. FUS was found to relieve the injury of the intestinal tissues in CC mice as revealed by morphology. Furthermore, the expressions of IL-1ß, IL-18, GSDMD, ASC, cleaved caspase-1, and NLRP3 of the CC tumors in the FUS group were higher than those in the tumor group, while BAY11-7082 addition partly reversed the FUS's effects on orthotopic CC model mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results pointed out that FUS presented anti-tumor activity in experimental CC, and its mechanism was correlated with the promotion of pyroptosis.