Cross-Linking CdSO4-Type Nets with Hexafluorosilicate Anions to Form an Ultramicroporous Material for Efficient C2H2/CO2 and C2H2/C2H4 Separation.

A 44.610.8 topology hybrid ultramicroporous material (HUM), {[Cu1.5F(SiF6)(L)2.5]·G}n, (L = 4,4'-bisimidazolylbiphenyl, G = guest molecules), 1, formed by cross-linking interpenetrated 3D four-connected CdSO4-type nets with hexafluorosilicate anions is synthesized and evaluated in the context of gas sorption and separation herein. 1 is the first HUM functionalized with two different types of fluorinated sites (SiF6 2- and F- anions) lining along the pore surface. The optimal pore size (≈5 Å) combining mixed and high-density electronegative fluorinated sites enable 1 to preferentially adsorb C2H2 over CO2 and C2H4 by hydrogen bonding interactions with a high C2H2 isosteric heat of adsorption (Qst) of ≈42.3 kJ mol-1 at zero loading. The pronounced discriminatory sorption behaviors lead to excellent separation performance for C2H2/CO2 and C2H2/C2H4 that surpasses many well-known sorbents. Dynamic breakthrough experiments are conducted to confirm the practical separation capability of 1, which reveal an impressive separation factor of 6.1 for equimolar C2H2/CO2 mixture. Furthermore, molecular simulation and density functional theory (DFT) calculations validate the strong binding of C2H2 stems from the chelating fix of C2H2 between SiF6 2- anion and coordinated F- anion.

Non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head induced by steroid and alcohol exposure is associated with intestinal flora alterations and metabolomic profiles.

OBJECTIVE: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a severe disease that primarily affects the middle-aged population, imposing a significant economic and social burden. Recent research has linked the progression of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (NONFH) to the composition of the gut microbiota. Steroids and alcohol are considered major contributing factors. However, the relationship between NONFH caused by two etiologies and the microbiota remains unclear. In this study, we examined the gut microbiota and fecal metabolic phenotypes of two groups of patients, and analyzed potential differences in the pathogenic mechanisms from both the microbial and metabolic perspectives. METHODS: Utilizing fecal samples from 68 NONFH patients (32 steroid-induced, 36 alcohol-induced), high-throughput 16 S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) metabolomics analyses were conducted. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to the omics data, employing linear discriminant analysis effect size to identify potential biomarkers. Additionally, functional annotation of differential metabolites and associated pathways was performed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. Subsequently, Spearman correlation analysis was employed to assess the potential correlations between differential gut microbiota and metabolites. RESULTS: High-throughput 16 S rDNA sequencing revealed significant gut microbial differences. At the genus level, the alcohol group had higher Lactobacillus and Roseburia, while the steroid group had more Megasphaera and Akkermansia. LC-MS/MS metabolomic analysis indicates significant differences in fecal metabolites between steroid- and alcohol-induced ONFH patients. Alcohol-induced ONFH (AONFH) showed elevated levels of L-Lysine and Oxoglutaric acid, while steroid-induced ONFH(SONFH) had increased Gluconic acid and Phosphoric acid. KEGG annotation revealed 10 pathways with metabolite differences between AONFH and SONFH patients. Correlation analysis revealed the association between differential gut flora and differential metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that hormones and alcohol can induce changes in the gut microbiota, leading to alterations in fecal metabolites. These changes, driven by different pathways, contribute to the progression of the disease. The study opens new research directions for understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of hormone- or alcohol-induced NONFH, suggesting that differentiated preventive and therapeutic approaches may be needed for NONFH caused by different triggers.

Dietary vitamin C and vitamin E with the risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection: A prospective population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The associations between dietary vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE) intake and aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) remain unclear. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the associations between dietary VC and VE with the incident risk of AAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 139 477 participants of UK Biobank cohort were included in the analysis. Dietary VC and VE consumptions were acquired through a 24-h recall questionnaire. Cox proportional regression models were used to examine the associations between VC, VE intake and the risk of AAD. Incident AAD was ascertained through hospital inpatient records and death registers. During a median follow-up of 12.5 years, 962 incident AAD events were documented. Both dietary VC [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 0.77; 95 % confidence intervals (CI), 0.63-0.93; P-trend = 0.008] and VE (adjusted HR, 0.70; 95 % CI, 0.57-0.87; P-trend = 0.002) were inversely associated with incident AAD when comparing the participants in the highest quartile with those in the lowest. In subgroup analyses, the associations were more pronounced in participants who were over 60 years old, participants with smoking history, hypertension or hyperlipidemia, who were under the high risk of AAD. CONCLUSION: Higher dietary VC and VE intakes are associated with reduced risk of AAD. Our study emphasizes the importance of diet adjustment strategies targeted on VC and VE to lower the incidence rate of AAD especially in the high-risk population.

High dimensional proteomic mapping of bone marrow immune characteristics in immune thrombocytopenia.

To investigate the role of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules on immune tolerance in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), this study mapped the immune cell heterogeneity in the bone marrow of ITP at the single-cell level using Cytometry by Time of Flight (CyTOF). Thirty-six patients with ITP and nine healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. As soluble immunomodulatory molecules, more sCD25 and sGalectin-9 were detected in ITP patients. On the cell surface, co-stimulatory molecules like ICOS and HVEM were observed to be upregulated in mainly central memory and effector T cells. In contrast, co-inhibitory molecules such as CTLA-4 were significantly reduced in Th1 and Th17 cell subsets. Taking a platelet count of 30×109 L-1 as the cutoff value, ITP patients with high and low platelet counts showed different T cell immune profiles. Antigen-presenting cells such as monocytes and B cells may regulate the activation of T cells through CTLA-4/CD86 and HVEM/BTLA interactions, respectively, and participate in the pathogenesis of ITP. In conclusion, the proteomic and soluble molecular profiles brought insight into the interaction and modulation of immune cells in the bone marrow of ITP. They may offer novel targets to develop personalized immunotherapies.

The transgenerational effects of maternal low-protein diet during lactation on offspring.

Environment factors such as diet and lifestyle can influence the health of both mothers and offspring. However, its transgenerational transmission and underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, using a maternal lactation-period low-protein diet (LPD) mouse model, we show that maternal LPD during lactation causes decreased survival and stunted growth, significantly reduces ovulation and litter size, and alters the gut microbiome in the female LPD-F1 offspring. The transcriptome of LPD-F1 metaphase II (MII) oocytes shows that differentially expressed genes are enriched in female pregnancy and multiple metabolic processes. Moreover, maternal LPD causes early stunted growth and impairs metabolic health, which is transmitted for two generations. The methylome alteration of LPD-F1 oocytes can be partly transmitted to the F2 oocytes. Together, our results reveal that LPD during lactation transgenerationally affects offspring health, probably via oocyte epigenetic changes.

SIRT3 suppression resulting from the enhanced ß-catenin signaling drives glycolysis and promotes hypoxia-induced cell growth in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

The precise mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of SIRT3, a mitochondrial sirtuin protein, on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development, as well as its impact on mitochondrial respiration, remain poorly understood. We assessed sirtuins 3 (SIRT3) levels in HCC tissues and Huh7 cells cultured under hypoxic condition. We investigated the effects of SIRT3 on cell proliferation, glycolytic metabolism, mitochondrial respiration, mitophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis in Huh7 cells. Besides, we explored the potential mechanisms regulating SIRT3 expression in hypoxically cultured Huh7 cells. Gradual reduction in SIRT3 expressions were observed in both adjacent tumor tissues and tumor tissues. Similarly, SIRT3 expressions were diminished in Huh7 cells cultured under hypoxic condition. Forced expression of SIRT3 attenuated the growth of hypoxically cultured Huh7 cells. SIRT3 overexpression led to a decrease in extracellular acidification rate while increasing oxygen consumption rate. SIRT3 downregulated the levels of hexokinase 2 and pyruvate kinase M2. Moreover, SIRT3 enhanced mitophagy signaling, as indicated by mtKeima, and upregulated key proteins involved in various mitophagic pathways while reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. Furthermore, SIRT3 increased proxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α levels and the amount of mitochondrial DNA in Huh7 cells. Notably, ß-catenin expressions were elevated in Huh7 cells cultured under hypoxic condition. Antagonists and agonists of ß-catenin respectively upregulated and downregulated SIRT3 expressions in hypoxically cultured Huh7 cells. The modulationsof glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration represent the primary mechanism through which SIRT3, suppressed by ß-catenin, inhibits HCC cell proliferation.

Navigating PRKCSH's impact on cancer: from N-linked glycosylation to death pathway and anti-tumor immunity.

PRKCSH, also known as Glucosidase II beta subunit (GluIIß), is a crucial component of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control system for N-linked glycosylation, essential for identifying and eliminating misfolded proteins. Glucosidase II consists of the catalytic alpha subunit (GluIIα) and the regulatory beta subunit (GluIIß), ensuring proper protein folding and release from the ER. The induction of PRKCSH in cancer and its interaction with various cellular components suggest broader roles beyond its previously known functions. Mutations in the PRKCSH gene are linked to autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease (ADPLD). Alternative splicing generates distinct PRKCSH isoforms, which can influence processes like epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the proliferation of lung cancer cells. PRKCSH's involvement in cancer is multifaceted, impacting cell growth, metastasis, and response to growth factors. Additionally, PRKCSH orchestrates cell death programs, affecting both autophagy and apoptosis. Its role in facilitating N-linked glycoprotein release from the ER is hypothesized to assist cancer cells in managing increased demand and ER stress. Moreover, PRKCSH modulates anti-tumor immunity, with its suppression augmenting NK cell and T cell activity, promising enhanced cancer therapy. PRKCSH's diverse functions, including regulation of IGF1R and IRE1α, implicate it as a therapeutic target and biomarker in cancer immunotherapy. However, targeting its glucosidase II activity alone may not fully counteract its effects, suggesting broader mechanisms in cancer development. Further investigations are needed to elucidate PRKCSH's precise role and validate its therapeutic potential in cancer treatment.

Cascaded signal amplification strategy for ultra-specific, ultra-sensitive, and visual detection of Shigella flexneri.

Pathogen infections including Shigella flexneri have posed a significant threat to human health for numerous years. Although culturing and qPCR were the gold standards for pathogen detection, time-consuming and instrument-dependent restrict their application in rapid diagnosis and economically less-developed regions. Thus, it is urgently needed to develop rapid, simple, sensitive, accurate, and low-cost detection methods for pathogen detection. In this study, an immunomagnetic beads-recombinase polymerase amplification-CRISPR/Cas12a (IMB-RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a) method was built based on a cascaded signal amplification strategy for ultra-specific, ultra-sensitive, and visual detection of S. flexneri in the laboratory. Firstly, S. flexneri was specifically captured and enriched by IMB (Shigella antibody-coated magnetic beads), and the genomic DNA was released and used as the template in the RPA reaction. Then, the RPA products were mixed with the pre-loaded CRISPR/Cas12a for fluorescence visualization. The results were observed by naked eyes under LED blue light, with a sensitivity of 5 CFU/mL in a time of 70 min. With no specialized equipment or complicated technical requirements, the IMB-RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a diagnostic method can be used for visual, rapid, and simple detection of S. flexneri and can be easily adapted to monitoring other pathogens.

Sleep Patterns and Traditional Cardiovascular Health Metrics: Joint Impact on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in a Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the association between traditional cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) incidence in individuals with diverse sleep patterns. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed data from 208 621 participants initially free of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the UK Biobank study. Sleep patterns were assessed using scores for chronotype, duration, insomnia, snoring, and daytime dozing. Traditional CVH scores were derived from the Life's Simple 7 metrics. Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression assessed associations between distinct combinations of CVH and sleep scores and MACE, including nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and CVD mortality. Over a mean follow-up of 12.73 years, 9253 participants experienced incident MACE. Individuals with both a healthy sleep pattern and ideal CVH levels had the lowest MACE risk compared with those with a poor sleep pattern and poor CVH levels (hazard ratio, 0.306 [95% CI, 0.257-0.365]; P<0.001). Elevated CVH scores were associated with a reduced risk of MACE across different sleep patterns. Similar trends were observed for individual MACE components, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. These findings remained robust in sensitivity analyses and across various subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: In individuals without known CVD, maintaining a favorable sleep pattern and achieving optimal CVH levels, as measured by traditional metrics, were associated with the lowest MACE risk. Enhanced CVH significantly reduced CVD risk, even in individuals with a poor sleep pattern. These results emphasize the importance of considering multiple dimensions of sleep health alongside CVH to mitigate CVD risk. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk; Unique identifier: 91090.

Loss of UBE2S causes meiosis I arrest with normal spindle assembly checkpoint dynamics in mouse oocytes.

The timely degradation of proteins that regulate the cell cycle is essential for oocyte maturation. Oocytes are equipped to degrade proteins via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. In meiosis, anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), an E3 ubiquitin-ligase, is responsible for the degradation of proteins. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 S (UBE2S), an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, delivers ubiquitin to APC/C. APC/C has been extensively studied, but the functions of UBE2S in oocyte maturation and mouse fertility are not clear. In this study, we used Ube2s knockout mice to explore the role of UBE2S in mouse oocytes. Ube2s-deleted oocytes were characterized by meiosis I arrest with normal spindle assembly and spindle assembly checkpoint dynamics. However, the absence of UBE2S affected the activity of APC/C. Cyclin B1 and securin are two substrates of APC/C, and their levels were consistently high, resulting in the failure of homologous chromosome separation. Unexpectedly, the oocytes arrested in meiosis I could be fertilized and the embryos could become implanted normally, but died before embryonic day 10.5. In conclusion, our findings reveal an indispensable regulatory role of UBE2S in mouse oocyte meiosis and female fertility.

The association between tinnitus and risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality: insight from the UK Biobank.

BACKGROUND: The potential influence of tinnitus on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality has yet to be explored. We aim to examine the correlations between tinnitus and the risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study utilising data from the UK Biobank. The presence of tinnitus was evaluated through a questionnaire. The primary outcome was defined as a composition of cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and mortality from CVD, as well as all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to examine the associations between tinnitus and both the primary outcome and its individual components. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the robustness of the primary analysis. RESULTS: A total of 140,146 participants were included in the study. The presence of tinnitus was found to be associated with a higher incident rate of the primary outcome (HR = 1.057, 95%CI: 1.017-1.099, p = 0.005), MI (HR = 1.139, 95%CI: 1.061-1.222, p < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (HR = 1.053, 95%CI: 1.003-1.105, p = 0.038) after adjusting for confounders. However, there was no significant association between tinnitus and stroke or mortality from CVD. Subgroup analysis revealed that the association between tinnitus and the primary outcome was significant in females, participants with abnormal BMI, and those without hearing difficulty, depression or anxiety. Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study contribute to the existing body of evidence suggesting an association between tinnitus and an increased risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

Insight into the Gas-Induced Phase Transformations in a 2D Switching Coordination Network via Coincident Gas Sorption and In Situ PXRD.

Switching coordination networks (CNs) that reversibly transform between narrow or closed pore (cp) and large pore (lp) phases, though fewer than their rigid counterparts, offer opportunities for sorption-related applications. However, their structural transformations and switching mechanisms remain underexplored at the molecular level. In this study, we conducted a systematic investigation into a 2D switching CN, [Ni(bpy)2(NCS)2]n, sql-1-Ni-NCS (1 = bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine), using coincident gas sorption and in situ powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) under low-temperature conditions. Gas adsorption measurements revealed that C2H4 (169 K) and C2H6 (185 K) exhibited single-step type F-IVs sorption isotherms with sorption uptakes of around 180-185 cm3 g-1, equivalent to four sorbate molecules per formula unit. Furthermore, parallel in situ PXRD experiments provided insight into sorbate-dependent phase switching during the sorption process. Specifically, CO2 sorption induced single-step phase switching (path I) solely between cp and lp phases consistent with the observed single-step type F-IVs sorption isotherm. By contrast, intermediate pore (ip) phases emerged during C2H4 and C2H6 desorption as well as C3H6 adsorption, although they remained undetectable in the sorption isotherms. To our knowledge, such a cp-lp-ip-cp transformation (path II) induced by C2H4/6 and accompanied by single-step type F-IVs sorption isotherms represents a novel type of phase transition mechanism in switching CNs. By virtue of Rietveld refinements and molecular simulations, we elucidated that the phase transformations are governed by cooperative local and global structural changes involving NCS- ligand reorientation, bpy ligand twist and rotation, cavity edge (Ni-bpy-Ni) deformation, and interlayer expansion and sliding.

Effects of Freeze-Drying Processes on the Acoustic Absorption Performance of Sustainable Cellulose Nanocrystal Aerogels.

Cellulose aerogels have great prospects for noise reduction applications due to their sustainable value and superior 3D interconnected porous structures. The drying principle is a crucial factor in the preparation process for developing high-performance aerogels, particularly with respect to achieving high acoustic absorption properties. In this study, multifunctional cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) aerogels were conveniently prepared using two distinct freeze-drying principles: refrigerator conventional freezing (RCF) and liquid nitrogen unidirectional freezing (LnUF). The results indicate that the rapid RCF process resulted in a denser CNC aerogel structure with disordered larger pores, causing a stronger compressive performance (Young's modulus of 40 kPa). On the contrary, the LnUF process constructed ordered structures of CNC aerogels with a lower bulk density (0.03 g/cm3) and smaller apertures, resulting in better thermal stability, higher diffuse reflection across visible light, and especially increased acoustic absorption performance at low-mid frequencies (600-3000 Hz). Moreover, the dissipation mechanism of sound energy in the fabricated CNC aerogels is predicted by a designed porous media model. This work not only paves the way for optimizing the performance of aerogels through structure control, but also provides a new perspective for developing sustainable and efficient acoustic absorptive materials for a wide range of applications.

Association between daytime napping and incident arrhythmias: A prospective cohort study and mendelian randomization analysis.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence has linked daytime napping with the risk of cardiovascular events. Cardiac arrhythmias are considered an early clinical stage for cardiovascular diseases. However, whether napping frequency is associated with incident arrhythmias remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to prospectively investigate the association between napping frequency and cardiac arrhythmias. METHODS: Daytime napping frequency was self-reported in response to touchscreen questionnaires. The primary outcomes were incident arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/Af), ventricular arrhythmia, and bradyarrhythmia. Cox regression analysis was conducted on the basis of 491,117 participants free of cardiac arrhythmias from the UK Biobank. The 2-sample mendelian randomization (MR) and 1-sample MR were used to ensure a causal effect of genetically predicted daytime napping on the risk of arrhythmias. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 11.91 years, 28,801 incident AF/Af cases, 4132 incident ventricular arrhythmias, and 11,616 incident bradyarrhythmias were documented. Compared with never/rarely napping, usually napping was significantly associated with higher risks of AF/Af (hazard ratio, 1.141; 95% CI, 1.083-1.203) and bradyarrhythmia (hazard ratio, 1.138; 95% CI, 1.049-1.235) but not ventricular arrhythmia after adjustment for various covariates. The 2-sample MR and 1-sample MR analysis showed that increased daytime napping frequency was likely to be a potential causal risk factor for AF/Af in FinnGen (odds ratio, 1.626; 95% CI, 1.061-2.943) and bradyarrhythmia in the UK Biobank (odds ratio, 1.005; 95% CI, 1.002-1.008). CONCLUSION: The results of this study add to the burgeoning evidence of an association between daytime napping frequency and an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias including AF/Af, ventricular arrhythmia, and bradyarrhythmia.

Histomorphological analysis of perfusion parameters and CNS lymphatic vessels in mice: an experimental method study.

To investigate the distribution and characteristics of lymphatic vessels within the central nervous system, we focus on the meninges of the spinal cord and brain parenchyma in mice. Additionally, we aim to provide experimental methods for obtaining optimal imaging and clear structures of lymphatic vessels, while optimizing the perfusion parameters to improve histomorphological quality. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups, with each group assigned a specific perfusion parameter based on perfusion volumes and temperatures. Immunofluorescence staining of lymphatics and blood vessels was performed on both meningeal and the brain tissue samples. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance to compare the groups, and a significant level of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Our study reports the presence of lymphatic vessels in the meninges of the spinal cord and brain parenchyma in mice. We highlight the crucial role of high perfusion volume of paraformaldehyde with low temperature in fixation for achieving optimal results. We provide experimental methods for obtaining optimal imaging and clear structures of lymphatic vessels in the meninges of the spinal cord and brain parenchyma in mice, which contribute to our understanding of the distribution and characteristics of lymphatic vessels within the central nervous system. Further research is warranted to explore the functional implications of these lymphatic vessels and their potential therapeutic significance in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.

Anti-inflammatory response-based risk assessment in acute type A aortic dissection: A national multicenter cohort study.

Background: Early identification of patients at high risk of operative mortality is important for acute type A aortic dissection (TAAD). We aimed to investigate whether patients with distinct risk stratifications respond differently to anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy. Methods: From 13 cardiovascular hospitals, 3110 surgically repaired TAAD patients were randomly divided into a training set (70%) and a test set (30%) to develop and validate a risk model to predict operative mortality using extreme gradient boosting. Performance was measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Subgroup analyses were performed by risk stratifications (low versus middle-high risk) and anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy (absence versus presence of ulinastatin use). Results: A simplified risk model was developed for predicting operative mortality, consisting of the top ten features of importance: platelet-leukocyte ratio, D-dimer, activated partial thromboplastin time, urea nitrogen, glucose, lactate, base excess, hemoglobin, albumin, and creatine kinase-MB, which displayed a superior discrimination ability (AUC: 0.943, 95 % CI 0.928-0.958 and 0.884, 95 % CI 0.836-0.932) in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Ulinastatin use was not associated with decreased risk of operative mortality among each risk stratification, however, ulinastatin use was associated with a shorter mechanical ventilation duration among patients with middle-high risk (defined as risk probability >5.0 %) (ß -1.6 h, 95 % CI [-3.1, -0.1] hours; P = 0.048). Conclusion: This risk model reflecting inflammatory, coagulation, and metabolic pathways achieved acceptable predictive performances of operative mortality following TAAD surgery, which will contribute to individualized anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy.

Ethane/Ethylene Separations in Flexible Diamondoid Coordination Networks via an Ethane-Induced Gate-Opening Mechanism.

Separating ethane (C2H6) from ethylene (C2H4) is an essential and energy-intensive process in the chemical industry. Here, we report two flexible diamondoid coordination networks, X-dia-1-Ni and X-dia-1-Ni0.89Co0.11, that exhibit gate-opening between narrow-pore (NP) and large-pore (LP) phases for C2H6, but not for C2H4. X-dia-1-Ni0.89Co0.11 thereby exhibited a type F-IV isotherm at 273 K with no C2H6 uptake and a high uptake (111 cm3 g-1, 1 atm) for the NP and LP phases, respectively. Conversely, the LP phase exhibited a low uptake of C2H4 (12.2 cm3 g-1). This C2H6/C2H4 uptake ratio of 9.1 for X-dia-1-Ni0.89Co0.11 far surpassed those of previously reported physisorbents, many of which are C2H4-selective. In situ variable-pressure X-ray diffraction and modeling studies provided insight into the abrupt C2H6-induced structural NP to LP transformation. The promise of pure gas isotherms and, more generally, flexible coordination networks for gas separations was validated by dynamic breakthrough studies, which afforded high-purity (99.9%) C2H4 in one step.

Penisimplicins A and B: Novel Polyketide-Peptide Hybrid Alkaloids from the Fungus Penicillium simplicissimum JXCC5.

In this study, two previously undescribed nitrogen-containing compounds, penisimplicins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from Penicillium simplicissimum JXCC5. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data. The absolute configuration of 2 was determined by Marfey's method, ECD calculation, and DP4+ analysis. Both structures of 1 and 2 feature an unprecedented manner of amino acid-derivatives attaching to a polyketide moiety by C-C bond. The postulated biosynthetic pathways for 1 and 2 were discussed. Additionally, compound 1 exhibited significant acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 6.35 µM.

64 picosecond time resolved time-correlated single photon counting imaging.

High-speed imaging of dynamic scenes is a challenging and important task in many applications. However, conventional imaging methods based on charge coupled devices or complementary metal oxide semiconductors have limitations in temporal resolution and photon sensitivity. To address this problem, we propose a novel high-speed imaging scheme that combines single-pixel imaging with single photon detection and time-correlated single photon counting. Our scheme can achieve high-speed imaging with 64 ps resolution by repeating the motion scenes and using binary outputs from single photon detectors. We demonstrate our scheme by reconstructing the switching process of a digital micro-mirror device and a liquid crystal spatial light modulator. Our scheme can be further improved to 1 ps resolution by using a more accurate time-correlated single photon counting system. Moreover, our scheme can adapt to different speed scenes by adjusting the temporal resolution and reducing the sampling time. Our high temporal resolution imaging scheme further expands the application areas of single-pixel imaging and provides solutions for scenes requiring single photon detection and higher temporal resolution, such as reproducible chemical reaction processes imaging, cellular or sub-cellular bio imaging, single-molecule imaging of rotary motors, high-speed equipment inspection, and other periodic high-speed scenes imaging.

RNF20 Regulates Oocyte Meiotic Spindle Assembly by Recruiting TPM3 to Centromeres and Spindle Poles.

Previously a ring finger protein 20 (RNF20) is found to be essential for meiotic recombination and mediates H2B ubiquitination during spermatogenesis. However, its role in meiotic division is still unknown. Here, it is shown that RNF20 is localized at both centromeres and spindle poles, and it is required for oocyte acentrosomal spindle organization and female fertility. RNF20-depleted oocytes exhibit severely abnormal spindle and chromosome misalignment caused by defective bipolar organization. Notably, it is found that the function of RNF20 in spindle assembly is not dependent on its E3 ligase activity. Instead, RNF20 regulates spindle assembly by recruiting tropomyosin3 (TPM3) to both centromeres and spindle poles with its coiled-coil motif. The RNF20-TPM3 interaction is essential for acentrosomal meiotic spindle assembly. Together, the studies uncover a novel function for RNF20 in mediating TPM3 recruitment to both centromeres and spindle poles during oocyte spindle assembly.