Effects of micro- and nano-plastics on growth, antioxidant system, DMS, and DMSP production in Emiliania huxleyi.

Due to the potential impacts of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) on algal growth and thereby affect the climate-relevant substances, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS), we studied the polystyrene (PS) MPs and NPs of 1 µm and 80 nm impacts on the growth, chlorophyll content, reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant enzyme activity, and DMS/DMSP production in Emiliania huxleyi. E. huxleyi is a prominent oceanic alga that plays a key role in DMS and DMSP production. The results revealed that high concentrations of MPs and NPs inhibited the growth, carotenoid (Car), and Chl a concentrations of E. huxleyi. However, short-time exposure to low concentrations of PS MPs and NPs stimulated the growth of E. huxleyi. Furthermore, high concentrations of MPs and NPs resulted in an increase in the superoxide anion radical (O2.-) production rate and a decrease in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content compared with the low concentrations. Exposure to MPs and NPs at 5 mg L-1 induced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity as a response to scavenging ROS. High concentrations of MPs and NPs significantly inhibited the production of DMSP and DMS. The findings of this study support the potential ecotoxicological impacts of MPs and NPs on algal growth, antioxidant system, and dimethylated sulfur compounds production, which maybe potentially impact the global climate.

Prestrain Guided Yield of Large Single-Crystal Nickel Foils with High-Index Facets.

Single-crystal metal foils with high-index facets are currently being investigated owing to their potential application in the epitaxial growth of high-quality van der Waals (vdW) film materials, electrochemical catalysis, gas sensing and other fields. However, the controllable synthesis of large single-crystal metal foils with high-index facets remains a great challenge because high-index facets with high surface energy are not preferentially formed thermodynamically and kinetically. Herein, single-crystal nickel foils with a series of high-index facets are efficiently prepared by applying prestrain energy engineering technique, with the largest single-crystal foil exceeding 5×8 cm2 in size. In terms of thermodynamics, the internal mechanism of prestrain regulation on the formation of high-index facets is proposed. Molecular dynamics simulation is utilized to replicate and explain the phenomenon of multiple crystallographic orientations resulting from prestrain regulation. Additionally, large-sized and high-quality graphite films are successfully fabricated on single-crystal Ni(012) foils. Compared to the polycrystalline nickel, the graphite/single-crystal Ni(012) foil composites show more than five-fold increase in thermal conductivity, thereby showing great potential applications in thermal management. This study hence presents a novel approach for the preparation of single-crystal nickel foils with high-index facets, which is beneficial for the epitaxial growth of certain two-dimensional materials. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

CCR2/CCR5 antagonist cenicriviroc reduces colonic inflammation and fibrosis in experimental colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cenicriviroc (CVC) is a CCR2/CCR5 antagonist that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Our study evaluated its efficacy in colitis. METHODS: Mouse models of DSS-induced acute and chronic colitis were established. The efficacy of CVC in colitis was assessed by disease activity index (DAI) scores, histological assessment of inflammation and fibrosis, and expression assays of key molecules. In in vitro experiments, HT29 cell line was exposed to TNFα to study inflammatory signaling in intestinal epithelial cells. CCD-18Co colonic myofibroblasts and human primary colonic fibroblasts were activated by TGFß1 to mimic fibroblast activation. RESULTS: In HT29 cells, CVC significantly reduced mRNA expression of CCL5 (P < 0.01) but had no effect on CCL2. Furthermore, CVC reduced downstream CX3CL1 (P < 0.01) and TNFα (P < 0.05) expression, thereby inhibiting inflammatory progression. In acute colitis mice, CVC significantly reduced DAI scores and serum TNFα levels (P < 0.05) and attenuated colonic inflammation as shown by HE staining. Meanwhile, CVC had no adverse effects on the liver, heart, and kidney of mice. On the other hand, in cellular models of chronic colitis, CVC decreased the expression of fibrosis markers, including FN, CTGF, α-SMA, and MMP9, and inhibited TGFß1-induced fibrotic activation (P < 0.01). In addition, CVC attenuated colonic fibrosis in chronic colitis mice. Moreover, CVC significantly promoted autophagy, which contributed to its regulation of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: CVC significantly inhibited inflammation through CCL5/CCR5 signaling without damaging vital organs and suppressed fibrotic activation in chronic colitis, suggesting its great potential to relieve colonic inflammation and fibrosis.

Driving force of value reversal in Chinese overleveraged firms: The mechanism and path of private placement.

To stimulate economic growth, China has launched multiple economic stimulus plans in recent years, intensifying corporate debt financing and subsequently elevating the leverage levels. Addressing and effectively reducing the leverage levels of our country's enterprises has emerged as a pressing issue in the trajectory of our economic development. This paper primarily investigates the drivers, pathways, and mechanisms for reversing the over-leveraged values of enterprises. Key findings include: (1) Excessive indebtedness exerts a negative impact on corporate value, with the suppressing effect intensifying as the degree of over-leverage increases; (2) Over-leveraged enterprises can effectively decrease their debt levels and enhance their value through private placement. Further research suggests that this mechanism operates by amplifying the operational leverage of over-leveraged enterprises post private placement and alleviating financing constraints, thereby elevating corporate value. (3) Compared to non-state-owned enterprises, state-owned enterprises exhibit higher levels of indebtedness. Among over-leveraged firms, enhancements in corporate governance and increased investment efficiency can positively transform corporate value. This study offers valuable insights for the ongoing supply-side structural reforms and governance guidance from the regulatory bodies.

Crohn's disease treatment and memory T-cell subset changes: insights from a case series.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with significant morbidity, affecting millions worldwide. The intricacies of immune responses in CD, especially post-treatment, remain a vital area of exploration. While memory T (Tm)-cell subsets play a pivotal role in adaptive immunity, their specific function in patients with CD after treatment is not well-understood. This study aims to investigate the effect and function of Tm-cell subsets in these patients, addressing a crucial knowledge gap in the context of CD therapeutics. Methods: A total of eight patients diagnosed with CD were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. All patients were treated with either anti-inflammatory agents, immunosuppressive drugs, or a combination of both. For comparison, healthy donors were enrolled based on exclusion of autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymphocytes were isolated from blood and lymph node tissue respectively. The phenotype and cytokine production of T lymphocytes from both CD patients and healthy donors were analyzed using flow cytometry. Statistical comparisons of the outcomes between CD patients and healthy donors were made using Mann-Whitney test (two-tailed) and Student t-test. Results: Post-treatment CD patients exhibited an altered T cell distribution with a notable increase in CD8+ T cells in PBMCs (P=0.0005), and altered frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). Tm cells showed decreased interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production, with significant alterations in the frequency of IFN-γ-producing CD8+ stem cell-like Tm (Tscm) cells in lesions of the MLNs from patients with CD (CD-M-Lys) compared to healthy MLNs from patients with CD (N-M-Lys) (P=0.0152). Differences in tissue-resident Tm (Trm)-cell subset frequencies were observed between the MLNs and small intestinal mucosa in CD patients. Conclusions: The treatments with anti-inflammatory agents and/or immunosuppressive drugs have a significant effect on the frequency and function of Tm-cell subsets. Clinically, these findings suggest a potential therapeutic avenue in modulating Tm-cell responses, which might be particularly beneficial for conditions where immune response modulation is crucial. Further clinical studies are warranted to explore the full therapeutic implications of these findings.

Impulse oscillometry in the diagnosis of cough variant asthma in children.

BACKGROUND: Cough variant asthma (CVA) is one of the most common causes of chronic cough in children worldwide. The diagnosis of CVA in children remains challenging. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of impulse oscillometry (IOS) pulmonary function in children with CVA. METHODS: This study included children aged 4 to 12 years diagnosed with CVA who underwent IOS pulmonary function and bronchodilation (BD) tests. A control group of healthy children was matched. Pre- and post-BD IOS parameters were recorded and presented as mean ± standard deviation or median. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the discriminatory potential of the IOS parameters for diagnosing CVA. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients with CVA and 65 control subjects were included. The baseline IOS parameters in the CVA group, except X5%pred, were significantly greater compared to the control group. After inhalation of salbutamol sulfate, all IOS parameters improved significantly in the CVA group. However, Z5%pred, R5%pred, and R20%pred remained greater in the CVA group compared to the control group. The improvement rates of IOS parameters in the CVA group significantly surpassed those in the control group. The ROC curve results for pre-BD IOS parameters and the improvement rate during the BD test showed that the combinations of pre-Z5%pred+△Z5% and pre-R5%pred+△R5% achieved the highest AUC value of 0.920 and 0.898, respectively. The AUC values of these combined parameters surpassed those of individual ones. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that children with CVA exhibit greater IOS parameters compared to healthy children. The changes in IOS parameters during the BD test provided valuable diagnostic information for CVA, and the combination of various parameters can help pediatricians accurately identify CVA in children.

Clinical and histopathological factors for recurrence and metastasis in lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma in Chinese patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association of metabolism-related proteins and clinicopathological features with poor prognosis in lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (LGACC). METHODS: Clinicopathological data for 39 Chinese patients with LGACC enrolled were retrospectively analysed. Disease progression included death, recurrence, further nodal metastasis, and distant metastasis. Expression of ASCT2 and GLS1 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for risk factor analyses. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, 14 patients (35.9%) developed local recurrence, 13 patients (33.3%) developed distant metastasis, 3 patients (7.7%) developed lymph node metastasis, and 9 patients (23.1%) died. Among the 13 patients who developed distant metastasis, lung metastasis was observed in 8 patients (61.5%), the brain in 8 patients (61.5%), and bone in 1 patient (7.7%). ASCT2 was expressed in 16 (57.14%) cases, while GLS1 had high expression in 19 (67.9%) cases. Advanced T category (≥T3), bone erosion, basaloid subtype, and ASCT2 (-) were associated with disease progression. Basaloid subtype was an independent risk factor for local recurrence (P = 0.028; HR, 12.12; 95% CI, 1.3-111.5). ASCT2(-) was an independent risk factor for distant metastasis (P = 0.016; HR, 14.46; 95% CI, 1.6-127.5) and was associated with basaloid subtype (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: For LGACC, ≥T3 category, basaloid subtype, and bone erosion were high-risk predictors. ASCT2(-) was an independent risk factor for distant metastasis, which suggested that it could be a potential biomarker for LGACC.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and human health outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence on the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and human health outcomes has grown exponentially, specific health outcomes and their potential associations with PFASs have not been conclusively evaluated. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search through the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to February 29, 2024, to identify systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies examining the associations between the PFASs and multiple health outcomes. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool, and credibility of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria. The protocol of this umbrella review (UR) had been registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42023480817). RESULTS: The UR identified 157 meta-analyses from 29 articles. Using the AMSTAR measurement tool, all articles were categorized as of moderate-to-high quality. Based on the GRADE assessment, significant associations between specific types of PFASs and low birth weight, tetanus vaccine response, and triglyceride levels showed high certainty of evidence. Moreover, moderate certainty of evidence with statistical significance was observed between PFASs and health outcomes including lower BMI z-score in infancy, poor sperm progressive motility, and decreased risk of preterm birth as well as preeclampsia. Fifty-two (33%) associations (e.g., PFASs and gestational hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc) presented low certainty evidence. Additionally, eighty-five (55%) associations (e.g., PFASs with infertility, lipid metabolism, etc) presented very low certainty evidence. CONCLUSION: High certainty of evidence supported that certain PFASs were associated with the incidence of low birth weight, low efficiency of the tetanus vaccine, and low triglyceride levels.

Three-Dimensional Metal-Organic Framework@Cellulose Skeleton-Reinforced Composite Polymer Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Battery.

High-safety and high-energy-density solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) attract tremendous interest in both academia and industry. Especially, composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) can overcome the limitations of single-component solid-state electrolytes. In this work, a strategy of combining a rigid functional skeleton with a soft polymer electrolyte to prepare reinforced CPEs was adopted. The in situ grown zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with three-dimensional cellulose fiber skeleton (ZIF-67@CF) and succinonitrile (SN) plasticizer into poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) together form ZIF-67@CF/PEO-SN CPEs. The addition of ZIF-67@CF and SN to PEO synergistically enhanced the physical and electrochemical properties of CPEs. Furthermore, the conduction mechanism of lithium-ion (Li+) in CPEs was studied using density functional theory. It is impressive that the ZIF-67@CF/PEO-SN CPEs at 30 °C exhibit a high ionic conductivity of 1.17 × 10-4 S cm-1, a competitive Li+ transference number of 0.40, a wide electrochemical window of 5.0 V, a notable tensile strength of 18.7 MPa, and superior lithium plating/stripping stability (>550 h at 0.1 mA cm2). Such favorable features endowed LiFePO4/(ZIF-67@CF/PEO-SN)/Li cell at 30 °C with a high discharging capacity (152.5 mA h g-1 at 0.2 C), a long cycling lifespan (>150 cycles with 99% capacity retention), and superior operating safety. This work provides insights and promotes the application of functionalized CPEs for SSLMBs.

Fe-CGS Effectively Inhibits the Dynamic Migration and Transformation of Cadmium and Arsenic in Soil.

The iron-modified coal gasification slag (Fe-CGS) material has excellent performance in purifying heavy-metal-contaminated water due to its good surface properties and adsorption capacities. However, it is unclear whether it can provide long-term simultaneous stabilization of Cd and As in composite-contaminated soils in extreme environments. This study investigated the long-term stabilization of Cd and As in acidic (JLG) and alkaline (QD) soils by simulating prolonged heavy rainfall with the addition of Fe-CGS. Multiple extraction methods were used to analyze the immobilization mechanisms of Cd and As in soil and their effects on bioavailability. The results indicate that the stabilization efficiency was related to the dosage of Fe-CGS. The concentrations of Cd and As in the JLG soil leachate were reduced by 77.6% (2.0 wt%) and 87.8% (1.0 wt%), respectively. Additionally, the availability of Cd and As decreased by 46.7% (2.0 wt%) and 53.0% (1.0 wt%), respectively. In the QD soil leachate, the concentration of Cd did not significantly change, while the concentration of As decreased by 92.3% (2.0 wt%). Furthermore, the availability of Cd and As decreased by 22.1% (2.0 wt%) and 40.2% (1.0 wt%), respectively. Continuous extraction revealed that Fe-CGS facilitated the conversion of unstable, acid-soluble Cd into oxidizable Cd and acid-soluble Cd. Additionally, it promoted the transformation of both non-specifically and specifically adsorbed As into amorphous iron oxide-bound and residual As. Fe-CGS effectively improved the soil pH, reduced the bioavailability of Cd and As, and blocked the migration of Cd and As under extreme rainfall leaching conditions. It also promoted the transformation of Cd and As into more stable forms, exhibiting satisfactory long-term stabilization performance for Cd and As.

Identification and Positioning of Abnormal Maritime Targets Based on AIS and Remote-Sensing Image Fusion.

The identification of maritime targets plays a critical role in ensuring maritime safety and safeguarding against potential threats. While satellite remote-sensing imagery serves as the primary data source for monitoring maritime targets, it only provides positional and morphological characteristics without detailed identity information, presenting limitations as a sole data source. To address this issue, this paper proposes a method for enhancing maritime target identification and positioning accuracy through the fusion of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and satellite remote-sensing imagery. The AIS utilizes radio communication to acquire multidimensional feature information describing targets, serving as an auxiliary data source to complement the limitations of image data and achieve maritime target identification. Additionally, the positional information provided by the AIS can serve as maritime control points to correct positioning errors and enhance accuracy. By utilizing data from the Jilin-1 Spectral-01 satellite imagery with a resolution of 5 m and AIS data, the feasibility of the proposed method is validated through experiments. Following preprocessing, maritime target fusion is achieved using a point-set matching algorithm based on positional features and a fuzzy comprehensive decision method incorporating attribute features. Subsequently, the successful fusion of target points is utilized for positioning error correction. Experimental results demonstrate a significant improvement in maritime target positioning accuracy compared to raw data, with over a 70% reduction in root mean square error and positioning errors controlled within 4 pixels, providing relatively accurate target positions that essentially meet practical requirements.

Independent effect of the triglyceride-glucose index on all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index serves as a reliable proxy for insulin resistance (IR). IR has been linked to heightened incidence, prevalence, or severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Prior research indicates that critically ill patients are prone to developing IR. Nevertheless, few studies have delved into the correlation between IR and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with COPD and asthma. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the association between the TyG index and all-cause mortality in patients with COPD and asthma, with the goal of assessing the impact of IR on the prognosis of this patient population. METHODS: This is a retrospective study, and all data are from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) critical care database. This study included 684 ICU patients with COPD and asthma and divided them into quartiles based on TyG index levels. The primary outcomes of this study were all-cause mortality during follow-up, encompassing mortality at 30 days, 90 days, and 180 days. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare all-cause mortality among the above four groups. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to examine the association between TyG index and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with COPD and asthma. Restricted cubic spline analysis was used to assess potential nonlinear association between the TyG index and the primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 684 patients (53.9% female) were included. The 90-days all-cause mortality rate and 180-days all-cause mortality were 11.7% and 12.3%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant association between the TyG index and both 90-days all-cause mortality (log-rank p = .039) and 180-days all-cause mortality (log-rank p = .017). Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed a significant association between the TyG index and 90-days all-cause mortality in both the unadjusted model (HR, 1.30 [95% CI 1.08-1.57] p = .005) and the model adjusted for age, gender, and diabetes (HR, 1.38 [95% CI 1.15-1.67] p < .001). Similarly, the TyG index was associated with 180-days all-cause mortality in the unadjusted model (HR, 1.30 [95% CI 1.09-1.56] p = .004) and the model adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes (HR, 1.38 [95% CI 1.15-1.66] p < .001). The restricted cubic splines (RCS) regression model indicated a significant nonlinear association between the TyG index and both 90-days and 180-days all-cause mortality. Specifically, TyG index >4.8 was associated with an increased risk of mortality at both 90 days and 180 days. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our results extend the utility of the TyG index to critically ill patients with COPD and asthma. Our study shows that the TyG index is a potential predictor of all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with COPD and asthma. In addition, in patients with a TyG index exceeding 4.8, there was a heightened risk of mortality. Measuring the TyG index may help with risk stratification and prognosis prediction in critically ill patients with COPD and asthma. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Investigating the Role of ß-Disodium Glycerophosphate and Urea in Promoting Growth of Streptococcus thermophilus from Omics-Integrated Genome-Scale Models.

This study investigates the impact of urea and ß-GP on the growth of Streptococcus thermophilus S-3, a bacterium commonly used in industrial fermentation processes. Through a series of growth experiments, transcriptome, metabolome, and omics-based analyses, the research demonstrates that both urea and ß-GP can enhance the biomass of S. thermophilus, with urea showing a more significant effect. The optimal urea concentration for growth was determined to be 3 g/L in M17 medium. The study also highlights the metabolic pathways influenced by urea and ß-GP, particularly the galactose metabolism pathway, which is crucial for cell growth when lactose is the substrate. The integration of omics data into the genome-scale metabolic model of S. thermophilus, iCH502, allowed for a more accurate prediction of metabolic fluxes and growth rates. The study concludes that urea can serve as a viable substitute for ß-GP in the cultivation of S. thermophilus, offering potential cost and efficiency benefits in industrial fermentation processes. The findings are supported by validation experiments with 11 additional strains of S. thermophilus, which showed increased biomass in UM17 medium.

Influence of the community assemblage on sulfur distributions in the South China sea.

Marine distribution of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and its cleavage product dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is greatly affected by the community structures of bacteria, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. Spatial distributions of dissolved and particulate DMSP (DMSPd,p), and DMS were measured and their relationships with DMSP lyase activity (DLA), abundance of DMSP-consuming bacteria (DCB), and the community structures of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and bacteria were determined during summer in the South China Sea (SCS). The depth distributions of DMSPd,p exhibited a similar trend with Chl a, reaching their maxima in the mixing layer. The DMS concentration was positively correlated with DCB abundance and DLA, indicating that DCB and DMSP lyase had a significant effect on DMS production. High DMS concentrations in the horizontal distribution coincided with high DCB abundance and DLA and may be due to the rapid growth of phytoplankton resulting from the high dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentration brought by the cold vortices. Moreover, the highest copepod abundance at station G3 coincided with the highest DMS concentrations there among stations B4, F2, and G3. These results suggest that copepod may play an important role in DMS production. The bacterial SAR11 clade was positively correlated with DLA, indicating its significant contribution to DMSP degradation in the SCS. These findings contribute to the understanding of the effect of the community assemblage on DMSP/DMS distributions in the SCS dominated by mesoscale vortices.

"One-Click Restart" Recycling of Metal-Free Perovskite X-Ray Detectors.

Halide perovskites have shown great potential in X-ray detection due to outstanding optoelectronic properties. However, finding a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable method for handling end-of-life devices has remained challenging. Here, a "One-Click Restart" eco-friendly recycling strategy is introduced for end-of-life perovskite X-ray detectors. This method, utilizing water, allows for the recapture and reuse of both perovskite and conductor materials. The process is straightforward and environmentally friendly, eliminating the need for further chemical treatment, purification, additional additives or catalysts, and complex equipment. A sustainable device cycle is developed by reconstructing flexible perovskite membranes for wearable electronics from recycled materials. Large-scale, flexible membranes made from metal-free perovskite DABCO-N2H5-I3 (DABCO = N-N'-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octonium) achieve remarkably impressive average sensitivity of 6204 ± 268 µC Gyair -1 cm-2 and a low detection limit of 102.3 nGyair s-1, which makes highly effective for X-ray imaging. The sensitivity of recycled flexible devices not only matches that of single-crystal devices made with fresh materials but also ranks as the highest among all metal-free perovskite X-ray detectors. "One-Click Restart" applies to scalable flexible devices derived from aged single-crystal counterparts, offering significant cost, time, and energy savings compared to their single-crystal equivalents. Such advantages significantly boost future market competitiveness.

Harnessing photosynthetic C18O16O discrimination dynamics under leaf water nonsteady state to estimate mesophyll conductance: a new, regression-based method.

Mesophyll conductance (gm) is a crucial plant trait that can significantly limit photosynthesis. Measurement of photosynthetic C18O16O discrimination (Δ18O) has proved to be the only viable means of resolving gm in both C3 and C4 plants. However, the currently available methods to exploit Δ18O for gm estimation are error prone due to their inadequacy in constraining the degree of oxygen isotope exchange (θ) during mesophyll CO2 hydration. Here, we capitalized on experimental manipulation of leaf water isotopic dynamics to establish a novel, nonsteady state, regression-based approach for simultaneous determination of gm and θ from online Δ18O measurements. We demonstrated the methodological and theoretical robustness of this new Δ18O-gm estimation approach and showed through measurements on several C3 and C4 species that this approach can serve as a benchmark method against which to identify previously-unrecognized biases of the existing Δ18O-gm methods. Our results highlight the unique value of this nonsteady state-based approach for contributing to ongoing efforts toward quantitative understanding of mesophyll conductance for crop yield improvement and carbon cycle modeling.

Targeting microbiota-immune-synaptic plasticity to explore the effect of tea polyphenols on improving memory in the aged type 2 diabetic rat model.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to explore whether TP could improve memory in the aged type 2 diabetic rat model by regulating microbiota-immune-synaptic plasticity axis. METHODS: The experiment was divided into two parts. Firstly, to investigate the effects of TP on the physiopathology of the aged T2DM model rats, rats were randomly divided into the Normal control group, the aged group, the Aged T2DM model group, the TP 75, 150, 300 mg/kg groups, the 150 mg/kg Piracetam group and the 3 mg/kg Rosiglitazone group. Then, to further verify whether TP improved memory in aged T2DM rat model by regulating intestinal flora, the fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from the rats in the 300 mg/kg TP group into the rats in the aged T2DM model group was carried out. Effects on gut microbiota, colonic integrity (epithelial tight junction proteins), and endotoxemia (serum LPS) were examined, along with synaptic structure, synaptic plasticity-related structural proteins and inflammation signaling of the hippocampus in our study. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that TP alleviated memory impairments in the aged T2DM rat model. The specific outcomes were as follows: TP 300 mg/kg corrected the gut dysbacteriosis, alleviated intestinal permeability reduction and peripheral/central inflammation, inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Meanwhile, TP improved the synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of the aged T2DM model rats, whose expressions of SYN, PSD 95, NMDAR1 and GluR1 in hippocampus were significantly up-regulated. Surprisingly, rats of the FMT group displayed the same changes. DISCUSSION: TP improves the memory in aged T2DM rat model. The mechanism may be related to the alteration of gut flora, which can inhibit hippocampal TLR4/NF-κB signaling to attenuate neuroinflammation, then improve synaptic plasticity. The study proposes that TP interventions aimed at manipulating the gut microbiota may hold great potential as an effective approach for preventing and treating this disease.

Novel insights into TCR-T cell therapy in solid neoplasms: optimizing adoptive immunotherapy.

Adoptive immunotherapy in the T cell landscape exhibits efficacy in cancer treatment. Over the past few decades, genetically modified T cells, particularly chimeric antigen receptor T cells, have enabled remarkable strides in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Besides, extensive exploration of multiple antigens for the treatment of solid tumors has led to clinical interest in the potential of T cells expressing the engineered T cell receptor (TCR). TCR-T cells possess the capacity to recognize intracellular antigen families and maintain the intrinsic properties of TCRs in terms of affinity to target epitopes and signal transduction. Recent research has provided critical insight into their capability and therapeutic targets for multiple refractory solid tumors, but also exposes some challenges for durable efficacy. In this review, we describe the screening and identification of available tumor antigens, and the acquisition and optimization of TCRs for TCR-T cell therapy. Furthermore, we summarize the complete flow from  laboratory to clinical applications of TCR-T cells. Last, we emerge future prospects for improving therapeutic efficacy in cancer world with combination therapies or TCR-T derived products. In conclusion, this review depicts our current understanding of TCR-T cell therapy in solid neoplasms, and provides new perspectives for expanding its clinical applications and improving therapeutic efficacy.

New Indole Alkaloids from the Fungus Talaromyces assiutensis JTY2.

Three new indole alkaloids, named talatensindoids A-C (1-3), together with two known biogenetically related indole alkaloids tryptamine (4) and L-tryptophan (5) were isolated from the Talaromyces assiutensis JTY2 based on the guidance of OSMAC approach. The structures of these indole alkaloids were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configuration of 3 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compound 1 represent the rare example of a chlorine-substituted indole alkaloid from natural products. The inhibitory activity of compounds 1-5 against two phytopathogenic fungi and three phytopathogenic bacteria was evaluated. Compound 1 exhibited broad spectrum antibacterial activities.

Soybean steroids improve crop abiotic stress tolerance and increase yield.

Sterols have long been associated with diverse fields, such as cancer treatment, drug development, and plant growth; however, their underlying mechanisms and functions remain enigmatic. Here, we unveil a critical role played by a GmNF-YC9-mediated CCAAT-box transcription complex in modulating the steroid metabolism pathway within soybeans. Specifically, this complex directly activates squalene monooxygenase (GmSQE1), which is a rate-limiting enzyme in steroid synthesis. Our findings demonstrate that overexpression of either GmNF-YC9 or GmSQE1 significantly enhances soybean stress tolerance, while the inhibition of SQE weakens this tolerance. Field experiments conducted over two seasons further reveal increased yields per plant in both GmNF-YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing plants under drought stress conditions. This enhanced stress tolerance is attributed to the reduction of abiotic stress-induced cell oxidative damage. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses shed light on the upregulation of multiple sterol compounds, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, in GmNF-YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing soybean plants under stress conditions. Intriguingly, the application of soybean steroids, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, significantly improves drought tolerance in soybean, wheat, foxtail millet, and maize. These findings underscore the pivotal role of soybean steroids in countering oxidative stress in plants and offer a new research strategy for enhancing crop stress tolerance and quality from gene regulation to chemical intervention.