Marsdenia tenacissima genome reveals calcium adaptation and tenacissoside biosynthesis.

Marsdenia tenacissima is a medicinal plant widely distributed in the calcium-rich karst regions of southwest China. However, the lack of a reference genome has hampered the implementation of molecular techniques in its breeding, pharmacology and domestication. We generated the chromosome-level genome assembly in Apocynaceae using combined SMRT sequencing and Hi-C. The genome length was 381.76 Mb, with 98.9% of it found on 11 chromosomes. The genome contained 222.63 Mb of repetitive sequences and 21 899 predicted gene models, with a contig N50 of 6.57 Mb. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. tenacissima diverged from Calotropis gigantea at least 13.43 million years ago. Comparative genomics showed that M. tenacissima underwent ancient shared whole-genome duplication. This event, together with tandem duplication, contributed to 70.71% of gene-family expansion. Both pseudogene analysis and selective pressure calculations suggested calcium-related adaptive evolution in the M. tenacissima genome. Calcium-induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in cell-wall-related processes. Domains (e.g. Fasciclin and Amb_all) and cis-elements (e.g. MYB and MYC) frequently occurred in the coding and promoter regions of cell-wall DEGs, respectively, and the expression levels of these genes correlated significantly with those of calcium-signal-related transcription factors. Moreover, calcium addition increased tenacissoside I, G and H contents. The availability of this high-quality genome provides valuable genomic information for genetic breeding and molecular design, and lends insights into the calcium adaptation of M. tenacissima in karst areas.

Positive Synergy between the Helical Poly(phenylacetylene) Backbones and the Helical L-Proline Oligopeptide Pendants for Enhanced Enantioseparation Properties.

A series of optically active helical poly(phenylacetylene)s (PPA-Pro1, PPA-Pro3, PPA-Pro6, PPA-Pro9, and PPA-Pro12) bearing different chain lengths of L-proline oligopeptide in the side chains were obtained by polymerizing the corresponding novel phenylacetylene monomers. The monomer adopted a trans-rich helix structure when the L-proline oligopeptide chain length was longer, according to the optical activities and 2D-NMR analysis. The helical structure could be maintained and significantly influenced the polymers' helical conformation by introducing the L-proline oligopeptide to the pendants. By the way, the morphology of PPA-Pro3 was observed by atomic force microscope (AFM) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), and the information on the helix direction, pitch, and chain arrangement was obtained. Also, the chiral separation properties of these polymer-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs) were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The poly(phenylacetylene)s showed enhanced enantioseparation properties toward various racemates depending on the longer chain length of the L-proline oligopeptide in the pendants and the positive synergy between the helical backbone and helical side chains. Particularly, PPA-Pro9 showed comparable or even superior enantioseparation properties for racemates 2 and 9 to four commercial columns (Daicel Chiralpak or Chiralcel AD, AS, OD, and OT), indicating that these poly(phenylacetylene)-based CSPs have potential practical values. This work presented here provides inspiration for the further development of CSPs based on a new paradigm.

Trends in cardiovascular risk factor prevalence, treatment, and control among US adolescents aged 12 to 19 years, 2001 to March 2020.

BACKGROUND: Early-life cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are known to be associated with target organ damage during adolescence and premature cardiovascular morbidity and mortality during adulthood. However, contemporary data describing whether the prevalence of CVRFs and treatment and control rates have changed are limited. This study aimed to examine the temporal trends in the prevalence, treatment, and control of CVRFs among US adolescents over the past 2 decades. METHODS: This is a serial cross-sectional study using data from nine National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles (January 2001-March 2020). US adolescents (aged 12 to 19 years) with information regarding CVRFs (including hypertension, elevated blood pressure [BP], diabetes, prediabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, overweight, cigarette use, inactive physical activity, and poor diet quality) were included. Age-adjusted trends in CVRF prevalence, treatment, and control were examined. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to estimate changes in the prevalence, treatment, and control over time. The variation by sociodemographic characteristics were also described. RESULTS: A total of 15,155 US adolescents aged 12 to 19 years (representing ≈ 32.4 million people) were included. From 2001 to March 2020, there was an increase in the prevalence of prediabetes (from 12.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 10.2%-14.9%] to 37.6% [95% CI, 29.1%-46.2%]) and overweight/obesity (from 21.1% [95% CI, 19.3%-22.8%] to 24.8% [95% CI, 21.4%-28.2%]; from 16.0% [95% CI, 14.1%-17.9%] to 20.3% [95% CI, 17.9%-22.7%]; respectively), no improvement in the prevalence of elevated BP (from 10.4% [95% CI, 8.9%-11.8%] to 11.0% [95% CI, 8.7%-13.4%]), diabetes (from 0.7% [95% CI, 0.2%-1.2%] to 1.2% [95% CI, 0.3%-2.2%]), and poor diet quality (from 76.1% [95% CI, 74.0%-78.2%] to 71.7% [95% CI, 68.5%-74.9%]), and a decrease in the prevalence of hypertension (from 8.1% [95% CI, 6.9%-9.4%] to 5.5% [95% CI, 3.7%-7.3%]), hyperlipidemia (from 34.2% [95% CI, 30.9%-37.5%] to 22.8% [95% CI, 18.7%-26.8%]), cigarette use (from 18.0% [95% CI, 15.7%-20.3%] to 3.5% [95% CI, 2.0%-5.0%]), and inactive physical activity (from 83.0% [95% CI, 80.7%-85.3%] to 9.5% [95% CI, 4.2%-14.8%]). Sex and race/ethnicity affected the evolution of CVRF prevalence differently. Whilst treatment rates for hypertension and diabetes did not improve significantly (from 9.6% [95% CI, 3.5%-15.8%] to 6.0% [95% CI, 1.4%-10.6%]; from 51.0% [95% CI, 23.3%-78.7%] to 26.5% [95% CI, 0.0%-54.7%]; respectively), BP control was relatively stable (from 75.7% [95% CI, 56.8%-94.7%] to 73.5% [95% CI, 40.3%-100.0%]), while glycemic control improved to a certain extent, although it remained suboptimal (from 11.8% [95% CI, 0.0%-31.5%] to 62.7% [95% CI, 62.7%-62.7%]). CONCLUSIONS: From 2001 to March 2020, although prediabetes and overweight/obesity increased, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cigarette use, and inactive physical activity decreased among US adolescents aged 12 to 19 years, whereas elevated BP, diabetes, and poor diet quality remained unchanged. There were disparities in CVRF prevalence and trends across sociodemographic subpopulations. While treatment and control rates for hypertension and diabetes plateaued, BP control were stable, and improved glycemic control was observed.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale for the Transtheoretical Model: a confirmatory analysis among Chinese children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy has been recognized as a critical component in people's participation and maintenance of physical activity. This study aims to validate the Chinese version of the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESE) among Chinese children and adolescents using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on two primary and two secondary schools in central China. The ESE scale was translated into Chinese (ESE-C) using the standard forward-backward translation method. Data were analyzed using Mplus 8 for the CFA. RESULTS: The final model showed a satisfactory level of goodness-of-fit (CFI = 0.918; TLI = 0.905; SRMR = 0.043; RMSEA = 0.066), indicating a good construct validity of the ESE-C for children and adolescents in mainland China. Furthermore, the final ESE-C model achieved composite reliability values of 0.963 and average variance extraction values of 0.597, indicating sufficient convergent and discriminant validity. Besides, the Cronbach's alpha value was 0.964, demonstrating excellent internal consistency of the ESE-C scale. CONCLUSION: The ESE-C scale is a valid instrument for assessing exercise self-efficacy among children and adolescents in mainland China.

Ratiometric electrochemical determination of hydroxyl radical based on graphite paper modified with metal-organic frameworks and impregnated with salicylic acid.

Hydroxyl radical (•OH) detection is pivotal in medicine, biochemistry and environmental chemistry. Yet, electrochemical method-specific detection is challenging because of hydroxyl radicals' high reactivity and short half-life. In this study, we aimed to modify the electrode surface with a specific recognition probe for •OH. To achieve this, we conducted a one-step hydrothermal process to fabricate a CoZnMOF bimetallic organic framework directly onto conductive graphite paper (Gp). Subsequently, we introduced salicylic acid (SA) and methylene blue (MB), which easily penetrated the pores of CoZnMOF. By selectively capturing •OH by SA and leveraging the electrochemical signal generated by the reaction product, we successfully developed an electrochemical sensor Gp/CoZnMOF/SA + MB. The prepared sensor exhibited a good linear relationship with •OH concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 1200 nM, with a detection limit of 0.2 nM. Additionally, the sensor demonstrated excellent reproducibility and accuracy due to the incorporation of an internal reference. It exhibited remarkable selectivity for •OH detection, unaffected by other electrochemically active substances. The establishment of this sensor provides a way to construct MOF-modified sensors for the selective detection of other reactive oxygen species (ROS), offering a valuable experimental basis for ROS-related disease research and environmental safety investigations.

Using haematological indices to predict impaired liver function in DTC patients.

OBJECTIVE: In patients with normal liver function, patients with acute or chronic thyroid disease are more likely to develop liver dysfunction. Although the mechanisms underlying this process are not yet fully understood, it has been shown that hypothyroidism can lead to hepatic injury. We evaluated haematological function trends in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) at baseline and approximately 4 weeks after l-thyroxine withdrawal before radioactive iodine ablation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study, and 157 patients were enrolled. Logistic regression analysis was used to find significant predictors. Four weeks after LT4 withdrawal, 64 patients belonged to the group of liver injury, and 93 patients belonged to the group of normal liver function. RESULTS: Univariate analysis determined that platelet count (PC) (P=0.005), mean platelet volume (MPV) (P=0.013), platelet distribution width (PDW) (P=0.039) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) (P=0.008) were responsible risk factors for liver injury in DTC patients after withdrawal of levothyroxine (l-thyroxine). Multivariate analysis showed that slight increases in PC (OR: 2.243, P: 0.024) and ALC (OR: 0.398, P: 0.017) were closely associated with liver injury in DTC patients after 4 weeks LT4 withdrawal before radioactive iodine ablation. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that PC and ALC are independent predictors of hypo-related liver injury. Our study is the first to suggest that haematological indices can be used for predicting the development and progression of hypo-related liver disorders.

Dual-Mode Ratiometric Electrochemical and Turn-On Fluorescent Detection of Butyrylcholinesterase Utilizing a Single Probe for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

Biomarkers detection in blood with high accuracy is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. In this study, the proof-of-concept fabrication of a dual-mode sensor based on a single probe (Re-BChE) using a dual-signaling electrochemical ratiometric strategy and a "turn-on" fluorescent method is presented. The probe Re-BChE was synthesized in a single step and demonstrated dual mode response toward butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a promising biomarker of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Due to the specific hydrolysis reaction, the probe Re-BChE demonstrated a turn-on current response for BChE at -0.28 V, followed by a turn-off current response at -0.18 V, while the fluorescence spectrum demonstrated a turn-on response with an emission wavelength of 600 nm. The developed ratiometric electrochemical sensor and fluorescence detection demonstrated high sensitivity with BChE concentrations with a low detection limit of 0.08 µg mL-1 and 0.05 µg mL-1, respectively. Importantly, the dual-mode sensor presents the following advantages: (1) dual-mode readout can correct the impact of systematic or background error, thereby achieving more accurate results; (2) the responses of dual-mode readout originate from two distinct mechanisms and relatively independent signal transduction, in which there is no interference between two signaling routes. Additionally, compared with the reported single-signal electrochemical assays for BChE, both redox potential signals were detected in the absence of biological interference within a negative potential window. Furthermore, it was discovered that the outcomes of direct dual-mode electrochemical and fluorescence quantifications of the level of BChE in serum were in agreement with those obtained from the use of commercially available assay kits for BChE sensing. This method has the potential to serve as a useful point-of-care tool for the early detection of AD.

Design of High-Capacity MoS3 Decorated Nitrogen Doped Carbon Coated Cu2 S Electrode Structures with Dual Heterogenous Interfaces for Outstanding Sodium-Ion Storage.

The hierarchical Cu2 S@NC@MoS3 heterostructures have been firstly constructed by the high-capacity MoS3 and high-conductive N-doped carbon to co-decorate the Cu2 S hollow nanospheres. During the heterostructure, the middle N-doped carbon layer as the linker facilitates the uniform deposition of MoS3 and enhances the structural stability and electronic conductivity. The popular hollow/porous structures largely restrain the big volume changes of active materials. Due to the cooperative effect of three components, the new Cu2 S@NC@MoS3 heterostructures with dual heterogenous interfaces and small voltage hysteresis for sodium ion storage display a high charge capacity (545 mAh g-1 for 200 cycles at 0.5 A g-1 ), excellent rate capability (424 mAh g-1 at 15 A g-1 ) and ultra-long cyclic life (491 mAh g-1 for 2000 cycles at 3 A g-1 ). Except for the performance test, the reaction mechanism, kinetics analysis, and theoretical calculation have been performed to explain the reason of excellent electrochemical performance of Cu2 S@NC@MoS3 . The rich active sites and rapid Na+ diffusion kinetics of this ternary heterostructure is beneficial to the high efficient sodium storage. The assembled full cell matched with Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 @rGO cathode likewise displays remarkable electrochemical properties. The outstanding sodium storage performances of Cu2 S@NC@MoS3 heterostructures indicate the potential applications in energy storage fields.

Tyrosine-Conjugation Method for Evaluating BACE1 Activity Based on Silver Nanoparticles/Metal-Organic Framework Composites as Electrochemical Tags.

Beta-site secretase (BACE1) catalyzes the cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP), which process ultimately lead to plaque deposition in the brain of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, accurate monitor of BACE1 activity is essential to screen inhibitors for AD treatment. This study develops a sensitive electrochemical assay for probing BACE1 activity based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and tyrosine conjugation as tags and a marking method, respectively. An APP segment is firstly immobilized on aminated microplate reactor. Cytosine (C) rich sequence-templated AgNPs/Zr-based metal-organic framework (MOF) composite is modified by phenol groups, and then the prepared tag (ph-AgNPs@MOF) is captured in microplate surface by the conjugation reaction of phenolic groups between tyrosine and tag. After cleavage by BACE1, the solution containing ph-AgNPs@MOF tags is transferred to the screen-printed graphene electrode (SPGE) surface for voltammetric detection of AgNP signal. This sensitive detection for BACE1 provided an excellent linear relationship between 1 to 200 pM with a detection limit of 0.8 pM. Furthermore, this electrochemical assay is successfully applied for screening of BACE1 inhibitors. This strategy is also verified to be used for evaluation of BACE1 in serum samples.

Hybridization of helical poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing L-proline tripeptide pendants into porous silica microspheres as a solvent-tolerable chiral stationary phase for liquid chromatography.

A novel one-handed helical copoly(phenylacetylene) (CPA) bearing L-proline tripeptide pendants and a few triethoxysilyl residues was synthesized and hybridized into SiO2 porous microspheres (PMSs) during microsphere growth through the hydrolytic polycondensation of ethoxysilyl groups. Nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results verified the successful preparation of CPA and its hybrid product using SiO2 PMSs. The chiral recognition ability of the resulting CPA with a hybridized-type chiral stationary phase (HCSP) for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was investigated, revealing its high recognition ability for selected racemates. Moreover, the HCSP showed good solvent tolerability, thus broadening the selection of suitable eluents. The separation effect of the HCSP for the racemate N,N-diphenylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxamide (7) improved significantly after introducing CHCl3 in the eluent, resulting in separation factors equivalent or superior to common commercially available polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases. The proposed preparation strategy provides a new and valuable method for obtaining poly(phenylacetylene)-based HCSPs suitable for a wide range of applications and eluent conditions.

Low lean mass with obesity in older adults with hypertension: prevalence and association with mortality rate.

BACKGROUND: The influence of sarcopenic obesity (SO) on overall survival in older adults with hypertension has not been addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and mortality predictive value of various body composition phenotypes, focusing mainly on SO, in older adults with hypertension. METHODS: We included 1105 hypertensive patients aged ≥ 60 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004. Sarcopenia was broadly defined based on low lean mass (LLM; as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and was defined using appendicular lean mass (ALM) divided by height squared (ALM/height2), weight (ALM/weight), and body mass index (BMI; ALM/BMI), respectively. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, body fat percentage ≥ 30/42%, or waist circumference ≥ 102/88 cm. The prevalence of LLM with obesity was estimated according to each ALM index (ALMI). Multivariable Cox regression analysis and sensitivity analysis were used to examine the association between various body composition phenotypes and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: In older adults with hypertension, the prevalence of LLM with obesity by the ALM/height2 index (9.8%) was lower relative to the ALM/weight (11.7%) and ALM/BMI indexes (19.6%). After a median follow-up of 15.4 years, 642 deaths occurred. In the fully adjusted models, LLM with obesity was significantly associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-2.49, P = 0.008; HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.04-2.10, P = 0.028; HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02-1.66, P = 0.037; respectively) compared with the normal body phenotype, with no statistical differences found in individuals with LLM or obesity alone. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of LLM with obesity markedly differed in older adults with hypertension according to the 3 different ALMIs, varying from 9.8%, 11.7%, to 19.6%. Patients with both LLM and obesity had a higher risk of all-cause mortality. Further large, prospective, cohort studies are warranted to validate these findings and uncover underlying mechanisms.

Information dissemination during public health emergencies: analysing the international flow of COVID-19-related news.

A large-scale exchange of information between media across national borders is frequently observed when a worldwide public health emergency occurs. This study investigated the global news citation network in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic by analysing the network structure at different levels to identify important nodes and the relationships among news organisations. The results show that COVID-19-related international news flow had a complex and unequal pattern, with a few countries and media outlets occupying a prominent place in the network and three media groups played key but different roles in disseminating the news. It was jointly influenced by national traits, the relatedness between countries, and the pandemic emergency with public health risks. From a global perspective, the media of the United States, mainland China, and the United Kingdom played the most important parts in collaboration within the world media system in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uniformly Dispersed Sb-Nanodot Constructed by In Situ Confined Polymerization of Ionic Liquids for High-Performance Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Antimony (Sb) is a potential candidate anode for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) owing to its high theoretical capacity. However; in the process of potassium alloying reaction; the huge volume expansion (about 407%) leads to pulverization of active substance as well as loss of electrical contact resulting in rapidly declining capacity. Herein; uniformly dispersed Sb-Nanodot in carbon frameworks (Sb-ND@C) were constructed by in situ confined polymerization of ionic liquids. Attributed to the uniformly dispersed Sb-ND and confinement effect of carbon frameworks; as anode for PIBs; Sb-ND@C delivered a superior rate capability (320.1 mA h g-1 at 5 A g-1) and an outstanding cycling stability (486 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles; achieving 89.8% capacity retention). This work offers a facile route to prepare highly dispersed metal-Nanodot via the in situ polymerization of ionic liquid for high-performance metal-ion batteries.

[Role of brown adipose tissue in phlegm-dampness metabolic syndrome based on infrared thermal imaging].

This study aimed to explore the infrared manifestation and role of brown adipose tissue(BAT) in phlegm-dampness me-tabolic syndrome(MS), and to provide objective basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of phlegm-dampness MS. Subjects were selected from the department of endocrinology and ward in the South District of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from August 2021 to April 2022, including 20 in healthy control group, 40 in non phlegm-dampness MS group and 40 in phlegm-dampness MS group. General information, height and weight of the subjects were collected and body mass index(BMI) was calculated. Waist circumference(WC), systolic blood pressure(SBP) and diastolic blood pressure(DBP) was measured. Triglyceride(TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), fasting blood glucose(FBG), fasting insulin(FINS), leptin(LP), adiponectin(ADP) and fibroblast growth factor-21(FGF-21) were detected. The infrared thermal image of the supraclavicular region(SCR) of the subjects before and after cold stimulation test was collected by infrared thermal imager and the changes of infrared thermal image in the three groups were observed. In addition, the differences in the average body surface temperature of SCR among the three groups were compared, and the changes of BAT in SCR were analyzed. The results showed compared with the conditions in healthy control group, the levels of WC, SBP, DBP, TG and FPG in MS groups were increased(P<0.01), and the HDL-C level was decreased(P<0.01). Compared with non phlegm-dampness MS group, phlegm-dampness MS group had higher conversion score of phlegm dampness physique(P<0.01). According to the infrared heat map, there was no difference in the average body surface temperature of SCR among the three groups before cold stimulation. while after cold stimulation, the average body surface temperature of SCR in MS groups was lower than that in healthy control group(P<0.05). After cold stimulation, the maximum temperature of SCR and its arrival time in the three groups were as follows: healthy control group(3 min)>non phlegm-dampness MS group(4 min)>phlegm-dampness MS group(5 min). The thermal deviation of SCR was increased and the average body surface temperature of left and right sides were higher(P<0.01) in healthy control group and non phlegm-dampness MS group, while the thermal deviation of SCR did not change significantly in the phlegm-dampness MS group. Compared with that in healthy control group, the elevated temperature between left and right sides was lower(P<0.01, P<0.05), and compared with that in non phlegm-dampness MS group, the elevated temperature of left side was lower(P<0.05). The changes of the average body surface temperature of SCR in the three groups were in the order of healthy control group>non phlegm-dampness MS group>phlegm-dampness MS group. Compared with the conditions in healthy control group and non phlegm-dampness MS group, FINS, BMI and FGF-21 levels were increased(P<0.01,P<0.05), while ADP level was decreased(P<0.01, P<0.05) in phlegm-dampness MS group. Moreover, the LP level in phlegm-dampness MS group was higher than that in non phlegm-dampness MS group(P<0.01). It was observed in clinical trials that after cold stimulation, the average body surface temperature of SCR in MS patients was lower than that of the healthy people; the thermal deviation of SCR did not change significantly in the phlegm-dampness MS patients, and the difference in their elevated temperature was lower than that in the other two groups. These characteristics provided objective basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of phlegm-dampness MS. With abnormal BAT related indicators, it was inferred that the content or activity of BAT in SCR of phlegm-dampness MS patients were reduced. There was a high correlation between BAT and phlegm-dampness MS, and thus BAT might become an important potential target for the intervention in phlegm-dampness MS.

Cold Tolerance of ScCBL6 Is Associated with Tonoplast Transporters and Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

Plants that are adapted to harsh environments offer enormous opportunity to understand stress responses in ecological systems. Stipa capillacea is widely distributed in the frigid and arid region of the Tibetan Plateau, but its signal transduction system under cold stress has not been characterized. In this study, we isolated a cDNA encoding the signal transduction protein, ScCBL6, from S. capillacea, and evaluated its role in cold tolerance by ectopically expressing it in Arabidopsis. Full-length ScCBL6 encode 227 amino acids, and are clustered with CBL6 in Stipa purpurea and Oryza sativa in a phylogenetic analysis. Compared with tolerance in wild-type (WT) plants, ScCBL6-overexpressing plants (ScCBL6-OXP) were more tolerant to cold stress but not to drought stress, as confirmed by their high photosynthetic capacity (Fv/Fm) and survival rate under cold stress. We further compared their cold-responsive transcriptome profiles by RNA sequencing. In total, 3931 genes were differentially expressed by the introduction of ScCBL6. These gene products were involved in multiple processes such as the immune system, lipid catabolism, and secondary metabolism. A KEGG pathway analysis revealed that they were mainly enriched in plant hormone signal transduction and biomacromolecule metabolism. Proteins encoded by differentially expressed genes were predicted to be localized in chloroplasts, mitochondria, and vacuoles, suggesting that ScCBL6 exerts a wide range of functions. Based on its tonoplast subcellular location combined with integrated transcriptome and physiological analyses of ScCBL6-OXP, we inferred that ScCBL6 improves plant cold stress tolerance in Arabidopsis via the regulation of photosynthesis, redox status, and tonoplast metabolite transporters.

All-in-One Luminescent Lanthanide Coordination Polymer Nanoprobe for Facile Detection of Protein Kinase Activity.

This study developed a novel luminescent assay for kinase activity using metal-organic coordination polymer nanoparticles (Tb/ATP-Zn) as the probe. Tb/ATP-Zn, self-assembled by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), Zn2+, and Tb3+, is non-luminescent. Protein kinase A (PKA) can catalyze the transformation of ATP within Tb/ATP-Zn nanoparticles to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), which in turn effectively sensitizes the luminescence of Tb3+. Based on this mechanism, Tb/ATP-Zn can realize the facile luminescent "turn-on" sensing of protein kinase activity without the use of external ATP and substrate peptide. Under optimized conditions, the fluorescence intensities of Tb/ATP-Zn at 550 nm are linear with the PKA activity within a range of 0.3-1.5 U·µL-1. The LOD (S/N = 3) of this method is down to 0.001 U·µL-1. The presented assay also features high selectivity, long-term stability, fast response, and convenient operation. Furthermore, Tb/ATP-Zn was successfully employed for monitoring PKA activity in cell lysis solutions. Probe Tb/ATP-Zn is thus expectable to be a powerful tool for the practical study of PKA in relevant biological events.

Dual-Ligand Near-Infrared Luminescent Lanthanide-Based Metal-Organic Framework Coupled with In Vivo Microdialysis for Highly Sensitive Ratiometric Detection of Zn2+ in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Zinc, which is the second most abundant trace element in the human central nervous system, is closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, attempts to develop highly sensitive and selective sensing systems for Zn2+ in the brain have not been successful. Here, we used a one-step solvothermal method to design and prepare a metal-organic framework (MOF) containing the dual ligands, terephthalic acid (H2BDC) and 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (TPY), with Eu3+ as a metal node. This MOF is denoted as Eu-MOF/BDC-TPY. Adjustment of the size and morphology of Eu-MOF/BDC-TPY allowed the dual ligands to produce multiple luminescence peaks, which could be interpreted via ratiometric fluorescence to detect Zn2+ using the ratio of Eu3+-based emission, as the internal reference, and ligand-based emission, as the indicator. Thus, Eu-MOF/BDC-TPY not only displayed higher selectivity than other metal cations but also offered a highly accurate, sensitive, wide linear, color change-based technique for detecting Zn2+ at concentrations ranging from 1 nM to 2 µM, with a low limit of detection (0.08 nM). Moreover, Eu-MOF/BDC-TPY maintained structural stability and displayed a fluorescence intensity of at least 95.4% following storage in water for 6 months. More importantly, Eu-MOF/BDC-TPY sensed the presence of Zn2+ markedly rapidly (within 5 s), which was very useful in practical application. Furthermore, the results of our ratiometric luminescent method-based analysis of Zn2+ in AD mouse brains were consistent with those obtained using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Sensitivity enhancement of far-detuned RF field sensing based on Rydberg atoms dressed by a near-resonant RF field.

Rydberg-atom electrometers promise traceable standards for RF electrometry by enabling stable and uniform measurement. In this Letter, we propose an approach to increase the sensitivity of the Rydberg-atom electrometer for far-detuned RF field sensing. The key physical mechanism is the addition of a new ingredient-a local RF field near-resonant with a Rydberg transition-so that the far-detuned field can be detected by the shift of an Autler-Townes (AT) splitting peak, which can be dozens of times larger than the AC Stark shift of the electromagnetic induced transparency (EIT) signal without the near-resonant field. The method enables us to measure far-detuned fields with higher sensitivities, including sub-GHz RF fields (even DC electric fields) which are rarely involved in the existing sensitivity enhancement methods.

Luminescent Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets with Large π-Conjugated System: Design, Synthesis, and Detection of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Pesticides.

Two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheets, with largely exposed surface area and highly accessible active sites, have emerged as a novel kind of sensing material. Here, a luminescent 2D MOF nanosheet was designed and synthesized by a facile top-down strategy based on a three-dimensional (3D) layered MOF {[Zn(H2L)(H2O)2]·H2O}n (Zn-MOF; H4L = 3,5-bis(3',5'-dicarboxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole). With a large π-conjugated system and rigid planar structure, ligand H4L was elaborately selected to construct the bulk Zn-MOF, which can be readily exfoliated into 2D nanosheets, owing to the weak interlayer interactions and easy-to-release H2O molecules in the interspaces of 2D layers. Given the great threat posed to the ecological environment by anti-inflammatory drugs and pesticides, the developed luminescent Zn-MOF nanosheets were utilized to determine these organic pollutants, achieving highly selective and sensitive detection of diclofenac sodium (DCF) and tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMTD). Compared to the detection limits of 3D Zn-MOF (7.72 ppm for DCF, 6.01 ppm for TMTD), the obviously lower detection limits for 2D Zn-MOF nanosheets toward DCF (0.20 ppm) and TMTD (0.18 ppm) further revealed that the largely exposed surface area with rigid planar structure and ultralarge π-conjugated system greatly accelerated electron transfer, which brought about a vast improvement in response sensitivity. The remarkable quenching performance for DCF and TMTD stems from a combined effect of photoinduced electron transfer and competitive energy absorption. The possible sensing mechanism was systematically investigated by the studies of powder X-ray diffraction, UV-vis, luminescence lifetime, and density functional theory calculations.

Fabrication of Protonated Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets for Highly Efficient Iodine Capture from Water.

Radioactive iodine (129I and 131I), produced or released from nuclear-related activities, posed severe effects on both human health and environment. The efficient removal of radioiodine from aqueous medium and vapor phase is of paramount importance for the sustainable development of nuclear energy. Herein, a metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheet with a positive charge was constructed for the capture of iodine for the first time. The as-synthesized ultrathin nanosheets, with a thickness of 4.4 ± 0.1 nm, showed a record-high iodine adsorption capacity (3704.08 mg g-1) from aqueous solution, which is even higher than that from the vapor phase (3510.05 mg g-1). It can be ascribed to the fully interactions between the extensive accessible active sites on the largely exposed surface of 2D MOF nanosheets and the target pollutants, which also gave rise to fast adsorption kinetics with relative high removal efficiencies in the low concentrations, even in seawater. Moreover, a facile recyclability with fast desorption kinetics can also be achieved for the MOF nanosheets. The excellent iodine removal performance in aqueous solution demonstrated that the electrostatic attraction between MOF nanosheets with a positive charge and the negatively charged triiodide (I3-, the dominant form of iodine in aqueous solution) is the driving force in adsorption, which endows the adsorbents with the characteristics of fast adsorption and desorption kinetics. The adsorption mechanism was systematically verified by the studies of ζ potential, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectra.