Directional electronic tuning of Ni nanoparticles by interfacial oxygen bridging of support for catalyzing alkaline hydrogen oxidation.

Metallic nickel (Ni) is a promising candidate to substitute Pt-based catalysts for hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), but huge challenges still exist in precise modulation of the electronic structure to boost the electrocatalytic performances. Herein, we present the use of single-layer Ti3C2Tx MXene to deliberately tailor the electronic structure of Ni nanoparticles via interfacial oxygen bridges, which affords Ni/Ti3C2Tx electrocatalyst with exceptional performances for HOR in an alkaline medium. Remarkably, it shows a high kinetic current of 16.39 mA cmdisk-2 at the overpotential of 50 mV for HOR [78 and 2.7 times higher than that of metallic Ni and Pt/C (20%), respectively], also with good durability and CO antipoisoning ability (1,000 ppm) that are not available for conventional Pt/C (20%) catalyst. The ultrahigh conductivity of single-layer Ti3C2Tx provides fast transmission of electrons for Ni nanoparticles, of which the uniform and small sizes endow them with high-density active sites. Further, the terminated -O/-OH functional groups on Ti3C2Tx directionally capture electrons from Ni nanoparticles via interfacial Ni-O bridges, leading to obvious electronic polarization. This could enhance the Nids-O2p interaction and weaken Nids-H1s interaction of Ni sites in Ni/Ti3C2Txenabling a suitable H-/OH-binding energy and thus enhancing the HOR activity.

Evidence for electron-hole crystals in a Mott insulator.

The coexistence of correlated electron and hole crystals enables the realization of quantum excitonic states, capable of hosting counterflow superfluidity and topological orders with long-range quantum entanglement. Here we report evidence for imbalanced electron-hole crystals in a doped Mott insulator, namely, α-RuCl3, through gate-tunable non-invasive van der Waals doping from graphene. Real-space imaging via scanning tunnelling microscopy reveals two distinct charge orderings at the lower and upper Hubbard band energies, whose origin is attributed to the correlation-driven honeycomb hole crystal composed of hole-rich Ru sites and rotational-symmetry-breaking paired electron crystal composed of electron-rich Ru-Ru bonds, respectively. Moreover, a gate-induced transition of electron-hole crystals is directly visualized, further corroborating their nature as correlation-driven charge crystals. The realization and atom-resolved visualization of imbalanced electron-hole crystals in a doped Mott insulator opens new doors in the search for correlated bosonic states within strongly correlated materials.

Electronic Self-Passivation of Single Vacancy in Black Phosphorus via Ionization.

We report that monoelemental black phosphorus presents a new electronic self-passivation scheme of single vacancy (SV). By means of low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and noncontact atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate that the local reconstruction and ionization of SV into negatively charged SV^{-} leads to the passivation of dangling bonds and, thus, the quenching of in-gap states, which can be achieved by mild thermal annealing or STM tip manipulation. SV exhibits a strong and symmetric Friedel oscillation (FO) pattern, while SV^{-} shows an asymmetric FO pattern with local perturbation amplitude reduced by one order of magnitude and a faster decay rate. The enhanced passivation by forming SV^{-} can be attributed to its weak dipolelike perturbation, consistent with density-functional theory numerical calculations. Therefore, self-passivated SV^{-} is electrically benign and acts as a much weaker scattering center, which may hold the key to further enhance the charge mobility of black phosphorus and its analogs.

Temperature dependent perylene fluorescence as a probe of local polymer glass transition dynamics.

We demonstrate how the temperature dependence of perylene's fluorescence emission spectrum doped in bulk polymer matrices is sensitive to the local glass transition dynamics of the surrounding polymer segments. Focusing on the first fluorescence peak, we show that the intensity ratio IRatio(T) = IPeak(T)/ISRR between the first peak and a self referencing region (SRR) has a temperature dependence resulting from the temperature-dependent nonradiative decay pathway of the excited perylene dye that is influenced by its intermolecular collisions with the surrounding polymers segments. For different polymer matrices, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP), and polycarbonate (PC), we demonstrate that IRatio(T) exhibits a transition from a non-Arrhenius behavior above the glass transition temperature Tg of the polymer to an Arrhenius temperature dependence with constant activation energy E below the Tg of the polymer matrix, indicating perylene's sensitivity to cooperative α-relaxation dynamics of the polymer matrix. This transition in temperature dependence allows us to identify a perylene defined local Tperyleneg of the surrounding polymer matrix that agrees well with the known Tg values of the polymers. We define a fluorescence intensity shift factor in analogy with the Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) equation and use literature WLF parameters for the polymer matrix to quantify the calibration factor cf needed to convert the fluorescence intensity ratio to the effective time scale ratio described by the conventional WLF shift factor. This work opens up a new characterization method that could be used to map the local dynamical response of the glass transition in nanoscale polymer materials using appropriate covalent attachment of perylene to polymer chains.

Gradient in refractive index reveals denser near free surface region in thin polymer films.

A gradient in refractive index that is linear in magnitude with depth into the film is used to fit ellipsometric data for thin polymer films of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), and poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP). We find that the linear gradient model fits provide more physically realistic refractive index values for thin films compared with the commonly used homogeneous Cauchy layer model, addressing recent reports of physically unrealistic density increases. Counter to common expectations of a simple free volume correlation between density and dynamics, we find that the direction of refractive index (density) gradient indicates a higher density near the free surface, which we rationalize based on the observed faster free surface dynamics needed to create vapor deposited stable glasses with optimized denser molecular packings. The magnitude of refractive index gradient is observed to be three times larger for PMMA than for PS films, while P2VP films exhibit a more muted response possibly reflective of a decoupling in free surface and substrate dynamics in systems with strong interfacial interactions.

Comparing refractive index and density changes with decreasing film thickness in thin supported films across different polymers.

Density changes in thin polymer films have long been considered as a possible explanation for shifts in the thickness-dependent glass transition temperature Tg(h) in such nanoconfined systems, given that the glass transition is fundamentally associated with packing frustration during material densification on cooling. We use ellipsometry to compare the temperature-dependent refractive index with decreasing thickness n(h) for supported films of poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and polystyrene (PS), as these polymers have different silica substrate interactions. We observe similar n(h) trends for all three polymers, with near equivalence of P2VP and PS, characterized by a large apparent increase in refractive index for h ≤ 40 nm-65 nm depending on the polymer. Possible sources of molecular dipole orientation within the film are tested by varying molecular weight, polydispersity, chain conformation, and substrate chemistry. Such film inhomogeneities associated with non-uniform polarizability would invalidate the use of homogeneous layer approximations inherent in most thin film analysis methods, which we believe likely explains recent reports of large unphysical increases in film density with decreasing thickness by a variety of different experimental techniques.

Effect of transglutaminase on rennet-induced gelation of skim milk and soymilk mixtures.

BACKGROUND: Protein gels made from cow milk and soymilk can yield products of exceptional value. Transglutaminase (TG) affect rennet-induced gelation of proteins, and improves the functionality of the final products. In this paper, TG and rennet were added to skim milk and soymilk mixtures simultaneously, and the rennet-induced coagulation was studied. Diffusing wave spectroscopy and rheology measurements were used to access the structural changes of the mixtures during renneting. Syneresis analysis and microscopy can give more information for understanding the system. RESULTS: Soymilk and TG have synergetic effects and inhibit rennet-induced gelation to a certain degree. With increasing soymilk and TG, elastic index and storage modulus decreased, gelation time was delayed, and curd yield and moisture content increased. At excess soymilk and TG, no curds can be formed. There were significant effects of soymilk and TG on curd microstructure. Soymilk inhibited the aggregation of casein micelles and contributed to more coarse and heterogeneous networks. TG limited reorganization of the proteins, leading to more homogenous networks with small pores. CONCLUSION: The use of soymilk and TG simultaneously impair rennet-induced gelation and curd syneresis, and consequently lead to a higher yield of high-moisture curd. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of COVID-19 on coastal and marine environments: Aggravated microplastic pollution, improved air quality, and future perspective.

The COVID-19 pandemic during 2020-2023 has wrought adverse impacts on coastal and marine environments. This study conducts a comprehensive review of the collateral effects of COVID-19 on these ecosystems through literature review and bibliometric analysis. According to the output and citation analysis of these publications, researchers from the coastal countries in Asia, Europe, and America payed more attentions to this environmental issue than other continents. Specifically, India, China, and USA were the top three countries in the publications, with the proportion of 19.55%, 18.99%, and 12.01%, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly aggravated the plastic and microplastic pollution in coastal and marine environments by explosive production and unproper management of personal protective equipment (PPE). During the pandemic, the estimated mismanaged PPE waste ranged from 16.50 t/yr in Sweden to 250,371.39 t/yr in Indonesia. In addition, the PPE density ranged from 1.13 × 10-5 item/m2 to 2.79 item/m2 in the coastal regions worldwide, showing significant geographical variations. Besides, the emerging contaminants released from PPE into the coastal and marine environments cannot be neglected. The positive influence was that the COVID-19 lockdown worldwide reduced the release of air pollutants (e.g., fine particulate matter, NO2, CO, and SO2) and improved the air quality. The study also analyzed the relationships between sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the publications and revealed the dynamic changes of SDGs in different periods the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, the air was cleaner due to the lockdown, but the coastal and marine contamination of plastic, microplastic, and emerging contaminants got worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last but not least, the study proposed four strategies to deal with the coastal and marine pollution caused by COVID-19, which were regular marine monitoring, performance of risk assessment, effective regulation of plastic wastes, and close international cooperation.

Paediatric pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma with a novel SEC31A-BRAF fusion gene.

Paediatric pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) presents a diagnostic challenge, often confused with pancreatoblastoma (PB) due to its rarity. It is crucial to differentiate between PB and PACC, given their distinct therapeutic strategies and prognoses. Histologically, the absence of squamoid nests and scarcity of tumor mesenchyme support PACC. Conversely, the identification of a BRAF alteration leans towards PACC. Here, we present the case of an 8-year-old girl with a well-defined mass in the pancreas. The tumor exhibited a SEC31A-BRAF fusion gene and amplification of 18p, showcasing unequivocal acinar differentiation and a minor degree of neuroendocrine differentiation. Additionally, the tumor displayed scant fibrous stroma, and an absence of squamoid nests, further supporting PACC. Notably, this is the first reported instance of a solid tumor featuring a SEC31A-BRAF gene fusion. The discovery of this novel fusion gene expands our understanding of BRAF fusion partner profiles, particularly in the context of paediatric PACC.

Gemfibrozil-Platinum(IV) Precursors for New Enhanced-Starvation and Chemotherapy In Vitro and In Vivo.

A brand-new enhanced starvation is put forward to trigger sensitized chemotherapy: blocking tumor-relation blood vessel formation and accelerating nutrient degradation and efflux. Following this concept, two cisplatin-like gemfibrozil-derived Pt(IV) prodrugs, GP and GPG, are synthesized. GP and GPG had nanomolar IC50 against A2780 cells and higher selectivity against normal cells than cisplatin. Bioactivity results confirmed that GP and GPG highly accumulated in cells and induced DNA damage, G2-phase arrest, and p53 expression. Besides, they could increase ROS and MDA levels and reduce mitochondrial membrane potential and Bcl-2 expression to promote cell apoptosis. In vivo, GP showed superior antitumor activity in A2780 tumor-bearing mice with no observable tissue damage. Mechanistic studies suggested that highly selective chemotherapy could be due to the new enhanced starvation effect: blocking vasculature formation via inhibiting the CYP2C8/EETs pathway and VEGFR2, NF-κB, and COX-2 expression and cholesterol efflux and degradation acceleration via increasing ABCA1 and PPARα.

Bioinspired Multifunctional Self-Sensing Actuated Gradient Hydrogel for Soft-Hard Robot Remote Interaction.

The development of bioinspired gradient hydrogels with self-sensing actuated capabilities for remote interaction with soft-hard robots remains a challenging endeavor. Here, we propose a novel multifunctional self-sensing actuated gradient hydrogel that combines ultrafast actuation and high sensitivity for remote interaction with robotic hand. The gradient network structure, achieved through a wettability difference method involving the rapid precipitation of MoO2 nanosheets, introduces hydrophilic disparities between two sides within hydrogel. This distinctive approach bestows the hydrogel with ultrafast thermo-responsive actuation (21° s-1) and enhanced photothermal efficiency (increase by 3.7 °C s-1 under 808 nm near-infrared). Moreover, the local cross-linking of sodium alginate with Ca2+ endows the hydrogel with programmable deformability and information display capabilities. Additionally, the hydrogel exhibits high sensitivity (gauge factor 3.94 within a wide strain range of 600%), fast response times (140 ms) and good cycling stability. Leveraging these exceptional properties, we incorporate the hydrogel into various soft actuators, including soft gripper, artificial iris, and bioinspired jellyfish, as well as wearable electronics capable of precise human motion and physiological signal detection. Furthermore, through the synergistic combination of remarkable actuation and sensitivity, we realize a self-sensing touch bioinspired tongue. Notably, by employing quantitative analysis of actuation-sensing, we realize remote interaction between soft-hard robot via the Internet of Things. The multifunctional self-sensing actuated gradient hydrogel presented in this study provides a new insight for advanced somatosensory materials, self-feedback intelligent soft robots and human-machine interactions.

Associations of uric acid with the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality among individuals with chronic kidney disease: the Kailuan Study.

AIMS: The relationship between uric acid (UA) concentrations and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially for subtypes of CVD among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate whether uric acid concentration was associated with subtypes of CVD and all-cause mortality among individuals with CKD. METHODS: A total of 27,707 individuals with CKD, free of CVD at recruitment from the Kailuan Study, were included. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 11-12 years, we documented 674 myocardial infarctions, 1197 heart failures, 2406 strokes, and 5676 total deaths. Among participants with CKD, compared with those in the lowest tertile of UA, the HRs (95% CIs) of participants in the highest UA tertile were 1.38 (1.13-1.67) for myocardial infarction, 1.60 (1.38-1.85) for heart failure, 1.01 (0.91-1.12) for stroke, and 1.29 (1.21-1.38) for all-cause mortality. Subgroup analyses showed that the associations between UA and heart failure and all-cause mortality were stronger in individuals with eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73m2 compared to their counterparts (Pinteraction<0.05). Additionally, the association between UA and all-cause mortality was stronger among individuals without diabetes than those with diabetes (Pinteraction<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In individuals with CKD, a higher concentration of UA was associated with a higher risk of myocardial infarction, heart failure, and all-cause mortality, following a dose-response relationship. Our data underscore the importance of UA screening among individuals with CKD for CVD and premature death prevention.

This study investigated the relationship between uric acid (UA) concentrations and the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) using the Kailuan Study. A higher concentration of UA was associated with a higher risk of myocardial infarction, heart failure, and all-cause mortality among individuals with CKD, following a dose-response manner.The associations between concentrations of UA and the risk of heart failure and all-cause mortality were more pronounced in individuals with severe kidney impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate <45 mL/min/1.73m2). Furthermore, the association between UA and all-cause mortality was stronger among individuals without diabetes compared to those with the condition.

Study of Early-Age Hydration, Mechanical Properties Development, and Microstructure Evolution of Manufactured Sand Concrete Mixed with Granite Stone Powder.

This study explored the potential of granite stone powder (GSP) as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM). The 72 h early hydration process stages of GSP-mixed slurry were analyzed in depth, and the mechanical properties of manufactured sand concrete (MSC) mixed with GSP were investigated. Physical phase types, morphological characteristics, and pore structure evolution were investigated using an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, and mercury intrusion approach (MIP). Atomic force microscopy was used to show the interface transition zone between aggregate and slurry in phase images, height images, and 3D images, allowing quantification of ITZ and slurry by calculating the roughness. Gray entropy analysis was used to evaluate the significance of the effect of pore size distribution parameters on mechanical strength, and the GSP-content-mechanical-strength gray model GM (1, 1) was established to predict mechanical strength. The results indicate that, compared with the reference group, the GSP cement slurry system exhibited a delayed hydration process acceleration rate, with a 1.04% increase in cumulative heat of hydration observed in the 5% test group and an 11.05% decrease in the 15% test group. Incorporating GSP in MSC led to decreased mechanical properties at all ages, with significant decay observed when incorporation ranged from 10% to 15%. Although the type of hydration products remained unchanged, there was a decrease in the number of C-S-H gels and gel pores, while large pores increased, resulting in increased porosity and roughness of the interface transition zone and slurry. Large pores (>1000 nm) were found to have the greatest influence on mechanical strength, with gray correlation above 0.86. The GM (1, 1) model yielded accurate predictions, showing good agreement with measured data and thus it can be identified as belonging to a high-precision prediction model category. These findings provide theoretical support and a reference for applying GSP as an SCM, laying the groundwork for data-based specification development.

Characterizing acidified and renneted gels with different soy milk and skim milk proportions.

To understand the properties of differently acidified and renneted gels with different soy milk and skim milk proportions, mixed milks were prepared and treated using sequenced renneting then acidification at 4 °C, and the formation, spontaneous whey separation, and microstructure of the gels were monitored. The results showed that both acidification and renneting promoted gel formation in mixed milk and increased gel strength. In gels, the pH range was narrow (pH ≤ 5.2) at low soy milk proportion (25%) and low renneting degrees (0%, 25% and 50%), and the pH range was extended such that gels were formed with increasing soy milk proportion and renneting degree. When compared with pH, soy milk proportion and renneting degree influenced whey separation percentages more strongly. Soy milk significantly reduced whey separation percentages in gels, and gel strength was highest at 50% soy milk. Protein aggregates sizes increased with increasing soy milk proportion at the 75% renneting degree, and the pore sizes of skim milk-dominated gels was strongly influenced by acidification. These results help us understand mixed gel properties and provide valuable information for the manufacture of mixed fermented dairy products.

Iron oxides act as an alternative electron acceptor for aerobic methanotrophs in anoxic lake sediments.

Conventional aerobic CH4-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) are frequently detected in anoxic environments, but their survival strategy and ecological contribution are still enigmatic. Here we explore the role of MOB in enrichment cultures under O2 gradients and an iron-rich lake sediment in situ by combining microbiological and geochemical techniques. We found that enriched MOB consortium used ferric oxides as alternative electron acceptors for oxidizing CH4 with the help of riboflavin when O2 was unavailable. Within the MOB consortium, MOB transformed CH4 to low molecular weight organic matter such as acetate for consortium bacteria as a carbon source, while the latter secrete riboflavin to facilitate extracellular electron transfer (EET). Iron reduction coupled to CH4 oxidation mediated by the MOB consortium was also demonstrated in situ, reducing 40.3% of the CH4 emission in the studied lake sediment. Our study indicates how MOBs survive under anoxia and expands the knowledge of this previously overlooked CH4 sink in iron-rich sediments.

Evaluating potential ecological risks of emerging toxic elements in lacustrine sediments: A case study in Lake Fuxian, China.

The fragile ecosystems of plateau lakes are in face of ecological risks from emerging toxic elements. Beryllium (Be) and thallium (Tl) have been considered priority control metals in recent years owing to their persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulation. However, the toxic factors of Be and Tl are scarce and ecological risks of them in the aquatic environment were seldom investigated. Hence, this study developed a framework for calculating the potential ecological risk index (PERI) of Be and Tl in aquatic systems and used it to assess the ecological risks of Be and Tl in Lake Fuxian, a plateau lake in China. The toxicity factors of Be and Tl were calculated to be 40 and 5, respectively. In sediments of Lake Fuxian, the concentrations of Be and Tl were between 2.18 and 4.04 mg/kg and 0.72-0.94 mg/kg, respectively. The spatial distribution indicated that Be was more abundant in the eastern and southern regions, and Tl had higher concentrations near the northern and southern banks, consistent with the distribution of anthropogenic activities. The background values were calculated as 3.38 mg/kg and 0.89 mg/kg for Be and Tl, respectively. In comparison with Be, Tl was more enriched in Lake Fuxian. The increasing Tl enrichment has been attributed to anthropogenic activities (e.g., coal burning and non-ferrous metal production), especially since the 1980s. Generally, Be and Tl contamination has decreased over the past several decades, from moderate to low, since the 1980s. The ecological risk of Tl was low, whereas Be might have caused low to moderate ecological risks. In the future, the obtained toxic factors of Be and Tl in this study can be adopted in assessing the ecological risks of them in sediments. Moreover, the framework can be employed for the ecological risk assessment of other newly emerging toxic elements in the aquatic environment.

Atomically precise vacancy-assembled quantum antidots.

Patterning antidots, which are regions of potential hills that repel electrons, into well-defined antidot lattices creates fascinating artificial periodic structures, leading to anomalous transport properties and exotic quantum phenomena in two-dimensional systems. Although nanolithography has brought conventional antidots from the semiclassical regime to the quantum regime, achieving precise control over the size of each antidot and its spatial period at the atomic scale has remained challenging. However, attaining such control opens the door to a new paradigm, enabling the creation of quantum antidots with discrete quantum hole states, which, in turn, offer a fertile platform to explore novel quantum phenomena and hot electron dynamics in previously inaccessible regimes. Here we report an atomically precise bottom-up fabrication of a series of atomic-scale quantum antidots through a thermal-induced assembly of a chalcogenide single vacancy in PtTe2. Such quantum antidots consist of highly ordered single-vacancy lattices, spaced by a single Te atom, reaching the ultimate downscaling limit of antidot lattices. Increasing the number of single vacancies in quantum antidots strengthens the cumulative repulsive potential and consequently enhances the collective interference of multiple-pocket scattered quasiparticles inside quantum antidots, creating multilevel quantum hole states with a tunable gap from the telecom to far-infrared regime. Moreover, precisely engineered quantum hole states of quantum antidots are geometry protected and thus survive on oxygen substitutional doping. Therefore, single-vacancy-assembled quantum antidots exhibit unprecedented robustness and property tunability, positioning them as highly promising candidates for advancing quantum information and photocatalysis technologies.

Rare earth elements in the upland soils of northern China: Spatial variation, relationships, and risk assessment.

While global demand for rare earth elements (REEs) is rapidly growing, recent studies have suggested that REEs are pollutants of emerging concern. In this study, the spatial distribution and risk assessments of REEs in the upland soils of northern China were comprehensively investigated. The total REE concentrations ranged from 81 to 180 mg/kg, with average concentrations of 123, 128, and 98.3 mg/kg in the northwestern, northern, and northeastern zones, respectively. The decreasing trend of REE contents from northwest to northeast might be influenced by variation in the REE metallogenic belt distribution, mining activities, and precipitation intensity in these regions. The ratio of light rare elements (LREEs) to heavy rare elements (HREEs) ranged from 5.04 to 9.06, revealing obvious fractionation between them in upland soils and indicating that LREEs enrichment was common in northern China. The significantly positive correlations between the REEs indicated that REEs might frequently coexist and share similar sources in the upland soils of northern China. Based on a modified ecological risk index (eRI), REEs were estimated to pose relatively low ecological risks to current environmental residues, with eRI values ranging from 0.564 to 0.984. Fortunately, the estimated daily intakes of REEs from soils for children (1.08-2.41 µg/kg/day) and adults (0.119-0.312 µg/kg/day) were well below the safety thresholds. However, the health risks posed by REEs in upland soils were estimated to be higher for children. Thus, the continuous monitoring of REE abundance in soils is essential to avoid potential health risks.

The DPY30-H3K4me3 Axis-Mediated PD-L1 Expression in Melanoma.

Background: DPY30 is a common subunit of the human SET1/MLL complex and is an essential protein required for the activity of SET1/MLL methyltransferase. DPY30 regulates the histone H3K4 modification, and dysfunction of DPY30 might contribute to the regulation of cancer immune evasion. However, the functions and regulation of DPY30 in the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is still not completely explored. Methods: Various online databases were used for data processing and visualization, including UALCAN, Oncomine, cBioPortal, SangerBox, TISIDB, TIMER, and GEPIA databases. The expression of DPY30 and PD-L1 in melanoma tissues were evaluated by IHC. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP), RT-PCR and flow cytometry were used to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of PD-L1 expression regulation and its function. Results: The mRNA level of DPY30 in melanoma was higher than in normal tissues. The expression of DPY30 was positively associated with TMB, neoantigens and PD-L1 expression. Furthermore, DPY30 expression showed significant positive correlations with immune suppressor cells and ICP genes involved in T-cell exhaustion. IHC showed that the positive rates of DPY30 and PD-L1 in melanoma tissues were 62% and 58%, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that DPY30 over-expression was positively associated with PD-L1 expression. Silencing of DPY30 by specific siRNA significantly inhibited PD-L1 expression. ChIP analysis revealed that H3K4me3 levels were enriched in the proximal PD-L1 promoter region in tumor cells. Inhibition of DPY30 still suppressed the PD-L1 level in IFN-γ treated MMAC-SF cells. Furthermore, the apoptosis of PD1+ T-cells in co-culture with MMAC-SF cells by knockdown of DPY30 were markedly reduced. Conclusion: This study shows the roles of DPY30 in regulating the cancer immune evasion in melanoma. Targeting the DPY30-H3K4me3 axis might be an alternative approach to enhance the efficacy of checkpoint immunotherapy.

Convergence study of water pollution emission intensity in China: evidence from spatial effects.

One of the challenges that China currently faces is how to reduce the emissions of water pollution. However, the study of water pollution convergence has a certain policy significance for controlling the emissions of water pollution. This article firstly uses chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) as indicators of water pollution. Due to the obvious spillover effect of water in space, this article adds a spatial effect to the convergence model. Based on panel data of 30 provinces and cities from 2006 to 2017, this article uses a dynamic spatial Dubin model to analyze the convergence of water pollution emission intensity to address the endogenous problem in the model. The empirical results of this paper show that there is absolute ß-convergence and conditional ß-convergence in the intensity of water pollution emissions. The spatial autocorrelation test shows that there is a positive spatial autocorrelation of water pollution emissions, which means that the pollution emissions in neighboring areas will affect the emissions in the local area. The industrial structure has a certain promoting effect on the emission of water pollution, which means that adjusting the industrial structure and alleviating the structure of the secondary industry is the trend of future development. Economic growth can curb the emissions of water pollution. The influences of urbanization and foreign investment on the emissions of the two pollutants are inconsistent, and policies can be formulated according to local conditions in the future.