Structural basis and evolution of the photosystem I-light-harvesting supercomplex of cryptophyte algae.

Cryptophyte plastids originated from a red algal ancestor through secondary endosymbiosis. Cryptophyte photosystem I (PSI) associates with transmembrane alloxanthin-chlorophyll a/c proteins (ACPIs) as light-harvesting complexes (LHCs). Here, we report the structure of the photosynthetic PSI-ACPI supercomplex from the cryptophyte Chroomonas placoidea at 2.7-Å resolution obtained by crygenic electron microscopy. Cryptophyte PSI-ACPI represents a unique PSI-LHCI intermediate in the evolution from red algal to diatom PSI-LHCI. The PSI-ACPI supercomplex is composed of a monomeric PSI core containing 14 subunits, 12 of which originated in red algae, 1 diatom PsaR homolog, and an additional peptide. The PSI core is surrounded by 14 ACPI subunits that form 2 antenna layers: an inner layer with 11 ACPIs surrounding the PSI core and an outer layer containing 3 ACPIs. A pigment-binding subunit that is not present in any other previously characterized PSI-LHCI complexes, ACPI-S, mediates the association and energy transfer between the outer and inner ACPIs. The extensive pigment network of PSI-ACPI ensures efficient light harvesting, energy transfer, and dissipation. Overall, the PSI-LHCI structure identified in this study provides a framework for delineating the mechanisms of energy transfer in cryptophyte PSI-LHCI and for understanding the evolution of photosynthesis in the red lineage, which occurred via secondary endosymbiosis.

A nitroaromatic cathode with an ultrahigh energy density based on six-electron reaction per nitro group for lithium batteries.

Organic electrode materials have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional inorganic materials because of their structural diversity and environmental friendliness feature. However, their low energy densities, limited by the single-electron reaction per active group, have plagued the practical applications. Here, we report a nitroaromatic cathode that performs a six-electron reaction per nitro group, drastically improving the specific capacity and energy density compared with the organic electrodes based on single-electron reactions. Based on such a reaction mechanism, the organic cathode of 1,5-dinitronaphthalene demonstrates an ultrahigh specific capacity of 1,338 mAh⋅g-1 and energy density of 3,273 Wh⋅kg-1, which surpass all existing organic cathodes. The reaction path was verified as a conversion from nitro to amino groups. Our findings open up a pathway, in terms of battery chemistry, for ultrahigh-energy-density Li-organic batteries.

Selective C-H Bond Activation in Propane with Molecular Oxygen over Cu(I)-ZSM-5 at Ambient Conditions.

Selective activation of C-H bonds in light alkanes under mild conditions is challenging but holds the promise of efficient upgrading of abundant hydrocarbons. In this work, we report the conversion of propane to propylene with ∼95% selectivity on Cu(I)-ZSM-5 with O2 at room temperature and pressure. The intraporous Cu(I) species was oxidized to Cu(II) during the reaction but could be regenerated with H2 at 220 °C. Diffuse reflectance ultraviolet spectroscopy indicated the presence of both Cu+-O2 and Cu2(µ-O2)2+ species in the zeolite pores during the reaction, and electron paramagnetic resonance results showed that propane activation occurred via a radical-mediated pathway distinct from that with H2O2 as the oxidant. Correlation between spectroscopic and reactivity results on Cu(I)-ZSM-5 with different Cu loadings suggests that the isolated intraporous Cu(I) species is the main active species in propane activation.

Key role of K+ and Ca2+ in high-yield ethanol production by S. Cerevisiae from concentrated sugarcane molasses.

BACKGROUND: Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an important microorganism in ethanol synthesis, and with sugarcane molasses as the feedstock, ethanol is being synthesized sustainably to meet growing demands. However, high-concentration ethanol fermentation based on high-concentration sugarcane molasses-which is needed for reduced energy consumption of ethanol distillation at industrial scale-is yet to be achieved. RESULTS: In the present study, to identify the main limiting factors of this process, adaptive laboratory evolution and high-throughput screening (Py-Fe3+) based on ARTP (atmospheric and room-temperature plasma) mutagenesis were applied. We identified high osmotic pressure, high temperature, high alcohol levels, and high concentrations of K+, Ca2+, K+ and Ca2+ (K+&Ca2+), and sugarcane molasses as the main limiting factors. The robust S. cerevisiae strains of NGT-F1, NGW-F1, NGC-F1, NGK+, NGCa2+ NGK+&Ca2+-F1, and NGTM-F1 exhibited high tolerance to the respective limiting factor and exhibited increased yield. Subsequently, ethanol synthesis, cell morphology, comparative genomics, and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were performed in a molasses broth containing 250 g/L total fermentable sugars (TFS). Additionally, S. cerevisiae NGTM-F1 was used with 250 g/L (TFS) sugarcane molasses to synthesize ethanol in a 5-L fermenter, giving a yield of 111.65 g/L, the conversion of sugar to alcohol reached 95.53%. It is the highest level of physical mutagenesis yield at present. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that K+ and Ca2+ ions primarily limited the efficient production of ethanol. Then, subsequent comparative transcriptomic GO and pathway analyses showed that the co-presence of K+ and Ca2+ exerted the most prominent limitation on efficient ethanol production. The results of this study might prove useful by promoting the development and utilization of green fuel bio-manufactured from molasses.

Cationic Ir(III) Complexes with 4-Fluoro-4'-pyrazolyl-(1,1'-biphenyl)-2-carbonitrile as the Cyclometalating Ligand: Synthesis, Characterizations, and Application to Ultrahigh-Efficiency Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells.

Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) promise low-cost, large-area luminescence applications with air-stabilized electrodes and a versatile fabrication that enables the use of solution processes. Nevertheless, the commercialization of LECs is still encountering many obstacles, such as low electroluminescence (EL) efficiencies of the ionic materials. In this paper, we propose five blue to yellow ionic Ir complexes possessing 4-fluoro-4'-pyrazolyl-(1,1'-biphenyl)-2-carbonitrile (ppfn) as a novel cyclometalating ligand and use them in LECs. In particular, the device within di[4-fluoro-4'-pyrazolyl-(1,1'-biphenyl)-2-carbonitrile]-4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridyl iridium(III) hexafluorophosphate (DTBP) shows a remarkable photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 70%, and by adjusting the emissive-layer thickness, the maximal external quantum efficiency (EQE) reaches 22.15% at 532 nm under the thickness of 0.51 µm, showing the state-of-the-art value for the reported blue-green LECs.

An esculentin-1 homolog from a dark-spotted frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) possesses antibacterial and immunoregulatory properties.

BACKGROUND: Esculentin-1, initially discovered in the skin secretions of pool frogs (Pelophylax lessonae), has demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity; however, its immunomodulatory properties have received little attention. RESULTS: In the present study, esculentin-1 cDNA was identified by analysing the skin transcriptome of the dark-spotted frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus). Esculentin-1 from this species (esculentin-1PN) encompasses a signal peptide, an acidic spacer peptide, and a mature peptide. Sequence alignments with other amphibian esculentins-1 demonstrated conservation of the peptide, and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed its closest genetic affinity to esculentin-1P, derived from the Fukien gold-striped pond frog (Pelophylax fukienensis). Esculentin-1PN transcripts were observed in various tissues, with the skin exhibiting the highest mRNA levels. Synthetic esculentin-1PN demonstrated antibacterial activity against various pathogens, and esculentin-1PN exhibited bactericidal activity by disrupting cell membrane integrity and hydrolyzing genomic DNA. Esculentin-1PN did not stimulate chemotaxis in RAW264.7, a murine leukemic monocyte/macrophage cell line. However, it amplified the respiratory burst and augmented the pro-inflammatory cytokine gene (TNF-α and IL-1ß) expression in RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: This novel finding highlights the immunomodulatory activity of esculentin-1PN on immune cells.

The heart rate response to the 6-min walk test in atrial fibrillation patients with or without beta-blockers: Referring to patients with sinus rhythm.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to evaluate the effect of beta-blockers (BB) on the response of heart rate (HR) to 6-min walk test (6MWT) in atrial fibrillation (AF) and whether the AF patients treated with BB have a similar HR response to 6MWT as the AF and sinus rhythm (SR) patients without BB treatment at the same resting HR level. METHODS: The before-after study involving 74 AF patients was to evaluate the effect of BB treatment (pre-BB and with BB). The comparison study included 74 BB-treated AF patients (with BB), 74 matched AF patients without BB (no BB), and 74 SR patients. The percentage increase amplitude of HR (HR-PIA) in 6MWT was calculated: [(the exercise HR - the resting HR)/(the resting HR)] × 100%. RESULTS: The before-after study showed that BB treatment decreased the resting and mean exercise HR (98.6 ± 15.2 vs. 85.5 ± 11.2 bpm and 121.3 ± 17.3 vs. 109.0 ± 16.7 bpm) during 6MWT. The comparison study demonstrated that against the SR, the AF with BB and no BB groups have higher mean exercise HR-PIA (28.2 ± 17.1% and 22.0 ± 9.6%, vs. 6.9 ± 3.7%) when their resting HR is similar. Moreover, the mean exercise HR-PIA was also significantly higher in the with BB group than in the no BB group. CONCLUSION: In AF patients with relatively higher resting HR, BB treatment could decrease the resting and exercise HR during 6MWT. However, BB treatment could not effectively attenuate the exercise HR rise as compared with AF without BB treatment, even with similar resting HR levels.

Modified osteochondral autograft transplantation for steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report and literature.

Osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) has been commonly applied in the knee and ankle while the technique has not yet been a popularity in the femoral head. In this article, we present a 28-year-old female patient, who has a history of 1-year-use of glucocorticoid in the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH). She underwent surgical hip dislocation, osteochondroplasty, OAT, and internal fixation. Her Harris Hip Score improved from 64 to 82 in 36 months to follow-up. The case is valuable considering that a single, instead of several, 1.5 cm autograft was harvested from the non-bearing part of the same femoral head. This modification dispensed with the need of surgery for harvesting autograft from knee or ankle and reduced the structural vulnerability brought by the multihole donor part of the femoral head.

Potential mechanisms of hexaconazole resistance in Fusarium graminearum.

The Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum is a serious fungal disease that can dramatically impact wheat production. At present, control is mainly achieved by the use of chemical fungicides. Hexaconazole (IUPAC name: 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)hexan-2-ol) is a widely used triazole fungicide, but the sensitivity of F. graminearum to this compound has yet to be established. The current study found that the EC50 values of 83 field isolates of F. graminearum ranged between 0.06 and 4.33 µg/mL, with an average EC50 of 0.78 µg/mL. Assessment of four hexaconazole-resistant laboratory mutants of F. graminearum revealed that their mycelial growth, and pathogenicity were reduced compared to their parental isolates, and that asexual reproduction was reduced by resistance to hexaconazole. Meanwhile, the mutants appeared to be more sensitive to abiotic stress associated with SDS, and H2O2, while their tolerance of high concentration of Congo red, and Na+ and K+ increased. Molecular analysis revealed numerous point mutations in the FgCYP51 target genes that resulted in amino acid substitutions, including L92P and N123S in FgCYP51A, as well as M331V, F62L, Q252R, A412V, and V488A in FgCYP51B, and S28L, S256A, V307A, D287G and R515I in FgCYP51C, three of which (S28L, S256A, and V307A) were conserved in all of the resistant mutants. Furthermore, the expression of the FgCYP51 genes in resistant strains was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) reduced compared to their sensitive parental isolates. Positive cross-resistance was found between hexaconazole and metconazole and flutriafol, as well as with the diarylamine fungicide fluazinam, but not with propiconazole, and the phenylpyrrole fungicide fludioxonil, or with tebuconazole, which actually exhibited negative cross-resistance. These results provide valuable insight into resistant mechanisms to triazole fungicides in F. graminearum, as well as the appropriate selection of fungicide combinations for the control of FHB to ensure optimal wheat production.

Intra-articular injection of tranexamic acid in patients with haemophilia arthritis: retrospective controlled study in total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: Total knee arthroplasty is the main method for the treatment of advanced haemophilic knee arthritis. Due to the particularity of hemophilia, the blood management plan is the focus of the perioperative period for haemophilia patients. This study aimed to investigate the clinical effect and safety of intra-articular injection of tranexamic acid in patients with haemophilia. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. According to whether tranexamic acid is used or not, patients are divided into tranexamic acid group (n=30) and non-tranexamic acid group (n=29). Total blood loss, intraoperative blood loss, complete blood count, total amount of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) usage, coagulation biomarkers, inflammatory biomarkers, knee range of motion, knee joint function, pain status, complication rate, and patient satisfaction were assessed and compared at a mean follow-up of 16 months. RESULTS: Injecting tranexamic acid into the knee joint cavity can effectively reduce the hidden blood loss and total blood loss (P<0.001), and reduce the patient's early postoperative inflammation biomarkers, pain status, and limb swelling. Therefore, the patient can obtain a better range of motion following total knee arthroplasty. In the long run, in terms of joint function and surgical satisfaction, there are no statistically significant differences. In addition, there are no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in terms of the total amount of FVIII usage, length of stay, and hospitalization expenses. CONCLUSION: In patients with haemophilia, intra-articular injection of tranexamic acid during total knee arthroplasty can effectively reduce postoperative blood loss, early postoperative inflammation levels, pain and limb swelling, and enable patients to receive higher-quality rehabilitation exercises to get better joint function. Previous studies on TKA in haemophilic patients have already demonstrated the efficacy of intra-articular injections of TXA in reducing postoperative blood loss. Our study confirms this efficacy.

Factors influencing periprosthetic bone mineral density in total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), there is a significant decline in periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD), potentially resulting in complications such as prosthetic loosening, periprosthetic fracture, and influencing the postoperative recovery. The objective of this study was to summarize the factors influencing periprosthetic BMD in TKA from existing studies. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic search was performed in 4 databases: Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The last search was carried out on October 12, 2023. We used the keywords ''total knee arthroplasty'', ''bone mineral density'' and each of them combined with ''tibia'' and ''femur'' to identify all relevant articles reporting about potential impact factors influencing the periprosthetic BMD in patients after TKA. RESULTS: Out of 1391 articles, 22 published from 2001 to 2023 were included in this systematic review. Following eligibility screening, six significant categories affecting periprosthetic BMD were recognized: prosthesis type, design of stem, coating, body weight, cement, and peg distance. CONCLUSION: Mobile-bearing prostheses, modular polyethylene design, short stems, cruciform stems, avoidance of bone cement, higher body mass index, titanium nitride coating, and a smaller medial peg distance could potentially benefit periprosthetic BMD. Comprehensive consideration of diverse factors influencing periprosthetic BMD before surgery and collaboration with post-operative drug therapy are essential. TRIAL REGISTRY: The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42023472030.

Long-Wavelength Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells: Materials and Device Engineering.

Long-wavelength light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) are potential deep-red and near infrared light sources with solution-processable simple device architecture, low-voltage operation, and compatibility with inert metal electrodes. Many scientific efforts have been made to material design and device engineering of the long-wavelength LECs over the past two decades. The materials designed the for long-wavelength LECs cover ionic transition metal complexes, small molecules, conjugated polymers, and perovskites. On the other hand, device engineering techniques, including spectral modification by adjusting microcavity effect, light outcoupling enhancement, energy down-conversion from color conversion layers, and adjusting intermolecular interactions, are also helpful in improving the device performance of long-wavelength LECs. In this review, recent advances in the long-wavelength LECs are reviewed from the viewpoints of materials and device engineering. Finally, discussions on conclusion and outlook indicate possible directions for future developments of the long-wavelength LECs. This review would like to pave the way for the researchers to design materials and device engineering techniques for the long-wavelength LECs in the applications of displays, bio-imaging, telecommunication, and night-vision displays.

White Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells Employing Phosphor-Sensitized Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence to Approach All-Phosphorescent Device Efficiencies.

Solid-state light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) show promising advantages of simple device architecture, low operation voltage, and insensitivity to the electrode work functions such that they have high potential in low-cost display and lighting applications. In this work, novel white LECs based on phosphor-sensitized thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) are proposed. The emissive layer of these white LECs is composed of a blue-green phosphorescent host doped with a deep-red TADF guest. Efficient singlet-to-triplet intersystem crossing (ISC) on the phosphorescent host and the subsequent Förster energy transfer from the host triplet excitons to guest singlet excitons can make use of both singlet and triplet excitons on the host. With the good spectral overlap between the host emission and the guest absorption, 0.075 wt.% guest doping is sufficient to cause substantial energy transfer efficiency (ca. 40 %). In addition, such a low guest concentration also reduces the self-quenching effect and a high photoluminescence quantum yield of up to 84 % ensures high device efficiency. The phosphor-sensitized TADF white LECs indeed show a high external quantum efficiency of 9.6 %, which is comparable with all-phosphorescent white LECs. By employing diffusive substrates to extract the light trapped in the substrate, the device efficiency can be further improved by ca. 50 %. In the meantime, the intrinsic EL spectrum and device lifetime of the white LECs recover since the microcavity effect is destroyed. This work successfully demonstrates that the phosphor-sensitized TADF white LECs are potential candidates for efficient white light-emitting devices.

Pristane cadmium chloride nanoemulsion accelerates the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus in a C57BL/6 mouse model.

OBJECTIVE: To accelerate the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus in C57BL/6 mice by injecting cadmium chloride nanoemulsion and shorten the traditional modeling time. METHODS: Pristane cadmium chloride nanoemulsion was prepared, and 66 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups. The pristane group was intraperitoneally injected with 0.6 mL of pristane blank nanoemulsion, the model group was injected with 0.6 mL of pristane cadmium chloride nanoemulsion, the Cadmium chloride control group was injected with 0.6 mL of cadmium chloride nanoemulsion, and the control group was injected with the same amount of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Urine protein content, anti-dsDNA antibody content, Th1 cell/Th2 cell ratio, and kidney staining were detected in each group. RESULTS: The model group began to develop disease in the 4th week, the anti-dsDNA antibody level reached 566.71 ± 1.44 ng/L, and the proteinuria reached 245.38 ± 30.54 ng/mL. The model group showed an onset at least 5 weeks earlier than that in the pristane group. There was no significant difference in anti-dsDNA antibody content between Cadmium chloride control group and blank group. At the 12th week, the Th1/Th2 cell ratio in the model group significantly decreased, and the pathological changes in the kidneys were consistent with the typical manifestations of lupus in mouse models. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that cadmium chloride promotes earlier onset of pristane-induced systemic lupus erythematosus in a C57BL/6 mouse model.

Clinical manifestations and early effectiveness of methimazole in patients with graves' hyperthyroidism-related severe hepatic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Graves' hyperthyroidism (GH) is often accompanied by mild to moderate liver injury, but severe hepatic dysfunction (SHD) is relatively rare. Whether patients with GH-related SHD can be treated with methimazole (MMI) remains controversial. This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and to evaluate the role of low-dose MMI for such patients. METHODS: 33 patients with GH-related SHD were selected for this retrospective study in the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2017 to July 2022. The clinical manifestations, therapeutic responses, and effectiveness of MMI were evaluated. RESULTS: Systemic jaundice (100.0%), yellow urine (100.0%), fatigue (87.9%), and goiter (66.7%) were the main symptoms. Total bilirubin (TBIL) had no linear correlation with free triiodothyronine (FT3) (r = -0.023, p = .899), free thyroxine (FT4) (r = 0.111, p = .540), T3 (r = -0.144, p = .425), and T4 (r = 0.037, p = .837). On the 14th day after admission, FT3, FT4, T3, T4, TBIL, direct bilirubin (DBIL), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and international normalized ratio (INR) decreased compared with the baseline (p < .05). The decrease rates of FT3, FT4, T3, T4, TBIL, and DBIL in the MMI group were higher than those in the non-MMI group (p < .05). The improvement rate of the MMI group (77.8%) was higher than that of the non-MMI group (9.5%, p = .001). MMI treatment is an independent predictor affecting the early improvement of patients (OR = 0.022, p = .010). CONCLUSIONS: The main clinical manifestations of patients with GH-related SHD were symptoms related to liver disease. Low-dose MMI was safe and effective for them.

Biphenyl Au(III) Complexes with Phosphine Ancillary Ligands: Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Electroluminescence in Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells.

A series of ten cationic complexes of the general formula [(C^C)Au(P^P)]X, where C^C = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-1,1'-biphenyl, P^P is a diphosphine ligand, and X is a noncoordinating counteranion, have been synthesized and fully characterized by means of chemical and X-ray structural methods. All the complexes display a remarkable switch-on of the emission properties when going from a fluid solution to a solid state. In the latter, long-lived emission with lifetime τ = 1.8-83.0 µs and maximum in the green-yellow region is achieved with moderate to high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). This emission is ascribed to an excited state with a mainly triplet ligand-centered (3LC) nature. This effect strongly indicates that rigidification of the environment helps to suppress nonradiative decay, which is mainly attributed to the large molecular distortion in the excited state, as supported by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) computation. In addition, quenching intermolecular interactions of the emitter are avoided thanks to the steric hindrance of the substituents. Emissive properties are therefore restored efficiently. The influence of both diphosphine and anion has been investigated and rationalized as well. Using two complexes as examples and owing to their enhanced optical properties in the solid state, the first proof-of-concept of the use of gold(III) complexes as electroactive materials for the fabrication of light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) devices is herein demonstrated. The LECs achieve peak external quantum efficiency, current efficiency, and power efficiency up to ca. 1%, 2.6 cd A-1, and 1.1 lm W-1 for complex 1PF6 and 0.9%, 2.5 cd A-1, and 0.7 lm W-1 for complex 3, showing the potential use of these novel emitters as electroactive compounds in LEC devices.

NUCKS1 promotes the progression of colorectal cancer via activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Nuclear ubiquitous casein and cyclin-dependent kinase substrate 1 (NUCKS1) is highly expressed in a variety of malignant tumors and functions as an oncogene; however, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. We aimed to explore the function and regulatory mechanisms of NUCKS1 and potential therapeutic agents targeting NUCKS1 in CRC. We knocked down and overexpressed NUCKS1 in CRC cells and explored its effects in vitro and in vivo. Flow cytometry, CCK-8, Western blotting, colony formation, immunohistochemistry, in vivo tumorigenic, and transmission electron microscopy analyses were performed to determine the effects of NUCKS1 on CRC cell function. LY294002 was used to examine the mechanism of NUCKS1 expression in CRC cells. Potential therapeutic agents for NUCKS1-high CRC patients were analyzed using the CTRP and PRISM datasets, and the function of selected agents was determined by CCK-8 and Western blotting. We revealed that NUCKS1 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and clinically correlated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. NUCKS1 knockdown induces cell cycle arrest, inhibits CRC cell proliferation, and promotes apoptosis and autophagy. These results were reversed when NUCKS1 was overexpressed. Mechanistically, NUCKS1 exerts a cancer-promoting function by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. This was reversed when LY294002 was used to inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway. Furthermore, we determined that mitoxantrone exhibited high drug sensitivity in NUCKS1-overexpressing CRC cells. This work demonstrated NUCKS1 plays a crucial role in CRC progression via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Additionally, mitoxantrone may be a potential therapeutic agent for CRC treatment. Therefore, NUCKS1 represents a promising anti-tumor therapeutic target.

Antibacterial metabolites from the beetle-associated fungus Penicillium chrysogenum.

The antibacterial secondary metabolites of the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum associated with the beetle Aspongopus chinensis were investigated through chromatographic fractionation methods of ethyl acetate extracts of the fungal cultures. Five compounds were isolated, and their structures were determined as emodin, 4-(methoxymethyl)benzoic acid, isoochracinic acid, secalonic acid D, and dicerandrol A using mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses. Emodin exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, especially against Staphylococcus aureus even when growing on cooked pork, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.3 µg/mL. Dimeric tetrahydroxanthones, such as secalonic acid D and dicerandrol A, also exhibited potent activity, with MIC values ranging from 9.5 to 28.5 µg/mL. In summary, P. chrysogenum was isolated as a symbiotic fungus of the beetle A. chinensis for the first time and this strain could generate antibacterial secondary metabolites, which could potently inhibit gram-positive bacteria growth in vitro.

The Effect of Three Different Cuff/Arm Circumference Ratios Ranging over 80% on Cuff Blood Pressure Measurements.

We aimed to explore whether the cuff/arm (C/A) circumference ratio within the suggested range (> 80%) affects the accuracy of mercury cuff blood pressure (BP) measurement (cuff BP) using intrabrachial BP (IABP) as a reference.A total of 253 patients aged 62.42 ± 9.70 years were included. After coronary angiography, the catheter in the right arm was gradually withdrawn toward the cubital fossa, and the IABP was continuously recorded. The cuff BP of the right arm was measured based on the artery blood flow using a special method similar to the traditional mercury method. The cuff was replaced using another C/A ratio after one minute, and the test was performed again. We used three different cuffs for each participant to meet the C/A ratios of 80%-84%, 85%-89%, and 90%-100%. We calculated the percentage deviation degree (DD) between the cuff BP and IABP values: DD = difference/IABP × 100%. The agreement between the values was evaluated using the Bland-Altman method.The IABP values were 138.52 ± 16.89/79.67 ± 9.81 mmHg. The DD of the systolic BP (SBP), with a ratio of 80%-84% (3.06%), was the smallest. The DD of the diastolic BP (DBP) was lowest at a ratio of 85%-89% (2.47%). Men and women had the lowest DD of the SBP at a C/A ratio of 80%-84% and the lowest DD of the DBP at a C/A ratio of 85%-89%. Regardless of whether the participants had coronary heart disease, the DD of the SBP at a C/A ratio of 80%-84% was the lowest, and the DD of the DBP at a C/A ratio of 85%-89% was the lowest.Even in the suggested range of > 80%, when the C/A ratio was 80%-84%, the difference in the SBP between the cuff and IABP was the lowest, but when the C/A ratio was 85%-89%, the difference in the DBP was the lowest.

Supracluster Assembly of Archimedean Cages with 72 Hydrogen Bonds for the Aldol Addition Reaction.

Clusters that can be experimentally precisely characterized and theoretically accurately calculated are essential to understanding the relationship between material structure and function. Here, we propose the concept of "supraclusters", which aim to connect "supramolecules" and "suprananoparticles" as well as reveal the unique assembly behavior of "supraclusters" with nanoparticle size at the molecular level. The implementation of supraclusters is full of challenges due to the difficulty in satisfying the ordered connectivity of clusters due to their abundant and dispersed hydrogen bonding sites. By solvothermal synthesis under a high catechol (H2 CATs) content, we successfully isolated a series of triangular {Al6 M3 } cluster compounds possessing brucite-like structural features. Interestingly, eight {Al6 M3 } clusters form 72-fold strong hydrogen bonding truncatedhexahedron Archimedean {Al6 M3 }8 supracluster cage (abbreviated as H-tcu). Surprisingly, the solution stability of the H-tcu was further proved by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) characterization. Therefore, it is not difficult to explain the reason for assembly of H-tcu into edge-directed and vertex-directed isomers. These porous supraclusters can be obtained by scale-up synthesis and exhibit a noticeable catalysis effect towards the condensation of acetone and p-nitrobenzaldehyde. As an intermediate state of supramolecule and suprananoparticle, the supracluster assembly can enrich the cluster chemistry and bring new structural types.