Increased gene expression variability hinders the formation of regional mechanical conflicts leading to reduced organ shape robustness.

To relate gene networks and organ shape, one needs to address two wicked problems: i) Gene expression is often variable locally, and shape is reproducible globally; ii) gene expression can have cascading effects on tissue mechanics, with possibly counterintuitive consequences for the final organ shape. Here, we address such wicked problems, taking advantage of simpler plant organ development where shape only emerges from cell division and elongation. We confirm that mutation in VERNALIZATION INDEPENDENCE 3 (VIP3), a subunit of the conserved polymerase-associated factor 1 complex (Paf1C), increases gene expression variability in Arabidopsis. Then, we focused on the Arabidopsis sepal, which exhibits a reproducible shape and stereotypical regional growth patterns. In vip3 sepals, we measured higher growth heterogeneity between adjacent cells. This even culminated in the presence of negatively growing cells in specific growth conditions. Interestingly, such increased local noise interfered with the stereotypical regional pattern of growth. We previously showed that regional differential growth at the wild-type sepal tip triggers a mechanical conflict, to which cells resist by reinforcing their walls, leading to growth arrest. In vip3, the disturbed regional growth pattern delayed organ growth arrest and increased final organ shape variability. Altogether, we propose that gene expression variability is managed by Paf1C to ensure organ robustness by building up mechanical conflicts at the regional scale, instead of the local scale.

Sepal shape variability is robust to cell size heterogeneity in Arabidopsis.

How organisms produce organs with robust shapes and sizes is still an open question. In recent years, the Arabidopsis sepal has been used as a model system to study this question because of its highly reproducible shape and size. One interesting aspect of the sepal is that its epidermis contains cells of very different sizes. Previous reports have qualitatively shown that sepals with more or less giant cells exhibit comparable final size and shape. Here, we investigate this question using quantitative approaches. We find that a mixed population of cell size modestly contribute to the normal width of the sepal but is not essential for its shape robustness. Furthermore, in a mutant with increased cell and organ growth variability, the change in final sepal shape caused by giant cells is exaggerated but the shape robustness is not affected. This formally demonstrates that sepal shape variability is robust to cell size heterogeneity.

Synthesis of a 3D Flower-Like BiOCl/Bi-MOF Heterostructure for High-Performance Removal of Rhodamine B and Tetracycline Hydrochloride.

Semiconductor materials based on bismuth metal have been extensively explored for their potential in photocatalytic applications owing to their distinctive crystal structure. Herein, we present the development of a hybrid photocatalyst, CAU-17/BiOCl, featuring a flower-like nanosheet morphology tailored for the photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants such as rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The composite material is obtained by growing thin CAU-17 layers directly onto the host flower-like BiOCl nanosheets under solvothermal conditions. The optimized CAU-17/BiOCl composite possesses excellent photocatalytic performance, achieving a notable 96.0% removal rate for RhB and 78.4% for TCH after 60 and 90 min of LED light irradiation, respectively. This boosted activity is attributed to the heightened absorption of visible light caused by BiOCl and the provision of additional reaction sites due to the thin CAU-17 layers. Furthermore, the establishment of an S-scheme heterojunction mechanism enables efficient charge separation between CAU-17 and BiOCl, facilitating the separation of photoinduced electrons (e-) and holes (h+). Analysis of the degradation mechanism of RhB and TCH reveals the predominant role of superoxide radicals (•O2-), e-, and h+ in the photocatalytic degradation process. Moreover, the removal efficiency of TCH can reach approximately 64.5% after four cycles of recycling of CAU-17/BiOCl. Our work provides a facile, effective solution and a theoretically explained approach for the effective degradation of pollutants using heterojunction photocatalysts.

PUCHI represses early meristem formation in developing lateral roots of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Lateral root organogenesis is a key process in the development of a plant's root system and its adaptation to the environment. During lateral root formation, an early phase of cell proliferation first produces a four-cell-layered primordium, and only from this stage onwards is a root meristem-like structure, expressing root stem cell niche marker genes, being established in the developing organ. Previous studies reported that the gene regulatory network controlling lateral root formation is organized into two subnetworks whose mutual inhibition may contribute to organ patterning. PUCHI encodes an AP2/ERF transcription factor expressed early during lateral root primordium development and required for correct lateral root formation. To dissect the molecular events occurring during this early phase, we generated time-series transcriptomic datasets profiling lateral root development in puchi-1 mutants and wild types. Transcriptomic and reporter analyses revealed that meristem-related genes were expressed ectopically at early stages of lateral root formation in puchi-1 mutants. We conclude that, consistent with the inhibition of genetic modules contributing to lateral root development, PUCHI represses ectopic establishment of meristematic cell identities at early stages of organ development. These findings shed light on gene network properties that orchestrate correct timing and patterning during lateral root formation.

PUCHI regulates very long chain fatty acid biosynthesis during lateral root and callus formation.

Lateral root organogenesis plays an essential role in elaborating plant root system architecture. In Arabidopsis, the AP2 family transcription factor PUCHI controls cell proliferation in lateral root primordia. To identify potential targets of PUCHI, we analyzed a time course transcriptomic dataset of lateral root formation. We report that multiple genes coding for very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) biosynthesis enzymes are induced during lateral root development in a PUCHI-dependent manner. Significantly, several mutants perturbed in VLCFA biosynthesis show similar lateral root developmental defects as puchi-1 Moreover, puchi-1 roots display the same disorganized callus formation phenotype as VLCFA biosynthesis-deficient mutants when grown on auxin-rich callus-inducing medium. Lipidomic profiling of puchi-1 roots revealed reduced VLCFA content compared with WT. We conclude that PUCHI-regulated VLCFA biosynthesis is part of a pathway controlling cell proliferation during lateral root and callus formation.

Aspirin Use Is Associated With Decreased Mechanical Ventilation, Intensive Care Unit Admission, and In-Hospital Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is associated with hypercoagulability and increased thrombotic risk in critically ill patients. To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated whether aspirin use is associated with reduced risk of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality. METHODS: A retrospective, observational cohort study of adult patients admitted with COVID-19 to multiple hospitals in the United States between March 2020 and July 2020 was performed. The primary outcome was the need for mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were ICU admission and in-hospital mortality. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for study outcomes were calculated using Cox-proportional hazards models after adjustment for the effects of demographics and comorbid conditions. RESULTS: Four hundred twelve patients were included in the study. Three hundred fourteen patients (76.3%) did not receive aspirin, while 98 patients (23.7%) received aspirin within 24 hours of admission or 7 days before admission. Aspirin use had a crude association with less mechanical ventilation (35.7% aspirin versus 48.4% nonaspirin, P = .03) and ICU admission (38.8% aspirin versus 51.0% nonaspirin, P = .04), but no crude association with in-hospital mortality (26.5% aspirin versus 23.2% nonaspirin, P = .51). After adjusting for 8 confounding variables, aspirin use was independently associated with decreased risk of mechanical ventilation (adjusted HR, 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.85, P = .007), ICU admission (adjusted HR, 0.57, 95% CI, 0.38-0.85, P = .005), and in-hospital mortality (adjusted HR, 0.53, 95% CI, 0.31-0.90, P = .02). There were no differences in major bleeding (P = .69) or overt thrombosis (P = .82) between aspirin users and nonaspirin users. CONCLUSIONS: Aspirin use may be associated with improved outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, a sufficiently powered randomized controlled trial is needed to assess whether a causal relationship exists between aspirin use and reduced lung injury and mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Optimization, equilibrium, adsorption behavior and role of surface functional groups on graphene oxide-based nanocomposite towards diclofenac drug.

Aquatic contamination of diclofenac (DCF), an emergent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs), can result in adverse effects to many ecosystems through biomagnification. Hence, introducing effective remediation techniques to sequester the pharmaceutical wastes is highly fundamental to prevent their accumulation in the environment. Generally, adsorption has been presented as a green and efficient approach. Herein, we report the characterization and application of the novel magnetic nanocomposite (GO@CoFe2O4) derived from cobalt-based ferrite (CoFe2O4) and graphene oxide (GO) for DCF adsorption. For the optimization procedure, the response surface methodology (RSM) was adopted to investigate the impacts of DCF concentration (1.6-18.4 mg/L), DCF dosage (0.08-0.92 g/L), and solution pH (2.6-9.4) to find the optimum conditions for DCF removal, at 10.5 mg/L, 0.74 g/L, and pH 4, respectively. For the adsorption experiments, the kinetic, isotherm, thermodynamic, and intraparticle diffusion models were systematically studied. Moreover, we have elucidated the role of functional groups on the surface of GO@CoFe2O4 in enhancing the adsorption of DCF drug. With good removal efficiency (up to 86.1%), high maximum adsorption capacity (32.4 mg/g), GO@CoFe2O4 can be a potential candidate to eliminate DCF drug from water.

Efficient Method for Preparation of Rutin Nanosuspension Using Chitosan and Sodium Tripolyphosphate Crosslinker.

High concentration of rutin nanosuspension (5%) in water was prepared by using high-speed and high-pressure homogenizer. Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) crosslinker and chitosan polymer were found to be an efficient encapsulating reagent and stabilizer to prepare rutin nanosuspension. In addition, the particle sizes and sedimentation rates of rutin nanosuspension were investigated under effects of several factors, including applied pressures of homogenization, the presence of co-solvent PEG 400 (polyethylene glycol 400), chitosan loading, STPP and chitosan mass ratio. Raw rutin material was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To evaluate the parameter of rutin nanosuspension, laser diffraction spectrometry (LDS) was employed to estimate the particle size distribution. Rutin nanosuspension prepared under optimal conditions was freezing dried/spray dried to form rutin powders. Properties of the rutin powders were evaluated using XRD analysis and re-dispersion into aqueous solutions of different pH values.

Photoluminescence Properties of Eu-Doped MIL-53(Fe) Obtained by Solvothermal Synthesis.

We report the facial synthesis of Eu-doped MIL-53(Fe) elongated hexagonal dipyramid by solvothermal reaction of Fe(NO3)3, Eu(NO3)3 and terephthalic acid (TPA) in the presence of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The as-synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, Raman, FT-IR, PL, and SEM. From XRD and Raman results, metal replacement (Eu) with the metal ion (Fe) in the crystal lattice may change the high crystallinity of the MIL-53(Fe) structure, and all the metal ions were incorporated into the structures of MIL-53(Fe) as well as replaced Fe ion or located at interstitial site. From PL result, Eu-doped MIL-53(Fe) showed unique Eu fluorescence properties with high emission intensity, thus enabling it to be a promising functional probe for fluorescent imaging.

Grafting of Poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) onto Halloysite Nanotubes via Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.

A synthetic strategy for the functionalization of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (PPEGMA) via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SIATRP). The covalent immobilization of PPEGMA was confirmed by FT-IR analysis. The preparation of the nanohybrids was further evidenced by the XPS and EDX studies. The morphologies of functionalized HNTs were investigated by FE-SEM analysis. TGA results suggested that the nanohybrids can be used in high temperature applications. Thus, this newly developed surface functionalization protocol offers the tailoring of the HNTs surface with wide functionalities and is potentially useful to the biomedical applications.

Glutathione Capped CdSe Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Characterization, Morphology, and Application as a Sensor for Toxic Metal Ions.

Glutathione (GSH) functionalized CdSe quantum dots (QDs) (GSH-f-CdSe QDs) were prepared via a simple one-pot strategy at low temperature. The as-synthesized CdSe QDs were characterized by FT-IR and XPS analyses. The morphology, physical structure and size distribution of GSH-f-CdSe QDs were investigated by TEM, XRD and DLS analyses, respectively. The GSH-f-CdSe QDs exhibited excellent stability of optical properties as investigated by UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The high affinity of GSH towards heavy metal ions made the GSH-f-CdSe QDs quite susceptible to Pb2+ ion which poses serious threat to the health and environment. The PL intensity of GSH-f-CdSe QDs was observed to be apparently quenched in the presence of Pb2+ ions in aqueous solution rendering their potentialities as a sensor for detection of toxic heavy metal ions.

Combined Minimum-Run Resolution IV and Central Composite Design for Optimized Removal of the Tetracycline Drug Over Metal⁻Organic Framework-Templated Porous Carbon.

In this study, a minimum-run resolution IV and central composite design have been developed to optimize tetracycline removal efficiency over mesoporous carbon derived from the metal-organic framework MIL-53 (Fe) as a self-sacrificial template. Firstly, minimum-run resolution IV, powered by the Design-Expert program, was used as an efficient and reliable screening study for investigating a set of seven factors, these were: tetracycline concentration (A: 5-15 mg/g), dose of mesoporous carbons (MPC) (B: 0.05-0.15 g/L), initial pH level (C: 2-10), contact time (D: 1-3 h), temperature (E: 20-40 °C), shaking speed (F: 150-250 rpm), and Na+ ionic strength (G: 10-90 mM) at both low (-1) and high (+1) levels, for investigation of the data ranges. The 20-trial model was analyzed and assessed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) data, and diagnostic plots (e.g., the Pareto chart, and half-normal and normal probability plots). Based on minimum-run resolution IV, three factors, including tetracycline concentration (A), dose of MPC (B), and initial pH (C), were selected to carry out the optimization study using a central composite design. The proposed quadratic model was found to be statistically significant at the 95% confidence level due to a low P-value (<0.05), high R2 (0.9078), and the AP ratio (11.4), along with an abundance of diagnostic plots (3D response surfaces, Cook's distance, Box-Cox, DFFITS, Leverage versus run, residuals versus runs, and actual versus predicted). Under response surface methodology-optimized conditions (e.g., tetracycline concentration of 1.9 mg/g, MPC dose of 0.15 g/L, and pH level of 3.9), the highest tetracycline removal efficiency via confirmation tests reached up to 98.0%-99.7%. Also, kinetic intraparticle diffusion and isotherm models were systematically studied to interpret how tetracycline molecules were absorbed on an MPC structure. In particular, the adsorption mechanisms including "electrostatic attraction" and "π-π interaction" were proposed.

Application of response surface methodology to optimize the fabrication of ZnCl2-activated carbon from sugarcane bagasse for the removal of Cu2.

The present study focused on the application of response surface methodology to optimize the fabrication of activated carbon (AC) from sugarcane bagasse for adsorption of Cu2+ ion. The AC was synthesized via chemical activation with ZnCl2 as the activating agent. The central composite design based experiments were performed to assess the individual and interactive effect of influential parameters, including activation temperature, ZnCl2 impregnation ratio and activation time on the AC yield and removal of Cu2+ ion from the aqueous environment. The statistically significant, well-fitting quadratic regression models were successfully developed as confirmed by high F- and low P-values (<0.0001), high correlation coefficients and lack-of-fit tests. Accordingly, the optimum AC yield and removal efficiency of Cu2+ were predicted, respectively, as 48.8% and 92.7% which were approximate to the actual values. By applying the predicted optimal parameters, the AC shows a surprisingly high surface area of around 1,500 m2/g accompanied by large pore volume and narrow micropore size at low fabrication temperature.

Highly correlated electronic structure calculations of the He-C3 van der Waals complex and collision-induced rotational transitions of C3.

An accurate 2D ab initio potential energy surface of the He-C3 collisional system is calculated using the supermolecular coupled-cluster method with up to perturbative quadruple excitations, CCSDT(Q). This interaction potential is then incorporated in full close-coupling calculations of rotational excitation/de-excitation cross sections in He + C3 collisions for rotational levels j = 0, 2, ..., 10 and collision energies up to 1000 cm(-1). Corresponding rate coefficients are reported for temperature between 1 and 100 K. Results are found to be in excellent agreement with available theoretical data that were restricted to the temperature range of 5-15 K. Implications of the computed rate coefficients to astrophysical models of C3 and carbon clusters in interstellar and circumstellar environments are discussed.

Construction of BiOCl/bismuth-based halide perovskite heterojunctions derived from the metal-organic framework CAU-17 for effective photocatalytic degradation.

The designed synthesis of an S-scheme heterojunction has possessed a great potential for improving photocatalytic wastewater treatment by demonstrating increased the photoredox capacity and improved the charge separation efficiency. Here, we introduce the fabrication of a heterojunction-based photocatalyst comprising bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) and bismuth-based halide perovskite (BHP) nanosheets, derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Our composite photocatalyst is synthesized through a one-pot solvothermal strategy, where a halogenation process is applied to a bismuth-based metal-organic framework (CAU-17) as the precursor for bismuth sourcing. As a result, the rod-like structure of CAU-17 transforms into well-defined plate and nanosheet architectures after 4 and 8 h of solvothermal treatment, respectively. The modulation of the solvothermal reaction time facilitates the establishment of an S-scheme heterojunction, resulting in an increase in the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of rhodamine B (RhB) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The optimized BiOCl/BHP composite exhibits superior RhB and SMX degradation rates, achieving 99.8% degradation of RhB in 60 min and 75.1% degradation of SMX in 300 min. Also, the optimized BiOCl/BHP composite (CAU-17-st-8h sample) exhibited the highest rate constant (k = 3.48 × 10-3 min-1), nearly 6 times higher than that of the bare BHP in the photocatalytic degradation process of SMX. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiency can be endorsed to various factors: (i) the in-situ formation of two-components BiOCl/BHP photocatalyst, derived from CAU-17, effectively suppresses the aggregation of pristine BHP and BiOCl particles; (ii) the S-scheme heterostructure establishes a closely-knit interfacial connection, thereby facilitating efficient pathways for charge separation/transfer; and (iii) the BiOCl/BHP heterostructure enhances its capacity to absorb visible light. Our investigation establishes an effective strategy for constructing heterostructured photocatalysts, offering significant potential for application in photocatalytic wastewater treatment.

Low-Income Asian Americans: High Levels Of Food Insecurity And Low Participation In The CalFresh Nutrition Program.

Little is known about food insecurity and the extent of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation in the heterogeneous Asian American population. Using California Health Interview Survey data from the period 2011-20, we examined both issues among low-income Asian American adults from six origin groups: Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, South Asian, and Vietnamese. We found high and varied levels of overall food insecurity, with the highest burden among Filipino adults (40 percent). Food insecurity by severity was also heterogenous; very low food security affected 2 percent of Chinese adults but 9 percent and 10 percent of Filipino and Japanese adults, respectively. Participation in CalFresh (California-implemented SNAP) ranged from 11 percent and 12 percent among Korean and Chinese adults, respectively, to 20 percent among Vietnamese adults. Compared with English-proficient low-income Asian American adults, those with limited English proficiency were no less likely to participate in CalFresh, possibly reflecting language assistance required by California law and provided by community-based organizations. These results underscore the importance of collecting and reporting disaggregated data by Asian origin group that could inform targeted outreach and interventions.

Pd nanoparticles decorated BiVO4 pine architectures for photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) has been extensively detected in wastewater treatment plant effluents and surface water. Because of its potential risks to ecology and health, treatment for eliminating SMX is urgently required. In this study, we report the application of Pd nanoparticles decorated on BiVO4 pine architecture for the photocatalytic degradation of SMX. The results showed that the barer BiVO4 and Pd-BiVO4 eliminated SMX under visible-light irradiation. After 210 min of irradiation, 98.8% of SMX was substantially eliminated by Pd-BiVO4, whereas bare BiVO4 can degraded approximately 36.3% of SMX. Pd-BiVO4 also exhibited a high mineralization rate (84% of total organic carbon (TOC) removal) compared to bare BiVO4 (51% of TOC removal). Through three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectra, SMX with high fluorescence intensity can be degraded to non-fluorescence intermediate products, further confirming the high mineralization of SMX over Pd-BiVO4 catalyst. Well-dispersed Pd nanoparticles on the {040} facet of BiVO4 pine architecture can support the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers because of the formation of the Schottky junction at the Pd-BiVO4 interface. Besides, the active species trapping tests indicated that •O2- and h+ radicals dominate SMX photodegradation over Pd-BiVO4. The main degradation intermediates of SMX in the reaction solution was also identified through ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. This investigation can provide insight into designing metallic/semiconductor junctions for antibiotic elimination in water media.

A 3-component module maintains sepal flatness in Arabidopsis.

As in origami, morphogenesis in living systems heavily relies on tissue curving and folding, through the interplay between biochemical and biomechanical cues. In contrast, certain organs maintain their flat posture over several days. Here we identified a pathway, which is required for the maintenance of organ flatness, taking the sepal, the outermost floral organ, in Arabidopsis as a model system. Through genetic, cellular and mechanical approaches, our results demonstrate that global gene expression regulator VERNALIZATION INDEPENDENCE 4 (VIP4) fine-tunes the mechanical properties of sepal cell walls and maintains balanced growth on both sides of the sepals, mainly by orchestrating the distribution pattern of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 3 (ARF3). vip4 mutation results in softer cell walls and faster cell growth on the adaxial sepal side, which eventually cause sepals to bend outward. Downstream of VIP4, ARF3 works through modulating auxin signaling to down-regulate pectin methylesterase VANGUARD1, resulting in decreased cell wall stiffness. Our work unravels a 3-component module, which relates hormonal patterns to organ curvature, and actively maintains sepal flatness during its growth.

Uneven stigma loads: Community interpretations of public health policies, 'evidence' and inequities in shaping Covid-19 stigma in Vietnam.

The infectious spread of COVID-19 has been accompanied by stigma in both global and local contexts, sparking concern about its negative effect on individuals, communities, and public health responses. The changing epidemiological context of the COVID-19 epidemic and evolving public health responses during the first year of the pandemic (2020) in Vietnam serve as a case study to qualitatively explore the fluidity of stigma. We conducted in-depth interviews with 38 individuals, (13 cases, 9 close contacts, and 16 community members) from areas affected by local outbreaks. Thematic analysis was conducted iteratively. Our analysis indicates that the extent and impacts of COVID-19-related stigma were uneven. Adapting the clinical term 'viral load' as a metaphor, we describe this variation through the wide range of 'stigma load' noted in participants' experiences. Individuals encountering more acute stigma, i.e. the highest 'stigma load', were those associated with COVID-19 at the start of the local outbreaks. These intensively negative social responses were driven by a social meaning-making process that misappropriated an inaccurate understanding of epidemiological logic. Specifically, contact tracing was presumed within the public consciousness to indicate linear blame, with individuals falsely considered to have engaged in 'transgressive mobility', with onward transmission perceived as being intentional. In contrast, as case numbers grew within an outbreak the imagined linearity of the infection chain was disrupted and lower levels of stigma were experienced, with COVID-19 transmission and association reframed as reflecting an environmental rather than behavioural risk. Our findings demonstrate the role of public health policies in unintentionally creating conditions for stigma to flourish. However, this is fluid. The social perceptions of infection risk shifted from being individualised to environmental, suggesting that stigma can be modified and mitigated through attending to the productive social lives of public health approaches and policies.