The dePARylase NUDT16 promotes radiation resistance of cancer cells by blocking SETD3 for degradation via reversing its ADP-ribosylation.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) is a critical posttranslational modification that plays a vital role in maintaining genomic stability via a variety of molecular mechanisms, including activation of replication stress and the DNA damage response. The nudix hydrolase NUDT16 was recently identified as a phosphodiesterase that is responsible for removing ADP-ribose units and that plays an important role in DNA repair. However, the roles of NUDT16 in coordinating replication stress and cell cycle progression remain elusive. Here, we report that SETD3, which is a member of the SET-domain containing protein (SETD) family, is a novel substrate for NUDT16, that its protein levels fluctuate during cell cycle progression, and that its stability is strictly regulated by NUDT16-mediated dePARylation. Moreover, our data indicated that the E3 ligase CHFR is responsible for the recognition and degradation of endogenous SETD3 in a PARP1-mediated PARylation-dependent manner. Mechanistically, we revealed that SETD3 associates with BRCA2 and promotes its recruitment to stalled replication fork and DNA damage sites upon replication stress or DNA double-strand breaks, respectively. Importantly, depletion of SETD3 in NUDT16-deficient cells did not further exacerbate DNA breaks or enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to IR exposure, suggesting that the NUDT16-SETD3 pathway may play critical roles in the induction of tolerance to radiotherapy. Collectively, these data showed that NUDT16 functions as a key upstream regulator of SETD3 protein stability by reversing the ADP-ribosylation of SETD3, and NUDT16 participates in the resolution of replication stress and facilitates HR repair.

Lactobacillus reuteri inhibits Staphylococcus aureus-induced mastitis by regulating oxytocin releasing and gut microbiota in mice.

Mastitis is the most frequent disease of cows and has well-recognized detrimental effects on animal wellbeing and dairy farm profitability. With the advent of the postantibiotic era, alternative antibiotic agents, especially probiotics, have received increasing attention in the treatment of mastitis. Based on research showing that Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) has anti-inflammatory effects, this study explored the protective effects and mechanisms of L. reuteri against mastitis induced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in mice. First, mice with S. aureus-induced mastitis were orally administered L. reuteri, and the inflammatory response in the mammary gland was observed. The results showed that L. reuteri significantly inhibited S. aureus-induced mastitis. Moreover, the concentration of oxytocin (OT) and protein expression of oxytocin receptor (OTR) were measured, and inhibition of OTR or vagotomy reversed the protective effect of L. reuteri or its culture supernatant (LCS) on S. aureus-induced mastitis. In addition, in mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMECs), OT inhibited the inflammation induced by S. aureus by inhibiting the protein expression of OTR. It was suggested that L. reuteri protected against S. aureus-induced mastitis by releasing OT. Furthermore, microbiological analysis showed that the composition of the microbiota was altered, and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was significantly increased in gut and mammary gland after treatment with L. reuteri or LCS. In conclusion, our study found the L. reuteri inhibited the mastitis-induced by S. aureus via promoting the release of OT, and treatment with L. reuteri increased the abundance of Lactobacillus in both gut and mammary gland.

Chromosome stability of synthetic Triticum turgidum-Aegilops umbellulata hybrids.

BACKGROUND: Unreduced gamete formation during meiosis plays a critical role in natural polyploidization. However, the unreduced gamete formation mechanisms in Triticum turgidum-Aegilops umbellulata triploid F1 hybrid crosses and the chromsome numbers and compostions in T. turgidum-Ae. umbellulata F2 still not known. RESULTS: In this study, 11 T.turgidum-Ae. umbellulata triploid F1 hybrid crosses were produced by distant hybridization. All of the triploid F1 hybrids had 21 chromosomes and two basic pathways of meiotic restitution, namely first-division restitution (FDR) and single-division meiosis (SDM). Only FDR was found in six of the 11 crosses, while both FDR and SDM occurred in the remaining five crosses. The chromosome numbers in the 127 selfed F2 seeds from the triploid F1 hybrid plants of 10 crosses (no F2 seeds for STU 16) varied from 35 to 43, and the proportions of euploid and aneuploid F2 plants were 49.61% and 50.39%, respectively. In the aneuploid F2 plants, the frequency of chromosome loss/gain varied among genomes. The chromosome loss of the U genome was the highest (26.77%) among the three genomes, followed by that of the B (22.83%) and A (11.81%) genomes, and the chromosome gain for the A, B, and U genomes was 3.94%, 3.94%, and 1.57%, respectively. Of the 21 chromosomes, 7U (16.54%), 5 A (3.94%), and 1B (9.45%) had the highest loss frequency among the U, A, and B genomes. In addition to chromosome loss, seven chromosomes, namely 1 A, 3 A, 5 A, 6 A, 1B, 1U, and 6U, were gained in the aneuploids. CONCLUSION: In the aneuploid F2 plants, the frequency of chromosome loss/gain varied among genomes, chromsomes, and crosses. In addition to variations in chromosome numbers, three types of chromosome translocations including 3UL·2AS, 6UL·1AL, and 4US·6AL were identified in the F2 plants. Furthermore, polymorphic fluorescence in situ hybridization karyotypes for all the U chromosomes were also identified in the F2 plants when compared with the Ae. umbellulata parents. These results provide useful information for our understanding the naturally occurred T. turgidum-Ae. umbellulata amphidiploids.

Ge-Doped Hematite with FeCoNi-Bi as Cocatalyst for High-Performing Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

Hematite is a promising photoanode material for photoelectrochemical water-splitting technology. However, the low current density associated with the low conductivity, low charge carrier mobility, and poor oxygen evolution catalytic activity is a challenging issue for the material. In this study, the challenge is addressed by introducing Germanium (Ge) doping, coupled with the use of FeCoNi-Bi as a co-catalyst. Ge doping not only increases the conductivity and charge carrier concentration of the hematite photoanode, but also induces nanopores, thereby expanding its electrochemical reactive surface area to facilitate the oxygen evolution reaction. In the meantime, the FeCoNi-Bi cocatalyst electrodeposited onto the surface of Ge-doped hematite, improves the oxygen evolution reaction performance. As a result, the obtained photoanode achieves a photocurrent density of 2.31 mA cm-2 at 1.23 VRHE, which is three times higher than that of hematite (0.72 mA cm-2). Moreover, a new analytical method is introduced to scrutinize both the positive and negative effects of Ge doping and FeCoNi-Bi cocatalyst on the photoanode performance by decoupling the photoelectrochemical process steps. Overall, this study not only enhances the performance of hematite photoanodes but also guides their rational design and systematic assessment.

Polarized vortex Smith-Purcell radiation with cascaded metasurfaces.

We introduce the concept of polarized vortex Smith-Purcell radiation by the interaction of an electron beam and cascaded metasurfaces. The spin and orbital angular momenta of Smith-Purcell radiation are determined by the cascaded metasurface that consists of a grating and a phase gradient metasurface. The grating converts the electron beam radiation into the desired polarized light, while the phase gradient metasurface generates the vortex light. Furthermore, the vortex Smith-Purcell radiation with linear and circular polarizations can be achieved by the various cascaded metasurfaces. In particular, the conversion of chirality in the Smith-Purcell radiation carrying circular polarization is accompanied by the alteration of positive and negative topological charges. This work paves the way for generating polarized vortex electron radiation and is beneficial to promote the development of free-electron-driven devices.

Association between heart rate and mortality in patients with septic shock: an analysis revealed by time series data.

BACKGROUND: Heart rate is crucial for patients with septic shock, but there are few studies on the scope of heart rate. Therefore, we studied the relationship between different heart rates and mortality of critically ill patients with septic shock, and explored the optimal heart rate range, in order to provide new insights for clinical treatment of septic shock. METHODS: This retrospective study utilized time-series heart rate data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) IV database. Patients with septic shock were identified as the Sepsis 3.0 criteria and received vasopressor therapy in the first 24 h since ICU admission. We calculated the time-weighted average heart rate (TWA-HR) based on the time-series data. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was employed to investigate the nonlinear relationship between heart rate and 28-day mortality, aiming to explore the optimal heart rate control target for septic patients and using this target as the exposure factor. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, and the secondary outcome were ICU and in-hospital mortality. For the original cohort, we applied the log-rank test to infer the relationship between heart rate and mortality. To control for bias introduced by confounders, we utilized propensity score matching (PSM) to reduce imbalances between normal TWA-HR and high TWA-HR groups, and we established a series of models [the multivariable Cox model, matching weight (MW)-adjusted Cox model, multivariable logistic regression, MW-adjusted logistic regression, and doubly robust model] as sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses to demonstrate the robustness of our findings. RESULTS: A total of 13492 patients were included in our study. The RCS analysis based on Cox and logistic regression showed increased risk of mortality (P < 0.001, non-linear P < 0.001) when TWA-HR > 85 beats per minute (bpm). The log-rank test revealed in terms of the 28-day mortality, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 1.92 (1.78-2.06, P < 0.001) for patients with high TWA-HR compared to normal TWA-HR group. Similarly, for the ICU mortality, the HR (95% CI) was 1.64 (1.52-1.78, P < 0.001), and for the in-hospital mortality, the HR (95% CI) was 1.61 (1.48-1.76, P < 0.001). Collectively, the sensitivity analysis consistently demonstrated higher 28-day mortality, ICU mortality, and in-hospital mortality in patients with TWA-HR > 85 bpm. CONCLUSION: Patients with septic shock whose heart rate was controlled no more than 85 bpm during ICU stay received survival benefit in terms of 28-day, ICU and in-hospital mortality. .

H-assisted CO2 dissociation on PdnPt(4-n)/In2O3 catalysts: a density functional theory study.

CO2 hydrogenation into valuable chemical compounds can effectively address the issues of greenhouse gas emissions and energy scarcity. The activation and dissociation processes of CO2 are crucial for its reduction reactions, but the effects of *H adatoms on the C-O cleavage are still confusing. This study investigates the H-assisted CO2 dissociation pathways on the PdnPt(4-n)/In2O3 (n = 0-4) catalysts via DFT calculation. Initially, the adsorption properties of *H2, *COOH, and *HCOO species are calculated. Then, two H-assisted CO2 dissociation channels, i.e., *CO2 + *H → *COOH → *CO + *OH and *CO2 + *H → *HCOO → *CHO + *O, are studied. Results show that Pt and Pd promote the CO2 hydrogenation and C-O bond cleavage reactions, respectively. In comparison to CO2 direct dissociation, the COOH-mediated and HCOO-mediated channels facilitate and impede the C-O bond cleavage, respectively. Overall, the Pd3Pt/In2O3 constituent is suggested for the H-assisted CO2 dissociation reaction. The electronic effects of the PdnPt(4-n) bimetals adjust the stabilities of the intermediates and barriers of the elementary steps, and the interactions between PdnPt(4-n) and In2O3 provide extra sites for the adsorbates and reaction steps. This study reveals the effects of *H on the C-O bond dissociation processes and provides useful insight into designing PdPt/In2O3 catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation reactions.

Effect of older adults willingness on telemedicine usage: an integrated approach based on technology acceptance and decomposed theory of planned behavior model.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine, as a novel method of health management system, has demonstrated to have a significant impact on health levels. However, a challenge persists in the form of low usage rates and acceptance among older adults in China. There are accumulating evidence that willingness will affect the telemedicine usage among older adults. This study investigates factors influencing older users' trust in adopting telemedicine technology, thereby promoting actual use. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 400 urban seniors aged 60 and above. Drawing from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior (DTPB), the author combines elements such as Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Subjective Norms, Service Environment, Self-Efficacy, Behavioral Intention to Use, and Usage Behavior. The aim is to explore the interrelationships between these factors. RESULTS: Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Service Environment (SE) significantly and positively impact Behavioral Intention (BI) to use telemedicine, with Trust (TR) identified as a crucial mediating variable. Enhancing trust can substantially increase older adults' intention to use telemedicine services. Furthermore, the study reveals a significant relationship between older adults' trust in telemedicine and factors such as Perceived Usefulness (PU), Service Environment (SE), Subjective Norms (SR), as well as Emotional Risk (ER) and Cost Risk (CR), the latter two tending to decrease Trust(TR). CONCLUSIONS: This paper constructs and validates a combined model based on TAM and DTPB, comprehensively exploring the potential factors influencing the older adults' intention to use telemedicine. The findings suggest that telemedicine services for older adults should prioritize improving user perception and enhancing trust throughout the service process to effectively increase their willingness to use these services.

Comparative Analysis of the Mitochondrial Genome of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) to Identify Cytoplasmic Male Sterility Candidate Genes.

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is important for commercial hybrid seed production. However, it is still not used in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), and corresponding regulatory genes and mechanisms of action have not been reported. We report CMS line 327A, which was derived from the hybridization between cultivated and wild eggplants. By looking at different stages of anther development under a microscope, we saw that the 327A anther's tapetum layer vacuolized during meiosis, which caused abortion. To investigate the 327A CMS regulatory genes, the mitochondrial genomes of 327A and its maintainer line 327B were assembled de novo. It was found that 15 unique ORFs (Open Reading Frame) were identified in 327A. RT-PCR and RT-QPCAR tests confirmed that orf312a and orf172a, 327A-specific ORFs with a transmembrane domain, were strongly expressed in sterile anthers of 327A. In addition, orf312a has a chimeric structure with the ribosomal protein subunit rpl16. Therefore, orf312a and orf172a can be considered strong candidate genes for CMS. Concurrently, we analyzed the characteristics of CMS to develop a functional molecular marker, CMS312, targeting a future theoretical basis for eggplant CMS three-line molecular breeding.

A Polyzwitterionic@MOF Hydrogel with Exceptionally High Water Vapor Uptake for Efficient Atmospheric Water Harvesting.

Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is considered a promising strategy for sustainable freshwater production in landlocked and arid regions. Hygroscopic salt-based composite sorbents have attracted widespread attention for their water harvesting performance, but suffer from aggregation and leakage issues due to the salting-out effect. In this study, we synthesized a PML hydrogel composite by incorporating zwitterionic hydrogel (PDMAPS) and MIL-101(Cr) as a host for LiCl. The PML hydrogel was characterized using various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The swelling properties and water vapor adsorption-desorption properties of the PML hydrogel were also assessed. The results demonstrate that the MIL-101(Cr) was uniformly embedded into PDMAP hydrogel, and the PML hydrogel exhibits a swelling ratio of 2.29 due to the salting-in behavior. The PML hydrogel exhibited exceptional water vapor sorption capacity of 0.614 g/g at 298 K, RH = 40% and 1.827 g/g at 298 K, RH = 90%. It reached 80% of its saturated adsorption capacity within 117 and 149 min at 298 K, RH = 30% and 90%, respectively. Additionally, the PML hydrogel showed excellent reversibility in terms of water vapor adsorption after ten consecutive cycles of adsorption-desorption. The remarkable adsorption capacity, favorable adsorption-desorption rate, and regeneration stability make the PML hydrogel a potential candidate for AWH. This polymer-MOF synergistic strategy for immobilization of LiCl in this work offers new insights into designing advanced materials for AWH.

Detection of Arsenic(V) by Fluorescence Sensing Based on Chlorin e6-Copper Ion.

The high toxicity of arsenic (As) can cause irreversible harm to the environment and human health. In this study, the chlorin e6 (Ce6), which emits fluorescence in the infrared region, was introduced as the luminescence center, and the addition of copper ion (Cu2+) and As(V) provoked a regular change in fluorescence at 652 nm, whereas that of As(III) was 665 nm, which was used to optionally detect Cu2+, arsenic (As(III), and As(V)). The limit of detection (LOD) values were 0.212 µM, 0.089 ppm, and 1.375 ppb for Cu2+, As(III), and As(V), respectively. The developed method can be used to determine Cu2+ and arsenic in water and soil with good sensitivity and selectivity. The 1:1 stoichiometry of Ce6 with Cu2+ was obtained from the Job plot that was developed from UV-visible spectra. The binding constants for Cu2+ and As(V) were established to be 1.248 × 105 M-1 and 2.35 × 1012 M-2, respectively, using B-H (Benesi-Hildebrand) plots. Fluorescence lifetimes, B-H plots, FT-IR, and 1H-NMR were used to postulate the mechanism of Cu2+ fluorescence quenching and As(V) fluorescence restoration and the interactions of the two ions with the Ce6 molecule.

Characteristics, Comparative Analysis, and Phylogenetic Relationships of Chloroplast Genomes of Cultivars and Wild Relatives of Eggplant (Solanum melongena).

The eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a popular vegetable around the world. However, the origin and evolution of eggplant has long been considered complex and unclear, which has become the barrier to improvements in eggplant breeding. Sequencing and comparative analyses of 13 complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of seven Solanum species were performed. Genome sizes were between 154,942 and 156,004 bp, the smallest genome was from S. torvum and the largest from S. macrocapon. Thirteen cp genomes showed highly conserved sequences and GC contents, particularly at the subgenus level. All genes in the 13 genomes were annotated. The cp genomes in this study comprised 130 genes (i.e., 80 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 42 tRNA genes), apart from S. sisymbriifolium, which had 129 (79 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 42 tRNA genes.). The rps16 was absent from the cp genome of S. sisymbriifolium, resulting in a nonsense mutation. Twelve hotspot regions of the cp genome were identified, which showed a series of sequence variations and differed significantly in the inverted repeat/single-copy boundary regions. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis was conducted using 46 cp genomic sequences to determine interspecific genetic and phylogenetic relationships in Solanum species. All species formed two branches, one of which contained all cultivars of the subgenus Leptostemonum. The cp genome data and phylogenetic analysis provides molecular evidence revealing the origin and evolutionary relationships of S. melongena and its wild relatives. Our findings suggest precise intra- and interspecies relatedness within the subgenus Leptostemonum, which has positive implications for work on improvements in eggplant breeding, particularly in producing heterosis, expanding the source of species variation, and breeding new varieties.

Diverse ranking metamaterial inverse design based on contrastive and transfer learning.

Metamaterials, thoughtfully designed, have demonstrated remarkable success in the manipulation of electromagnetic waves. More recently, deep learning can advance the performance in the field of metamaterial inverse design. However, existing inverse design methods based on deep learning often overlook potential trade-offs of optimal design and outcome diversity. To address this issue, in this work we introduce contrastive learning to implement a simple but effective global ranking inverse design framework. Viewing inverse design as spectrum-guided ranking of the candidate structures, our method creates a resemblance relationship of the optical response and metamaterials, enabling the prediction of diverse structures of metamaterials based on the global ranking. Furthermore, we have combined transfer learning to enrich our framework, not limited in prediction of single metamaterial representation. Our work can offer inverse design evaluation and diverse outcomes. The proposed method may shrink the gap between flexibility and accuracy of on-demand design.

Annular and unidirectional transverse scattering with high directivity based on magnetoelectric coupling.

Transverse scattering is a special directional scattering perpendicular to the propagation direction, which has attracted great interest due to its potential applications from directional antennas, optical metrology to optical sensing. Here we reveal annular transverse scattering and unidirectional transverse scattering by magnetoelectric coupling of Omega particle. The annular transverse scattering can be achieved by the longitudinal dipole mode of the Omega particle. Furthermore, we demonstrate the highly asymmetric unidirectional transverse scattering by adjusting the transverse electric dipole (ED) and longitudinal magnetic dipole (MD) modes. Meanwhile, the forward scattering and backward scattering are suppressed by the interference of transverse ED and longitudinal MD modes. In particular, the lateral force exerted on the particle is accompanied by the transverse scattering. Our results provide a useful toolset for manipulating light scattered by the particle and broaden the application range of the particle with magnetoelectric coupling.

Association of Epicardial Adipose Tissue With Left Ventricular Strain and MR Myocardial Perfusion in Patients With Known Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) may have a paracrine effect on coronary microcirculation and myocardium. However, it is unclear whether EAT is linked to cardiac function and perfusion. PURPOSE: To investigate the association of EAT with left ventricular (LV) strain and myocardial perfusion in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: A total of 78 patients with CAD and 20 healthy controls. The patients were further divided into high (n = 39) and low EAT volume (n = 39) groups according to median EAT volume. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A 1.5 T, balanced steady-state free precession, inversion recovery prepared echo-planar, and segmented-turbo fast low-angle shot (FLASH) phase-sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR) sequences. ASSESSMENT: EAT volume was measured by manually tracing the epicardial border and the visceral layer of pericardium on the short-axis cine stacks. LV strain parameters included global radial (GRS), circumferential (GCS), and longitudinal peak strain (GLS). Perfusion indices included upslope, perfusion index, time-to-maximum signal intensity (TTM), and maximum signal intensity (MaxSI). STATISTICAL TESTS: One-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis rank tests, Chi-squared or Fisher exact tests. Multivariate linear regression analyses. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The parameters of GRS GCS, GLS, upslope, perfusion index, and MaxSI were significantly lower in the patients when compared to the controls. Moreover, the high EAT volume group presented significantly longer TTM values and lower GRS, GCS, GLS, upslope, perfusion index, and MaxSI than the low EAT volume group. Multivariate linear regression analyses demonstrated that EAT was independently associated with GRS, GCS, GLS, upslope, perfusion index, TTM, and MaxSI in patients. EAT and upslope were independently associated with GRS, while EAT and perfusion index were both independently associated with GCS and GLS. DATA CONCLUSION: EAT was associated with parameters of LV function and perfusion, and myocardial perfusion was independently associated with LV strain in patients with CAD. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

Development of a novel Fc fusion protein dual glucagon-like peptide-1 and gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor agonists.

AIM: To develop and investigate an imbalanced dual gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR)/glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1 R) agonist with Fc fusion protein structure. METHODS: We designed and constructed an Fc fusion protein that is a dual agonist (HEC-CG115) with an empirically optimized potency ratio for GLP-1R and GIPR. The long-term effects of HEC-CG115 on body weight and glycaemic control were evaluated in diet-induced obese mice and diabetic db/db mice. Repeat dose toxicity assays were performed to investigate the safety profile of HEC-CG115 in Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: HEC-CG115 displayed high potency for GIPR and relatively low potency for GLP-1R, and we labelled it 'imbalanced'. In animal models, HEC-CG115 (3 nmol/kg) led to more weight loss than semaglutide at a higher dose (10 nmol/kg) in diet-induced obese model mice. HEC-CG115 (one dose every 3 days) reduced fasting blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin levels similar to those after semaglutide (once daily) at the same dose. In a 4-week subcutaneous toxicity study conducted to assess the biosafety of HEC-CG115, the no observed adverse effect level was determined to be 3 mg/kg. CONCLUSION: HEC-CG115 is a novel Fc fusion protein with imbalanced dual agonism that shows superior weight loss, glycaemic control and metabolic improvement in animal models, and has an optimal safety profile according to a repeat-dose toxicity study. Therefore, the use of HEC-CG115 appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Enhancing propellant performance through intermolecular interactions: cyclodextrin-based MOF loading in nitrocellulose.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer promising opportunities for modifying energetic materials due to their micro-porous structure and high performance. In this study, we present a novel green MOF named cyclodextrin-MOF (CD-MOF), which incorporates potassium ions, synthesized using a simple methanol vapor diffusion approach. The CD-MOF incorporates potassium ions and enhances propellant performance through intermolecular force optimization with nitrocellulose (NC). Molecular dynamics simulations reveal stronger interactions between the CD-MOF and NC. The loading of the CD-MOF within NC forms a stable structure with resistance to migration and defense against crystalline precipitation and water absorption. Notably, in static combustion and pyrolysis tests, the CD-MOF exhibits efficient flame and flash inhibition. The thermal degradation and cauterization of the CD-MOF resulted in the formation of a complex microporous material capable of absorbing flammable and harmful gases such as CO, NO, NO2, and N2O. These findings shed light on the superior performance of the CD-MOF compared to conventional inorganic salts, and the comprehensive characterization and molecular simulations provide insights into the unique properties and applications of the CD-MOF, emphasizing its significant contribution to the field of green propellants.

Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase Gene SsCI51640 Is Required for Sporisorium scitamineum Mating/Filamentation by Regulating cAMP Pathway and Improving Sporidia Environmental Adaptability.

Sugarcane smut is a serious disease caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, which causes significant losses to the sugar industry. It is critical to reveal the molecular pathogenic mechanism of S. scitamineum to explore a new control strategy for sugarcane smut. On the basis of transcriptome sequencing data of two S. scitamineum strains with different pathogenicity, we identified the gene, SsCI51640, which was predicted to encode kynurenine 3-monooxygenase. In this study, we obtained knockout mutants and complementary mutants of this gene and identified gene function. The results showed that the sporidial growth rate and acid production ability of knockout mutants were significantly higher and stronger than those of the wild-type and complementary mutants. The growth of knockout mutants under abiotic stress (osmotic stress and cell wall stress) was significantly inhibited. In addition, the sexual mating ability and pathogenicity of knockout mutants were significantly reduced, while this phenomenon could be restored by adding exogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). It is thus speculated that the SsCI51640 gene may regulate sexual mating and pathogenicity of S. scitamineum by the cAMP signaling pathway. Moreover, the SsCI51640 gene enhanced the sporidial environmental adaptability, which promoted sexual mating and development of pathogenicity. This study provides a theoretical basis for the molecular pathogenesis of S. scitamineum.

The local coupling and telecoupling of urbanization and ecological environment quality based on multisource remote sensing data.

Coordinating the relationship between urbanization and ecological environment quality (EEQ) is crucial to achieving sustainable development. With the development of globalization, the pattern of remote interaction between urbanization and EEQ has gradually increased. However, the current study on the coupling of urbanization and EEQ lacks a remote perspective, and the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) model has not yet considered the environmental pollution caused by population agglomeration. For these reasons, this study proposes the remote sensing ecological environment index (RSEEI) model and measures the local coupling and telecoupling coordination degree (LTCCD) of urbanization and EEQ in China from 2000 to 2020. According to the results, the rate of change of EEQ in China was -0.00011a-1. RSEEI widens the gap between the east and west of EEQ, differentiated by the Heihe-Tengchong Line. China's urbanization is growing at a 0.0008a-1 rate, with a spatially driven radiation potential with Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Macao as the core. LTCCD follows an increasing trend from inland to coastal and west to east. Over 70% of provinces experienced a shift in adjacent LTCCD levels, and 14 provinces moved from disorder to coordination after 2010. The telecoupling strengthens the correlation between urbanization and EEQ among regions compared with traditional coupling. In addition, the eastern coastal areas, the northern and central-south inland areas, and the northwest face different coordination problems.

Exosome biogenesis: machinery, regulation, and therapeutic implications in cancer.

Exosomes are well-known key mediators of intercellular communication and contribute to various physiological and pathological processes. Their biogenesis involves four key steps, including cargo sorting, MVB formation and maturation, transport of MVBs, and MVB fusion with the plasma membrane. Each process is modulated through the competition or coordination of multiple mechanisms, whereby diverse repertoires of molecular cargos are sorted into distinct subpopulations of exosomes, resulting in the high heterogeneity of exosomes. Intriguingly, cancer cells exploit various strategies, such as aberrant gene expression, posttranslational modifications, and altered signaling pathways, to regulate the biogenesis, composition, and eventually functions of exosomes to promote cancer progression. Therefore, exosome biogenesis-targeted therapy is being actively explored. In this review, we systematically summarize recent progress in understanding the machinery of exosome biogenesis and how it is regulated in the context of cancer. In particular, we highlight pharmacological targeting of exosome biogenesis as a promising cancer therapeutic strategy.