Multisensory gamma stimulation promotes glymphatic clearance of amyloid.

The glymphatic movement of fluid through the brain removes metabolic waste1-4. Noninvasive 40 Hz stimulation promotes 40 Hz neural activity in multiple brain regions and attenuates pathology in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease5-8. Here we show that multisensory gamma stimulation promotes the influx of cerebrospinal fluid and the efflux of interstitial fluid in the cortex of the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Influx of cerebrospinal fluid was associated with increased aquaporin-4 polarization along astrocytic endfeet and dilated meningeal lymphatic vessels. Inhibiting glymphatic clearance abolished the removal of amyloid by multisensory 40 Hz stimulation. Using chemogenetic manipulation and a genetically encoded sensor for neuropeptide signalling, we found that vasoactive intestinal peptide interneurons facilitate glymphatic clearance by regulating arterial pulsatility. Our findings establish novel mechanisms that recruit the glymphatic system to remove brain amyloid.

Inhibitory input directs astrocyte morphogenesis through glial GABABR.

Communication between neurons and glia has an important role in establishing and maintaining higher-order brain function1. Astrocytes are endowed with complex morphologies, placing their peripheral processes in close proximity to neuronal synapses and directly contributing to their regulation of brain circuits2-4. Recent studies have shown that excitatory neuronal activity promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation5-7; whether inhibitory neurotransmission regulates astrocyte morphogenesis during development is unclear. Here we show that inhibitory neuron activity is necessary and sufficient for astrocyte morphogenesis. We found that input from inhibitory neurons functions through astrocytic GABAB receptor (GABABR) and that its deletion in astrocytes results in a loss of morphological complexity across a host of brain regions and disruption of circuit function. Expression of GABABR in developing astrocytes is regulated in a region-specific manner by SOX9 or NFIA and deletion of these transcription factors results in region-specific defects in astrocyte morphogenesis, which is conferred by interactions with transcription factors exhibiting region-restricted patterns of expression. Together, our studies identify input from inhibitory neurons and astrocytic GABABR as universal regulators of morphogenesis, while further revealing a combinatorial code of region-specific transcriptional dependencies for astrocyte development that is intertwined with activity-dependent processes.

Remote neuronal activity drives glioma progression through SEMA4F.

The tumour microenvironment plays an essential role in malignancy, and neurons have emerged as a key component of the tumour microenvironment that promotes tumourigenesis across a host of cancers1,2. Recent studies on glioblastoma (GBM) highlight bidirectional signalling between tumours and neurons that propagates a vicious cycle of proliferation, synaptic integration and brain hyperactivity3-8; however, the identity of neuronal subtypes and tumour subpopulations driving this phenomenon is incompletely understood. Here we show that callosal projection neurons located in the hemisphere contralateral to primary GBM tumours promote progression and widespread infiltration. Using this platform to examine GBM infiltration, we identified an activity-dependent infiltrating population present at the leading edge of mouse and human tumours that is enriched for axon guidance genes. High-throughput, in vivo screening of these genes identified SEMA4F as a key regulator of tumourigenesis and activity-dependent progression. Furthermore, SEMA4F promotes the activity-dependent infiltrating population and propagates bidirectional signalling with neurons by remodelling tumour-adjacent synapses towards brain network hyperactivity. Collectively our studies demonstrate that subsets of neurons in locations remote to primary GBM promote malignant progression, and also show new mechanisms of glioma progression that are regulated by neuronal activity.

Maternal inheritance of glucose intolerance via oocyte TET3 insufficiency.

Diabetes mellitus is prevalent among women of reproductive age, and many women are left undiagnosed or untreated1. Gestational diabetes has profound and enduring effects on the long-term health of the offspring2,3. However, the link between pregestational diabetes and disease risk into adulthood in the next generation has not been sufficiently investigated. Here we show that pregestational hyperglycaemia renders the offspring more vulnerable to glucose intolerance. The expression of TET3 dioxygenase, responsible for 5-methylcytosine oxidation and DNA demethylation in the zygote4, is reduced in oocytes from a mouse model of hyperglycaemia (HG mice) and humans with diabetes. Insufficient demethylation by oocyte TET3 contributes to hypermethylation at the paternal alleles of several insulin secretion genes, including the glucokinase gene (Gck), that persists from zygote to adult, promoting impaired glucose homeostasis largely owing to the defect in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Consistent with these findings, mouse progenies derived from the oocytes of maternal heterozygous and homozygous Tet3 deletion display glucose intolerance and epigenetic abnormalities similar to those from the oocytes of HG mice. Moreover, the expression of exogenous Tet3 mRNA in oocytes from HG mice ameliorates the maternal effect in offspring. Thus, our observations suggest an environment-sensitive window in oocyte development that confers predisposition to glucose intolerance in the next generation through TET3 insufficiency rather than through a direct perturbation of the oocyte epigenome. This finding suggests a potential benefit of pre-conception interventions in mothers to protect the health of offspring.

PIK3CA variants selectively initiate brain hyperactivity during gliomagenesis.

Glioblastoma is a universally lethal form of brain cancer that exhibits an array of pathophysiological phenotypes, many of which are mediated by interactions with the neuronal microenvironment1,2. Recent studies have shown that increases in neuronal activity have an important role in the proliferation and progression of glioblastoma3,4. Whether there is reciprocal crosstalk between glioblastoma and neurons remains poorly defined, as the mechanisms that underlie how these tumours remodel the neuronal milieu towards increased activity are unknown. Here, using a native mouse model of glioblastoma, we develop a high-throughput in vivo screening platform and discover several driver variants of PIK3CA. We show that tumours driven by these variants have divergent molecular properties that manifest in selective initiation of brain hyperexcitability and remodelling of the synaptic constituency. Furthermore, secreted members of the glypican (GPC) family are selectively expressed in these tumours, and GPC3 drives gliomagenesis and hyperexcitability. Together, our studies illustrate the importance of functionally interrogating diverse tumour phenotypes driven by individual, yet related, variants and reveal how glioblastoma alters the neuronal microenvironment.

Unraveling the structure and function of a novel SegC protein interacting with the SegAB chromosome segregation complex in Archaea.

Genome segregation is a fundamental process that preserves the genetic integrity of all organisms, but the mechanisms driving genome segregation in archaea remain enigmatic. This study delved into the unknown function of SegC (SSO0033), a novel protein thought to be involved in chromosome segregation in archaea. Using fluorescence polarization DNA binding assays, we discovered the ability of SegC to bind DNA without any sequence preference. Furthermore, we determined the crystal structure of SegC at 2.8 Å resolution, revealing the multimeric configuration and forming a large positively charged surface that can bind DNA. SegC has a tertiary structure folding similar to those of the ThDP-binding fold superfamily, but SegC shares only 5-15% sequence identity with those proteins. Unexpectedly, we found that SegC has nucleotide triphosphatase (NTPase) activity. We also determined the SegC-ADP complex structure, identifying the NTP binding pocket and relative SegC residues involved in the interaction. Interestingly, images from negative-stain electron microscopy revealed that SegC forms filamentous structures in the presence of DNA and NTPs. Further, more uniform and larger SegC-filaments are observed, when SegA-ATP was added. Notably, the introduction of SegB disrupts these oligomers, with ATP being essential for regulating filament formation. These findings provide insights into the functional and structural role of SegC in archaeal chromosome segregation.

Insights into the molecular mechanism of ParABS system in chromosome partition by HpParA and HpParB.

The ParABS system, composed of ParA (an ATPase), ParB (a DNA binding protein), and parS (a centromere-like DNA), regulates bacterial chromosome partition. The ParB-parS partition complex interacts with the nucleoid-bound ParA to form the nucleoid-adaptor complex (NAC). In Helicobacter pylori, ParA and ParB homologs are encoded as HpSoj and HpSpo0J (HpParA and HpParB), respectively. We determined the crystal structures of the ATP hydrolysis deficient mutant, HpParAD41A, and the HpParAD41A-DNA complex. We assayed the CTPase activity of HpParB and identified two potential DNA binding modes of HpParB regulated by CTP, one is the specific DNA binding by the DNA binding domain and the other is the non-specific DNA binding through the C-terminal domain under the regulation of CTP. We observed an interaction between HpParAD41A and the N-terminus fragment of HpParB (residue 1-10, HpParBN10) and determined the crystal structure of the ternary complex, HpParAD41A-DNA-HpParBN10 complex which mimics the NAC formation. HpParBN10 binds near the HpParAD41A dimer interface and is clamped by flexible loops, L23 and L34, through a specific cation-π interaction between Arg9 of HpParBN10 and Phe52 of HpParAD41A. We propose a molecular mechanism model of the ParABS system providing insight into chromosome partition in bacteria.

Large motherhood penalties in US administrative microdata.

Whereas previous research has described motherhood penalties in US survey data, we leverage administrative data on 811,000 quarterly earnings histories from the US Unemployment Insurance program. We analyze contexts where smaller motherhood penalties might be expected: couples where the woman outearns her male partner prior to childbearing, at firms that are headed by women, and at firms that are predominantly women. Our startling result is that none of these propitious contexts appear to diminish the motherhood penalty, and indeed, the gap often increases in magnitude over time following childbearing. We estimate one of the largest motherhood penalties in "female-breadwinner" families, where higher-earning women experience a 60% drop from their prechildbirth earnings relative to their male partners. Turning to proximate mechanisms, women are less likely to switch to a higher-paying firm postchildbearing than men and are substantially more likely to quit the labor force. On the whole, our findings are discouraging relative even to existing research on motherhood penalties.

Two C-terminal isoforms of Aplysia tachykinin-related peptide receptors exhibit phosphorylation-dependent and phosphorylation-independent desensitization mechanisms.

Diversity, a hallmark of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, partly stems from alternative splicing of a single gene generating more than one isoform for a receptor. Additionally, receptor responses to ligands can be attenuated by desensitization upon prolonged or repeated ligand exposure. Both phenomena have been demonstrated and exemplified by the deuterostome tachykinin signaling system, although the role of phosphorylation in desensitization remains a subject of debate. Here, we describe the signaling system for tachykinin-related peptides (TKRPs) in a protostome, mollusk Aplysia. We cloned the Aplysia TKRP precursor, which encodes three TKRPs (apTKRP-1, apTKRP-2a, and apTKRP-2b) containing the FXGXR-amide motif. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed predominant expression of TKRP mRNA and peptide in the cerebral ganglia. TKRPs and their posttranslational modifications were observed in extracts of central nervous system ganglia using mass spectrometry. We identified two Aplysia TKRP receptors (apTKRPRs), named apTKRPR-A and apTKRPR-B. These receptors are two isoforms generated through alternative splicing of the same gene and differ only in their intracellular C termini. Structure-activity relationship analysis of apTKRP-2b revealed that both C-terminal amidation and conserved residues of the ligand are critical for receptor activation. C-terminal truncates and mutants of apTKRPRs suggested that there is a C-terminal phosphorylation-independent desensitization for both receptors. Moreover, apTKRPR-B also exhibits phosphorylation-dependent desensitization through the phosphorylation of C-terminal Ser/Thr residues. This comprehensive characterization of the Aplysia TKRP signaling system underscores the evolutionary conservation of the TKRP and TK signaling systems, while highlighting the intricacies of receptor regulation through alternative splicing and differential desensitization mechanisms.

BGLF4 kinase regulates the formation of the EBV cytoplasmic assembly compartment and the recruitment of cellular IQGAP1 for virion release.

After Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome replication and encapsidation in the nucleus, nucleocapsids are translocated into the cytoplasm for subsequent tegumentation and maturation. The EBV BGLF4 kinase, which induces partial disassembly of the nuclear lamina, and the nuclear egress complex BFRF1/BFLF2 coordinately facilitate the nuclear egress of nucleocapsids. Here, we demonstrate that within EBV reactivated epithelial cells, viral capsids, tegument proteins, and glycoproteins are clustered in the juxtanuclear concave region, accompanied by redistributed cytoplasmic organelles and the cytoskeleton regulator IQ-domain GTPase-activation protein 1 (IQGAP1), close to the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC). The assembly compartment (AC) structure was diminished in BGLF4-knockdown TW01-EBV cells and BGLF4-knockout bacmid-carrying TW01 cells, suggesting that the formation of AC structure is BGLF4-dependent. Notably, glycoprotein gp350/220 was observed by confocal imaging to be distributed in the perinuclear concave region and surrounded by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane marker calnexin, indicating that the AC may be located within a globular structure derived from ER membranes, adjacent to the outer nuclear membrane. Moreover, the viral capsid protein BcLF1 and tegument protein BBLF1 were co-localized with IQGAP1 near the cytoplasmic membrane in the late stage of replication. Knockdown of IQGAP1 did not affect the AC formation but decreased virion release from both TW01-EBV and Akata+ cells, suggesting IQGAP1-mediated trafficking regulates EBV virion release. The data presented here show that BGLF4 is required for cytoskeletal rearrangement, coordination with the redistribution of cytoplasmic organelles and IQGAP1 for virus maturation, and subsequent IQGAP1-dependent virion release.IMPORTANCEEBV genome is replicated and encapsidated in the nucleus, and the resultant nucleocapsids are translocated to the cytoplasm for subsequent virion maturation. We show that a cytoplasmic AC, containing viral proteins, markers of the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, and endosomes, is formed in the juxtanuclear region of epithelial and B cells during EBV reactivation. The viral BGLF4 kinase contributes to the formation of the AC. The cellular protein IQGAP1 is also recruited to the AC and partially co-localizes with the virus capsid protein BcLF1 and tegument protein BBLF1 in EBV-reactivated cells, dependent on the BGLF4-induced cytoskeletal rearrangement. In addition, virion release was attenuated in IQGAP1-knockdown epithelial and B cells after reactivation, suggesting that IQGAP1-mediated trafficking may regulate the efficiency of virus maturation and release.

NONRATT000538.2 promotes vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch and in-stent restenosis.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) excessive proliferation and migration are considered the main pathological process in in-stent restenosis (ISR) following vascular intervention. Certain long noncoding RNAs play vital roles in this process. Therefore, this study aimed to explore novel regulators for ISR and further uncover the mechanism. Using a rat abdominal aorta stent implantation model, we observed that NONRATT000538.2 (NR538.2) served as a positive regulator for VSMC proliferation and migration. By manipulating NR538.2 expression via adenoviral overexpression or siRNA knockdown, we noted that NR538.2 promoted VSMC phenotypic switching, thereby inducing proliferation and migration. Significantly, the local delivery of siRNA of NR538.2 via adeno-associated virus vector suppressed balloon injury-induced neointima formation. Our study demonstrated for the first time that NR538.2 positively influenced VSMC proliferation during ISR.

Topological chiral crystals with helicoid-arc quantum states.

The quantum behaviour of electrons in materials is the foundation of modern electronics and information technology1-11, and quantum materials with topological electronic and optical properties are essential for realizing quantized electronic responses that can be used for next generation technology. Here we report the first observation of topological quantum properties of chiral crystals6,7 in the RhSi family. We find that this material class hosts a quantum phase of matter that exhibits nearly ideal topological surface properties originating from the crystals' structural chirality. Electrons on the surface of these crystals show a highly unusual helicoid fermionic structure that spirals around two high-symmetry momenta, indicating electronic topological chirality. The existence of bulk multiply degenerate band fermions is guaranteed by the crystal symmetries; however, to determine the topological invariant or charge in these chiral crystals, it is essential to identify and study the helicoid topology of the arc states. The helicoid arcs that we observe on the surface characterize the topological charges of ±2, which arise from bulk higher-spin chiral fermions. These topological conductors exhibit giant Fermi arcs of maximum length (π), which are orders of magnitude larger than those found in known chiral Weyl fermion semimetals5,8-11. Our results demonstrate an electronic topological state of matter on structurally chiral crystals featuring helicoid-arc quantum states. Such exotic multifold chiral fermion semimetal states could be used to detect a quantized photogalvanic optical response, the chiral magnetic effect and other optoelectronic phenomena predicted for this class of materials6.

Emerging connectivity of programmed cell death pathways and pulmonary vascular remodelling during pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic progressive vascular disease characterized by abnormal pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery pressure. The major structural alteration during PH is pulmonary vascular remodelling, which is mainly caused by the imbalance between proliferation and apoptosis of pulmonary vascular cells. Previously, it was thought that apoptosis was the only type of programmed cell death (PCD). Soon afterward, other types of PCD have been identified, including autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis and necroptosis. In this review, we summarize the role of the above five forms of PCD in mediating pulmonary vascular remodelling, and discuss their guiding significance for PH treatment. The current review could provide a better understanding of the correlation between PCD and pulmonary vascular remodelling, contributing to identify new PCD-associated drug targets for PH.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated exon skipping to restore premature translation termination in a DFNB4 mouse model.

SLC26A4 encodes pendrin, a crucial anion exchanger essential for maintaining hearing function. Mutations in SLC26A4, including the prevalent c.919-2 A > G splice-site mutation among East Asian individuals, can disrupt inner ear electrolyte balance, leading to syndromic and non-syndromic hearing loss, such as Pendred syndrome and DFNB4. To explore potential therapeutic strategies, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9-mediated exon skipping to create a Slc26a4∆E8+E9/∆E8+E9 mouse model. We assessed pendrin expression in the inner ear and evaluated vestibular and auditory functions. The Slc26a4∆E8+E9/∆E8+E9 mice demonstrated reframed pendrin in the inner ear and normal vestibular functions, contrasting with severely abnormal vestibular functions observed in the Slc26a4 c.919-2 A > G splicing mutation mouse model. However, despite these molecular achievements, hearing function did not show the expected improvement, consistent with observed pathology, including cochlear hair cell loss and elevated hearing thresholds. Consequently, our findings highlight the necessity for alternative genetic editing strategies to address hearing loss caused by the SLC26A4 c.919-2 A > G mutation.

Fluid-Dynamics-Rectified Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Preparing Graphene-Skinned Glass Fiber Fabric and Its Application in Natural Energy Harvest.

Graphene chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth directly on target using substrates presents a significant route toward graphene applications. However, the substrates are usually catalytic-inert and special-shaped; thus, large-scale, high-uniformity, and high-quality graphene growth is challenging. Herein, graphene-skinned glass fiber fabric (GGFF) was developed through graphene CVD growth on glass fiber fabric, a Widely used engineering material. A fluid dynamics rectification strategy was first proposed to synergistically regulate the distribution of carbon species in 3D space and their collisions with hierarchical-structured substrates, through which highly uniform deposition of high-quality graphene on fibers in large-scale 3D-woven fabric was realized. This strategy is universal and applicable to CVD systems using various carbon precursors. GGFF exhibits high electrical conductivity and photothermal conversion capability, based on which a natural energy harvester was first developed. It can harvest both solar and raindrop energy through solar heating and droplet-based electricity generating, presenting promising potentials to alleviate energy burdens.

A Self-Healing Crystal That Repairs Multiple Cracks.

We report both cracking and self-healing in crystals occurring during a thermal phase transition, followed by a topochemical polymerization. A squaramide-based monomer was designed where the azide and alkyne units of adjacent molecules are positioned favorably for a topochemical click reaction. The monomer undergoes spontaneous single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) polymerization at room temperature via regiospecific 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, yielding the corresponding triazole-linked polymer in a few days. When heated at 60 °C, the polymerization completes in a SCSC manner in 24 h. Upon continuous heating from room temperature to 110 °C, the monomer crystals develop multiple cracks, and they self-heal immediately. The cracking occurs due to a thermal phase transition, as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The cracks heal either upon further heating or upon cooling of the crystals due to the topochemical polymerization or reversal of the phase transition, respectively. Increasing the heating rate leads to the formation of longer and wider cracks, which also heal instantaneously. The self-healed crystals retained their integrity and the crystal structure of the self-healed crystals was analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The quality of the self-healed crystals and their diffraction ability conform to those of the completely reacted crystals at room temperature or at 60 °C without developing cracks. This work demonstrates a novel mechanism for self-healing of molecular crystals that could expand the horizon of these materials for a plethora of applications.

Population-Based Evaluation of Vaccine Effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Severe Illness, and Death, Taiwan.

Taiwan provided several COVID-19 vaccine platforms: mRNA (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273), adenoviral vector-based (AZD1222), and protein subunit (MVC-COV1901). After Taiwan shifted from its zero-COVID strategy in April 2022, population-based evaluation of vaccine effectiveness (VE) became possible. We conducted an observational cohort study of 21,416,151 persons to examine VE against SARS-CoV-2 infection, moderate and severe illness, and death during March 22, 2021-September 30, 2022. After adjusting for age and sex, we found that persons who completed 3 vaccine doses (2 primary, 1 booster) or received MVC-COV1901 as the primary series had the lowest hospitalization incidence (0.04-0.20 cases/100,000 person-days). We also found 95.8% VE against hospitalization for 3 doses of BNT162b2, 91.0% for MVC-COV1901, 81.8% for mRNA-1273, and 65.7% for AZD1222, which had the lowest overall VE. Our findings indicated that protein subunit vaccines provide similar protection against SARS-CoV-2---associated hospitalization as mRNA vaccines and can inform mix-and-match vaccine selection in other countries.

Long-term follow-up of haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in paediatric patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia: Report from a single centre.

Data from 200 children with high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia who underwent their first haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) between 2015 and 2021 at our institution were analysed. The 4-year overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS) and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) were 71.9%, 62.3% and 32.4% respectively. The 100-day cumulative incidences of grade II-IV and III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) were 41.1% and 9.5% respectively. The 4-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was 56.1%, and that of moderate-to-severe cGVHD was 27.3%. Minimal residual disease (MRD)-positive (MRD+) status pre-HSCT was significantly associated with lower survival and a higher risk of relapse. The 4-year OS, EFS and CIR differed significantly between patients with MRD+ pre-HSCT (n = 97; 63.4%, 51.4% and 41.0% respectively) and those with MRD-negative (MRD-) pre-HSCT (n = 103; 80.5%, 73.3% and 23.8% respectively). Multivariate analysis also revealed that acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia without Down syndrome (non-DS-AMKL) was associated with extremely poor outcomes (hazard ratios and 95% CIs for OS, EFS and CIR: 3.110 (1.430-6.763), 3.145 (1.628-6.074) and 3.250 (1.529-6.910) respectively; p-values were 0.004, 0.001 and 0.002 respectively). Thus, haplo-HSCT can be a therapy option for these patients, and MRD status pre-HSCT significantly affects the outcomes. As patients with non-DS-AMKL have extremely poor outcomes, even with haplo-HSCT, a combination of novel therapies is urgently needed.

Advanced paternal age exacerbates neuroinflammation in offspring via m6A modification-mediated intergenerational inheritance.

BACKGROUND: The trend of postponing childbearing age is prevalent worldwide. Advanced paternal age (APA) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and offspring health. However, the underlying mechanism by which paternal aging affects the risk of offspring neuropsychiatric disorders is unclear. Our study aims to explore the behavioral phenotypes and the pathologic epigenetic alterations of APA offspring inherited from aging sperm. METHODS: Behavioral tests, ELISA assay, immunofluorescence and western blotting were performed on offspring mice. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) were used to investigate the modified N6-methyladenosine (m6A) profiles of paternal sperm and offspring hippocampus. Intervention of gene expression by lentivirus and adeno-associated virus in both vivo and vitro examined the potential therapeutic targets of intergenerational inherited neuroinflammation. RESULTS: In our study, APA offspring exhibit cognitive impairment and autism-like behavior. An increase in neuroinflammation in APA offspring is associated with microglial overactivation, which manifests as abnormal morphology and augmented engulfment. MeRIP-seq of F0 sperm and F1 hippocampus reveal that Nr4a2 is hypermethylated with decreased expression in APA offspring involving in synaptic plasticity and microglial function. In addition, Ythdc1, an m6A reader protein, is markedly elevated in aging sperm and remains elevated in adult hippocampus of APA group. Enhanced Ythdc1 recognizes and suppresses the hypermethylated Nr4a2, thereby contributing to the abnormal phenotype in offspring. The overexpression of Ythdc1 triggers microglial activation in vitro and its suppression in the hippocampus of APA progeny alleviates behavioral aberrations and attenuates neuroinflammation. CONCLUSION: Our study provides additional evidence of the abnormal behavioral phenotypes of APA offspring and reveals potential epigenetic inheritance signatures and targeted genes for future research.

Graphene Derived from Municipal Solid Waste.

Landfilling is long the most common method of disposal for municipal solid waste (MSW). However, many countries seek to implement different methods of MSW treatment due to the high global warming potential associated with landfilling. Other methods such as recycling and incineration are either limited to only a fraction of generated MSW or still produce large greenhouse gas emissions, thereby providing an unsustainable disposal method. Here, the production of graphene from treated MSW is reported that including treated wood waste, using flash Joule heating. Results indicated a 71%-83% reduction in global warming potential compared to traditional disposal methods at a net cost of -$282 of MSW, presuming the graphene is sold at just 5% of its current market value to offset the cost of the flash Joule heating process.