An artificially evolved gene for herbicide-resistant rice breeding.

Discovering and engineering herbicide-resistant genes is a crucial challenge in crop breeding. This study focuses on the 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase Inhibitor Sensitive 1-Like (HSL) protein, prevalent in higher plants and exhibiting weak catalytic activity against many ß-triketone herbicides (ß-THs). The crystal structures of maize HSL1A complexed with ß-THs were elucidated, identifying four essential herbicide-binding residues and explaining the weak activity of HSL1A against the herbicides. Utilizing an artificial evolution approach, we developed a series of rice HSL1 mutants targeting the four residues. Then, these mutants were systematically evaluated, identifying the M10 variant as the most effective in modifying ß-THs. The initial active conformation of substrate binding in HSL1 was also revealed from these mutants. Furthermore, overexpression of M10 in rice significantly enhanced resistance to ß-THs, resulting in a notable 32-fold increase in resistance to methyl-benquitrione. In conclusion, the artificially evolved M10 gene shows great potential for the development of herbicide-resistant crops.

The temporal association of CapZ with early endosomes regulates endosomal trafficking and viral entry into host cells.

BACKGROUND: Many viruses enter host cells by hijacking endosomal trafficking. CapZ, a canonical actin capping protein, participates in endosomal trafficking, yet its precise role in endocytosis and virus infection remains elusive. RESULTS: Here, we showed that CapZ was transiently associated with early endosomes (EEs) and was subsequently released from the matured EEs after the fusion of two EEs, which was facilitated by PI(3)P to PI(3,5)P2 conversion. Vacuolin-1 (a triazine compound) stabilized CapZ at EEs and thus blocked the transition of EEs to late endosomes (LEs). Likewise, artificially tethering CapZ to EEs via a rapamycin-induced protein-protein interaction system blocked the early-to-late endosome transition. Remarkably, CapZ knockout or artificially tethering CapZ to EEs via rapamycin significantly inhibited flaviviruses, e.g., Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV), or beta-coronavirus, e.g., murine hepatitis virus (MHV), infection by preventing the escape of RNA genome from endocytic vesicles. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the temporal association of CapZ with EEs facilitates early-to-late endosome transition (physiologically) and the release of the viral genome from endocytic vesicles (pathologically).

Femtosecond Laser Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Bubble-Propelled Microrotors for Multicomponent Mechanical Transmission.

Inspired by the reverse thrust generated by fuel injection, micromachines that are self-propelled by bubble ejection are developed, such as microrods, microtubes, and microspheres. However, controlling bubble ejection sites to build micromachines with programmable actuation and further enabling mechanical transmission remain challenging. Here, bubble-propelled mechanical microsystems are constructed by proposing a multimaterial femtosecond laser processing method, consisting of direct laser writing and selective laser metal reduction. The polymer frame of the microsystems is first printed, followed by the deposition of catalytic platinum into the desired local site of the microsystems by laser reduction. With this method, a variety of designable microrotors with selective bubble ejection sites are realized, which enable excellent mechanical transmission systems composed of single and multiple mechanical components, including a coupler, a crank slider, and a crank rocker system. We believe the presented bubble-propelled mechanical microsystems could be extended to applications in microrobotics, microfluidics, and microsensors.

4-octyl itaconate alleviates cisplatin-induced ferroptosis possibly via activating the NRF2/HO-1 signalling pathway.

Ferroptosis, characterized by iron-dependent lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, plays a pivotal role in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Existing research has suggested that in cisplatin-mediated damage to auditory cells and hearing loss, ferroptosis is partially implicated. 4-Octyl itaconate (4-OI), derived from itaconic acid, effectively permeates cell membranes, showcasing potent anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant effects in several disease models. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of 4-OI on cisplatin-induced ferroptosis and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The survival rates of HEI-OC1 cells and mice cochlea hair cells were measured by CCK8 and immunofluorescence, respectively. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry was used to detect changes in hearing thresholds in mice before and after treatment. Levels of ROS were evaluated by DCFH-DA. Real-time PCR quantified inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß. Network Pharmacology and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of the potential mechanism of 4-OI resistance to cisplatin-induced ferroptosis. The expressions of ferroptosis-related factors (GPX4, SLC7A11 and PTGS2) and important antioxidant factors (NRF2, HO-1, GCLC and NQO1) were tested by real-time PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results demonstrated cisplatin-induced significant ROS and inflammatory factor release, reduced NRF2 expression, hindered nuclear translocation and activated ferroptosis. Pretreatment with 4-OI exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, along with resistance to ferroptosis, ultimately mitigating cisplatin-induced cell loss. In the present study, we show that 4-OI inhibits cisplatin-induced ferroptosis possibly through activation of the NRF2/HO-1 signalling pathway, thereby exerting a protective effect against cisplatin-induced damage to auditory cells, and providing a new therapeutic strategy for cisplatin-induced hearing loss.

Expanding the clinical application of OPM-MEG using an effective automatic suppression method for the dental brace metal artifact.

Optically pumped magnetometer magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) holds significant promise for clinical functional brain imaging due to its superior spatiotemporal resolution. However, effectively suppressing metallic artifacts, particularly from devices such as orthodontic braces and vagal nerve stimulators remains a major challenge, hindering the wider clinical application of wearable OPM-MEG devices. A comprehensive analysis of metal artifact characteristics from time, frequency, and time-frequency perspectives was conducted for the first time using an OPM-MEG device in clinical medicine. This study focused on patients with metal orthodontics, examining the modulation of metal artifacts by breath and head movement, the incomplete regular sub-Gaussian distribution, and the high absolute power ratio in the 0.5-8 Hz band. The existing metal artifact suppression algorithms applied to SQUID-MEG, such as fast independent component analysis (FastICA), information maximization (Infomax), and algorithms for multiple unknown signal extraction (AMUSE), exhibit limited efficacy. Consequently, this study introduced the second-order blind identification (SOBI) algorithm, which utilized multiple time delays for the component separation of OPM-MEG measurement signals. We modified the time delays of the SOBI method to improve its efficacy in separating artifact components, particularly those in the ultralow frequency range. This approach employs the frequency-domain absolute power ratio, root mean square (RMS) value, and mutual information methods to automate the artifact component screening process. The effectiveness of this method was validated through simulation experiments involving four subjects in both resting and evoked experiments. In addition, the proposed method was also validated by the actual OPM-MEG evoked experiments of three subjects. Comparative analyses were conducted against the FastICA, Infomax, and AMUSE algorithms. Evaluation metrics included normalized mean square error, normalized delta band power error, RMS error, and signal-to-noise ratio, demonstrating that the proposed method provides optimal suppression of metal artifacts. This advancement holds promise for enhancing data quality and expanding the clinical applications of OPM-MEG.

Atomic-Layer IrOx Enabling Ligand Effect Boosts Water Oxidation Electrocatalysis.

An in situ formed IrOx (x ≤ 2) layer driven by anodic bias serves as the essential active site of Ir-based materials for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysis. Once being confined to atomic thickness, such an IrOx layer possesses both a favorable ligand effect and maximized active Ir sites with a lower O-coordination number. However, limited by a poor understanding of surface reconstruction dynamics, obtaining atomic layers of IrOx remains experimentally challenging. Herein, we report an idea of material design using intermetallic IrVMn nanoparticles to induce in situ formation of an ultrathin IrOx layer (O-IrVMn/IrOx) to enable the ligand effect for achieving superior OER electrocatalysis. Theoretical calculations predict that a strong electronic interaction originating from an orderly atomic arrangement can effectively hamper the excessive leaching of transition metals, minimizing vacancies for oxygen coordination. Linear X-ray absorption near edge spectra analysis, extended X-ray absorption fine structure fitting outcomes, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy collectively confirm that Ir is present in lower oxidation states in O-IrVMn/IrOx due to the presence of unsaturated O-coordination. Consequently, the O-IrVMn/IrOx delivers excellent acidic OER performances with an overpotential of only 279 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and a high mass activity of 2.3 A mg-1 at 1.53 V (vs RHE), exceeding most Ir-based catalysts reported. Moreover, O-IrVMn/IrOx also showed excellent catalytic stability with only 0.05 at. % Ir dissolution under electrochemical oxidation, much lower than that of disordered D-IrVMn/IrOx (0.20 at. %). Density functional theory calculations unravel that the intensified ligand effect optimizes the adsorption energies of multiple intermediates involved in the OER and stabilizes the as-formed catalytic IrOx layer.

Aberrant dynamic functional network connectivity in progressive supranuclear palsy.

BACKGROUND: The clinical symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) may be mediated by aberrant dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC). While earlier research has found altered functional network connections in PSP patients, the majority of those studies have concentrated on static functional connectivity. Nevertheless, in this study, we sought to evaluate the modifications in dynamic characteristics and establish the correlation between these disease-related changes and clinical variables. METHODS: In our study, we conducted a study on 53 PSP patients and 65 normal controls. Initially, we employed a group independent component analysis (ICA) to derive resting-state networks (RSNs), while employing a sliding window correlation approach to produce dFNC matrices. The K-means algorithm was used to cluster these matrices into distinct dynamic states, and then state analysis was subsequently employed to analyze the dFNC and temporal metrics between the two groups. Finally, we made a correlation analysis. RESULTS: PSP patients showed increased connectivity strength between medulla oblongata (MO) and visual network (VN) /cerebellum network (CBN) and decreased connections were found between default mode network (DMN) and VN/CBN, subcortical cortex network (SCN) and CBN. In addition, PSP patients spend less fraction time and shorter dwell time in a diffused state, especially the MO and SCN. Finally, the fraction time and mean dwell time in the distributed connectivity state (state 2) is negatively correlated with duration, bulbar and oculomotor symptoms. DISCUSSION: Our findings were that the altered connectivity was mostly concentrated in the CBN and MO. In addition, PSP patients had different temporal dynamics, which were associated with bulbar and oculomotor symptoms in PSPRS. It suggest that variations in dynamic functional network connectivity properties may represent an essential neurological mechanism in PSP.

Comparative analysis of codon usage bias in chloroplast genomes of ten medicinal species of Rutaceae.

Rutaceae family comprises economically important plants due to their extensive applications in spices, food, oil, medicine, etc. The Rutaceae plants is able to better utilization through biotechnology. Modern biotechnological approaches primarily rely on the heterologous expression of functional proteins in different vectors. However, several proteins are difficult to express outside their native environment. The expression potential of functional genes in heterologous systems can be maximized by replacing the rare synonymous codons in the vector with preferred optimal codons of functional genes. Codon usage bias plays a critical role in biogenetic engineering-based research and development. In the current study, 727 coding sequences (CDSs) obtained from the chloroplast genomes of ten Rutaceae plant family members were analyzed for codon usage bias. The nucleotide composition analysis of codons showed that these codons were rich in A/T(U) bases and preferred A/T(U) endings. Analyses of neutrality plots, effective number of codons (ENC) plots, and correlations between ENC and codon adaptation index (CAI) were conducted, which revealed that natural selection is a major driving force for the Rutaceae plant family's codon usage bias, followed by base mutation. In the ENC vs. CAI plot, codon usage bias in the Rutaceae family had a negligible relationship with gene expression level. For each sample, we screened 12 codons as preferred and high-frequency codons simultaneously, of which GCU encoding Ala, UUA encoding Leu, and AGA encoding Arg were the most preferred codons. Taken together, our study unraveled the synonymous codon usage pattern in the Rutaceae family, providing valuable information for the genetic engineering of Rutaceae plant species in the future.

Nanoconfined Supercooled Water in Hydrated Two-Dimensional Polyaniline for Sub-Zero Solid-State Zinc-Ion Hybrid Capacitor.

Solid-state electrochemical energy systems have attracted numerous attentions for their excellent performance, high safety, and low cost. Recently, ice of aqueous electrolytes is reported as a new kind solid-state electrolyte for low-temperature solid-state devices. However, the lack of kinetically favorable electrodes hampers the performance of this new class of icy electrolyte-based solid-state devices at sub-zero temperatures. In this work, a hydrated layered polyaniline cathode active material (h-LPANi) with nanoconfined supercooled water by metatungstate clusters is utilized to improve the performance of sub-zero solid-state zinc ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs). The interlayer confined hydrated network of h-LPANi improves kinetics, surpassing pristine polyaniline and conventional porous carbon-based active materials. At -15 °C, the solid-state iced ZIHCs with h-LPANi cathode demonstrate an areal energy density of 580.0 µWh cm-2 at 1.1 mW cm-2 and 155.7 µWh cm-2 at 43.3 mW cm-2, surpassing other low-temperature solid-state ZIHCs with conventional cathodes.

Heterostructured WOx/W2C Nanocatalyst for Li2S Oxidation in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with High-Areal-Capacity.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries show extraordinary promise as a next-generation battery technology due to their high theoretical energy density and the cost efficiency of sulfur. However, the sluggish reaction kinetics, uncontrolled growth of lithium sulfide (Li2S), and substantial Li2S oxidation barrier cause low sulfur utilization and limited cycle life. Moreover, these drawbacks get exacerbated at high current densities and high sulfur loadings. Here, a heterostructured WOx/W2C nanocatalyst synthesized via ultrafast Joule heating is reported, and the resulting heterointerfaces contribute to enhance electrocatalytic activity for Li2S oxidation, as well as controlled Li2S deposition. The densely distributed nanoparticles provide abundant binding sites for uniform deposition of Li2S. The continuous heterointerfaces favor efficient adsorption and promote charge transfer, thereby reducing the activation barrier for the delithiation of Li2S. These attributes enable Li-S cells to deliver high-rate performance and high areal capacity. This study provides insights into efficient catalyst design for Li2S oxidation under practical cell conditions.

Engineering the Substrate Specificity of (S)-ß-Phenylalanine Adenylation Enzyme HitB.

Adenylation enzymes catalyze the selective incorporation of aminoacyl building blocks in the biosynthesis of nonribosomal peptides and related natural products. Although ß-amino acid units are one of the important aminoacyl building blocks in natural product biosynthesis, very little is known about the engineering of ß-amino acid adenylation enzymes. In this study, we engineered the substrate specificity of the (S)-ß-phenylalanine adenylation enzyme, HitB, involved in the biosynthesis of macrolactam polyketide hitachimycin. Based on the previously determined structure of HitB wild-type, we mutated Phe328 and Ser293, which are located near the meta and ortho position of the (S)-ß-phenylalanine moiety, respectively. As a result, the HitB F328V and F328L mutants efficiently activated meta-substituted (S)-ß-phenylalanine analogs, and the HitB T293G and T293S mutants efficiently activated ortho-substituted (S)-ß-phenylalanine analogs. Structural analysis of the HitB F328L and T293G mutants with the corresponding nonhydrolyzable intermediate analogs revealed an enlarged substrate binding pocket for (S)-ß-phenylalanine analogs, providing detailed insights into the structural basis for creating enzyme substrate promiscuity. Our findings may be useful for production of various ß-amino acid-containing natural product analogs.

Klf10 is involved in extracellular matrix calcification of chondrocytes alleviating chondrocyte senescence.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease resulting joint disability and pain. Accumulating evidences suggest that chondrocyte extracellular matrix calcification plays an important role in the development of OA. Here, we showed that Krüppel-like factor 10 (Klf10) was involved in the regulation of chondrocyte extracellular matrix calcification by regulating the expression of Frizzled9. Knockdown of Klf10 attenuated TBHP induced calcification and reduced calcium content in chondrocytes. Restoring extracellular matrix calcification of chondrocytes could aggravate chondrocyte senescence. Destabilization of a medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model of OA, in vivo experiments revealed that knockdown Klf10 improved the calcification of articular cartilage and ameliorated articular cartilage degeneration. These findings suggested that knockdown Klf10 inhibited extracellular matrix calcification-related changes in chondrocytes and alleviated chondrocyte senescence.

Mass measurement under medium vacuum in optically levitated nanoparticles based on Maxwell speed distribution law.

As one of the directions of optical levitation technology, the mass measurement of micro-nano particles has always been a research hotspot in extremely weak mechanical measurements. When nanoscale particles are trapped in an optical trap, parameters such as density, diameter, and shape are unknown. Here we propose what we believe to be a new method to measure mass by fitting particle motion information to the Maxwell speed distribution law, with an accuracy better than 7% at 10 mbar. This method has the characteristics of requiring no external driving force, no precise natural frequency, no prior information such as density, and non-destructive testing within the medium vacuum range. With the increasing iterations, the uncertainty of mass measurement is reduced, and the accuracy of mass measurement of levitated particles is verified under multiple air pressures. It provides what we believe is a new method for the future non-destructive testing of nanoscale particles, and provides an apparently new way for the sensing measurement and metrology application fields of levitation dynamics systems.

Covariation of preadult environmental exposures, adult brain imaging phenotypes, and adult personality traits.

Exposure to preadult environmental exposures may have long-lasting effects on mental health by affecting the maturation of the brain and personality, two traits that interact throughout the developmental process. However, environment-brain-personality covariation patterns and their mediation relationships remain unclear. In 4297 healthy participants (aged 18-30 years), we combined sparse multiple canonical correlation analysis with independent component analysis to identify the three-way covariation patterns of 59 preadult environmental exposures, 760 adult brain imaging phenotypes, and five personality traits, and found two robust environment-brain-personality covariation models with sex specificity. One model linked greater stress and less support to weaker functional connectivity and activity in the default mode network, stronger activity in subcortical nuclei, greater thickness and volume in the occipital, parietal and temporal cortices, and lower agreeableness, consciousness and extraversion as well as higher neuroticism. The other model linked higher urbanicity and better socioeconomic status to stronger functional connectivity and activity in the sensorimotor network, smaller volume and surface area and weaker functional connectivity and activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, lower white matter integrity, and higher openness to experience. We also conducted mediation analyses to explore the potential bidirectional mediation relationships between adult brain imaging phenotypes and personality traits with the influence of preadult environmental exposures and found both environment-brain-personality and environment-personality-brain pathways. We finally performed moderated mediation analyses to test the potential interactions between macro- and microenvironmental exposures and found that one category of exposure moderated the mediation pathways of another category of exposure. These results improve our understanding of the effects of preadult environmental exposures on the adult brain and personality traits and may facilitate the design of targeted interventions to improve mental health by reducing the impact of adverse environmental exposures.

Periostin Promotes the Proliferation, Differentiation and Mineralization of Osteoblasts from Ovariectomized Rats.

Perimenopausal period causes a significant amount of bone loss, which results in primary osteoporosis (OP). The Periostin (Postn) may play important roles in the pathogenesis of OP after ovariectomized (OVX) rats. To identify the roles of Postn in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell derived osteoblasts (BMSC-OB) in OVX rats, we investigated the expression of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways in BMSC-OB and the effects of Postn on bone formation by development of BMSC-OB cultures. Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats at 6 months were randomized into 3 groups: sham-operated (SHAM) group, OVX group and OVX+Postn group. The rats were killed after 3 months, and their bilateral femora and tibiae were collected for BMSC-OB culture, Micro-CT Analysis, Bone Histomorphometric Measurement, Transmission Electron Microscopy and Immunohistochemistry Staining. The dose/time-dependent effects of Postn on the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of BMSC-OB and the expression of osteoblastic markers were measured in in vitro experiments. We found increased Postn increased bone mass, promoted bone formation of trabeculae, Wnt signaling and the osteogenic activity in osteoblasts in sublesional femur. Postn have the function to enhance cell proliferation, differentiation and mineralization at a proper concentration and incubation time. Interestingly, in BMSC-OB from OVX rats treated with the different dose of Postn, the osteoblastic markers expression and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways were significantly promoted. The direct effect of Postn may lead to inhibit excessive bone resorption and increase bone formation through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways after OVX. Postn may play a very important role in the pathogenesis of OP after OVX.

Tigroid Enhancement: A Characteristic Enhancement Pattern of the Cerebellar Hemisphere on MRI With Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate a characteristic cerebellar hemisphere enhancement pattern on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that could aid in early and specific diagnosis of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pretreatment MR images of 57 patients with intracranial DAVFs between January 1, 2017, and February 28, 2023, were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 128 patients with confirmed alternative cerebellar lesions during the same period were included as a control group. All patients underwent enhanced MRI with a 3.0T scanner. The presence or absence of parallel enhanced linear striations on the surface of the cerebellar lesions was documented. Statistically significant differences were determined by the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Cerebellar lesions were identified in 4 intracranial DAVF patients (7.0%). All 4 patients were male, with an average age of 64 years (range: 58-76 years). The pretreatment MR images of all 4 DAVF patients with cerebellar lesions demonstrated the characteristic tigroid enhancement pattern. Tortuous flow voids were present in the MR images of 3 of the 4 patients. Tigroid enhancement pattern was not observed in the remaining 53 intracranial DAVF patients and all control patients. The differences in the incidence of the pattern were significant (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: A characteristic tigroid enhancement pattern of the cerebellar hemisphere on MRI may aid in the early and specific diagnosis of intracranial DAVFs, allowing timely treatment and improving outcomes. CLINICAL IMPACT: The identification of a characteristic tigroid enhancement pattern on MRI for cerebellar hemisphere lesions holds significant promise for clinical practice. This pattern serves as a distinctive marker aiding in the early and specific diagnosis of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs). Clinicians can now utilize this innovative finding to expedite diagnostic workflows, enabling timely intervention and management strategies. The incorporation of this novel imaging feature enhances diagnostic accuracy, potentially reducing misdiagnosis rates and preventing delays in treatment initiation. Ultimately, this advancement may lead to improved patient outcomes and quality of care in neurosurgical and neuroradiological practice.

Photocatalytic Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Enabled Radical Cyclization for Isoquinoline-1,3-diones Synthesis.

Radical cyclization has been demonstrated to be an efficient method to access functionalized heterocycles from easily accessible raw materials. Described herein is the development of a photocatalytic proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) strategy for the synthesis of isoquinoline-1,3-diones using readily prepared naphthalimide (NI)-based organic photocatalysts. The process features free metal-complex photocatalysts, acids, and mild reaction conditions. This mild radical cyclization protocol has a broad substrate scope and can be effectively applied to a variety of medicinally relevant substrates. Furthermore, control experiments were conducted to elucidate the mechanism of this visible light-induced methodology.

Identification of antimicrobial peptide genes from transcriptomes in Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) and their response to infection with Aeromonas hydrophila.

Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) is a valuable freshwater fish species widely cultured in China. Its aquaculture production is challenged by bacterial septicaemia, which is one of the most common bacterial diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a critical role in the innate immune system of fish, exhibiting defensive and inhibitory effects against a wide range of pathogens. This study aimed to identify the antimicrobial peptide genes in mandarin fish using transcriptomes data obtained from 17 tissue in our laboratory. Through nucleotide sequence alignment and protein structural domain analysis, 15 antimicrobial peptide genes (moronecidin, pleurocidin, lysozyme g, thymosin ß12, hepcidin, leap 2, ß-defensin, galectin 8, galectin 9, apoB, apoD, apoE, apoF, apoM, and nk-lysin) were identified, of which 9 antimicrobial peptide genes were identified for the first time. In addition, 15 AMPs were subjected to sequence characterization and protein structure analysis. After injection with Aeromonas hydrophila, the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin concentration, and platelet counts in mandarin fish showed a decreasing trend, indicating partial hemolysis. The expression change patterns of 15 AMP genes in the intestine after A. hydrophila infection were examined by using qRT-PCR. The results revealed, marked up-regulation (approximately 116.04) of the hepcidin gene, down-regulation of the piscidin family genes expression. Moreover, most AMP genes were responded in the early stages after A. hydrophila challenge. This study provides fundamental information for investigating the role of the different antimicrobial peptide genes in mandarin fish in defense against A. hydrophila infection.

Ni-Co Complex Ionic Synergistically Modifying Octahedron Lattice of Cordierite Ceramics for the Application of 5G Microwave-Millimeter-wave Antennas.

In this work, phase-pure Mg1.8(Ni1-xCox)0.2Al4Si5O18 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) ceramics were synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state method. On the basis of Rietveld refinement data of X-ray powder diffraction and Phillips-Vechten-Levine theory, the atomic ionicity, lattice energy, and bond energy of the compound were calculated to explore their influence on the microwave dielectric properties of ceramics. The Mg1.8Ni0.1Co0.1Al4Si5O18 (x = 0.5) ceramic exhibited the best microwave dielectric properties: εr = 4.44, Qf = 73 539 GHz@13 GHz, and τf = -23.9 ppm/°C. (Ni1-xCox)2+ complex ionic doping, compared with only Ni2+ or Co2+, is beneficial for improving the symmetry of [Si4Al2O18] hexagonal rings and reducing distortion. Subsequently, 8 wt % TiO2 was added to Mg1.8Ni0.1Co0.1Al4Si5O18, resulting in a near-zero τf and high Qf values for the composite ceramic, with εr = 5.22, Qf = 58 449 GHz@13 GHz, and τf = -2.06 ppm/°C. Finally, a 5G millimeter-wave antenna with a central operating frequency of 25.52 GHz was designed and fabricated using the Mg1.8Ni0.1Co0.1Al4Si5O18-8 wt % TiO2 ceramics. Operating in the 24.7-26.0 GHz range, it demonstrated favorable radiation characteristics with a simulated efficiency of 85.2% and a gain of 4.58 dBi. The antenna's performance confirms the high potential of the cordierite composite for application in 5G communication systems.

Dysregulated MiR-223-5p Modulates Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the miR-223-5p expression in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to determine its role in the pathogenesis of SCI. METHODS: The serum miR-223-5p levels were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The diagnostic accuracy of miR-223-5p was evaluated using the receiving operating characteristic curves. LPS-induced PC12 cells were established as an in vitro inflammatory cell model. Cell apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress were examined. The SCI rat model was constructed to evaluate the effects of miR-223-5p on inflammatory response and motor function in rats. RESULTS: MiR-223-5p expression was upregulated in SCI patients. MiR-223-5p expression in the complete SCI group was significantly higher than that in incomplete SCI group. ROC analysis showed that miR-223-5p can distinguish SCI patients from healthy volunteers. In vitro experiments demonstrated that LPS upregulated apoptosis and inflammation in PC12 cells. Treatment with miR-223-5p inhibitor alleviated the changes in LPS-induced PC12 cells . Inhibition of miR-223-5p can alleviate the activation of inflammatory response and the effects of SCI on the motor function in rats. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-223-5p is a potential diagnostic marker for SCI, and it can promote the SCI progression by regulating nerve cell survival, inflammation, and oxidative stress.