Two-dimensional confined topotactic transformation to produce Co-Pi/Co3O4 hybrid porous nanosheets for promoted water oxidation.

Exploring advanced electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of great importance in pursuing efficient and sustainable hydrogen production via electrolytic water splitting. Considering the structure-activity-stability relationship for designing advanced OER catalysts, two-dimensional (2D) porous catalyst with single crystallinity is deemed to be an ideal platform which could simultaneously endow enriched active sites, facile mass and charge transport ability as well as robust structural stability. Herein, we proposed a facile 2D confined topotactic phase transformation approach, which realizes the fabrication of highly porous single-crystalline Co3O4 nanosheets with in-situ surface modification of amorphous Co-Pi active species. Benefitted from the highly exposed undercoordinated cobalt sites, facilitated mass transport and facile 2D charge transfer pathway, the Co-Pi/Co3O4 hybrid porous nanosheets display enhanced OER activity with obvious pre-oxidation-induced activation. In addition, the operational stability was significantly improved owing to the strengthened structural stability which effectively buffers the internal strains and avoids the structural collapse during the electrochemical process. This work proposed a facile and mild method for the synthesis of amorphous/single-crystalline hybrid porous materials, and the achievement of synergistic modulation of active site density and charge transfer ability via targeted microstructural construction will shed light on catalyst design in the future.

Phenanthridine-based Covalent Organic Frameworks for Boosting Overall Solar H2O2 Production.

Solar-driven H2O2 production via the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and water oxidation reaction (WOR) dual channels is green and sustainable, but severely restricted by the sluggish reaction kinetics. Constructing intriguing photocatalysts with effective active centers is a shortcut to breaking the kinetic bottleneck with great significance. Herein, we synthesize two novel neutral phenanthridine-based covalent organic frameworks (PD-COF1 and PD-COF2) for photosynthesizing H2O2. Compared to the no phenanthridine counterpart (AN-COF), the H2O2 photosynthetic activities of PD-COF1 and PD-COF2 are markedly boosted. In air and pure water without sacrificial agents, under Xe lamp and natural sunlight, the H2O2 photogeneration rate of PD-COF2 is 6103 and 3646 µmol g-1 h-1, respectively. Further experimental and theoretical inspections demonstrate that introducing phenanthridine units into COFs smoothly modulates the charge carrier dynamics and thermodynamically favors the generation of crucial OOH* and OH* intermediates in the ORR and WOR paths, respectively. Additionally, this is the first time the neutral phenanthridine moiety serves as the photooxidation unit for 2e- WOR towards H2O2 photoproduction. The current work sheds light on exploring novel catalytic centers for high-performance H2O2 evolution.

Promising clinical effect of arthroscopic autologous iliac bone grafting with suture anchor binding fixation for recurrent anterior shoulder instability.

Background: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of arthroscopic autologous iliac bone grafting with suture anchor binding fixation combined with a Bankart repair for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with a significant anterior glenoid defect. Methods: Patients with recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with an anterior glenoid defect area greater than 20% admitted to our department from March 2019 to March 2022 were prospectively enrolled. Arthroscopic autologous iliac bone grafting with suture anchor binding fixation combined with a Bankart repair was performed. Computed tomography (CT) images were captured preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively to evaluate the glenoid defect area, graft area, and graft healing. Shoulder function was assessed using the Instability Severity Index, Oxford Shoulder Instability, and Rowe scores recorded preoperatively and at the final follow-up. The shoulder range of motion, shoulder stability test, surgery-related complications, subluxation/dislocation, and revision surgery were also evaluated. Results: A total of 32 patients were included in the study, with an average follow-up time of 18.3 ± 6.3 months, when the graft healing rate was shown to be 100%. The area ratio of the graft to the glenoid was 37.6% ± 10.5% (range, 23.5%-44.1%) determined by an enface-view three-dimensional CT performed immediately after surgery, and 29.2 ± 8.2% (range, 19.6%-38.7%) at 12 months postoperatively. At the final follow-up, the glenoid defect had improved from 28.7 ± 6.4% (range, 20.5%-40.6%) before surgery to -10.2 ± 4.7% (range, -13.8% to 6.1%). The preoperative Rowe and Oxford scores were 56.4 ± 8.5 and 34.7 ± 7.1 respectively, which improved to 94.3 ± 6.7 and 15.3 ± 3.2 at the final follow-up (p < .001). All patients had no limited shoulder joint activity, no re-dislocation or revision surgery, and no neurovascular injury. Conclusions: For recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with an anterior glenoid defect area greater than 20%, arthroscopic autologous iliac bone grafting with suture anchor fixation combined with a Bankart repair produced a promising clinical effect. A significant shoulder function score was achieved, as was a 100% bone healing rate and ideal glenoid reconstruction without major complications. Thus, this technique may be considered an alternative to the classic Latarjet approach to treat recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with an anterior glenoid defect area greater than 20%. Level of Evidence: IV.

A Mussel-Inspired and Recyclable Coating with Integrated Daytime Radiative Cooling and Triboelectric Energy Harvesting for Intelligent and Sustainable Buildings.

Carbon neutrality necessitates new technologies for renewable energy utilization, active regulation of heat exchange, and material recycling to promote green and intelligent building development. Currently, the integration of these functions and characteristics into a single coating material presents a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate a novel triboelectric and radiative cooling coating with mussel-inspired architectures, fabricated using cellulose nanofibers and Mica-TiO2 as a functional mortar and brick, respectively. The abundant polar groups and specific surface area of cellulose nanofibers enable a high accumulation of induced electrostatic charges, allowing the coating to act as a tribolayer to generate triboelectric outputs. The regularly layered arrangement of Mica-TiO2 endows fire resistance to the coating, which exhibits self-extinguishing properties and maintains 45% of its original electrical output even after direct exposure to flame for 20 s. Additionally, the created multilayered stacking morphology, as well as intense group vibrations of Mica-TiO2, facilitates high reflectivity (Rsolar = 0.9) and long-wave infrared emissivity (ϵLWIR = 0.94), achieving a daytime subambient temperature drop of 5.3 °C. Notably, the coating can be recycled easily while maintaining its triboelectric, radiative cooling, and fire-resistant properties. This work provides an innovative strategy for unifying triboelectric and radiative cooling functions, as well as recyclability, into a single coating material, offering new insights for future sustainable and energy-efficient buildings.

Accelerated ammonia electrosynthesis of cobalt hydroxide through electronic modulation with ultralow noble metal doping.

This study introduces an innovative method to ammonia production through electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate using Ru-doped Co(OH)2. The incorporation of Ru into the Co(OH)2 was found to markedly enhance the catalytic activity by optimizing the electronic structure and increasing the number of active sites.

Filter Membrane-Based Colorimetric Approach for Point-of-Care Detection of Biomarkers Using CRISPR-Cas12a.

CRISPR-Cas-based point-of-care testing (POCT) strategies have been widely explored for the detection of diverse biomarkers. However, these methods often require complicated operations, such as careful solution transfer steps, to achieve high sensitivity and accuracy. In this study, we combine a filter membrane-based POCT method with CRISPR-Cas12a for colorimetric detection of biomarkers. For the nucleic acid target, the trans-cleavage activity of CRISPR-Cas12a is directly triggered, cutting the single-stranded DNA linkers on glucose oxidase (GOx)-modified polymer nanoparticles. Due to the size difference between GOx and the polymer nanoparticles, GOx can be separated using a filter membrane. The filtrate containing GOx reacts with the substrate to generate a colorimetric signal. For the non-nucleic acid target, the non-nucleic acid signal is converted into a nucleic acid signal that activates CRISPR-Cas12a, resulting in a colorimetric signal. The entire operation is easy to perform, and the signal can be directly observed via the naked eye, which circumvents the use of costly instruments. The developed strategy holds great promise for accurate and accessible POCT detection of disease biomarkers in resource-limited settings.

Correlative analysis of transcriptome and 16S rDNA in Procambarus clarkii reveals key signaling pathways are involved in Chlorantraniliprole stress response by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K).

Chlorantraniliprole (CAP), a diamide insecticide, is extensively used in agricultural production. With the increasing adoption of the rice-crayfish integrated farming model, pesticide application has become more frequent. However, the potential risk of CAP to crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) remains unclear. In this study, crayfish were exposed to 30, 60, 90 mg/L CAP for 96 h. As CAP exposure time and concentration increased, crayfish survival rates and total hemocyte counts (THC) decreased. Biochemical indicators revealed that CAP exposure induced oxidative stress and immunosuppression in crayfish, leading to metabolic disorders and reduced ATP content. Additionally, pathological analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing demonstrated that CAP exposure compromised the intestinal barrier of crayfish, altered the intestinal microbial community structure, and caused apoptosis. Differential gene expression analysis showed that CAP exposure significantly suppressed the expression of genes related to immune and energy metabolism pathways, resulting in immune dysfunction and insufficient energy supply, while activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. PI3K knockdown reduced antioxidant and digestive activities, increased the expression of proinflammatory and apoptosis genes, and exacerbated CAP-induced intestinal toxicity. This study is the first to explore the characterization and function of PI3K in crustaceans, providing new insights for further research on crustacean antioxidants and defense mechanisms.

An Inhalable Nanoshield for Effective Prevention of Influenza Virus Infections.

Influenza virus (IV) infection currently poses a serious and continuing threat to the global public health. Developing effective prevention strategies is important to defend against infection and spread of IV. Here, we developed a triple-protective nanoshield against IV infection in the lungs, formed by self-assembling DSPE-PEG amphiphilic polymers encapsulating the flu-preventive antiviral drug Arbidol internally. The preventive effect of the nanoshield against virus infection includes increasing the viscosity in the surrounding environment to physically defend against viral entry, forming a hydrated layer to block the interaction between viruses and cells, and inhibiting virus replication. Our finding suggested that a single inhalation of the nanoshield provides effective protection against IV infection for at least 8 h. Thus, this nanoshield may be a potential pandemic protection agent against IV, especially in viral environments, where no prophylactic or therapeutic measures are available.

PARD6A promotes lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and invasion through Serpina3.

Par6α encoded by PARD6A is a member of the PAR6 family and is reported to promote cancer initiation and progression. PARD6A is frequently upregulated in different types of cancers, but its regulatory role in lung cancer progression is yet to be established. In this study, we analyzed the PARD6A expression in biopsies from lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients, and the survival probability using LUAD tissue microarray (TMA) and online datasets from TCGA and GEO. We conducted in vitro and in vivo assays to assess the role of PARD6A in regulating lung cancer progression, including proliferation, wound healing, transwell, RNA-seq, and subcutaneous tumor mice models. Our findings revealed that PARD6A is highly expressed in cancer tissues from LUAD patients and is associated with poor prognosis in LUAD patients. In vitro assays showed that PARD6A promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The transcriptome sequencing identified Serpina3 as one of the key downstream molecules of PARD6A. Ectopic expression of Serpina3 rescued impaired proliferation, migration, and invasion in PARD6A-knocking down H1299 cells, whereas silencing Serpina3 impeded enhanced proliferation, migration, and invasion in PARD6A-overexpressing H1975 cells. Our findings suggest that PARD6A promotes lung cancer progression by inducing Serpina3, which may be a promising therapeutic target.

Transcriptome analysis provides new insight into the mechanism of Bombyx mori under zinc exposure.

Zinc is a significant source of heavy metal pollution that poses risks to both human health and biodiversity. Excessive concentrations of zinc can hinder the growth and development of insects and trigger cell death through oxidative damage. The midgut is the main organ affected by exposure to heavy metals. The silkworm, a prominent insect species belonging to the Lepidoptera class and widely used in China, serves as a model for studying the genetic response to heavy metal stress. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to investigate detoxification-related genes in the midgut that are induced by zinc exposure. A total of 11,320 unigenes and 14,723 transcripts were identified, with 553 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) detected, among which 394 were up-regulated and 159 were down-regulated. The Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that 452 DEGs were involved in 18 biological process subclasses, 14 cellular component subclasses and 8 molecular functional subclasses. Furthermore, the KEGG analysis demonstrated enrichment in pathways such as Protein digestion, absorption and Lysosome. Validation of the expression levels of 9 detoxification-related DEGs through qRT-PCR confirmed the accuracy of the RNA-seq results. This study not only contributes new insights into the detoxification mechanisms mechanism of silkworms against zinc contamination, but also serves as a foundation basis for understanding the molecular detoxification processes in lepidopteran insects.

Multi-effective nanoplatform with down/upconversion dual-mode emissions for NIR-II imaging and PDT/PTT synergistic therapy of early atherosclerosis.

We design a multi-effective nanoplatform (CeO2:Nd@SiO2@CeO2:Yb,Er@SiO2-RB/MB/CD36) with down/upconversion dual-mode emissions and targeting ability in foam macrophages. Under NIR excitation, this nanoplatform can realize in vivo NIR-II imaging and PDT/PTT coordinated therapy for early AS simultaneously.

A versatile fluorescent probe for hydrogen peroxide in serotonergic neurons of living brains of mice with depression.

Depression, a prevalent mental illness, is intricately linked with the neurotransmitters in the brain, while serotonin as a crucial regulator of mood, energy levels, and memory, has been implicated in depression. So, the release of serotonin by serotonergic neurons plays a significant role in the development of depression. Notably, the foremost marker of oxidative stress, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), can interfere with the functioning of serotonergic neurons and potentially contribute to depression. Investigating the impact of H2O2 on serotonergic neurons could offer valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying depression. However, there have been no effective tools for selectively imaging H2O2 in these neurons so far. To address this gap, we created a small molecular fluorescent probe, PF-H2O2, designed specifically for imaging H2O2 in serotonergic neurons under oxidative stress. PF-H2O2 exerts excellent serotonergic neuron-targetability and notable selectivity for H2O2. Furthermore, we discovered increased H2O2 in serotonergic neurons of mice with depressive symptoms. Altogether, this endeavour unveils a pioneering tool for exploring pathophysiology linked to serotonergic neuronal dysfunction.

Nonvolatile Electro-optic Response of Graphene Driven by Ferroelectric Polarization.

Two-dimensional materials (2DMs) have exhibited remarkably tunable optical characteristics, which have been applied for significant applications in communications, sensing, and computing. However, the reported tunable optical properties of 2DMs are almost volatile, impeding them in the applications of multifarious emerging frameworks such as programmable operation and neuromorphic computing. In this work, nonvolatile electro-optic response is developed by the graphene-Al2O3-In2Se3 heterostructure integrating with microring resonators (MRRs). In such compact devices, the optical absorption coefficient of graphene is substantially tuned by the out-of-plane ferroelectric polarization in α-In2Se3, resulting in a nonvolatile optical transmission in MRRs. This work demonstrates that integrating graphene with ferroelectric materials paves the way to develop nonvolatile devices in photonic circuits for emerging applications such as optical neural networks.

H3K9me3 Levels Affect the Proliferation of Bovine Spermatogonial Stem Cells.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) possess the characteristics of self-renewal and differentiation, as well as the ability to generate functional sperm. Their unique stemness has broad applications in male infertility treatment and species preservation. In rodents, research on SSCs has been widely reported, but progress is slow in large livestock such as cattle and pigs due to long growth cycles, difficult proliferation in vitro, and significant species differences. Previously, we showed that histone 3 (H3) lysine 9 (K9) trimethylation (H3K9me3) is associated with the proliferation of bovine SSCs. Here, we isolated and purified SSCs from calf testicular tissues and investigated the impact of different H3K9me3 levels on the in vitro proliferation of bovine SSCs. The enriched SSCs eventually formed classical stem cell clones in vitro in our feeder-free culture system. These clones expressed glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-1 (GFRα1, specific marker for SSCs), NANOG (pluripotency protein), C-KIT (germ cell marker), and strong alkaline phosphatase (AKP) positivity. qRT-PCR analysis further showed that these clones expressed the pluripotency genes NANOG and SOX2, and the SSC-specific marker gene GFRα1. To investigate the dynamic relationship between H3K9me3 levels and SSC proliferation, H3K9me3 levels in bovine SSCs were first downregulated using the methyltransferase inhibitor, chaetocin, or transfection with the siRNA of H3K9 methyltransferase suppressor of variegation 3-9 homologue 1 (SUV39H1). The EDU (5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine) assay revealed that SSC proliferation was inhibited. Conversely, when H3K9me3 levels in bovine SSCs were upregulated by transfecting lysine demethylase 4D (KDM4D) siRNA, the EDU assay showed a promotion of cell proliferation. In summary, this study established a feeder-free culture system to obtain bovine SSCs and explored its effects on the proliferation of bovine SSCs by regulating H3K9me3 levels, laying the foundation for elucidating the regulatory mechanism underlying histone methylation modification in the proliferation of bovine SSCs.

Effect of Serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine) on Follicular Development in Porcine.

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter widely distributed in mammalian tissues, exerting its effects through binding to various receptors. It plays a crucial role in the proliferation of granulosa cells (GCs) and the development of follicles in female animals, however, its effect on porcine follicle development is not clear. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of 5-HT and its receptors in various parts of the pig ovary, as well as the effect of 5-HT on porcine follicular development by using ELISA, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and EdU assays. Firstly, we examined the levels of 5-HT and its receptors in porcine ovaries, follicles, and GCs. The findings revealed that the expression of different 5-HT receptors varied among follicles of different sizes. To investigate the relationship between 5-HT and its receptors, we exposed the GCs to 5-HT and found a decrease in 5-HT receptor expression compared to the control group. Subsequently, the treatment of GCs with 0.5 µM, 5 µM, and 50 µM 5-HT showed an increase in the expression of cell cycle-related genes, and EdU results indicated cell proliferation after the 0.5 µM 5-HT treatment. Additionally, the expression of genes involved in E2 synthesis was examined after the treatment of granulosa cells with 0.5 µM 5-HT. The results showed that CYP19A1 and HSP17ß1 expression was decreased. These results suggest that 5-HT might affect the development of porcine follicle by promoting the proliferation of GCs and inhibiting the synthesis of estrogen. This provides a new finding for exploring the effect of 5-HT on follicular development, and lays a foundation for further research on the mechanism of 5-HT in follicles.

[Retracted] RNAi­mediated EZH2 depletion decreases MDR1 expression and sensitizes multidrug­resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells to chemotherapy.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that the control western blotting data featured in Fig. 2C on p. 1039 and the cell cycle distribution images shown in Fig. 6A on p. 1041 were strikingly similar to data that had appeared in a pair of other articles written by different authors at different research institutes, one of which had already been submitted for publication when this article was received at Oncology Reports, the other of which was received some time afterwards, but which has subsequently been retracted. Owing to the fact that the abovementioned data had already been submitted for publication prior to its submission to Oncology Reports, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 29: 1037­1042, 2013; DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2222].

GalNAc-modified FeS nanoparticles for specific chemodynamic and gas therapy against orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma.

GalNAc-modified ferrous sulfide nanoparticles have been developed to conduct chemodynamic and gas therapy for fighting against orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma. This nanomedicine owns good liver targeting ability, which takes full advantage of the tumor microenvironment to ensure the therapy effect and improve the safety.