Long-term trends in human body size track regional variation in subsistence transitions and growth acceleration linked to dairying.

Evidence for a reduction in stature between Mesolithic foragers and Neolithic farmers has been interpreted as reflective of declines in health, however, our current understanding of this trend fails to account for the complexity of cultural and dietary transitions or the possible causes of phenotypic change. The agricultural transition was extended in primary centers of domestication and abrupt in regions characterized by demic diffusion. In regions such as Northern Europe where foreign domesticates were difficult to establish, there is strong evidence for natural selection for lactase persistence in relation to dairying. We employ broad-scale analyses of diachronic variation in stature and body mass in the Levant, Europe, the Nile Valley, South Asia, and China, to test three hypotheses about the timing of subsistence shifts and human body size, that: 1) the adoption of agriculture led to a decrease in stature, 2) there were different trajectories in regions of in situ domestication or cultural diffusion of agriculture; and 3) increases in stature and body mass are observed in regions with evidence for selection for lactase persistence. Our results demonstrate that 1) decreases in stature preceded the origins of agriculture in some regions; 2) the Levant and China, regions of in situ domestication of species and an extended period of mixed foraging and agricultural subsistence, had stable stature and body mass over time; and 3) stature and body mass increases in Central and Northern Europe coincide with the timing of selective sweeps for lactase persistence, providing support for the "Lactase Growth Hypothesis."

Multiplex assays reveal anti-EBV antibody profile and its implication in detection and diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is detected in nearly 100% of nonkeratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and EBV-based biomarkers are used for NPC screening in endemic regions. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) against EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and viral capsid antigen (VCA), and recently identified anti-BNLF2b antibodies have been shown to be the most effective screening tool; however, the screening efficacy still needs to be improved. This study developed a multiplex serological assay by testing IgA and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against representative EBV antigens that are highly transcribed in NPC and/or function crucially in viral reactivation, including BALFs, BNLF2a/b, LF1, LF2, and Zta (BZLF1). Among them, BNLF2b-IgG had the best performance distinguishing NPC patients from controls (area under the curve: 0.951, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.913-0.990). Antibodies to lytic antigens BALF2 and VCA were significantly higher in advanced-stage than in early-stage tumors; in contrast, antibodies to latent protein EBNA1 and early lytic antigen BNLF2b were not correlated with tumor progression. Accordingly, a novel strategy combining EBNA1-IgA and BNLF2b-IgG was proposed and validated improving the integrated discrimination by 15.8% (95% CI: 9.8%-21.7%, p < .0001) compared with the two-antibody method. Furthermore, we found EBV antibody profile in patients was more complicated compared with that in healthy carriers, in which stronger correlations between antibodies against different phases of antigens were observed. Overall, our serological assay indicated that aberrant latent infection of EBV in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells was probably a key step in NPC initiation, while more lytic protein expression might be involved in NPC progression.

Unveiling the transferability of PLSR models for leaf trait estimation: lessons from a comprehensive analysis with a novel global dataset.

Leaf traits are essential for understanding many physiological and ecological processes. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models with leaf spectroscopy are widely applied for trait estimation, but their transferability across space, time, and plant functional types (PFTs) remains unclear. We compiled a novel dataset of paired leaf traits and spectra, with 47 393 records for > 700 species and eight PFTs at 101 globally distributed locations across multiple seasons. Using this dataset, we conducted an unprecedented comprehensive analysis to assess the transferability of PLSR models in estimating leaf traits. While PLSR models demonstrate commendable performance in predicting chlorophyll content, carotenoid, leaf water, and leaf mass per area prediction within their training data space, their efficacy diminishes when extrapolating to new contexts. Specifically, extrapolating to locations, seasons, and PFTs beyond the training data leads to reduced R2 (0.12-0.49, 0.15-0.42, and 0.25-0.56) and increased NRMSE (3.58-18.24%, 6.27-11.55%, and 7.0-33.12%) compared with nonspatial random cross-validation. The results underscore the importance of incorporating greater spectral diversity in model training to boost its transferability. These findings highlight potential errors in estimating leaf traits across large spatial domains, diverse PFTs, and time due to biased validation schemes, and provide guidance for future field sampling strategies and remote sensing applications.

Electronic Structure Modulation Via Iron-Incorporated NiO to Boost Urea Oxidation/Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

The urea-assisted water splitting not only enables a reduction in energy consumption during hydrogen production but also addresses the issue of environmental pollution caused by urea. Doping heterogeneous atoms in Ni-based electrocatalysts is considered an efficient means for regulating the electronic structure of Ni sites in catalytic processes. However, the current methodologies for synthesizing heteroatom-doped Ni-based electrocatalysts exhibit certain limitations, including intricate experimental procedures, prolonged reaction durations, and low product yield. Herein, Fe-doped NiO electrocatalysts were successfully synthesized using a rapid and facile solution combustion method, enabling the synthesis of 1.1107 g within a mere 5 min. The incorporation of iron atoms facilitates the modulation of the electronic environment around Ni atoms, generating a substantial decrease in the Gibbs free energy of intermediate species for the Fe-NiO catalyst. This modification promotes efficient cleavage of C-N bonds and consequently enhances the catalytic performance of UOR. Benefiting from the tunability of the electronic environment around the active sites and its efficient electron transfer, Fe-NiO electrocatalysts only needs 1.334 V to achieve 50 mA cm-2 during UOR. Moreover, Fe-NiO catalysts were integrated into a dual electrode urea electrolytic system, requiring only 1.43 V of cell voltage at 10 mA cm-2.

Prevalence and risk factors for dementia and mild cognitive impairment among older people in Southeast China: a community-based study.

BACKGROUND: With the aging population, the number of individuals with dementia in China is increasing rapidly. This community-based study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among older adults in China. METHODS: In this study, 20,070 individuals aged ≥ 65 were recruited between January 1, 2022, and February 1, 2023, from ten communities in Xiamen City, China. We collected data on age, sex, level of education, and medical history, as well as global cognition and functional status. The prevalence of dementia and MCI was examined, and the risk factors for different groups were assessed. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of dementia and MCI was approximately 5.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.1-5.7) and 7.7% (95% CI, 7.4-8.1), respectively. The results also indicated that dementia and MCI share similar risk factors, including older age, female sex, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Compared with individuals with no formal education, those with > 6 years of education had an odds ratio for MCI of 1.83 (95% CI, 1.49-2.25). We also found that only 5.5% of the positive participants chose to be referred to the hospital for further diagnosis and treatment during follow-up visits. CONCLUSIONS: This study estimated the prevalence and risk factors for dementia and MCI among individuals aged ≥ 65 years in Southeast China. These findings are crucial for preventing and managing dementia and MCI in China.

Regulation of Autophagy Signaling Pathways by Ginseng Saponins: A Review.

Ginseng saponins (ginsenosides), bioactive compounds derived from ginseng, are widely used natural products with potent therapeutic properties in the management of various ailments, particularly tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and immune system disorders. Autophagy, a highly regulated and multistep process involving the breakdown of impaired organelles and macromolecules by autophagolysosomes and autophagy-related genes (ATGs), has gained increasing attention as a potential target for ginsenoside-mediated disease treatment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent research advances in the understanding of autophagy-related signaling pathways and the role of ginsenoside-mediated autophagy regulation. By delving into the intricate autophagy signaling pathways underpinning the pharmacological properties of ginsenosides, we highlight their therapeutic potential in addressing various conditions. Our findings serve as a comprehensive reference for further investigation into the medicinal properties of ginseng or ginseng-related products.

Application of real-time PCR-based multicolor melting curve with automatic analysis system in pregestational and prenatal thalassemia diagnoses.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the value of the real-time PCR-based multicolor melting curve analysis (MMCA) with an automatic analysis system used in a mass thalassemia screening and prenatal diagnosis program. METHODS: A total of 18,912 peripheral blood samples from 9456 couples and 1150 prenatal samples were detected by MMCA assay. All prenatal samples were also tested by a conventional method. Samples with unknown melting peaks, unusual peak height ratios between a wild allele and a mutant allele, or a discordant phenotype-genotype match were further studied by using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) or Sanger sequencing. All MMCA results were automatically analyzed and manually checked. The consistency between MMCA assay and conventional methods among prenatal samples was investigated. RESULTS: Except for initiation codon (T > G) (HBB:c.2T > G), all genotypes of thalassemia inside the scope of conventional methods were detected by MMCA assay. Additionally, 27 carriers with 10 rare HBB variants, 13 with α fusion gene, 1 with a rare deletion in α globin gene, and 1 with rare HBA variant were detected by using MMCA assay. CONCLUSION: MMCA can be an alternative approach used in routine thalassemia carrier screening and prenatal diagnosis for its high throughput, sufficient stability, low cost, and easy operation.

Vegetation clumping modulates global photosynthesis through adjusting canopy light environment.

The spatial dispersion of photoelements within a vegetation canopy, quantified by the clumping index (CI), directly regulates the within-canopy light environment and photosynthesis rate, but is not commonly implemented in terrestrial biosphere models to estimate the ecosystem carbon cycle. A few global CI products have been developed recently with remote sensing measurements, making it possible to examine the global impacts of CI. This study deployed CI in the radiative transfer scheme of the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) and used the revised CLM5 to quantitatively evaluate the extent to which CI can affect canopy absorbed radiation and gross primary production (GPP), and for the first time, considering the uncertainty and seasonal variation of CI with multiple remote sensing products. Compared to the results without considering the CI impact, the revised CLM5 estimated that sunlit canopy absorbed up to 9%-15% and 23%-34% less direct and diffuse radiation, respectively, while shaded canopy absorbed 3%-18% more diffuse radiation across different biome types. The CI impacts on canopy light conditions included changes in canopy light absorption, and sunlit-shaded leaf area fraction related to nitrogen distribution and thus the maximum rate of Rubisco carboxylase activity (Vcmax ), which together decreased photosynthesis in sunlit canopy by 5.9-7.2 PgC year-1 while enhanced photosynthesis by 6.9-8.2 PgC year-1 in shaded canopy. With higher light use efficiency of shaded leaves, shaded canopy increased photosynthesis compensated and exceeded the lost photosynthesis in sunlit canopy, resulting in 1.0 ± 0.12 PgC year-1 net increase in GPP. The uncertainty of GPP due to the different input CI datasets was much larger than that caused by CI seasonal variations, and was up to 50% of the magnitude of GPP interannual variations in the tropical regions. This study highlights the necessity of considering the impacts of CI and its uncertainty in terrestrial biosphere models.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolation is an important predictor for recurrent hemoptysis after bronchial artery embolization in patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Nearly half of bronchiectasis patients receiving bronchial artery embolization (BAE) still have recurrent hemoptysis, which may be life-threatening. Worse still, the underlying risk factors of recurrence remain unknown. METHODS: A retrospective cohort was conducted of patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis who received BAE from 2015 to 2019 at eight centers. Patients were followed up for at least 24 months post BAE. Based on the outcomes of recurrent hemoptysis and recurrent severe hemoptysis, a Cox regression model was used to identify risk factors for recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 588 individuals were included. The median follow-up period was 34.0 months (interquartile range: 24.3-53.3 months). The 1-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year cumulative recurrent hemoptysis-free rates were 87.2%, 67.5%, 57.6%, and 49.4%, respectively. The following factors were relative to recurrent hemoptysis: 24-h sputum volume (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.99 [95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.25-3.15, p = 0.015]), isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (HR = 1.50 [95% CI: 1.13-2.00, p = 0.003]), extensive bronchiectasis (HR = 2.00 [95% CI: 1.29-3.09, p = 0.002]), and aberrant bronchial arteries (AbBAs) (HR = 1.45 [95% CI: 1.09-1.93, p = 0.014]). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the nomogram was 0.728 [95% CI: 0.688-0.769]. CONCLUSIONS: Isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important independent predictor of recurrent hemoptysis. The clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa might effectively reduce the hemoptysis recurrence rate.

Synthesis of pendant fullerene dimers by an aminomethylation reaction of fulleropyrrolidines bearing ketone moieties.

An aminomethylation reaction of fulleropyrrolidines bearing ketone moieties in the presence of N-unsubstituted fulleropyrrolidines and paraformaldehyde with the aid of p-toluenesulfonic acid afforded a series of scarce pendant fullerene dimers. A simple change of reaction substrates from ketone to ketone-containing fulleropyrrolidines successfully realized the synthesis of a variety of novel pendant fullerene dimers, including those from methyl ketone-containing fulleropyrrolidines, which were considered to produce the known bridged fullerene dimers. It should be noted that pendant fullerene dimers are usually difficult to prepare by other methods and may have promising applications in perovskite solar cells. Density functional theory (DFT) has been employed to elucidate the regioselectivity of methyl ketone-containing fulleropyrrolidines to yield exclusively pendant fullerene dimers by investigating the Gibbs free energy profile of the reaction starting from methyl ketone-containing fulleropyrrolidines and iminium intermediates.

A Fully Conjugated Covalent Organic Framework with Oxidative and Reductive Sites for Photocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction with Water.

Constructing a powerful photocatalytic system that can achieve the carbon dioxide (CO2 ) reduction half-reaction and the water (H2 O) oxidation half-reaction simultaneously is a very challenging but meaningful task. Herein, a porous material with a crystalline topological network, named viCOF-bpy-Re, was rationally synthesized by incorporating rhenium complexes as reductive sites and triazine ring structures as oxidative sites via robust -C=C- bond linkages. The charge-separation ability of viCOF-bpy-Re is promoted by low polarized π-bridges between rhenium complexes and triazine ring units, and the efficient charge-separation enables the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, followed by an intramolecular charge-transfer process, to form photogenerated electrons involved in CO2 reduction and photogenerated holes that participate in H2 O oxidation simultaneously. The viCOF-bpy-Re shows the highest catalytic photocatalytic carbon monoxide (CO) production rate (190.6 µmol g-1 h-1 with about 100 % selectivity) and oxygen (O2 ) evolution (90.2 µmol g-1 h-1 ) among all the porous catalysts in CO2 reduction with H2 O as sacrificial agents. Therefore, a powerful photocatalytic system was successfully achieved, and this catalytic system exhibited excellent stability in the catalysis process for 50 hours. The structure-function relationship was confirmed by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations.

Correction: Zhu et al. Biodegradable and pH Sensitive Peptide Based Hydrogel as Controlled Release System for Antibacterial Wound Dressing Application. Molecules 2018, 23, 3383.

During the course of a review of our publication, we found two errors in Figure 4b and Figure 9 [...].

[Sensitivity Comparison Experiment of Four Testing Methods for Helicobacter pylori].

Objective: To measure with standard microbiology methods the sensitivity of 4 commonly used testing methods for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and to conduct a comparative study of the correlations and differences across the 4 methods. Methods: With the Hp standard strain (SS1) as the reference, colony forming units (CFU) as the units of quantitative analysis for detection performance, and gradient dilution of SS1 suspension as the simulation sample, we measured the sensitivity of 4 Hp testing methods, including bacterial culture, rapid urease test, antigen test, and quantitative fluorescent PCR. CFU values at different concentrations corresponding to the 4 commonly used Hp testing methods were documented and the correlations and differences were analyzed accordingly. Results: The sensitivity of Hp bacterial culture, rapid urease test, antigen test and quantitative fluorescent PCR was 2.0×10 CFU/mL, 2.0×10 5 CFU/mL, 2.0×10 5 CFU/mL, and 2.0×10 2 CFU/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The testing turnover time and sensitivity of different laboratory methods for Hp testing varied significantly. The quantitative fluorescent PCR and bacterial culture both showed relatively high sensitivity, but bacterial culture has complicated operation procedures and is too time-consuming. The rapid urease test and antigen test both were simple and quick to perform, but showed low sensitivity. For clinical and laboratory testing of Hp, appropriate testing method that can identify the corresponding changes of Hp should be selected according to the actual testing purpose.

Compound heterozygous mutation of the ASXL3 gene causes autosomal recessive congenital heart disease.

To explore mutations in the additional sex combs-like 3 (ASXL3) gene in two Chinese families with congenital heart disease (CHD). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was used to reveal a novel compound heterozygous mutation in the ASXL3 gene that was associated with CHD. Sanger sequencing of a further 122 CHD patients was used to determine an additional compound heterozygous mutation in the ASXL3 gene. Cell apoptosis was examined by MTS assay and flow cytometry. The cardiac structure was identified via hematoxylin-eosin (HE), Masson's trichrome, and ultrasound scanning. RNA sequencing was performed to identify a series of differentially expressed mRNAs. The mRNA and protein expressions were identified by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. A compound heterozygous mutation c.2168C > G (p.Pro723Arg) and c.5449C > G (p.Pro1817Ala) in the ASXL3 gene associated with CHD was identified. Overexpression of this compound heterozygous mutation in HL-1 cells resulted in increased apoptosis and reduced cell viability. Moreover, it affected cardiac structure and fibrosis in mice. There were 126 downregulated mRNAs and 117 upregulated mRNAs between the ASXL3 compound heterozygous mutation c.2168C > G (p.Pro723Arg) and c.5449C > G (p.Pro1817Ala) mice and wild-type mice. Ezh2, Slc6a4, and Socs3, which could interact with ASXL3 through proteins, were all upregulated. Another compound heterozygous mutation c.3526C > T (p.Arg1176Trp) and c.4643A > G (p.Asp1548Gly) in the ASXL3 gene was identified by screening a further 122 patients with CHD. The ASXL3 gene is important in cardiac development and may exert this influence by affecting the expression of mRNAs associated with cell apoptosis and cell proliferation.

Largely Color-Tuning Prompt and Delayed Fluorescence: Dinuclear Cu(I) Halide Complexes with tert-Amines and Phosphines.

Luminescent copper(I) halide complexes with bi- and tridentate rigid ligands have gained wide research interests. In this paper, six tetracoordinate dinuclear copper(I) halide complexes, Cu2X2(ppda)2 [ppda = 2-[2-(dimethylamino)phenyl(phenyl)phosphino]-N,N-dimethylaniline, X = I (1), Br (2), Cl (3)] and Cu2X2(pfda)2 [pfda = 2-[2-(dimethylamino)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl(phenyl)phosphino]-N,N-dimethyl-5-trifluoromethylaniline, X = I (4), Br (5), Cl (6)], were successfully prepared and systematically characterized on their structures and photophysical properties. Complexes 1-5 have a centrosymmetric form with a planar Cu2X2 unit, and complex 6 has a mirror symmetry form with a butterfly-shaped Cu2X2. Solid complexes 1, 4, and 5 emit delayed fluorescence at room temperature, intense blue to greenish yellow (λmax = 443-570 nm) light, and their peak wavelengths are located at 443-570 nm with microsecond lifetimes (τ = 0.4-19.2 µs, ΦPL = 0.05-0.48). Complexes 2, 3, and 6 show prompt fluorescence, very weak yellowish green to yellow (λmax = 534-595 nm) emission with peak wavelengths at 534-595 nm, and lifetimes in nanoseconds (τ = 4.4-9.3 ns, ΦPL < 0.0001). (Metal + halide) to ligand and intraligand charge transitions are the main origin of the emission of the complexes. Solution-processed, complex-4-based nondoped and doped devices emit yellow green light with CIE coordinated at (0.41, 0.51), a maximum EQE up to 0.17%, and luminance reaching 75.52 cd/m2.

Manganese(III) acetate-mediated synthesis of N-substituted fulleropyrrolines via the reaction of [60]fullerene with α-monosubstituted acetaldehydes and primary amines.

The simple one-step reaction of [60]fullerene with α-monosubstituted acetaldehydes and primary amines in the presence of Mn(OAc)3·2H2O under air conditions afforded a series of novel N-substituted fulleropyrrolines with trisubstituted CC bonds in moderate to good yields. The addition of Mn(OAc)3·2H2O played a crucial role in the successful synthesis of N-aryl fulleropyrrolines with trisubstituted CC bonds, which would be extremely difficult to prepare by known methods as a result of the decreased nucleophilicity of arylamines due to the p-π conjugation effect. Intriguingly, arylamines displayed abnormally higher reactivity as compared with non-arylamines in the current reaction system by the observation of obviously decreased equivalent of Mn(OAc)3·2H2O, higher product yields, and lower reaction temperature probably due to the radical reaction mechanism initiated by Mn(OAc)3·2H2O. On the basis of experimental observations, a plausible formation pathway for N-substituted fulleropyrrolines with trisubstituted CC bonds was proposed to elucidate the above-mentioned reaction process.

Lysine crotonylation is widespread on proteins of diverse functions and localizations in Toxoplasma gondii.

Lysine crotonylation (Kcr) is an evolutionally conserved post-translational modification (PTM) on histone proteins. However, information about Kcr and its involvement in the biology and metabolism of Toxoplasma gondii is limited. In the present study, a global Kcr proteome analysis using LC-MS/MS in combination with immune-affinity method was performed. A total of 12,152 Kcr sites distributed over 2719 crotonylated proteins were identified. Consistent with lysine acetylation and succinylation in Apicomplexa, Kcr was associated with various metabolic pathways, including carbon metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and proteasome. Markedly, many stage-specific proteins, histones, and histone-modifying enzymes related to the stage transition were found to have Kcr sites, suggesting a potential involvement of Kcr in the parasite stage transformation. Most components of the apical secretory organelles were identified as crotonylated proteins which were associated with the attachment, invasion, and replication of T. gondii. These results expanded our understanding of Kcr proteome and proposed new hypotheses for further research of the Kcr roles in the pathobiology of T. gondii infection.

Development and Forensic Application of EX20+30Y Kit. / EX20+30Y试剂盒的建立及法医学应用.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a multiplex PCR amplification system (EX20+30Y for short) of 19 autosomes, 30 Y-STR loci plus the gender indicator, and evaluate its forensic application value. METHODS: With the six-color fluorescence labeling technology, a multiplex amplification system of 19 autosomal STR loci and 30 Y-STR loci plus the gender indicator was constructed. Blood samples from 210 unrelated individuals, 69 daily case samples and standard samples 9948 and 9947A were collected for loci detection and analysis. The EX20+30Y multiplex amplification system was evaluated by its sensitivity, mixed sample detection ability, species specificity, balance, direct amplification ability, sample applicability and anti-inhibition ability. RESULTS: Multiplex amplification of blood samples from 210 unrelated individuals by the detection system obtained accurate genotyping results. The detection sensitivity of standard samples was 0.125 ng and the species specificity was high. The 69 samples from daily cases were genotyped correctly. Moreover, standard sample 9948 could be accurately genotyped even if the samples contained a certain concentration of inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: The multiplex amplification system established in this study can conduct combined examination of 19 autosomes, 30 Y-STR loci plus the gender indicator with accurate genotyping and high sensitivity. It has a good forensic application prospect.

Strain-Engineered Nano-Ferroelectrics for High-Efficiency Piezocatalytic Overall Water Splitting.

Developing nano-ferroelectric materials with excellent piezoelectric performance for piezocatalysts used in water splitting is highly desired but also challenging, especially with respect to reaching large piezo-potentials that fully align with required redox levels. Herein, heteroepitaxial strain in BaTiO3 nanoparticles with a designed porous structure is successfully induced by engineering their surface reconstruction to dramatically enhance their piezoelectricity. The strain coherence can be maintained throughout the nanoparticle bulk, resulting in a significant increase of the BaTiO3 tetragonality and thus its piezoelectricity. Benefiting from high piezoelectricity, the as-synthesized blue-colored BaTiO3 nanoparticles possess a superb overall water-splitting activity, with H2 production rates of 159 µmol g-1 h-1 , which is almost 130 times higher than that of the pristine BaTiO3 nanoparticles. Thus, this work provides a generic approach for designing highly efficient piezoelectric nanomaterials by strain engineering that can be further extended to various other perovskite oxides, including SrTiO3 , thereby enhancing their potential for piezoelectric catalysis.

The marine-derived furanone reduces intracellular lipid accumulation in vitro by targeting LXRα and PPARα.

Recent studies have demonstrated that commercially available lipid-lowering drugs cause various side effects; therefore, searching for anti-hyperlipidaemic compounds with lower toxicity is a research hotspot. This study was designed to investigate whether the marine-derived compound, 5-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methyl-4-butylfuran-2(5H)-one, has an anti-hyperlipidaemic activity, and the potential underlying mechanism in vitro. Results showed that the furanone had weaker cytotoxicity compared to positive control drugs. In RAW 264.7 cells, the furanone significantly lowered ox-LDL-induced lipid accumulation (~50%), and its triglyceride (TG)-lowering effect was greater than that of liver X receptor (LXR) agonist T0901317. In addition, it significantly elevated the protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα) and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, which could be partially inhibited by LXR antagonists, GSK2033 and SR9243. In HepG2 cells, it significantly decreased oleic acid-induced lipid accumulation, enhanced the protein levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), ABCG5, ABCG8 and PPARα, and reduced the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (~32%). PPARα antagonists, GW6471 and MK886, could significantly inhibit the furanone-induced lipid-lowering effect. Furthermore, the furanone showed a significantly lower activity on the activation of the expression of lipogenic genes compared to T0901317. Taken together, the furanone exhibited a weak cytotoxicity but had powerful TC- and TG-lowering effects most likely through targeting LXRα and PPARα, respectively. These findings indicate that the furanone has a potential application for the treatment of dyslipidaemia.