Enhanced oxygen evolution and power density of Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs for the application of zinc-air batteries.

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are viewed as a promising solution for electric vehicles due to their potential to provide a clean, cost-effective, and sustainable energy storage system for the next generation. Nevertheless, sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the air electrode, and low power density are significant challenges that hinder the practical application of ZABs. The key to resolving the development of ZABs is developing an affordable, efficient, and stable catalyst with bifunctional catalytic. In this study, we present a series of bifunctional catalysts composed of Co/Zn nanoparticles uniformly embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) denoted as Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs. The incorporation of MWCNTs using a facile and non-toxic method significantly decreased the overpotential of the OER from 570 to 430 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and the peak power density from 226 to 263 mW cm-2. Besides, the electrochemical surface area measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicate that the three-dimensional (3D) network structure of MWCNTs facilitates mass transport for ORR and reduces electron transfer resistance during OER, leading to a small potential gap of 0.86 V between OER and ORR, high electron transfer number (3.92-3.98) of the ORR, and lowest Tafel slope (47.8 mV dec-1) of the OER in aqueous ZABs. In addition, in-situ Raman spectroscopy revealed a notable decrease in the ID/IG ratio for the optimally configured Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs (75:25), indicating a reduction in defect density and improved structural ordering during the electrochemical process, which directly contributes to enhanced ORR activity. Hence, this study provides an excellent strategy for constructing a bifunctional catalyst material with a 3D MWCNTs conductive network for the development of advanced ZAB systems for sustainable energy applications.

Oral colon-targeted pH-responsive polymeric nanoparticles loading naringin for enhanced ulcerative colitis therapy.

An oral colon-targeted drug delivery system holds great potential in preventing systemic toxicity and preserving the therapeutic benefits of ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment. In this study, we developed a negatively charged PLGA-PEG nanoparticle system for encapsulating naringin (Nar). Additionally, chitosan and mannose were coated on the surface of these nanoparticles to enhance their mucosal adsorption and macrophage targeting abilities. The resulting nanoparticles, termed MC@Nar-NPs, exhibited excellent resistance against decomposition in the strong acidic gastrointestinal environment and specifically accumulated at inflammatory sites. Upon payload release, MC@Nar-NPs demonstrated remarkable efficacy in alleviating colon inflammation as evidenced by reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in both blood and colon tissues, as well as the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the colon. This oral nanoparticle delivery system represents a novel approach to treating UC by utilizing Chinese herbal ingredient-based oral delivery and provides a theoretical foundation for local and precise intervention in specific UC treatment.

A photoinduced electron-transfer strategy for switchable fluorescence and phosphorescence in lanthanide-based coordination polymers.

Smart optical materials with tunable fluorescence and room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) exhibit promising application prospects in the field of intelligent switches, information security, etc. Herein, a tetraimidazole derivative was grafted to one-dimensional lanthanum-diphosphonate through H-bonds, generating a coordination polymer (CP), (H4-TIBP)·[La2Li(H2-HEDP)4(H-HEDP)]·3H2O (termed La; TIBP = 3,3,5,5-tetra(imidazole-1-yl)-1,1-biphenyl; H4-HEDP = 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid) with a three-dimensional supramolecular structure. La shows dynamic fluorescence from blue to red and switchable monotonous yellowish-green RTP, which can be manipulated by reversible photochromism. It is worth noting that Eu3+/Tb3+-doped CPs exhibit time-resolved (red to yellow) and monotonous green afterglow, respectively, which can be attributed to multiple emissions with different decay rates. The dynamic and multicolor luminescence endows these CPs with potential for application in the domains of optical communications, multi-step encryption, and anti-counterfeiting. This work not only integrates color-adjustable fluorescence, switchable RTP, and photochromism in one material, but also realizes the manipulation of the resultant optical performances via photochromism, paving the pathway for the design and synthesis of smart optical materials.

Maternal sleep deprivation disrupts glutamate metabolism in offspring rats.

Maternal sleep deprivation (MSD) has emerged as a significant public health concern, yet its effects on offspring metabolism remain poorly understood. This study investigated the metabolomic implications of MSD on offspring cognitive development, with a particular focus on alterations in glutamate metabolism. Pregnant rats were subjected to sleep deprivation during late gestation. Plasma and brain samples from their offspring were collected at different postnatal days (P1, P7, P14, and P56) and analyzed using untargeted metabolomics with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Metabolomic analysis revealed significant differences in various amino acids, including L-glutamate, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L-tryptophan, which are crucial for cognitive function. Subsequent differential analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA) demonstrated a gradual reduction in these metabolic differences in the brain as the offspring underwent growth and development. KEGG pathway analysis revealed differential regulation of several pathways, including alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, glutathione metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, histidine metabolism, and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, at different developmental stages. Mantel and Spearman analyses indicated that the observed changes in metabolites in MSD progeny may be related to various gut microbes, Ruminococcus_1, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, and Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group. Biochemical assays further demonstrated developmental changes in the L-glutamate metabolic pathway. Collectively, these findings suggest that MSD not only affects maternal well-being but also has enduring metabolic consequences for offspring, particularly impacting pathways linked to cognitive function. This highlights the importance of addressing maternal sleep health to mitigate potential long-term consequences for offspring.

Manifestations and outcomes of digestive tract involvement in adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a heterogeneous histiocytosis characterized by proliferation of Langerhans cells. While less common, manifestations of digestive tract involvement in LCH remain largely unrevealed. We conducted a retrospective analysis of demographics, clinical, endoscopic, genetic and follow-up data from 13 adult patients with pathologically confirmed gastrointestinal involvement of LCH (LCH-GI), in a single-center cohort of 465 patients. Digestive tract involvement was observed in 2.80% of LCH patients. At LCH-GI diagnosis, 7 patients (53.8%) had unifocal lesions, and 6 patients (46.2%) had multisystem disease. 6 patients (46.2%) experienced no gastrointestinal symptoms at LCH-GI onset, while others were symptomatic. Stomach was most commonly affected (61.5%), followed by esophagus (23.1%), colon (7.7%) and anus (7.7%). Endoscopic findings varied among 12 patients, including submucosal bulge (8 patients, 66.7%) and non-bulging lesions (4 patients, 33.3%) such as erosions, coarse granular mucosa, and regional abnormal coloration. Among 8 patients with genetic analysis, BRAFV600E mutation was detected in 5 patients (62.5%). The estimated 1-year overall survival rate was 91.7%. Progression-free survival of patients with submucosal bulges under endoscopy was significantly better than those with non-bulging lesions. This study presents 13 cases of LCH with digestive tract involvement. We emphasize the importance of endoscopy and biopsy for pathological examination of lesions such as submucosal bulges and erosions under endoscopy to assist in early detection of LCH. Comprehensive systemic assessment and regular endoscopic monitoring are essential in patient management. Treatment should be individualized with dynamic adjustments during follow-up.

Weight-adjusted waist index and disability: a cohort study from CHARLS.

BACKGROUND: The association between weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) and disability is unclear. This study aimed to assess the relationship between WWI and disability in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals and provide more predictive indicators for disability prevention. METHODS: In this study, 13,015 middle-aged and older adults aged 45 years and above who were surveyed in 2011 by the China Health and Aging Tracking Survey (CHARLS) database were selected, and 8344 respondents with complete data were included for cohort analysis after seven years of follow-up. Information on clinical demographic characteristics, anthropometric indices, assessment of disability, and related covariates were collected, and the presence or absence of disability was assessed by the disability scale. WWI was calculated by dividing the waist circumference (cm) by the square root of the body weight (kg). Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the association between WWI and disability after follow-up. RESULTS: Our study found that 2912 of 8344 participants had disability after seven years of follow-up, and disability incidence was approximately 34.9%. Age, sex, place of residence, chronic disease, depression, waist circumference, and WWI were significantly associated with disability in univariate analysis. Among them, there was a positive association between WWI as a continuous variable and incidence of disability (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.22-1.31, p < 0.001). WWI was transformed into categorical variables using quartiles as cutoffs for disability regression analysis. After adjusting covariates, HR values in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quantile showed an increasing trend compared with the 1st quantile, and the risk of disability among WWI subjects in the 4th quantile increased by 43% (95% CI: 1.24-1.64). P values for the trend test in the model were all < 0.001. In subgroup analyses, the positive association between WWI and risk of disability remained robust for sex, age, alcohol consumption, smoking status, education level, marital status, and place of residence after adjusting for all covariates considered in this study. CONCLUSIONS: WWI is a new and reliable obesity-related indicator that can be used for disability prevention. WWI can be detected and controlled for reducing the risk of disability.

Beading plot: a novel graphics for ranking interventions in network evidence.

BACKGROUND: Network meta-analysis is developed to compare all available treatments; therefore it enriches evidence for clinical decision-making, offering insights into treatment effectiveness and safety when faced with multiple options. However, the complexity and numerous treatment comparisons in network meta-analysis can challenge healthcare providers and patients. The purpose of this study aimed to introduce a graphic design to present complex rankings of multiple interventions comprehensively. METHODS: Our team members developed a "beading plot" to summary probability of achieving the best treatment (P-best) and global metrics including surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) and P-score. Implemented via the "rankinma" R package, this tool summarizes rankings across diverse outcomes in network meta-analyses, and the package received an official release on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN). It includes the `PlotBead()` function for generating beading plots, which represent treatment rankings among various outcomes. RESULTS: Beading plot has been designed based on number line plot, which effectively displays collective metrics for each treatment across various outcomes. Order on the -axis is derived from ranking metrics like P-best, SUCRA, and P-score. Continuous lines represent outcomes, and color-coded beads signify treatments. CONCLUSION: The beading plot is a valuable graphic that intuitively displays treatment rankings across diverse outcomes, enhancing reader-friendliness and aiding decision-making in complex network evidence scenarios. While empowering clinicians and patients to identify optimal treatments, it should be used cautiously, alongside an assessment of the overall evidence certainty.

The effect of air pollutants on COPD-hospitalized patients in Lanzhou, China (2015-2019).

Background: Lanzhou is the largest heavy industrial city in northwest China and it is a typical geographical valley-like city. However, there are few studies on the relationship between air pollutants and COPD, and their respective sample sizes are small, resulting in inconsistent results. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of air pollutants on COPD hospitalizations in Lanzhou, China. Methods: An ecological time series study with distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used for analysis. Daily COPD hospitalization data in Lanzhou from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019 were collected from 25 hospitals, as well as air pollutant data and meteorological data. Results: A total of 18,275 COPD hospitalizations were enrolled. For 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and 1 mg/m3 increase in CO at lag 07 day, the RR95%CI of COPD hospitalizations were 1.048 (1.030, 1.067), 1.008 (1.004, 1.013), 1.091 (1.048, 1.135), 1.043 (1.018, 1.068), and 1.160 (1.084, 1.242), respectively. The exposure-response curves between air pollutants (except O3-8h) and COPD hospitalizations were approximately linear with no thresholds. Female, and the harmful effect of PM on aged <65 years, the effect of gaseous pollutant on those aged ≥65 years, were stronger, particularly in the cold season. Exposure to air pollutants (except O3-8h) might increase the risk of COPD hospitalizations. O3-8h has a weak and unstable effect on COPD. Conclusion: Exposure to air pollutants (except O3-8h) increases the risk of COPD hospitalizations. O3-8h has a weak and unstable effect on COPD hospital admissions. The harmful effect of gaseous pollutants (except O3-8h) on COPD-hospitalized patients was stronger than that of PM.

Impact of Isoniazid Monoresistance on Overall and Vulnerable Patient Populations in Taiwan.

AbstractIsoniazid is an early bactericidal anti-tuberculosis (TB) agent and isoniazid mono-resistance TB is the most prevalent drug-resistant TB worldwide. Concerns exist regarding whether resistance to isoniazid would lead to delayed culture conversion and worst outcomes. From January 2008 to November 2017, adult culture-positive pulmonary TB patients receiving isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol were identified through Taiwan Center for Disease Control database and were followed until the end of 2017. Primary outcomes included time to sputum culture conversion (SCC) within two months. Secondary outcomes included death and unfavorable outcomes at the end of 2nd month. A total of 37,193 drug-susceptible and 2,832 isoniazid monoresistant pulmonary TB patients were identified. Compared with no resistance, isoniazid monoresistance was not associated with a delayed SCC (HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.94─1.05, p = 0.8145), a higher risk of 2-month mortality (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.92─1.53, p = 0.1884), and unfavorable outcomes at 2nd month (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.97─1.14, p = 0.2427). Isoniazid monoresistance was associated with delayed SCC (HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83─0.98, p = 0.0099) and a higher risk of unfavorable outcomes (OR:1.18, 95% CI: 1.05─1.32, p = 0.0053) in patients aged between 20 and 65, and delayed SCC in patients without underlying comorbidities (HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.81─0.98, p = 0.0237). Isoniazid mono-resistant TB had a comparable outcome with drug-susceptible TB at the end of the intensive phase. Healthy, and non-elderly patients were more likely to had culture persistence, raising concerns about disease transmission in these subgroups and warranting early molecular testing for isoniazid resistance.

Early pregnancy SARS-COV-2 infection and fetal cardiac and hemodynamic changes.

AIM: Our objective was to investigate the impact on fetal cardiac function and fetal hemodynamics after recovery from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in early pregnancy. METHODS: A prospective study involving 60 women in pregnancy who had recovered from a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and 20 control wemen was performed. Between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy, women recovering from infection and controls underwent fetal ultrasound evaluation. Ultrasound parameters assessing cardiac function (TAPSE, MAPSE, E/A ratio) and hemodynamics (DV/S, DV-D, DV-A, DV-TAMV, DV-PI, DV-PLI, DV-PVIV) were measured. RESULTS: Based on ultrasound measurements, the median gestation age of the groups recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection (RSI) was 12 (0.5) weeks, while the control group's was 12 (0.7) weeks (p = 0.76). The RSI group and the control group didn't indicate statistically significant differences in ultrasound measurements of cardiac function and hemodynamics (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to our findings, the infection of SARS-CoV-2 in early pregnancy has no substantial influence on fetal cardiac function and fetal hemodynamics in pregnant women. However, the effect on mid-pregnancy to late-pregnancy is not yet known. Future studies will help elucidate the overall impact on fetal cardiac function of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Revealing the hidden RBP-RNA interactions with RNA modification enzyme-based strategies.

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are powerful and versatile regulators in living creatures, playing fundamental roles in organismal development, metabolism, and various diseases by the regulation of gene expression at multiple levels. The requirements of deep research on RBP function have promoted the rapid development of RBP-RNA interplay detection methods. Recently, the detection method of fusing RNA modification enzymes (RME) with RBP of interest has become a hot topic. Here, we reviewed RNA modification enzymes in adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADAR), terminal nucleotidyl transferase (TENT), and activation-induced cytosine deaminase/ApoB mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like (AID/APOBEC) protein family, regarding the biological function, biochemical activity, and substrate specificity originated from enzyme selves, their domains and partner proteins. In addition, we discussed the RME activity screening system, and the RME mutations with engineered enzyme activity. Furthermore, we provided a systematic overview of the basic principles, advantages, disadvantages, and applications of the RME-based and cross-linking and immunopurification (CLIP)-based RBP target profiling strategies, including targets of RNA-binding proteins identified by editing (TRIBE), RNA tagging, surveying targets by APOBEC-mediated profiling (STAMP), CLIP-seq, and their derivative technology. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Recognition RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification.

Cytomegalovirus results in poor graft function via bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells.

Introduction: Poor graft function (PGF), characterized by myelosuppression, represents a significant challenge following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) being established as a risk factor for PGF. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells (BM-EPCs) play an important role in supporting hematopoiesis and their dysfunction contributes to PGF development. We aim to explore the effects of CMV on BM-EPCs and its underlying mechanism. Methods: We investigated the compromised functionality of EPCs derived from individuals diagnosed with HCMV viremia accompanied by PGF, as well as after infected by HCMV AD 169 strain in vitro, characterized by decreased cell proliferation, tube formation, migration and hematopoietic support, and increased apoptosis and secretion of TGF-ß1. Results: We demonstrated that HCMV-induced TGF-ß1 secretion by BM-EPCs played a dominant role in hematopoiesis suppression in vitro experiment. Moreover, HCMV down-regulates Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and subsequently activates p38 MAPK pathway to promote TGF-ß1 secretion by BM-EPCs. Discussion: HCMV could infect BM-EPCs and lead to their dysfunction. The secretion of TGF-ß1 by BM-EPCs is enhanced by CMV through the activation of p38 MAPK via a VDR-dependent mechanism, ultimately leading to compromised support for hematopoietic progenitors by BM EPCs, which May significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of PGF following allo-HSCT and provide innovative therapeutic strategies targeting PGF.

Prognostic impact of IL7R mutations on acute myeloid leukemia.

Background: Interleukin-7 receptor (IL7R) mutation has been demonstrated to be an adverse prognostic factor in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. However, the effects of the IL7R mutation on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have rarely been reported. Here, we investigated IL7R mutations and their effects on AML patients. Methods: A total of 346 newly diagnosed AML patients from January 2017 to July 2020 at Nanfang Hospital were analyzed in this study. A genomic panel of 167 gene targets was detected by next-generation sequencing. Results: Among 346 patients, 33 (9.5%) AML patients carried IL7R mutations. With a median follow-up of 50.7 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 17.3-62.2), the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 51.5% (95% CI 37.0%-71.0%) and 72.2% (95% CI 67.4%-77.3%; p = 0.008), the 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rates were 36.1% (95% CI 23.2%-57.1%) and 58.1% (95% CI 52.9%-63.8%; p = 0.005), the 5-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) were 21.4% (95% CI 8.5%-38.2%) and 6.2% (95% CI 3.7%-9.5%; p = 0.004) in the IL7R mutant (IL7R MUT ) group and non-IL7R mutant (IL7R WT ) group, respectively. There is no significant difference in the disease-free survival (75.1% vs 73.5%, p = 0.885) and cumulative incidence of relapse (25.7% vs 25.2%, p = 0.933) between IL7R MUT and IL7R WT group. Furthermore, patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) still had more adverse outcomes in the IL7R MUT group than in the IL7R WT group (5-year OS: 61.9% vs 85.3%, p = 0.003). In the TET2 (p = 0.013) and DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A; p = 0.046) mutation subgroups, the presence of IL7R mutations was associated with worse OS than in AML patients without IL7R mutations. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the IL7R mutation is associated with an inferior prognosis for AML patients. Patients with IL7R mutations have higher NRM, shorter OS, and EFS than patients without IL7R mutations, even patients who have undergone HSCT. Future larger and multicentric prospective studies will be explored.

The effects of IL7R mutation on AML patients With the development of NGS, more and more cytogenetic and molecular markers have been found to be associated with prognosis of ALL. IL7R mutation is associated with an inferior prognosis for AML patients. Patients with IL7R mutation have higher NRM, shorter OS and EFS than patients without IL7R mutation, even patients who have undergone HSCT.

Physical and chemical characterization of chitin and chitosan extracted under different treatments from black soldier fly.

The shell of Hermetia illucens L. contains considerable amounts of chitin, which has various biological activities. So far, few studies have focused on chitin of Hermetia illucens L. as a source of chitosan and oligosaccharides. There is great potential for utilizing Hermetia illucens L. chitin to produce chitosan films in biomaterials. We studied different extraction conditions for chitin and extracted it from black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens L.). Three processing steps were adopted: (1) demineralization, (2) deproteinization, and (3) decolorization. The chemical components (moisture, ash, protein, fat, residual protein, and residual mineral contents) and physicochemical characteristics of the chitin and chitosan extracted under these three conditions were determined. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the extracted chitin and commercial samples, and the results showed that demineralization-deproteinization-decolorization treatments could achieve the highest chitin yield (7.18 ± 0.11 %), chitosan yield (64.22 ± 0.79 %), and the best purity (residual protein 0.56 ± 0.01 % and residual ash 0.58 ± 0.04 %), making it the best treatment method. Using this method, the residues produced from farmed BSF can be recycled and used as a new source of chitin.

Anticancer effects of tanshinone IIA in bladder urothelial carcinoma by down-regulating aurora A, HIF-1α and Bcl-2 both in vitro and in vivo.

The mechanisms of the anticancer effect of Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) on Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) remain mostly unknown. In this study, BUC T24 cells were treated with Tan IIA at different concentrations and durations. The apoptosis, proliferation and invasion of T24 cells were evaluated using MTT assays, Annexin V-FITC Staining, Hoechst staining and Trans well assay. One group of T-24 cell xenograft mice was treated with Tan IIA, while the other group received normal saline for 25 days. Subsequently, the size of tumors as well as mRNA and protein expression of Aurora A, HIF-1α and Bcl-2 were measured both in vitro and in vivo. Tan IIA induced apoptosis, inhibited proliferation, suppressed invasion of T24 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner in vitro and attenuated growth in vivo. The decreasing of mRNA and protein expression of Aurora A, HIF-1α and Bcl-2 in T-24 cells treated with Tan IIA were detected in a time- and dose-dependent manner both in vitro and in vivo. The pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative and anti-invasive effects of Tan IIA on T-24 cells may be derived from inhibition of mRNA and protein expression of Aurora A, HIF-1α and Bcl-2. Tan IIA could potentially serve as a novel potential anti-cancer agent for BUC.

Restricting Linker Rotation in Nanocages of ZIF-8 Membranes using Crown Ether "Molecular Locks" for Enhanced Propylene/Propane Separation.

ZIF-8 membranes have long been prized for their exceptional C3H6/C3H8 separation performance. On the other hand, ZIF-8 has structural flexibility, where the external pressure triggers channel expansion, potentially deteriorating the molecular sieving ability. Here, we demonstrate a reliable strategy to fine-tune the flexible pore structure of ZIF-8 by embedding crown ether within a ZIF-8 membrane. Benzo-15-crown-5 (15C5) was selected as the cavity occupant and perfectly confined in the sodalite (SOD) cage of ZIF-8. The 15C5 molecules, which have a size comparable to the nanocage, impose a spatial constraint on linker rotation, enabling the phase transition to a rigid structure in the flexible ZIF-8. The corresponding 15C5@ZIF-8 membranes achieve an ultrahigh C3H6/C3H8 selectivity of 220, outperforming that of most membranes. Unlike their flexible counterparts, the resulting membranes manifest a positive increase in the C3H6/C3H8 separation factor with elevated pressure, securing a record-high C3H6/C3H8 separation factor of 331 under 7 bar. More importantly, extraordinary separation stability was demonstrated with continuous measurement, which is highly desirable for practical applications.

Molecular phylogeny and species diversity of the genus Dichaetophora Duda and related taxa (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

Our intensive surveys of wild drosophilids in East and Southeast Asia discovered a great species diversity (more than 100 putatively new species) of the genus Dichaetophora, which is currently comprised of 67 formally described species assigned into five species groups, i.e., agbo, tenuicauda, acutissima, sinensis and trilobita. In the present study, we delimited species from a huge amount of samples of Dichaetophora and allied taxa (the genus Mulgravea and the subgenus Dudaica of Drosophila) collected from a wide range of the Oriental and east Palearctic regions. We first sorted all specimens into morpho-species, and representative specimen(s) selected from each morpho-species were subjected to barcoding of COI (the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene) sequences. The applied ASAP (Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning) analysis estimated a total of 166 to 168 MOTUs (molecular operational taxonomic units). Integrating this result with morphological evidence from re-examined, detailed structures of male terminalia, we recognized a total of 144 (109 new and 35 known) species in our sample. Out of them, 83 species representing the supraspecific taxa of Dichaetophora, Mulgravea and Dudaica were selected, along with 33 species from major genera and subgenera of Drosophila in the tribe Drosophilini, as in-group and four species from the tribe Colocasiomyini as out-group for phylogenetic reconstruction based on 12 nuclear gene markers. In the trees constructed by the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, the three focal taxa (i.e., Dichaetophora, Mulgravea and Dudaica) formed a clade provisionally called the "pan-Dichaetophora". Within this large clade, the agbo, tenuicauda, sinensis and trilobita groups of Dichaetophora, Mulgravea and Dudaica were recovered as monophyletic groups, but Dichaetophora and its acutissima group were regarded as paraphyletic. In addition, two clusters were recognized among ungrouped species of Dichaetophora. Thus, the present study has uncovered some issues concerning the taxonomy of the pan-Dichaetophora. Such issues will be addressed elsewhere in the phylogenetic reclassification of the pan-Dichaetophora, along with descriptions/redescriptions of a large number of new/known species delimited in the present study.

Radiomics nomogram for predicting chemo-immunotherapy efficiency in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

This study aimed to explore potential radiomics biomarkers in predicting the efficiency of chemo-immunotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Eligible patients were prospectively assigned to receive chemo-immunotherapy, and were divided into a primary cohort (n = 138) and an internal validation cohort (n = 58). Additionally, a separative dataset was used as an external validation cohort (n = 60). Radiomics signatures were extracted and selected from the primary tumor sites from chest CT images. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the independent clinical predictors. Subsequently, a radiomics nomogram model for predicting the efficiency of chemo-immunotherapy was conducted by integrating the selected radiomics signatures and the independent clinical predictors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated that the radiomics model, the clinical model, and the radiomics nomogram model achieved areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78-0.92), 0.76 (95% CI 0.68-0.84), and 0.89 (95% CI 0.84-0.94), respectively, in the primary cohort. In the internal validation cohort, the corresponding AUCs were 0.93 (95% CI 0.86-1.00), 0.79 (95% CI 0.68-0.91), and 0.96 (95% CI 0.90-1.00) respectively. Moreover, in the external validation cohort, the AUCs were 0.84 (95% CI 0.72-0.96), 0.75 (95% CI 0.62-0.87), and 0.86 (95% CI 0.75-0.96), respectively. In conclusion, the radiomics nomogram provides a convenient model for predicting the effect of chemo-immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients.

HN1-mediated activation of lipogenesis through Akt-SREBP signaling promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with more than 800,000 deaths each year, and its 5-year survival rate is less than 12%. The role of the HN1 gene in HCC has remained elusive, despite its upregulation in various cancer types. In our investigation, we identified HN1's heightened expression in HCC tissues, which, upon overexpression, fosters cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, unveiling its role as an oncogene in HCC. In addition, silencing HN1 diminished the viability and metastasis of HCC cells, whereas HN1 overexpression stimulated their growth and invasion. Gene expression profiling revealed HN1 silencing downregulated 379 genes and upregulated 130 genes, and suppressive proteins associated with the lipogenic signaling pathway networks. Notably, suppressing HN1 markedly decreased the expression levels of SREBP1 and SREBP2, whereas elevating HN1 had the converse effect. This dual modulation of HN1 affected lipid formation, hindering it upon HN1 silencing and promoting it upon HN1 overexpression. Moreover, HN1 triggers the Akt pathway, fostering tumorigenesis via SREBP1-mediated lipogenesis and silencing HN1 effectively curbed HCC tumor growth in mouse xenograft models by deactivating SREBP-1, emphasizing the potential of HN1 as a therapeutic target, impacting both external and internal factors, it holds promise as an effective therapeutic strategy for HCC.

Suprathreshold Water Spray Stimulus Enhances Plant Defenses against Biotic Stresses in Tomato.

Mechanical stimuli can affect plant growth, development, and defenses. The role of water spray stimulation, as a prevalent mechanical stimulus in the environment, in crop growth and defense cannot be overlooked. In this study, the effects of water spray on tomato plant growth and defense against the chewing herbivore Helicoverpa armigera and necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea were investigated. Suprathreshold water spray stimulus (LS) was found to enhance tomato plant defenses against pests and pathogens while concurrently modifying plant architecture. The results of the phytohormone and chemical metabolite analysis revealed that LS improved the plant defense response via jasmonic acid (JA) signaling. LS significantly elevated the level of a pivotal defensive metabolite, chlorogenic acid, and reduced the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from tomato plants, thereby defending against pest and pathogen attacks. The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is that LS enhances tomato plant defenses against biotic stresses, which will pave the way for further work on the application of mechanical stimuli for pest management.