Two three-dimensional coordination polymers as fluorescence probes for the detection of nitrobenzene, tetracycline, fluazinam and their application in green pepper.

Two coordination polymers (CPs), [Zn5(L)2(phen)5](1) and [Cd2(HL)(2,2-bpy)(H2O)3](2), were synthesized by using 2',3,3',5,5'-Diphenyl ether pentacarboxylic acid (H5L), phenanthroline (phen), and 2,2'-bipyridine (2,2'-bpy) under hydrothermal conditions. The L5- ligand adopts the µ6-к2: к2: к1: к1: к1: к1 mode in 1 and the µ5-к2: к2: к2: к2: к1 mode in 2. Sensing experiments show that 1 and 2 are fluorescence probes with high sensitivity and rapid detection of nitro explosives, antibiotics, and pesticides. In order to verify the ability of 2 to detect FLU in actual samples, we performed a spiked recovery experiment in green pepper water. The spiked recoveries were 97.77-101.18 %. Interestingly, because H5L is not completely deprotonated in 2, there is abundant hydrogen bonding, which makes the fluorescence quenching rate higher and the detection limit lower. The possible fluorescence quenching mechanism of 1 and 2 can be explained by their UV-VIS absorption spectra and orbital energy levels.

Environmental RNA metabarcoding for ballast water microbial diversity: Minimizing false positives.

While maritime transport boosts global trade by shipping bulk goods, it raises concerns about the spread of harmful bacteria via ballast water. Moreover, the dark and cold environments of ballast tanks often harbor extracellular DNA from dead organisms, leading to false positives in traditional environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding analyses. Here, we alternatively employed environmental RNA (eRNA) metabarcoding to assess its potential for reducing false positive in ballast water monitoring. We collected eDNA and eRNA in parallel from ballast water before and after disinfection in three vessels. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V4-V5 regions and cDNA counterparts was conducted to compare bacterial community composition. Our findings showed that over 80 % of the top 150 abundant amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were detected by both eRNA and eDNA metabarcoding. Samples sequenced separately using DNA and RNA consistently clustered together, indicating similar community recovery efficacy. However, 42 % of ASVs were detected exclusively in DNA, resulting in significantly higher bacterial diversity compared to RNA, which suggests false positives in the DNA method. In treated samples with higher dead cell counts, the RNA method showed significantly lower bacterial diversity, indicating its effectiveness in detecting live bacteria. In summary, eRNA metabarcoding offers comparable recovery efficiency while maintaining a lower false-positive rate than eDNA metabarcoding.

Genome-wide analysis of Triticum aestivum bromodomain gene family and expression analysis under salt stress.

MAIN CONCLUSION: This study identified 82 wheat BRD genes, revealing both conserved evolutionary and functional characteristics across plant species and novel features specific to wheat. GTE8-12 cluster TaBRDs were found as positive response to salt stress. Bromodomain-containing proteins (BRDs) are crucial in histone acetylation "reading" and chromatin remodeling in eukaryotes. Despite some of their members showing importance in various biological processes in plants, our understanding of the BRD family in wheat (Triticum aestivum) remains limited. This study comprehensively analyzes the T. aestivum BRD (TaBRD) family. We identified 82 TaBRD genes in wheat genome encoding hydrophobic proteins with a conserved pocket structure. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into 16 distinct clusters, with conserved protein motifs and gene structures within clusters but diverse patterns across clusters. Gene duplication analysis revealed that whole-genome or segmental duplication events were the primary expansion mechanism for the TaBRD family, with purifying selection acting on these genes. Subcellular localization and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses indicated that TaBRD proteins are predominantly nuclear-localized and involved in transcription regulation and RNA metabolism. Promoter analysis and interaction network prediction suggested diverse regulatory mechanisms for TaBRDs. Notably, TaBRDs from the GTE8-12 cluster were enriched with cis-elements responsive to abscisic acid (ABA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and light, implying their involvement in physiological functions and abiotic stress responses. Expression analysis confirmed tissue-specific patterns and responsiveness to salinity stress. This comprehensive study enhances our understanding of the BRD family in higher plants and provides a foundation for developing salt-tolerant wheat varieties.

Machine learning models to predict 30-day mortality for critical patients with myocardial infarction: a retrospective analysis from MIMIC-IV database.

Background: The identification of efficient predictors for short-term mortality among patients with myocardial infarction (MI) in coronary care units (CCU) remains a challenge. This study seeks to investigate the potential of machine learning (ML) to improve risk prediction and develop a predictive model specifically tailored for 30-day mortality in critical MI patients. Method: This study focused on MI patients extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV database. The patient cohort was randomly stratified into derivation (n = 1,389, 70%) and validation (n = 595, 30%) groups. Independent risk factors were identified through eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and random decision forest (RDF) methodologies. Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to construct predictive models. The discrimination, calibration and clinical utility were assessed utilizing metrics such as receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration plot and decision curve analysis (DCA). Result: A total of 1,984 patients were identified (mean [SD] age, 69.4 [13.0] years; 659 [33.2%] female). The predictive performance of the XGBoost and RDF-based models demonstrated similar efficacy. Subsequently, a 30-day mortality prediction algorithm was developed using the same selected variables, and a regression model was visually represented through a nomogram. In the validation group, the nomogram (Area Under the Curve [AUC]: 0.835, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: [0.774-0.897]) exhibited superior discriminative capability for 30-day mortality compared to the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score [AUC: 0.735, 95% CI: (0.662-0.809)]. The nomogram (Accuracy: 0.914) and the SOFA score (Accuracy: 0.913) demonstrated satisfactory calibration. DCA indicated that the nomogram outperformed the SOFA score, providing a net benefit in predicting mortality. Conclusion: The ML-based predictive model demonstrated significant efficacy in forecasting 30-day mortality among MI patients admitted to the CCU. The prognostic factors identified were age, blood urea nitrogen, heart rate, pulse oximetry-derived oxygen saturation, bicarbonate, and metoprolol use. This model serves as a valuable decision-making tool for clinicians.

Integrating UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS, Network pharmacology and experimental validation to reveal the potential mechanism of Kadsuracoccinea roots in Colon Cancer.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Kadsura coccinea roots are a traditional folk medicine used to treat gastrointestinal diseases. In recent years, research on K. coccinea has predominantly focused on the analysis of chemical composition and screening for activity, but there is a scarcity of studies that employ mass spectrometry to analyze Kadsura coccinea roots. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of K. coccinea roots and explore the pharmacological mechanisms with network pharmacology. Cell assay and Western blot analysis were used to verify the pharmacological mechanism of the main compounds in K. coccinea roots. MATERIALS AND METHODS: UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS was used for chemical analysis of K. coccinea roots, and the compounds were identified by employing diagnostic product ions, fragmentation patterns, ChemSpider, and in-house databases. Network pharmacology was employed to estimate the pathways related to pharmacological mechanisms. In addition, MTT assay was conducted to determine the inhibitory activity of colon cancer cell lines, and their apoptotic abilities were evaluated by flow cytometry and Western blot. RESULTS: The UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS identified a total of 54 compounds in K. coccinea roots. The 54 compounds were subjected to network pharmacology analysis, exploring the pharmacological action of the main components of K. coccinea roots. The common targets between the compounds and colon cancer comprised 2009 GO biological process items and 186 KEGG signal pathways. Flow cytometry indicated that treatments with 20 µM of the above-named compounds resulted in an apoptosis rate of 16.6%, 79.7%, and 22.2% in HCT-116 cells, respectively. Meanwhile, Western blot analysis confirmed that the compounds promoted the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 level expression. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrated that K. coccinea roots can treat colon cancer through multiple components, targets, and pathways. This study revealed the effective components and molecular mechanisms of K. coccinea, which were preliminarily verified using in vitro experiments.

Genistein inhibits HIF-1α and attenuates high glucose-induced peritoneal mesothelial-mesenchymal transition and fibrosis via the mTOR/OGT pathway.

Peritoneal fibrosis has been linked to hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) as well as O-linked-N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) in peritoneal dialysis (PD). Genistein, recognized for its HIF-1α inhibitory and antifibrotic effects, presents a potential intervention against peritoneal mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MMT) as well as fibrosis in PD. This study employed human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) together with adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) rats undergoing peritoneal dialysis to explore Genistein's role in high glucose-induced peritoneal MMT and fibrosis. Our findings reveal that Genistein exerts anti-MMT and anti-fibrotic effects by inhibiting HIF-1α in HPMCs under high glucose conditions. Genistein inhibited O-GlcNAcylation status of HIF-1α through the mTOR/O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) pathway, promoting its ubiquitination as well as the subsequent proteasomal degradation. In adenine-induced CKD rats undergoing peritoneal dialysis, Genistein suppressed the mTOR/OGT expression and reduced the abundance of O-GlcNAcylation along with HIF-1α in the peritoneum. Additionally, Genistein protected against increased peritoneal thickness, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, while improving peritoneal function. Based on our results, it could be inferred that Genistein might inhibit the abundance of HIF-1α via the mTOR/OGT pathway, thereby ameliorating MMT as well as fibrosis in PD.

Hybrid multi-criteria decision-making model for assessing perceived significance of 23 potentially modifiable cancer risk factors among senior nursing officers.

BACKGROUND: Potentially modifiable cancer risk factors have been increasingly recognized among the Chinese population. In this study, we aimed to investigate the perceived significance of these risk factors among senior nursing officers, who play a crucial role in providing healthcare services. We also sought to determine senior nursing officers' performance in reducing these risk factors. METHODS: A questionnaire survey regarding 23 potentially modifiable cancer risk factors was conducted in November 2023 with 58 senior nursing officers at Taizhou Hospital in Zhejiang Province, China. The consistent fuzzy preference relation method and importance-performance analysis were used to determine the attribute weights and performance levels. RESULTS: The senior nursing officers considered diabetes, ultraviolet radiation exposure, PM2.5 exposure, excess body weight, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption and secondhand smoking significant. However, performance in reducing secondhand smoking, physical inactivity, excess body weight, PM2.5 exposure, and ultraviolet radiation exposure required improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed hybrid multiple-criteria decision-making model enhances our understanding of the perceived significance of 23 modifiable cancer risk factors and performance in reducing them, which could facilitate improvements in health education efforts.

Temperature variability and influenza incidence in China: Effect modification by ambient fine particulate matter.

This study aims to examine the association between temperature variabilit (TV) exposure and influenza incidence in China, and the modification effect of PM2.5 levels. Data on daily influenza cases, weather conditions, and PM2.5 concentrations were collected from 339 cities across mainland China from 2014 to 2019. TV was computed as the standard deviation of daily maximum and minimum temperatures for the current day and the previous several days (i.e., TV0-1 to TV0-7). A space-time-stratified case-crossover design with conditional Poisson regression was employed. Overall, each 1 °C increase in TV0-6 was linked to 3.3 % (95 % CI: 3.1 %, 3.5 %) rise in influenza incidence, potentially attributing 14.73 % (95 % CI: 14.08 %, 15.37 %) of cases to this exposure. PM2.5 concentration showed substantial modification effect on the association, such that the relative risk (RR) of influenza incidence grew from 1.027 (95 % CI: 1.025, 1.029) to 1.040 (95 % CI: 1.038, 1.042) as PM2.5 levels increased from 15 to 75 µg/m³ . Females and individuals over 65 years old were more susceptible to TV exposure and the PM2.5 modification. Stronger effects were observed during cold season and in North region. The findings highlight the integrating considerations of TV and PM2.5 exposures into public health measures for influenza prevention and control.

Mortality and morbidity risks associated with floods: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Flood disasters are projected to increase in severity, duration, and frequency in the context of climate change, and the risks of mortality and morbidity may increase after floods, which will overwhelm health systems. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to synthesize current epidemiological evidence about the impacts of floods on mortality and morbidity. METHOD: After performing a systematic literature search from 2000 to 2023, we included studies involving human participants, with exposures of floods, and with outcomes of mortality or morbidity. RESULTS: In total, 37 studies were included in evidence syntheses. Meta-analyses yielded an overall relative risk of 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10, 1.46), 1.10 (1.08, 1.13), 1.11 (1.04, 1.20), and 1.38 (1.18, 1.62) for all-cause mortality and morbidities of overall gastrointestinal diseases, diarrhea diseases, and dysentery, respectively. Although meta-analyses were not conducted, evidence from at least three studies consistently supported that exposure to floods was associated with increased risks of malaria and respiratory diseases. The evidence for other outcomes was reported but either limited or uncertain. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that exposure to floods is associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality and morbidities of overall gastrointestinal diseases, diarrhea diseases, dysentery, malaria, and respiratory diseases, while further research is urgently called.

Unprecedented N2O production by nitrate-ammonifying Geobacteraceae with distinctive N2O isotopocule signatures.

Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), driven by nitrate-ammonifying bacteria, is an increasingly appreciated nitrogen-cycling pathway in terrestrial ecosystems. This process reportedly generates nitrous oxide (N2O), a strong greenhouse gas with ozone-depleting effects. However, it remains poorly understood how N2O is produced by environmental nitrate-ammonifiers and how to identify DNRA-derived N2O. In this study, we characterize two novel enzymatic pathways responsible for N2O production in Geobacteraceae strains, which are predominant nitrate-ammonifying bacteria in paddy soils. The first pathway involves a membrane-bound nitrate reductase (Nar) and a hybrid cluster protein complex (Hcp-Hcr) that catalyzes the conversion of NO2- to NO and subsequently to N2O. The second pathway is observed in Nar-deficient bacteria, where the nitrite reductase (NrfA) generates NO, which is then reduced to N2O by Hcp-Hcr. These enzyme combinations are prevalent across the domain Bacteria. Moreover, we observe distinctive isotopocule signatures of DNRA-derived N2O from other established N2O production pathways, especially through the highest 15N-site preference (SP) values (43.0‰-49.9‰) reported so far, indicating a robust means for N2O source partitioning. Our findings demonstrate two novel N2O production pathways in DNRA that can be isotopically distinguished from other pathways.IMPORTANCEStimulation of DNRA is a promising strategy to improve fertilizer efficiency and reduce N2O emission in agriculture soils. This process converts water-leachable NO3- and NO2- into soil-adsorbable NH4+, thereby alleviating nitrogen loss and N2O emission resulting from denitrification. However, several studies have noted that DNRA can also be a source of N2O, contributing to global warming. This contribution is often masked by other N2O generation processes, leading to a limited understanding of DNRA as an N2O source. Our study reveals two widespread yet overlooked N2O production pathways in Geobacteraceae, the predominant DNRA bacteria in paddy soils, along with their distinctive isotopocule signatures. These findings offer novel insights into the role of the DNRA bacteria in N2O production and underscore the significance of N2O isotopocule signatures in microbial N2O source tracking.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one derivatives as antidepressant agents.

A series of novel isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one derivatives were designed and synthesized as antidepressants. Firstly, the serotonin reuptake inhibition of these compounds was tested in vitro, and most of them exhibited activity. Particularly, compounds 9d, 10a, and 10c demonstrated superior inhibitory effects and possibly avoided addiction via the µ-opioid receptor and CCK-B receptor. Secondly, the antidepressant effect of compound 10a was evaluated using chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced mice. The results showed that compound 10a significantly improved CRS-induced depression-like behavior by increasing the neurotransmitters 5-HT in the cortex and THP2 expression in the hippocampus. Thirdly, compound 10a was further investigated and found to enhance CRS-induced hippocampal neuron damage recovery and elevate the expression of synaptic-associated proteins such as BDNF, TrkB, PSD95, and Spinophilin in CRS-induced mice. These findings suggested that novel isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one derivative showed efficacy in treating depression, with compound 10a emerging as a potential lead compound warranting further investigation.

The aquastatin biosynthetic gene cluster encodes a versatile polyketide synthase capable of synthesising heteromeric depsides with diverse alkyl side chains.

Depsides have garnered substantial interest due to the diverse biological activities exhibited by members of this class. Among these are the antibacterial aquastatins, glycosylated heteromeric depsides formed through the condensation of orsellinic acid with corticiolic acid. In this work, we isolated aquastatins and the recently described geministatins, along with several novel aquastatin-related depsides with different alkyl side chains from the fungus Austroacremonium gemini MST-FP2131. The structures were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical degradation. Genome mining and heterologous expression in Aspergillus nidulans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed that aquastatin biosynthesis requires only two genes: a non-reducing polyketide synthase (SAT-KS-AT-PT-ACP-TE) and a glycosyltransferase. We demonstrated that the single polyketide synthase can synthesise an acetyl-primed orsellinic acid and alkylresorcylate with various chain lengths (C14, C16, or C18) by incorporating different long-chain acyl-CoAs as starter units, and then join these as heteromeric depsides. Using chemical degradation, we generated a series of analogues and showed that several aglycone depsides exhibit antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), as well as antifungal and cytotoxic activities. Interestingly, heterologous expression of the aquastatin gene cluster in A. nidulans produced higher levels of geministatins with Δ15,16 and Δ18,19 double bonds, which have superior bioactivities compared to the aquastatins but are only present as minor compounds in the native fungus A. gemini.

Imaging magnetic transition of magnetite to megabar pressures using quantum sensors in diamond anvil cell.

High-pressure diamond anvil cells have been widely used to create novel states of matter. Nevertheless, the lack of universal in-situ magnetic measurement techniques at megabar pressures makes it difficult to understand the underlying physics of materials' behavior at extreme conditions, such as high-temperature superconductivity of hydrides and the formation or destruction of the local magnetic moments in magnetic systems. Here, we break through the limitations of pressure on quantum sensors by modulating the uniaxial stress along the nitrogen-vacancy axis and develop the in-situ magnetic detection technique at megabar pressures with high sensitivity ( ~ 1 µ T / Hz ) and sub-microscale spatial resolution. By directly imaging the magnetic field and the evolution of magnetic domains, we observe the macroscopic magnetic transition of Fe3O4 in the megabar pressure range from ferrimagnetic (α-Fe3O4) to weak ferromagnetic (ß-Fe3O4) and finally to paramagnetic (γ-Fe3O4). The scenarios for magnetic changes in Fe3O4 characterized here shed light on the direct magnetic microstructure observation in bulk materials at high pressure and contribute to understanding magnetism evolution in the presence of numerous complex factors such as spin crossover, altered magnetic interactions and structural phase transitions.

Discovery and prioritization of genetic determinants of kidney function in 297,355 individuals from Taiwan and Japan.

Current genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for kidney function lack ancestral diversity, limiting the applicability to broader populations. The East-Asian population is especially under-represented, despite having the highest global burden of end-stage kidney disease. We conducted a meta-analysis of multiple GWASs (n = 244,952) on estimated glomerular filtration rate and a replication dataset (n = 27,058) from Taiwan and Japan. This study identified 111 lead SNPs in 97 genomic risk loci. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that variants associated with F12 gene and a missense mutation in ABCG2 may contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD) through influencing inflammation, coagulation, and urate metabolism pathways. In independent cohorts from Taiwan (n = 25,345) and the United Kingdom (n = 260,245), polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for CKD significantly stratified the risk of CKD (p < 0.0001). Further research is required to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of PRSCKD in the early prevention of kidney disease.

Scientific evidence of acupuncture for post-stroke motor impairment: protocol for an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

INTRODUCTION: Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) of clinical trials showed the efficacy of acupuncture for post-stroke motor impairment. To systematically estimate and synthesise these results, we aimed to conduct an overview of SRs/MAs to summarise the evidence and evaluate the methodological quality regarding the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for post-stroke motor impairment. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a protocol for an overview of SRs/MAs. A literature search will be conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials from the construction of the database to March 2024. SRs/MAs evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture in post-stroke motor impairment patients will be included. Two independent investigators will screen and evaluate related SRs/MAs back-to-back. We will extract data into a predefined form designed to summarise the key characteristics of each study. The evaluation of methodological quality of the included SRs/MAs will be assessed using AMSTAR-2, the PRISMA 2020 checklist and the GRADE grading system. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required for this overview as we will only analyse published literature. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024502006.

Associations between blood nickel and lung function in young Chinese: An observational study combining epidemiology and metabolomics.

Prior research has explored the relationship between occupational exposure to nickel and lung function. Nonetheless, there is limited research examining the correlation between blood nickel levels and lung function among young adults in the general population. The metabolomic changes associated with nickel exposure have not been well elucidated. On August 23, 2019, we enrolled 257 undergraduate participants from the Chinese Undergraduates Cohort to undergo measurements of blood nickel levels and lung function. The follow-up study was conducted in May 2021. A linear mixed-effects model was employed to assess the relationship between blood nickel levels and lung function. We also conducted stratified analyses by home address. In addition, in order to explore the biological mechanism of lung function damage caused by nickel exposure, we performed metabolomic analyses of baseline serum samples (N = 251). Both analysis of variance and mixed linear effect models were utilized to assess the impact of blood nickel exposure on metabolism. Our findings from cross-sectional and cohort analyses revealed a significant association between blood nickel levels and decreased forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) among young adults in the general population. Furthermore, we found stronger associations in urban areas. In metabolomics analysis, a total of nine metabolites were significantly changed under blood nickel exposure. The changed metabolites were mainly enriched in six pathways including carbohydrate, amino acid, and cofactor vitamin metabolism. These metabolic pathways involve inflammation and oxidative stress, indicating that high concentrations of nickel exposure can cause inflammation and oxidative stress by disrupting the above metabolism of the body.

Mirids secrete a TOPLESS targeting protein to enhance JA-mediated defense and gossypol accumulation for antagonizing cotton bollworms on cotton plants.

Most coexisting insect species exhibit stunted growth compared to individual species on plants. This phenomenon reflects an interspecific antagonism drawing extensive attention, while the underlying mechanisms remain largely uncharacterized. Mirids (Apolygus lucorum) and cotton bollworms (Helicoverpa armigera) are two common cotton pests. We identified a secretory protein, ASP1, from the oral secretion of mirids, found in the nucleus of mirid-infested cotton leaves. ASP1 specifically targets the transcriptional co-repressor TOPLESS (TPL) and inhibits NINJA-mediated recruitment of TPL, promoting plant defense response and gossypol accumulation in cotton glands. ASP1-enhanced defense inhibits the growth of cotton bollworms on cotton plants, while having limited impact on mirids. The mesophyll-feeding characteristic allows mirids to avoid most cotton glands, invalidating cotton defense. Our investigation reveals the molecular mechanism by which mirids employ cotton defense to selectively inhibit the feeding of cotton bollworms.

Electroacupuncture reduces inflammatory damage following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion by enhancing ABCA1-mediated efferocytosis in M2 microglia.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a severe cerebrovascular disease with high disability and mortality rates, where the inflammatory response is crucial to its progression and prognosis. Efferocytosis, the prompt removal of dead cells, can reduce excessive inflammation after IS injury. While electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to decrease inflammation post-ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), its link to efferocytosis is unclear. Our research identified ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (Abca1) as a key regulator of the engulfment process of efferocytosis after IS by analyzing public datasets and validating findings in a mouse model, revealing its close ties to IS progression. We demonstrated that EA can reduce neuronal cell death and excessive inflammation caused by I/R. Furthermore, EA treatment increased Abca1 expression, prevented microglia activation, promoted M2 microglia polarization, and enhanced their ability to phagocytose injured neurons in I/R mice. This suggests that EA's modulation of efferocytosis could be a potential mechanism for reducing cerebral I/R injury, making regulators of efferocytosis steps a promising therapeutic target for EA benefits.

Mining expressed sequence tag (EST) microsatellite markers to assess the genetic differentiation of five Hynobius species endemic to Taiwan.

Taiwan harbors five endemic species of salamanders (Hynobius spp.) that inhabit distinct alpine regions, contributing to population fragmentation across isolated "sky islands". With an evolutionary history spanning multiple glacial-interglacial cycles, these species represent an exceptional paradigm for exploring biogeography and speciation. However, a lack of suitable genetic markers applicable across species has limited research efforts. Thus, developing cross-amplifying markers is imperative. Expressed sequence-tag simple-sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) that amplify across divergent lineages are ideal for species identification in instances where phenotypic differentiation is challenging. Here, we report a suite of cross-amplifying EST-SSRs from the transcriptomes of the five Hynobius species that exhibit an interspecies transferability rate of 67.67%. To identify individual markers exhibiting cross-species polymorphism and to assess interspecies genetic diversity, we assayed 140 individuals from the five species across 84 sampling sites. A set of EST-SSRs with a high interspecies polymorphic information content (PIC = 0.63) effectively classified these individuals into five distinct clusters, as supported by discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), STRUCTURE assignment tests, and Neighbor-joining trees. Moreover, pair-wise FST values > 0.15 indicate notable between-cluster genetic divergence. Our set of 20 polymorphic EST-SSRs is suitable for assessing population structure within and among Hynobius species, as well as for long-term monitoring of their genetic composition.

Acid-sensitive photoswitches: towards catalytic on-demand release of stored light energy.

Photochromic compounds are promising for a variety of applications, including molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage. The energy release step and cyclability are critical issues to be addressed for the development of this technology. We report herein the synthesis and characterization of two diarylethene molecules featuring one (1) or two (2) pyridine groups as protonatable moieties. Upon UV irradiation, both molecules undergo a cyclization reaction from the open form (OF) to the closed form (CF). Both CF are stable for a few days in acetonitrile, and the addition of acid leads to a 600 (1) or 1500-fold (2) acceleration of the ring-opening reaction, even in catalytic amounts. A kinetic model is proposed to simulate the reaction, elucidating the contribution of each step to the kinetics and evidencing the importance of the kinetic control over the protonation thermodynamic equilibrium. Data fitting leads to the rates of elementary steps and turnover numbers (TON). Following a complete reaction cycle, neutralization of the acid by an equivalent amount of base allowed further cycles. This study represents a significant advancement in the cyclability and the control of the on-demand triggering of the energy-releasing ring-opening reaction of diarylethenes for future MOST applications.