Long-term chemical and organic fertilization induces distinct variations of microbial associations but unanimous elevation of soil multifunctionality.

Intricate microbial associations contribute greatly to the multiple functions (multifunctionality) of natural ecosystems. However, the relationship between microbial associations and soil multifunctionality (SMF) in artificial ecosystems, particularly in agricultural ecosystem with frequent fertilization, remains unclear. In this study, based on a 28-year paddy field experiment, high-throughput sequencing and networks analysis was performed to investigate changes in soil microbial (archaea, bacteria, fungi, and protists) associations and how these changes correlate with SMF under long-term fertilization. Compared to no fertilization (CK), both chemical fertilization with N, P, and K (CF) and chemical fertilization plus rice straw retention (CFR) treatments showed significantly higher soil nutrient content, grain yield, microbial abundance, and SMF. With the exception of archaeal diversity, the CF treatment exhibited the lowest bacterial, fungal, and protist diversity, and the simplest microbial co-occurrence network. In contrast, the CFR treatment had the lowest archaeal diversity, but the highest bacterial, fungal, and protist diversity. Moreover, the CFR treatment exhibited the most complex microbial co-occurrence network with the highest number of nodes, edges, and interkingdom edges. These results highlight that both chemical fertilization with and without straw retention caused high ecosystem multifunctionality while changing microbial association oppositely. Furthermore, these results indicate that rice straw retention contributes to the development of the soil microbiome and ensures the sustainability of high-level ecosystem multifunctionality.

Enantioselective Transformations by "1 + x" Synergistic Catalysis with Chiral Primary Amines.

ConspectusSynergistic catalysis is a powerful tool that involves two or more distinctive catalytic systems to activate reaction partners simultaneously, thereby expanding the reactivity space of individual catalysis. As an established catalytic strategy, organocatalysis has found numerous applications in enantioselective transformations under rather mild conditions. Recently, the introduction of other catalytic systems has significantly expanded the reaction space of typical organocatalysis. In this regard, aminocatalysis is a prototypical example of synergistic catalysis. The combination of aminocatalyst and transition metal could be traced back to the early days of organocatalysis and has now been well explored as an enabling catalytic strategy. Particularly, the acid-base properties of aminocatalysis can be significantly expanded to include usually electrophiles generated in situ via metal-catalyzed cycles. Later on, aminocatalyst has also been exploited in synergistically combining with photochemical and electrochemical processes to facilitate redox transformations. However, synergistically combining one type of aminocatalyst with many different catalytic systems remains a great challenge. One of the most daunting challenges is the compatibility of aminocatalysts in coexistence with other catalytic species. As nucleophilic species, aminocatalysts may also bind with metal, which leads to mutual inhibition or even quenching of the individual catalytic activity. In addition, oxidative stability of aminocatalyst is also a non-neglectable issue, which causes difficulties in exploring oxidative enamine transformations.In 2007, we developed a vicinal diamine type of chiral primary aminocatalysts. This class of primary aminocatalysts was developed and evolved as functional and mechanistic mimics to the natural aldolase and has been widely applied in a number of enamine/iminium ion-based transformations. By following a "1 + x" synergistic strategy, the chiral primary amine catalysts were found to work synergistically or cooperatively with a number of transition metal catalysts, such as Pd, Rh, Ag, Co, and Cu, or other organocatalysts, such as B(C6F5)3, ketone, selenium, and iodide. Photocatalysis and electrochemical processes can also be incorporated to work together with the chiral primary amine catalysts. The 1 + x catalytic strategy enabled us to execute unexploited transformations by fine-tuning the acid-base and redox properties of the enamine intermediates and to achieve effective reaction and stereocontrol beyond the reach individually. During these efforts, an unprecedented excited-state chemistry of enamine was uncovered to make possible an effective deracemization process. In this Account, we describe our recent efforts since 2015 in exploring synergistic chiral primary amine catalysis, and the content is categorized according to the type of synergistic partner such that in each section the developed synergistic catalysis, reaction scopes, and mechanistic features are presented and discussed.

EFHD2 regulates T cell receptor signaling and modulates T helper cell activation in early sepsis.

EFHD2 (EF-hand domain family, member D2) has been identified as a calcium-binding protein with immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we characterized the phenotype of Efhd2-deficient mice in sepsis and examined the biological functions of EFHD2 in peripheral T cell activation and T helper (Th) cell differentiation. Increased levels of EFHD2 expression accompanied peripheral CD4+ T cell activation in the early stages of sepsis. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that immune response activation was impaired in Efhd2-deficient CD4+ T cells. Further, Efhd2-deficient CD4+ T cells isolated from the spleen of septic mice showed impaired T cell receptor (TCR)-induced Th differentiation, especially Th1 and Th17 differentiation. In vitro data also showed that Efhd2-deficient CD4+ T cells exhibit impaired Th1 and Th17 differentiation. In the CD4+ T cells and macrophages co-culture model for antigen presentation, the deficiency of Efhd2 in CD4+ T cells resulted in impaired formation of immunological synapses. In addition, Efhd2-deficient CD4+ T cells exhibited reduced levels of phospho-LCK and phospho-ZAP70, and downstream transcription factors including Nfat, Nfκb and Nur77 following TCR engagement. In summary, EFHD2 may promote TCR-mediated T cell activation subsequent Th1 and Th17 differentiation in the early stages of sepsis by regulating the intensity of TCR complex formation.

Quantum nonlinear effect in a dissipatively coupled optomechanical system.

A full-quantum approach is used to study the quantum nonlinear properties of a compound Michelson-Sagnac interferometer optomechanical system. By deriving the effective Hamiltonian, we find that the reduced system exhibits a Kerr nonlinear term with a complex coefficient, entirely induced by the dissipative and dispersive couplings. Unexpectedly, the nonlinearities resulting from the dissipative coupling possess non-Hermitian Hamiltonian-like properties preserving the quantum nature of the dispersive coupling beyond the traditional system dissipation. This protective mechanism allows the system to exhibit strong quantum nonlinear effects when the detuning (the compound cavity detuning Δc and the auxiliary cavity detuning Δe) and the tunneling coupling strength (J) of two cavities satisfy the relation J2 = ΔcΔe. Moreover, the additive effects of dispersive and dissipative couplings can produce strong anti-bunching effects, which exist in both strong and weak coupling conditions. Our work may provide a new way to study and produce strong quantum nonlinear effects in dissipatively coupled optomechanical systems.

Systematic Analysis of the Relationship Between Elevated Zinc and Epilepsy.

Previous studies have indicated a potential relationship between zinc and epilepsy. The aim of this study is to investigate the causal relationship between zinc, zinc-dependent carbonic anhydrase, and gray matter volume in brain regions enriched with zinc and epilepsy, as well as explore the possible mechanisms by which zinc contributes to epilepsy. First, this study assessed the risk causality between zinc, carbonic anhydrase, and gray matter volume alterations in zinc-enriched brain regions and various subtypes of epilepsy based on Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. And then, this study conducted GO/KEGG analysis based on colocalization analysis, MAGMA analysis, lasso regression, random forest model, and XGBoost model. The results of Mendelian randomization analyses showed a causal relationship between zinc, carbonic anhydrase-4, and generalized epilepsy (p = 0.044 , p = 0.010). Additionally, carbonic anhydrase-1 and gray matter volume of the caudate nucleus were found to be associated with epilepsy and focal epilepsy (p = 0.014, p = 0.003 and p = 0.022, p = 0.009). A colocalization relationship was found between epilepsy and focal epilepsy (PP.H4.abf = 97.7e - 2). Meanwhile, the MAGMA analysis indicated that SNPs associated with epilepsy and focal epilepsy were functionally localized to zinc-finger-protein-related genes (p < 1.0e - 5). The genes associated with focal epilepsy were found to have a molecular function of zinc ion binding (FDR = 2.3e - 6). After the onset of epilepsy, the function of the gene whose expression changed in the rats with focal epilepsy was enriched in the biological process of vascular response (FDR = 4.0e - 5). These results revealed mechanism of the increased risk of epilepsy caused by elevated zinc may be related to the increase of zinc ion-dependent carbonic anhydrase or the increase of the volume of zinc-rich caudate gray matter.

A New Method for Ground-Based Optical Polarization Observation of the Moon.

As a natural satellite of the Earth, the moon is a prime target for planetary remote sensing exploration. However, lunar polarization studies are not popular in the planetary science community. Polarimetry of the lunar surface had not been carried out from a spacecraft until the Korean lunar exploration program was initiated. In previous polarization observations of the moon, images of different polarization states were obtained by a rotating linear polarizer. This method is not well suited for future polarization observations from space-based spacecraft. To this end, we present a new kind of polarized observation of the moon using a division of a focal-plane polarization camera and propose a pipeline on the processing method of the polarization observation of the moon. We obtain a map of the degree of white-light polarization on the nearside of the moon through polarization observation, data processing, and correction. The observation and data processing methods presented in this study have the potential to serve as a reference for analyzing polarization observation data from future orbiting spacecraft. These are expected to lead to new discoveries in the fields of astronomy and planetary science.

Hemostatic and antibacterial calcium-copper zeolite gauze for infected wound healing.

The design and development of wound dressings with excellent procoagulant and antibacterial activity to achieve high wound healing effectiveness are highly desirable in clinical applications. In this work, we develop a calcium-copper zeolite gauze (CaCu-ZG) by a two-step process involving calcium and copper ion exchange in a zeolite gauze. The CaCu-ZG exhibits remarkable procoagulant and antibacterial abilities, as well as good biocompatibility. Compared with the medical gauze, the blood clotting time of CaCu-ZG significantly decreases and the antibacterial activity increases in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. The remarkable ability of wound healing has been verified using a mouse dorsal skin-infected wound model, demonstrating its great potential for wound treatment in clinical applications.

Comparing Balloon Dilation to Non-Balloon Dilation for Access in Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided balloon dilation compared to non-balloon dilation for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Results were filtered using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria as described and meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 software. RESULTS: A total of six studies involving 1189 patients who underwent PCNL were included. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that compared to non-balloon dilation, balloon dilation was associated with reduced haemoglobin drop [mean difference (MD) = -0.26, 95% CI = -0.40 ~ -0.12, P = 0.0002], decreased transfusion rate [odds ratio (OR) = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.24 ~ 0.92, P = 0.03], shorter tract establishment time (MD = -1.30, 95% CI = -1.87 ~ -0.72, P < 0.0001) and shorter operation time (MD = -5.23, 95% CI = -10.19 ~ -0.27, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, ultrasound-guided balloon dilatation offered several advantages in PCNL procedures. It facilitated faster access establishment, as evidenced by shorter access creation time. Additionally, it reduced the risk of kidney injury by minimizing postoperative haemoglobin drop and decreasing the need for transfusions. Moreover, it enhanced the efficiency of surgery by reducing the operation time. However, it is important to note that the quality of some included studies was subpar, as they did not adequately control for confounding factors that may affect the outcomes. Therefore, further research is necessary to validate and strengthen these findings.

Comparing Balloon Dilation to Non-Balloon Dilation for Access in Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided balloon dilation compared to non-balloon dilation for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Materials and methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Results were filtered using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria as described and meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 software. Results: A total of six studies involving 1189 patients who underwent PCNL were included. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that compared to non-balloon dilation, balloon dilation was associated with reduced haemoglobin drop [mean difference (MD) = -0.26, 95% CI = -0.40 ~ -0.12, P = 0.0002], decreased transfusion rate [odds ratio (OR) = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.24 ~ 0.92, P = 0.03], shorter tract establishment time (MD = -1.30, 95% CI = -1.87 ~ -0.72, P < 0.0001) and shorter operation time (MD = -5.23, 95% CI = -10.19 ~ -0.27, P = 0.04). Conclusions: Overall, ultrasound-guided balloon dilatation offered several advantages in PCNL procedures. It facilitated faster access establishment, as evidenced by shorter access creation time. Additionally, it reduced the risk of kidney injury by minimizing postoperative haemoglobin drop and decreasing the need for transfusions. Moreover, it enhanced the efficiency of surgery by reducing the operation time. However, it is important to note that the quality of some included studies was subpar, as they did not adequately control for confounding factors that may affect the outcomes. Therefore, further research is necessary to validate and strengthen these findings.

Relationships between the coronary fat attenuation index for patients with heart-related disease measured automatically on coronary computed tomography angiography and coronary adverse events and degree of coronary stenosis.

Background: Pericoronary artery coronary tissue (PACT) is a type of epicardial fat that can reflect the state of the coronary artery (inflammation, etc.). However, it cannot be reasonably and efficiently utilized in routine computed tomography (CT) examination. The aim of this study was to use artificial intelligence (AI) software to analyze coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and measure the coronary perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) of patients. The relationship between FAI and the occurrence of coronary adverse events and the degree of coronary stenosis were further analyzed. Methods: This study involved patients who experienced CCTA in West China Hospital, Sichuan University, from January 2012 to December 2012. These patients were followed up to 2020 and classified according to the occurrence of coronary adverse events and the degree of stenosis of the lumen. For all patients, AI software was used to analyze the CCTA images of patients, and the FAI of 3 coronary arteries, the left anterior descending artery (LAD), the left circumflex artery (LCX), and the right coronary artery (RCA), was measured. Moreover, the relationship between FAI and patients with different degrees of coronary stenosis and adverse coronary events was determined. Results: Comparisons between any 2 groups showed that the differences in the FAI among the 4 groups for the LAD were significant (all P values <0.05). There were no significant differences between the group with less-than-moderate stenosis (Mb) without adverse events and the group with moderate-or-above stenosis (M) with no adverse events for the LCX (P>0.05). For the remaining groups, FAI values exhibited statistically significant differences (P<0.05). According to the degree of lumen stenosis, the patients were divided into groups according to LAD, LCX, and RCA and the sum of the 3 vessels. There were significant differences in coronary FAI among the groups with different degrees of lumen stenosis for the sum of the 3 vessels, the LAD, and the LCX (P<0.05). Conclusions: FAI can reflect the state of the coronary artery, which is related to inflammation of the coronary lumen. Moreover, there is a relationship between FAI and the degree of stenosis in the coronary lumen: the narrower the coronary lumen is, the higher the FAI around the lumen.

Clinical characterization of EFHD2 (swiprosin-1) in Glioma-associated macrophages and its role in regulation of immunosuppression.

Glioblastoma has been extensively studied due to its high mortality and short survival. The evolution mechanism of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to Glioma-associated microglia and macrophages (GAMs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains to be elucidated. The tumor cell-to-cell interaction patterns have not been well defined yet. The EF-Hand Domain Family Member D2 (EFHD2) has been reported to be differentially expressed as an immunomodulatory molecule in a variety of cancers. But large-scale clinical data from multiple ethnic communities have not been used to investigate the role of EFHD2 in glioma. RNA-seq data from 313 or 657 glioma patients from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database and 603 glioma patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were analyzed retrospectively. Cell localization was performed using single-cell sequencing data from the CGGA database and the GSE131928 dataset. Mouse glioma cell lines and primary macrophages isolated from Efhd2 knockout mice were co-cultured to validate the immunomodulatory effects of EFHD2 on macrophages and the remodeling of TME of glioblastoma. EFHD2 is enriched in high-grade gliomas, isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type, and 1p/19q non-co-deficient gliomas. It is a potential biomarker of glioma-proneuronal subtypes and an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with malignant glioblastoma. EFHD2 regulates the monocyte-macrophage system function and positively correlates with immunosuppressive checkpoints. Further experimental data demonstrates that Efhd2 influences the polarization state of GAMs and inhibits the secretion of TGF-ß1. In vitro experiments have revealed that macrophages lacking Efhd2 suppress the vitality of two glioma cell lines and decelerate the growth of glioma xenografts. In conclusion, EFHD2 promises to be a key target for TME-related immunotherapy.

Corrigendum: Curcumin alleviates experimental colitis in mice by suppressing necroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1170637.].

Declaration: Novel SLC3A1 mutation in a cystinuria patient with xanthine stones: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cystinuria and xanthinuria are both rare genetic diseases involving urinary calculi. However, cases combining these two disorders have not yet been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: In this study, we report a case of cystinuria with xanthine stones and hyperuricemia. The 23-year-old male patient was diagnosed with kidney and ureteral stones, solitary functioning kidney and hyperuricemia after admission to the hospital. The stones were removed by surgery and found to be composed of xanthine. CONCLUSION: Genetic testing by next-generation sequencing technology showed that the patient carried the homozygous nonsense mutation c.1113 C> A (p.Tyr371*) in the SLC3A1 gene, which was judged to be a functionally pathogenic variant. Sanger sequencing revealed that the patient's parents carried this heterozygous mutation, which is a pathogenic variant that can cause cystinuria. The 24-h urine metabolism analysis showed that the cystine content was 644 mg (<320 mg/24 h), indicating that the patient had cystinuria, consistent with the genetic test results. This case shows that cystinuria and xanthine stones can occur simultaneously, and provides evidence of a possible connection between the two conditions. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate the potential value of genetic testing using next-generation sequencing to effectively assist in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients with urinary calculi.

The Association of Coronary Fat Attenuation Index Quantified by Automated Software on Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography with Adverse Events in Patients with Less than Moderate Coronary Artery Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the relationship between the coronary FAI on CCTA and coronary adverse events in patients with moderate coronary artery disease based on machine learning. METHODS: A total of 172 patients with coronary artery disease with moderate or lower coronary artery stenosis were included. According to whether the patients had coronary adverse events, the patients were divided into an adverse group and a non-adverse group. The coronary FAI of patients was quantified via machine learning, and significant differences between the two groups were analyzed via t-test. RESULTS: The age difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The group that had adverse reactions was older, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of sex and smoking status. There was no statistical significance in the blood biochemical indexes between the two groups (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference in the FAIs between the two groups (p < 0.05), with the FAI of the defective group being greater than that of the nonperforming group. Taking the age of patients as a covariate, an analysis of covariance showed that after excluding the influence of age, the FAIs between the two groups were still significantly different (p < 0.001).

Catalytic Asymmetric Visible-Light de Mayo Reaction by ZrCl4-Chiral Phosphoric Acid Complex.

Catalytic asymmetric de Mayo reaction was achieved for the first time under visible light using asymmetric binary acid catalysis (ABC) involving zirconium chloride and chiral phosphoric acid (CPA). The chiral zirconium catalysis enables effective reactions over a broad range of 1,3-diketones and alkenes with up to >99% yield and 98% ee. The key chiral zirconium enolate was isolated and characterized to account for the observed catalysis and stereoselectivity.

Multiple system atrophy with oculomotor abnormalities as a prominent manifestation: A case series.

RATIONALE: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a group of adult-onset sporadic neurodegenerative diseases, mainly classified as MSA-C and MSA-P types. Due to the diversity of clinical symptoms, diagnosis faces a significant challenge. In the present case, we report a patient with isolated vertigo as the first presentation and abnormalities of the oculomotor system as the characteristic manifestations. CASE CONCERN: A 64-year-old male had dizziness for 1 year, aggravated for 4 months, with accompanying symptoms of unsteady walking. Physical examination revealed spontaneous nystagmus, abnormal ataxic movements, and a broad basal gait. Video nystagmography revealed saccade intrusions and macrosaccadic oscillations, and opsoclonus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was unremarkable early, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) announced a reduction in the volume of the cerebellum and brainstem. DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis of the possibility of MSA type-C, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and lacunar cerebral infarction was performed. CONCLUSION: Atypical early clinical presentation may lead to delays, and identifying the critical problem through the patient simple clinical status requires long-term clinical experience and various ancillary examination tools.

Optomechanical noise suppression with the optimal squeezing process.

Quantum squeezing-assisted noise suppression is a promising field with wide applications. However, the limit of noise suppression induced by squeezing is still unknown. This paper discusses this issue by studying weak signal detection in an optomechanical system. By solving the system dynamics in the frequency domain, we analyze the output spectrum of the optical signal. The results show that the intensity of the noise depends on many factors, including the degree or direction of squeezing and the choice of the detection scheme. To measure the effectiveness of squeezing and to obtain the optimal squeezing value for a given set of parameters, we define an optimization factor. With the help of this definition, we find the optimal noise suppression scheme, which can only be achieved when the detection direction exactly matches the squeezing direction. The latter is not easy to adjust as it is susceptible to changes in dynamic evolution and sensitive to parameters. In addition, we find that the additional noise reaches a minimum when the cavity (mechanical) dissipation κ(γ) satisfies the relation κ = Nγ, which can be understood as the restrictive relationship between the two dissipation channels induced by the uncertainty relation. Furthermore, by taking into account the noise source of our system, we can realize high-level noise suppression without reducing the input signal, which means that the signal-to-noise ratio can be further improved.

Curcumin alleviates experimental colitis in mice by suppressing necroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells.

Curcumin, the primary bioactive substance in turmeric, exhibits potential therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis. However, its mechanism for regulating necroptosis in colitis has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the effect of curcumin on experimental colitis-induced necroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells was investigated, and its molecular mechanism was further explored. We found that curcumin blocked necroptosis in a dose-dependent manner by inhibiting the phosphorylation of RIP3 and MLKL instead of RIP1 in HT-29 cells. Co-Immunoprecipitation assay showed that curcumin weakened the interaction between RIP1 and RIP3, possibly due to the direct binding of curcumin to RIP3 as suggested by drug affinity responsive target stability analysis. In a classical in vivo model of TNF-α and pan-caspase inhibitor-induced necroptosis in C57BL/6 mice, curcumin potently inhibited systemic inflammatory responses initiated by the necroptosis signaling pathway. Then, using a dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis model in C57BL/6 mice, we found that curcumin inhibited the expression of p-RIP3 in the intestinal epithelium, reduced intestinal epithelial cells loss, improved the function of the intestinal tight junction barrier, and reduced local intestinal inflammation. Collectively, our findings suggest that curcumin is a potent targeted RIP3 inhibitor with anti-necroptotic and anti-inflammatory effects, maintains intestinal barrier function, and effectively alleviates colitis injury.

Androgen Receptor Transcriptionally Inhibits Programmed Death Ligand-1 Expression and Influences Immune Escape in Bladder Cancer.

In multiple clinical trials, immune checkpoint blockade-based immunotherapy has shown significant therapeutic efficacy in bladder cancer (BCa). Sex is closely related to the incidence rate and prognosis of BCa. As one of the sex hormone receptors, the androgen receptor (AR) is a well-known key regulator that promotes the progression of BCa. However, the regulatory mechanism of AR in the immune response of BCa is still unclear. In this study, the expression of AR and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) was negatively correlated in BCa cells, clinical tissues, and tumor data extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma cohort. A human BCa cell line was transfected to alter the expression of AR. The results show that AR negatively regulated PD-L1 expression by directly binding to AR response elements on the PD-L1 promoter region. In addition, AR overexpression in BCa cells significantly enhanced the antitumor activity of cocultured CD8+ T cells. Injection of anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies into C3H/HeN mice significantly suppressed tumor growth, and stable expression of AR dramatically enhanced the antitumor activity in vivo. In conclusion, this study describes a novel role of AR in regulating the immune response to BCa by targeting PD-L1, thus providing potential therapeutic strategies for immunotherapy in BCa.

Revealing Intermolecular Electronic and Vibronic Coherence with Polarization-Dependent Two-Dimensional Beating Maps.

Two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) has been widely employed as an efficient tool to reveal the impact of intermolecular electronic and/or vibronic quantum coherence on excitation energy transfer in light-harvesting complexes. However, intramolecular vibrational coherence would also contribute to oscillating signals in 2D spectra, along with the intermolecular coherence signals that are directly related to energy transfer. In this work, the possibility of screening the vibrational coherence signals is explored through polarization-dependent 2DES. The all-parallel (AP) and double-crossed (DC) polarization-dependent two-dimensional rephasing spectra (2DRS) are simulated for a minimalist heterodimer model with vibrational coupling. By combining the DC-2DRS and the 2D beating maps, we demonstrate that the population and vibrational coherence signals can be largely suppressed, resulting in highlighted intermolecular electronic and vibronic coherence signals. Moreover, the AP- and DC-2DBMs show rather different patterns at the vibrational frequency, indicating a possible way to identify pure vibrational coherence.