IL-8 from CD248-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts generates cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

Chemotherapy-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presents a substantial barrier to effective care. It is still unclear how cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contribute to NSCLC resistance to chemotherapy. Here, we found that CD248+ CAFs released IL-8 in NSCLC, which, in turn, enhanced the cisplatin (CDDP) IC50 in A549 and NCI-H460 while decreasing the apoptotic percentage of A549 and NCI-H460 in vitro. The CD248+ CAFs-based IL-8 secretion induced NSCLC chemoresistance by stimulating nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and elevating ATP-binding cassette transporter B1 (ABCB1). We also revealed that the CD248+ CAFs-based IL-8 release enhanced cisplatin chemoresistance in NSCLC mouse models in vivo. Relative to wild-type control mice, the CD248 conditional knockout mice exhibited significant reduction of IL-8 secretion, which, in turn, enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin in vivo. In summary, our study identified CD248 activates the NF-κB axis, which, consecutively induces the CAFs-based secretion of IL-8, which promotes NSCLC chemoresistance. This report highlights a potential new approach to enhancing the chemotherapeutic potential of NSCLC-treating cisplatin.

Indole-3-carboxaldehyde alleviates acetaminophen-induced liver injury via inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) occurs frequently and can be life-threatening. Increasing researches suggest that acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is a leading cause of drug-induced liver injury. Indole-3-carboxaldehyde (I3A) alleviates hepatic inflammation, fibrosis and atherosclerosis, suggesting a potential role in different disease development. However, the question of whether and how I3A protects against acetaminophen-induced liver injury remains unanswered. In this study, we demonstrated that I3A treatment effectively mitigates acetaminophen-induced liver injury. Serum alanine/aspartate aminotransferases (ALT/AST), liver malondialdehyde (MDA) activity, liver glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels confirmed the protective effect of I3A against APAP-induced liver injury. Liver histological examination provided further evidence of I3A-induced protection. Mechanistically, I3A reduced the expression of apoptosis-related factors and oxidative stress, alleviating disease symptoms. Finally, I3A treatment improved survival in mice receiving a lethal dose of APAP. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that I3A modulates hepatotoxicity and can be used as a potential therapeutic agent for DILI.

A High-Performance N2-Selective MXene Membrane with Double Selectivity Mechanism for N2/CH4 Separation.

Membrane-based separation process for unconventional natural gas purification (mainly N2/CH4 separation) has attracted more attention due to its considerable economic benefits. However, the majority of separation membranes at this stage, particularly N2-selective membranes, achieve the desired separation target by mainly relying on the diffusivity-selectivity mechanism. To overcome the limitation of a single mechanism, 2D lamellar MXene membranes with a double selectivity mechanism are prepared to enhance N2 permeance and N2/CH4 selectivity via introducing unsaturated metal sites into MXene, which can form specific interactions with N2 molecules and enhance N2 permeation. The resulting membranes exhibit an inspiring N2/CH4 separation performance with an N2 permeance of 344 GPU and N2/CH4 selectivity of 13.76. The collaboration of the double selectivity mechanism provides a new idea for the development of a novel N2-selective membrane for N2 removal and CH4 purification, which further broadens the application prospects of membrane separation technology in the field of unconventional natural gas purification.

HGF Secreted by Menstrual Blood-Derived Endometrial Stem Cells Ameliorates Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Through Downregulation of Hepatic Rnf186.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated to protect against fatty liver diseases, but the mechanism is still not clear. Menstrual blood-derived endometrial stem cells (MenSCs) are a substantial population of MSCs that can be obtained in a noninvasive manner. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of MenSC transplantation in mouse models of diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The results revealed that MenSCs markedly promoted hepatic glycogen storage and attenuated lipid accumulation after transplantation. We further identified Rnf186 as a novel regulator involved in MenSC-based therapy for NAFLD mice. Rnf186 deficiency substantially inhibited high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance and abnormal hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in mice. Mechanistically, Rnf186 regulated glucose and lipid metabolism through the AMPK-mTOR pathway. More importantly, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is identified as the key functional cytokine secreted by MenSCs and decreases the expression of hepatic Rnf186. HGF deficient MenSCs cannot attenuate glucose and lipid accumulation after transplantation in NAFLD mice. Collectively, our results provide preliminary evidence for the protective roles of HGF secreted by MenSCs in fatty liver diseases through downregulation of hepatic Rnf186 and suggest that MenSCs or Rnf186 may be an alternative therapeutic approach/target for the treatment of NAFLD.

Indole-3-carboxaldehyde ameliorates ionizing radiation-induced hematopoietic injury by enhancing hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell quiescence.

Indole-3-carboxaldehyde (I3A), one of tryptophan metabolites derived from gut microbiota, extends the lifespan of mice after high-dose ionizing radiation exposure. Persistent myelosuppression is the most common and fatal complication for victims of nuclear accidents and patients undergoing radiotherapy, with few therapeutic options available. However, whether and how I3A protects ionizing radiation-induced hematopoietic toxicity remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that I3A treatment effectively ameliorated radiation-induced hematopoietic injury through accelerating peripheral blood cells recovery, promoting bone marrow cellularity restoration and enhancing functional HSPC regeneration. Additionally, I3A also suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species production and inhibited apoptosis in irradiated HSPCs. Mechanistically, I3A treatment significantly increased HSPC quiescence, thus conferring HSPCs with resistance against radiation injury. Finally, I3A treatment could improve survival of lethally irradiated mice. Taken together, our data suggest that I3A acts as a gut microbiota-derived paracrine factor that regulates HSPC regeneration and may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for ionizing radiation-induced myelosuppression.

Integrated Untargeted Metabolome, Full-Length Sequencing and Transcriptome Analyses Reveal the Mechanism of Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) Fruit.

As a highly economic berry fruit crop, blueberry is enjoyed by most people and has various potential health benefits, many of which are attributed to the relatively high concentrations of flavonoids. To obtain more accurate and comprehensive transcripts, the full-length transcriptome of half-highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum/angustifolium cultivar Northland) obtained using single molecule real-time and next-generation sequencing technologies was reported for the first time. Overall, 147,569 consensus transcripts (average length, 2738 bp; N50, 3176 bp) were obtained. After quality control steps, 63,425 high-quality isoforms were obtained and 5030 novel genes, 3002 long non-coding RNAs, 3946 transcription factor genes (TFs), 30,540 alternative splicing events, and 2285 fusion gene pairs were identified. To better explore the molecular mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in mature blueberry fruit, an integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome was performed on the exocarp, sarcocarp, and seed. A relatively complete biosynthesis pathway map of phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and proanthocyanins in blueberry was constructed. The results of the joint analysis showed that the 228 functional genes and 42 TFs regulated 78 differentially expressed metabolites within the biosynthesis pathway of phenylpropanoids/flavonoids. O2PLS analysis results showed that the key metabolites differentially accumulated in blueberry fruit tissues were albireodelphin, delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside, delphinidin 3-O-rutinoside, and delphinidin 3-O-sophoroside, and 10 structural genes (4 Vc4CLs, 3 VcBZ1s, 1 VcUGT75C1, 1 VcAT, and 1 VcUGAT), 4 transporter genes (1 VcGSTF and 3 VcMATEs), and 10 TFs (1 VcMYB, 2 VcbHLHs, 4 VcWD40s, and 3 VcNACs) exhibited strong correlations with 4 delphinidin glycosides. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of flavonoid biosynthesis and accumulation in blueberry fruit.

Effects of flunarizine combined with ginkgo leaf extract and dipyridamole injection on hemorheology in elderly patients with vertigo.

Objective: To investigate the effect of flunarizine combined with ginkgo leaf extract and dipyridamole injection (GDI) on hemorheology of elderly patients with vertigo. Methods: Clinical data of 105 elderly patients with vertigo who were treated in The First People's Hospital of Lin'an District from June 2019 to December 2022 were retrospectively selected. Of them, 54 patients received flunarizine combined with GDI (Study group) while 51 patients received flunarizine treatment alone (Control group). The treatment effect and adverse reactions of the two groups, functional rehabilitation before and after treatment, including the Simplified Vertigo Symptom Score Scale (VSS-SF), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) were measured. Hemodynamics including blood flow velocity (Vm) of basilar artery (BA), left vertebral artery (LVA), and right vertebral artery (RVA) before and after treatment were also assessed. Results: The total efficacy of the treatment in the study group was higher than that in the control group (94.4 % vs. 75.9%; P<0.05). After the treatment, the Vm of the BA, LVA, and RVA was increased in both groups compared to before treatment, and the increase was greater in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). In addition, the BBS scores of the two groups after the treatment were higher than before the treatment, while the DHI and VSS-SF scores were lower than before the treatment. BBS scores of the study group were higher than those of the control group, while the DHI and VSS-SF scores were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the study group (5.6%) and the control group (2.0%; P>0.05). Conclusions: The combination of flunarizine and GDI in elderly patients with vertigo can effectively regulate hemodynamics of the patient, reduce the degree of vertigo, improve balance, and have a significant overall therapeutic effect without increasing the risk of adverse reactions.

Designing Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Membranes for Isomer Separation.

Membrane-based separation has the merit of low carbon footprint. In this study, the pore size of metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes is rationally designed for discriminating various pairs of hydrocarbon isomers. Specifically, Zr-MOF UiO-66 (UiO stands for University of Oslo) membranes are developed for separating p/o-xylene due to their proper pore size. For n-hexane/2-methylpentane separation, the functional groups and proportion of the ligands in UiO-66 are gradually adjusted to effectively regulate the pore size, and UiO-66-33Br membranes are constructed. In addition, relying on the utilization of ligands with shorter length, MOF-801 membranes with smaller pore size are fabricated for n/i-butane separation.

Discovery of a potent inhibitor targeting the cap-binding domain of the PB2 subunit of influenza RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Influenza pandemics have emerged as a significant global public health and security concern. PB2, a crucial subunit of the influenza RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), has been identified as a promising target for influenza treatment. We herein report the discovery of a potent novel PB2 inhibitor, 7-51A, with a KD value of 1.64 nM as determined by ITC. The high activity of 7-51A was elucidated by the co-crystal structure of the PB2-7-51A complex, and comparative analysis revealed unique interactions that had never been observed before. The preliminary pharmacological evaluation indicated that 7-51A exhibited commendable cellular safety, hepatic microsomal metabolic safety and stability. Collectively, 7-51A was found to be an effective PB2 inhibitor and could be used as a lead compound for further studies.

Deciphering the genetic basis of resistance to soybean cyst nematode combining IBD and association mapping.

KEY MESSAGE: IBD analysis clarified the dynamics of chromosomal recombination during the ZP pedigree breeding process and identified ten genomic regions resistant to SCN race3 combining association mapping. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) is one of the most devastating pathogens for soybean production worldwide. The cultivar Zhongpin03-5373 (ZP), derived from SCN-resistant progenitor parents, Peking, PI 437654 and Huipizhi Heidou, is an elite line with high resistance to SCN race3. In the current study, a pedigree variation map was generated for ZP and its ten progenitors using 3,025,264 high-quality SNPs identified from an average of 16.2 × re-sequencing for each genome. Through identity by decent (IBD) tracking, we showed the dynamic change of genome and detected important IBD fragments, which revealed the comprehensively artificial selection of important traits during ZP breeding process. A total of 2,353 IBD fragments related to SCN resistance including SCN-resistant genes rhg1, rhg4 and NSFRAN07 were identified based on the resistant-related genetic paths. Moreover, 23 genomic regions underlying resistance to SCN race3 were identified by genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 481 re-sequenced cultivated soybeans. Ten common loci were found by both IBD tracking and GWAS analysis. Haplotype analysis of 16 potential candidate genes suggested a causative SNP (C/T, - 1065) located in the promoter of Glyma.08G096500 and encoding a predicted TIFY5b-related protein on chr8 was highly correlated with SCN race3 resistance. Our results more thoroughly elucidated the dynamics of genomic fragments during ZP pedigree breeding and the genetic basis of SCN resistance, which will provide useful information for gene cloning and the development of resistant soybean cultivars using a marker-assisted selection approach.

Interpreting Highly Variable Indoor PM2.5 in Rural North China Using Machine Learning.

Household air pollution associated with solid fuel use is a long-standing public concern. The global population mainly using solid fuels for cooking remains large. Besides cooking, large amounts of coal and biomass fuels are burned for space heating during cold seasons in many regions. In this study, a wintertime multiple-region field campaign was carried out in north China to evaluate indoor PM2.5 variations. With hourly resolved data from ∼1600 households, key influencing factors of indoor PM2.5 were identified from a machine learning approach, and a random forest regression (RFR) model was further developed to quantitatively assess the impacts of household energy transition on indoor PM2.5. The indoor PM2.5 concentration averaged at 120 µg/m3 but ranged from 16 to ∼400 µg/m3. Indoor PM2.5 was ∼60% lower in families using clean heating approaches compared to those burning traditional coal or biomass fuels. The RFR model had a good performance (R2 = 0.85), and the interpretation was consistent with the field observation. A transition to clean coals or biomass pellets can reduce indoor PM2.5 by 20%, and further switching to clean modern energies would reduce it an additional 30%, suggesting many significant benefits in promoting clean transitions in household heating activities.

Identification of Factors Determining Household PM2.5 Variations at Regional Scale and Their Implications for Pollution Mitigation.

Indoor PM2.5, particulate matter no more than 2.5 µm in aerodynamic equivalent diameter, has very high spatiotemporal variabilities; and exploring the key factors influencing the variabilities is critical for purifying air and protecting human health. Here, we conducted a longer-term field monitoring campaign using low-cost sensors and evaluated inter- and intra-household PM2.5 variations in rural areas where energy or stove stacking is common. Household PM2.5 varied largely across different homes but also within households. Using generalized linear models and dominance analysis, we estimated that outdoor PM2.5 explained 19% of the intrahousehold variation in indoor daily PM2.5, whereas factors like the outdoor temperature and indoor-outdoor temperature difference that was associated with energy use directly or indirectly, explained 26% of the temporal variation. Inter-household variation was lower than intrahousehold variation. The inter-household variation was strongly associated with distinct internal sources, with energy-use-associated factors explaining 35% of the variation. The statistical source apportionment model estimated that solid fuel burning for heating contributed an average of 31%-55% of PM2.5 annually, whereas the contribution of sources originating from the outdoors was ≤10%. By replacing raw biomass or coal with biomass pellets in gasifier burners for heating, indoor PM2.5 could be significantly reduced and indoor temperature substantially increased, providing thermal comforts in addition to improved air quality.

Identification of an important QTL for seed oil content in soybean.

Seed oil content is one of the most important quantitative traits in soybean (Glycine max) breeding. Here, we constructed a high-density single nucleotide polymorphism linkage map using two genetically similar parents, Heinong 84 and Kenfeng 17, that differ dramatically in their seed oil contents, and performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of seed oil content in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from their cross. We detected five QTL related to seed oil content distributed on five chromosomes. The QTL for seed oil content explained over 10% of the phenotypic variation over two years. This QTL was mapped to an interval containing 20 candidate genes, including a previously reported gene, soybean RING Finger 1a (RNF1a) encoding an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Notably, two short sequences were inserted in the GmRNF1a coding region of KF 17 compared to that of HN 84, resulting in a longer protein variant in KF 17. Our results thus provide information for uncovering the genetic mechanisms determining seed oil content in soybean, as well as identifying an additional QTL and highlighting GmRNF1a as candidate gene for modulating seed oil content in soybean. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-023-01384-2.

A Study on the Gas/Humidity Sensitivity of the High-Frequency SAW CO Gas Sensor Based on Noble-Metal-Modified Metal Oxide Film.

In order to improve the response characteristics of the surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor to trace gases, a SAW CO gas sensor based on a Pd-Pt/SnO2/Al2O3 film with a high-frequency response performance is proposed in this paper. The gas sensitivity and humidity sensitivity of trace CO gas are tested and analyzed under normal temperatures and pressures. The research results show that, compared with the frequency response of the Pd-Pt/SnO2 film, the CO gas sensor based on a Pd-Pt/SnO2/Al2O3 film has a higher frequency response performance, and the sensor has high-frequency response characteristics to CO gas with a concentration in the range of 10-100 ppm. The average response recovery time of 90% ranges from 33.4 s to 37.2 s, respectively. When the CO gas with a concentration of 30 ppm is tested repeatedly, its frequency fluctuation is less than 5%, indicating that the sensor has good stability. In the range of relative humidity (RH) from 25% to 75%, it also has high-frequency response characteristics for CO gas with a 20 ppm concentration.

Construction of N-Ferrocene Substituted Benzodihydrooxazoles via a Catalyst-Free Aza-Michael Addition/C(sp3)-O Bond Formation Tandem Reaction.

A catalyst-free aza-Michael addition/C(sp3)-O bond formation tandem reaction of substituted amino ferrocenes with quinone esters was developed, which provided a green and efficient strategy for the construction of a C(sp3)-O bond from C(sp3)-H, and a series of N-ferrocene-substituted benzodihydrooxazoles were smoothly produced in moderate to excellent yields (up to >99% yield). The mechanism experiments showed that quinone esters performed as both substrate and oxidant. The salient features of this transformation include good functional group tolerance, broad substrate scope and mild conditions.

Whole-exome sequencing identified novel variants in CPLANE1 that causes oral-facial-digital syndrome â ¥ by inducing primary cilia abnormality.

Oral-facial-digital syndrome (OFDS) is a multisystemic ciliopathic disorder with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. OFDS usually manifests with typical craniofacial anomalies and variable occurrence of polydactyly. Germline variants in CPLANE1 cause OFDS VI. In this study, we investigated a 26-year-old Chinese female patient who was 23+1  weeks pregnant. She had a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes with multiple foetal malformations. We performed ultrasonography and identified the foetus as having a posterior fossa Blake cyst and postaxial polydactyly. The patient decided to terminate her pregnancy, and further genetic molecular analysis was performed. We identified the aborted foetus as having postaxial polydactyly. Whole-exome sequencing identified a missense variant (c.3599C>T, p.A1200V) in exon 20 and a c.834+1G>T variant in exon 7 of CPLANE1 (NM_023073.3) in the foetus. Sanger sequencing confirmed that these variants came from the parents of the foetus. In this study, we investigated a family with OFDS VI through genetic testing and bioinformatics analysis, which provided powerful help for prenatal diagnosis. Then, we demonstrated that the cell migration rate and the number of cilia were decreased after interference with CPLANE1 expression in NIH/3T3 cells. After CPLANE1 knockdown, the Hh signalling pathway was inhibited, and the Hh pathway activator SAG reversed the inhibitory effect. This is the first report of a family with OFDS VI in the Chinese population.

The U-Net-based phase-only CGH using the two-dimensional phase grating.

In this paper, the phase-only holograms with clear first diffraction orders have been generated based on the U-Net and the two-dimensional phase grating. Firstly, we proved the modulation effect of two-dimensional phase grating on diffraction field, and came to a conclusion that it could move the diffraction pattern of the hologram to the odd-numbered diffraction orders' center of that. Then we changed the generation process of phase-only holograms and the training strategy for U-Net according to this conclusion, which converted the optimization target of the U-Net from the zeroth diffraction order in the center of diffraction field to the first diffraction order in the edge of that. And we also used a method called "phase recombination" to improve the structure of U-Net for less memory footprint and faster generating speed. Finally, the holograms with the 4K resolution have been generated in 0.05s, and the average peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) of the reconstructed images is about 37.2 dB in DIV2K-valid-HR dataset.

Phase-only hologram generated by a convolutional neural network trained using low-frequency mixed noise.

A phase-only hologram generated through the convolution neutral network (CNN) which is trained by the low-frequency mixed noise (LFMN) is proposed. Compared with CNN based computer-generated holograms, the proposed training dataset named LFMN includes different kinds of noise images after low-frequency processing. This dataset was used to replace the real images used in the conventional hologram to train CNN in a simple and flexible approach. The results revealed that the proposed method could generate a hologram of 2160 × 3840 pixels at a speed of 0.094 s/frame on the DIV2K valid dataset, and the average peak signal-to-noise ratio of the reconstruction was approximately 29.2 dB. The results of optical experiments validated the theoretical prediction. The reconstructed images obtained using the proposed method exhibited higher quality than those obtained using the conventional methods. Furthermore, the proposed method considerably mitigated artifacts of the reconstructed images.

Pathogenicity and genome-wide sequence analysis reveals relationships between soybean mosaic virus strains.

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is the most prevalent viral pathogen in soybean. In China, the SMV strains SC and N are used simultaneously in SMV resistance assessments of soybean cultivars, but the pathogenic relationship between them is unclear. In this study, SMV strains N1 and N3 were found to be the most closely related to SC18. Moreover, N3 was found to be more virulent than N1. A global pathotype classification revealed the highest level of genetic diversity in China. The N3 type was the most frequent and widespread worldwide, implying that SMV possibly originated in China and spread across continents through the dissemination of infected soybean. It also suggests that the enhanced virulence of N3 facilitated its spread and adaptability in diverse geographical and ecological regions worldwide. Phylogenetic analysis revealed prominent geographical associations among SMV strains/isolates, and genomic nucleotide diversity analysis and neutrality tests demonstrated that the whole SMV genome is under negative selection, with the P1 gene being under the greatest selection pressure. The results of this study will facilitate the nationwide use of SMV-resistant soybean germplasm and could provide useful insights into the molecular variability, geographical distribution, phylogenetic relationships, and evolutionary history of SMV around the world.

Water and Metal-Organic Frameworks: From Interaction toward Utilization.

The steep stepwise uptake of water vapor and easy release at low relative pressures and moderate temperatures together with high working capacities make metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) attractive, promising materials for energy efficient applications in adsorption devices for humidity control (evaporation and condensation processes) and heat reallocation (heating and cooling) by utilizing water as benign sorptive and low-grade renewable or waste heat. Emerging MOF-based process applications covered are desiccation, heat pumps/chillers, water harvesting, air conditioning, and desalination. Governing parameters of the intrinsic sorption properties and stability under humid conditions and cyclic operation are identified. Transport of mass and heat in MOF structures, at least as important, is still an underexposed topic. Essential engineering elements of operation and implementation are presented. An update on stability of MOFs in water vapor and liquid systems is provided, and a suite of 18 MOFs are identified for selective use in heat pumps and chillers, while several can be used for air conditioning, water harvesting, and desalination. Most applications with MOFs are still in an exploratory state. An outlook is given for further R&D to realize these applications, providing essential kinetic parameters, performing smart engineering in the design of systems, and conceptual process designs to benchmark them against existing technologies. A concerted effort bridging chemistry, materials science, and engineering is required.