Kinetically Controlled Synthesis of Quasi-Square CsPbI3 Nanoplatelets with Excellent Stability.

Nanoplatelets (NPLs) share excellent luminescent properties with their symmetric quantum dots counterparts and entail special characters benefiting from the shape, like the thickness-dependent bandgap and anisotropic luminescence. However, perovskite NPLs, especially those based on iodide, suffer from poor spectral and phase stability. Here, stable CsPbI3 NPLs obtained by accelerating the crystallization process in ambient-condition synthesis are reported. By this kinetic control, the rectangular NPLs into quasi-square NPLs are tuned, where enlarged width endows the NPLs with a lower surface-area-to-volume ratio (S/V ratio), leading to lower surficial energy and thus improved endurance against NPL fusion (cause for spectral shift or phase transformation). The accelerated crystallization, denoting the fast nucleation and short period of growth in this report, is enabled by preparing a precursor with complete transformation of PbI2 into intermediates (PbI3 -), through an additional iodide supplier (e.g., zinc iodide). The excellent color stability of the materials remains in the light-emitting diodes under various bias stresses.

Safety and effectiveness of tunneled peripherally inserted central catheters versus conventional PICC in adult cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of tunneled peripherally inserted central catheters (T-PICC) vs. conventional PICCs (C-PICC) in adult cancer patients. METHODS: A multicentre randomized controlled trial was conducted between April 2021 and January 2022 in seven hospitals in China. 564 participants were randomly assigned to T-PICC or C-PICC. These data were collected and compared: the baseline characteristics and catheterization-related characteristics, periprocedural complications, and long-term complications. RESULTS: Five-hundred fifty-three participants (aged, 52.6 ± 12.3 years; female, 39.1%) were ultimately analyzed. No significant differences in periprocedural complications were found between the T-PICC and C-PICC groups (all p > 0.05). Compared with C-PICC, T-PICC significantly reduced the incidence of long-term complications (26.4% vs. 39.9%, p < 0.001). Specifically, reduced complications were found in central line-associated bloodstream infection (1.8% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.04), thrombosis (1.1% vs. 4.0%, p = 0.03), catheter dislodgement (4.7% vs. 10.1%, p = 0.01), non-infectious oozing (17.3% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.002), local infection (3.6% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.04), skin irritation (6.1% vs. 10.9%, p = 0.046), and reduced unplanned catheter removal (2.2% vs. 7.2%, p = 0.005). No significant differences were found between T-PICC and C-PICC regarding catheter occlusion (6.5% vs. 5.8%, p = 0.73) or skin damage (2.2% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.58). CONCLUSION: T-PICC is safe and effectively reduces long-term complications. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The tunneled technique is effective in reducing PICC-related long-term complications. Thus, it is recommended for cancer patients at high risk of PICC-related complications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The registration number on https://www.chictr.org.cn/ is ChiCTR2100044632. The name of the trial registry is "A multicenter randomized controlled study of clinical use of tunneled vs. non-tunneled PICC". KEY POINTS: Cather-related complications are associated with the technique of catheterization. Compared with conventional PICC, tunneled PICC reduced catheter-related long-term complications. Tunneled PICC placement provides an alternative catheterization method for cancer patients.

Rare MED12L Variants Are Associated with Susceptibility to Guttate Psoriasis in the Han Chinese Population.

INTRODUCTION: According to the common disease/rare variant hypothesis, it is important to study the role of rare variants in complex diseases. The association of rare variants with psoriasis has been demonstrated, but the association between rare variants and specific clinical subtypes of psoriasis has not been investigated. METHODS: Gene-based and gene-level meta-analyses were performed on data extracted from our previous study data sets (2,483 patients with guttate psoriasis and 8,292 patients with non-guttate psoriasis) for genotyping. Then, haplotype analysis was performed for rare loss-of-function variants located in MED12L, and protein function prediction was performed for MED12L. Gene-based analysis at each stage had a moderate significance threshold (p < 0.05). A χ2 test was then conducted on the three potential genes, and the merged gene-based analysis was used to confirm the results. We also conducted association analysis and meta-analysis for functional variants located on the identified gene. RESULTS: Through these gene-level analyses, we determined that MED12L is a guttate psoriasis susceptibility gene (p = 9.99 × 10-5), and the single-nucleotide polymorphism with the strongest association was rs199780529 (p_combine = 1 × 10-3, p_meta = 2 × 10-3). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, a guttate psoriasis-specific subtype-associated susceptibility gene was confirmed in a Chinese Han population. These findings contribute to a better genetic understanding of different subtypes of psoriasis.

Production of bilirubin via whole-cell transformation utilizing recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum expressing a ß-glucuronidase from Staphylococcus sp. RLH1.

Bilirubin, a key active ingredient of bezoars with extensive clinical applications in China, is produced through a chemical process. However, this method suffers from inefficiency and adverse environmental impacts. To address this challenge, we present a novel and efficient approach for bilirubin production via whole-cell transformation. In this study, we employed Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC13032 to express a ß-glucuronidase (StGUS), an enzyme from Staphylococcus sp. RLH1 that effectively hydrolyzes conjugated bilirubin to bilirubin. Following the optimization of the biotransformation conditions, a remarkable conversion rate of 79.7% in the generation of bilirubin was obtained at temperate 40 °C, pH 7.0, 1 mM Mg2+ and 6 mM antioxidant NaHSO3 after 12 h. These findings hold significant potential for establishing an industrially viable platform for large-scale bilirubin production.

Data-Driven Controlled Synthesis of Oriented Quasi-Spherical CsPbBr3 Perovskite Materials.

Controlled synthesis of lead-halide perovskite crystals is challenging yet attractive because of the pivotal role played by the crystal structure and growth conditions in regulating their properties. This study introduces data-driven strategies for the controlled synthesis of oriented quasi-spherical CsPbBr3, alongside an investigation into the synthesis mechanism. High-throughput rapid characterization of absorption spectra and color under ultraviolet illumination was conducted using 23 possible ligands for the synthesis of CsPbBr3 crystals. The links between the absorption spectra slope (difference in the absorbance at 400 nm and 450 nm divided by a wavelength interval of 50 nm) and crystal size were determined through statistical analysis of more than 100 related publications. Big data analysis and machine learning were employed to investigate a total of 688 absorption spectra and 652 color values, revealing correlations between synthesis parameters and properties. Ex situ characterization confirmed successful synthesis of oriented quasi-spherical CsPbBr3 perovskites using polyvinylpyrrolidone and Acacia. Density functional theory calculations highlighted strong adsorption of Acacia on the (110) facet of CsPbBr3. Optical properties of the oriented quasi-spherical perovskites prepared with these data-driven strategies were significantly improved. This study demonstrates that data-driven controlled synthesis facilitates morphology-controlled perovskites with excellent optical properties.

Phylogenomics Uncovers Evolutionary Trajectory of Nitrogen Fixation in Cyanobacteria.

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by cyanobacteria is of significant importance for the Earth's biogeochemical nitrogen cycle but is restricted to a few genera that do not form monophyletic group. To explore the evolutionary trajectory of BNF and investigate the driving forces of its evolution, we analyze 650 cyanobacterial genomes and compile the database of diazotrophic cyanobacteria based on the presence of nitrogen fixation gene clusters (NFGCs). We report that 266 of 650 examined genomes are NFGC-carrying members, and these potentially diazotrophic cyanobacteria are unevenly distributed across the phylogeny of Cyanobacteria, that multiple independent losses shaped the scattered distribution. Among the diazotrophic cyanobacteria, two types of NFGC exist, with one being ancestral and abundant, which have descended from diazotrophic ancestors, and the other being anaerobe-like and sparse, possibly being acquired from anaerobic microbes through horizontal gene transfer. Interestingly, we illustrate that the origin of BNF in Cyanobacteria coincide with two major evolutionary events. One is the origin of multicellularity of cyanobacteria, and the other is concurrent genetic innovations with massive gene gains and expansions, implicating their key roles in triggering the evolutionary transition from nondiazotrophic to diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Additionally, we reveal that genes involved in accelerating respiratory electron transport (coxABC), anoxygenic photosynthetic electron transport (sqr), as well as anaerobic metabolisms (pfor, hemN, nrdG, adhE) are enriched in diazotrophic cyanobacteria, representing adaptive genetic signatures that underpin the diazotrophic lifestyle. Collectively, our study suggests that multicellularity, together with concurrent genetic adaptations contribute to the evolution of diazotrophic cyanobacteria.

Akkermansia muciniphila and its outer membrane protein Amuc_1100 prevent high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease. A. muciniphila and its outer membrane protein Amuc_1100 ameliorate metabolic disorders, enteritis, depression, and other diseases in mice. The NAFLD mouse model was established by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks. To assess the effect of A. muciniphila and Amuc_1100 on NAFLD, we used atorvastatin, a common lipid-lowering drug, as a positive control. A. muciniphila and Amuc_1100 significantly reduced body weight and serum ALT and AST levels, and improved serum lipid levels in NAFLD mice, which had similar effects to Ator. In addition, A. muciniphila and Amuc_1100 decreased the concentration of LPS in the serum and upregulated the mRNA expression of the colonic tight junction proteins. In the liver, A. muciniphila and Amuc_1100 significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of nodular receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and the protein and mRNA expression levels inflammatory cytokines. At the genus level, Amuc_1100 treatment significantly reduced the abundance of Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 produced by the HFD. The abundances of Blautia, norank_f__Ruminococcaceae, Lachnoclostridium, GCA-900066575 and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006 increased dramatically. Together, A. muciniphila and Amuc_1100 alleviate HFD-induced NAFLD by acting on the gut-liver axis and regulating gut microbes.

Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Synthetases in Carya illinoinensis under Different Treatments.

As crucial enzymes in the lipid metabolic network, long-chain acyl-CoA synthases (LACSs) are members of the acyl-activated enzyme superfamily and play a crucial role in epidermal wax synthesis, plant lipid anabolic metabolism, and stress tolerance. In this study, 11 pecan LACS genes were identified and categorized into five groups and located on nine chromosomes. The significant degree of conservation in the AtLACS and CiLACS protein sequences was demonstrated by multiple sequence alignment and conserved motif analysis. Cis-acting element analysis identified numerous stress-responsive and hormone-inducible elements in the promoter regions of CiLACS genes. The expression levels of CiLACS9 and CiLACS9-1 were considerably up-regulated under salt and drought stress, according to the qRT-RCR study. Treatment with ABA also led to increased expression levels of CiLACS1, CiLACS1-1, CiLACS2, and CiLACS9-1. Notably, CiLACS4, CiLACS4-1, CiLACS9, and CiLACS9-1 exhibited peak expression levels at 135 days after anthesis and are likely to have been crucial in the accumulation of seed kernel oil. Moreover, the CiLACS9 gene was shown to be located in the cytoplasm. These findings offer a theoretical framework for clarifying the roles of LACS genes in the processes of pecan kernel oil synthesis and response to abiotic stressors.

Predictive value of LDL/HDL ratio in coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is one of independent risk factors for coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAHD). We determined whether the LDL/HDL ratio is better than LDL-C or HDL-C alone in predicting the severity of CAHD. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 1351 patients with myocardial ischemia who underwent coronary angiography between January 2018 and December 2019 in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital. Spearman correlation analysis, logistic regression model, Cox proportional hazards model and multicollinearity were used to evaluate LDL/HDL ratio for predicting CAHD severity compared to LDL-C or HDL-C alone. RESULTS: Higher LDL/HDL ratio was seen in CAHD patients than controls (2.94 ± 1.06 vs 2.36 ± 0.78, P < 0.05). LDL/HDL ratio was significantly associated with the severity of coronary vascular stenosis. The area under the ROC curve of LDL-C, HDL-C, LDL/HDL ratio used to predict CAHD are 0.574 (95% CI 0.547-0.600, P < 0.001), 0.625 (95% CI 0.598-0.651, P < 0.001), 0.668 (95% CI 0.639-0.697, P = 0.000), respectively. The cut-off value of LDL/HDL ratio is 2.517, and the sensitivity and specificity are 65% and 61%, respectively. LDL/HDL ratio was related to the prevalence of CAHD and the odds ratio (OR) was 2.39 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.698-2.593, P = 0.00] in multicollinearity regression model. CONCLUSION: LDL/HDL ratio may become a better predictor of CAHD severity, compared to LDL-C or HDL-C.

Genome-wide association study of 7661 Chinese Han individuals and fine-mapping major histocompatibility complex identifies HLA-DRB1 as associated with IgA vasculitis.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV) is an immune-related systemic vasculitis with an unclear etiology. Genetic predisposition is now considered to be closely associated with the development of the disease, and it is essential to reveal the relationship between them. To explore the role of heredity in the disease, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 496 IgAV cases and 7165 controls using an Illumina Infinium Global Screening Array chip. METHODS: In the first stage of analysis, a significant correlation between the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and IgAV was observed. Subsequently, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) analysis was conducted using a new large-scale Han-MHC reference panel. Fine mapping of IgAV risk in the MHC region indicated that two amino acid positions, 120 and 11, of HLA-DRB1 and three potential HLA alleles (HLA-DRB1∗04, HLA-DRB1∗16, and HLA-DRB1∗16:02) were significantly associated. RESULTS: Further stepwise conditional analysis demonstrated that 3 amino acid positions (120, 26, 96) of HLA-DRB1 and 6 HLA-DRB1 alleles (HLA-DRB1*04, HLA-DRB1*16, HLA-DRB1*01, HLA-DRB1*12:02, HLA-DRB1*10, and HLA-DRB1*15:02) were independent signals. Among them, the most significant signal was HLA-DRB1 amino acid Ser120 (OR = 1.59, p = 3.19 × 10-8 ); no independent signal in the MHC region except for HLA-DRB1 was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that the pathogenesis of IgAV has a genetic component and that HLA-DRB1 is strongly associated with susceptibility to IgAV.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of AMT and NRT Gene Family in Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) Seedlings Revealed a Preference for NH4+-N.

Nitrogen (N) is a major limiting factor for plant growth and crop production. The use of N fertilizer in forestry production is increasing each year, but the loss is substantial. Mastering the regulatory mechanisms of N uptake and transport is a key way to improve plant nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). However, this has rarely been studied in pecans. In this study, 10 AMT and 69 NRT gene family members were identified and systematically analyzed from the whole pecan genome using a bioinformatics approach, and the expression patterns of AMT and NRT genes and the uptake characteristics of NH4+ and NO3- in pecan were analyzed by aeroponic cultivation at varying NH4+/NO3- ratios (0/0, 0/100,25/75, 50/50, 75/25,100/0 as CK, T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5). The results showed that gene duplication was the main reason for the amplification of the AMT and NRT gene families in pecan, both of which experienced purifying selection. Based on qRT-PCR results, CiAMTs were primarily expressed in roots, and CiNRTs were majorly expressed in leaves, which were consistent with the distribution of pecan NH4+ and NO3- concentrations in the organs. The expression levels of CiAMTs and CiNRTs were mainly significantly upregulated under N deficiency and T4 treatment. Meanwhile, T4 treatment significantly increased the NH4+, NO3-, and NO2- concentrations as well as the Vmax and Km values of NH4+ and NO3- in pecans, and Vmax/Km indicated that pecan seedlings preferred to absorb NH4+. In summary, considering the single N source of T5, we suggested that the NH4+/NO3- ratio of 75:25 was more beneficial to improve the NUE of pecan, thus increasing pecan yield, which provides a theoretical basis for promoting the scale development of pecan and provides a basis for further identification of the functions of AMT and NRT genes in the N uptake and transport process of pecan.

Identification and Expression Analysis of MPK and MKK Gene Families in Pecan (Carya illinoinensis).

Mitogen-activated protein kinases consist of three kinase modules composed of MPKs, MKKs, and MPKKKs. As members of the protein kinase (PK) superfamily, they are involved in various processes, such as developmental programs, cell division, hormonal progression, and signaling responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, a total of 18 MPKs and 10 MKKs were annotated on the pecan genome, all of which could be classified into four subgroups, respectively. The gene structures and conserved sequences of family members in the same branch were relatively similar. All MPK proteins had a conserved motif TxY, and D(L/I/V)K and VGTxxYMSPER existed in all MKK proteins. Duplication events contributed largely to the expansion of the pecan MPK and MKK gene families. Phylogenetic analysis of protein sequences from six plants indicated that species evolution occurred in pecan. Organ-specific expression profiles of MPK and MKK showed functional diversity. Ka/Ks values indicated that all genes with duplicated events underwent strong negative selection. Seven CiPawMPK and four CiPawMKK genes with high expression levels were screened by transcriptomic data from different organs, and these candidates were validated by qRT-PCR analysis of hormone-treated and stressed samples.

An in-depth analysis reveals two new genetic variants on 22q11.2 associated with vitiligo in the Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a complex disease in which patchy depigmentation is the result of an autoimmune-induced loss of melanocytes in affected regions. On the basis of a genome-wide linkage analysis of vitiligo in the Chinese Han population, we previously showed significant evidence of a linkage between 22q12 and vitiligo. Our aim in the current study was to identify vitiligo susceptibility variants within an expanded region of the 22q12 locus. METHODS AND RESULTS: An in-depth analysis of the expanded region of the 22q12 locus was performed by imputation using a large GWAS dataset consisting of 1117 cases and 1701 controls. Eight nominal SNPs were selected and genotyped in an independent cohort of Chinese Han individuals (2069 patients and 1370 control individuals) by using the Sequenom MassArray iPLEX1 system. The data were analyzed with PLINK 1.07 software. The C allele of rs730669 located in ZDHHC8/RTN4R showed a strong association with vitiligo (P = 3.25 × 10-8, OR = 0.81). The C allele of rs4820338 located in VPREB1 and the A allele of rs2051582 (a SNP reported in our previous study) located in IL2RB showed a suggestive association with vitiligo (P = 1.04 × 10-5, OR = 0.86; P = 1.78 × 10-6, OR = 1.27). The three identified SNPs showed independent associations with vitiligo in a conditional logistic regression analysis (all P < 1.0 × 10-5; all D' < 0.05 and r2 < 1.0 × 10-4). CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals that two novel variants rs730669 (ZDHHC8/RTN4R) and rs4820338 (VPREB1) on 22q11.2 might confer susceptibility to vitiligo and affect disease subphenotypes. The presence of multiple independent variants emphasizes their important roles in the genetic pathogenesis of disease.

Subchronic toxicity of dietary sulfamethazine and nanoplastics in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma): Insights from the gut microbiota and intestinal oxidative status.

Antibiotics and nanoplastics are two prevalent pollutants in oceans, posing a great threat to marine ecosystems. As antibiotics and nanoplastics are highly bioconcentrated in lower trophic levels, evaluating their impacts on marine organisms via dietary exposure route is of great importance. In this study, the individual and joint effects of dietborne sulfamethazine (SMZ) and nanoplastic fragments (polystyrene, PS) in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) were investigated. After 30 days of dietary exposure, 4.62 mg/g SMZ decreased the Chao1 index (60.86% for females and 26.85% for males) and the Shannon index (68.95% for females and 65.05% for males) and significantly altered the structure of gut microbial communities in both sexes. The female fish exposed to 4.62 mg/g SMZ exhibited higher intestinal sod (43.5%), cat (38.5%) and gpx (39.6%) transcripts, indicating oxidative stress in the gut. PS alone at 3.45 mg/g slightly altered the composition of the gut microbiota. Interestingly, the mixture of SMZ and PS caused more modest effects on the gut microbiota and intestinal antioxidant physiology than the SMZ alone, suggesting that the presence of PS might alleviate the intestinal toxicity of SMZ in a scenario of dietary co-exposure. This study helps better understand the risk of antibiotics and nanoplastics to marine ecosystems.

Long Noncoding RNA ANRIL Supports Proliferation of Adult T-Cell Leukemia Cells through Cooperation with EZH2.

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is a highly aggressive T-cell malignancy induced by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plays a critical role in the development and progression of multiple human cancers. However, the function of lncRNA in HTLV-1-induced oncogenesis has not been elucidated. In the present study, we show that the expression level of the lncRNA ANRIL was elevated in HTLV-1-infected cell lines and clinical ATL samples. E2F1 induced ANRIL transcription by enhancing its promoter activity. Knockdown of ANRIL in ATL cells repressed cellular proliferation and increased apoptosis in vitro and in vivo As a mechanism for these actions, we found that ANRIL targeted EZH2 and activated the NF-κB pathway in ATL cells. This activation was independent of the histone methyltransferase (HMT) activity of EZH2 but required the formation of an ANRIL/EZH2/p65 ternary complex. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that ANRIL/EZH2 enhanced p65 DNA binding capability. In addition, we observed that the ANRIL/EZH2 complex repressed p21/CDKN1A transcription through H3K27 trimethylation of the p21/CDKN1A promoter. Taken together, our results implicate that the lncRNA ANRIL, by cooperating with EZH2, supports the proliferation of HTLV-1-infected cells, which is thought to be critical for oncogenesis.IMPORTANCE Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the pathogen that causes adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), which is a unique malignancy of CD4+ T cells. A role for long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in HTLV-1-mediated cellular transformation has not been described. In this study, we demonstrated that the lncRNA ANRIL was important for maintaining the proliferation of ATL cells in vitro and in vivo ANRIL was shown to activate NF-κB signaling through forming a ternary complex with EZH2 and p65. Furthermore, epigenetic inactivation of p21/CDKN1A was involved in the oncogenic function of ANRIL. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to address the regulatory role of the lncRNA ANRIL in ATL and provides an important clue to prevent or treat HTLV-1-associated human diseases.

Antimicrobial activity and mechanisms of multiple antimicrobial peptides isolated from rockfish Sebastiscus marmoratus.

Pathogenic disease is a major factor affecting the aquaculture of the rockfish Sebastiscus marmoratus, an important commercial species inhabiting the nearshore waters of the Western Pacific Ocean. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), as critical components of innate immunity, have been considered as promising antibiotic substitutes. The aims of this study were 1) to identify major AMPs in the rockfish, 2) to assess their antimicrobial activity and 3) to evaluate their potential therapeutic application. Six AMPs were identified, Hepcidin 1, liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2), Piscidin, Moronecidin, NK-lysin and ß-defensin through analysis of the liver transcriptome of S. marmoratus. The transcriptional expression profiles of these AMPs were investigated by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). These AMPs showed tissue-specific distribution patterns, and S. marmoratus displays a time-, dose- and tissue-dependent expression of AMPs in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. While the synthetic peptides of LEAP-2 and Moronecidin exerted broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against important aquatic pathogens in vitro by directly disrupting microbial membrane, and no cytotoxicity against murine hepatic cells was observed at the effective concentrations from 5 µM to 40 µM. The existence of multiple AMPs and their distinct tissue distribution patterns and inducible expression patterns suggests a sophisticated, highly redundant, and multilevel network of antimicrobial defensive mechanisms of S. marmoratus. Therefore, S. marmoratus-derived AMPs appear to be potential therapeutic applications against pathogen infections in aquaculture.

Association Study Confirmed Three Breast Cancer-Specific Molecular Subtype-Associated Susceptibility Loci in Chinese Han Women.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous and polygenic disease that can be divided into different molecular subtypes based on histological and genomic features. To date, numerous susceptibility loci of breast cancer have been discovered by genome-wide association studies and may expand the genetic features. However, few loci have been further studied according to molecular subtypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We genotyped 23 recently discovered single nucleotide polymorphisms using the Sequenom iPLEX platform in a female Chinese cohort of 3,036 breast cancer patients (2,935 samples matched molecular subtypes) and 3,036 healthy controls. RESULTS: Through a stratification analysis, 5q11.2/MAP3K1 (rs16886034, rs16886364, rs16886397, rs1017226, rs16886448) and 7q32.3/LINC-PINT (rs4593472) were associated with Luminal A, and 10q26.1/FGFR2 (rs35054928) was associated with Luminal B. CONCLUSION: In our study, breast cancer-specific molecular subtype-associated susceptibility loci were confirmed in Chinese Han women, which contributes to a better genetic understanding of breast cancer in different molecular subtypes. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: To date, genome-wide association studies have identified more than 90 susceptibility loci associated with breast cancer. However, few loci have been further studied according to molecular subtype. The results of this study are that breast cancer-specific molecular subtype-associated susceptibility loci were confirmed in Chinese Han women, which contributes to a better genetic understanding of breast cancer in different molecular subtypes.

Enlarged Multilocus Data set Provides Surprisingly Younger Time of Origin for the Plethodontidae, the Largest Family of Salamanders.

Deep phylogenetic relationships of the largest salamander family Plethodontidae have been difficult to resolve, probably reflecting a rapid diversification early in their evolutionary history. Here, data from 50 independent nuclear markers (total 48,582 bp) are used to reconstruct the phylogeny and divergence times for plethodontid salamanders, using both concatenation and coalescence-based species tree analyses. Our results robustly resolve the position of the enigmatic eastern North American four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium) as the sister taxon of Batrachoseps + Tribe Bolitoglossini, thus settling a long-standing question. Furthermore, we statistically reject sister taxon status of Karsenia and Hydromantes, the only plethodontids to occur outside the Americas, leading us to new biogeographic hypotheses. Contrary to previous long-standing arguments that plethodontid salamanders are an old lineage originating in the Cretaceous (more than 90 Ma), our analyses lead to the hypothesis that these salamanders are much younger, arising close to the K-T boundary (~66 Ma). These time estimates are highly stable using alternative calibration schemes and dating methods. Our data simulation highlights the potential risk of making strong arguments about phylogenetic timing based on inferences from a handful of nuclear genes, a common practice. Based on the newly obtained timetree and ancestral area reconstruction results, we argue that (i) the classic "Out of Appalachia" hypothesis of plethodontid origins is problematic; (ii) the common ancestor of extant plethodontids may have originated in northwestern North America in the early Paleocene; (iii) origins of Eurasian plethodontids likely result from two separate dispersal events from western North America via Beringia in the late Eocene (~42 Ma) and the early Miocene (~23 Ma), respectively.

A Unique Blend of 2-Fluorenyl-2-anthracene and 2-Anthryl-2-anthracence Showing White Emission and High Charge Mobility.

White-light-emitting materials with high mobility are necessary for organic white-light-emitting transistors, which can be used for self-driven OLED displays or OLED lighting. In this study, we combined two materials with similar structures-2-fluorenyl-2-anthracene (FlAnt) with blue emission and 2-anthryl-2-anthracence (2A) with greenish-yellow emission-to fabricate OLED devices, which showed unusual solid-state white-light emission with the CIE coordinates (0.33, 0.34) at 10 V. The similar crystal structures ensured that the OTFTs based on mixed FlAnt and 2A showed high mobility of 1.56 cm2 V-1 s-1 . This simple method provides new insight into the design of high-performance white-emitting transistor materials and structures.

Association study confirms two susceptibility loci for breast cancer in Chinese Han women.

To date, many loci associated with breast cancer have been identified through genome-wide association studies; most of these studies were conducted using populations of European descent. Thus, it is not clear whether these susceptibility loci are also risk factors for Chinese populations. We selected and genotyped 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the Sequenom iPLEX platform in a female Chinese cohort of 3036 breast cancer cases and 3036 healthy controls. A total of 23 SNPs passed the quality control test. The associations of these SNPs with disease susceptibility were assessed using logistic regression, adjusting for age. The Bonferroni correction was used to conservatively account for multiple testing, and the threshold for statistical significance was P < 2.17 × 10(-3) (0.05/23). We confirmed ten risk-associated variants within three reported breast cancer susceptibility loci in a Chinese Han population: 5q11.2 (rs16886181, P = 5.29 × 10(-6), OR = 1.19; rs1017226, P = 5.24 × 10(-4), OR = 1.22; rs16886034, P = 2.00 × 10(-3), OR = 1.21; rs16886113, P = 1.24 × 10(-3), OR = 1.20; rs16886364, P = 9.20 × 10(-4), OR = 1.21; rs16886397, P = 1.17 × 10(-3), OR = 1.20; rs16886448, P = 1.62 × 10(-3,)OR = 1.20; and rs2229882, P = 5.14 × 10(-4), OR = 1.31), 5q14.3 (rs421379, P = 2.83 × 10(-13), OR = 1.83), and 10q26.1 (rs35054928, P = 7.73 × 10(-6), OR = 1.18). The 10q26.1 locus was found to be a susceptibility locus for breast cancer in Chinese Han women in our previous studies. 5q11.2 and 5q14.3 are confirmed here for the first time as susceptibility loci for breast cancer in Chinese Han women. This study reports three breast cancer susceptibility loci that were previously identified in European populations and are also risk factors for Chinese populations. This study may extend the genetic basis of breast cancer in Chinese Han women and highlight the contribution of multiple variants of modest effect.