Exogenous application of 5-NGS increased osmotic stress resistance by improving leaf photosynthetic physiology and antioxidant capacity in maize.

Background: Drought is a critical limiting factor affecting the growth and development of spring maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings in northeastern China. Sodium 5-nitroguaiacol (5-NGS) has been found to enhance plant cell metabolism and promote seedling growth, which may increase drought tolerance. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the response of maize seedlings to foliar application of a 5-NGS solution under osmotic stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000). Four treatment groups were established: foliar application of distilled water (CK), foliar application of 5-NGS (NS), osmotic stress + foliar application of distilled water (D), and osmotic stress + foliar application of 5-NGS (DN). Plant characteristics including growth and photosynthetic and antioxidant capacities under the four treatments were evaluated. Results: The results showed that under osmotic stress, the growth of maize seedlings was inhibited, and both the photosynthetic and antioxidant capacities were weakened. Additionally, there were significant increases in the proline and soluble sugar contents and a decrease in seedling relative water content (RWC). However, applying 5-NGS alleviated the impact of osmotic stress on maize seedling growth parameters, particularly the belowground biomass, with a dry mass change of less than 5% and increased relative water content (RWC). Moreover, treatment with 5-NGS mitigated the inhibition of photosynthesis caused by osmotic stress by restoring the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) through an increase in chlorophyll content, photosynthetic electron transport, and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci). Furthermore, the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the aboveground parts recovered, resulting in an approximately 25% decrease in both malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2. Remarkably, the activity of enzymes in the underground parts exhibited more significant changes, with the contents of MDA and H2O2 decreasing by more than 50%. Finally, 5-NGS stimulated the dual roles of soluble sugars as osmoprotectants and energy sources for metabolism under osmotic stress, and the proline content increased by more than 30%. We found that 5-NGS played a role in the accumulation of photosynthates and the effective distribution of resources in maize seedlings. Conclusions: Based on these results, we determined that foliar application of 5-NGS may improve osmotic stress tolerance in maize seedlings. This study serves as a valuable reference for increasing maize yield under drought conditions.

Divacancy and resonance level enables high thermoelectric performance in n-type SnSe polycrystals.

N-type polycrystalline SnSe is considered as a highly promising candidates for thermoelectric applications due to facile processing, machinability, and scalability. However, existing efforts do not enable a peak ZT value exceeding 2.0 in n-type polycrystalline SnSe. Here, we realized a significant ZT enhancement by leveraging the synergistic effects of divacancy defect and introducing resonance level into the conduction band. The resonance level and increased density of states resulting from tungsten boost the Seebeck coefficient. The combination of the enhanced electrical conductivity (achieved by increasing carrier concentration through WCl6 doping and Se vacancies) and large Seebeck coefficient lead to a high power factor. Microstructural analyses reveal that the co-existence of divacancy defects (Se vacancies and Sn vacancies) and endotaxial W- and Cl-rich nanoprecipitates scatter phonons effectively, resulting in ultralow lattice conductivity. Ultimately, a record-high peak ZT of 2.2 at 773 K is achieved in n-type SnSe0.92 + 0.03WCl6.

Regulation of phonon localization on thermal transport in complex networks.

The regulation of thermal transport is a challenging topic in complex networks. At present, the hidden physical mechanism behind thermal transport is poorly understood. This paper addresses this issue by proposing a complex network model that focuses on the thermal transport regulation through the manipulation of the network's degree distribution and clustering coefficient. Our findings indicate that increasing the degree distribution regulation parameter σ leads to reduced phonon localization and improved thermal transport efficiency. Conversely, increasing the clustering coefficient c results in enhanced phonon localization and reduced thermal transport efficiency. Meanwhile, by calculating the pseudodispersion relation of the network, we find that the maximum (or the second smallest) eigenfrequency decreases with increasing σ (or c). Finally, we elucidate that phonon localization plays a pivotal role in the thermal transport of the network, as demonstrated through density of states and the participation ratio.

Alternative splicing plays a nonredundant role in greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) in acclimation to ambient salinity fluctuations.

Alternative splicing (AS) is an important post-transcriptional mechanism for adaptation of fish to environmental stress. Here, we performed a genome-wide investigation to AS dynamics in greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), an economical marine teleost, in response to hypo- (10 ppt) and hyper-salinity (40 ppt) stresses. Totally, 2267-2611 differentially spliced events were identified in gills and kidney upon the exposure to undesired salinity regimes. In gills, genes involved in energy metabolism, stimulus response and epithelial cell differentiation were differentially spliced in response to salinity variation, while sodium ion transport and cellular amide metabolism were enhanced in kidney to combat the adverse impacts of salinity changes. Most of these differentially spliced genes were not differentially expressed, and AS was found to regulate different biological processes from differential gene expression, indicative of the functionally nonredundant role of AS in modulating salinity acclimation in greater amberjack. Together, our study highlights the important contribution of post-transcriptional mechanisms to the adaptation of fish to ambient salinity fluctuations and provides theoretical guidance for the conservation of marine fishery resources against increasingly environmental challenges.

The effects of psychological interventions on suicide for cancer patients: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Numerous psychological interventions are available for suicidal and death ideation (SDI) and suicidal behavior among cancer patients. To identify the optimal psychological interventions for reducing SDI and suicidal behavior in cancer patients. However, it remains unclear which psychological intervention is the most effective. We performed a pairwise and network meta-analysis by searching seven databases from the date of inception until 8 April 2022. An important focus of this network meta-analysis was the comparison of the effects of various psychological interventions on the reduction of SDI and suicidal behavior among cancer patients. For determining efficacy, we used standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Besides, a pairwise meta-analysis, inconsistency test, network meta-analysis, the surface under the cumulative rankings curve (SUCRA), comparison-adjusted funnel plot, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were also carried out. A total of 8 studies involving 1,350 patients were searched in this study. It showed that empathy therapy (SUCRA = 95.3%) has the best effect among the six interventions. Comprehensive psychological intervention (SUCRA = 77.6%) was ranked in the top two positions, followed by meaning-centered therapy (SUCRA = 40.7%). Comparison-adjusted funnel plots revealed no significant publication bias. In addition, our conclusions have not changed significantly after the sensitivity analysis. In this network meta-analysis, empathy therapy was identified as the optimal choice for reducing SDI and suicidal behaviors in cancer patients. Further multi-center and high-quality RCT studies should be conducted to make our conclusion more rigorous.

Exploring Immune Redox Modulation in Bacterial Infections: Insights into Thioredoxin-Mediated Interactions and Implications for Understanding Host-Pathogen Dynamics.

Bacterial infections trigger a multifaceted interplay between inflammatory mediators and redox regulation. Recently, accumulating evidence has shown that redox signaling plays a significant role in immune initiation and subsequent immune cell functions. This review addresses the crucial role of the thioredoxin (Trx) system in the initiation of immune reactions and regulation of inflammatory responses during bacterial infections. Downstream signaling pathways in various immune cells involve thiol-dependent redox regulation, highlighting the pivotal roles of thiol redox systems in defense mechanisms. Conversely, the survival and virulence of pathogenic bacteria are enhanced by their ability to counteract oxidative stress and immune attacks. This is achieved through the reduction of oxidized proteins and the modulation of redox-sensitive signaling pathways, which are functions of the Trx system, thereby fortifying bacterial resistance. Moreover, some selenium/sulfur-containing compounds could potentially be developed into targeted therapeutic interventions for pathogenic bacteria. Taken together, the Trx system is a key player in redox regulation during bacterial infection, and contributes to host-pathogen interactions, offering valuable insights for future research and therapeutic development.

PSMD9 promotes the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by interacting with c-Cbl to activate EGFR signaling and recycling.

BACKGROUND: Mounting evidences shows that the ubiquitin‒proteasome pathway plays a pivotal role in tumor progression. The expression of 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 9 (PSMD9) is correlated with recurrence and radiotherapy resistance in several tumor types. However, the role and mechanism of PSMD9 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remain largely unclear. METHODS: PSMD9 was identified as a prognosis-related biomarker for HCC based on analysis of clinical characteristics and RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the JP Project of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC-LIRI-JP). PSMD9 expression was analyzed in cancer tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues via immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Multiple in vivo and in vitro experimental techniques (such as CCK-8, colony formation, EdU, and Transwell assays; flow cytometry; Western blotting; quantitative RT-PCR; Coimmunoprecipitation assay and immunofluorescence confocal imaging) were used to assess the functions of PSMD9 in the pathogenesis of HCC. RESULTS: We found that the expression of PSMD9 was upregulated and associated with a poor prognosis in HCC patients. PSMD9 promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis. Knockdown of PSMD9 significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation by inducing G1/S cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that PSMD9 promoted HCC cell proliferation and metastasis via direct interaction with the E3 ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl, suppresses EGFR ubiquitination, influenced EGFR endosomal trafficking and degradation and subsequently activated ERK1/2 and Akt signaling. In addition, we showed that PSMD9 knockdown sensitized HCC cells to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our results indicate that PSMD9 drives HCC progression and erlotinib resistance by suppressing c-Cbl mediated EGFR ubiquitination and therefore can be a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Analysis of widely targeted metabolites of quinoa sprouts (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under saline-alkali stress provides new insights into nutritional value.

Quinoa sprouts are a green vegetable rich in bioactive chemicals, which have multiple health benefits. However, there is limited information on the overall metabolic profiles of quinoa sprouts and the metabolite changes caused by saline-alkali stress. Here, a UHPLC-MS/MS-based widely targeted metabolomics technique was performed to comprehensively evaluate the metabolic profiles of quinoa sprouts and characterize its metabolic response to saline-alkali stress. A total of 930 metabolites were identified of which 232 showed significant response to saline-alkali stress. The contents of lipids and amino acids were significantly increased, while the contents of flavonoids and phenolic acids were significantly reduced under saline-alkali stress. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of quinoa sprouts were significantly affected by saline-alkali stress. The enrichment analysis of the differentially accumulated metabolites revealed that flavonoid, amino acid and carbohydrate biosynthesis/metabolism pathways responded to saline-alkali stress. This study provided an important theoretical basis for evaluating the nutritional value of quinoa sprouts and the changes in metabolites in response to saline-alkali stress.

Segment selection for fusion and artificial disc replacement in the hybrid surgical treatment of noncontiguous cervical spondylosis: a finite element analysis.

Introduction: The treatment of skip-level cervical degenerative disease (CDD) with no degenerative changes observed in the intervening segment (IS) is complicated. This research aims to provide a reference basis for selecting treatment approaches for noncontiguous CDD. Methods: To establish accurate finite element models (FEMs), this study included computed tomography (CT) data from 21 patients with CDD (10 males and 11 females) for modeling. The study primarily discusses four cross-segment surgical approaches: upper (C3/4) anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and lower (C5/6) cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA), FA model; upper CDA (C3/4) and lower ACDF (C5/6), AF model; upper ACDF (C3/4) and lower ACDF (C5/6), FF model; upper CDA (C3/4) and lower CDA (C5/6), AA model. An initial axial load of 73.6 N was applied at the motion center using the follower load technique. A moment of 1.0 Nm was applied at the center of the C2 vertebra to simulate the overall motion of the model. The statistical analysis was conducted using STATA version 14.0. Statistical significance was defined as a p value less than 0.05. Results: The AA group had significantly greater ROM in flexion and axial rotation in other segments compared to the FA group (p < 0.05). The FA group consistently exhibited higher average intervertebral disc pressure in C2/3 during all motions compared to the AF group (p < 0.001); however, the FA group displayed lower average intervertebral disc pressure in C6/7 during all motions (p < 0.05). The AA group had lower facet joint contact stresses during extension in all segments compared to the AF group (p < 0.05). The FA group exhibited significantly higher facet joint contact stresses during extension in C2/3 (p < 0.001) and C6/7 (p < 0.001) compared to the AF group. Discussion: The use of skip-level CDA is recommended for the treatment of non-contiguous CDD. The FA construct shows superior biomechanical performance compared to the AF construct.

Achieving High Isotropic Figure of Merit in Cd and in Codoped Polycrystalline SnSe.

Here, we combined Cd and In codoping with a simple hydrothermal synthesis method to prepare SnSe powders composed of nanorod-like flowers. After spark plasma sintering, its internal grains inherited well the morphological features of the precursor, and the multiscale microstructure included nanorod-shaped grains, high-density dislocations, and stacking faults, as well as abundant nanoprecipitates, resulting in an ultralow thermal conductivity of 0.15 W m-1 K-1 for the synthesized material. At the same time, Cd and In synergistically regulated the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of SnSe, leading to an enhanced power factor. Among them, Sn0.94Cd0.03In0.03Se achieved a peak ZT of 1.50 parallel to the pressing direction, representing an 87.5% improvement compared with pure SnSe. Notably, the material possesses isotropic ZT values parallel and perpendicular to the pressing direction, overcoming the characteristic anisotropy in thermal performance observed in previous polycrystalline SnSe-based materials. Our results provide a new strategy for optimizing the performance of thermoelectric materials through structural engineering.

A novel gene-based model for prognosis prediction of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a significant global health challenge. The identification of reliable prognostic biomarkers and construction of an accurate prognostic model are crucial. Methods: In this study, mRNA expression data and clinical data of HNSCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas were used. Overlapping candidate genes (OCGs) were identified by intersecting differentially expressed genes and prognosis-related genes. Best prognostic genes were selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression based on OCGs, and a risk score was developed using the Cox coefficient of each gene. The prognostic power of the risk score was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were performed to identify independent prognostic parameters, which were used to construct a nomogram. The predictive accuracy of the nomogram was evaluated using calibration plots. Functional enrichment analysis of risk score related genes was performed to explore the potential biological functions and pathways. External validation was conducted using data from the Gene Expression Omnibus and ArrayExpress databases. Results: FADS3, TNFRSF12A, TJP3, and FUT6 were screened to be significantly related to prognosis in HNSCC patients. The risk score effectively stratified patients into high-risk group with poor overall survival (OS) and low-risk group with better OS. Risk score, age, clinical M stage and clinical N stage were regarded as independent prognostic parameters by Cox regression analysis and used to construct a nomogram. The nomogram performed well in 1-, 2-, 3-, 5- and 10-year survival predictions. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that tight junction was closely related to the cancer. In addition, the prognostic power of the risk score was validated by external datasets. Conclusions: This study constructed a gene-based model integrating clinical prognostic parameters to accurately predict prognosis in HNSCC patients.

Development of a machine learning model and nomogram to predict seizures in children with COVID-19: a two-center study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use machine learning to evaluate the risk factors of seizures and develop a model and nomogram to predict seizures in children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 519 children with COVID-19 were assessed to develop predictive models using machine learning algorithms, including extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest (RF) and logistic regression (LR). The performance of the models was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values. Importance matrix plot and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values were calculated to evaluate feature importance and to show the visualization results. The nomogram and clinical impact curve were used to validate the final model. RESULTS: Two hundred and seventeen children with COVID-19 had seizures. According to the AUC, the RF model performed the best. Based on the SHAP values, the top three most important variables in the RF model were neutrophil percentage, cough and fever duration. The nomogram and clinical impact curve also verified that the RF model possessed significant predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: Our research indicates that the RF model demonstrates excellent performance in predicting seizures, and our novel nomogram can facilitate clinical decision-making and potentially offer benefit for clinicians to prevent and treat seizures in children with COVID-19.

Identification of hypoxic macrophages in glioblastoma with therapeutic potential for vasculature normalization.

Monocyte-derived tumor-associated macrophages (Mo-TAMs) intensively infiltrate diffuse gliomas with remarkable heterogeneity. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we chart a spatially resolved transcriptional landscape of Mo-TAMs across 51 patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type glioblastomas or IDH-mutant gliomas. We characterize a Mo-TAM subset that is localized to the peri-necrotic niche and skewed by hypoxic niche cues to acquire a hypoxia response signature. Hypoxia-TAM destabilizes endothelial adherens junctions by activating adrenomedullin paracrine signaling, thereby stimulating a hyperpermeable neovasculature that hampers drug delivery in glioblastoma xenografts. Accordingly, genetic ablation or pharmacological blockade of adrenomedullin produced by Hypoxia-TAM restores vascular integrity, improves intratumoral concentration of the anti-tumor agent dabrafenib, and achieves combinatorial therapeutic benefits. Increased proportion of Hypoxia-TAM or adrenomedullin expression is predictive of tumor vessel hyperpermeability and a worse prognosis of glioblastoma. Our findings highlight Mo-TAM diversity and spatial niche-steered Mo-TAM reprogramming in diffuse gliomas and indicate potential therapeutics targeting Hypoxia-TAM to normalize tumor vasculature.

Cu/N co-doped biochar activating PMS for selective degrading paracetamol via a non-radical pathway dominated by singlet oxygen and electron transfer.

The non-free radical oxidation pathway (PMS-NOPs) of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) holds significant promise for practical wastewater treatment applications, owing to its low oxidation potential, high PMS utilization rate, and robust anti-interference capability in the degradation of pollutants. A novel activator copper nitrogen co-doped porous biochar (Cu-N-BC) with rich defect edges and functional groups was obtained by adding Cu and N to the biochar matrix generated by sodium alginate through pyrolysis in this study. Under the condition of 1 mM PMS, 30 mg/L activator was used to activate PMS and achieve efficient degradation of 10 mg/L paracetamol (PCT) within 15 min, with a high reaction rate constants (kobs) of 0.391 min-1. The activation mechanism of the Cu-N-BC/PMS/PCT system was a non-radical activation pathway with the dominance of singlet oxygen (1O2) and the presence of catalyst-mediated electron transfer. The graphite nitrogen, pyridine nitrogen, and Cu-N coordination introduced by Cu/N co-doping, as well as the carbon skeleton and CO functional group of biochar, were considered active sites that promote the 1O2 generation. The Cu-N-BC/PMS system exhibits strong stability, eco-friendliness, effective mineralization, and interference resistance across diverse pH levels (3-11) and interfering ions, including Cl-, H2PO4-, NO3-, SO42-, and humic acid. Remarkably, it efficiently degrades PCT in tap and lake water, achieving a notable 63.73% TOC mineralization rate, with leached copper ions below 0.02 mg/L. This research introduces a novel method for obtaining metal nitrogen carbon activators and enhances understanding of PMS non-radical activation pathways and active sites.

Flavin-containing monooxygenases FMOGS-OXs integrate flowering transition and salt tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Salt stress substantially leads to flowering delay. The regulation of salt-induced late flowering has been studied at the transcriptional and protein levels; however, the involvement of secondary metabolites has rarely been investigated. Here, we report that FMOGS-OXs (EC 1.14.13.237), the enzymes that catalyze the biosynthesis of glucosinolates (GSLs), promote flowering transition in Arabidopsis thaliana. It has been reported that WRKY75 is a positive regulator, and MAF4 is a negative regulator of flowering transition. The products of FMOGS-OXs, methylsulfinylalkyl GSLs (MS GSLs), facilitate flowering by inducing WRKY75 and repressing the MAS-MAF4 module. We further show that the degradation of MS GSLs is involved in salt-induced late flowering and salt tolerance. Salt stress induces the expression of myrosinase genes, resulting in the degradation of MS GSLs, thereby relieving the promotion of WRKY75 and inhibition of MAF4, leading to delayed flowering. In addition, the degradation products derived from MS GSLs enhance salt tolerance. Previous studies have revealed that FMOGS-OXs exhibit alternative catalytic activity to form trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) under salt stress, which activates multiple stress-related genes to promote salt tolerance. Therefore, FMOGS-OXs integrate flowering transition and salt tolerance in various ways. Our study shed light on the functional diversity of GSLs and established a connection between flowering transition, salt resistance, and GSL metabolism.

Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Effective Tillers in Rice under Different Nitrogen Gradients.

Nitrogen is a crucial element that impacts rice yields, and effective tillering is a significant agronomic characteristic that can influence rice yields. The way that reduced nitrogen affects effective tillering is a complex quantitative trait that is controlled by multiple genes, and its genetic basis requires further exploration. In this study, 469 germplasm varieties were used for a genome-wide association analysis aiming to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with effective tillering at low (60 kg/hm2) and high (180 kg/hm2) nitrogen levels. QTLs detected over multiple years or under different treatments were scrutinized in this study, and candidate genes were identified through haplotype analysis and spatio-temporal expression patterns. A total of seven genes (NAL1, OsCKX9, Os01g0690800, Os02g0550300, Os02g0550700, Os04g0615700, and Os04g06163000) were pinpointed in these QTL regions, and were considered the most likely candidate genes. These results provide favorable information for the use of auxiliary marker selection in controlling effective tillering in rice for improved yields.

Multiple high-risk HPV infections probably associated with a higher risk of low-grade cytological abnormalities but not with high-grade intraepithelial lesions of the cervix.

BACKGROUND: For women diagnosed with HR-HPV DNA positivity in community hospitals, the necessity of investigating the potential presence of multiple HR-HPV infections upon referral to tertiary medical institutions remains unclear. METHODS: In our cohort, women tested positive for HR-HPV DNA during examinations in community hospitals, were subsequently referred to tertiary medical facilities, reevaluated HR-HPV genotype and categorized based on cytological and histopathological results. The risk of cytologic/histopathology abnormalities and ≧ high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL) or Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) 2 associated with individual genotypes and related multiple HPV infections are calculated. RESULTS: A total of 1677 women aged between 21 and 77 were finally included in the present study. The cytology group included 1202 women and the histopathological group included 475 women with at least one HR-HPV infection of any genotype. We only observed a higher risk of low grade cytological abnormalities in women with multiple infections than those in corresponding single infections (for all population with an OR of 1.85[1.39-2.46]; p < 0.05). However, this phenomenon was not observed in histopathology abnormalities (CIN1). The risk of developing of ≥ HSIL/CIN2 in women who were infected with multiple HR-HPV also showed a similar profile to those with a single HR-HPV genotype. CONCLUSION: Multiple HR-HPV infections is only associated with a higher associated risk of low grade cytological abnormalities. There is no evidence of clinical benefit to identify the possible presence of multiple HR-HPV infection frequently in a short period of time for women with HR-HPV-DNA positive.

Low-Toxicity Self-Photosensitized Biohybrid Systems for Enhanced Light-Driven H2 Production.

Nanoparticles (NPs) represent a potential optoelectronic source capable of significantly boosting hydrogen production; however, their inevitable cytotoxicity may lead to oxidative damage of bacterial cell membranes. In this study, we employed non-photosynthetic Escherichia coli K-12 as a model organism and utilized self-assembled cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles to construct a low-toxicity and hydrogen-production-enhancing self-photosensitive hybrid system. To mitigate the cytotoxicity of CdS NPs and synthesize biocompatible CdS NPs on the cell surface, we employed engineered E. coli (efeB/OE) for bioremediation, achieving this goal through the overexpression of the peroxidase enzyme (EfeB). A comparative analysis with E. coli-CdS revealed a significant downregulation of genes encoding oxidative stress proteins in efeB/OE-CdS post-irradiation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed the stability of bacterial cell membranes. Due to the enhanced stability of the cell membrane, the hydrogen yield of the efeB/OE-CdS system increased by 1.3 times compared to the control, accompanied by a 49.1% reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) content. This study proposes an effective strategy to alleviate the toxicity of mixed biological nanoparticle systems and efficiently harness optoelectronic electrons, thereby achieving higher hydrogen production in bioremediation.

Unveiling the role of ferrous ion in driving microalgae granulation from salt-tolerant strains for mariculture wastewater treatment.

Development of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) from saline-adapted microalgae is a promising approach for efficient mariculture wastewater treatment, whereas the elusive mechanisms governing granulation have impeded its widespread adoption. In this study, spherical and regular MBGS were successfully developed from mixed culture of pure Spirulina platensis and Chlorella sp. GY-H4 at 10 mg/L Fe2+ concentration. The addition of Fe2+ was proven to induce the formation of Fe-precipitates which served as nucleation sites for microbial attachment and granulation initiation. Additionally, Fe2+ increased the prevalence of exopolysaccharide-producing cyanobacteria, i.e. Synechocystis and Leptolyngbya, facilitating microbial cell adhesion. Furthermore, it stimulated the secretion of extracellular proteins (particularly tryptophan and aromatic proteins), which acted as structural backbone for the development of spherical granule form microalgal flocs. Lastly, it fostered the accumulation of exogenous heterotrophic functional genera, resulting in the efficient removal of DOC (98 %), PO43--P (98 %) and NH4+-N (87 %). Nevertheless, inadequate Fe2+ hindered microalgal floc transformation into granules, excessive Fe2+ expanded the anaerobic zone within the granules, almost halved protein content in the TB-EPS, and inhibited the functional genes expression, ultimately leading to an irregular granular morphology and diminished nutrient removal. This research provides valuable insights into the mechanisms by which Fe2+ promotes the granulation of salt-tolerant microalgae, offering guidance for the establishment and stable operation of MBGS systems in mariculture wastewater treatment.

Regulating Electrolyte Solvation Structures via Diluent-Solvent Interactions for Safe High-Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries.

Local high concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) have been proved to be one of the most promising systems to stabilize both high voltage cathodes and Li metal anode for next-generation batteries. However, the solvation structures and interactions among different species in LHCEs are still convoluted, which bottlenecks the further breakthrough on electrolyte development. Here, it is demonstrated that the hydrogen bonding interaction between diluent and solvent is crucial for the construction of LHCEs and corresponding interphase chemistries. The 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl trifluoromethane sulfonate (TFSF) is selected as diluent with the solvent dimethoxy-ethane (DME) to prepare a non-flammable LHCE for high voltage LMBs. This is first find that the hydrogen bonding interaction between TFSF and DME solvent tailors the electrolyte solvation structures by weakening the coordination of DME molecules to Li+ cations and allows more participation of anions in the first solvation shell, leading to the formation of aggregates (AGGs) clusters which are conducive to generating inorganic solid/cathodic electrolyte interphases (SEI/CEIs). The proposed TFSF based LHCE enables the Li||NCM811 (LiNi0.8 Mn0.1 O2 ) batteries to realize >80% capacity retention with a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% for 230 cycles under aggressive conditions (NCM811 cathode: 3.4 mAh cm-2 , cut-off voltage: 4.4 V, and 20 µm Li foil).