Effect of carbaryl contamination on bioretention system nitrogen removal performance.

Stormwater runoff is the main source of carbaryl in natural waters; bioretention cells can effectively retain and remove carbaryl from stormwater runoff. However, the accumulation of carbaryl in the bioretention cell impacts its stormwater purification ability, especially nitrogen removal performance. To investigate the mechanisms behind the influence of carbaryl in stormwater runoff on the nitrogen removal performance of bioretention cells, the purification of carbaryl in bioretention facilities was compared under four carbaryl concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/L); the effects of carbaryl input on nitrogen removal and the microbial community structure inside the filler were analyzed. After entering the bioretention cell, carbaryl was mainly adsorbed within the filler at a depth of 10-30 cm, and the desorption-adsorption process continued during subsequent rainfall. Carbaryl input negatively affected the denitrification performance of the bioretention cell. The removal rate of nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) decreased by 61.13-100.09%, and that of total nitrogen (TN) was reduced by 24.82-38.95%. Carbaryl accumulation reduced the abundance and diversity of microorganisms in the bioretention cell. The relative abundance of some denitrifying bacteria genera (Terrimonas, Bdellovibrio, Aquabacterium, Ohtaekwangia, Sphingomonas, and SWB02) also decreased, which was the main reason for the decrease in the nitrogen removal performance.

Cu-Promoted Divergent Phosphination of Alkynylsulfonium Salts with Diarylphosphines.

An efficient copper-promoted divergent phosphination of alkynylsulfonium salts 1 with secondary diarylphosphines 2 that tolerates a wide range of functional groups under mild conditions is reported. The use of excess alkynyl dibenzothiophenium salts (1/2 > 1, mole ratio) enables the phosphination to deliver alkynyl monophosphine products via a C(sp)-P cross-coupling in good to high yields, while the use of excess secondary diarylphosphines (1/2 < 0.5, mole ratio) leads to a type of cis-ethenyl bisphosphine products via sequential stereoselective double phosphination.

Comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of ACSS3 as a biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy response.

Background: ACSS3 (acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 3) is found in numerous tissues and is linked to tumor cell type development and metastasis. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of ACSS3. The TCGA (Cancer Genome Atlas), CPTAC (Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium), and HPA databases were used to ascertain the connection between ACSS3 and various types of tumors. Genes in the TCGA database would be identified using cBioPortal queries, and their transcriptome expression would then be verified using GEO data. ACSS3 expression and cellular localization in various tumor tissues of most cancer types were analyzed using single-cell sequencing data from the TISCH database. According to HPA and CPTAC databases, we analyzed and evaluated protein expression levels. Predictive analysis based on precise survival data of ACSS3 expression levels for 26 cancer types predicted using the TCGA database. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between ACSS3 and immune microenvironments in different tumor tissues using the TIMER and TISCH databases. CellMiner, GDSC, and CTRP data would clarify the relationship between ACSS3 and drug resistance and explore the chemicals that affect ACSS3 expression. The final part of our study explored and validated the role ACSS3 played in glioma proliferation, migration, and invasion. Results: ACSS3 is differentially expressed in various tumors and exhibits early diagnostic value. ACSS3 expression is associated with clinical features, and high ACSS expression anticipates a worse prognosis in multiple tumors and may impact drug sensitivity. The changes in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of gliomas are closely related to the upregulation of ACSS3. Conclusions: ACSS3 is a novel biomarker for forecasting different human cancer prognoses, as it can influence the biological process by modulating the immune microenvironment. ACSS3 is a critical prognostic factor for glioma and is related to its proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Exploratory application of a cannulation model in recently weaned pigs to monitor longitudinal changes in the enteric microbiome across varied porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection statuses.

Introduction: The enteric microbiome and its possible modulation to improve feed conversion or vaccine efficacy is gaining more attention in pigs. Weaning pigs from their dam, along with many routine procedures, is stressful. A better understanding of the impact of this process on the microbiome may be important for improving pig production. The objective of this study was to develop a weaner pig cannulation model, thus allowing ileum content collection from the same pig over time for 16S rRNA sequencing under different porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection statuses. Methods: A total of 15 3-week-old pigs underwent abdominal surgery and were fitted with an ileum cannula, with ileum contents collected over time. In this pilot study, treatment groups included a NEG-CONTROL group (no vaccination, no PRRSV challenge), a POS-CONTROL group (no vaccination, challenged with PRRSV), a VAC-PRRSV group (vaccinated, challenged with PRRSV), a VAC-PRO-PRRSV group (vaccinated, supplemented with a probiotic, challenged with PRRSV), and a VAC-ANTI-PRRSV group (vaccinated, administered an antibiotic, challenged with PRRSV). We assessed the microbiome over time and measured anti-PRRSV serum antibodies, PRRSV load in serum and nasal samples, and the severity of lung lesions. Results: Vaccination was protective against PRRSV challenge, irrespective of other treatments. All vaccinated pigs mounted an immune response to PRRSV within 1 week after vaccination. A discernible impact of treatment on the diversity, structure, and taxonomic abundance of the enteric microbiome among the groups was not observed. Instead, significant influences on the ileum microbiome were observed in relation to time and treatment. Discussion: The cannulation model described in this pilot study has the potential to be useful in studying the impact of weaning, vaccination, disease challenge, and antimicrobial administration on the enteric microbiome and its impact on pig health and production. Remarkably, despite the cannulation procedures, all vaccinated pigs exhibited robust immune responses and remained protected against PRRSV challenge, as evidenced by the development of anti-PRRSV serum antibodies and viral shedding data.

Automatic Measurement of Loop Gain Based on Pseudorandom Binary Sequence CO2 Stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: Measurement of loop gain in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is of great importance for determining the cause of OSA and realizing precision medicine. In this study, automatic measurement of loop gain is carried out during wakefulness based on the pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) CO2 stimulation method. METHODS: A respiratory data acquisition platform is designed and constructed to automate the processes of gas configuration, ventilatory stimulation with CO2 and data acquisition. The respiratory data are substituted into the model of the ventilatory control system for parameter identification, and the loop gain values are calculated and then compared with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) measured in a hypoxia chamber. RESULTS: A positive correlation is found between loop gain and AHI measured in the hypoxia chamber, with the linear correlation coefficient of approximately 0.65. CONCLUSION: The feasibility of automatic measurement of loop gain using the respiratory data acquisition platform based on the PRBS CO2 stimulation method is validated, and the measured loop gain values can be used to assess the stability of ventilatory control. SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides an automated, rapid, and instrumented solution for loop gain measurement, laying the foundation for wide-scale clinical application of the PRBS CO2 stimulation method.

Long-term exposure to dimefluthrin inhibits the growth of Acrossocheilus fasciatus.

Dimefluthrin (DIM) is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide commonly used for the control of pests, particularly for mosquitoes and other flying insects. However, the effects of DIM on non-target aquatic organisms are not known. In this study, we evaluated the long-term effects of DIM on juvenile Acrossocheilus fasciatus (a species of teleost fish) by exposing them to two different concentrations (0.8 µg/L and 4 µg/L) for 60 days. After 60 d of exposure, DIM induced a significant decrease in body weight and irregular, diffused villi in the intestines of A. fasciatus, accompanied by alterations in the expression of immune-related genes. Furthermore, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), all downregulated genes were enriched in processes such as small molecule/cellular amino acid metabolism, generation of precursor metabolites and energy, and phosphatase activity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that the downregulated genes were associated with processes such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, intestinal immune network for IgA production, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and antigen processing and presentation. In contrast, upregulated DEGs were linked to processes such as necroptosis, phototransduction, and Hippo signaling pathway. These results demonstrate the potential toxicity of DIM to non-target aquatic organisms, indicating the broader ecological implications of its use.

Transcriptomic response to nitrogen availability reveals signatures of adaptive plasticity during tetraploid wheat domestication.

The domestication of crops, coupled with agroecosystem development, is associated with major environmental changes and provides an ideal model of phenotypic plasticity. Here, we examined 32 genotypes of three tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) subspecies, wild emmer, emmer, and durum wheat, which are representative of the key stages in the domestication of tetraploid wheat. We developed a pipeline that integrates RNA-Seq data and population genomics to assess gene expression plasticity and identify selection signatures under diverse nitrogen availability conditions. Our analysis revealed differing gene expression responses to nitrogen availability across primary (wild emmer to emmer) and secondary (emmer to durum wheat) domestication. Notably, nitrogen triggered the expression of twice as many genes in durum wheat compared to that in emmer and wild emmer. Unique selection signatures were identified at each stage: primary domestication mainly influenced genes related to biotic interactions, whereas secondary domestication affected genes related to amino acid metabolism, in particular lysine. Selection signatures were found in differentially expressed genes (DEGs), notably those associated with nitrogen metabolism, such as the gene encoding glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). Overall, our study highlights the pivotal role of nitrogen availability in the domestication and adaptive responses of a major food crop, with varying effects across different traits and growth conditions.

Transcriptome study reveals tick immune genes restrict Babesia microti infection.

A systems biology approach was employed to gain insight into tick biology and interactions between vectors and pathogens. Haemaphysalis longicornis serves as one of the primary vectors of Babesia microti, significantly impacting human and animal health. Obtaining more information about their relationship is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of tick and pathogen biology, pathogen transmission dynamics, and potential control strategies. RNA sequencing of uninfected and B. microti-infected ticks resulted in the identification of 15 056 unigenes. Among these, 1 051 were found to be differentially expressed, with 796 being upregulated and 255 downregulated (P < 0.05). Integrated transcriptomics datasets revealed the pivotal role of immune-related pathways, including the Toll, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), immunodeficiency, and RNA interference (RNAi) pathways, in response to infection. Consequently, 3 genes encoding critical transcriptional factor Dorsal, Relish, and STAT were selected for RNAi experiments. The knockdown of Dorsal, Relish, and STAT resulted in a substantial increase in Babesia infection levels compared to the respective controls. These findings significantly advanced our understanding of tick-Babesia molecular interactions and proposed novel tick antigens as potential vaccine targets against tick infestations and pathogen transmission.

Sea Urchin-Like NiCo-LDH Hollow Spheres Anchored on 3D Graphene Aerogel for High-Performance Supercapacitors.

To enhance the inherent poor conductivity and low cycling stability of dimetallic layered double hydroxides (LDHs) materials, designing a synergistic effect between EDLC capacitors and pseudocapacitors is an efficient strategy. In this paper, we utilized a solvothermal technique employing Co-glycerate as a precursor to prepare sea urchin-like NiCo-LDH hollow spheres anchored on a 3D graphene aerogel. The unique morphology of these hollow microspheres significantly expand the specific surface area and exposes more active sites, while reducing the volume changes of materials during long-term charging and discharging processes. The 3D graphene aerogel serves as a conductive skeleton, improving the material's electrical conductivity and buffering high current. The sea urchin-like NiCo-LDH hollow spheres anchored on 3D graphene aerogel (H-NiCo-LDH@GA) has a specific surface area of 51 m2 g-1 and the ID/IG value is 1.02. The H-NiCo-LDH@GA demonstrate a significant specific capacitance of 236.8 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1, with a remarkable capacity retention rate of 63.1 % even at 20 A g-1. Even after 8000 cycles at 10 A g-1, the capacity retention still remains at 96.3 %, presenting excellent cycling stability.

Opening and Constructing Stable Lithium-ion Channels within Polymer Electrolytes.

Lithium-ion batteries play an integral role in various aspects of daily life, yet there is a pressing need to enhance their safety and cycling stability. In this study, we have successfully developed a highly secure and flexible solid-state polymer electrolyte (SPE) through the in situ polymerization of allyl acetoacetate (AAA) monomers. This SPE constructed an efficient Li+ transport channel inside and effectively improved the solid-solid interface contact of solid-state batteries to reduce interfacial impedance. Furthermore, it exhibited excellent thermal stability, an ionic conductivity of 3.82×10-4 S cm-1 at room temperature (RT), and a Li+ transport number (tLi+) of 0.66. The numerous oxygen vacancies on layered inorganic SiO2 created an excellent environment for TFSI- immobilization. Free Li+ migrated rapidly at the C=O equivalence site with the poly(allyl acetoacetate) (PAAA) matrix. Consequently, when cycled at 0.5C and RT, it displayed an initial discharge specific capacity of 140.6 mAh g-1 with a discharge specific capacity retention rate of 70 % even after 500 cycles. Similarly, when cycled at a higher rate of 5C, it demonstrated an initial discharge specific capacity of 132.3 mAh g-1 while maintaining excellent cycling stability.

Harnessing Ion-Dipole Interactions for Water-Lean Solvation Chemistry: Achieving High-Stability Zn Anodes in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

The reversibility and stability of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are largely limited by water-induced interfacial parasitic reactions. Here, dimethyl(3,3-difluoro-2-oxoheptyl)phosphonate (DP) is introduced to tailor primary solvation sheath and inner-Helmholtz configurations for robust zinc anode. Informed by theoretical guidance on solvation process, DP with high permanent dipole moments can effectively substitute the coordination of H2O with charge carriers through relatively strong ion-dipolar interactions, resulting in a water-lean environment of solvated Zn2+. Thus, interfacial side reactions can be suppressed through a shielding effect. Meanwhile, lone-pair electrons of oxygen and fluorinated features of DP also reinforce the interfacial affinity of metallic zinc, associated with exclusion of neighboring water to facilitate reversible zinc planarized deposition. Thus, these merits endow the Zn anode with a high-stability performance exceeds 3800 hours at 0.5 mA cm-2 and 0.5 mAh cm-2 for Zn||Zn batteries and a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.8 % at 4 mA cm-2 and 1 mAh cm-2 for Zn||Cu batteries. Benefiting from the stable zinc anode, the Zn||NH4V4O10 cell maintains 80.3 % of initial discharge capacity after 3000 cycles at 5 A g-1 and exhibits a high retention rate of 99.4 % against to the initial capacity during the self-discharge characterizations.

Questions From Family Members During the Dying Process And Moral Distress Experienced by ICU Nurses.

BACKGROUND: For a hospitalized patient, transitioning to comfort measures only (CMO) involves discontinuation of life-prolonging interventions with a goal of allowing natural death. Nurses play a pivotal role during the provision of CMO, caring for both the dying patient and their family. OBJECTIVE: To examine the experiences of ICU nurses caring for patients receiving CMO. METHODS: Between October 2020 and June 2021, nurses in the neuro- and medical-cardiac intensive care units at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA, completed surveys about their experiences providing CMO. Surveys addressed involvement in discussions about CMO and questions asked by family members of dying patients. We also assessed nurses' moral distress related to CMO and used ordinal logistic regression to examine predictors of moral distress. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 82 nurses (response rate 44%), with 79 (96%) reporting experience providing CMO in the previous year. Most preferred to be present for discussions between physicians or advanced practice providers and family members about transitioning to CMO (89% most of the time or always); however, only 31% were present most of the time or always. Questions from family about time to death, changes in breathing, and medications to relieve symptoms were common. Most nurses reported moral distress at least some of the time when providing CMO (62%). Feeling well-prepared to answer specific questions from family was associated with less moral distress. CONCLUSION: There is discordance between nurses' preferences for inclusion in discussions about the transition to CMO and their actual presence. Moral distress is common for nurses when providing CMO and feeling prepared to answer questions from family members may attenuate distress.

Hydrogeochemical characterization, quality assessment, and potential nitrate health risk of shallow groundwater in Dongwen River Basin, North China.

Assessing groundwater geochemical formation processes and pollution circumstances is significant for sustainable watershed management. In the present study, 58 shallow groundwater samples were taken from the Dongwen River Basin (DRB) to comprehensively assess the hydrochemical sources, groundwater quality status, and potential risks of NO3- to human health. Based on the Box and Whisker plot, the cation's concentration followed the order of Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+, while anions' mean levels were HCO3- > SO42- > NO3- > Cl-. The NO3- level in groundwater samples fluctuated between 4.2 and 301.3 mg/L, with 67.2% of samples beyond the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (50 mg/L) for drinking. The Piper diagram indicated the hydrochemical type of groundwater and surface water were characterized as Ca·Mg-HCO3 type. Combining ionic ratio analysis with principal component analysis (PCA) results, agricultural activities contributed a significant effect on groundwater NO3-, with soil nitrogen input and manure/sewage inputs also potential sources. However, geogenic processes (e.g., carbonates and evaporite dissolution/precipitation) controlled other ion compositions in the study area. The groundwater samples with higher NO3- values were mainly found in river valley regions with intense anthropogenic activities. The entropy weight water quality index (EWQI) model identified that the groundwater quality rank ranged from excellent (70.7%) and good (25.9%) to medium (3.4%). However, the hazard quotient (HQ) used in the human health risk assessment (HHRA) model showed that above 91.38% of groundwater samples have a NO3- non-carcinogenic health risk for infants, 84.48% for children, 82.76% for females, and 72.41% for males. The findings of this study could provide a scientific basis for the rational development and usage of groundwater resources as well as for the preservation of the inhabitants' health in DRB.

An Opportunity for Change: Principles for Reforming Internal Medicine Inpatient Conferences.

Inpatient educational conferences are a key part of internal medicine residency training. Many residencies made conferences virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are now returning to in-person sessions. As we navigate this change, we can seize this opportunity to re-evaluate the role that inpatient conferences serve in resident education. In this paper, we briefly review the history of inpatient educational conferences before offering five recommendations for improvement. Our recommendations include grounding conference formats in educational theory, leveraging the expertise of all potential educators, broadening content to include health equity and justice throughout all curricula, and explicitly focusing on cultivating community among participants. Recognizing that each residency program is different, we anticipate that these recommendations may be implemented differently based on program size, available resources, and current institutional practices. We also include examples of prior successful curricular reforms aligned with our principles. We hope these recommendations ensure inpatient conferences continue to be a central part of residency education for future generations of internal medicine residents.

Association of TNF-α, IGF-1, and IGFBP-1 levels with the severity of osteopenia in mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUNDS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) exhibits a close association with osteoporosis. This work aims to assess the potential effects of NAFLD on the progression of osteopenia in animal models. METHODS: Forty-eight C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided to wild-type (WT) group and high-fat diet (HFD) group. The corresponding detections were performed after sacrifice at 16, 24 and 32 weeks, respectively. RESULTS: At 16 weeks, an remarkable increase in body weight and lipid aggregation in the hepatocytes of HFD group was observed compared to the WT group, while the bone structure parameters showed no significant difference. At 24 weeks, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in NAFLD mice were significantly increased, while the level of osteoprotegerin mRNA in bone tissue was decreased, and the level of receptor activator of nuclear factor Kappa-B ligand mRNA was increased. Meanwhile, the function of osteoclasts was increased, and the bone microstructure parameters showed significant changes. At 32 weeks, in the HFD mice, the mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), runt-related transcription factor 2, and osterix mRNA were reduced, while the insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) level was increased. Simultaneously, the osteoblast function was decreased, and the differences of bone structure parameters were more significant, showing obvious osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: The bone loss in HFD mice is pronounced as NAFLD progresses, and the changes of the TNF-α, IL-6, IGF-1, and IGFBP-1 levels may play critical roles at the different stages of NAFLD in HFD.

Erratum: Roadmap for phase change materials in photonics and beyond.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107946.].

Roadmap for phase change materials in photonics and beyond.

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) have demonstrated tremendous potential as a platform for achieving diverse functionalities in active and reconfigurable micro-nanophotonic devices across the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from terahertz to visible frequencies. This comprehensive roadmap reviews the material and device aspects of PCMs, and their diverse applications in active and reconfigurable micro-nanophotonic devices across the electromagnetic spectrum. It discusses various device configurations and optimization techniques, including deep learning-based metasurface design. The integration of PCMs with Photonic Integrated Circuits and advanced electric-driven PCMs are explored. PCMs hold great promise for multifunctional device development, including applications in non-volatile memory, optical data storage, photonics, energy harvesting, biomedical technology, neuromorphic computing, thermal management, and flexible electronics.

Designing a Multilayered Oxygen Barrier Structure to Tackle Oxidation Challenges in Phase-Change Memory for Improved Reliability.

Phase-change memory (PCM) is considered one of the most promising candidates for universal memory. However, during the manufacturing process of PCM, phase-change materials (PCMs) encounter severe oxidation, which can cause degraded performance and reduced stability of PCM, hindering its industrialization process. In this work, a multilayered oxygen barrier (MOB) structure is proposed to tackle this challenge. Material characterization shows that the MOB structure can significantly reduce the extent of oxidation of PCMs from around 70% to as low as around 10%, achieving a remarkably low level of oxidation. Moreover, the material in the MOB structure exhibits notable enhancements in crystallization temperature and cycling capability. The improved stability is attributed to the oxygen barrier effect and the suppression of elemental segregation within the material, which are both conferred by the MOB structure. In summary, this work provides an effective solution to address the oxidation of PCMs, offering valuable guidance for realizing a high-reliability PCM in practical production.

Combining decellularized adipose tissue with decellularized adventitia extravascular matrix or small intestinal submucosa matrix for the construction of vascularized tissue-engineered adipose.

Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ. It serves many important functions, such as energy storage, hormones secretion, and providing insulation, cushioning and aesthetics to the body etc. Adipose tissue engineering offers a promising treatment for soft tissue defects. Early adipose tissue production and long-term survival are closely associated with angiogenesis. Decellularized matrix has a natural ECM (extracellular matrix) component, good biocompatibility, and low immunogenicity. Therefore, in this study, the injectable composite hydrogels were developed to construct vascularized tissue-engineered adipose by using the pro-angiogenic effects of aortic adventitia extravascular matrix (Adv) or small intestinal submucosa (SIS), and the pro-adipogenic effects of decellularized adipose tissue (DAT). The composite hydrogels were cross-linked by genipin. The adipogenic and angiogenic abilities of composite hydrogels were investigated in vitro, and in a rat dorsal subcutaneous implant model. The results showed that DAT and SIS or Adv 1:1 composite hydrogel promoted the migration and tube formation of endothelial cells. Furthermore, DAT and SIS or Adv 1:1 composite hydrogel enhanced adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) through activation of PPARγ and C/EBPα. The in vivo studies further demonstrated that DAT with SIS or Adv in a 1:1 ratio also significantly promoted adipogenesis and angiogenesis. In addition, DAT with SIS or Adv in a 1:1 ratio hydrogel recruited macrophage population with enhanced M2-type macrophage polarization, suggesting a positive effect of inflammatory response on angiogenesis. In conclusion, these data suggest that the composite hydrogels of DAT with SIS or Adv in 1:1 ratio have apparent pro-adiogenic and angiogenic abilities, thus providing a promising cell-free tissue engineering biomaterial with broad clinical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) has emerged as an important biomaterial in adipose tissue regeneration. Early adipose tissue production and long-term survival is tightly related to the angiogenesis. The revascularization of the DAT is a key issue that needs to be solved in adipose regeneration. In this study, the injectable composite hydrogels were developed by using DAT with Adv (aortic adventitia extravascular matrix) or SIS (small intestinal submucosa) in different ratio. We demonstrated that the combination of DAT with SIS or Adv in 1:1 ratio effectively improved the proliferation of adipose stem cells and endothelial cells, and promoted greater adipose regeneration and tissue vascularization as compared to the DAT scaffold. This study provides the potential biomaterial for clinical soft tissue regeneration.

Targeting Haemaphysalis longicornis serpin to prevent tick feeding and pathogen transmission.

Serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins), identified from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis of China, play significant roles in various animal physiological processes. In this study, we showed that H. longicornis serpins (Hlserpin-a and Hlserpin-b) were induced during blood-feeding in nymph ticks and exhibited anticoagulation activity in vitro. Silencing Hlserpins through RNA interference (RNAi) significantly impaired tick feeding. Immunization of mice with recombinant Hlserpins or passive transfer of Hlserpin antiserum significantly curtails the efficacy of tick feeding. Concurrently, the transmission of the Langat virus (LGTV) from ticks to mice witnessed a substantial decrease when Hlserpins were silenced. Our findings suggest that inhibiting Hlserpins can hamper tick engorgement and pathogen transmission, indicating the potential of Hlserpins as a vaccine to counter tick-borne diseases.