BACKGROUND: Caenorhabditis elegans is a widely used model animal. Chemotaxis assay is one of the experiments that study the effects of different chemicals on nematodes. It is mainly used to study the effects of different chemicals on the perception behavior of nematodes. By conducting this experiment, not only can the neurotoxicity of chemicals be reflected, but also the impact of chemicals on physiological functions regulated by the nervous system, such as nematode feeding behavior and basic motor ability. OBJECTIVE: The experiment of detecting the response of nematode to chemicals is also a common method of chemical toxicity testing based on nematode models. In the analysis of worm tendency behavior, manual operations are generally used. Manually processing a large number of worms under a microscope is very time-consuming and labor-intensive. The current quantitative methods for nematode chemotaxis experiments are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also biased in experimental results due to differences in judgment standards among experimenters. The automatic and efficient quantification method for nematode chemotaxis experiments is a very important technical difficulty in the field of nematode experiments. METHODS: Here, we have designed an automatic quantification method for nematode chemotaxis experiments by incorporating image acquisition and processing techniques into the nematode experiment. RESULTS: The experimental results show that the Pearson correlation coefficient between manual and automatic counting results is 0.978. CONCLUSION: This proves the effectiveness of our method. Applying the automatic measurement method to replace manual counting by the experimenter can improve work efficiency, and reduce errors in human counting operations.
Sericulture has become widespread globally, and the utilization of artificial diets produces a substantial quantity of silkworm excrement. Although silkworm excrement can be composted for environmentally friendly disposal, the potential utility of the resulting compost remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of this unique compost and screen for eco-beneficial microbes, providing a new perspective on microbial research in waste management, especially in sustainable agriculture. The low-concentration compost application exhibited a greater plant growth-promoting effect, which was attributed to an appropriate nutritional value (N, P, K, and dissolved organic matter) and the presence of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) within the compost. Encouraged by the "One Health" concept, the eco-benefits of potent PGPB, namely, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus licheniformis, in sericulture were further evaluated. For plants, K. pneumoniae and B. licheniformis increased plant weight by 152.44 % and 130.91 %, respectively. We also found that even a simple synthetic community composed of the two bacteria performed better than any single bacterium. For animals, K. pneumoniae significantly increased the silkworm (Qiufeng × Baiyu strain) cocoon shell weight by 111.94 %, which could increase sericulture profitability. We also elucidated the mechanism by which K. pneumoniae assisted silkworms in degrading tannic acid, a common plant-derived antifeedant, thereby increasing silkworm feed efficiency. Overall, these findings provide the first data revealing multiple beneficial interactions among silkworm excrement-derived microbes, plants, and animals, highlighting the importance of focusing on microbes in sustainable agriculture.
BACKGROUND: Circular RNA (circRNA) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the current understanding of the emerging function and mechanism of circ-RAPGEF5 in CRC remains poorly understood. METHODS: We first evaluated the expression level of circ-RAPGEF5 in CRC tissues and cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Then, we analyzed cell proliferation (EdU and colony formation assay), migration (cell wound healing assay), invasion (transwell assay), and apoptosis (flow cytometry assay). To further elucidate the mechanism of circ-RAPGEF5 in CRC, bioinformatics tools, Dual-luciferase reporter assay, Ago2 RNA immunoprecipitation assay, and RNA pull-down assay were employed. Moreover, we established a CRC transplantation tumor model to evaluate the effect of circ-RAPGEF5 on tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: circ-RAPGEF5 was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and CRC cells. Furthermore, the downregulation of circ-RAPGEF5 restrained CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro. Mechanistically, circ-RAPGEF5 accelerated the malignant behaviors of CRC cells by sponging miR-545-5p, which targeted polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3 (GALNT3). In addition, we revealed that circ-RAPGEF5 silence curbed tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION: These findings revealed that circ-RAPGEF5 played an oncogenic role through the miR-545-5p/GALNT3 axis in CRC progression, providing potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of CRC.
Baculoviruses enter insect midgut epithelial cells via a set of occlusion-derived virion (ODV) envelope proteins called per os infectivity factors (PIFs). P74 of Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), which was the first identified PIF, is cleaved by an endogenous proteinase embedded within the occlusion body during per os infection, but the target site(s) and function of the cleavage have not yet been ascertained. Here, based on bioinformatics analyses, we report that cleavage was predicted at an arginine and lysine-rich region in the middle of P74. A series of recombinant viruses with site-directed mutants in this region of P74 were generated. R325 or R334 was identified as primary cleavage site. In addition, we showed that P74 is also cleaved by brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) of the host insect at R325 or R334, instead of R195, R196, and R199, as previously reported. Simultaneous mutations in R195, R196, and R199 lead to instability of P74 during ODV release. Bioassays showed that mutations at both R325 and R334 significantly affected oral infectivity. Taken together, our data show that both R325 and R334 of AcMNPV P74 are the primary cleavage site for both occlusion body endogenous proteinase and BBMV proteinase during ODV release and are critical for oral infection. IMPORTANCE: Cleavage of viral envelope proteins is usually an important trigger for viral entry into host cells. Baculoviruses are insect-specific viruses that infect host insects via the oral route. P74, a per os infectivity factor of baculoviruses, is cleaved during viral entry. However, the function and precise cleavage sites of P74 remain unknown. In this study, we found that R325 or R334 between the N- and C-conserved domains of P74 was the primary cleavage site by proteinase either from the occlusion body or host midgut. The biological significance of cleavage seems to be the release of the potential fusion peptide at the N-terminus of the cleaved C-terminal P74. Our results shed light on the cleavage model of P74 and imply its role in membrane fusion in baculovirus per os infection.
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are predominantly present in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and play a crucial role in shaping the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. These TAMs primarily exhibit a tumor-promoting M2-like phenotype, which is associated with the suppression of immune responses and facilitation of tumor progression. Interestingly, recent research has highlighted the potential of repolarizing TAMs from an M2 to a pro-inflammatory M1 status-a shift that has shown promise in impeding tumor growth and enhancing immune responsiveness. This concept is particularly intriguing as it offers a new dimension to cancer therapy by targeting the tumor microenvironment, which is a significant departure from traditional approaches that focus solely on tumor cells. However, the clinical application of TAM-modulating agents is often challenged by issues such as insufficient tumor accumulation and off-target effects, limiting their effectiveness and safety. In this regard, nanomaterials have emerged as a novel solution. They serve a dual role: as delivery vehicles that can enhance the accumulation of therapeutic agents in the tumor site and as TAM-modulators. This dual functionality of nanomaterials is a significant advancement as it addresses the key limitations of current TAM-modulating strategies and opens up new avenues for more efficient and targeted therapies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest mechanisms and strategies involving nanomaterials in modulating macrophage polarization within the TME. It delves into the intricate interactions between nanomaterials and macrophages, elucidating how these interactions can be exploited to drive macrophage polarization towards a phenotype that is more conducive to anti-tumor immunity. Additionally, the review explores the burgeoning field of TAM-associated nanomedicines in combination with tumor immunotherapy. This combination approach is particularly promising as it leverages the strengths of both nanomedicine and immunotherapy, potentially leading to synergistic effects in combating cancer.
BACKGROUND: Analysis of left atrial (LA) strain and left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) have prognostic value in cardiovascular diseases. However, the prognostic value of LA strain and LACI in patients with suspected myocarditis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate the prognostic value of LA strain and LACI in patients with suspected myocarditis and preserved LVEF in comparison with conventional MRI outcome predictors. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: One hundred sixty-five patients with clinically suspected myocarditis and preserved LVEF with available follow-up data. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: Steady-state free precession cine and phase-sensitive inversion recovery segmented gradient echo late gadolinium enhancement sequences at 3.0 T. ASSESSMENT: Left ventricular (LV) and LA strain were evaluated using feature tracking. LACI was calculated as the ratio of LA and LV volumes at LV end-diastole. Patients were followed-up with the primary endpoint being major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). STATISTICAL TESTS: Independent-samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test to compare patients with and without MACE, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to define high/low risk groups, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression to assess prognosis. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The associations of LV strain parameters (including global radial, circumferential, and longitudinal strain) and LACI with MACE were not significant (P = 0.511, 0.108, 0.148, and 0.847, respectively). An optimal LA conduit strain (Ôe) cutoff value of 10.4% was identified to best classify patients into low- and high-risk groups. Only Ôe was significantly associated with MACE in both univariable (hazards ratio [HR] 0.936, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.884-0.991) and multivariable Cox survival analyses (HR 0.937, 95% CI 0.884-0.994). DATA CONCLUSION: LA conduit strain has prognostic value in patients with suspected myocarditis and preserved LVEF, incremental to conventional MRI outcome predictors, whereas LACI was not associated with MACE occurrence. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
The ammonia recovery from wastewater via electrochemical technologies represents a promising way for wastewater treatment, resource recovery, and carbon emissions reduction. However, chemicals consumption and reactors scalability of the existing electrochemical systems have become the key challenges for their development and application. In this study, a stacked transmembrane electro-chemisorption (sTMECS) system was developed to utilize authigenic acid and base on site for enhancing ammonia recovery from wastewater. The easily scaled up system was achieved via innovatively connecting the cathode chamber in a unit with the anode chamber in the adjacent unit by a hydrophobic gas permeable membrane (GPM). Thus, authigenic base at cathodes and authigenic acid at anodes could be utilized as stripper and absorbent on site to enhance the transmembrane chemisorption of ammonia. Continuous power supply, reducing the distances of electrodes to GPM and moderate aeration of the catholyte could promote ammonia recovery. Applied to the ammonia recovery from the simulated urine, the sTMECS under the current density 62.5 A/cm2 with a catholyte aeration rate of 3.2 L/(Lâ min) for operation time 4 h showed the transmembrane ammonia flux of 26.00 g N/(m2·h) and the system energy consumption of 10.5 kWh/kg N. Accordingly, the developed sTMECS system with chemicals saving, easy scale-up and excellent performance shows good prospects in recovering ammonia from wastewater.
Background: A diet high in purines can impair the function of the gut microbiota and disrupt purine metabolism, which is closely associated with the onset of hyperuricemia. Dietary regulation and intestinal health maintenance are key approaches for controlling uric acid (UA) levels. Investigating the impacts of fermented foods offers potential dietary interventions for managing hyperuricemia. Methods: In this study, we isolated a strain with potent UA-degrading capabilities from "Jiangshui", a fermented food product from Gansu, China. We performed strain identification and assessed its probiotic potential. Hyperuricemic quails, induced by a high-purine diet, were used to assess the UA degradation capability of strain JS-3 by measuring UA levels in serum and feces. Additionally, the UA degradation pathways were elucidated through analyses of the gut microbiome and fecal metabolomics. Results: JS-3, identified as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, was capable of eliminating 16.11% of uric acid (UA) within 72 h, rapidly proliferating and producing acid within 12 h, and surviving in the gastrointestinal tract. Using hyperuricemic quail models, we assessed JS-3's UA degradation capacity. Two weeks after the administration of JS-3 (2 × 108 cfu/d per quail), serum uric acid (SUA) levels significantly decreased to normal levels, and renal damage in quails was markedly improved. Concurrently, feces from the JS-3 group demonstrated a significant degradation of UA, achieving up to 49% within 24 h. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed JS-3's role in gut microbiota restoration by augmenting the probiotic community (Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides unclassified_f-Lachnospiraceae, and norank_fynorank_o-Clostridia_UCG-014) and diminishing the pathogenic bacteria (Macrococus and Lactococcus). Corresponding with the rise in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, JS-3 significantly increased SCFA levels (p < 0.05, 0.01). Additionally, JS-3 ameliorated metabolic disturbances in hyperuricemic quails, influencing 26 abnormal metabolites predominantly linked to purine, tryptophan, and bile acid metabolism, thereby enhancing UA degradation and renal protection. Conclusions: For the first time, we isolated and identified an active probiotic strain, JS-3, from the "Jiangshui" in Gansu, used for the treatment of hyperuricemia. It modulates host-microbiome interactions, impacts the metabolome, enhances intestinal UA degradation, reduces levels of SUA and fecal UA, alleviates renal damage, and effectively treats hyperuricemia without causing gastrointestinal damage. In summary, JS-3 can serve as a probiotic with potential therapeutic value for the treatment of hyperuricemia.
Aims: High lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] level has been demonstrated as an important risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) amongst the older populations, whereas its effects in the younger population remain unclear. This study evaluated the associations between Lp(a) and the risk of premature ASCVD. Method and results: PubMed and Embase were searched for related studies until 12 November 2023. Fifty-one studies including 100 540 participants were included. Mean age of patients ranged from 35.3 to 62.3 years. The proportion of male participants ranged from 0% to 100%. The mean follow-up was provided in five studies ranging from 1 year to 40 years. The definition of elevated Lp(a) varied among studies, such as >30â mg/dL, >50â mg/dL, the top tertiles, the top quartiles, the top quintiles, and so on. Higher Lp(a) was significantly associated with the composite ASCVD [odds ratio (OR): 2.15, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.53-3.02, P < 0.001], especially for coronary artery disease (OR: 2.44, 95% CI: 2.06-2.90, P < 0.001) and peripheral arterial disease (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.56-4.21, P < 0.001). This association remained significant in familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) (OR: 3.11, 95% CI: 1.63-5.96, P < 0.001) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.54-3.23, P < 0.001).Significant results were observed in South Asians (OR: 3.71, 95% CI: 2.31-5.96, P < 0.001), Caucasians (OR: 3.17, 95% CI: 2.22-4.52, P < 0.001), and patients with baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) level ≥ 2.6â mmol/L. Conclusion: Elevated Lp(a) predicts the risk of the composite or individual ASCVD in young, regardless of study design, gender, population characteristics (community or hospitalized), different premature definitions, and various Lp(a) measurement approaches. This association was important in South Asians, Caucasians, FH patients, T2DM patients, and patients with baseline LDL-c level ≥ 2.6â mmol/L.
Background: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a novel non-invasive and comprehensive technique for etiological diagnosis of infectious diseases. However, its practical significance has been seldom reported in the context of hematological patients with high-risk febrile neutropenia, a unique patient group characterized by neutropenia and compromised immune responses. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the results of plasma cfDNA sequencing in 164 hematological patients with high-risk febrile neutropenia. We assessed the diagnostic efficacy and clinical impact of mNGS, comparing it with conventional microbiological tests. Results: mNGS identified 68 different pathogens in 111 patients, whereas conventional methods detected only 17 pathogen types in 36 patients. mNGS exhibited a significantly higher positive detection rate than conventional methods (67.7% vs. 22.0%, P < 0.001). This improvement was consistent across bacterial (30.5% vs. 9.1%), fungal (19.5% vs. 4.3%), and viral (37.2% vs. 9.1%) infections (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). The anti-infective treatment strategies were adjusted for 51.2% (84/164) of the patients based on the mNGS results. Conclusions: mNGS of plasma cfDNA offers substantial promise for the early detection of pathogens and the timely optimization of anti-infective therapies in hematological patients with high-risk febrile neutropenia.
Febrile Neutropenia , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Metagenomics , Humans , Metagenomics/methods , Male , Retrospective Studies , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods , Female , Middle Aged , Febrile Neutropenia/microbiology , Febrile Neutropenia/blood , Febrile Neutropenia/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Young Adult , Adolescent , Aged, 80 and over , Bacterial Infections/diagnosis , Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Bacteria/genetics , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Bacteria/classification , Mycoses/diagnosis , Mycoses/microbiology , Virus Diseases/diagnosis , Virus Diseases/virology
The rice receptor kinase XA21 confers broad-spectrum resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal agent of rice bacterial blight disease. To investigate the relationship between the expression level of XA21 and resulting resistance, we generated independent HA-XA21 transgenic rice lines accumulating the XA21 immune receptor fused with an HA epitope tag. Whole-genome sequence analysis identified the T-DNA insertion sites in sixteen independent T0 events. Through quantification of the HA-XA21 protein and assessment of the resistance to Xoo strain PXO99 in six independent transgenic lines, we observed that XA21-mediated resistance is dose dependent. In contrast, based on the four agronomic traits quantified in these experiments, yield is unlikely to be affected by the expression level of HA-XA21. These findings extend our knowledge of XA21-mediated defense and contribute to the growing number of well-defined genomic landing pads in the rice genome that can be targeted for gene insertion without compromising yield.
Disease Resistance , Oryza , Plant Diseases , Plant Proteins , Plants, Genetically Modified , Xanthomonas , Xanthomonas/genetics , Oryza/microbiology , Oryza/genetics , Oryza/immunology , Plant Diseases/microbiology , Plant Diseases/immunology , Plant Diseases/genetics , Disease Resistance/genetics , Plant Proteins/genetics , Plant Proteins/metabolism , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a complex and life-threatening condition lacking specific and efficient clinical treatments. Extracellular histones, identified as a novel type of damage-associated molecular patterns, have been implicated in the inflammatory process of ALI. However, further elucidation is needed regarding the precise mechanism through which extracellular histones induce inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether extracellular histones can activate NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation in alveolar macrophages (AMs) by affecting TWIK2-dependent potassium efflux. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted experiments using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) C57BL/6 mice and extracellular histone-stimulated LPS-primed MH-S cells. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the levels of extracellular histones in the plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of CLP mice. Furthermore, neutralizing extracellular histone mitigated lung injury and inflammation in CLP-induced ALI mice. In vitro studies confirmed that extracellular histones upregulated the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation-related proteins in MH-S cells, and this effect was dependent on increased potassium efflux mediated by the TWIK2 channel on the plasma membrane. Moreover, extracellular histones directly triggered a substantial influx of calcium, leading to increased Rab11 activity and facilitating the trafficking and location of TWIK2 to the plasma membrane. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the critical role of extracellular histone-induced upregulation of TWIK2 expression on the plasma membrane of alveolar macrophages (AMs). This upregulation leads to potassium efflux and subsequent activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, ultimately exacerbating lung inflammation and injury during sepsis.
BACKGROUND: Universal varicella vaccination has been introduced in many countries, but there are a number of important differences in their vaccination strategies. It is essential to establish a vaccination program that can maximize the benefits of varicella vaccine, but there is a lack of comprehensive research on the effectiveness of varicella vaccine in different vaccination status. METHODS: Using data from population-based surveillance platforms we conducted a 1:2 matched case-control study. The cases were clinically diagnosed varicella with onset from 2017 to 2021, 1-14 years old in Chaoyang District, Beijing. The controls were matched according to date of birth (±1 month), sex and residence. The vaccination data of the subjects were obtained from the Childhood Immunization Information Management System in Beijing. Using conditional logistic regression models with or without interaction terms, we evaluated the effectiveness of varicella vaccine in different vaccination status. RESULTS: A total of 2528 cases and 5056 controls were enrolled. This study found that whether the time since last vaccination was adjusted had a substantial effect on the comparing vaccine effectiveness (VE) between subgroups. After adjustment for the time since last vaccination, 1) the incremental VE of 2-dose was 49.6 % (95 % Confidence Interval [CI], 38.8-58.6) compared with 1-dose (93.9 % vs. 88.0 %); 2) Among children who received one dose, the risk of chickenpox in children vaccinated at 18-23 months was 1.382 (95 %CI, 1.084-1.762) times that in children vaccinated at 12-17 months. 3) the VE with less than one, two, and three year intervals is higher than that with six-year-intervals (P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: When comparing VE between subgroups of different vaccination status, the time since last vaccination should be adjusted. The first dose of varicella vaccine should be given as early as the second year of life, and the second dose can improve vaccine effectiveness.
An organelle-selective vision provides insights into the physiological response of plants and crops to environmental stresses in sustainable agriculture ecosystems. Biological applications often require two-photon excited fluorophores with low phototoxicity, high brightness, deep penetration, and tuneable cell entry. We obtained three aniline-based squaraines (SQs) tuned from hydrophobic to hydrophilic characteristics by modifying terminal pendant groups and substituents, and investigated their steady-state absorption and far-red-emitting fluorescence properties. The SQs exhibited two-photon absorption (2PA) ranging from 750 to 870 nm within the first biological spectral window; their structure-property relationships, corresponding to the 2PA cross sections (δ2PA), and structure differences were demonstrated. The maximum δ2PA value was â¼1220 GM at 800 nm for hydrophilic SQ3. Distinct biological staining efficiency and selective SQ bioimaging were evaluated utilizing the onion epidermal cell model. Contrary to the hydrophobic SQ1 results in the onion epidermal cell wall, amphiphilic SQ2 tagged the vacuole and nucleus and SQ3 tagged the vacuole. Distinguishable staining profiles in the roots and leaves were achieved. We believe that this study is the first to demonstrate distinct visualisation efficiency induced by the structure differences of two-photon excited SQs. Our results can help establish the versatile roles of novel near-infrared-emitting SQs in biological applications.
Background and Aims: The effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in low programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in cervical cancer (CC) patients remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ICIs in low PD-L1 expression CC patients. Methods: The study is an individual patient data (IPD)-based meta-analysis. IPD were compiled through KMSubtraction and IPDfromKM methodologies from high-quality randomized clinical trials and single-arm studies which reported overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) stratified by PD-L1 expression. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were employed to evaluate the survival benefits of ICIs. Results: A total of eight studies and 1110 cases were included in the analysis. Within the low PD-L1 expression subgroup, ICI combination therapy, but not ICI monotherapy, demonstrated significant OS benefits over non-ICI treatment (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36-1.04, p = 0.06). Concerning PFS, ICI monotherapy was associated with a negative effect compared to non-ICI treatment (HR = 4.59, 95% CI: 2.32-9.07, p < 0.001). Notably, both OS and PFS outcomes were unfavorable for ICI monotherapy compared to both non-ICI and ICI combination therapy in the combined positive score <1 subgroup (OS: HR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.31-5.16, p = 0.008; PFS: HR = 7.59, 95% CI: 3.53-16.31, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In patients with CC and low PD-L1 expression, ICI monotherapy may not be considered as the optimal treatment strategy when compared to non-ICI treatment or ICI combination therapy. Registration: CRD42023395103.
The current energy crisis is worsening worldwide, and in China, urban expansion and per capita vehicle ownership have created a growing energy imbalance and increased pressure to reduce carbon emissions.The popularization of new energy vehicles (NEVs) can provide a step forward to solving energy shortage problems, environmental pollution, and global warming. In 2022, the average penetration rate, which is ratio of new energy vehicle sales to vehicle sales, is just 19.1 %. This paper analysed the reasons for the differences in the penetration rates of new energy vehicles in China's 269 prefecture-level cities, using a Geo Detector approach, and the results showed that the level of economic development, the average annual temperature difference, the density of charging piles, the charging price and the number of population all had significant effects(qï¼0.12) on the penetration rate. Based on the above studies, a questionnaire was used to investigate the public's acceptance of new energy vehicles in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and a PLS-SEM regression analysis was conducted. The results showed that men, young people and people with a certain level of basic education were 5 % more likely to accept new energy vehicles.Unlike previous studies, perceived cost had no significant correlation with the acceptance of new energy vehicles. Perceived risk had a significant negative correlation with the acceptance of new energy vehicles,the path coefficient is -0.1.The acceptance of new energy vehicles was significantly and positively correlated with vehicle quality and service, the public's understanding of new energy vehicles, and subjective norms, their average path coefficients are above 0.1. We argues that the government should maintain a certain level of promotion of new energy vehicles and accelerate the construction of charging piles, based on the aforementioned results.
Histone dopaminylation is a newly identified epigenetic mark that plays a role in the regulation of gene transcription, where an isopeptide bond is formed between the fifth amino acid residue of H3 ( i.e. , glutamine) and dopamine. In our previous studies, we discovered that the dynamics of this post-translational modification (including installation, removal, and replacement) were regulated by a single enzyme, transglutaminase 2 (TGM2), through reversible transamination. Recently, we developed a chemical probe to specifically label and enrich histone dopaminylation via bioorthogonal chemistry. Given this powerful tool, we found that histone H3 glutamine 5 dopaminylation (H3Q5dop) was highly enriched in colorectal tumors, which could be attributed to the high expression level of TGM2 in colon cancer cells. Due to the enzyme promiscuity of TGM2, non-histone proteins have also been identified as targets of dopaminylation on glutamine residues, however, the dopaminylated proteome in cancer cells still remains elusive. Here, we utilized our chemical probe to enrich dopaminylated proteins from colorectal cancer cells in a bioorthogonal manner and performed the chemical proteomics analysis. Therefore, 425 dopaminylated proteins were identified, many of which are involved in nucleic acid metabolism and transcription pathways. More importantly, a number of modification sites of these dopaminylated proteins were identified, attributed to the successful application of our chemical probe. Overall, these findings shed light on the significant association between cellular protein dopaminylation and cancer development, further suggesting that to block the installation of protein dopaminylation may become a promising anti-cancer strategy.
Photinia × fraseri is a well-known ornamental shrub in southern China. In December 2021, we observed leaf spots that were circular to irregular, gray with dark red margins and violet brown with brownish violet edges on the leaves of Photinia × fraseri shrubs in the scenic area of Shenlongtan (28°46'10â³N, 115°42'93â³E), Jiangxi Province, China. Almost 15% of the leaves in the 1300 m2 Photinia × fraseri planting area were symptomatic. Thirty symptomatic leaves were randomly collected from different plants, and sectioned into 5-mm2 pieces, which were surface-sterilized using 1% NaOCl for 30 s. After rinsing thrice in sterile distilled water and drying, the pieces were transferred onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 28 â for 5-7 days. A total of sixteen morphologically similar isolates were obtained. After incubation on PDA for 20 days, the fungi had irregular edges, were white to pale brown, and had spare aerial mycelium on the surface with irregularly distributed black, gregarious conidiomata. Conidia were fusoid, subcylindrical, straight to slightly curved, 4-septated, slightly constricted at the septa, and 23 to 36 × 6 to 10 µm (mean: 27.6 × 7.7 µm). The morphological characteristics were consistent with the features of Pseudopestalotiopsis species (Maharachchikumbura et al. 2014). The genomic DNA of two representative isolates (JFRL032 and JFRL033) was extracted for further identification. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, translation elongation factor 1-É (tef1-É) and ß-tubulin (tub2) genes were amplified and sequenced using primers ITS5/ITS4, EF1-526F/EF1-1567R, and Bt2A/Bt2B, respectively (Maharachchikumbura et al. 2012). The sequences of the two representative isolates were 100% identical to each other. These nucleotide sequences were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers, ON342794 and ON342795 (ITS); ON375851 and ON375852 (tef1-É); ON375853 and ON375854 (tub2). BLASTn searches of the obtained sequences revealed 99%-100% to ITS (MG816316, 478/478 nucleotides), tef1-É (MG816336, 924/926 nucleotides), tub2 (MG816326, 441/442 nucleotides) sequences of the ex-type strain of Pseudopestalotiopsis ixorae (NTUCC17-001.1). Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the concatenation of multiple sequences (ITS, tef1-É and tub2) with the Maximum likelihood statistics in PhyloSuite v1.2.2 (Zhang et al.2020). The phylogenetic tree showed the two isolates clustered with P. ixorae in a clade with 100% bootstrap support. The isolates were identified as P. ixorae based on morphological and molecular data. To confirm pathogenicity, eight healthy leaves of 3-year-old Photinia × fraseri were surface sterilized, scratched with a pair of sterilized tweezers, and ten µl of conidial suspension (106 conidia/ml) was sprayed on the injured leaves and the control was sprayed with sterile distilled water. Then, All plants were potted in a climate chamber at 25â and 85% relative humidity. After 3 days, leaf spot symptoms similar to those described above were observed on inoculated leaves, while the non-inoculated leaves remained symptomless. The pathogen was reisolated from the inoculated leaves to fulfill Koch's postulates and confirmed as P. ixorae by morphological and molecular analysis. It has been reported that P. ixorae can infect the Ixora plant (Tsai et al., 2018). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. ixorae causing leaf spot on Photinia × fraseri in China. The study provides valuable information for identifying and controlling the leaf spot on Photinia × fraseri.
BACKGROUND: Fertilization failure often occurs in conventional IVF cycles, and day 1 rescue ICSI is frequently recommended. In this study, the effect of rescue ICSI on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes after a single blastocyst transfer in vitrified-warmed cycles is evaluated. METHODS: This cohort study was a retrospective analysis of 703 vitrified-warmed single blastocyst transfers and 219 singletons in the r-ICSI group compared with 11,611 vitrified-warmed single blastocyst transfers in the IVF/ICSI and 4472 singletons in the IVF/ICSI group, respectively, and patients just undergoing their first IVF treatments were included in this study. Pregnancy rate (PR), live birth rate (LBR), and singleton birthweight were the primary outcome measures. Multiple linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the possible relationship between obstetrical and neonatal outcomes and fertilization method (including IVF, ICSI, and r-ICSI) after adjusting for other potential confounding factors. RESULTS: PR and the LBR were lower in the r-ICSI group compared with the IVF/ ICSI group. Singletons from the r-ICSI group had a higher Z-score and the proportion of large for gestational age (LGA) newborns was greater compared with singletons from the IVF/ICSI group. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicated that a 31% LBR after r-ICSI is acceptable for vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer, but the safety of transfer is a concern because of the lower PR and LBR compared with IVF/ICSI. The safety of r-ICSI newborns is also a concern because of the significantly higher birthweight and the proportion of LGA in r-ICSI group newborns compared with the IVF/ICSI group.
