N-doped carbon nanocage-anchored bismuth atoms for efficient CO2 reduction.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR) is a prospective but challenging method to decrease the CO2 concentration in the current atmosphere; in particular, the poor selectivity of the target product CO and large overpotentials limit its efficiency. Herein, we propose a top-down route to synthesize Bi single atoms (SAs) anchored by N-doped carbon (NCbox) nanoboxes starting from BiOCl nanoplates as the hard templates. In the CO2RR, the obtained Bi single-atom catalyst possesses remarkably-enhanced catalytic performance, achieving a maximal Faraday efficiency (FE) of 91.7% at -0.6 V, which is much higher than that of NCbox-supported Bi nanoparticles (NPs). Further investigations point out that the enhancement can be attributed to the unique coordination structure of the Bi SAs, as well as the fascinating properties of NCbox that can efficiently promote the electron transfer during the electro-catalysis.

Ecological drivers of avian diversity in a subtropical landscape: Effects of habitat diversity, primary productivity and anthropogenic disturbance.

Understanding the roles of ecological drivers in shaping biodiversity is fundamental for conservation practice. In this study, we explored the effects of elevation, conservation status, primary productivity, habitat diversity and anthropogenic disturbance (represented by human population density and birding history) on taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional avian diversity in a subtropical landscape in southeastern China. We conducted bird surveys using 1-km transects across a total of 30 sites, of which 10 sites were located within a natural reserve. Metrics of functional diversity were calculated based on six functional traits (body mass, clutch size, dispersal ratio, sociality, diet and foraging stratum). We built simultaneous autoregression models to assess the association between the ecological factors and diversity of the local avian communities. Local avian diversity generally increased with increasing habitat diversity, human population density and primary productivity. We also detected phylogenetic and functional clustering in these communities, suggesting that the avian assemblages were structured mainly by environmental filtering, rather than interspecific competition. Compared with sites outside the natural reserve, sites within the natural reserve had relatively lower avian diversity but a higher level of phylogenetic heterogeneity.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB protects dopaminergic neurons via activation of Akt/ERK/CREB pathways to upregulate tyrosine hydroxylase.

AIMS: The neurotropic growth factor PDGF-BB was shown to have vital neurorestorative functions in various animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous studies indicated that the regenerative property of PDGF-BB contributes to the increased intensity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) fibers in vivo. However, whether PDGF-BB directly modulates the expression of TH, and the underlying mechanism is still unknown. We will carefully examine this in our current study. METHOD: MPTP-lesion mice received PDGF-BB treatment via intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) administration, and the expression of TH in different brain regions was assessed by RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry staining. The molecular mechanisms of PDGF-BB-mediated TH upregulation were examined by RT-PCR, Western blot, ChIP assay, luciferase reporter assay, and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: We validated a reversal expression of TH in MPTP-lesion mice upon i.c.v administration of PDGF-BB for seven days. Similar effects of PDGF-BB-mediated TH upregulation were also observed in MPP+ -treated primary neuronal culture and dopaminergic neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y cells. We next demonstrated that PDGF-BB rapidly activated the pro-survival PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways, as well as the downstream CREB in SH-SY5Y cells. We further confirmed the significant induction of p-CREB in PDGF-BB-treated animals in vivo. Using a genetic approach, we demonstrated that the transcription factor CREB is critical for PDGF-BB-mediated TH expression. The activation and nucleus translocation of CREB were promoted in PDGF-BB-treated SH-SY5Y cells, and the enrichment of CREB on the promoter region of TH gene was also increased upon PDGF-BB treatment. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that PDGF-BB directly regulated the expression of TH via activating the downstream Akt/ERK/CREB signaling pathways. Our finding will further support the therapeutic potential of PDGF-BB in PD, and provide the possibility that targeting PDGF signaling can be harnessed as an adjunctive therapy in PD in the future.

Conditional deficiency of m6A methyltransferase Mettl14 in substantia nigra alters dopaminergic neuron function.

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal modification in messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of eukaryotes and plays a vital role in post-transcriptional regulation. Recent studies demonstrated that m6A is essential for the normal function of the central nervous system (CNS), and the deregulation of m6A leads to a series of CNS diseases. However, the functional consequences of m6A deficiency within the dopaminergic neurons of adult brain are elusive. To evaluate the necessity of m6A in dopaminergic neuron functions, we conditionally deleted Mettl14, one of the most important part of m6A methyltransferase complexes, in the substantia nigra (SN) region enriched with dopaminergic neurons. By using rotarod test, pole test, open-field test and elevated plus maze, we found that the deletion of Mettl14 in the SN region induces impaired motor function and locomotor activity. Further molecular analysis revealed that Mettl14 deletion significantly reduced the total level of m6A in the mRNA isolated from SN region. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), an essential enzyme for dopamine synthesis, was also down-regulated upon Mettl14 deletion, while the activation of microglia and astrocyte was enhanced. Moreover, the expression of three essential transcription factors in the regulation of TH including Nurr1, Pitx3 and En1, with abundant m6A-binding sites on their RNA 3'-untranslated regions (UTR), was significantly decreased upon Mettl14 deletion in SN. Our finding first confirmed the significance of m6A in maintaining normal dopaminergic function in the SN of adult mouse.

Molecular Mechanism of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)-BB-Mediated Protection Against MPP+ Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Cells.

As an important endogenous growth factor, PDGF-BB can effectively promote neurogenesis, thus is considered as a potential agent for Parkinson's disease (PD) therapy. However, the protective function of PDGF-BB on neuronal cells, especially the molecular mechanism, remains less clear, which is needed to explore before its clinical practice. In this study, we investigated the function and mechanism of PDGF-BB against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, a widely used cellular tool for PD-related molecular study. Our results indicated that PDGF-BB exerts a prominent protective effect against neurotoxin MPP+-triggered ROS generation and cellular loss. We further dissected the molecular mechanism involved in this process by using specific pharmacological inhibitors and validated that the distinct signaling pathways PI3K/Akt/GSK-3ß and MEK/ERK are involved in the process against MPP+ toxicity upon PDGF-BB treatment. We also detected that activation of upstream PI3K/Akt/GSK-3ß and MER/ERK signaling pathways contribute to phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the downstream effector cyclic response element-binding protein (CREB), a known transcription factor to exhibit neuroprotective and growth-promoting effects. Using genetic approach, we further confirmed that the activation of CREB is involved in PDGF-BB-mediated protection in MPP+-exposed SH-SY5Y cells. Together, these data demonstrated the protective effect of PDGF-BB in MPP+-mediated toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and verified the involved molecular mechanism in PDGF-BB-mediated neuroprotection.

High mobility group nucleosomal binding 2 reduces integrin α5/ß1-mediated adhesion of Klebsiella pneumoniae on human pulmonary epithelial cells via nuclear factor I.

It has been reported that high mobility group nucleosomal binding domain 2 (HMGN2) is a nucleus-related protein that regulates gene transcription and plays a critical role in bacterial clearance. An elevated level of HMGN2 reduced integrin α5/ß1 expression of human pulmonary epithelial A549 cells was demonstrated during Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, thus weakening bacterial adhesion and invasion. However, the mechanism by which HMGN2 regulates integrin expression remains unclear. This study found that a transcription factor-nuclear factor I (NFI), which serves as the potential target of HMGN2 regulated integrin expression. The results showed that HMGN2 was able to promote NFIA and NFIB expression by increasing H3K27 acetylation of NFIA/B promoter regions. The integrin α5/ß1 expression was significantly enhanced by knockdown of NFIA/B via a siRNA approach. Meanwhile, NFIA/B silence could also compromise the inhibition effect of HMGN2 on the integrin α5/ß1 expression. Mechanistically, it was demonstrated that HMGN2 facilitated the recruitment of NFI on the promoter regions of integrin α5/ß1 according to the chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. In addition, it was further demonstrated that the knockdown of NFIA/B induced more adhesion of Klebsiella pneumoniae on pulmonary epithelial A549 cells, which could be reversed by the application of an integrin inhibitor RGD. The results revealed a regulatory role of HMGN2 on the transcription level of integrin α5/ß1, indicating a potential treatment strategy against Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced infectious lung diseases.

Pre-accumulation and in-situ destruction of diclofenac by a photo-regenerable activated carbon fiber supported titanate nanotubes composite material: Intermediates, DFT calculation, and ecotoxicity.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been widely detected in ecosystems. However, effective water purification technologies for PPCPs degradation are lacking. In this work, an active activated carbon fiber supported titanate nanotubes (TNTs@ACF) composite was synthesized via one-step hydrothermal process, which was applied for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of PPCPs under simulated solar light. Characterizations indicated that the successful grafting of TNTs onto ACF was achieved and surface modification occurred. Diclofenac (DCF, a model PPCPs) was rapidly adsorbed onto TNTs@ACF, and subsequently photodegraded (98.8 %) under solar light within 2 h. TNTs@ACF also performed well over a wide range of pH, and was resistant to humic acid. The good adsorption and photocatalytic activity of TNTs@ACF was attributed to the well-defined hybrid structure, enabling corporative adsorption of DCF by TNTs and ACF, and extending the light absorbance to visible region. Furthermore, the description of degradation pathway and evaluation of ecotoxicity for DCF and its intermediates/byproduct were proposed based on experimental analysis, density functional theory (DFT) calculation and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis, respectively, indicating the photocatalytic degradation of DCF can offer the step-by-step de-toxicity. Our study is expected to offer new strategy as "pre-accumulation and in-situ destruction" for environmental application.

Efficient adsorption of europium (III) and uranium (VI) by titanate nanorings: Insights into radioactive metal species.

Radioactive wastewater containing high concentration of radionuclides poses severe threats to ecosystem and human health, so efficient removal of these toxic heavy metals is urgently needed. Titanate nanomaterials have been demonstrated good adsorbents for heavy metals due to ion exchange property. In this study, titanate nanorings (TNRs) were synthesized using the facile hydrothermal-cooling method. The TNRs were composed of sodium trititanate, with a chemical formula of Na0.66H1.34Ti3O7•0.27H2O and a Na content of 2.38 mmol/g. The TNRs demonstrated sufficient adsorption performance to radionuclides europium (Eu) and uranium (U) ions. Specifically, even at a high initial concentration of 50 mg/L, 86.5% and 92.6% of the two metal ions can be rapidly adsorbed by the TNRs within 5 min, and equilibrium was reached within 60 min at pH 5. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q max) obtained by the Langmuir isotherm model was 115.3 mg/g for Eu(III) and 282.5 mg/g for uranium U(VI) at pH 5, respectively. The adsorption capacities of the two metals under various water chemical conditions were highly related to their species. Ion exchange between metal cations and Na+ in the TNR interlayers was the dominant adsorption mechanism, and adsorption of U(VI) was more complicated because of the co-existence of various uranyl (UO2 2+) and uranyl-hydroxyl species. The spent TNRs were effectively regenerated through an acid-base or ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) treatment and reused. Considering the large adsorption capacity and quick kinetic, TNRs are promising materials to remove radionuclides in environmental purification applications, especially emergent treatment of leaked radionuclides.

Awareness of medical and health care APP of female college students and associated factors in Weifang / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand the awareness and influencing factors of medical healthcare APP among female college students in Weifang, and to provide references for healthy lifestyle and health literacy improvement.@*Methods@#A total of 891 female college students were selected by stratified random sampling method, and were investigated regrading awareness on medical and health care APP and associated factors. Data were statistically analyzed by composition ratio, CHI-square test and binary Logistic regression.@*Results@#There were 54.6% of the female college students who reported not aware of medical healthcare APP. The overall awareness rates of medical and health care APP for freshmen,sophomores, juniors, seniurs and above were 39.75%,45.59%,55.78% and 52.56%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=16.43，P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that medical costs, medical healthcare information attention, medical health care information recognition, consulting the treatment scheme were positively associated with awareness of health care APP(OR=1.40,1.51,1.27,1.33,P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The awareness rate of medical health care APP of female college students in Weifang is relatively low,and the difference between different groups is obvious. It is necessary to improve the scientific knowledge rate of the female college students to the APP, so as to influence the life style of the female college students.

Factors influencing the usage of medical and health care APP among female college students / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To investigate the usage of medical and health care APP among female college students, and to understand possible influencing factors, so as to provide reference for medical health care behaviors and personal health among college students.@*Methods@#A stratified random sampling method was used to select 891 female college students from 3 colleges in Weifang. A questionnaire survey on their concentration on their own health, the knowledge, cognition and behavior of medical and health care APP, and Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors.@*Results@#There were 55.4% female college students who had used medical and health care APP, and most of them (290) had used fitness and weight loss APP. There was statistical significance of the different usages of students of different degrees, majors and grades(χ2=26.55, 7.72, 13.96, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that educational background, annual medical costs, awareness of medical and health care APP and attitude towards APP prospect were the factors influencing the utilization of medical and health care APP (OR=0.44，0.69，1.36，1.23，P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The usage rate of medical and health care APP is general, and sustained utilization rate is low, the APP should enrich menstrual period consumption and figure report, add video recommendation, interactive dating, and other functions, improve female students medical and health care APP cognition, female college students to change health care APP attitude.

[Diagnosis and treatment of Madelung's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To review the characteristics of Madelung's disease which is rare and unfamiliar to clinicians and to find the method of diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Detailed clinical data of 7 patients with Madelung's disease were reviewed and analyzed. And related literatures were discussed together. RESULTS: All of 7 patients have excessive subcutaneous fat deposit predominantly around neck. One patients had the complication of central and peripheral neuropathy, One patients had the complication of glucose intolerance, One patients had the complication of chronic hepatopathy and hyperuricaemia. These 3 patients were associated with sleep apnea syndrome simultaneously. Another one patient was accompanied by autonomic nervous system disease only. Total neck lipectomy and abstinence from alcohol were performed on 5 patients. No recurrence was seen during a follow-up of 6 months to 5 years. One patient received partial lipectomy twice and relapsed again. All pathological results were nonencapsulated fat. One patient refused treatment. Six men patients were alcohol abusers. CONCLUSIONS: Madelung's disease is characterized by massive accumulation of nonencapsulated subcutaneous fat mainly located symmetrically in the neck. Chronic alcoholism may be a major risk factor. It may be associated with some internal diseases. Total neck lipectomy to improve figuration and relieve pressure and abstinence from alcohol may be the main effective therapy.