Amorphous P-CoOX Promotes the Formation of Hypervalent Ni Species in NiFe LDHs by Amorphous/Crystalline Interfaces for Excellent Catalytic Performance of Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Water electrolysis has become an attractive hydrogen production method. Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a bottleneck of water splitting as its four-electron transfer procedure presents sluggish reaction kinetics. Designing composite catalysts with high performance for efficient OER still remains a huge challenge. Here, the P-doped cobalt oxide/NiFe layered double hydroxides (P-CoOX/NiFe LDHs) composite catalysts with amorphous/crystalline interfaces are successfully prepared for OER by hydrothermal-electrodeposition combined method. The results of electrochemical characterizations, operando Raman spectra, and DFT theoretical calculations have demonstrated the electrons in the P-CoOX/NiFe LDHs heterointerfaces are easily transferred from Ni2+ to Co3+ because that the amorphous configuration of P-CoOX can well induce Ni-O-Co orbital coupling. The electron transfer of Ni2+ to the surrounding Fe3+ and Co3+ will lead to the unoccupied eg orbitals of Ni3+ that can promote water dissociation and accelerate *OOH migration to improve OER catalytic performance. The optimized P-CoOX/NiFe LDHs exhibit superior catalytic performance for OER with a very low overpotential of 265 mV at 300 mA cm-2 and excellent long-term stability of 500 h with almost no attenuation at 100 mA cm-2. This work will provide a new method to design high-performance NiFe LDHs-based catalysts for OER.

Effect of spin-lock frequency on quantitative myocardial T1ρ mapping.

OBJECTIVES: To use T1ρ mapping to assess myocardial fibrosis and to provide a reference for future clinical application, it is necessary to understand the factors influencing T1ρ values. This study explored the influence of different spin-locking frequencies on T1ρ values under a 3.0-T MR system. METHODS: Fifty-seven healthy subjects were prospectively and consecutively included in this study, and T1ρ mapping was performed on them in 3 short-axis slices with three spin-lock frequencies at the amplitude of 300 Hz, 400 Hz, and 500 Hz, then nine T1ρ images were acquired per subject. Four T1ρ-weighted images were acquired using a spin-lock preparation pulse with varying durations (0 msec, 13.3 msec, 26.6 msec, 40 msec). T1ρ relaxation times were quantified for each slice and each myocardial segment. The results were analyzed using Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) methods. RESULTS: Mean T1ρ relaxation times were 43.5 ± 2.8 msec at 300 Hz, 44.9 ± 3.6 msec at 400 Hz, and 46.2 ± 3.1 msec at 500 Hz, showing a significant progressive increase from low to high spin-lock frequency (300 Hz vs. 400 Hz, p = 0.046; 300 Hz vs. 500 Hz, p < 0.001; 400 Hz vs. 500 Hz, p = 0.043). In addition, The T1ρ values of females were significantly higher than those of males (300 Hz, p = 0.049; 400 Hz, p = 0.01; 500 Hz, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In this prospective study, myocardial T1ρ values for the specific CMR setting are provided, and we found that gender and spin-lock frequency can affect the T1ρ values. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: T1ρ mapping could supersede late gadolinium enhancement for detection of myocardial fibrosis. Establishing reference mean values that take key technical elements into account will facilitate interpretation of data in disease states. KEY POINTS: This study established myocardial T1ρ reference values for different spin-lock frequencies. T1ρ values increased with spin-lock frequency, but numerical differences were minimal. Females had higher T1ρ values than males at all frequencies.

A systematic review of the drug-drug interaction between Statins and Quinolones.

BACKGROUND: Statins are widely used in cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a common lipid-lowering drug, while quinolones are widely used for the treatment of infectious diseases. It is common to see CVD in combination with infectious diseases, therefore it is often the case that statins and quinolones are used in combination. Data suggest combinations of statin and quinolone may be associated with potentially life-threatening myopathy, rhabdomyolysis and acute hepatitis. This systematic review aims to characterize data regarding patients affected by the statin-quinolone interaction. METHODS: The purpose of this systematic review was to collect and evaluate the evidence surrounding statin-quinolone drug interactions and to discuss related risk mitigation strategies. The following databases were searched: PubMed (Medline), Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. The systematic electronic literature search was conducted with the following search terms. In this study, three types of search terms were used: statins-related terms, quinolones-related terms, and drug interactions-related terms. RESULTS: There were 16 case reports that met the criteria for qualitative analysis. Patients were involved in the following adverse reactions: rhabdomyolysis (n = 12), acute hepatitis (n = 1), muscle weakness (n = 1), hip tendinopathy (n = 1), or myopathy (n = 1). In the included literature, patients vary in the dose and type of statins they take, including simvastatin (n = 10) at a dose range of 20-80 mg/d and atorvastatin (n = 4) at a dose of 80 mg/d. There were 2 patients with unspecified statin doses, separately using simvastatin and atorvastatin. The quinolones in combination were ciprofloxacin (n = 9) at a dose range of 800-1500 mg/d, levofloxacin (n = 6) at a dose range of 250-1000 mg/d, and norfloxacin (n = 1) in an unspecified dose range. 81% of the case patients were over 60 years of age, and about 1/3 had kidney-related diseases such as diabetic nephropathy, post-transplantation, and severe glomerulonephritis. Nearly two-third of the patients were on concomitant cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors, or organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) inhibitors. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with statin-quinolone combination should be monitored more closely for changes in aspartate aminotransferase or creatine kinase (CK) levels, and muscle symptoms, especially in patients with ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, with simvastatin and high-dose atorvastatin, over 60 years of age, with kidney-related diseases, and on concomitant CYP3A4 inhibitors.

Acupuncture influences multiple diseases by regulating gut microbiota.

Acupuncture, an important green and side effect-free therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, is widely use both domestically and internationally. Acupuncture can interact with the gut microbiota and influence various diseases, including metabolic diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, mental disorders, nervous system diseases, and other diseases. This review presents a thorough analysis of these interactions and their impacts and examines the alterations in the gut microbiota and the potential clinical outcomes following acupuncture intervention to establish a basis for the future utilization of acupuncture in clinical treatments.

Effects of Ionic Interferents on Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction: Mechanistic Insight.

Nitrate, a prevalent water pollutant, poses substantial public health concerns and environmental risks. Electrochemical reduction of nitrate (eNO3RR) has emerged as an effective alternative to conventional biological treatments. While extensive lab work has focused on designing efficient electrocatalysts, implementation of eNO3RR in practical wastewater settings requires careful consideration of the effects of various constituents in real wastewater. In this critical review, we examine the interference of ionic species commonly encountered in electrocatalytic systems and universally present in wastewater, such as halogen ions, alkali metal cations, and other divalent/trivalent ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-/CO32-, SO42-, and PO43-). Notably, we categorize and discuss the interfering mechanisms into four groups: (1) loss of active catalytic sites caused by competitive adsorption and precipitation, (2) electrostatic interactions in the electric double layer (EDL), including ion pairs and the shielding effect, (3) effects on the selectivity of N intermediates and final products (N2 or NH3), and (4) complications by the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and localized pH on the cathode surface. Finally, we summarize the competition among different mechanisms and propose future directions for a deeper mechanistic understanding of ionic impacts on eNO3RR.

Sub-Chronic Methomyl Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses in Zebrafish with Higher Female Susceptibility.

The widespread use of carbamate pesticides has raised significant environmental and health concerns, particularly regarding water contamination and the disruption of defense systems in organisms. Despite these concerns, research on the differential impacts of pesticides on male and female organisms remains limited. This study focused on methomyl, investigating sex-specific differences in liver antioxidant defenses and inflammatory response indices in male and female zebrafish after 56 days of exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.20 mg/L). Our findings indicate that methomyl exposure significantly increased ROS content in zebrafish livers, inducing oxidative stress and activating enzymatic antioxidant defenses such as SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities. Sub-chronic exposure altered the expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bax/Bcl2a and Caspases3a), resulting in liver cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, with the 0.20 mg/L concentration causing the most severe damage. Additionally, methomyl exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations triggered persistent inflammatory responses in liver tissues, evidenced by increased transcription levels of inflammatory factor genes and the activation of toll-like receptors, heightening susceptibility to exogenous allergens. It is noteworthy that oxidative damage indicators (AST, ROS, MDA) and inflammatory gene expressions (IL-1ß, TNF-α) were significantly higher in female livers compared to male livers at 0.10-0.20 mg/L methomyl exposure. Consequently, our study underscores the potential adverse effects of environmental methomyl exposure on aquatic organisms and highlights the need for heightened consideration of the risks posed by environmental endocrine disruptors to female health and safety.

Sub-chronically exposing zebrafish to environmental levels of methomyl induces dysbiosis and dysfunction of the gut microbiota.

The widespread use of carbamate pesticides has led to numerous environmental and health concerns, including water contamination and perturbation of endocrine homeostasis among organisms. However, there remains a paucity of research elucidating the specific effects of methomyl on gut microbial composition and physiological functions. This study aimed to investigate the intricate relationship between changes in zebrafish bacterial communities and intestinal function after 56 days of sub-chronic methomyl exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.20 mg/L). Our findings reveal significant methomyl-induced morphological changes in zebrafish intestines, characterized by villi shortening and breakage. Notably, methomyl exposure down-regulated nutrient and energy metabolism, and drug metabolism at 0.05-0.10 mg/L, while up-regulating cortisol, inflammation-related genes, and apoptotic markers at 0.20 mg/L. These manifestations indicate physiological stress imposition and disruption of gut microbiota equilibrium, impacting metabolic processes and instigating low-grade inflammatory responses and apoptotic cascades. Importantly, changes in intestinal function significantly correlated with shifts in specific bacterial taxa abundance, including Shewanella, Rubrobacter, Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Luteolibacter, Nocardia, Defluviimonas, and Bacteroides genus. In summary, our study underscores the potential adverse effects of environmental methomyl exposure on aquatic organisms, emphasizing the necessity for further research to mitigate its repercussions on environmental health and ecosystem stability.

Farnesoid X Receptor: Effective alleviation of rifampicin -induced liver injury.

Antituberculosis drugs induce pharmacologic cholestatic liver injury with long-term administration. Liver injury resulting from rifampicin is potentially related to the bile acid nuclear receptor Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR). To investigate this, cholestasis was induced in both wild-type (C57BL/6N) mice and FXR knockout (FXR-null) mice through administration of rifampicin (200 mg/kg) via gavage for 7 consecutive days. Compared with C57BL/6N mice, FXR-null mice exhibited more severe liver injury after rifampicin administration, characterized by enlarged liver size, elevated transaminases, and increased inflammation. Moreover, under rifampicin treatment, FXR knockout impairs lipid secretion and exacerbates hepatic steatosis. Significantly, the expression of metabolism molecules BSEP increased, while NTCP and CYP7A1 decreased following rifampicin administration in C57BL/6N mice, whereas these changes were absent in FXR knockout mice. Furthermore, rifampicin treatment in both C57BL/6N and FXR-null mice was associated with elevated c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation (p-JNK) levels, with a more pronounced elevation in FXR-null mice. Our study suggests that rifampicin-induced liver injury, steatosis, and cholestasis are associated with FXR dysfunction and altered bile acid metabolism, and that the JNK signaling pathway is partially implicated in this injury. Based on these results, we propose that FXR might be a novel therapeutic target for addressing drug-induced liver injury.

High-Performance Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Flexible and Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries: Recent Advances.

Flexible rechargeable Zn-air batteries (FZABs) exhibit high energy density, ultra-thin, lightweight, green, and safe features, and are considered as one of the ideal power sources for flexible wearable electronics. However, the slow and high overpotential oxygen reaction at the air cathode has become one of the key factors restricting the development of FZABs. The improvement of activity and stability of bifunctional catalysts has become a top priority. At the same time, FZABs should maintain the battery performance under different bending and twisting conditions, and the design of the overall structure of FZABs is also important. Based on the understanding of the three typical configurations and working principles of FZABs, this work highlights two common strategies for applying bifunctional catalysts to FZABs: 1) powder-based flexible air cathode and 2) flexible self-supported air cathode. It summarizes the recent advances in bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts and explores the various types of catalyst structures as well as the related mechanistic understanding. Based on the latest catalyst research advances, this paper introduces and discusses various structure modulation strategies and expects to guide the synthesis and preparation of efficient bifunctional catalysts. Finally, the current status and challenges of bifunctional catalyst research in FZABs are summarized.

Neuropeptide natalisin regulates reproductive behaviors in Spodoptera frugiperda.

Natalisin (NTL) is a conserved neuropeptide, only present in insects, that has been reported to regulate their sexual activity. In this study, we investigated the involvement of NTL in the reproductive behaviors of a major invasive pest, Spodoptera frugiperda. We identified NTL precursor-encoded transcripts, and evaluated their transcript levels in different stages and tissues of S. frugiperda. The results showed that the NTL transcript level was expressed in both male and female pupae and both male and female adults in the later stage. It was highly expressed in male pupae, 3-day-old male and female adults, and 5-day-old male adults. In different tissues, the expression level is higher in the male and female adult brain and male testis. Immunohistochemical staining of the brain of S. frugiperda female and male adults revealed that three pairs of brain neurons of S. frugiperda adults of both sexes secreted and expressed NTL. To study the role of NTL in reproductive behaviors, NTL was silenced in S. frugiperda male and female adults by RNA interference (RNAi) technology, the results showed that silencing NTL could significantly affect the sexual activity behavior of the adults, reducing the calling rate of females, the courtship rate of males, and the mating rate. In summary, this study emphasizes the important role of NTL in regulating the mating behavior and sexual activity of S. frugiperda in both male and female adults, potentially laying a foundation to employ NTL as a new insect-specific target to control populations of pest insects.

The Association of Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume and Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: As Assessed by Cardiac MR.

BACKGROUND: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a metabolically active visceral fat linked to cardiovascular disease. Prior studies demonstrated the predictive value of EAT volume (EATV) in atrial fibrillation (AF) among hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients. PURPOSE: To investigate the association between EATV and AF in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: Two hundred and twenty-four HCM patients (including 79 patients with AF and 145 patients without AF, 154 men) and 80 healthy controls (54 men). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0 T scanner; balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) cine sequence, gradient echo. ASSESSMENT: EAT thickness was assessed in the 4-chamber and basal short-axis planes. EAT volume was calculated by outlining the epicardial border and visceral pericardium layer on short-axis cine images. STATISTICAL TESTS: Shapiro-Wilk test, Student's t test or the Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, Multivariate linear regression analyses, Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. Intraclass correlation coefficient. Significance was determined at P < 0.05. RESULTS: EATV and EAT volume index (EATVI) were significantly greater in HCM patients with AF than those without AF (126.6 ± 25.9 mL vs. 90.5 ± 24.5 mL, and 73.0 ± 15.9 mL/m2 vs. 51.3 ± 13.4 mL/m2). EATVI was associated with AF in multivariable linear regression analysis among HCM patients (ß = 0.62). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that compared to other indicators, the area under curve (AUC) of EATVI was 0.86 (cut-off, 53.9 mL/m2, 95% CI, 0.80-0.89), provided a better performance, with the sensitivity of 96.2% and specificity of 58.6%. The combined model exhibited superior association with AF presence compared to the clinical model (AUC 0.96 vs. 0.76) and the imaging model (AUC 0.96 vs. 0.93). DATA CONCLUSION: EATVI was associated with AF. EATVI was significantly correlated with incident AF, and provided a better performance in HCM patients compared to other indicators. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Endovascular treatment of aorta-iliac arterial pseudoaneurysm caused by Brucella.

We aimed to analyze the feasibility of endovascular treatment for brucellosis-related aorta-iliac artery pseudoaneurysm. We did a statistical analysis that among the 11 cases, the thoracic aorta was involved in 3 cases, the abdominal aorta was involved in 6 cases, and the iliac artery was involved in 2 cases. Five patients had a history of contact with cattle and sheep, 3 had a history of drinking raw milk, 10 patients had a fever before the operation, and 11 patients had positive serum agglutination test. Blood culture was positive in 2 patients. All patients were given anti-brucellosis treatment immediately after diagnosis. One died of aortic rupture 5 days after emergency endovascular gastrointestinal bleeding. Endovascular-covered stent implantation and active anti-brucellosis therapy were used to treat 10 patients. The follow-up period was 8 years without aortic complications or death for all patients. We think early diagnosis and a combination of anti-brucellosis drugs and endovascular therapy may be the first choice for treating the pseudoaneurysm caused by Brucella.

Responses of Digestive, Antioxidant, Immunological and Metabolic Enzymes in the Intestines and Liver of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) under the Biofloc Model.

To investigate the activities of intestinal digestive enzymes, liver antioxidant enzymes, immunological enzymes, and glucometabolic enzymes in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) under the biofloc model, an experiment was conducted in 300-liter glass tanks. The experiment comprised a control group, which was fed a basal diet, and a biofloc group, where glucose was added to maintain a C/N ratio of 15. Each group had three parallel setups, with a stocking density of 20 fish per tank. The experiment ran for 60 days, employing a zero-water exchange aquaculture model. The results showed that at the end of the culture period, there were no significant differences between the initial weight, final weight, WGR, SGR, and SR of the biofloc group and the control group of largemouth bass (p > 0.05), whereas the lower FCR and the higher PER in the biofloc group were significant (p < 0.05); intestinal α-amylase, trypsin, and lipase activities of largemouth bass in the biofloc group were significantly increased by 37.20%, 64.11%, and 51.69%, respectively, compared with the control group (p < 0.05); liver superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and total antioxidant capacity of largemouth bass in the biofloc group were significantly increased by 49.26%, 46.87%, and 98.94% (p < 0.05), while the malondialdehyde content was significantly reduced by 19.91% (p < 0.05); liver lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase activities of largemouth bass in the biofloc group were significantly increased by 62.66%, 41.22%, and 29.66%, respectively (p < 0.05); liver glucokinase, pyruvate kinase, glucose-6-phosphate kinase, pyruvate kinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and glycogen synthase activities were significantly increased by 46.29%, 99.33%, 32.54%, and 26.89%, respectively (p < 0.05). The study showed that the biofloc model of culturing largemouth bass can not only enhance digestive enzyme activities, antioxidant capacity, and immune response but can also promote the process of glucose metabolism and reduce feeding costs. This study provides data support for healthy culturing of largemouth bass in future production, provides a theoretical reference for optimizing the biofloc technology culture model, and is crucial for promoting the healthy and green development of aquaculture.

HDAC9 Deficiency Upregulates cGMP-dependent Kinase II to Mitigate Neuronal Apoptosis in Ischemic Stroke.

Histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) is implicated in ischemic stroke by genome-wide association studies. We conducted a series of experiments using a mouse model of ischemic stroke (middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion) to examine the potential role of HDAC9. Briefly, HDAC9 was upregulated in the penumbra. Deletion of HDAC9 from neurons reduced infarction volume, inhibited neuronal apoptosis in the penumbra, and improved neurological outcomes. HDAC9 knockout from neurons in the penumbra upregulated cGMP-dependent kinase II (cGK II), blocking which abrogated the protective effects of HDAC9 deletion. Mechanistically, HDAC9 interacts with the transcription factor MEF2, thereby inhibiting MEF2's binding to the promoter region of the cGK II gene, which results in the suppression of cGK II expression. Inhibiting the interaction between HDAC9 and MEF2 by BML210 upregulated cGK II and attenuated ischemic injury in mice. These results encourage targeting the HDAC9-MEF2 interaction in developing novel therapy against ischemic stroke.

Bile acid-microbiota crosstalk in hepatitis B virus infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a hepatotropic non-cytopathic virus characterized by liver-specific gene expression. HBV infection highjacks bile acid metabolism, notably impairing bile acid uptake via sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), which is a functional receptor for HBV entry. Concurrently, HBV infection induces changes in bile acid synthesis and the size of the bile acid pool. Conversely, bile acid facilitates HBV replication and expression through the signaling molecule farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a nuclear receptor activated by bile acid. However, in HepaRG cells and primary hepatocytes, FXR agonists suppress HBV RNA expression and the synthesis and secretion of DNA. In the gut, the size and composition of the bile acid pool significantly influence the gut microbiota. In turn, the gut microbiota impacts bile acid metabolism and innate immunity, potentially promoting HBV clearance. Thus, the bile acid-gut microbiota axis represents a complex and evolving relationship in the context of HBV infection. This review explores the interplay between bile acid and gut microbiota in HBV infection and discusses the development of HBV entry inhibitors targeting NTCP.

Calcium-sensing Receptor, a Potential Biomarker Revealed by Large-scale Public Databases and Experimental Verification in Metastatic Breast Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer (BC) is a common cancer characterized by a high molecular heterogeneity. Therefore, understanding its biological properties and developing effective treatments for patients with different molecular features is imperative. Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) has been implicated in several regulatory functions in various types of human cancers. However, its underlying pathological mechanism in BC progression remains elusive. METHODS: We utilized The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases to explore the function of CaSR in the metastasis of BC. Gene ontology analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of biological processes and cell signaling pathways revealed that CaSR could be activated or inhibited. Importantly, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were used to verify the gene expression of the CaSR. Wound healing and transwell assays were conducted to assess the effect of CaSR on the migration of BC cells. RESULTS: We demonstrated that CaSR expression in metastatic BC was higher than that in non-metastatic BC. It is the first time that database information has been used to reveal the biological process and molecular mechanism of CaSR in BC. Moreover, the CaSR expression in normal breast epithelial cells was notably less compared to that in BC cells. The activation of CaSR by Cinacalcet (a CaSR agonist) significantly enhanced the migration of BC cells, whereas NPS-2143 (a CaSR antagonist) treatment dramatically inhibited these effects. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE: Bioinformatics techniques and experiments demonstrated the involvement of CaSR in BC metastasis. Our findings shed new light on the receptor therapy and molecular pathogenesis of BC, and emphasize the crucial function of CaSR, facilitating the metastasis of BC.

Enhancing iron content and growth of cucumber seedlings with MgFe-LDHs under low-temperature stress.

The development of cost-effective and eco-friendly fertilizers is crucial for enhancing iron (Fe) uptake in crops and can help alleviate dietary Fe deficiencies, especially in populations with limited access to meat. This study focused on the application of MgFe-layered double hydroxide nanoparticles (MgFe-LDHs) as a potential solution. We successfully synthesized and characterized MgFe-LDHs and observed that 1-10 mg/L MgFe-LDHs improved cucumber seed germination and water uptake. Notably, the application of 10 mg/L MgFe-LDHs to roots significantly increased the seedling emergence rate and growth under low-temperature stress. The application of 10 mg/L MgFe-LDHs during sowing increased the root length, lateral root number, root fresh weight, aboveground fresh weight, and hypocotyl length under low-temperature stress. A comprehensive analysis integrating plant physiology, nutrition, and transcriptomics suggested that MgFe-LDHs improve cold tolerance by upregulating SA to stimulate CsFAD3 expression, elevating GA3 levels for enhanced nitrogen metabolism and protein synthesis, and reducing levels of ABA and JA to support seedling emergence rate and growth, along with increasing the expression and activity of peroxidase genes. SEM and FTIR further confirmed the adsorption of MgFe-LDHs onto the root hairs in the mature zone of the root apex. Remarkably, MgFe-LDHs application led to a 46% increase (p < 0.05) in the Fe content within cucumber seedlings, a phenomenon not observed with comparable iron salt solutions, suggesting that the nanocrystalline nature of MgFe-LDHs enhances their absorption efficiency in plants. Additionally, MgFe-LDHs significantly increased the nitrogen (N) content of the seedlings by 12% (p < 0.05), promoting nitrogen fixation in the cucumber seedlings. These results pave the way for the development and use of LDH-based Fe fertilizers.

Discovery, Structure, and Engineering of a cis-Geranylfarnesyl Diphosphate Synthase.

cis-Prenyltransferases (cis-PTs) catalyze the sequential head-to-tail condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) to allylic diphosphates, producing mixed E-Z prenyl diphosphates of varying lengths; however, the specific enzymes synthesizing cis-C25 prenyl diphosphates have not been identified. Herein, we present the discovery and characterization of a cis-geranylfarnesyl diphosphate synthase (ScGFPPS) from Streptomyces clavuligerus. This enzyme demonstrates high catalytic proficiency in generating six distinct cis-polyisoprenoids, including three C25 and three C20 variants. We determined the crystal structure of ScGFPPS. Additionally, we unveil the crystal structure of nerylneryl diphosphate synthase (NNPS), known for synthesizing an all-cis-C20 polyisoprenoid. Comparative structural analysis of ScGFPPS and NNPS has identified key differences that influence product specificity. Through site-directed mutagenesis, we have identified eight single mutations that significantly refine the selectivity of ScGFPPS for cis-polyisoprenoids. Our findings not only expand the functional spectrum of cis-PTs but also provide a structural comparison strategy in cis-PTs engineering.

Fe-Doped Ni2P/NiSe2 Composite Catalysts for Urea Oxidation Reaction (UOR) for Energy-Saving Hydrogen Production by UOR-Assisted Water Splitting.

The development of efficient urea oxidation reaction (UOR) catalysts helps UOR replace the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in hydrogen production from water electrolysis. Here, we prepared Fe-doped Ni2P/NiSe2 composite catalyst (Fe-Ni2P/NiSe2-12) by using phosphating-selenizating and acid etching to increase the intrinsic activity and active areas. Spectral characterization and theoretical calculations demonstrated that electrons flowed through the Ni-P-Fe-interface-Ni-Se-Fe, thus conferring high UOR activity to Fe-Ni2P/NiSe2-12, which only needed 1.39 V vs RHE to produce the current density of 100 mA cm-2. Remarkably, this potential was 164 mV lower than that required for the OER under the same conditions. Furthermore, EIS demonstrated that UOR driven by the Fe-Ni2P/NiSe2-12 exhibited faster interfacial reactions, charge transfer, and current response compared to OER. Consequently, the Fe-Ni2P/NiSe2-12 catalyst can effectively prevent competition with OER and NSOR, making it suitable for efficient hydrogen production in UOR-assisted water electrolysis. Notably, when water electrolysis is operated at a current density of 40 mA cm-2, this UOR-assisted system can achieve a decrease of 140 mV in the potential compared to traditional water electrolysis. This study presents a novel strategy for UOR-assisted water splitting for energy-saving hydrogen production.

3D reconstruction and multi-omics analysis reveal a unique pattern of embryogenesis in Ginkgo biloba.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) is one of the earliest extant species in seed plant phylogeny. Embryo development patterns can provide fundamental evidence for the origin, evolution, and adaptation of seeds. However, the architectural and morphological dynamics during embryogenesis in Ginkgo biloba (G. biloba) remain elusive. Herein, we obtained over 2200 visual slices from three stages of embryo development using micro-computed tomography imaging with improved staining methods. Based on 3D spatio-temporal pattern analysis, we found that a shoot apical meristem with seven highly differentiated leaf primordia, including apical and axillary leaf buds, is present in mature Ginkgo embryos. 3D rendering from the front, top, and side views showed two separate transport systems of tracheids located in the hypocotyl and cotyledon, representing a unique pattern of embryogenesis. Furthermore, the morphological dynamic analysis of secretory cavities indicated their strong association with cotyledons during development. In addition, we identified genes GbLBD25a (lateral organ boundaries domain 25a), GbCESA2a (cellulose synthase 2a), GbMYB74c (myeloblastosis 74c), GbPIN2 (PIN-FORMED 2) associated with vascular development regulation, and GbWRKY1 (WRKYGOK 1), GbbHLH12a (basic helix-loop-helix 12a), GbJAZ4 (jasmonate zim-domain 4) potentially involved in the formation of secretory cavities. Moreover, we found that flavonoid accumulation in mature embryos could enhance post-germinative growth and seedling establishment in harsh environments. Our 3D spatial reconstruction technique combined with multi-omics analysis opens avenues for investigating developmental architecture and molecular mechanisms during embryogenesis and lays the foundation for evolutionary studies of embryo development and maturation.