Directly selecting cell-type marker genes for single-cell clustering analyses.

In single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) studies, cell types and their marker genes are often identified by clustering and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis. A common practice is to select genes using surrogate criteria such as variance and deviance, then cluster them using selected genes and detect markers by DEG analysis assuming known cell types. The surrogate criteria can miss important genes or select unimportant genes, while DEG analysis has the selection-bias problem. We present Festem, a statistical method for the direct selection of cell-type markers for downstream clustering. Festem distinguishes marker genes with heterogeneous distribution across cells that are cluster informative. Simulation and scRNA-seq applications demonstrate that Festem can sensitively select markers with high precision and enables the identification of cell types often missed by other methods. In a large intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma dataset, we identify diverse CD8+ T cell types and potential prognostic marker genes.

Epstein-barr virus (EBV)-positive inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (IPT-like FDCS) presenting as thrombocytopenia: A case report and literature review.

Background: Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) represents an exceedingly rare malignant neoplasm. Inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (IPT-like FDCS) is recognized as a variant manifestation of FDCS. The clinical incidence of this particular disease is remarkably low, resulting in the absence of established standardized clinical protocols for its management and treatment. Methods: Presented here is a case of primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive splenic IPT-like FDCS, noteworthy for manifesting thrombocytopenia as its initial symptom. Our study analyzed the clinicopathologic characteristics of this case and 29 previously reported cases identified in the literature. Also, we conducted a comprehensive review of pertinent literature. Results: We administered splenectomy to this patient and verified the diagnosis of EBV-positive IPT-like FDCS through immunohistochemical examination. Postoperatively, the patient underwent a one-year follow-up period, demonstrating no signs of recurrence. Analyzing a total of 30 cases revealed that this disease is more prevalent in female patients (F:M = 1.14:1), with a median age of 62 years. Fifteen patients were asymptomatic, and nine patients presented with abdominal discomfort or pain. All patients underwent surgical treatment. Among the cases, histopathological and immunohistochemical information was unavailable for five; however, in the remaining 25 cases, histopathology revealed a distinct inflammatory cell infiltration and spindle tumor cells arranged in sheets or fascicles. These tumor cells had vesicular chromatin and distinct nucleoli and they expressed conventional FDC markers. In situ hybridization analysis of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER) showed that all 30 cases were EBV-positive. Follow-up information showed that no patients relapsed and one (3.8 %) patient died. Conclusion: The clinical diagnosis of EBV-positive IPT-like FDCS poses considerable challenges, necessitating a conclusive diagnosis through pathological immunohistochemical examination. EBER in situ hybridization holds significance for the definitive diagnosis of the disease. We advocate for splenectomy as the treatment of choice for limited splenic IPT-like FDCS.

A Janus Microsphere Delivery System Orchestrates Immunomodulation and Osteoinduction by Fine-tuning Release Profiles.

Bone regeneration is a well-orchestrated process synergistically involving inflammation, angiogenesis, and osteogenesis. Therefore, an effective bone graft should be designed to target multiple molecular events and biological demands during the bone healing process. In this study, a biodegradable gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-based Janus microsphere delivery system containing calcium phosphate oligomer (CPO) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is developed based on natural biological events. The exceptional adjustability of GelMA facilitates the controlled release and on-demand application of biomolecules, and optimized delivery profiles of CPO and BMP-2 are explored. The sustained release of CPO during the initial healing stages contributes to early immunomodulation and promotes mineralization in the late stage. Meanwhile, the administration of BMP-2 at a relatively high concentration within the therapeutic range enhances the osteoinductive property. This delivery system, with fine-tuned release patterns, induces M2 macrophage polarization and creates a conducive immuno-microenvironment, which in turn facilitates effective bone regeneration in vivo. Collectively, this study proposes a bottom-up concept, aiming to develop a user-friendly and easily controlled delivery system targeting individual biological events, which may offer a new perspective on developing function-optimized biomaterials for clinical use.

From structural design to delivery: mRNA therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy.

mRNA therapeutics have emerged as powerful tools for cancer immunotherapy in accordance with their superiority in expressing all sequence-known proteins in vivo. In particular, with a small dosage of delivered mRNA, antigen-presenting cells (APCs) can synthesize mutant neo-antigens and multi-antigens and present epitopes to T lymphocytes to elicit antitumor effects. In addition, expressing receptors like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), T-cell receptor (TCR), CD134, and immune-modulating factors including cytokines, interferons, and antibodies in specific cells can enhance immunological response against tumors. With the maturation of in vitro transcription (IVT) technology, large-scale and pure mRNA encoding specific proteins can be synthesized quickly. However, the clinical translation of mRNA-based anticancer strategies is restricted by delivering mRNA into target organs or cells and the inadequate endosomal escape efficiency of mRNA. Recently, there have been some advances in mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy, which can be roughly classified as modifications of the mRNA structure and the development of delivery systems, especially the lipid nanoparticle platforms. In this review, the latest strategies for overcoming the limitations of mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies and the recent advances in delivering mRNA into specific organs and cells are summarized. Challenges and opportunities for clinical applications of mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy are also discussed.

Directly modulated deformed-square-FP coupled-cavity laser with intracavity-mode photon-photon resonance.

We propose and demonstrate a high-speed directly modulated laser based on a hybrid deformed-square-FP coupled cavity (DFC), aiming for a compact-size low-cost light source in next-generation optical communication systems. The deformed square microcavity is directly connected to the FP cavity and utilized as a wavelength-sensitive reflector with a comb-like and narrow-peak reflection spectrum for selecting the lasing mode, which can greatly improve the single-mode yield of the laser and the quality (Q) factor of the coupled mode. By optimizing the device design and operating condition, the modulation bandwidth of the DFC laser can be enhanced due to the intracavity-mode photon-photon resonance effect. Our experimental results show an enhancement of 3-dB modulation bandwidth from 19.3 GHz to 30 GHz and a clear eye diagram at a modulation rate of 25 Gbps.

Multi-model analysis of gallbladder cancer reveals the role of OxLDL-absorbing neutrophils in promoting liver invasion.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common and lethal malignancy of the biliary tract that lacks effective therapy. In many GBC cases, infiltration into adjacent organs or distant metastasis happened long before the diagnosis, especially the direct liver invasion, which is the most common and unfavorable way of spreading. METHODS: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics (ST), proteomics, and multiplexed immunohistochemistry (mIHC) were performed on GBC across multiple tumor stages to characterize the tumor microenvironment (TME), focusing specifically on the preferential enrichment of neutrophils in GBC liver invasion (GBC-LI). RESULTS: Multi-model Analysis reveals the immunosuppressive TME of GBC-LI that was characterized by the enrichment of neutrophils at the invasive front. We identified the context-dependent transcriptional states of neutrophils, with the Tumor-Modifying state being associated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) metabolism. In vitro assays showed that the direct cell-cell contact between GBC cells and neutrophils led to the drastic increase in oxLDL uptake of neutrophils, which was primarily mediated by the elevated OLR1 on neutrophils. The oxLDL-absorbing neutrophils displayed a higher potential to promote tumor invasion while demonstrating lower cancer cytotoxicity. Finally, we identified a neutrophil-promoting niche at the invasive front of GBC-LI that constituted of KRT17+ GBC cells, neutrophils, and surrounding fibroblasts, which may help cultivate the oxLDL-absorbing neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals the existence of a subset of pro-tumoral neutrophils with a unique ability to absorb oxLDL via OLR1, a phenomenon induced through cell-cell contact with KRT17+ GBC cells in GBC-LI.

Tetrahydroberberrubine exhibits preventive effect on obesity by activating PGC1α-mediated thermogenesis in white and brown adipose tissue.

The escalating prevalence of obesity presents formidable challenges, necessitating the development of effective therapeutic strategies. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the preventive effects on obesity of tetrahydroberberrubine (THBru), a derivative of berberine (BBR) and to unravel its underlying mechanism. Using an obese mouse model induced by a high-fat diet (HFD), THBru was found to markedly ameliorate obesity, as evidenced by reduced body weight, decreased Lee's index, diminished fat mass in epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT), alongside improved dyslipidemia. Notably, at the same dose, THBru exhibited superior efficacy compared to BBR. RNA-sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis indicated THBru activated thermogenesis, which was further confirmed in WAT, BAT, and 3T3-L1 cells. Bioinformatics analysis of RNA-sequencing data revealed the candidate gene Pgc1α, a key regulator involved in thermogenesis. Moreover, THBru was demonstrated to elevate the expression of PGC1α by stabilizing its mRNA in WAT, BAT and 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, PGC1α knockdown blocked the pro-thermogenic and anti-obesity action of THBru both in vivo and in vitro. This study unravels the preventive effects of THBru on obesity through the activation of PGC1α-mediated thermogenesis, thereby delineating its potential therapeutic implications for obesity and associated disorders.

Novel pretreatment nomograms based on pan-immune-inflammation value for predicting clinical outcome in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The prognostic value of an effective biomarker, pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV), for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients after radical surgery or chemoradiotherapy has not been well explored. This study aimed to construct and validate nomograms based on PIV to predict survival outcomes of HNSCC patients. Methods: A total of 161 HNSCC patients who underwent radical surgery were enrolled retrospectively for development cohort. The cutoff of PIV was determined using the maximally selected rank statistics method. Multivariable Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses were performed to develop two nomograms (Model A and Model B) that predict disease-free survival (DFS). The concordance index, receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate the nomograms. A cohort composed of 50 patients who received radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (RT/CRT) alone was applied for generality testing of PIV and nomograms. Results: Patients with higher PIV (≥123.3) experienced a worse DFS (HR, 5.01; 95% CI, 3.25-7.72; p<0.0001) and overall survival (OS) (HR, 5.23; 95% CI, 3.34-8.18; p<0.0001) compared to patients with lower PIV (<123.3) in the development cohort. Predictors of Model A included age, TNM stage, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and PIV, and that of Model B included TNM stage, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and PIV. In comparison with TNM stage alone, the two nomograms demonstrated good calibration and discrimination and showed satisfactory clinical utility in internal validation. The generality testing results showed that higher PIV was also associated with worse survival outcomes in the RT/CRT cohort and the possibility that the two nomograms may have a universal applicability for patients with different treatments. Conclusions: The nomograms based on PIV, a simple but useful indicator, can provide prognosis prediction of individual HNSCC patients after radical surgery and may be broadly applicated for patients after RT/CRT alone.

Humidity-Responsive Liquid Metal Core-Shell Materials for Enduring Heat Retention and Insulation.

High humidity in extremely cold weather can undermine the insulation capability of the clothing, imposing serious life risks. Current clothing insulation technologies have inherent deficiencies in terms of insulation efficiency and humidity adaptability. Here, we report humidity-stimulated self-heating clothing using aluminum core-liquid metal shell microparticles (Al@LM-MPs) as the filler. Al@LM-MPs exhibit a distinctive capability to react to water molecules in the air to generate heat, exhibiting remarkable sensitivity across a broad temperature range. This ability leads to the creation of intelligent clothing capable of autonomously responding to extreme cold and wet weather conditions, providing both enduring heat retention and insulation capabilities. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Lipiodol combined with drug-eluting beads versus drug-eluting beads alone for transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to propose a novel approach of lipiodol combined with drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (Lipiodol-DEB TACE) and to compare the safety and efficacy with DEB-TACE alone for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the database of four centers, the records of patients with HCC who received DEB-TACE or Lipiodol-DEB TACE as initial treatment were retrospectively evaluated. The tumor response was measured based on the Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and adverse events (AEs) were compared between two groups. RESULTS: A total of 244 patients were included with 160 patients receiving DEB-TACE and 84 patients receiving Lipiodol-DEB TACE. Lipiodol-DEB TACE group had higher objective response rate (86.9 % vs. 76.3 %), higher disease control rate (97.6 % vs. 88.8 %), longer median OS (42.6 vs. 25.8 months) and longer median PFS (34.0 vs. 17.0 months) than DEB-TACE group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference observed in the incidence of AEs between two groups. Cox analysis identified total bilirubin level, maximum tumor diameter, TACE method and portal vein invasion as independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Lipiodol-DEB TACE was a safe option and associated with improved tumor response and survival outcome compared to DEB-TACE alone for selected patients with HCC.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Quantification of the Plant Hormone Abscisic Acid at ppb Levels in Plant Samples after a Single Immunoaffinity Column Cleanup.

High-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) is a common analysis technique due to its high versatility and simple operation. In the present study, HPLC-UV detection was integrated with immunoaffinity cleanup (IAC) of the sample extracts. The matrix effect was greatly reduced, and the limit of detection was as low as 1 ng/g of free abscisic acid (ABA) in fresh plant tissues. A monoclonal antibody 3F1 (mAb 3F1) was developed to specifically recognize free ABA but not ABA analogues. The mAb 3F1-immobilized immunoaffinity column exhibited a capacity of 850 ng/mL and an elution efficiency of 88.8-105% for standards. The extraction recoveries of the column for ABA ranged from 80.4 to 108.9%. ABA content was detected in various plant samples with IAC-HPLC-UV. The results were verified with ultraperformance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. IAC-HPLC-UV can be a sensitive and cost-efficient method for plant hormone analysis.

Targeting leucine-rich PPR motif-containing protein/LRPPRC by 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone suppresses esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression.

JAK2/STAT3/MYC axis is dysregulated in nearly 70 % of human cancers, but targeting this pathway therapeutically remains a big challenge in cancer therapy. In this study, genes associated with JAK2, STAT3, and MYC were analyzed, and potential target genes were selected. Leucine-rich PPR motif-containing protein (LRPPRC) whose function and regulation are not fully understood, emerged as one of top 3 genes in terms of RNA epigenetic modification. Here, we demonstrate LRPPRC may be an independent prognostic indicator besides JAK2, STAT3, and MYC. Mechanistically, LRPPRC impairs N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of JAK2, STAT3, and MYC to facilitate nuclear mRNA export and expression. Meanwhile, excess LRPPRC act as a scaffold protein binding to JAK2 and STAT3 to enhance stability of JAK2-STAT3 complex, thereby facilitating JAK2/STAT3/MYC axis activation to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression. Furthermore, 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone was verified to bind to LRPPRC, STAT3, and CDK1, dissociating LRPPRC-JAK2-STAT3 and JAK2-STAT3-CDK1 interaction, leading to impaired tumorigenesis in 4-Nitroquinoline N-oxide induced ESCC mouse models and suppressed tumor growth in ESCC patient derived xenograft mouse models. In summary, this study suggests regulation of m6A modification by LRPPRC, and identifies a novel triplex target compound, suggesting that targeting LRPPRC-mediated JAK2/STAT3/MYC axis may overcome JAK2/STAT3/MYC dependent tumor therapeutic dilemma.

Clinical evaluation of Giomer and self-etch adhesive compared with nanofilled resin composite and etch-and-rinse adhesive - Results at 8 years.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term clinical performance of Giomer and a self-etch adhesive system compared with a nanofilled resin composite and etch-and-rinse adhesive system in Class I and Class II restorations. METHOD: The study was designed to be double-blinded with intra-individual control. 48 patients with 54 pairs of cavities (class I or class II) were recruited. Each pair of restorations was placed with either BEAUTIFIL II (BF) and FL-BOND II (FL) or Filtek Z350 (Z350) and Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (SMP). Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline, 6-month, 18-month, 4-year and 8-year after placement according to modified USPHS criteria. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log rank tests were performed (SPSS 20.0, IBM Corporation, US) to compare the survival probability of different restorations.A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was adopted to assess the performance of the materials. The McNemar test was used to show significant changes for all the evaluation criteria and difference between them. RESULTS: At the eight-year recall, 32 patients with 67 restorations were present. There were twelve restorations in total recorded as failure due to loss of retention, restoration fracture, secondary caries, tooth fracture or endodontic treatment due to pulp necrosis. The survival probabilities and calculated annual failure rate(AFR) of BF and Z350 restorations at 8-year were 87.2 % vs 87.8 % and 1.6 % vs 1.5 % respectively with no significant difference (p > 0.05)between the two materials. Over the recall time range of eight years, decreased possibility of alpha rating was observed for retention, marginal adaptation, marginal staining and surface roughness for both materials (p < 0.05). Decreased possibility of alpha rating was observed for surface staining and secondary caries for Z350 (p < 0.05) and restoration fracture for BF (p < 0.05), respectively. Comparing the two restorative systems over eight years, no significant difference was seen for linear decline of the possibility of alpha rating for any of the criteria evaluated (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Giomer material and the self-etch adhesive system had comparable clinical performance with nanofilled resin composite and etch-and-rinse adhesive system over the observation period of eight years.

Intertwisted superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic collagen fibers enabled anti-fouling high-performance separation of emulsion wastewater.

Oil-contaminated wastewater has been one of the most concerned environmental issues. Superwetting materials-enabled remediation of oil contamination in wastewater faces the critical challenge of fouling problems due to the formation of intercepted phase. Herein, high-performance separation of emulsions wastewater was accomplished by developing collagen fibers (CFs)-derived water-oil dual-channels that were comprised of intertwisted superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic CFs. The dual-channels relied on the superhydrophilic CFs to accomplish efficient demulsifying, which played the role as water-channel to enable fast transportation of water, while the superhydrophobic CFs served as the oil-transport channel to permit oil transportation. The mutual repellency between water-channel and oil-channel was essential to guarantee the stability of established dual-channels. The unique dual-channel separation mechanism fundamentally resolved the intercepted phase-caused fouling problem frequently engaged by the superwetting materials that provided single-channel separation capability. Long-lasting (1440 min) anti-fouling separations were achieved by the superwetting CFs-derived dual-channels with separation efficiency high up to 99.99%, and more than 4-fold of stable separation flux as compared with that of superhydrophilic CFs with single-channel separation capability. Our investigations demonstrated a novel strategy by using superwetting CFs to develop water-oil dual-channels for achieving high-performance anti-fouling separation of emulsions wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Industrial processes discard a large amount of emulsion wastewater, which seriously imperils the aquatic ecosystem. This work demonstrated a conceptual-new strategy to achieve effective remediation of emulsion wastewater via the water-oil dual-channels established by the intertwisted superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic collagen fibers (CFs). The superhydrophilic CFs enabled efficient demulsification of emulsions and played the role of water-channel for the rapid transportation of water, while the superhydrophobic CFs worked as oil-channel to permit the efficient transportation of oil pollutants. Consequently, the long-term (1440 min) anti-fouling high-performance separation of emulsion wastewater was achieved.

Mature astrocytes as source for astrocyte repopulation after deletion in the medial prefrontal cortex: Implications for depression.

The adult brain retains a high repopulation capacity of astrocytes after deletion, and both mature astrocytes in the neocortex and neural stem cells in neurogenic regions possess the potential to generate astrocytes. However, the origin and the repopulation dynamics of the repopulating astrocytes after deletion remain largely unclear. The number of astrocytes is reduced in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of patients with depression, and selective elimination of mPFC astrocytes is sufficient to induce depression-like behaviors in rodents. However, whether astrocyte repopulation capacity is impaired in depression is unknown. In this study, we used different transgenic mouse lines to genetically label different cell types and demonstrated that in the mPFC of normal adult mice of both sexes, mature astrocytes were a major source of the repopulating astrocytes after acute deletion induced by an astrocyte-specific toxin, L-alpha-aminoadipic acid (L-AAA), and astrocyte regeneration was accomplished within two weeks accompanied by reversal of depression-like behaviors. Furthermore, re-ablation of mPFC astrocytes post repopulation led to reappearance of depression-like behaviors. In adult male mice subjected to 14-day chronic restraint stress, a well-validated mouse model of depression, the number of mPFC astrocytes was reduced; however, the ability of mPFC astrocytes to repopulate after L-AAA-induced deletion was largely unaltered. Our study highlights a potentially beneficial role for repopulating astrocytes in depression and provides novel therapeutic insights into enhancing local mature astrocyte generation in depression.

Anti-MRSA mechanism of spirostane saponin in Rohdea pachynema F.T.Wang & tang.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Rohdea pachynema F.T.Wang & Tang (R. pachynema), is a traditional folk medicine used for the treatment of stomach pain, stomach ulcers, bruises, and skin infections in China. Some of the diseases may relate to microbial infections in traditional applications. However few reports on its antimicrobial properties and bioactive components. AIM OF THE STUDY: To identify its bioactive constituents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro and in vivo, and its mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-MRSA ingredient 6α-O-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 3)-ß-D-quinovopyranosyl]-(25S)-5α-spirostan-3ß-ol (XQS) was obtained from R. pachynema by phytochemical isolation. Subsequently, XQS underwent screening using the broth microdilution method and growth inhibition curves to assess its antibacterial activity. The mechanism of XQS was evaluated by multigeneration induction, biofilm resistance assay, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and metabolomics. Additionally, a mouse skin infection model was established in vivo. RESULTS: 26 compounds were identified from the R. pachynema, in which anti-MRSA spirostane saponin (XQS) was reported for the first time with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8 µg/mL. XQS might bind to peptidoglycan (PGN) of the cell wall, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) of the cell membrane, then destroying the cell wall and the cell membrane, resulting in reduced membrane fluidity and membrane depolarization. Furthermore, XQS affected MRSA lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and ABC transporters by metabolomics analysis, which targeted cell walls and membranes causing less susceptibility to drug resistance. Furthermore, XQS (8 mg/kg) recovered skin wounds in mice infected by MRSA effectively, superior to vancomycin (8 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS: XQS showed anti-MRSA bioactivity in vitro and in vivo, and its mechanism association with cell walls and membranes was reported for the first, which supported the traditional uses of R. pachynema and explained its sensitivity to MRSA.

Spontaneous Particle Ordering, Sorting, and Assembly on Soap Films.

Soap bubbles exhibit abundant fascinating phenomena throughout the entire life of evolution with different fundamental physics governing them. Nevertheless, the complicated dynamics of small objects in soap films are still unrevealed. Here, we report the first observation of spontaneous particle ordering in a complicated galaxy of soap films without any external energy. The balance of interfacial tension at two liquid-gas interfaces is theoretically predicted to govern belted wetted particles (BWPs) traveling along a specified path spontaneously. Such spontaneous particle path-finding is found to depend on the particle size and hydrophilic properties. Spontaneous particle sorting is directly realized via these discrete and distinctive paths for different particles. The deformation of the soap membrane facilitates 1D/2D particle organization along the path. This observation represents the discovery of a new spontaneous order phenomenon in soap film systems and provides a new energy-free approach for particle separation and soft colloidal crystal assembly.

Extracellular ATP Is a Homeostatic Messenger That Mediates Cell-Cell Communication in Physiological Processes and Psychiatric Diseases.

Neuronal activity is the basis of information encoding and processing in the brain. During neuronal activation, intracellular ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is generated to meet the high-energy demands. Simultaneously, ATP is secreted, increasing the extracellular ATP concentration and acting as a homeostatic messenger that mediates cell-cell communication to prevent aberrant hyperexcitability of the nervous system. In addition to the confined release and fast synaptic signaling of classic neurotransmitters within synaptic clefts, ATP can be released by all brain cells, diffuses widely, and targets different types of purinergic receptors on neurons and glial cells, making it possible to orchestrate brain neuronal activity and participate in various physiological processes, such as sleep and wakefulness, learning and memory, and feeding. Dysregulation of extracellular ATP leads to a destabilizing effect on the neural network, as found in the etiopathology of many psychiatric diseases, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder. In this review, we summarize advances in the understanding of the mechanisms by which extracellular ATP serves as an intercellular signaling molecule to regulate neural activity, with a focus on how it maintains the homeostasis of neural networks. In particular, we also focus on neural activity issues that result from dysregulation of extracellular ATP and propose that aberrant levels of extracellular ATP may play a role in the etiopathology of some psychiatric diseases, highlighting the potential therapeutic targets of ATP signaling in the treatment of these psychiatric diseases. Finally, we suggest potential avenues to further elucidate the role of extracellular ATP in intercellular communication and psychiatric diseases.

Soybean steroids improve crop abiotic stress tolerance and increase yield.

Sterols have long been associated with diverse fields, such as cancer treatment, drug development, and plant growth; however, their underlying mechanisms and functions remain enigmatic. Here, we unveil a critical role played by a GmNF-YC9-mediated CCAAT-box transcription complex in modulating the steroid metabolism pathway within soybeans. Specifically, this complex directly activates squalene monooxygenase (GmSQE1), which is a rate-limiting enzyme in steroid synthesis. Our findings demonstrate that overexpression of either GmNF-YC9 or GmSQE1 significantly enhances soybean stress tolerance, while the inhibition of SQE weakens this tolerance. Field experiments conducted over two seasons further reveal increased yields per plant in both GmNF-YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing plants under drought stress conditions. This enhanced stress tolerance is attributed to the reduction of abiotic stress-induced cell oxidative damage. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses shed light on the upregulation of multiple sterol compounds, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, in GmNF-YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing soybean plants under stress conditions. Intriguingly, the application of soybean steroids, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, significantly improves drought tolerance in soybean, wheat, foxtail millet, and maize. These findings underscore the pivotal role of soybean steroids in countering oxidative stress in plants and offer a new research strategy for enhancing crop stress tolerance and quality from gene regulation to chemical intervention.

Safety-Preserving Lyapunov-Based Model Predictive Rendezvous Control for Heterogeneous Marine Vehicles Subject to External Disturbances.

This article investigates the cooperative rendezvous control problem for perturbed heterogeneous marine systems composed of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV). A novel Lyapunov-based model predictive control (LMPC) framework is presented to accomplish safe and precise rendezvous under input limitations and external disturbances. First, by incorporating the prescribed performance control (PPC) technique into the LMPC framework, we transform the original ascending state of the AUV into a self-constrained state, which serves as the decision variable of the model predictive control (MPC) optimization problem. Then, PPC-aided auxiliary control laws based on disturbance observers (DOBs) are designed to establish a robust contractive constraint to provide stability margins. Combining the LMPC with the PPC technique makes the original state-constrained problem an equivalent state-constraint-free problem. By addressing the MPC problem for the equivalent unconstrained system, the proposed method preserves the rendezvous safety. With the robust contractive constraint, the proposed safety-preserving LMPC (SP-LMPC) controller can inherit robustness and stability from the robust auxiliary control laws. Furthermore, theoretical analyses are conducted to assess recursive feasibility and closed-loop stability. With comprehensive theoretical support, the proposed method provides a new framework to simultaneously address state constraints and disturbances for highly nonlinear marine systems. Finally, simulations and comparisons are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed algorithm.