Gold-Template-Assisted Mechanical Exfoliation of Large-Area 2D Layers Enables Efficient and Precise Construction of Moiré Superlattices.

Moiré superlattices, consisting of rotationally aligned 2D atomically thin layers, provide a highly novel platform for the study of correlated quantum phenomena. However, reliable and efficient construction of moiré superlattices is challenging because of difficulties to accurately angle-align small exfoliated 2D layers and the need to shun wet-transfer processes. Here, efficient and precise construction of various moiré superlattices is demonstrated by picking up and stacking large-area 2D mono- or few-layer crystals with predetermined crystal axes, made possible by a gold-template-assisted mechanical exfoliation method. The exfoliated 2D layers are semiconductors, superconductors, or magnets and their high quality is confirmed by photoluminescence and Raman spectra and by electrical transport measurements of fabricated field-effect transistors and Hall devices. Twisted homobilayers with angle-twisting accuracy of ≈0.3°, twisted heterobilayers with sub-degree angle-alignment accuracy, and multilayer superlattices are precisely constructed and characterized by their moiré patterns, interlayer excitons, and second harmonic generation. The present study paves the way for exploring emergent phenomena in moiré superlattices.

Mechanism behind the Controlled Generation of Liquid Metal Nanoparticles by Mechanical Agitation.

The size-controlled synthesis of liquid metal nanoparticles is necessary in a variety of applications. Sonication is a common method for breaking down bulk liquid metals into small particles, yet the influence of critical factors such as liquid metal composition has remained elusive. Our study employs high-speed imaging to unravel the mechanism of liquid metal particle formation during mechanical agitation. Gallium-based liquid metals, with and without secondary metals of bismuth, indium, and tin, are analyzed to observe the effect of cavitation and surface eruption during sonication and particle release. The impact of the secondary metal inclusion is investigated on liquid metals' surface tension, solution turbidity, and size distribution of the generated particles. Our work evidences that there is an inverse relationship between the surface tension and the ability of liquid metals to be broken down by sonication. We show that even for 0.22 at. % of bismuth in gallium, the surface tension is significantly decreased from 558 to 417 mN/m (measured in Milli-Q water), resulting in an enhanced particle generation rate: 3.6 times increase in turbidity and ∼43% reduction in the size of particles for bismuth in gallium liquid alloy compared to liquid gallium for the same sonication duration. The effect of particles' size on the photocatalysis of the annealed particles is also presented to show the applicability of the process in a proof-of-concept demonstration. This work contributes to a broader understanding of the synthesis of nanoparticles, with controlled size and characteristics, via mechanical agitation of liquid metals for diverse applications.

Unraveling the longitudinal relationships between connectedness to nature, depressive symptoms, and learning burnout in adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Following the conservation of resource theory and natural stress reduction theory, the current study investigated mediated pathways, reverse mediated pathways, and reciprocal pathways between connectedness to nature, depressive symptoms, and adolescent learning burnout via a half-longitudinal analysis, and discussed gender differences in the three models. METHODS: Two waves of data were collected in December 2022 (T1) and June 2023 (T2) for this study. The sample consisted of 1092 Chinese adolescents (52.20% girls, Mage = 13.03, SD = 1.43). Semi-longitudinal analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between connectedness to nature, depressive symptoms, and adolescent academic burnout. RESULTS: The results indicated that connectedness to nature can serve as a positive resource to alleviate the levels of depressive symptoms among adolescents and thereby decrease learning burnout. However, the protective effect of connectedness to nature was smaller, and the decreasing effect of learning burnout on connectedness to nature was stronger than the alleviating effect of connectedness to nature on learning burnout. Additionally, the study found that depressive symptoms and academic burnout have a mutually reinforcing effect over time and that the effects of this interaction are more pronounced in females. CONCLUSIONS: The present study emphasizes the protective role of nature connectedness and the detrimental effects of learning burnout in adolescents.

Revolutionizing aquatic eco-environmental monitoring: Utilizing the RPA-Cas-FQ detection platform for zooplankton.

The integration of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with CRISPR/Cas technology has revolutionized molecular diagnostics and pathogen detection due to its unparalleled sensitivity and trans-cleavage ability. However, its potential in the ecological and environmental monitoring scenarios for aquatic ecosystems remains largely unexplored, particularly in accurate qualitative/quantitative detection, and its actual performance in handling complex real environmental samples. Using zooplankton as a model, we have successfully optimized the RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a fluorescence detection platform (RPA-Cas-FQ), providing several crucial "technical tips". Our findings indicate the sensitivity of CRISPR/Cas12a alone is 5 × 109 copies/reaction, which can be dramatically increased to 5 copies/reaction when combined with RPA. The optimized RPA-Cas-FQ enables reliable qualitative and semi-quantitative detection within 50 min, and exhibits a good linear relationship between fluorescence intensity and DNA concentration (R2 = 0.956-0.974***). Additionally, we developed a rapid and straightforward identification procedure for single zooplankton by incorporating heat-lysis and DNA-barcode techniques. We evaluated the platform's effectiveness using real environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from the Three Gorges Reservoir, confirming its practicality. The eDNA-RPA-Cas-FQ demonstrated strong consistency (Kappa = 0.43***) with eDNA-Metabarcoding in detecting species presence/absence in the reservoir. Furthermore, the two semi-quantitative eDNA quantification technologies showed a strong positive correlation (R2 = 0.58-0.87***). This platform also has the potential to monitor environmental pollutants by selecting appropriate indicator species. The novel insights and methodologies presented in this study represent a significant advancement in meeting the complex needs of aquatic ecosystem protection and monitoring.

The effects of role stressors and smartphone interactions on delivery riders' unsafe behaviors during the delivery process in China.

Objectives. Although some studies have shown role stressors can lead to unsafe behaviors, it is unclear how role stressors induce delivery riders' unsafe behaviors. We found that delivery riders suffered from tremendous role stressors during the delivery process and had to conduct frequent smartphone interactions. This study aimed to explore the effects of role stressors and smartphone interactions on delivery riders' unsafe behaviors. Methods. First, a questionnaire survey (N = 326) was used to collect data, and correlation and regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between role stressors, smartphone interaction frequency and delivery riders' unsafe behaviors. Second, a scenario survey (N = 35) was conducted, and comparative analysis was used to further explore how smartphone interactions affect delivery riders' unsafe behaviors. Results. The questionnaire survey revealed that role stressors, smartphone interaction frequency and delivery riders' unsafe behaviors were positively correlated. In addition, the role stressors forced delivery riders to conduct necessary and unnecessary smartphone interactions. The scenario survey found that smartphone interactions reduced delivery riders' motion speed and motion ability, and increased their psychology, so they had a risk-taking mentality, which led to an increase in unsafe behaviors.

Comprehensive risk factor predictions for 3-year survival among HIV-associated and disseminated cryptococcosis involving lungs and central nervous system.

BACKGROUND: The global mortality rate resulting from HIV-associated cryptococcal disease is remarkably elevated, particularly in severe cases with dissemination to the lungs and central nervous system (CNS). Regrettably, there is a dearth of predictive analysis regarding long-term survival, and few studies have conducted longitudinal follow-up assessments for comparing anti-HIV and antifungal treatments. METHODS: A cohort of 83 patients with HIV-related disseminated cryptococcosis involving the lung and CNS was studied for 3 years to examine survival. Comparative analysis of clinical and immunological parameters was performed between deceased and surviving individuals. Subsequently, multivariate Cox regression models were utilized to validate mortality predictions at 12, 24, and 36 months. RESULTS: Observed plasma cytokine levels before treatment were significantly lower for IL-1RA (p < 0.001) and MCP-1 (p < 0.05) when in the survivor group. Incorporating plasma levels of IL-1RA, IL-6, and high-risk CURB-65 score demonstrated the highest area under curve (AUC) value (0.96) for predicting 1-year mortality. For 1-, 2- and 3-year predictions, the single-factor model with IL-1RA demonstrated superior performance compared to all multiple-variate models (AUC = 0.95/0.78/0.78). CONCLUSIONS: IL-1RA is a biomarker for predicting 3-year survival. Further investigations to explore the pathogenetic role of IL-1RA in HIV-associated disseminated cryptococcosis and as a potential therapeutic target are warranted.

Huntington's Disease: Complex Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Strategies.

Huntington's disease (HD) arises from the abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT), resulting in the production of the mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) with a polyglutamine stretch in its N-terminus. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying HD are complex and not yet fully elucidated. However, mHTT forms aggregates and accumulates abnormally in neuronal nuclei and processes, leading to disruptions in multiple cellular functions. Although there is currently no effective curative treatment for HD, significant progress has been made in developing various therapeutic strategies to treat HD. In addition to drugs targeting the neuronal toxicity of mHTT, gene therapy approaches that aim to reduce the expression of the mutant HTT gene hold great promise for effective HD therapy. This review provides an overview of current HD treatments, discusses different therapeutic strategies, and aims to facilitate future therapeutic advancements in the field.

Plasma serotonin precursors and metabolite are correlated with bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: Serotonin (5-HT) precursors regulate bone remodeling. This study aims to investigate the correlation of plasma 5-HT precursors and metabolite with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) patients. METHODS: The age, body mass index (BMI), and years since menopause (YSM) were documented for 348 postmenopausal women in normal/osteopenia/osteoporosis (OP) groups, with lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD measured. Serum bone turnover markers (PINP/ß-CTX) and plasma 5-HT, 5-HT precursors (Trp/5-HTP) and metabolite (5-HIAA) were measured by ELISA. OP patients were allocated to high/low expression groups following ROC analysis of 5-HT/Trp/5-HTP/5-HIAA. The relationship of plasma 5-HT/Trp/5-HTP/5-HIAA, BMD, and bone turnover markers with PMOP was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The correlation of plasma 5-HT/Trp/5-HTP/5-HIAA with BMD and bone turnover markers was analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis, followed by logistic regression analysis of the relationship between plasma 5-HT/Trp/5-HTP/5-HIAA and BMD, bone turnover markers and PMOP. RESULTS: BMI, YSM, BMD and PINP, and ß-CTX levels differed among groups. Levels of plasma 5-HT precursors/metabolite were increased in OP patients. Individuals with high 5-HT precursors/metabolite levels had low BMD and high PINP/ß-CTX levels. The 5-HT precursors/metabolite negatively-correlated with BMD and positively-correlated with PINP/ß-CTX. BMI, YSM, BMD, and PINP/ß-CTX/Trp/5-HTP/5-HT related to PMOP and were independent risk factors for OP. CONCLUSION: Plasma 5-HT precursors and metabolite negatively-correlate with BMD and positively-correlate with PINP/ß-CTX in PMOP patients. Peripheral 5-HT precursors and metabolite level may be a new direction of treatment of PMOP and bone metabolism-related disorders.

Carboxymethylated Rhizoma alismatis polysaccharides reduces the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation by reducing cellular inflammation and oxidative stress.

This study aims to elucidate the mechanism and potential of Rhizoma alismatis polysaccharides (RAPs) in preventing oxidative damage to human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells. The experimental approach involved incubating HK-2 cells with 100 nm calcium oxalate monohydrate for 24 h to establish a cellular injury model. Protection was provided by RAPs with varying carboxyl group contents: 3.57%, 7.79%, 10.84%, and 15.33%. The safeguarding effect of RAPs was evaluated by analyzing relevant cellular biochemical indicators. Findings demonstrate that RAPs exhibit notable antioxidative properties. They effectively diminish the release of reactive oxygen species, lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde, a lipid oxidation byproduct. Moreover, RAPs enhance superoxide dismutase activity and mitochondrial membrane potential while attenuating the permeability of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Additionally, RAPs significantly reduce levels of inflammatory factors, including NLRP3, TNF-α, IL-6, and NO. This reduction corresponds to the inhibition of overproduced pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide and the caspase 3 enzyme, leading to a reduction in cellular apoptosis. RAPs also display the ability to suppress the expression of the HK-2 cell surface adhesion molecule CD44. The observed results collectively underscore the substantial anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic potential of all four RAPs. Moreover, their capacity to modulate the expression of cell surface adhesion molecules highlights their potential in inhibiting the formation of kidney stones. Notably, RAP3, boasting the highest carboxyl group content, emerges as the most potent agent in this regard.

Boosting genome editing in plants with single transcript unit surrogate reporter systems.

CRISPR-Cas-based genome editing holds immense promise for advancing plant genomics and crop enhancement. However, the challenge of low editing activity complicates the identification of edited events. In this study, we introduce multiple Single Transcript Unit Surrogate Reporter (STU-SR) systems to enhance the selection of genome-edited plants. These systems utilize the same sgRNAs designed for endogenous genes to edit reporter genes, establishing a direct link between reporter gene editing activity and that of endogenous genes. Various strategies are employed to restore functional reporter genes post-genome editing, including efficient single strand annealing (SSA) for homologous recombination in STU-SR-SSA systems. STU-SR-BE systems leverage base editing to reinstate the start codon, enriching C-to-T and A-to-G base editing events. Our results showcase the effectiveness of these STU-SR systems in enhancing genome editing events in monocot rice, encompassing Cas9 nuclease-based targeted mutagenesis, cytosine base editing, and adenine base editing. The systems exhibit compatibility with Cas9 variants, such as the PAM-less SpRY, and are demonstrated to boost genome editing in Brassica oleracea, a dicot vegetable crop. In summary, we have developed highly efficient and versatile STU-SR systems for enrichment of genome-edited plants.

Sublayer-Sulfur-Vacancy-Induced Charge Redistribution of FeCuS Nanoflower Awakening Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution.

Advancing the progress of sustainable and green energy technologies requires the improvement of valid electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Reconfiguring charge distribution through heteroatom doping-induced vacancy serves as an effective approach to implement high performance for HER catalysts. Here, we successfully fabricated Fe-doped CuS (FeCuS) with the sublayer sulfur vacancy to judge its HER performance and dissect the activity origins. Density functional theory calculation further elucidates that the primary factor contributing to the heightened HER activity is that the sublayer sulfur vacancies awaken the charge redistribution. In addition to effectively decreasing the energy barrier associated with the Volmer step, it modulates the adsorption/desorption capacity of H*. As a result, its intrinsic activity for the HER has significantly increased. Concretely, the obtained FeCuS displays an excellent catalytic performance, whose Tafel slope is only 59 mV dec-1 and the overpotential (at 10 mA cm-2) is as low as 71 mV in an alkaline environment, surpassing the majority of previously documented catalysts in scientific literature. This work shows that the construction of sublayer sulfur vacancies by Fe doping can achieve the charge redistribution and precise tuning of electronic structure; thereby, the inert CuS can be transformed into highly efficient electrocatalysts.

Deciphering the core microbiota in open environment solid-state fermentation of Beijing rice vinegar and its correlation with environmental factors.

BACKGROUND: Rice vinegar is a worldwide popular cereal vinegar worldwide and is typically produced in an open environment, and the ecosystem of solid-state fermentation is complicated and robust. This study aimed to reveal the shaping force of the establishment of the ecosystem of Beijing rice vinegar, the core function microbiota, and their correlation with critical environmental factors. RESULTS: The experimental findings revealed the changes in environmental factors, major metabolites, and microbial patterns during Beijing rice vinegar fermentation were obtained. The major metabolites accumulated at the middle and late acetic acid fermentation (AAF) periods. Principal coordinates and t-test analyses revealed the specific bacterial and fungal species at corresponding stages. Kosakonia, Methlobacterium, Sphingomonas, unidentified Rhizobiaceae, Pseudozyma and Saccharomycopsis dorminated during saccharification and alcohol fermentation and early AAF, while Lactococcus, Acetobacter, Rhodotorula, and Kazachstania dominated the later AAF stages. Canonical correspondence analysis of environmental factors with core microbiota. Temperature and total acid were the most significant factors correlated with the SAF bacterial profile (Pediococcus, Weissella, Enterococcus, and Kosakonia). Ethanol was the most significant factor between AAF1 and AAF3, and mainly affected Acetobacter and Lactobacillus. Conversely, ethanol was the most significant factor in the SAF, AAF1, and AAF3 fungi communities; typical microorganisms were Saccharomyces and Malassezia. Furthermore, the predicted phenotypes of bacteria and their response to environmental factors were evaluated. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study provided insights into the process regulation of spontaneous fermentation and distinguished the key driving forces in the microbiota of Beijing rice vinegar fermentation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Clinical spectrum, over 12-year follow-up and experience of SGLT2 inhibitors treatment on patients with glycogen storage disease type Ib: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSD Ib) is a rare disorder characterized by impaired glucose homeostasis caused by mutations in the SLC37A4 gene. It is a severe inherited metabolic disease associated with hypoglycemia, hyperlipidemia, lactic acidosis, hepatomegaly, and neutropenia. Traditional treatment consists of feeding raw cornstarch which can help to adjust energy metabolism but has no positive effect on neutropenia, which is fatal for these patients. Recently, the pathophysiologic mechanism of the neutrophil dysfunction and neutropenia in GSD Ib has been found, and the treatment with the SGLT2 inhibitor empaglifozin is now well established. In 2020, SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin started to be used as a promising efficient remover of 1,5AG6P in neutrophil of GSD Ib patients worldwide. However, it is necessary to consider long-term utility and safety of a novel treatment. RESULTS: In this study, we retrospectively examined the clinical manifestations, biochemical examination results, genotypes, long-term outcomes and follow-up of thirty-five GSD Ib children who visited our department since 2009. Fourteen patients among them underwent empagliflozin treatment since 2020. This study is the largest cohort of pediatric GSD Ib patients in China as well as the largest cohort of pediatric GSD Ib patients treated with empagliflozin in a single center to date. The study also discussed the experience of long-term management on pediatric GSD Ib patients. CONCLUSION: Empagliflozin treatment for pediatric GSD Ib patients is efficient and safe. Increase of urine glucose is a signal for pharmaceutical effect, however attention to urinary infection and hypoglycemia is suggested.

Dual-loss of PBRM1 and RAD51 identifies hyper-sensitive subset patients to immunotherapy in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), though largely uncharacterized in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), was found associated with RAD51 loss of expression. PBRM1 is the second most common mutated genes in ccRCC. Here, we introduce a HRD function-based PBRM1-RAD51 ccRCC classification endowed with diverse immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) responses. METHODS: Totally 1542 patients from four independent cohorts were enrolled, including our localized Zhongshan hospital (ZSHS) cohort and Zhongshan hospital metastatic RCC (ZSHS-mRCC) cohort, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort and CheckMate cohort. The genomic profile and immune microenvironment were depicted by genomic, transcriptome data and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We observed that PBRM1-loss ccRCC harbored enriched HRD-associated mutational signature 3 and loss of RAD51. Dual-loss of PBRM1 and RAD51 identified patients hyper-sensitive to immunotherapy. This dual-loss subtype was featured by M1 macrophage infiltration. Dual-loss was, albeit homologous recombination defective, with high chromosomal stability. CONCLUSIONS: PBRM1 and RAD51 dual-loss ccRCC indicates superior responses to immunotherapy. Dual-loss ccRCC harbors an immune-desert microenvironment but enriched with M1 macrophages. Dual-loss ccRCC is susceptible to defective homologous recombination but possesses high chromosomal stability.

The development and validation of tour guides internalized occupational stigma scale (TIOSS).

BACKGROUND: Tour guides' identification and internalization of occupational stigma may exacerbate their career development, perceived professional reputation and status, and mental health. The current study aimed to develop and verify the Tour guides Internalized Occupational Stigma Scale (TIOSS) to provide an effective tool for relevant quantitative research. METHODS: The study developed an initial questionnaire through literature analysis, expert review, and semi-structured surveys. We conducted item analyses and exploratory factor analyses among 326 tour guides, and confirmatory factor analysis and reliability and validity tests among 315 tour guides. RESULTS: The TIOSS consists of 21 items and is formed in three dimensions referring to Stigma Perception (SP), Status Loss (SL), and Career Denial (CD). The correlation coefficient values of the TIOSS total scale and dimension scores with the criterion instruments ranged from 0.17 to 0.68. In addition, the Cronbach's α coefficients for the TIOSS and its dimensions ranged from 0.837 to 0.928, and the split-half reliability coefficients ranged from 0.843 to 0.916. The study also revealed that the TIOSS was consistent across genders. CONCLUSION: The TIOSS performed favorable reliability and validity to be a valid instrument to assess tour guides' internalized occupational stigma.

Acute exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles promotes liver injury by inducing mitochondrial ROS-dependent necroptosis and augmenting macrophage-hepatocyte crosstalk.

BACKGROUND: The global use of plastic materials has undergone rapid expansion, resulting in the substantial generation of degraded and synthetic microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), which have the potential to impose significant environmental burdens and cause harmful effects on living organisms. Despite this, the detrimental impacts of MNPs exposure towards host cells and tissues have not been thoroughly characterized. RESULTS: In the present study, we have elucidated a previously unidentified hepatotoxic effect of 20 nm synthetic polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs), rather than larger PS beads, by selectively inducing necroptosis in macrophages. Mechanistically, 20 nm PSNPs were rapidly internalized by macrophages and accumulated in the mitochondria, where they disrupted mitochondrial integrity, leading to heightened production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). This elevated mtROS generation essentially triggered necroptosis in macrophages, resulting in enhanced crosstalk with hepatocytes, ultimately leading to hepatocyte damage. Additionally, it was demonstrated that PSNPs induced necroptosis and promoted acute liver injury in mice. This harmful effect was significantly mitigated by the administration of a necroptosis inhibitor or systemic depletion of macrophages prior to PSNPs injection. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our study suggests a profound toxicity of environmental PSNP exposure by triggering macrophage necroptosis, which in turn induces hepatotoxicity via intercellular crosstalk between macrophages and hepatocytes in the hepatic microenvironment.

Process-Based Modeling of Phenology and Radial Growth in Pinus tabuliformis in Response to Climate Factors over a Cold and Semi-Arid Region.

(1) Background: Climate change significantly impacts the phenology and dynamics of radial tree growth in alpine dryland forests. However, there remains a scarcity of reliable information on the physiological processes of tree growth and cambial phenology in response to long-term climate change in cold and semi-arid regions. (2) Methods: We employed the process-based Vaganov-Shashkin (VS) model to simulate the phenology and growth patterns of Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) in the eastern Qilian Mountains, northeastern Tibetan Plateau. The model was informed by observed temperature and precipitation data to elucidate the relationships between climate factors and tree growth. (3) Results: The simulated tree-ring index closely aligned with the observed tree-ring chronology, validating the VS model's effectiveness in capturing the climatic influences on radial growth and cambial phenology of P. tabuliformis. The model outputs revealed that the average growing season spanned from mid-April to mid-October and experienced an extension post-1978 due to ongoing warming trends. However, it is important to note that an increase in the duration of the growing season did not necessarily result in a higher level of radial growth. (4) Conclusions: While the duration of the growing season was primarily determined by temperature, the growth rate was predominantly influenced by water conditions during the growing season, making it the most significant factor contributing to ring formation. Our study provides valuable insights into the potential mechanisms underlying tree growth responses to climate change in cold and semi-arid regions.

Beyond the ß-amino alcohols framework: identification of novel ß-hydroxy pyridinium salt-decorated pterostilbene derivatives as bacterial virulence factor inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial virulence factors are involved in various biological processes and mediate persistent bacterial infections. Focusing on virulence factors of phytopathogenic bacteria is an attractive strategy and crucial direction in pesticide discovery to prevent invasive and persistent bacterial infection. Hence, discovery and development of novel agrochemicals with high activity, low-risk, and potent anti-virulence is urgently needed to control plant bacterial diseases. RESULTS: A series of novel ß-hydroxy pyridinium cation decorated pterostilbene derivatives were prepared and their antibacterial activities against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) were systematacially assessed. Among these pterostilbene derivatives, compound 4S exhibited the best antibacterial activity against Xoo in vitro, with an half maximal effective concentration (EC50) value of 0.28 µg mL-1. A series of biochemical assays including scanning electron microscopy, crystal violet staining, and analysis of biofilm formation, swimming motility, and related virulence factor gene expression levels demonstrated that compound 4S could function as a new anti-virulence factor inhibitor by interfering with the bacterial infection process. Furthermore, the pot experiments provided convinced evidence that compound 4S had the high control efficacy (curative activity: 71.4%, protective activity: 72.6%), and could be used to effectively manage rice bacterial leaf blight in vivo. CONCLUSION: Compounds 4S is an attractive virulence factor inhibitor with potential for application in treating plant bacterial diseases by suppressing production of several virulence factors. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Involution of brown adipose tissue through a Syntaxin 4 dependent pyroptosis pathway.

Aging, chronic high-fat diet feeding, or housing at thermoneutrality induces brown adipose tissue (BAT) involution, a process characterized by reduction of BAT mass and function with increased lipid droplet size. Single nuclei RNA sequencing of aged mice identifies a specific brown adipocyte population of Ucp1-low cells that are pyroptotic and display a reduction in the longevity gene syntaxin 4 (Stx4a). Similar to aged brown adipocytes, Ucp1-STX4KO mice display loss of brown adipose tissue mass and thermogenic dysfunction concomitant with increased pyroptosis. Restoration of STX4 expression or suppression of pyroptosis activation protects against the decline in both mass and thermogenic activity in the aged and Ucp1-STX4KO mice. Mechanistically, STX4 deficiency reduces oxidative phosphorylation, glucose uptake, and glycolysis leading to reduced ATP levels, a known triggering signal for pyroptosis. Together, these data demonstrate an understanding of rapid brown adipocyte involution and that physiologic aging and thermogenic dysfunction result from pyroptotic signaling activation.

Comparative analysis of the gut bacteria and fungi in migratory demoiselle cranes (Grus virgo) and common cranes (Grus grus) in the Yellow River Wetland, China.

Introduction: Gut microbiota are closely related to the nutrition, immunity, and metabolism of the host and play important roles in maintaining the normal physiological activities of animals. Cranes are important protected avian species in China, and they are sensitive to changes in the ecological environment and are thus good environmental indicators. There have been no reports examining gut fungi or the correlation between bacteria and fungi in wild Demoiselle cranes (Grus virgo) and Common cranes (Grus grus). Related research can provide a foundation for the protection of rare wild animals. Methods: 16S rRNA and ITS high-throughput sequencing techniques were used to analyze the gut bacterial and fungal diversity of Common and Demoiselle cranes migrating to the Yellow River wetland in Inner Mongolia. Results: The results revealed that for gut bacteria α diversity, Chao1 index in Demoiselle cranes was remarkably higher than that in Common cranes (411.07 ± 79.54 vs. 294.92 ± 22.38), while other index had no remarkably differences. There was no remarkable difference in fungal diversity. There were marked differences in the gut microbial composition between the two crane species. At the phylum level, the highest abundance of bacteria in the Common crane and Demoiselle crane samples was Firmicutes, accounting for 87.84% and 74.29%, respectively. The highest abundance of fungi in the guts of the Common and Demoiselle cranes was Ascomycota, accounting for 69.42% and 57.63%, respectively. At the genus level, the most abundant bacterial genus in the Common crane sample was Turicibacter (38.60%), and the most abundant bacterial genus in the Demoiselle crane sample was Catelicoccus (39.18%). The most abundant fungi in the Common crane sample was Penicillium (6.97%), and the most abundant fungi in the Demoiselle crane sample was Saccharomyces (8.59%). Correlation analysis indicated that there was a significant correlation between gut bacteria and fungi. Discussion: This study provided a research basis for the protection of cranes. Indeed, a better understanding of the gut microbiota is very important for the conservation and management of wild birds, as it not only helps us to understand their life history and related mechanisms, but also can hinder the spread of pathogenic microorganisms.