Preparation and properties of films loaded with cellulose nanocrystals stabilized Thymus vulgaris essential oil Pickering emulsion based on modified tapioca starch/polyvinyl alcohol.

Pickering emulsions were prepared by stabilizing thymus vulgaris essential oil (TEVO) with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), which formed composite films by loading the emulsions into modified tapioca/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based films. The results showed that the 1.0 % CNCs-15 % TEVO emulsion had optimal stability and smaller particle size. The emulsion increased the thickness of the composite film in the form of solid material additions (thickness, 0.062-0.099 mm), which opacity given the laminating film's superior UV-blocking ability compared to blank film. The emulsion plasticizing effect enhanced the film's elongation at break (EAB, 123-159 %). In addition, due to the hydrophobicity and influencing the diffusion path of water molecules in the emulsion, the denser microstructure composite film had a lower water vapor transmission coefficient (WVP, 6.22 × 10-11-5.35 × 10-11g∙cm/cm2∙s∙Pa) to impede moisture penetration. Meanwhile, the composite film can effectively maintain the color and inhibit the growth of microorganisms to extend the storage time of fish fillets.

Evaluation of water management on arsenic methylation and volatilization in arsenic-contaminated soils strengthened by bioaugmentation and biostimulation.

Arsenic (As) fate in paddy fields has been one of the most significant current issues due to the strong As accumulation potential of rice plants under flooded conditions. However, no attempt was done to explore As methylation and volatilization under non-flooded conditions. Herein, we investigated the effects of water management on As methylation and volatilization in three arsenic-contaminated soils enhanced by biostimulation with straw-derived organic matter and bioaugmentation with genetic engineered Pseudomonas putida KT2440 (GE P. putida). Under flooded conditions, the application of biochar (BC), rice straw (RS) and their combination (BC+RS) increased total As in porewater. However, these effects were greatly attenuated under non-flooded conditions. Compared with RS amendment alone, the combination of GE P. putida and RS further promoted the As methylation and volatilization, and the promotion percentage under non-flooded conditions were significantly higher than that under flooded conditions. The combined GE P. putida and RS showed the highest efficiency in As methylation (88 µg/L) and volatilization (415.4 µg/(kg·year)) in the non-flooded soil with moderate As contamination. Finally, stepwise multiple linear regression analysis presented that methylated As, DOC and pH in porewater were the most important factors contributing to As volatilization. Overall, our findings suggest that combination of bioaugmentation with GE P. putida and biostimulation with RS/BC+RS is a potential strategy for bioremediation of arsenic-contaminated soils by enhancing As methylation and volatilization under non-flooded conditions.

Mesoporous dopamine-modified leaf-like zeolitic imidazolate frameworks derived carbon for efficient capacitive deionization.

The onstruction of novel porous carbon materials for efficient desalination is crucial but remains challenging for capacitive deionization (CDI) development. Herein, a micelle-assisted strategy was raised to coat mesoporous polydopamine (mPDA) on the surface of two-dimensional (2D) leaf-like zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFL) followed by confinement pyrolysis. The introduction of the mPDA layer can not only mitigate the backbone collapse of ZIFL during pyrolysis to build a favorable porous environment for efficient ion transport and diffusion, but also induce explosive growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to improve the electron conductivity. As expected, the derivative ZIFL@mPDA-C possessed a high desalination capacity of 41.9 mg g-1 in 500  mg L-1 NaCl solution at an operating voltage of 1.2 V. In particular, the retention ratio of the desalination capacity of ZIFL@mPDA-C was about 100 % after 50 consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles, while its leaf-like morphology and hierarchical pore structures were well preserved. This study highlights the importance of rationally designed structures and components for the performance breakthrough of carbon-based CDI electrode materials.

Orexin-A/OX1R is involved in regulation of autophagy to promote cortisol secretion in adrenocortical cell.

BACKGROUND: Hypercortisolism has emerged as a prominent clinical condition worldwide caused by biochemical cortisol excess in patients, and optimization treatment is needed urgently in the clinic. Previously, we observed that orexin-A/orexin type 1 receptor (OX1R) promoted cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and increased cortisol release in adrenocortical cells. However, the functions of orexin-A/OX1R on autophagy and its molecular mechanism are not known. METHODS: Transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscope were performed to detect autophagosomes. Western blot were performed to detect autophagy proteins. The cortisol concentration was assessed with an ELISA. FINDINGS: Our data demonstrated that orexin-A/OX1R activated the mammalian target of rapamycin/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase-1 pathway, thereby inhibiting autophagy in H295R cells and Y-1 cells. Furthermore, the orexin-A/OX1R-mediated suppression of autophagy played a crucial role in cortisol secretion. Mechanistically, the expression of 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase, the rate-limiting enzyme in cortisol synthesis, was increased with autophagy inhibition mediated by orexin-A/OX1R. INTERPRETATION: This study provided the evidence that orexin-A/OX1R participated in modulating mTOR/p70S6K1/autophagy signaling pathway to promote cortisol secretion in adrenocortical cell. The findings suggest the mechanistic basis for disorders of cortisol secretion, providing the potential therapeutic targets for hypercortisolism treatment. FUND: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (32170603, 31871286), the Doctoral Start-up Foundation of Liaoning Province (20180540008, 2019-BS-298), the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (2019-ZD-0779), and Shenyang Science and Technology Plan Fund Projects (21-173-9-28).

Fluorescent starch-based hydrogel with cellulose nanofibrils and carbon dots for simultaneous adsorption and detection of Pb(II).

The adsorption removal of lead (Pb) ions has become a crucial area of research due to the potential health hazards associated with Pb contamination. Developing cost-effective adsorbents for the removal of Pb(II) ions is significantly important. Hence, a novel fluorescent starch-based hydrogel (FSH) using starch (ST), cellulose nanofibrils (CN), and carbon dots (CD) was fabricated for simultaneous adsorption and detection of Pb(II). A comprehensive characterization of FSH, including its morphological features, chemical composition, and fluorescence characteristics, was conducted. Notably, FSH exhibited a maximum theoretical adsorption capacity of 265.9 mg/g, which was 13.0 times higher than that of pure ST. Moreover, FSH was employed as a fluorescent sensor for Pb(II) determination, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 µg/L. An analysis was further performed to investigate the adsorption and detection mechanisms of Pb(II) utilizing FSH. This study provides valuable insights into the production of a novel cost-effective ST-based adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II) ions.

Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomic study of rat serum after anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, a common sports injury, is associated with a high risk of subsequent osteoarthritis (OA), which can cause serious pain and disability. Understanding the detailed mechanism underlying the predisposition of knee with ACL injury to secondary OA at an early stage is key to preventing future degradation and progression to a clinically significant disease. A total of 56 male Sprague Dawley rats (age, 8 weeks; weight, 180-220 g) were randomly divided into three experimental groups: control, ACL transection (ACLT; where surgical procedure was performed with ACLT), and sham (where surgical procedure was performed without ACLT). The ACLT and sham groups were further divided into three subgroups based on when the rats were sacrificed: 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the surgical procedure. The control group and the aforementioned subgroups contained 8 rats each. We used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomic analysis to analyze rat serum samples for the metabolic characteristics and the underlying mechanisms. In total, 28 metabolites were identified in the NMR spectra of the rat sera. At 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, the sham group demonstrated metabolic profiles different from those of the ACLT group. However, this difference was not observed 12 weeks postoperatively. In total, five metabolites (acetate, succinate, sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, glucose, and phenylalanine) and five metabolic pathways (phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; phenylalanine metabolism; pyruvate metabolism; starch and sucrose metabolism; and histidine metabolism) demonstrated significant differences between the ACLT and sham groups. ACL injury was noted to considerably affect biochemical homeostasis and metabolism; however, these metabolic changes persisted briefly. Moreover, glucose was a characteristic metabolite, and several energy-related metabolic pathways were significantly disturbed. Therefore, an ACL injury may lead to considerable impairments in energy metabolism. Abnormal glucose levels facilitate chondrocyte function impairment and thereby lead to OA progression. Furthermore, lactate may aid in identifying metabolic changes specific to knee trauma not related to an ACL injury. Overall, the metabolic changes in rat serum after an ACL injury were closely related to disturbances in energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism. The current results may aid in understanding the pathogenesis of posttraumatic osteoarthritis.

Diabetes mellitus and latent tuberculosis infection: an updated meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated an association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). This study was conducted to update the current understanding of the association between DM and LTBI. By conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) or risk ratios (aRR), we aimed to further explore the association between DM and LTBI and provide essential reference for future research. METHODS: We conducted comprehensive searches in Embase, Cochrane Library, and PubMed without imposing any start date or language restrictions, up to July 19, 2022. Our study selection encompassed observational research that compared from LTBI positive rates in both DM and non-DM groups and reported aRR or aOR results. The quality of the included studies was assessed utilizing the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using random-effects models, along with their associated 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: We included 22 studies involving 68,256 subjects. Three cohort studies were eligible, with a pooled aRR of 1.26 (95% CI: 0.71-2.23). Nineteen cross-sectional studies were eligible, with a pooled aOR of 1.21 (95% CI: 1.14-1.29). The crude RR (cRR) pooled estimate for three cohort studies was 1.62 (95% CI: 1.03-2.57). Among the cross-sectional studies we included, sixteen studies provided crude ORs, and the crude OR (cOR) pooled estimate was 1.64 (95% CI: 1.36-1.97). In the diagnosis of diabetes, the pooled aOR of the HbA1c group was higher than that of self-reported group (pooled aOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.24-1.96 vs. 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06-1.28). CONCLUSION: Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggest a positive association between DM and LTBI. Individuals with DM may have a higher risk of LTBI compared to those without DM. These findings provide important insights for future research and public health interventions in managing LTBI in diabetic populations.

The impacts of CYP3A4 genetic polymorphism and drug interactions on the metabolism of lurasidone.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of 24 variants of recombinant human CYP3A4 and drug interactions on the metabolism of lurasidone. In vitro, enzymatic reaction incubation system of CYP3A4 was established to determine the kinetic parameters of lurasidone catalyzed by 24 CYP3A4 variants. Then, we constructed rat liver microsomes (RLM) and human liver microsomes (HLM) incubation system to screen potential anti-tumor drugs that could interact with lurasidone and studied its inhibitory mechanism. In vivo, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were applied to study the interaction between lurasidone and olmutinib. The concentrations of the analytes were detected by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). As the results, we found that compared with the wild-type CYP3A4, the relative intrinsic clearances vary from 355.77 % in CYP3A4.15 to 14.11 % in CYP3A4.12. A series of drugs were screened based on the incubation system, and compared to without olmutinib, the amount of ID-14283 (the metabolite of lurasidone) in RLM and HLM were reduced to 7.22 % and 7.59 %, and its IC50 were 18.83 ± 1.06 µM and 16.15 ± 0.81 µM, respectively. At the same time, it exerted inhibitory effects both through a mixed mechanism. When co-administration of lurasidone with olmutinib in rats, the AUC(0-t) and AUC(0-∞) of lurasidone were significantly increased by 73.52 % and 69.68 %, respectively, while CLz/F was observably decreased by 43.83 %. In conclusion, CYP3A4 genetic polymorphism and olmutinib can remarkably affect the metabolism of lurasidone.

NAMPT regulates mitochondria function and lipid metabolism during porcine oocyte maturation.

Oocyte maturation defect can lead to maternal reproduction disorder. NAMPT is a rate-limiting enzyme in mammalian NAD+ biosynthesis pathway, which can regulate a variety of cellular metabolic processes including glucose metabolism and DNA damage repair. However, the function of NAMPT in porcine oocytes remains unknown. In this study, we showed that NAMPT involved into multiple cellular events during oocyte maturation. NAMPT expressed during all stages of porcine oocyte meiosis, and inhibition of NAMPT activity caused the cumulus expansion and polar body extrusion defects. Mitochondrial dysfunction was observed in NAMPT-deficient porcine oocytes, which showed decreased membrane potential, ATP and mitochondrial DNA content, increased oxidative stress level and apoptosis. We also found that NAMPT was essential for spindle organization and chromosome arrangement based on Ac-tubulin. Moreover, lack of NAMPT activity caused the increase of lipid droplet and affected the imbalance of lipogenesis and lipolysis. In conclusion, our study indicated that lack of NAMPT activity affected porcine oocyte maturation through its effects on mitochondria function, spindle assembly and lipid metabolism.

Aspirin protects human trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo cells from H2O2-Induced oxidative stress via NADPH/ROS pathway.

INTRODUCTION: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication that can lead to maternal, fetal, and neonatal deaths in clinical practice. Accumulation of trophoblastic reactive oxygen species (ROS), which could result in oxidative stress and cell apoptosis, is considered to play an important role in PE pathology. It has been reported that aspirin has a positive effect on PE treatment in high-risk pregnant women. METHODS: In vitro, extravillous trophoblast cell line (HTR-8/SVneo) were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 150 µM) after the presence of aspirin (90 and 120 µM) with or without GKT137831 (a Nox4 inhibitor, 20 µM). A series of experiments including CCK-8 assays, flow cytometry, biochemical testing, and Western Blotting etc. verified the protective effects and potential mechanisms of aspirin against oxidative stress-induced damage in PE. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that H2O2 induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in HTR8/SVneo cells. However, aspirin pretreatment rescue cell viability and reduce LDH activity of HTR-8/SVneo cells. Aspirin can suppress the ROS overproduction and MDA level while increase SOD content and CAT activity. In addition, aspirin pretreatment significantly alleviated cell apoptosis and suppressed the expression of Nox4 and its subunits (p22phox and p47phox) at protein and mRNA levels. The above results were more obvious after the combination of aspirin with GKT137831. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrated that aspirin protects human trophoblasts against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis via suppressing NADPH/ROS pathway. These findings provide novel insights for the application of aspirin as a protective and curative agent against PE.

Riding apoptotic bodies for cell-cell transmission by African swine fever virus.

African swine fever virus (ASFV), a devastating pathogen to the worldwide swine industry, mainly targets macrophage/monocyte lineage, but how the virus enters host cells has remained unclear. Here, we report that ASFV utilizes apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs) for infection and cell-cell transmission. We show that ASFV induces cell apoptosis of primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) at the late stage of infection to productively shed ApoBDs that are subsequently swallowed by neighboring PAMs to initiate a secondary infection as evidenced by electron microscopy and live-cell imaging. Interestingly, the virions loaded within ApoBDs are exclusively single-enveloped particles that are devoid of the outer layer of membrane and represent a predominant form produced during late infection. The in vitro purified ApoBD vesicles are capable of mediating virus infection of naive PAMs, but the transmission can be significantly inhibited by blocking the "eat-me" signal phosphatidyserine on the surface of ApoBDs via Annexin V or the efferocytosis receptor TIM4 on the recipient PAMs via anti-TIM4 antibody, whereas overexpression of TIM4 enhances virus infection. The same treatment however did not affect the infection by intracellular viruses. Importantly, the swine sera to ASFV exert no effect on the ApoBD-mediated transmission but can partially act on the virions lacking the outer layer of membrane. Thus, ASFV has evolved to hijack a normal cellular pathway for cell-cell spread to evade host responses.

Sintilimab plus fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and docetaxel regimen as neoadjuvant therapy for resectable gastric cancer and biomarker exploration.

At present, preoperative chemotherapy is the standard of care for the neoadjuvant treatment of potentially resectable gastric cancer (GC). However, because the efficacy and prognosis are not ideal, curative effects for this population are unsatisfactory. With the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors, the results of a few encouraging early trials of immunotherapeutic agents as neoadjuvant therapies for resectable GC have been reported. However, markers of the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors remain unclear. This prospective single-center, single-arm observational study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of sintilimab plus the fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and docetaxel regimen as a neoadjuvant treatment for localized GC. More importantly, this work assesses multiple dimensions and include ctDNA, the immune microenvironment and intestinal microbiome to explore correlations between biomarkers and neoadjuvant therapeutic efficacy. Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR2200061629 (www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx).

A Modified Nucleoside O6-methyl-2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-Triphosphate Exhibits Anti-Glioblastoma Activity in a Caspase-Independent Manner.

Resistance to temozolomide (TMZ), the frontline chemotherapeutic agent for glioblastoma (GBM), has emerged as a formidable obstacle, underscoring the imperative to identify alternative therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated a novel agent, O6-methyl-2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-triphosphate (O6-methyl-dGTP) for its anti-GBM activity both in vitro and in vivo. Notably, O6-methyl-dGTP exhibited pronounced cytotoxicity against GBM cells, including those resistant to TMZ and overexpressing O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). Mechanistic investigations revealed that O6-methyl-dGTP could be incorporated into genomic DNA, disrupting nucleotide pools balance, and inducing replication stress, resulting in S-phase arrest and DNA damage. The compound exerted its anti-tumor properties through the activation of AIF-mediated apoptosis and the parthanatos pathway. In vivo studies using U251 and Ln229 cell xenografts supported the robust tumor-inhibitory capacity of O6-methyl-dGTP. In an orthotopic transplantation model with U87MG cells, O6-methyl-dGTP showcased marginally superior tumor-suppressive activity compared to TMZ. In summary, our research, for the first time, underscores the potential of O6-methyl-dGTP as an effective candidate against GBM, laying a robust scientific groundwork for its potential clinical adoption in GBM treatment regimens.

Metatranscriptome of human lung microbial communities in a cohort of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 Omicron patients.

The Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS­CoV­2) infected a substantial proportion of Chinese population, and understanding the factors underlying the severity of the disease and fatality is valuable for future prevention and clinical treatment. We recruited 64 patients with invasive ventilation for COVID-19 and performed metatranscriptomic sequencing to profile host transcriptomic profiles, plus viral, bacterial, and fungal content, as well as virulence factors and examined their relationships to 28-day mortality were examined. In addition, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from invasive ventilated hospital/community-acquired pneumonia patients (HAP/CAP) sampled in 2019 were included for comparison. Genomic analysis revealed that all Omicron strains belong to BA.5 and BF.7 sub-lineages, with no difference in 28-day mortality between them. Compared to HAP/CAP cohort, invasive ventilated COVID-19 patients have distinct host transcriptomic and microbial signatures in the lower respiratory tract; and in the COVID-19 non-survivors, we found significantly lower gene expressions in pathways related viral processes and positive regulation of protein localization to plasma membrane, higher abundance of opportunistic pathogens including bacterial Alloprevotella, Caulobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, Ralstonia and fungal Aspergillus sydowii and Penicillium rubens. Correlational analysis further revealed significant associations between host immune responses and microbial compositions, besides synergy within viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Our study presents the relationships of lower respiratory tract microbiome and transcriptome in invasive ventilated COVID-19 patients, providing the basis for future clinical treatment and reduction of fatality.

Porous Carbonaceous Aerogels Composed of Multiscale Carbon-Based Units for High-Performance Microwave Absorption.

Structural engineering is definitely a promising and effective approach to develop excellent microwave absorbing materials with quantities of advantages. Especially, when carbon materials act as the constituents, the fabricated absorbers are available to gain more prominent absorption performance. However, extra high conductivities and the widespread aggregations and stacking of low-dimensional carbon materials always detrimentally affect the impedance matching and weaken the attenuation capacity, inevitably confining their further absorption applications. Herein, by introducing the amorphous chiral carbon nanocoils to overcome the challenges and achieve the strategies of structure optimization and multicomponent recombination, the reduced graphene oxide/carbon nanocoil/carbon nanotube aerogels were successfully synthesized by a successive hydrothermal method and freeze-drying strategy. The as-obtained aerogels possess a porous architecture that contribute to the extraordinary impedance matching and multiple reflections, which integrate the multifarious dielectric loss mechanisms of diverse carbon materials simultaneously. Benefiting from the tricomponent synergistic effect, the ultralight aerogels reach an outstanding microwave absorption property with an extremely low filler content of only 6 wt %. This work provides a helpful approach to design hierarchical absorbers consisted by multidimensional carbon materials for fantastic microwave absorption.

Exploring the Effect of Low-Temperature Oxidation on the Petrophysical Characteristics of Coal.

Low-temperature oxidation leads to the accumulation of heat in coal, and it is an important trigger for coal spontaneous combustion (CSC). The oxidation effects induce irreversible damage in the pore and fracture structures of coal, which provide a way for the infiltration of oxygen. In this work, the evolution of pores and cracks of coal in the progress of low-temperature oxidation is researched based on nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultrasonic testing. The results show that the oxidation effect increases microporous structures and promotes the development of mesopores and macropores in coal. Besides, as the temperature increases, the oxidation effect becomes more significant, while the pore morphology has not changed significantly yet. Meanwhile, the oxidation effect causes coal particles to block or collapse in the macropores, and the plugging degree increases with increasing temperature.

Highly Stable Amide-Functionalized Zirconium-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis, Structure, and Methane Storage Capacity.

With the development of crystalline porous materials toward methane storage, the stability issue of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials has caused great concern despite high working capacity. Considering the high stability of zirconium-based MOFs and effective functions of amide groups toward gas adsorption, herein, a series of UiO-66 type of Zr-MOFs, namely, Zr-fcu-H/F/CH3/OH, were successfully designed and synthesized by virtue of amide-functionalized dicarboxylate ligands bearing distinct side groups (i.e., -H, -F, -CH3, and -OH) and ZrCl4 in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid as the modulator. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and topology analyses reveal that these compounds are archetypal fcu MOFs encompassing octahedral and tetrahedral cages, respectively. The N2 sorption isotherms and acid-base stability tests demonstrate that the materials possess not only relatively high surface areas, pore volumes, and appropriate pore sizes but also great hydrolytic stabilities ranging pH = 3-11. Furthermore, the volumetric methane storage working capacities of Zr-fcu-H, Zr-fcu-F, Zr-fcu-CH3, and Zr-fcu-OH at 298/273 K and 80 bar are 187/217, 175/193, 167/187, and 154/171 cm3 (STP) cm-3, respectively, which indicate that the zirconium-based crystalline porous materials are capable of storing relatively high amounts of methane.

MdbHLH160 is stabilized via reduced MdBT2-mediated degradation to promote MdSOD1 and MdDREB2A-like expression for apple drought tolerance.

Drought stress is a key environmental factor limiting the productivity, quality, and geographic distribution of crops worldwide. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in plant drought stress responses, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report an ABA-responsive bHLH transcription factor, MdbHLH160, that promotes drought tolerance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and apple (Malus domestica). Under drought conditions, MdbHLH160 directly bound to the MdSOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) promoter and activated its transcription, thereby triggering ROS scavenging and enhancing apple drought tolerance. MdbHLH160 also promoted MdSOD1 enzyme activity and accumulation in the nucleus through direct protein interactions, thus inhibiting excessive nuclear ROS levels. Moreover, MdbHLH160 directly upregulated the expression of MdDREB2A-like, a DREB (dehydration-responsive element binding factor) family gene that promotes apple drought tolerance. Protein degradation and ubiquitination assays showed that drought and ABA treatment stabilized MdbHLH160. The BTB protein MdBT2 was identified as a MdbHLH160-interacting protein that promoted MdbHLH160 ubiquitination and degradation, and ABA treatment substantially inhibited this process. Overall, our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of ABA-modulated drought tolerance at both the transcriptional and post-translational levels via the ABA-MdBT2-MdbHLH160-MdSOD1/MdDREB2A-like cascade.

Enhancing Uranium Removal with a Titanium-Incorporated Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Framework.

The urgent need to efficiently and rapidly decontaminate uranium contamination in aquatic environments underscores its significance for ecological preservation and environmental restoration. Herein, a series of titanium-doped zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks were meticulously synthesized through a stepwise process. The resultant hybrid bimetallic materials, denoted as NU-Zr-n%Ti, exhibited remarkable efficiency in eliminating uranium (U (VI)) from aqueous solution. Batch experiments were executed to comprehensively assess the adsorption capabilities of NU-Zr-n%Ti. Notably, the hybrid materials exhibited a substantial increase in adsorption capacity for U (VI) compared to the parent NU-1000 framework. Remarkably, the optimized NU-Zr-15%Ti displayed a noteworthy adsorption capacity (∼118 mg g-1) along with exceptionally rapid kinetics at pH 4.0, surpassing that of pristine NU-1000 by a factor of 10. This heightened selectivity for U (VI) persisted even when diverse ions exist. The dominant mechanisms driving this high adsorption capacity were identified as the robust electrostatic attraction between the negatively charged surface of NU-Zr-15%Ti and positively charged U (VI) species as well as surface complexation. Consequently, NU-Zr-15%Ti emerges as a promising contender for addressing uranium-laden wastewater treatment and disposal due to its favorable sequestration performance.

Double strengthening induced by grain boundary segregation of solute elements in gradient nano Ni-Co alloys.

Gradient induced unusual strain hardening achieves the equilibrium of the strength and plasticity of alloys, and is an important strategy for the optimization of the mechanical properties of metals and alloys. The segregation of solute elements can greatly improve the grain boundary stability, inhibit grain coarsening and promote the mechanical strength of the alloy. In our efforts, the segregation structure of the solute element Co was designed and added to the gradient nano Ni-Co alloy, and the two strengthening strategies were applied simultaneously in one structure. The mechanical strength of the alloy achieved a second increase based on the unique combination of gradient induced strain hardening and high plasticity, especially the yield strength of alloy increase amplitude reach to 42%. This provides a positive direction for the alloy strengthening strategy. In the process of secondary strengthening, the micro-mechanism is divided into two stages: in the first stage, the gradient strain provides the alloy with geometrically necessary dislocations and a multi-axial stress state, and the existence of large numbers of geometrically necessary dislocations creates good conditions for the second stage strengthening. In the second stage, the solute segregation induced stable grain boundaries produce a strong pinning effect on the geometrically necessary dislocation, which realizes the coupling of grain boundary strengthening and dislocation strengthening. This provides a new strengthening strategy and positive theoretical guidance for the experimental preparation of advanced alloys with excellent properties.