Performance studies of an ultrafast gamma Cherenkov imaging Screen based on Silica fibers array.

High-energy gamma rays produced in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments are crucial for studying implosion dynamics. These gamma rays, characterized by their extremely short durations, represent the least disturbed products of fusion, preserving vital birth information. To detect such γ-rays, ultrafast radiation detectors with high time resolution are necessary. This study introduces a newly developed Cherenkov optical image screen designed for ultra-fast gamma-ray imaging. Composed of pure quartz fiber material, the imaging screen features a single fiber pixel size of 0.6 mm and a thickness of 3 cm. Theoretical investigations explore the luminous time response and efficiency of the Cherenkov optical imaging screen under gamma-ray irradiation. Experimental validation was conducted using a steady-state gamma-ray source with an average energy of 1.25 MeV. Results demonstrate that the image screen achieves a spatial resolution limit of 0.75 mm. The temporal response exhibits a full width at half maximum of less than 0.4 ns when excited by a high-energy electron beam with a single pulse duration of several picoseconds.

BRD3308 suppresses macrophage oxidative stress and pyroptosis via upregulating acetylation of H3K27 in sepsis-induced acute lung injury.

Background: Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) leads to severe hypoxemia and respiratory failure, contributing to poor prognosis in septic patients. Endotoxin dissemination triggers oxidative stress and the release of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages, initiating diffuse alveolar damage. The role of epigenetic histone modifications in organ injury is increasingly recognized. The present study aimed to investigate the use of a histone modification inhibitor to alleviate sepsis-induced ALI, revealing a new strategy for improving sepsis patient survival. Methods: In vivo models of ALI were established through the intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide and cecal ligation and puncture surgery. Furthermore, the disease process was simulated in vitro by stimulating Tamm-Horsfall protein-1 (THP-1) cells with lipopolysaccharide. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, blood gas analysis and pulmonary function tests were utilized to assess the extent of lung tissue damage. Western blot analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence were used to measure the levels and distribution of the indicated indicators within cells and tissues. Reactive oxygen species and autophagic flux alterations were detected using specific probes. Results: BRD3308, which is a inhibitor of histone deacetylase 3, improved lung tissue damage, inflammatory infiltration and edema in ALI by inhibiting Nod-like receptor protein3-mediated pyroptosis in macrophages. By upregulating autophagy, BRD3308 improved the disruption of redox balance in macrophages and reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Mechanistically, BRD3308 inhibited histone deacetylase 3 activity by binding to it and altering its conformation. Following histone deacetylase 3 inhibition, acetylation of H3K27 was significantly increased. Moreover, the increase in H3K27Ac led to the upregulation of autophagy-related gene 5, a key component of autophagosomes, thereby activating autophagy. Conclusions: BRD3308 inhibits oxidative stress and pyroptosis in macrophages by modulating histone acetylation, thereby preventing sepsis-induced ALI. The present study provides a potential strategy and theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of sepsis-induced ALI.

Global impact of unproductive splicing on human gene expression.

Alternative splicing (AS) in human genes is widely viewed as a mechanism for enhancing proteomic diversity. AS can also impact gene expression levels without increasing protein diversity by producing 'unproductive' transcripts that are targeted for rapid degradation by nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). However, the relative importance of this regulatory mechanism remains underexplored. To better understand the impact of AS-NMD relative to other regulatory mechanisms, we analyzed population-scale genomic data across eight molecular assays, covering various stages from transcription to cytoplasmic decay. We report threefold more unproductive splicing compared with prior estimates using steady-state RNA. This unproductive splicing compounds across multi-intronic genes, resulting in 15% of transcript molecules from protein-coding genes being unproductive. Leveraging genetic variation across cell lines, we find that GWAS trait-associated loci explained by AS are as often associated with NMD-induced expression level differences as with differences in protein isoform usage. Our findings suggest that much of the impact of AS is mediated by NMD-induced changes in gene expression rather than diversification of the proteome.

Novel Supramolecular Hydrogel for Infected Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment.

Multifunctional responsive hydrogels hold significant promise for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) treatment, though their complex design and manufacturing present challenges. This study introduces a novel supramolecular guanosine-phenylboronic-chlorogenic acid (GBC) hydrogel developed using a dynamic covalent strategy. The hydrogel forms through guanosine quadruplex assembly in the presence of potassium ions and chlorogenic acid (CA) linkage via dynamic borate bonds. GBC hydrogels exhibit pH and glucose responsiveness, releasing more chlorogenic acid under acidic and high glucose conditions due to borate bond dissociation and G-quadruplex (G4) hydrogel disintegration. Experimental results indicate that GBC hydrogels exhibit good self-healing, shear-thinning, injectability, and swelling properties. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate the GBC hydrogel's good biocompatibility, ability to eliminate bacteria and reactive oxygen species (ROS), facilitate macrophage polarization from the M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype (decreasing CD86 expression and increasing CD206 expression), exhibit anti-inflammatory effects (reducing TNF-α expression and increasing IL-10 expression), and promote angiogenesis (increasing VEGF, CD31, and α-SMA expression). Thus, GBC hydrogels accelerate DFU healing and enhance tissue remodeling and collagen deposition. This work provides a new approach to developing responsive hydrogels to expedite DFU healing.

Osteogenic-Like Microenvironment of Renal Interstitium Induced by Osteomodulin Contributes to Randall's Plaque Formation.

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stones are common and recurrent, lacking pharmacological prevention. Randall's plaques (RPs), calcium deposits in renal papillae, serve as niduses for some CaOx stones. This study explores the role of osteogenic-like cells in RP formation resembling ossification. CaP crystals deposit around renal tubules, interstitium, and blood vessels in RP tissues. Human renal interstitial fibroblasts (hRIFs) exhibit the highest osteogenic-like differentiation potential compared to chloride voltage-gated channel Ka positive tubular epithelial cells, aquaporin 2 positive collecting duct cells, and vascular endothelial cells, echoing the upregulated osteogenic markers primarily in hRIFs within RP tissues. Utilizing RNA-seq, osteomodulin (OMD) is found to be upregulated in hRIFs within RP tissues and hRIFs following osteogenic induction. Furthermore, OMD colocalizes with CaP crystals and calcium vesicles within RP tissues. OMD can enhance osteogenic-like differentiation of hRIFs in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, crystal deposits are attenuated in mice with Omd deletion in renal interstitial fibroblasts following CaOx nephrocalcinosis induction. Mechanically, a positive feedback loop of OMD/BMP2/BMPR1A/RUNX2/OMD drives hRIFs to adopt osteogenic-like fates, by which OMD induces osteogenic-like microenvironment of renal interstitium to participate in RP formation. We identify OMD upregulation as a pathological feature of RP, paving the way for preventing CaOx stones.

Well-Dispersed Manganese-Oxo Clusters as Anode Materials for High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries.

Metal-oxo clusters show great promise in lithium ion battery applications as anode materials by virtue of their native nature of well-defined nanostructures and multielectron redox activities. However, their intrinsic unsatisfactory electrical conductivity and tendency to aggregation make them difficult to fully utilize. Herein, a well-dispersed Mn12O12(CH3COO)16(H2O)4 (denoted as Mn12) cluster is constructed by rationally adopting carbon dots (CDs) with nanosize and high conductivity as stabilizers. Thanks to the fully exposed redox sites of Mn12 clusters and additional interfacial energy storage mechanism, the optimized Mn12/CDs-1:20 anode delivers a high specific capacity of 1643 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 (0.25 C) and exhibits outstanding rate and cycling capabilities. This paper provides a green and efficient paradigm to synthesize well-dispersed manganese-oxo clusters for the first time and builds a new platform for cluster-based energy storage.

Curculigoside Regulates Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress Against Spinal Cord Injury by Modulating the Nrf-2/NQO-1 Signaling Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disorder that can lead to paralysis or death. Oxidative stress during SCI is a critical phase causing extensive nerve cell damage and apoptosis, thereby impairing spinal cord healing. Thus, a primary goal of SCI drug therapy is to mitigate oxidative stress. Curculigoside (CUR), a phenolic glucoside extracted from the dried root and rhizome of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn, possesses neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate whether CUR effectively promotes the recovery of spinal cord tissue following SCI and elucidate its mechanism. We employed a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced PC12 cell model and an SCI rat model to observe the effects of CUR on oxidation and apoptosis. The results demonstrated that CUR significantly reduced the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Caspase-3), Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), while increasing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreover, CUR effectively enhanced levels of antioxidants (glutathione [GSH)] and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro. Furthermore, CUR facilitated functional recovery through its anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress effects on spinal cord tissues in SCI rats. These effects were mediated via the Nrf2/NQO1 signaling pathway. Therefore, our study showed that CUR acted as an anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress agent, inhibiting astrocyte activation and promoting neuronal reconstruction and functional recovery. These findings may contribute significantly to the development of SCI treatments and advance the field of SCI drug therapy.

Choline-based ionic liquids enhance the dermal delivery of cyclosporine a for potential treatment of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a prevalent chronic disease affecting 2-3% of the global population. Cyclosporine A (CyA) has been widely used with great promise in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis despite various side effects associated with its systemic administration. Topical administration of CyA circumvents systemic side effects; however, the poor water solubility and large molecular weight of CyA pose challenges for dermal delivery. In this study, choline-based ionic liquids (ILs) were used to enhance the dermal delivery of CyA for the potential treatment of psoriasis. All four ILs tested significantly improved the solubility of CyA, which was greater than that of the control group with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a solubilizer (20%, w/w). The saturated solubility of CyA in two of the ILs, choline geranate ([Ch][Ge]) and choline ricinoleate ([Ch][Ra]), reached more than 90 mg/mL, and the solubilization capability of the ILs except [Ch][Ci] was resistant to water dilution. The negligible change in CyA content determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and the secondary structure detected by circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed the stability of CyA in the ILs. At 4 h in the in vitro penetration test, the amount of CyA retained in the skin in the IL groups was slightly greater than that in the control group (20% DMSO). The water content of the ILs significantly affected their penetration ability. When the water content increased from 10 to 70%, the dermal delivery of CyA first increased, peaked at a water content of 30%, and then decreased. The dermal delivery ability of [Ch][Ge] and [Ch][Ra] with a water content of 70% was still comparable to that of 20% DMSO. Moreover, CyA-loaded ILs (0.5%, w/w) significantly relieved the symptoms of psoriasis in an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced mouse model, and the levels of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 22 and interleukin 17, in the affected area were reduced by 71.7%, 75.6%, and 89.3%, respectively. The IL tested, choline sorbate ([Ch][So]), showed low cytotoxicity to human immortalized epidermal cells (HaCaT). After 7 days of consecutive application, [Ch][So] did not cause significant irritation. In conclusion, ILs demonstrate promising potential for the dermal delivery of CyA for the treatment of psoriasis.

Short-term outcomes of Transrectal Natural Orifice Specimen extraction compared with conventional minimally invasive surgery for selected patients with colorectal cancer: a propensity score matching analysis and literature review.

PURPOSE: Conventional minimally invasive surgery requires mini-laparotomy to extract the pathological specimen. However, by using a natural orifice as the delivery route, natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) surgery avoids the need for a large incision. This study analyzed the short-term outcome of NOSE compared with conventional mini-laparotomy (CL) for colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1,189 patients who underwent surgery for primary colorectal cancer between the cecum and upper rectum. Propensity score analyses were applied to the NOSE and CL groups in a 1:1 matched cohort. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, each group included 201 patients. The NOSE group and CL group did not differ significantly in terms of baseline characteristics. Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were comparable. Compared with the CL group, the NOSE group experienced a shorter time to first flatus (1.6 ± 0.8 vs. 2.0 ± 1.2 days, p < 0.001), first stool (2.7 ± 1.5 vs. 4.1 ± 1.9, p < 0.001), liquid diet (2.3 ± 1.3 vs. 3.6 ± 1.8 days, p < 0.001), soft diet (3.9 ± 2.0 vs. 5.2 ± 1.9 days, p < 0.001) and a shorter hospital stay (5.1 ± 3.5 vs. 7.4 ± 4.8 days, p < 0.001). The NOSE group exhibited lower mean pain intensity and lower highest pain intensity on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3. CONCLUSION: NOSE has several advantages over conventional mini-laparotomy following minimally invasive surgery for colon cancer. These advantages include reduced time to oral intake, shorter hospital stays, and less postoperative pain. NOSE can be adopted and applied to highly selective patients without additional risk of short-term complications.

Conjugative transfer of the IncN plasmid pKM101 is mediated by dynamic interactions between the TraK accessory factor and TraI relaxase.

Conjugative dissemination of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) among bacteria is initiated by assembly of the relaxosome at the MGE's origin-of-transfer (oriT) sequence. A critical but poorly defined step of relaxosome assembly involves recruitment of the catalytic relaxase to its DNA strand-specific nicking site within oriT. Here, we present evidence by AlphaFold modeling, affinity pulldowns, and in vivo site-directed photocrosslinking that the TraK Ribbon-Helix-Helix DNA-binding protein recruits TraI to oriT through a dynamic interaction in which TraI's C-terminal unstructured domain (TraICTD) wraps around TraK's C-proximal tetramerization domain. Upon relaxosome assembly, conformational changes disrupt this contact, and TraICTD instead self-associates as a prerequisite for relaxase catalytic functions or substrate engagement with the transfer channel. These findings delineate key early-stage processing reactions required for conjugative dissemination of a model MGE.

Fluorescent probe for imaging N2H4 in plants, food, and living cells and for quantitative detection of N2H4 in soil and water using a smartphone.

Hydrazine is volatile and highly toxic, causing severe harm to water, soil, air, and organisms. Therefore, real-time detection and long-term monitoring of hydrazine are crucial for environmental protection and human health. Herein, an "OFF-ON" fluorescent probe 5-((10-ethyl-2-methoxy-10 H-phenothiazin-3-yl)methylene)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (MPD) for hydrazine detection through a nucleophilic addition reaction was developed. MPD could exclusively identify hydrazine through colorimetric and fluorescent dual-channel responses within 30 s, which also demonstrated high sensitivity (detection limit, 12 nM) and a wide pH range (6 -12). The sensing mechanism of MPD was confirmed using theoretical calculations, where fluorescence was emitted following the recognition of hydrazine because of the disappearance of the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process. Using a smartphone, MPD enabled the quantitative detection of hydrazine in real water samples and sandy soil. Notably, in the process of detecting hydrazine in actual water samples, the establishment of analytical methods and the completion of rapid quantitative detection only required a smartphone and built-in apps. Additionally, we showed that MPD could recognize hydrazine in various environmental samples, including plants, food, hydrazine vapors, and cells. We believe that the fluorescent probe MPD developed in this study and the established smartphone visualization platform will provide a convenient and effective tool for detecting hydrazine in environmental monitoring, food safety assessment, biological system safety, and other fields.

Exosomal SLC16A1-AS1-induced M2 macrophages polarization facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Macrophages are the most abundant alternative immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The cross-talk between macrophages and tumor cells provides an important shelter for the occurrence and development of tumors. As an important information transfer medium, exosomes play an important role in intercellular communication. Nonetheless, how exosomal lncRNAs coordinate the communication between tumor cells and immune cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is incompletely understood. We found that HCC exosomes-derived antisense RNA of SLC16A1(SLC16A1-AS1) promoted the malignant progression of HCC by regulating macrophage M2-type polarization. Mechanistically, the HCC exosomal SLC16A1-AS1 enhanced mRNA stabilization of SLC16A1 in macrophage by promoting the interaction between 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR) of SLC16A1 mRNA and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (HNRNPA1). As a lactate transporter, SLC16A1 accelerated lactate influx and then activated c-Raf/ERK signaling to induce M2 polarization of macrophages. Reciprocally, M2 macrophages secreted IL-6 to activate STAT3 and then induce METTL3 transcription in HCC cells, which increasing m6A methylation and stabilization of SLC16A1-AS1. In turn, the reciprocal SLC16A1-AS1/IL-6 signaling between HCC cells and M2 macrophages promoted the proliferation, invasion and glycolysis of HCC cells. Our study highlights that exosomal SLC16A1-AS1 acts as a signaling message that induces lactate-mediated M2 polarization of macrophages, and implies that SLC16A1-AS1 might be an applicable target for therapeutic treatment of HCC.

Correlation analysis and predictive model construction of metabolic syndrome, complete blood count-derived inflammatory markers, and overall burden of cerebral small vessel disease.

Background: The high burden of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) on neuroimaging is a significant risk factor for stroke, cognitive dysfunction, and emotional disorders. Currently, there is a lack of studies investigating the correlation between metabolic syndrome (MetS), complete blood count-derived inflammatory markers, and total CSVD burden. This study aims to evaluate the total CSVD imaging load using machine learning (ML) algorithms and to explore further the relationship between MetS, complete blood count-derived inflammatory markers, and CSVD load. Methods: We included CSVD patients from Xijing Hospital (2012-2022). Univariate and lasso regression analyses identified variables linked to CSVD neuroimaging burden. Six ML models predicted CSVD burden based on MetS and inflammatory markers. Model performance was evaluated using ROCauc, PRauc, DCA, and calibration curves. The SHAP method validated model interpretability. The best-performing model was selected to develop a web-based calculator using the Shiny package. Results: The Logistic regression model outperformed others in predicting CSVD burden. The model incorporated MetS, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), homocysteine (Hcy), age, smoking status, cystatin C (CysC), uric acid (UA), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Conclusion: MetS, NLR, Hcy and CSVD high load were positively correlated, and the Logistic regression model could accurately predict the total CSVD load degree.

Developing fibrin-based biomaterials/scaffolds in tissue engineering.

Tissue engineering technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, offering opportunities to construct biologically active tissues or organ substitutes to repair or even enhance the functions of diseased tissues and organs. Tissue-engineered scaffolds rebuild the extracellular microenvironment by mimicking the extracellular matrix. Fibrin-based scaffolds possess numerous advantages, including hemostasis, high biocompatibility, and good degradability. Fibrin scaffolds provide an initial matrix that facilitates cell migration, differentiation, proliferation, and adhesion, and also play a critical role in cell-matrix interactions. Fibrin scaffolds are now widely recognized as a key component in tissue engineering, where they can facilitate tissue and organ defect repair. This review introduces the properties of fibrin, including its composition, structure, and biology. In addition, the modification and cross-linking modes of fibrin are discussed, along with various forms commonly used in tissue engineering. We also describe the biofunctionalization of fibrin. This review provides a detailed overview of the use and applications of fibrin in skin, bone, and nervous tissues, and provides novel insights into future research directions for clinical treatment.

Development of a prognostic nomogram for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients received radiotherapy based on clinical risk factors.

Purpose: The goal of the study was to create a nomogram based on clinical risk factors to forecast the rate of locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent radiotherapy (RT). Methods: In this study, 574 ESCC patients were selected as participants. Following radiotherapy, subjects were divided into training and validation groups at a 7:3 ratio. The nomogram was established in the training group using Cox regression. Performance validation was conducted in the validation group, assessing predictability through the C-index and AUC curve, calibration via the Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) test, and evaluating clinical applicability using decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: T stage, N stage, gross tumor volume (GTV) dose, location, maximal wall thickness (MWT) after RT, node size (NS) after RT, Δ computer tomography (CT) value, and chemotherapy were found to be independent risk factors that impacted LRFS by multivariate cox analysis, and the findings could be utilized to create a nomogram and forecast LRFS. the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve and C-index show that for training and validation groups, the prediction result of LRFS using nomogram was more accurate than that of TNM. The LRFS in both groups was consistent with the nomogram according to the H-L test. The DCA curve demonstrated that the nomogram had a good prediction effect both in the groups for training and validation. The nomogram was used to assign ESCC patients to three risk levels: low, medium, or high. There were substantial variations in LRFS between risk categories in both the training and validation groups (p<0.001, p=0.003). Conclusions: For ESCC patients who received radiotherapy, the nomogram based on clinical risk factors could reliably predict the LRFS.

Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on physicochemical, thermal, and rheological properties of chemically modified corn starch.

This study investigated the effects of ultrasonic and three chemical individual and dual modification treatments on corn starch's physicochemical, thermal, and rheological properties. Ultrasonication and the three chemical treatments disrupted the starch granules with a decrease in particle size and a significant increase in the ζ-potential. The hydrophilicity of ultrasonic-oxidized dual-modified starch (U-O-CS) was the highest, at 0.854 g/g. The lipophilicity of ultrasonic-esterified dual-modified starch (U-E-CS) was the highest, at 1.485 g/g. The gelatinization temperature of ultrasonic, oxidation, and cross-linking modified starches increased significantly, with cross-linking starches being the largest. Oxidative treatment significantly decreased the starch's G' and G" and weakened the textural properties. The rheological properties of U-O-CS were further weakened. The G' of the starch decreased after the esterification treatment, while the G" increased, and the textural properties were cut. The maximum rheological and textural properties were obtained for crosslinked modification, with a hardness value of 284.70 g.

Chlorophyllase (PsCLH) and light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein 1 (PsLhcb1) and PsLhcb5 maintain petal greenness in Paeonia suffruticosa 'Lv Mu Yin Yu'.

INTRODUCTION: Green flowers are not an adaptive trait in natural plants due to the challenge for pollinators to discriminate from leaves, but they are valuable in horticulture. The molecular mechanisms of green petals remain unclear. Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) is a globally cultivated ornamental plant and considered the 'King of Flowers' in China. The P. suffruticosa 'Lv Mu Yin Yu (LMYY)' cultivar with green petals could be utilized as a representative model for understanding petal-specific chlorophyll (Chl) accumulation and color formation. OBJECTIVES: Identify the key genes related to Chl metabolism and understand the molecular mechanism of petal color changes. METHODS: The petal color parameter was analyzed at five developmental stages using a Chroma Spectrophotometer, and Chl and anthocyanin accumulation patterns were examined. Based on comparative transcriptomes, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, among which three were functionally characterized through overexpression in tobacco plants or silencing in 'LMYY' petals. RESULTS: During flower development and blooming, flower color changed from green to pale pink, consistent with the Chl and anthocyanin levels. The level of Chl demonstrated a similar pattern with petal epidermal cell striation density. The DEGs responsible for chlorophyll and anthocyanin metabolism were characterized through a comparative transcriptome analysis of flower petals over three critical developmental stages. The key chlorophyllase (PsCLH1) and light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein 1 (PsLhcb1) and PsLhcb5 influenced the Chl accumulation and the greenness of 'LMYY' petals. CONCLUSION: PsCLH1, PsLhcb1, and PsLhcb5 were critical in accumulating the Chl and maintaining the petal greenness. Flower color changes from green to pale pink were regulated by the homeostasis of Chl degradation and anthocyanin biosynthesis. This study offers insights into underlying molecular mechanisms in the green petal and a strategy for germplasm innovation.

Secondary metal ion-induced electrochemical reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) solids.

Recent studies have shown that aqueous U(VI) ions can be transformed into U(VI) precipitates through electrocatalytic redox reactions for uranium recovery. However, there have been no reports of U(IV) solids, such as UO2, using electrochemical methods under ambient conditions since low-valence states of uranium are typically oxidized to U(VI) by O2 or H2O2. Here we developed a secondary metal ion-induced strategy for electrocatalytic production of U(IV) solids from U(VI) solutions using a catalyst consisting of atomically dispersed gallium on hollow nitrogen-doped carbon capsules (Ga-Nx-C). This method relies on the presence of secondary metal ions, e.g., alkaline earth metals, transition metals, lanthanide metals, and actinide metals, which promote the generation of UO2 or bimetallic U(IV)-containing oxides through a two-electron transfer process. No U(IV) solid products were generated in the presence of alkali metal ions. Mechanistic studies revealed that the strong binding affinity between U(IV) and alkaline earth metals (Ca2+/Mg2+/Sr2+/Ba2+), transition metals (Ni2+/Zn2+/Pb2+/Fe3+, etc.) and lanthanide/actinide metals (Ce4+/Eu3+/Th4+/La3+) suppressed re-oxidation of U(IV) to U(VI), leading to the generation of U(IV)O2 and Mx(M = Ce, Eu, Th, La)U(IV)yO2. This work provides fundamental insights into the electrochemical behavior of uranium in aqueous media, whilst guiding uranyl capture from nuclear waste and contaminated water.

Identification of PI3K-AKT Pathway-Related Genes and Construction of Prognostic Prediction Model for ccRCC.

BACKGROUND: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the predominate histological type of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), has been extensively studied, with poor prognosis as the stage increases. Research findings consistently indicated that the PI3K-Akt pathway is commonly dysregulated across various cancer types, including ccRCC. Targeting the PI3K-Akt pathway held promise as a potential therapeutic approach for treating ccRCC. Development and validation of PI3K-Akt pathway-related genes related biomarkers can enhance healthcare management of patients with ccRCC. PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the key genes in the PI3K-Akt pathway associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of CCRCC using data mining from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Synthesis (GEO) datasets. METHODS: The purpose of this study is to use bioinformatics methods to screen data sets and clinicopathological characteristics associated with ccRCC patients. The exhibited significantly differential expressed genes (DEGs) associated with the PI3K-Akt pathway were examined by KEGG. In addition, Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis used to estimate the survival function of the differential genes by using the UALCAN database and graphPad Prism 9.0. And exploring the association between the expression levels of the selected genes and the survival status and time of patients with ccRCC based on SPSS22.0. Finally, a multigene prognostic model was constructed to assess the prognostic risk of ccRCC patients. RESULTS: A total of 911 genes with common highly expressed were selected based on the GEO and TCGA databases. According to the KEGG pathway analysis, there were 42 genes enriched in PI3K-Akt signalling pathway. And seven of highly expressed genes were linked to a poor prognosis in ccRCC. And a multigene prognostic model was established based on IL2RG, EFNA3, and MTCP1 synergistic expression might be utilized to predict the survival of ccRCC patients. CONCLUSIONS: Three PI3K-Akt pathway-related genes may be helpful to identify the prognosis and molecular characteristics of ccRCC patients and to improve therapeutic regimens, and these risk characteristics might be further applied in the clinic.

Comparison of Different Head Tilt Angles in Tomotherapy and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Hippocampal-Avoidance Whole-Brain Radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Hippocampal-avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy (HA-WBRT) planning can present challenges. This study examines the influence of head tilt angles on the dosimetric characteristics of target and organs at risk (OARs), aiming to identify the optimal tilt angle that yields optimal dosimetric outcomes using tomotherapy (TOMO). METHODS: Eight patients diagnosed with brain metastases underwent CT scans at five tilt angles: [0°, 10°), [10°, 20°), [20°, 30°), [30°, 40°), and [40°, 45°]. Treatment plans were generated using TOMO and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Dosimetric parameters including conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), D2cc, D98%, and Dmean of PTV, as well as Dmax, and Dmean of OARs were analyzed. Furthermore, a comparison was made between the dosimetric parameters of TOMO and VMAT plans. Finally, delivery efficiency of TOMO plans were assessed. RESULTS: For the PTV, [40°, 45°] tilt angle demonstrated significantly better conformity, homogeneity, lower D2cc, and lower Dmean for the PTV. Regarding the OARs, the [40°, 45°] head tilt angle demonstrated significantly lower Dmax and Dmean in hippocampus, eyes, optic chiasm, and optic nerves. The [40°, 45°] tilt angle also showed significantly lower Dmax for brainstem and cochleas, as well as a lower Dmean for lens. In the [40°,45°] tilt angle for HA-WBRT, TOMO showed superior performance over VMAT for the PTV. TOMO achieved lower Dmax for brainstem, cochleas, optic nerves, and optic chiasm, as well as a lower Dmean for hippocampus. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between delivery time and the PTV projection length in the sagittal plane. CONCLUSION: The TOMO plan utilizing a tilt angle range of [40°, 45°] demonstrated superior PTV conformity and uniformity, along with enhanced OARs sparing. Furthermore, it exhibited a dosimetric advantage over VMAT for PTV and most OARs at the same angle range.