Active metamaterials for realizing odd mass density.

Solids built out of active components have exhibited odd elastic stiffness tensors whose active moduli appear in the antisymmetric part and which give rise to non-Hermitian static and dynamic phenomena. Here, we present a class of active metamaterial featured with an odd mass density tensor whose asymmetric part arises from active and nonconservative forces. The odd mass density is realized using metamaterials with inner resonators connected by asymmetric and programmable feed-forward control on acceleration and active forces along the two perpendicular directions. The active forces produce unbalanced off-diagonal mass density coupling terms, leading to non-Hermiticity. The odd mass is then experimentally validated through a one-dimensional nonsymmetric wave coupling where propagating transverse waves are coupled with longitudinal ones whereas the reverse is forbidden. We reveal that the two-dimensional active metamaterials with the odd mass can perform in either energy-unbroken or energy-broken phases separated by exceptional points along principal directions of the mass density. The odd mass density contributes to the wave anisotropy in the energy-unbroken phase and directional wave energy gain in the energy-broken phase. We also numerically illustrate and experimentally demonstrate the two-dimensional wave propagation phenomena that arise from the odd mass in active solids. Finally, the existence of non-Hermitian skin effect is discussed in which boundaries host an extensive number of localized modes. It is our hope that the emergent concept of the odd mass can open up a new research platform for mechanical non-Hermitian system and pave the ways for developing next-generation wave steering devices.

Description of a pathogenic strain of Aeromonas dhakensis isolated from Ancherythroculter nigrocauda in an inland region of China.

Aeromonas dhakensis is reported as an emerging pathogenic species within the genus Aeromonas and is widely distributed in tropical coastal areas. This study provided a detailed description and characterization of a strain of A. dhakensis (202108B1) isolated from diseased Ancherythroculter nigrocauda in an inland region of China. Biochemical tests identified the isolate at the genus level, and the further molecular analysis of concatenated housekeeping gene sequences revealed that the strain belonged to the species A. dhakensis. The isolated A. dhakensis strain was resistant to five antibiotics, namely, penicillin, ampicillin, clindamycin, cephalexin, and imipenem, while it was susceptible to or showed intermediate resistance to most of the other 15 tested antibiotics. The isolated strain of A. dhakensis caused acute hemorrhagic septicemia and tissue damage in artificially infected A. nigrocauda, with a median lethal dose of 7.76 × 104 CFU/fish. The genome size of strain 202108B1 was 5 043 286 bp, including 1 chromosome and 4 plasmids. This is the first detailed report of the occurrence of infection caused by an A. dhakensis strain causing infection in an aquaculture system in inland China, providing important epidemiological data on this potential pathogenic species.

MOTS-c is an effective target for treating cancer-induced bone pain through the induction of AMPK-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis.

Bone cancer pain (BCP), due to cancer bone metastasis and bone destruction, is a common symptom of tumors, including breast, prostate, and lung tumors. Patients often experience severe pain without effective treatment. Here, using a mouse model of bone cancer, we report that MOTS-c, a novel mitochondrial-derived peptide, confers remarkable protection against cancer pain and bone destruction. Briefly, we find that the plasma level of endogenous MOTS-c is significantly lower in the BCP group than in the sham group. Accordingly, intraperitoneal administration of MOTS-c robustly attenuates bone cancer-induced pain. These effects are blocked by compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. Furthermore, MOTS-c treatment significantly enhances AMPKα 1/2 phosphorylation. Interestingly, mechanical studies indicate that at the spinal cord level, MOTS-c relieves pain by restoring mitochondrial biogenesis, suppressing microglial activation, and decreasing the production of inflammatory factors, which directly contribute to neuronal modulation. However, in the periphery, MOTS-c protects against local bone destruction by modulating osteoclast and immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment, providing long-term relief from cancer pain. Additionally, we find that chronic administration of MOTS-c has little effect on liver, renal, lipid or cardiac function in mice. In conclusion, MOTS-c improves BCP through peripheral and central synergistic effects on nociceptors, immune cells, and osteoclasts, providing a pharmacological and biological rationale for the development of mitochondrial peptide-based therapeutic agents for cancer-induced pain.

Biodiversity conservation and management of lake wetlands based on the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of crane habitats.

The typical lake wetlands in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are important wintering sites of cranes in China. The spatiotemporal evolution of crane populations and their habitats has great value in clarifying the pivotal role of regional lake wetlands in biodiversity conservation. Therefore, 2562 data points of four crane species were selected in this study. The data reflected the distributional position of the cranes over the period 2000-2020. Twelve surrounding environmental factors were selected to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution in the study area by using the MaxEnt model. The Jackknife method was used to identify the main environmental factors affecting the choice of crane habitats. The results indicated that: (1) Developed land in the study area increased by 42,795.81 hm2. The crane populations were mainly distributed in the farmland and mudflat, and their number decreased yearly. (2) From 2000 to 2020, the area of suitable crane habitat experienced an overall decrease. Specifically, the mid-suitable area dwindled by 6234.23 hm2, marking a substantial reduction of 52.05 %. Similarly, the most suitable area saw a decline of 786.41 hm2, representing a noteworthy decrease of 71.09 %. (3) The findings from the analysis of influencing factors revealed a dynamic pattern over the years. Habitat type, water density, and distance to water were the main influencing factors in the study area from 2000 to 2020. This study provides a new perspective on the conservation and structural habitat restoration of crane populations in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

A Dielectric MXene-Induced Self-Built Electric Field in Polymer Electrolyte Triggering Fast Lithium-Ion Transport and High-Voltage Cycling Stability.

Quasi-solid polymer electrolyte (QPE) lithium (Li)-metal battery holds significant promise in the application of high-energy-density batteries, yet it suffers from low ionic conductivity and poor oxidation stability. Herein, a novel self-built electric field (SBEF) strategy is proposed to enhance Li+ transportation and accelerate the degradation dynamics of carbon-fluorine bond cleavage in LiTFSI by optimizing the termination of MXene. Among them, the SBEF induced by dielectric Nb4C3F2 MXene effectively constructs highly conductive LiF-enriched SEI and CEI stable interfaces, moreover, enhances the electrochemical performance of the QPE. The related Li-ion transfer mechanism and dual-reinforced stable interface are thoroughly investigated using ab initio molecular dynamics, COMSOL, XPS depth profiling, and ToF-SIMS. This comprehensive approach results in a high conductivity of 1.34 mS cm-1, leading to a small polarization of approximately 25 mV for Li//Li symmetric cell after 6000 h. Furthermore, it enables a prolonged cycle life at a high voltage of up to 4.6 V. Overall, this work not only broadens the application of MXene for QPE but also inspires the great potential of the self-built electric field in QPE-based high-voltage batteries.

Layered Semiconductor Cr0.32Ga0.68Te2.33 with Concurrent Broken Inversion Symmetry and Ferromagnetism: A Bulk Ferrovalley Material Candidate.

The valleytronic state found in group-VI transition-metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2 has attracted immense interest since its valley degree of freedom could be used as an information carrier. However, valleytronic applications require spontaneous valley polarization. Such an electronic state is predicted to be accessible in a new ferroic family of materials, i.e., ferrovalley materials, which features the coexistence of spontaneous spin and valley polarization. Although many atomic monolayer materials with hexagonal lattices have been predicted to be ferrovalley materials, no bulk ferrovalley material candidates have been reported or proposed. Here, we show that a new non-centrosymmetric van der Waals (vdW) semiconductor Cr0.32Ga0.68Te2.33, with intrinsic ferromagnetism, is a possible candidate for bulk ferrovalley material. This material exhibits several remarkable characteristics: (i) it forms a natural heterostructure between vdW gaps, a quasi-two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting Te layer with a honeycomb lattice stacked on the 2D ferromagnetic slab comprised of the (Cr, Ga)-Te layers, and (ii) the 2D Te honeycomb lattice yields a valley-like electronic structure near the Fermi level, which, in combination with inversion symmetry breaking, ferromagnetism, and strong spin-orbit coupling contributed by heavy Te element, creates a possible bulk spin-valley locked electronic state with valley polarization as suggested by our DFT calculations. Further, this material can also be easily exfoliated to 2D atomically thin layers. Therefore, this material offers a unique platform to explore the physics of valleytronic states with spontaneous spin and valley polarization in both bulk and 2D atomic crystals.

Adipose mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes alleviate osteoarthritis by transporting microRNA -376c-3p and targeting the WNT-beta-catenin signaling axis.

Osteoarthritis (OA), one of the major diseases afflicting the elderly, is a type of degenerative joint disease related to cartilage and synovium. This study aimed to clarify the role and mechanism of adipose mesenchymal stem cell (ADSC)-derived exosomes (Exos) in OA-induced chondrocyte degradation and synovial hyperplasia, thus improving the quality of life of patients. The rat OA model, chondrocytes, synovial fibroblast models and immunofluorescence were applied to observe the in vivo and in vitro functions of human ADSC (hADSC)-derived Exos in OA and its possible regulatory signaling pathways. Bioinformatics software and luciferase reporter assay were carried out to verify the mechanism of microRNA-376c-3p (miR-376c-3p) in hADSC-derived Exos in OA in vitro. Moreover, Safranine O-Fast Green Cartilage staining, Masson staining, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were conducted to verify the role of miR-376c-3p in hADSC-derived Exos in OA in vivo. hADSC-derived Exos mitigated OA-induced chondrocyte degradation and synovial fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro models by repressing the WNT-beta-catenin signaling pathway. For the mechanism exploration in vitro, miR-376c-3p was raised in hADSC-derived Exos and mediated the fibrosis of synovial fibroblasts in OA, and miR-376c-3p targeted the 3'-untranslated region of WNT3 or WNT9a. Meanwhile, the in vivo experiments also corroborated that the miR-376c-3p in hADSC-derived Exos mitigated OA-induced chondrocyte degradation and synovial fibrosis. MiR-376c-3p in hADSC-derived Exos repressed the WNT-beta-catenin pathway by targeting WNT3 or WNT9a, and then mitigating OA-induced chondrocyte degradation and synovial fibrosis, thereby providing theoretical basis for clinical implementation of treatment.

Methyltransferase-like 3 aggravates endoplasmic reticulum stress in preeclampsia by targeting TMBIM6 in YTHDF2-dependent manner.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing morbidity and mortality of preeclampsia (PE), it has posed a huge challenge to public health. Previous studies have reported endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress could contribute to trophoblastic dysfunction which was associated with the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification by methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), resulting in PE. However, little was known about the relationship between METTL3 and ER stress in PE. Thus, in vitro and in vivo studies were performed to clarify the mechanism about how METTL3 affects the trophoblasts under ER stress in PE and to explore a therapeutic approach for PE. METHODS: An ER stress model in HTR-8/SVneo cells and a preeclamptic rat model were used to study the mechanism and explore a therapeutic approach for PE. Western blot, immunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP)-qPCR were performed to detect the protein, RNA, and methylated transmembrane BAX inhibitor motif containing 6 (TMBIM6) expression levels. The m6A colorimetric and mRNA stability assays were used to measure the m6A levels and TMBIM6 stability, respectively. Short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) were used to knockdown METTL3 and YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 2 (YTHDF2). Flow cytometry and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the apoptosis and invasion abilities of trophoblasts. RESULTS: Upregulated METTL3 and m6A levels and downregulated TMBIM6 levels were observed in preeclamptic placentas under ER stress. The ER stress model was successfully constructed, and knockdown of METTL3 had a beneficial effect on HTR-8/SVneo cells under ER stress as it decreased the levels of methylated TMBIM6 mRNA. Moreover, overexpression of TMBIM6 was beneficial to HTR-8/SVneo cells under ER stress as it could neutralize the harmful effects of METTL3 overexpression. Similar to the knockdown of METTL3, downregulation of YTHDF2 expression resulted in the increased expression and mRNA stability of TMBIM6. Finally, improved systemic symptoms as well as protected placentas and fetuses were demonstrated in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: METTL3/YTHDF2/TMBIM6 axis exerts a significant role in trophoblast dysfunction resulting in PE while inhibiting METTL3 may provide a novel therapeutic approach for PE.

Comprehensive analysis of the UDP-glucuronate decarboxylase (UXS) gene family in tobacco and functional characterization of NtUXS16 in Golgi apparatus in Arabidopsis.

BACKGROUND: UDP-glucuronate decarboxylase (also named UXS) converts UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) to UDP-xylose (UDP-Xyl) by decarboxylation of the C6-carboxylic acid of glucuronic acid. UDP-Xyl is an important sugar donor that is required for the synthesis of plant cell wall polysaccharides. RESULTS: In this study, we first carried out the genome-wide identification of NtUXS genes in tobacco. A total of 17 NtUXS genes were identified, which could be divided into two groups (Group I and II), and the Group II UXSs can be further divided into two subgroups (Group IIa and IIb). Furthermore, the protein structures, intrachromosomal distributions and gene structures were thoroughly analyzed. To experimentally verify the subcellular localization of NtUXS16 protein, we transformed tobacco BY-2 cells with NtUXS16 fused to the monomeric red fluorescence protein (mRFP) at the C terminus under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. The fluorescent signals of NtUXS16-mRFP were localized to the medial-Golgi apparatus. Contrary to previous predictions, protease digestion analysis revealed that NtUXS16 is not a type II membrane protein. Overexpression of NtUXS16 in Arabidopsis seedling in darkness led to a significant increase in hypocotyl length and a reduction in root length compared with the wild type. In summary, these results suggest Golgi apparatus localized-NtUXS16 plays an important role in hypocotyl and root growth in the dark. CONCLUSION: Our findings facilitate our understanding of the novel functions of NtUXS16 and provide insights for further exploration of the biological roles of NtUXS genes in tobacco.

Carrier-envelope-phase-dependent below-threshold harmonic generation in few-cycle mid-infrared laser fields.

We theoretically study the dependence of below-threshold harmonic generation (BTHG) of atoms on the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) driven by few-cycle mid-infrared laser pulses. The BTHG spectra can be accurately and efficiently calculated by solving the three-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation using the time-dependent generalized pseudospectral method. We present the BTHG spectra as a function of the laser-field CEP. CEP-dependent enhancement or suppression occurred at low laser field intensities owing to the changes in the resonant effects associated with multiple quantum trajectories. However, the BTHG of atoms driven by high laser intensities is insensitive to the CEP. The synchrosqueezing time-frequency transform of the BTHG and extended semiclassical analysis are performed to elucidate the underlying physical mechanism.

Controlling Displacement Fields in Polar Willis Solids via Gauge Transformations.

Rigid-body displacement and deformation constitute the total displacement field of a solid. Harnessing the former calls for well-organized kinematic elements, and controlling the latter allows for creation of shape-morphing materials. A solid capable of simultaneously controlling both rigid-body displacement and deformation remains unknown. Here, we exploit gauge transformations to show how the total displacement field in elastostatic polar Willis solids can be harnessed at will and how those solids can be realized in the form of lattice metamaterials. The transformation method we develop leverages a displacement gauge in linear transformation elasticity, giving rise to polarity and Willis coupling such that the resulting solids not only break minor symmetries of the stiffness tensor, but display cross coupling between stress and displacement. We realize those solids using a combination of tailored geometries, grounded springs, and a set of coupled gears and numerically demonstrate a range of satisfactory, and peculiar, displacement control functions. Our work provides an analytical framework for the inverse design of grounded polar Willis metamaterials to achieve arbitrary displacement control functions by design.

Endothelial progenitor cells in pregnancy-related diseases.

Placental neovascularization plays a crucial role in fetomaternal circulation throughout pregnancy and is dysregulated in several pregnancy-related diseases, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and fetal growth restriction. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a heterogeneous population of cells that differentiate into mature endothelial cells, which influence vascular homeostasis, neovascularization, and endothelial repair. Since their discovery in 1997 by Asahara et al., the role of EPCs in vascular biology has garnered a lot of interest. However, although pregnancy-related conditions are associated with changes in the number and function of EPCs, the reported findings are conflicting. This review discusses the discovery, isolation, and classification of EPCs and highlights discrepancies between current studies. Overviews of how various diseases affect the numbers and functions of EPCs, the role of EPCs as biomarkers of pregnancy disorders, and the potential therapeutic applications involving EPCs are also provided.

A novel Lgi1 mutation causes white matter abnormalities and impairs motor coordination in mice.

Leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1) is known to play a key role in autosomal dominant lateral temporal lobe epilepsy (ADLTE). The ADLTE is an inherited disease characterized by focal seizures with distinctive auditory or aphasic symptoms. A large number of mutations on the Lgi1 gene have been reported and are believed to be the genetic cause for ADLTE. We identified a novel missense mutation, c.152A>G (p.Asp51Gly), on Lgi1 from a Chinese ADLTE patient who manifests locomotor imbalance and white matter reduction. However, it remains unknown how mutant LGI1 causes white matter abnormalities at molecular and cellular levels. Here, we generated a knock-in mouse bearing this Lgi1 mutation. We found that Lgi1D51G/D51G mice exhibited impaired defective white matter and motor coordination. We observed that Lgi1D51G/D51G mice displayed a reduced number of mature oligodendrocytes (OLs) and deficient OL differentiation in the white matter. However, the population of oligodendrocyte precursor cells was not affected in Lgi1D51G/D51G mice. Mechanistically, we showed that the Lgi1D51G mutation resulted in altered mTOR signaling and led to decreased levels of Sox10. Given that Sox10 is a key transcriptional factor to control OL differentiation, our results strongly suggest that the Lgi1D51G mutation may cause white matter abnormalities via inhibiting Sox10-dependent OL differentiation and myelination in the central nervous system.

LRBmat: A novel gut microbial interaction and individual heterogeneity inference method for colorectal cancer.

The gut microbial community has been shown to play a significant role in various diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC), which is a major public health concern worldwide. The accurate diagnosis and etiological analysis of CRC are crucial issues. Numerous methods have utilized gut microbiota to address these challenges; however, few have considered the complex interactions and individual heterogeneity of the gut microbiota, which are important issues in genetics and intestinal microbiology, particularly in high-dimensional cases. This paper presents a novel method called Binary matrix based on Logistic Regression (LRBmat) to address these concerns. The binary matrix in LRBmat can directly mitigate or eliminate the influence of heterogeneity, while also capturing information on gut microbial interactions with any order. LRBmat is highly adaptable and can be combined with any machine learning method to enhance its capabilities. The proposed method was evaluated using real CRC data and demonstrated superior classification performance compared to state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, the association rules extracted from the binary matrix of the real data align well with biological properties and existing literature, thereby aiding in the etiological analysis of CRC.

Creation and gene expression analysis of a giant embryo rice mutant with high GABA content.

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is a natural non-protein amino acid involved in stress, signal transmission, carbon and nitrogen balance, and other physiological processes in plants. In the human body, GABA has the effects of lowering blood pressure, anti-aging, and activating the liver and kidneys. However, there are few studies on the molecular regulation mechanism of genes in the metabolic pathways of GABA during grain development of giant embryo rice with high GABA content. In this study, three glant embryo (ge) mutants of different embryo sizes were obtained by CRISPR/Cas9 knockout, and it was found that GABA, protein, crude fat, and various mineral contents of the ge mutants were significantly increased. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis showed that in the GABA shunt and polyamine degradation pathways, the expression levels of most of the genes encoding enzymes promoting GABA accumulation were significantly upregulated in the ge-1 mutant, whereas, the expression levels of most of the genes encoding enzymes involved GABA degradation were significantly downregulated in the ge-1 mutant. This is most likely responsible for the significant increase in GABA content of the ge mutant. These results help reveal the molecular regulatory network of GABA metabolism in giant embryo rice and provide a theoretical basis for the study of its development mechanisms, which is conducive to the rapid cultivation of GABA-rich rice varieties, promoting human nutrition, and ensuring health. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-022-01353-1.

Serum hsCRP in early pregnancy and preterm delivery in twin gestations: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation during pregnancy may be associated with preterm delivery (PTD), but data for twin gestations are lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the association of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a marker of inflammation, in early pregnancy of twin gestations with risk of PTD, including spontaneous (sPTD) and medical-induced preterm delivery (mPTD). METHODS: A prospective cohort study involved 618 twin gestations was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Beijing, from 2017 to 2020. Serum samples collected in early pregnancy were analyzed for hsCRP using particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric method. Unadjusted and adjusted geometric means (GM) of hsCRP were estimated using linear regression, and compared between PTD before 37 weeks of gestation and term delivery at 37 or more weeks of gestation using Mann-Whitney rank sum test. The association between hsCRP tertiles and PTDs was estimated using logistic regression, and further converted overestimated odds ratios into relative risks (RR). RESULTS: A total of 302 (48.87%) women were classified as PTD, with 166 sPTD and 136 mPTD. The adjusted GM of serum hsCRP was higher in PTDs (2.13 mg/L, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.09 -2.16) compared to term deliveries (1.84 mg/L, 95% CI 1.80 -1.88) (P < 0.001). Compared with the lowest tertile of hsCRP, the highest tertile was associated with increased risk of PTD (adjusted relative risks [ARR] 1.42; 95% CI: 1.08-1.78). Among twin pregnancies, the adjusted association between high values of serum hsCRP in early pregnancy and preterm delivery was only observed in the subgroup of spontaneous preterm deliveries (ARR 1.49, 95%CI:1.08-1.93). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated hsCRP in early pregnancy was associated with increased risk of PTD, particular the risk of sPTD in twin gestations.

Pencil-paper on-skin electronics.

Pencils and papers are ubiquitous in our society and have been widely used for writing and drawing, because they are easy to use, low-cost, widely accessible, and disposable. However, their applications in emerging skin-interfaced health monitoring and interventions are still not well explored. Herein, we report a variety of pencil-paper-based on-skin electronic devices, including biophysical (temperature, biopotential) sensors, sweat biochemical (pH, uric acid, glucose) sensors, thermal stimulators, and humidity energy harvesters. Among these devices, pencil-drawn graphite patterns (or combined with other compounds) serve as conductive traces and sensing electrodes, and office-copy papers work as flexible supporting substrates. The enabled devices can perform real-time, continuous, and high-fidelity monitoring of a range of vital biophysical and biochemical signals from human bodies, including skin temperatures, electrocardiograms, electromyograms, alpha, beta, and theta rhythms, instantaneous heart rates, respiratory rates, and sweat pH, uric acid, and glucose, as well as deliver programmed thermal stimulations. Notably, the qualities of recorded signals are comparable to those measured with conventional methods. Moreover, humidity energy harvesters are prepared by creating a gradient distribution of oxygen-containing groups on office-copy papers between pencil-drawn electrodes. One single-unit device (0.87 cm2) can generate a sustained voltage of up to 480 mV for over 2 h from ambient humidity. Furthermore, a self-powered on-skin iontophoretic transdermal drug-delivery system is developed as an on-skin chemical intervention example. In addition, pencil-paper-based antennas, two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) circuits with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and batteries, reconfigurable assembly and biodegradable electronics (based on water-soluble papers) are explored.

Quantitative Investigation of FAD2 Cosuppression Reveals RDR6-Dependent and RDR6-Independent Gene Silencing Pathways.

The frequency and extent of transgene-mediated cosuppression varies substantially among plant genes. However, the underlying mechanisms leading to strong cosuppression have received little attention. In previous studies, we showed that the expression of FAD2 in the seeds of Arabidopsis results in strong RDR6-mediated cosuppression, where both endogenous and transgenic FAD2 were silenced. Here, the FAD2 strong cosuppression system was quantitatively investigated to identify the genetic factors by the expression of FAD2 in their mutants. The involvement of DCL2, DCL4, AGO1, and EIN5 was first confirmed in FAD2 cosuppression. SKI2, a remover of 3' end aberrant RNAs, was newly identified as being involved in the cosuppression, while DCL3 was identified as antagonistic to DCL2 and DCL3. FAD2 cosuppression was markedly reduced in dcl2, dcl4, and ago1. The existence of an RDR6-independent cosuppression was revealed for the first time, which was demonstrated by weak gene silencing in rdr6 ein5 ski2. Further investigation of FAD2 cosuppression may unveil unknown genetic factor(s).

Synthesis of Cu-Doped TiO2 on Wood Substrate with Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Performance and Outstanding Recyclability for Formaldehyde Degradation.

Photocatalytic oxidation is considered one of the most effective ways to remove formaldehyde from indoor air. However, the use of powder photocatalysts is limited by their low adsorption capacity and strong aggregation tendency. Hence, there is a need for a composite material with good cycling stability and high degradation efficiency. In the present study, a unique wood-based composite is produced by arranging Cu-TiO2 nanoparticles on porous structured wood. The porous structure of wood can adsorb formaldehyde, and the abundant functional groups on the surface can act as a reaction platform for anchoring the Cu-TiO2 nanoparticles. Cu doping facilitates electron interaction between TiO2 and Cu, promotes the transfer of charge carriers, lowers the electron-hole recombination rate, and improves the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of formaldehyde. The photocatalytic efficiency of the wood-based composites was highest (85.59%) when the n(Cu)/n(Ti) ratio was 7%. After nine cycles, the wood composites still had a high degradation rate, indicating good recyclability. Overall, this wood composite is an eco-friendly and promising material for indoor air filtration.

[Mechanism of bilobalide promoting neuroprotection of macrophages].

This study aims to explore the neuroprotective effect of bilobalide(BB) and the mechanisms such as inhibiting inflammatory response in macrophage/microglia, promoting neurotrophic factor secretion, and interfering with the activation and differentiation of peripheral CD4~+ T cells. BB of different concentration(12.5, 25, 50, 100 µg·mL~(-1)) was used to treat the RAW264.7 and BV2 cells for 24 h. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay and cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) were employed to detect the cytotoxicity of BB and appropriate concentration was selected for further experiment. Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was applied to elicit inflammation in RAW264.7 and BV2 cells, mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages(BMDMs), and primary microglia, respectively. The effect of BB on cell proliferation and secretion of inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophic factors was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Spleen monocytes of C57BL/6 female mice(7-8 weeks old) were isolated, and CD4~+ T cells were separated by magnetic beads under sterile conditions. Th17 cells were induced by CD3/CD28 and the conditioned medium for eliciting the inflammation in BMDMs. The content of IL-17 cytokines in the supernatant was detected by ELISA to determine the effect on the activation and differentiation of CD4~+ T cells. In addition, PC12 cells were incubated with the conditioned medium for eliciting inflammation in BMDMs and primary microglia and the count and morphology of cells were observed. The cytoto-xicity was determined by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) assay. The result showed that BB with the concentration of 12.5-100 µg·mL~(-1) had no toxicity to RAW264.7 and BV2 cells, and had no significant effect on the activity of cell model with low inflammation. The 50 µg·mL~(-1) BB was selected for further experiment, and the results indicated that BB inhibited LPS-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines. The experiment on CD4~+ T cells showed that the conditioned medium for LPS-induced inflammation in BMDMs promoted the activation and differentiation of CD4~+ T cells, while the conditioned medium of the experimental group with BB intervention reduced the activation and differentiation of CD4~+ T cells. In addition, BB also enhanced the release of neurotrophic factors from BMDMs and primary microglia. The conditioned medium after BB intervention can significantly reduce the death of PC12 neurons, inhibit neuronal damage, and protect neurons. To sum up, BB plays a neuroprotective role by inhibiting macrophage and microglia-mediated inflammatory response and promoting neurotrophic factors.