Heavy Metal-Induced Assembly of DNA Network Biosensor from Double-Loop Hairpin Probes for Ultrasensitive Detection of UO22+ in Water and Soil Samples.

The uranyl ion (UO22+) is the most stable form of uranium, which exhibits high toxicity and bioavailability posing a severe risk to human health. The construction of ultrasensitive, reliable, and robust sensing techniques for UO22+ detection in water and soil samples remains a challenge. Herein, a DNA network biosensor was fabricated for UO22+ detection using DNAzyme as the heavy metal recognition element and double-loop hairpin probes as DNA assembly materials. UO22+-activated specific cleavage of the DNAzyme will liberate the triggered DNA fragment, which can be utilized to launch a double-loop hairpin probe assembly among Hab, Hbc, and Hca. Through multiple cyclic cross-hybridization reactions, hexagonal DNA duplex nanostructures (n[Hab•Hbc•Hca]) were formed. This DNA network sensing system generates a high fluorescence response for UO22+ monitoring. The biosensor is ultrasensitive, with a detection limit of 2 pM. This sensing system also displays an excellent selectivity and robustness, enabling the DNA network biosensor to work even in complex water and soil samples with excellent accuracy and reliability. With the advantages of enzyme-free operation, outstanding specificity, and high sensitivity, our proposed DNA network biosensor provides a reliable, simple, and robust method for trace levels of UO22+ detection in environmental samples.

In Situ Engineering Multifunctional Active Sites of Ruthenium-Nickel Alloys for pH-Universal Ampere-Level Current-Density Hydrogen Evolution.

Developing robust non-platinum electrocatalysts with multifunctional active sites for pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for scalable hydrogen production through electrochemical water splitting. Here ultra-small ruthenium-nickel alloy nanoparticles steadily anchored on reduced graphene oxide papers (Ru-Ni/rGOPs) as versatile electrocatalytic materials for acidic and alkaline HER are reported. These Ru-Ni alloy nanoparticles serve as pH self-adaptive electroactive species by making use of in situ surface reconstruction, where surface Ni atoms are hydroxylated to produce bifunctional active sites of Ru-Ni(OH)2 for alkaline HER, and selectively etched to form monometallic Ru active sites for acidic HER, respectively. Owing to the presence of Ru-Ni(OH)2 multi-site surface, which not only accelerates water dissociation to generate reactive hydrogen intermediates but also facilitates their recombination into hydrogen molecules, the self-supported Ru90Ni10/rGOP hybrid electrode only takes overpotential of as low as ≈106 mV to deliver current density of 1000 mA cm-2, and maintains exceptional stability for over 1000 h in 1 m KOH. While in 0.5 m H2SO4, the Ru90Ni10/rGOP hybrid electrode exhibits acidic HER catalytic behavior comparable to commercially available Pt/C catalyst due to the formation of monometallic Ru shell. These electrochemical behaviors outperform some of the best Ru-based catalysts and make it attractive alternative to Pt-based catalysts toward highly efficient HER.

Benzoquinone-Lubricated Intercalation in Manganese Oxide for High-Capacity and High-Rate Aqueous Aluminum-Ion Battery.

Aqueous aluminum-ion batteries are attractive post-lithium battery technologies for large-scale energy storage in virtue of abundant and low-cost Al metal anode offering ultrahigh capacity via a three-electron redox reaction. However, state-of-the-art cathode materials are of low practical capacity, poor rate capability, and inadequate cycle life, substantially impeding their practical use. Here layered manganese oxide that is pre-intercalated with benzoquinone-coordinated aluminum ions (BQ-AlxMnO2) as a high-performance cathode material of rechargeable aqueous aluminum-ion batteries is reported. The coordination of benzoquinone with aluminum ions not only extends interlayer spacing of layered MnO2 framework but reduces the effective charge of trivalent aluminum ions to diminish their electrostatic interactions, substantially boosting intercalation/deintercalation kinetics of guest aluminum ions and improving structural reversibility and stability. When coupled with Zn50Al50 alloy anode in 2 m Al(OTf)3 aqueous electrolyte, the BQ-AlxMnO2 exhibits superior rate capability and cycling stability. At 1 A g-1, the specific capacity of BQ-AlxMnO2 reaches ≈300 mAh g-1 and retains ≈90% of the initial value for more than 800 cycles, along with the Coulombic efficiency of as high as ≈99%, outperforming the AlxMnO2 without BQ co-incorporation.

Soil Humic Acid Stimulates Potentially Active Dissimilatory Arsenate-Reducing Bacteria in Flooded Paddy Soil as Revealed by Metagenomic Stable Isotope Probing.

Dissimilatory arsenate reduction contributes a large proportion of arsenic flux from flooded paddy soil, which is closely linked to soil organic carbon input and efflux. Humic acid (HA) represents a natural ingredient in soil and is shown to enhance microbial arsenate respiration to promote arsenic mobility. However, the community and function profiles of metabolically active arsenate-respiring bacteria and their interactions with HA in paddy soil remain unclear. To probe this linkage, we performed a genome-centric comparison of potentially active arsenate-respiring bacteria in anaerobic microcosms amended with 13C-lactate and HA by combining stable-isotope probing with genome-resolved metagenomics. Indeed, HA greatly accelerated the microbial reduction of arsenate to arsenite. Enrichment of bacteria that harbor arsenate-respiring reductase genes (arrA) in HA-enriched 13C-DNA was confirmed by metagenomic binning, which are affiliated with Firmicutes (mainly Desulfitobacterium, Bacillus, Brevibacillus, and Clostridia) and Acidobacteria. Characterization of reference extracellular electron transfer (EET)-related genes in these arrA-harboring bacteria supports the presence of EET-like genes, with partial electron-transport chain genes identified. This suggests that Gram-positive Firmicutes- and Acidobacteria-related members may harbor unspecified EET-associated genes involved in metal reduction. Our findings highlight the link between soil HA and potentially active arsenate-respiring bacteria, which can be considered when using HA for arsenic removal.

Cystathionine γ-lyase-derived H2S negatively regulates thymic egress via allosteric inhibition of sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase.

Thymic egress is a crucial process for thymocyte maturation, strictly regulated by sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (S1PL). Recently, cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), one of the enzymes producing hydrogen sulfide (H2S), has emerged as a vital immune process regulator. However, the molecular connection between CSE, H2S and thymic egress remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the regulatory function of CSE in the thymic egress of immune cells. We showed that genetic knockout of CSE or pharmacological inhibition by CSE enzyme inhibitor NSC4056 or D,L-propargylglycine (PAG) significantly enhanced the migration of mature lymphocytes and monocytes from the thymus to the peripheral blood, and this redistribution effect could be reversed by treatment with NaHS, an exogenous donor of H2S. In addition, the CSE-generated H2S significantly increased the levels of S1P in the peripheral blood, thymus and spleen of mice, suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines and rescued pathogen-induced sepsis in cells and in vivo. Notably, H2S or polysulfide inhibited S1PL activity in cells and an in vitro purified enzyme assay. We found that this inhibition relied on a newly identified C203XC205 redox motif adjacent to the enzyme's active site, shedding light on the biochemical mechanism of S1PL regulation. In conclusion, this study uncovers a new function and mechanism for CSE-derived H2S in thymic egress and provides a potential drug target for treating S1P-related immune diseases.

Frontrunning the signals: As arbitrage between sophisticates.

This paper presents a model in which some sophisticated investors do not wait for receipt of a signal before purchasing an asset. Its critical innovation is an arbitrage equation for frontrunning. Some sophisticates who will receive information in the next period arbitrage against similar sophisticates who will act on that information in that next period when the information is received. The costs of such frontrunning are borne totally by unsophisticated traders-with no gain or loss to sophisticates. Nor does the frontrunning produce any information discovery. Thus, this paper describes a financial-market anomaly: of inefficient financial transactions with gains to no one.

Dynamic Molecular Interphases Regulated by Trace Dual Electrolyte Additives for Ultralong-Lifespan and Dendrite-Free Zinc Metal Anode.

Metallic zinc is a promising anode material for rechargeable aqueous multivalent metal-ion batteries due to its high capacity and low cost. However, the practical use is always beset by severe dendrite growth and parasitic side reactions occurring at anode/electrolyte interface. Here we demonstrate dynamic molecular interphases caused by trace dual electrolyte additives of D-mannose and sodium lignosulfonate for ultralong-lifespan and dendrite-free zinc anode. Triggered by plating and stripping electric fields, the D-mannose and lignosulfonate species are alternately and reversibly (de-)adsorbed on Zn metal, respectively, to accelerate Zn2+ transportation for uniform Zn nucleation and deposition and inhibit side reactions for high Coulombic efficiency. As a result, Zn anode in such dual-additive electrolyte exhibits highly reversible and dendrite-free Zn stripping/plating behaviors for >6400 hours at 1 mA cm-2, which enables long-term cycling stability of Zn||ZnxMnO2 full cell for more than 2000 cycles.

AQP4-A25Q Point Mutation in Mice Depolymerizes Orthogonal Arrays of Particles and Decreases Polarized Expression of AQP4 Protein in Astrocytic Endfeet at the Blood-Brain Barrier.

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is characterized by the formation of orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs) comprising its M1 and M23 isoforms in the plasma membrane. However, the biological importance of OAP formation is obscure. Here, we developed an OAP depolymerization male mouse model by transgenic knock-in of an AQP4-A25Q mutation. Analyses of the mutant brain tissue using blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, super-resolution imaging, and immunogold electron microscopy revealed remarkably reduced OAP structures and glial endfeet localization of the AQP4-A25Q mutant protein without effects on its overall mRNA and protein expression. AQP4A25Q/A25Q mice showed better survival and neurologic deficit scores when cerebral edema was induced by water intoxication or middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion. The brain water content and swelling of pericapillary astrocytic endfeet processes in AQP4A25Q/A25Q mice were significantly reduced, functionally supporting decreased AQP4 protein expression at the blood-brain barrier. The infarct volume and neuronal damage were also reduced in AQP4A25Q/A25Q mice in the middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion model. Astrocyte activation in the brain was alleviated in AQP4A25Q/A25Q mice, which may be associated with decreased cell swelling. We conclude that the OAP structure of AQP4 plays a key role in its polarized expression in astrocytic endfeet processes at the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, our study provided new insights into intervention of cerebral cellular edema caused by stroke and traumatic brain injury through regulating AQP4 OAP formation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is characterized by orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs) comprising the M1 and M23 isoforms in the membrane. Here, an OAP depolymerization male mouse model induced by AQP4-A25Q mutation was first established, and the functions of OAP depolymerization in cerebral edema have been studied. The results revealed that AQP4 lost its OAP structure without affecting AQP4 mRNA and protein levels in AQP4-A25Q mice. AQP4-A25Q mutation mice has neuroprotective effects on cerebral edema induced by water intoxication and middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion through relieving the activation of astrocytes and suppressed microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. We concluded that the OAP structure of AQP4 plays a key role in its polarized expression in astrocytic endfeet processes at the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, our study provided new insights into intervention of cerebral cellular edema caused by stroke and traumatic brain injury through regulating AQP4 OAP formation.

A dramatic decline in fruit citrate induced by mutagenesis of a NAC transcription factor, AcNAC1.

Citrate is a common primary metabolite which often characterizes fruit flavour. The key regulators of citrate accumulation in fruit and vegetables are poorly understood. We systematically analysed the dynamic profiles of organic acid components during the development of kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.). Citrate continuously accumulated so that it became the predominate contributor to total acidity at harvest. Based on a co-expression network analysis using different kiwifruit cultivars, an Al-ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER gene (AcALMT1) was identified as a candidate responsible for citrate accumulation. Electrophysiological assays using expression of this gene in Xenopus oocytes revealed that AcALMT1 functions as a citrate transporter. Additionally, transient overexpression of AcALMT1 in kiwifruit significantly increased citrate content, while tissues showing higher AcALMT1 expression accumulated more citrate. The expression of AcALMT1 was highly correlated with 17 transcription factor candidates. However, dual-luciferase and EMSA assays indicated that only the NAC transcription factor, AcNAC1, activated AcALMT1 expression via direct binding to its promoter. Targeted CRISPR-Cas9-induced mutagenesis of AcNAC1 in kiwifruit resulted in dramatic declines in citrate levels while malate and quinate levels were not substantially affected. Our findings show that transcriptional regulation of a major citrate transporter, by a NAC transcription factor, is responsible for citrate accumulation in kiwifruit, which has broad implications for other fruits and vegetables.

Cascade N2 Reduction Process with DBD Plasma Oxidation and Electrocatalytic Reduction for Continuous Ammonia Synthesis.

Due to the extremely high bond energy of N≡N (∼941 kJ/mol), the traditional Haber-Bosch process of ammonia synthesis is known as an energy-intensive and high CO2-emission industry. In this paper, a cascade N2 reduction process with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma oxidation and electrocatalytic reduction as an alternative route is first proposed. N2 is oxidized to be reactive nitrogen species (RNS) by nonthermal plasma, which would then be absorbed by KOH solution and electroreduced to NH4+. It is found that the production of NOx is a function of discharge length, discharge power, and gas flow rate. Afterward, the cobalt catalyst is used in the process of electrocatalytic reduction of ammonia, which shows high selectivity (Faradic efficiency (FE) above 90%) and high yield of ammonia (45.45 mg/h). Finally, the cascade plasma oxidation and electrocatalytic reduction for ammonia synthesis is performed. Also, the performance of the reaction system is evaluated. It is worth mentioning that a stable and sustainable ammonia production efficiency of 16.21 mg/h is achieved, and 22.16% of NOx obtained by air activation is converted into NH4+. This work provides a demonstration for further industrial application of ammonia production with DBD plasma oxidation and electrocatalytic reduction techniques.

Novel Polyetherimide Dielectrics: Molecular Design, Energy Storage Property, and Self-Healing Performance.

The development of high-temperature resistant dielectrics with excellent dielectric properties and self-healing behavior is crucial for the application of metallized film capacitors. In this work, a series of polyetherimide (PEI) dielectric films are designed and fabricated. The introduction of polar groups is in favor to the increase of permittivity, and the flexible connection such as the ether group will facilitate the reduction of dielectric loss. Moreover, the oxygen elements are beneficial to the "self-healing" of metallized film capacitors. Consequently, the permittivity of 3.53-4.00, dissipation factor of 0.281-0.517%, and Weibull breakdown strength of 347-674 MV m-1 are obtained for the PEI dielectrics. In addition, PEI-4 (BPADA-BAPP) and PEI-8 (BPADA-MDA) are selected to further investigate dielectric breakdown (150 °C), electrical displacement-electric filed (D-E) loop (at room temperature and 150 °C) as well as self-healing performance, which will evaluate their potential in practical applications. The results show that PEI-8 has stable breakdown field strength and high charge-discharge efficiency at elevated temperatures. Metallized film capacitor based on PEI-8 exhibits excellent self-healing performance, with pleasing self-clear morphology, high breakdown voltage, and reduced self-healing energy. Therefore, PEI-8 is considered as a potential candidate for metallized film capacitors applied under harsh conditions.

Significantly Improved Dielectric Performance of All-Organic Parylene/Polyimide/Parylene Composite Films with Sandwich Structure.

The development of novel polymer dielectrics with enhanced dielectric performance is a great challenge for application of film capacitors in modern electronics and electrical systems. Herein, an innovative approach of chemical vapor deposition polymerization technology is proposed to prepare the all-organic sandwich structured parylene/polyimide/parylene (Py/PI/Py) composite films by employing poly(chloro-para-xylylene) (parylene C) as the outer layers and polyimide (PI) as the inner layer. The Py/PI/Py composites exhibit superior thermal resistance and outstanding mechanical properties. Moreover, thanks to the interfacial effect which contributes to reinforcing the dielectric response and the thickness effect which facilitates improving the breakdown strength, the dielectric performance of Py/PI/Py composites has been enhanced significantly. Accordingly, dielectric constant of 4.52-5.09, dissipation factor of 0.21-1.01%, and breakdown strength of 307-460 MV m-1 are achieved. Besides, notable energy storage performance is also obtained in Py/PI/Py composite dielectrics. Consequently, this novel application of chemical vapor deposition polymerization method in preparing all-organic multilayered polymer composite films with sandwich structure shows promising potential in film capacitor applications in harsh conditions.

Chinese Neonatal Nurses' Lived Experiences of Providing End-of-Life Care in the NICU: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study.

BACKGROUND: Although end-of-life care (EOLC) has been well-studied, the experience of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses in China, where little EOLC training is provided, requires further investigation. PURPOSE: To explore the lived experience of EOLC delivery among NICU nurses, to provide evidence to enhance nurses' EOLC skills and improve their overall quality. METHODS: This qualitative study adopted a phenomenological approach. A total of 11 NICU nurses participated in semistructured in-depth interviews between June and July 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Colaizzi's 7-step method was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Five main themes were identified: (a) multiple emotions are experienced during EOLC delivery; (b) EOLC delivery is stressful from various sources for nurses; (c) expressing empathy and compassion is important; (d) ethical and clinical decision-making are key components of EOLC delivery; and (e) there are challenges in improving neonatal EOLC understanding and delivery. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: The experience of EOLC among Chinese NICU nurses is multidimensional and intensive. Institutions or units must establish and implement related protocols and guidelines to address differences between clinical practice and ideal protocols for neonatal EOLC. Educational programs that consider nurses' personal and interpersonal factors, including local culture, must be developed. Neonatal nurses in Western countries encountering Chinese-born parents who have lost their infants can gain an understanding of parents' perceptions from this study. Future research should focus on developing and testing interventions to train and support NICU nurses working with end-of-life neonates.

Arsenic release from microbial reduction of scorodite in the presence of electron shuttle in flooded soil.

Scorodite (FeAsO4·H2O) is a common arsenic-bearing (As-bearing) iron mineral in near-surface environments that could immobilize or store As in a bound state. In flooded soils, microbe induced Fe(III) or As(V) reduction can increase the mobility and bioavailability of As. Additionally, humic substances can act as electron shuttles to promote this process. The dynamics of As release and diversity of putative As(V)-reducing bacteria during scorodite reduction have yet to be investigated in detail in flooded soils. Here, the microbial reductive dissolution of scorodite was conducted in an flooded soil in the presence of anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS). Anaeromyxobacter, Dechloromonas, Geothrix, Geobacter, Ideonella, and Zoogloea were found to be the dominant indigenous bacteria during Fe(III) and As(V) reduction. AQDS increased the relative abundance of dominant species, but did not change the diversity and microbial community of the systems with scorodite. Among these bacteria, Geobacter exhibited the greatest increase and was the dominant Fe(III)- and As(V)-reducing bacteria during the incubation with AQDS and scorodite. AQDS promoted both Fe(III) and As(V) reduction, and over 80% of released As(V) was microbially transformed to As(III). The increases in the abundance of arrA gene and putative arrA sequences of Geobacter were higher with AQDS than without AQDS. As a result, the addition of AQDS promoted microbial Fe(III) and As(V) release and reduction from As-bearing iron minerals into the environment. These results contribute to exploration of the transformation of As from As-bearing iron minerals under anaerobic conditions, thus providing insights into the bioremediation of As-contaminated soil.

[Blinatumomab as bridging therapy in two children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia complicated by invasive fungal disease]. / 2例急性Bæ·‹å·´ç»†èƒžç™½è¡€ç— åˆå¹¶ä¾µè¢­æ€§çœŸèŒç— å„¿ç«¥åº”ç”¨è´æž—å¦¥æ¬§å•æŠ—æ¡¥æŽ¥æ²»ç–—åˆ†æž.

This article reports two cases of children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) complicated by invasive fungal disease (IFD) who received bridging treatment using blinatumomab. Case 1 was a 4-month-old female infant who experienced recurrent high fever and limb weakness during chemotherapy. Blood culture was negative, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid were all negative. Chest CT and cranial MRI revealed obvious infection foci. Case 2 was a 2-year-old male patient who experienced recurrent high fever with multiple inflammatory masses during chemotherapy. Candida tropicalis was detected in peripheral blood and abscess fluid using NGS, while blood culture and imaging examinations showed no obvious abnormalities. After antifungal and blinatumomab therapy, both cases showed significant improvement in symptoms, signs, and imaging, and B-ALL remained in continuous remission. The report indicates that bridging treatment with blinatumomab in children with B-ALL complicated by IFD can rebuild the immune system and control the underlying disease in the presence of immunosuppression and severe fungal infection.

Long-term exercise training down-regulates m6A RNA demethylase FTO expression in the hippocampus and hypothalamus: an effective intervention for epigenetic modification.

BACKGROUND: Exercise boosts the health of some brain parts, such as the hippocampus and hypothalamus. Several studies show that long-term exercise improves spatial learning and memory, enhances hypothalamic leptin sensitivity, and regulates energy balance. However, the effect of exercise on the hippocampus and hypothalamus is not fully understood. The study aimed to find epigenetic modifications or changes in gene expression of the hippocampus and hypothalamus due to exercise. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sedentary and exercise groups. All mice in the exercise group were subjected to treadmill exercise 5 days per week for 1 h each day. After the 12-week exercise intervention, the hippocampus and hypothalamus tissue were used for RNA-sequencing or molecular biology experiments. RESULTS: In both groups, numerous differentially expressed genes of the hippocampus (up-regulated: 53, down-regulated: 49) and hypothalamus (up-regulated: 24, down-regulated: 40) were observed. In the exercise group, increased level of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) was observed in the hippocampus and hypothalamus (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) of the hippocampus and hypothalamus were down-regulated in the exercise group (p < 0.001). In addition, the Fto co-expression genes of the mouse brain were studied and analyzed using database to determine the potential roles of exercise-downregulated FTO in the brain. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that long-term exercise might elevates the levels of m6A-tagged transcripts in the hippocampus and hypothalamus via down-regulation of FTO. Hence, exercise might be an effective intervention for epigenetic modification.

Discrete Platinum(II) Metallacycles with Inner- and Outer-Modified 9,10-Distyrylanthracene: Design, Self-Assembly, and Luminescence Properties.

To completely unravel the relationship between structures and luminescence properties of inner- and outer-modified metallacycles, two rhombic metallacycles S1 and S2 with 9,10-distyrylanthracene (DSA) were constructed herein via the design of DSA moieties on the inside or outside of metallacycles. Similar building blocks of the two metallacycles led to the same emission wavelengths in a dilute solution. In contrast, their fluorescence emissions in the aggregation and solid states were significantly different and revealed interesting emission behaviors from structures with inner- and outer-modified design. Finally, based on their luminescence properties, a tunable solid-state fluorescence emissive material was easily obtained by the mixing of two supramolecules in different ratios. This unique design suggested that the modified position of fluorophores exerts a key impact on the adjustment of luminescence from a dilute solution to the aggregated state and will be of great significance for the development of luminescent materials based on supramolecules.

Adsorption of cadmium on clay-organic associations in different pH solutions: The effect of amphoteric organic matter.

Clay minerals are important soil components and usually coexist with organic matter, forming mineral-organic associations (MOAs), which control the speciation, mobility, and bioavailability of heavy metals. However, the adsorption mechanism of cadmium (Cd) by MOAs is still unclear, especially for the associations of amphotericorganic matter and clay minerals. In this study, 12-aminododecanoic acid (ALA) and montmorillonite (Mt) were chosen to prepare MOAs via intercalation (Mt-ALA composite) and physical mixing (Mt-ALA mixture). Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the adsorption mechanism of Cd(II) by MOAs under different pH values and initial Cd(II) concentrations. The results showed that the Cd(II) adsorption capacities followed as Mt > Mt-ALA mixture > Mt-ALA composite under acidic conditions, Mt-ALA mixture > Mt > Mt-ALA composite under neutral conditions, and Mt-ALA mixture > Mt-ALA composite > Mt under alkaline conditions, suggesting the adsorption behaviors of Cd(II) by MOAs were primarily constrained by the speciation of ALA and solution pH. Under acidic conditions, cationic HALA+ could intercalate into the interlayer of Mt and occupy the adsorption sites, reducing the adsorption capacity of Cd(II). As pH increased to neutral, HALA+ decreased and changed to a zwitterionic state, which caused ALA to release out from the interlayer of Mt-ALA composite or not easily enter into Mt-ALA mixture and promoted Cd(II) adsorption. Under alkaline conditions, the increase of anion ALA- would cause ALA to be mainly adsorbed on the surface of Mt and chelate with Cd(II), enhancing the adsorption of Cd(II). Further analysis by Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the carboxyl and amino groups of ALA both participated in the adsorption of Cd(II). These findings could extend the knowledge on the mobility and fate of Cd in clay-based soils and be used as a basis for understanding the biogeochemical behavior of Cd in the environment.

The Patatin-Like Phospholipase Domain Containing Protein 7 Facilitates VLDL Secretion by Modulating ApoE Stability.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The regulation of hepatic very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion is vital for lipid metabolism whose pathogenetic status is involved in fatty liver disease and dyslipidemia seen in hepatic steatosis. Accumulated evidence suggest that apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is closely related to hepatic VLDL secretion. Here, we report that the expression of patatin-like phospholipase domain containing protein 7 (PNPLA7) is strongly induced by hepatic steatosis and positively correlates with plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) levels in the human subjects, whereas the role of PNPLA7 in hepatic VLDL secretion is unknown. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Herein, with genetic manipulation in the mice, the deficiency of hepatic PNPLA7 expression resulted in reduced VLDL secretion accompanied by enhanced hepatic lipid accumulation and decreased hepatic ApoE expression. Furthermore, knockdown of PNPLA7 in the livers of the db/db mice also resulted in significant reduction in plasma TAG level but aggravated hepatic steatosis. Importantly, we observed that PNPLA7 interacted with ApoE and presumably at the site of endoplasmic reticulum. Mechanistically, we have shown that PNPLA7 could modulate polyubiquitination and proteasomal-mediated degradation of ApoE. Overexpressed ApoE restored the impaired VLDL-TAG metabolism in PNPLA7-knockdown primary hepatocytes. CONCLUSION: PNPLA7 plays a critical role in regulating hepatic VLDL secretion by modulating ApoE stability through its interaction with ApoE.

Dibaryon with Highest Charm Number near Unitarity from Lattice QCD.

A pair of triply charmed baryons, Ω_{ccc}Ω_{ccc}, is studied as an ideal dibaryon system by (2+1)-flavor lattice QCD with nearly physical light-quark masses and the relativistic heavy-quark action with the physical charm quark mass. The spatial baryon-baryon correlation is related to their scattering parameters on the basis of the HAL QCD method. The Ω_{ccc}Ω_{ccc} in the ^{1}S_{0} channel, taking into account the Coulomb repulsion with the charge form factor of Ω_{ccc}, leads to the scattering length a_{0}^{C}≃-19 fm and the effective range r_{eff}^{C}≃0.45 fm. The ratio r_{eff}^{C}/a_{0}^{C}≃-0.024, whose magnitude is considerably smaller than that of the dineutron (-0.149), indicates that Ω_{ccc}Ω_{ccc} is located in the unitary regime.