Brusatol attenuated proliferation and invasion induced by KRAS in differentiated thyroid cancer through inhibiting Nrf2

BACKGROUND

Poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) can be developed from differentiated thyroid cancer, and this dedifferentiated transformation leads to poor prognosis and high mortality. The role of Nrf2 in the dedifferentiation of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) induced by KRAS remains unclear.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

In this study, two DTC cell lines, BCPAP and WRO, were used to evaluate the function of Nrf2 in the dedifferentiation caused by wild-type KRAS (KRAS-WT) and G12V point mutation KRAS (KRAS-G12V).

RESULTS

The overexpression of KRAS-WT and KRAS-G12V increased the proliferative and invasive ability of BCPAP and WRO cells. Aggressive morphology was observed in KRAS-WT and KRAS-G12V overexpressed WRO cells. These results suggested that overexpression of KRAS-WT or KRAS-G12V may induce dedifferentiation in DTC cells. The expression of Nrf2 was increased by KRAS-WT and KRAS-G12V in DTC cells. In addition, compared with normal thyroid tissues, the expression of Nrf2 protein was considerably higher in thyroid cancer tissues on immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, and the increased expression of Nrf2 indicated a poor prognosis of thyroid cancer. These results indicated that Nrf2 is the KRAS downstream molecule in thyroid cancer. Functional studies showed that the Nrf2 inhibitor Brusatol counteracted the proliferative and invasive abilities induced by KRAS-WT and KRAS-G12V in BCPAP and WRO cells. In addition, the xenograft assay further confirmed that Brusatol inhibits tumor growth induced by KRAS-WT and KRAS-G12V.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, this study suggests that Nrf2 could be a promising therapeutic target in KRAS-mediated dedifferentiation of thyroid cancer.

Intelligently Quantifying the Entire Irregular Dental Structure

Quantitative analysis of irregular anatomical structures is crucial in oral medicine, but clinicians often typically measure only several representative indicators within the structure as references. Deep learning semantic segmentation offers the potential for entire quantitative analysis. However, challenges persist, including segmentation difficulties due to unclear boundaries and acquiring measurement landmarks for clinical needs in entire quantitative analysis. Taking the palatal alveolar bone as an example, we proposed an artificial intelligence measurement tool for the entire quantitative analysis of irregular dental structures. To expand the applicability, we have included lightweight networks with fewer parameters and lower computational demands. Our approach finally used the lightweight model LU-Net, addressing segmentation challenges caused by unclear boundaries through a compensation module. Additional enamel segmentation was conducted to establish a measurement coordinate system. Ultimately, we presented the entire quantitative information within the structure in a manner that meets clinical needs. The tool achieved excellent segmentation results, manifested by high Dice coefficients (0.934 and 0.949), intersection over union (0.888 and 0.907), and area under the curve (0.943 and 0.949) for palatal alveolar bone and enamel in the test set. In subsequent measurements, the tool visualizes the quantitative information within the target structure by scatter plots. When comparing the measurements against representative indicators, the tool's measurement results show no statistically significant difference from the ground truth, with small mean absolute error, root mean squared error, and errors interval. Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients indicate the satisfactory agreement compared with manual measurements. We proposed a novel intelligent approach to address the entire quantitative analysis of irregular image structures in the clinical setting. This contributes to enabling clinicians to swiftly and comprehensively grasp structural features, facilitating the design of more personalized treatment plans for different patients, enhancing clinical efficiency and treatment success rates in turn.

Solvent-Free Synthesis of Covalent Organic Framework/Graphene Nanohybrids: High-Performance Faradaic Cathodes for Supercapacitors and Hybrid Capacitive Deionization

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with flexible periodic skeletons and ordered nanoporous structures have attracted much attention as potential candidate electrode materials for green energy storage and efficient seawater desalination. Further improving the intrinsic electronic conductivity and releasing porosity of COF-based materials is a necessary strategy to improve their electrochemical performance. Herein, the employed graphene as the conductive substrate to in situ grow 2D redox-active COF (TFPDQ-COF) with redox activity under solvent-free conditions to prepare TFPDQ-COF/graphene (TFPDQGO) nanohybrids and explores their application in both supercapacitor and hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI). By optimizing the hybridization ratio, TFPDQGO exhibits a large specific capacitance of 429.0 F g-1 due to the synergistic effect of the charge transport highway provided by the graphene layers and the abundant redox-active centers contained in the COF skeleton, and the assembled TFPDQGO//activated carbon (AC) asymmetric supercapacitor possesses a high energy output of 59.4 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 950 W kg-1 and good cycling life. Furthermore, the maximum salt adsorption capacity (SAC) of 58.4 mg g-1 and stable regeneration performance is attained for TFPDQGO-based HCDI. This study highlights the new opportunities of COF-based hybrid materials acting as high-performance supercapacitor and HCDI electrode materials.

Combination of alkaline biodiesel-derived crude glycerol pretreated corn stover with dilute acid pretreated water hyacinth for highly-efficient single cell oil production by oleaginous yeast Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum

Single cell oil (SCO) prepared from biodiesel-derived crude glycerol (BCG) and lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) via oleaginous yeasts is an intriguing alternative precursor of biodiesel. Here, a novel strategy combining alkaline BCG pretreated corn stover and dilute acid pretreated water hyacinth for SCO overproduction was developed. The mixed pretreatment liquors (MPLs) were naturally neutralized and adjusted to a proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratio beneficial for SCO overproduction by Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum. The toxicity of inhibitors was relieved by dilution detoxification. The enzymatic hydrolysate of solid fractions was suitable for SCO production either separately or simultaneously with MPLs. Fed-batch fermentation of the MPLs resulted in high cell mass, SCO content, and SCO titer of 80.7 g/L, 75.7 %, and 61.1 g/L, respectively. The fatty acid profiles of SCOs implied high-quality biodiesel characteristics. This study offers a novel BCG&LCB-to-SCO route integrating BCG-based pretreatment and BCG/LCB hydrolysates co-utilization, which provides a cost-effective technical route for micro-biodiesel production.

Dynamic cerebral blood flow assessment based on electromagnetic coupling sensing and image feature analysis

Dynamic assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is crucial for guiding personalized management and treatment strategies, and improving the prognosis of stroke. However, a safe, reliable, and effective method for dynamic CBF evaluation is currently lacking in clinical practice. In this study, we developed a CBF monitoring system utilizing electromagnetic coupling sensing (ECS). This system detects variations in brain conductivity and dielectric constant by identifying the resonant frequency (RF) in an equivalent circuit containing both magnetic induction and electrical coupling. We evaluated the performance of the system using a self-made physical model of blood vessel pulsation to test pulsatile CBF. Additionally, we recruited 29 healthy volunteers to monitor cerebral oxygen (CO), cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) data and RF data before and after caffeine consumption. We analyzed RF and CBFV trends during immediate responses to abnormal intracranial blood supply, induced by changes in vascular stiffness, and compared them with CO data. Furthermore, we explored a method of dynamically assessing the overall level of CBF by leveraging image feature analysis. Experimental testing substantiates that this system provides a detection range and depth enhanced by three to four times compared to conventional electromagnetic detection techniques, thereby comprehensively covering the principal intracranial blood supply areas. And the system effectively captures CBF responses under different intravascular pressure stimulations. In healthy volunteers, as cerebral vascular stiffness increases and CO decreases due to caffeine intake, the RF pulsation amplitude diminishes progressively. Upon extraction and selection of image features, widely used machine learning algorithms exhibit commendable performance in classifying overall CBF levels. These results highlight that our proposed methodology, predicated on ECS and image feature analysis, enables the capture of immediate responses of abnormal intracranial blood supply triggered by alterations in vascular stiffness. Moreover, it provides an accurate diagnosis of the overall CBF level under varying physiological conditions.

Networks of Limited-Valency Patchy Particles

Equilibrium gels provide physically attractive counterparts of nonequilibrium gels, allowing statistical understanding and design of the equilibrium gel structure. Here, we assemble two-dimensional equilibrium gels from limited-valency "patchy" colloidal particles and follow their evolution at the particle scale to elucidate cluster-size distributions and free energies. By finely adjusting the patch attraction with critical Casimir forces, we let a mixture of two-valent and pseudo-three-valent patchy particles approach the percolated network state through a set of equilibrium states. Comparing this equilibrium route with a deep quench, we find that both routes approach the percolated state via the same equilibrium states, revealing that the network topology is uniquely set by the particle bond angles, independent of the formation history. The limited-valency system follows percolation theory remarkably well, approaching the percolation point with the expected universal exponents.

Highly-efficient lipid production from hydrolysate of Radix paeoniae alba residue by oleaginous yeast Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum

Valorization of herbal extraction residues (HERs) into value-added products is pivotal for the sustainability of Chinese medicine industry. Here, seven different enzymatic hydrolysates of dilute acid pretreated HERs were evaluated for lipid production by Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum. Among them, the highest sugar yield via hydrolysis and the maximum lipid production were obtained from Radix paeoniae alba residue (RPAR). More interestingly, high proportion of sugar polymers was disintegrated into fermentable sugars during the pretreatment step, allowing a cheap non-enzymatic route for producing sugars from RPAR. A repeated dilute acid pretreatment gained a high sugar concentration of 241.6 g/L through reusing the pretreatment liquor (PL) for four times. Biomass, lipid concentration, and lipid content achieved 49.5 g/L, 35.7 g/L and 72.2 %, respectively, using fed-batch culture of PL. The biodiesel parameters indicated lipids produced from HERs were suitable for biodiesel production. This study offers a cost-effective way to upgrade the HERs waste into micro-biodiesel.

Interface regulation of Zr-MOF/Ni2P@nickel foam as high-efficient electrocatalyst for pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction

Currently, the development of economical and effective non-noble metal electrocatalysts is vital for advancing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and enabling its widespread applications. The customizable pore structure and enormous surface area of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have made them to become promising non-noble metal electrocatalysts for HER. However, MOFs have some challenges, including low conductivity and instability, which can result in them having high overpotentials and slow reaction kinetics in electrocatalytic processes. In this work, we present an innovative approach for synthesizing cost-effective and high-efficient Zr-MOF-derived pH-universal electrocatalysts for HER. It entails creating the interfaces of the electrocatalysts with suitable proportions of phosphide nanostructures. Zr-MOF/Ni2P@nickel foam (NF) electrodes with interface regulated by Ni2P nanostructures were successfully developed for high-efficient pH-universal HER electrocatalysts. The presence of Ni2P nanostructures with abundant active sites at the Zr-MOFs@NF interfaces boosted the electronic conductivity and local charge density of the hybrid electrocatalysts. This helped to improve their reaction kinetics and electrocatalytic activity. By optimizing the Ni2P amount, Zr-MOF/Ni2P@NF demonstrated impressive stability and superior HER activities, with a low overpotential of 149 mV (acidic electrolytes) and 143 mV (alkaline electrolytes) at 10 mA cm-2. The proven strategy in this work can be expanded to many types of MOF-based materials for wider practical applications.

Biorefinery of vineyard winter prunings for production of microbial lipids by the oleaginous yeast Cryptococcus curvatus

Spent biomass from agricultural and forestry industries are substantial low-cost carbon source for reducing the input of microbial lipid production. Herein, the components of the vineyard winter prunings (VWPs) from 40 grape cultivars were analyzed. The VWPs contained (w/w) cellulose ranged from 24.8% to 32.4%, hemicellulose 9.6% to 13.8%, lignin 23.7% to 32.4%. The VWPs from Cabernet Sauvignon was processed with the alkali-methanol pretreatment, and 95.8% of the sugars was released from the regenerated VWPs after enzymatic hydrolysis. The hydrolysates from the regenerated VWPs was suitable for lipid production without further treatment as a lipid content of 59% could be achieved with Cryptococcus curvatus. The regenerated VWPs was also used for lipid production via simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), which led to a lipid yield of 0.088 g/g raw VWPs, 0.126 g/g regenerated VWPs and 0.185 g/g from the reducing sugars. This work demonstrated that the VWPs can be explored for co-production of microbial lipids.

Combined dilute sulfuric acid and Tween 80 pretreatment of corn stover significantly improves the enzyme digestibility: synergistic removal of hemicellulose and lignin

Pretreatment is a prerequisite to tackle the issue of biomass recalcitrance, which is the major hindrance of lignocellulose-to-sugars routes. In the present study, a novel combination of dilute sulfuric acid (dilute-H₂SO₄) with Tween 80 pretreatment of corn stover (CS) was developed to significantly enhance the enzyme digestibility. Strong synergistic effects of H₂SO₄ and Tween 80 for simultaneously eliminating hemicellulose and lignin and significantly promoting saccharification yield were observed. A response surface optimization realized the maximum monomeric sugar yield of 95.06% at 120 °C for 1.4 h with 0.75wt% of H₂SO₄ and 73.92 wt% of Tween 80. The excellent enzyme susceptibility of pretreated CS was explained by their physical and chemical characteristics via SEM, XRD, and FITR. The repeatedly recovered pretreatment liquor exerted highly-effective reusability in the subsequent pretreatments for at least four cycles. This strategy offers a highly-efficient and practical pretreatment strategy, which provides valuable information for the lignocellulose-to-sugars routes.

Novel entropy and distance measures of linguistic interval-valued q-Rung orthopair fuzzy sets

Entropy is an important tool to describe the degree of uncertainty of fuzzy sets. In this study, we first define a new entropy and distance measure in the linguistic q-Rung orthopair fuzzy (LIVqROF) environment, and verify its correctness and rationality. Secondly, in the LIVqROF environment, the new entropy formula is effectively applied to the multi-attribute decision making (MADM) with unknown attribute weights, which provides a new idea for solving the MADM problems. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified by a numerical example.

The Toxic Effects of Cu and CuO Nanoparticles on Euplotes aediculatus

The single-celled eukaryote Euplotes aediculatus was chosen to test and compare the toxic effects of Cu and CuO nanoparticles (NPs). The antioxidant enzymatic activity, morphological changes, and functional groups on the membrane were determined using spectrophotometry, microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy after NPs treatment. The toxicity of the NPs to cells was dose-dependent, and the 24 h-LC₅₀ values of the CuNPs and CuONPs were 0.46 µg/L and 1.24 × 10³ µg/L, respectively. These NPs increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase and destroyed the cell structure; moreover, the CuNPs were more toxic than the CuONPs. In addition to the higher enzymatic activity, CuNPs also caused nucleoli disappearance, chromatin condensation, and mitochondrial and pellicle damage. The oxidization of the functional groups of the membrane (PO₂ - , C-O-C, and δ(COH) of carbohydrates) also confirmed the severe damage caused by CuNPs. Our study showed that oxidative stress and organelle destruction played important roles in the toxic effects of these NPs on this protozoan. Compared with other aquatic organisms, E. aediculatus can be considered a potential indicator at the preliminary stage of environmental pollution.

Co-doped MnO2 with abundant oxygen vacancies as cathode for superior aqueous magnesium ion storage

The rapid capacity degradation caused by poor structural stability and slow reaction kinetics is the main obstacle faced by the cathode materials of current aqueous magnesium ion hybrid supercapacitors (MHSs)....

Combination of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of corn stover with consolidated bioprocessing of cassava starch enhances lipid production by the amylolytic oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi

Highly integrated processes are crucial for the commercial success of microbial lipid production from low-cost substrates. Here, combination of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of corn stover with consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of cassava starch by Lipomyces starkeyi was firstly developed as a novel strategy for lipid production. Starch was quickly hydrolyzed within 24 h by the amylolytic enzymes secreted by L. starkeyi to provide adequate fermentable sugars at the initial stage of culture, which eliminated the pre-hydrolysis step. More interestingly, synergistic effect for achieving higher lipid production by combined utilization of corn stover and cassava starch at relatively low enzyme dosage was realized, in comparison with the separate utilization of these two substrates. The fatty acid profiles indicated that lipid prepared by the combination strategy was suitable precursor for biodiesel production. The combined SSF&CBP strategy offers a simplified, highly-efficient, and economical route for co-valorization of low-cost substrates into lipids.

Characterization and differentiation of pollen lipidomes and proteomes from different intrafloral stamens in heterantherous Senna bicapsularis

Numerous compounds in pollen can affect the foraging decision-making of bees. Clarification of phytochemical components and identification of key substances for bee foraging preference in pollen are essential steps for apiculture and developing a conservation strategy. Senna bicapsularis, a heterantherous plant that possesses three different stamen types in the same flower, among which bees forage selectively, provides us with an ideal research model for identification of potential substances of bee foraging preference. The lipid and protein compositions of pollen from the anthers of different stamens of S. bicapsularis were investigated and compared. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) were highest among lipid molecules in pollen from short (S) stamens than from long (L) and medium (M) stamens. This result is consistent with the FA content measurement, showing the highest FAs and UFAs content in S pollen, especially α-linolenic acid. We inferred that α-linolenic acid might be one of the key substances for bee foraging preference in pollen. Moreover, proteomic analysis showed that several differentially expressed proteins involved in lipid biosynthesis were highly accumulated in S pollen, such as choline kinase 2, 3-oxoacyl-ACP synthase-like protein and choline/ethanolamine phosphotransferase 1, in line with the highest FA content of S pollen. Additionally, DEPs involved in 'starch and sucrose metabolism', 'phenylpropanoid biosynthesis' and 'cyanoamino acid metabolism' were more represented in S compared with L and M pollen. The study suggests that differences in proteomic and lipidomic profiling among the three different stamen types might affect foraging decision-making of bumblebees.

CARBONATED BEVERAGES AFFECT LEVELS OF ANDROGEN RECEPTOR AND TESTOSTERONE SECRETION IN MICE

Objectives

This work aimed to study the influences of carbonated beverages (CBs) on the testis growth and the expression levels of androgen receptor (AR) of mice.

Methods

Two experimental groups of 30 mice each PEP-1 and PEP-2 drank 50% and 100% Pepsi-Cola, respectively for 15 days. Other 2 experimental groups of 30 mice each COC-1 and COC-2 drank 50% and 100% Coca-Cola, respectively for 15 days. The control group (CG) of 30 mice drank water. Bilateral testes were harvested aseptically on days 0, 5, 7, 10, 13 and 15. Real-time PCR and Western blot were implemented to detect levels of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA and protein in testis tissues.

Results

Testes masses of PEP-2, COC-1 and COC-2 were greater than those of PEP-1 and CG (P < 0.05). On day 15, testis longitudinal diameter (TLD) of CBs-treated mice was increased as compared to CG. TLD, testes transverse diameters (TTD) and AR proteins levels of PEP-2 and COC-2 were increased in comparison with CG (P<0.05). Serum testosterone concentrations of PEP-2 were higher than that of COC-1 and CG (P < 0.05). Levels of AR mRNAs of four CBs-treated mice were increased by 60.18%, 67.26%, 65.93% and 78.76%.

Conclusions

A high concentration of Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola could raise TLD and TDD, enhance testosterone secretion, and increase serum EGF concentrations.

P-382 Decrease of serum estradiol prior to human chorionic gonadotrophin administration have an impact on live birth in IVF/ICSI cycles

Study question

Whether decrease of serum estradiol prior to human chorionic gonadotrophin administration have an impact on live birth in IVF/ICSI cycles?

Summary answer

The E2 change before the day of hCG administration had significant correlation with live birth. The live birth rate decreased with decreasing serum E2 level.

What is known already

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a decrease of estradiol (E2) levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) administration on in vitro fertilization /intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcomes, including cycles with long, antagonist and micro stimulus protocols.

Study design, size, duration

In this retrospective cohort study, 1303 patients who received IVF/ICSI non-donor treatment were identified. Patients were divided into two groups according to live birth and the characteristics of IVF/ICSI cycles were compared between groups, including baseline infertility parameters, ovarian stimulation characteristics and embryo laboratory manipulation parameters.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

In this retrospective cohort study, 1303 patients who received IVF/ICSI non-donor treatment were identified. Patients were divided into two groups according to live birth and the characteristics of IVF/ICSI cycles were compared between groups, including baseline infertility parameters, ovarian stimulation characteristics and embryo laboratory manipulation parameters. The multivariate logistic regression model was performed to adjust potential confounders and assess correlation between E2 dynamics before hCG administration and live birth.

Main results and the role of chance

Our results revealed that patients without live birth had higher age (32.13 ± 4.33 vs. 30.21 ± 3.71, P &lt; 0.001) and pervious miscarriages (0.57 ± 0.95 vs. 0.46 ± 0.83, P = 0.0295), while had lower number of oocytes retrieved (8.95 ± 4.69 vs. 12.36 ± 5.54, P &lt; 0.001), day of hCG E2 (8269.53 ± 4104.22 vs. 9580.71 ± 3534.11, P &lt; 0.001) and endometrium thickness (10.37 ± 3.66 vs. 11.50 ± 3.40, P &lt; 0.001) compared with patients with live birth. Additionally, the multivariate logistic regression analysis displayed significant impact of serum E2 change on the live birth, and the achievement of live birth [OR (95%CI) 0.81 (0.71, 0.92), P = 0.001] decreased with the decreasing level of serum E2 before hCG trigger day. Estradiol stratification analyses displayed the OR and 95% CI for the association between △E2 and live birth among patients with different levels of estradiol decline (&lt;25%, 25%–50%, 50%–75%, &gt;75%). Compared with the &lt;25% decline and 25%–50% decline groups, the ORs of 50%–75% and &gt;75% decline groups were 1.66 (95% CI: 1.12-2.45, P = 0.012) and 2.00 (95% CI: 1.39-2.89, P &lt; 0.001), respectively, after adjusting potential confounders.

Limitations, reasons for caution

There was concealment of randomization and blinding of outcome assessments reducing the risk of selection and measurement bias.

Wider implications of the findings

In summary, the E2 change before the day of hCG administration had significant correlation with live birth, and the live birth decreased with the decreasing level of serum E2 before hCG trigger day. The patients with a greater decline in the E2 level more likely to had poor clinical outcomes.

Trial registration number

Chi CTR1900026088

Toxic Effects of Copper Nanoparticles on Paramecium bursaria–Chlorella Symbiotic System

Although many reports have demonstrated that nanoparticles can have a negative effect on aquatic organisms, the toxic effects on symbiotic organisms remain poorly understood. The present study conducts ultrastructure, enzyme activity, and transcriptomics to assess the toxic effects to the Paramecium bursaria–Chlorella symbiotic system from exposure to copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) for 24 h. We found that in both the host and symbiotic algae, CuNP exposure induced high reactive oxygen species level, which leads to oxidative damage and energy metabolism disorder. Moreover, transmission electron micrographs (TEMs) showed that the symbiotic algae in the cytoplasm of P. bursaria were enveloped in the digestive vacuole and digested, and the level of acid phosphatase activity increased significantly within 24 h, which indicated that the stability of the symbiotic system was affected after CuNP exposure. We speculated that the increased energy demand in the host and symbiotic algae resulted from oxidative stress, precipitating the decrease of the photosynthetic products provided to the host, the digestion of the symbiont, and the destruction of the stable symbiotic relationship. The study provides the first insight into the mechanisms of nanoparticles’ toxicity to the symbiotic relationship in the ecosystem, which may help to understand the environmental effects and toxicological mechanisms of nanoparticles.

[Production of fatty acids by engineered Ogataea polymorpha]

Fatty acids (FA) are widely used as feed stocks for the production of cosmetics, personal hygiene products, lubricants and biofuels. Ogataea polymorpha is considered as an ideal chassis for bio-manufacturing, due to its outstanding characteristics such as methylotroph, thermal-tolerance and wide substrate spectrum. In this study, we harnessed O. polymorpha for overproduction of fatty acids by engineering its fatty acid metabolism and optimizing the fermentation process. The engineered strain produced 1.86 g/L FAs under the optimized shake-flask conditions (37℃, pH 6.4, a C/N ratio of 120 and an OD₆₀₀ of seed culture of 6-8). The fed-batch fermentation process was further optimized by using a dissolved oxygen (DO) control strategy. The C/N ratio of initial medium was 17.5, and the glucose medium with a C/N ratio of 120 was fed when the DO was higher than 30%. This operation resulted in a titer of 18.0 g/L FA, indicating the potential of using O. polymorpha as an efficient cell factory for the production of FA.

Flexible organohydrogel ionic skin with Ultra-Low temperature freezing resistance and Ultra-Durable moisture retention

HYPOTHESIS

One prevailing method to construct excellent temperature tolerance/long-lasting moisture hydrogels is to couple the original hydrogel networks with freezing-tolerant/moisture retaining agents, including ionic liquids, inorganic salts, zwitterionic osmolytes, and polyhydric alcohols. Among them, organohydrogels have shed new light on the development of ionic skins with long-term usability and stable sensing performance at subzero temperatures due to their long-lasting water retention and anti-freezing capability.

EXPERIMENTS

We report a dual network organohydrogel by doping conductive ZnSO₄ into the double network hydrogel of polyvinyl alcohol-polyacrylamide (PVA-PAM) with subsequent immersing in a mixed solvent of ethylene glycol (EG) and H₂O. The anti-freezing and moisture retaining abilities of the PVA/PAM/Zn/EG (PPZE) organohydrogel were studied and the sensing performances of the PPZE organohydrogel-based ionic skin were investigated.

FINDINGS

The organohydrogel exhibits a high conductivity (0.44 S m^-1), excellent fatigue resistance and exceptional moisture retaining ability with more than 99.3% of the initial weight retention after 31 days storage at ambient temperature. Importantly, the PPZE organohydrogel-based ionic skin shows an ultra-low temperature anti-freezing ability and remains flexibility and sensing capability with a high sensitivity (signal response time ∼ 0.23 s) even at -50 °C. The PPZE organohydrogel demonstrates a tremendous potential in artificial skin and health monitoring.

Exogenous melatonin prevents type 1 diabetes mellitus-induced bone loss, probably by inhibiting senescence

Exogenous melatonin inhibited the senescence of preosteoblast cells in type 1 diabetic (T1D) mice and those cultured in high glucose (HG) by multiple regulations. Exogenous melatonin had a protective effect on diabetic osteoporosis, which may depend on the inhibition of senescence.

INTRODUCTION

Senescence is thought to play an important role in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying diabetic bone loss. Increasing evidence has shown that melatonin exerts anti-senescence effects. In this study, we investigated whether melatonin can inhibit senescence and prevent diabetic bone loss.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of 160 mg/kg streptozotocin, followed by the oral administration of melatonin or vehicle for 2 months. Then, tissues were harvested and subsequently examined. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured under HG conditions for 7 days and then treated with melatonin or not for 24 h. Sirt1-specific siRNAs and MT1- or MT2-specific shRNA plasmids were transfected into MC3T3-E1 cells for mechanistic study.

RESULTS

The total protein extracted from mouse femurs revealed that melatonin prevented senescence in T1D mice. The micro-CT results indicated that melatonin prevented bone loss in T1D mice. Cellular experiments indicated that melatonin administration prevented HG-induced senescence, whereas knockdown of the melatonin receptors MT1 or MT2 abolished these effects. Sirt1 expression was upregulated by melatonin administration but significantly reduced after MT1 or MT2 was knocked down. Knockdown of Sirt1 blocked the anti-senescence effects of melatonin. Additionally, melatonin promoted the expression of CDK2, CDK4, and CyclinD1, while knockdown of MT1 or MT2 abolished these effects. Furthermore, melatonin increased the expression of the polycomb repressive complex (PRC), but knockdown of MT1 or MT2 abolished these effects. Furthermore, melatonin increased the protein levels of Sirt1, PRC1/2 complex-, and cell cycle-related proteins.

CONCLUSION

This work shows that melatonin protects against T1D-induced bone loss, probably by inhibiting senescence. Targeting senescence in the investigation of diabetic osteoporosis may lead to novel discoveries.

Elucidating degradation properties, microbial community, and mechanism of microplastics in sewage sludge under different terminal electron acceptors conditions

This study is designed to investigate the roles of five key terminal electron acceptors (TEAs): O₂, NO₃^-, Fe³⁺, SO₄^2-, and CH₂O, typically existing in the sludge on the degradation rates and pathways of three representative MPs: polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). The results revealed that approximately 51.46 ∼ 52.70% of PHA was degraded within 43 days, despite PLA and PVC being degraded insignificantly. Different TEAs significantly affected the end-products of PHA. The production rate of acetate gradually decreased from 90.48, 42.67, 38.30, and 17.56 to 3.30% when the TEAs were tested with CH₂O, O₂, SO₄^2-, NO₃^- and Fe³⁺, respectively. The main functional bacteria involved in the PHA degradation were hydrolysis bacteria Burkholderiaceae and homo-acetogenic bacteria Clostridiacea, which accounted for 0.83% and 18.91% of the microbes. The current investigation could help improve understanding of MPs degradation pathways and mechanisms and minimize their risks in practice.

Large Culprit Plaque and More Intracranial Plaques Are Associated with Recurrent Stroke: A Case-Control Study Using Vessel Wall Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Intracranial atherosclerotic plaque features are potential factors associated with recurrent stroke, but previous studies only focused on a single lesion, and few studies investigated them with perfusion impairment. This study aimed to investigate the association among whole-brain plaque features, perfusion deficit, and stroke recurrence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with ischemic stroke due to intracranial atherosclerosis were retrospectively collected and categorized into first-time and recurrent-stroke groups. Patients underwent high-resolution vessel wall imaging and DSC-PWI. Intracranial plaque number, culprit plaque features (such as plaque volume/burden, degree of stenosis, enhancement ratio), and perfusion deficit variables were recorded. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent factors associated with recurrent stroke.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-five patients (mean age, 59 [SD, 12] years; 115 men) were included. Compared with the first-time stroke group (n = 100), the recurrent-stroke group (n = 75) had a larger culprit volume (P = .006) and showed more intracranial plaques (P < .001) and more enhanced plaques (P = .003). After we adjusted for other factors, culprit plaque volume (OR, 1.16 per 10-mm³ increase; 95% CI, 1.03-1.30; P = .015) and total plaque number (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.13-1.52; P < .001) were independently associated with recurrent stroke. Combining these factors increased the area under the curve to 0.71.

CONCLUSIONS

Large culprit plaque and more intracranial plaques were independently associated with recurrent stroke. Performing whole-brain vessel wall imaging may help identify patients with a higher risk of recurrent stroke.

A 2-year locomotive exploration and scientific investigation of the lunar farside by the Yutu-2 rover

The lunar nearside has been investigated by many uncrewed and crewed missions, but the farside of the Moon remains poorly known. Lunar farside exploration is challenging because maneuvering rovers with efficient locomotion in harsh extraterrestrial environment is necessary to explore geological characteristics of scientific interest. Chang'E-4 mission successfully targeted the Moon's farside and deployed a teleoperated rover (Yutu-2) to explore inside the Von Kármán crater, conveying rich information regarding regolith, craters, and rocks. Here, we report mobile exploration on the lunar farside with Yutu-2 over the initial 2 years. During its journey, Yutu-2 has experienced varying degrees of mild slip and skid, indicating that the terrain is relatively flat at large scales but scattered with local gentle slopes. Cloddy soil sticking on its wheels implies a greater cohesion of the lunar soil than encountered at other lunar landing sites. Further identification results indicate that the regolith resembles dry sand and sandy loam on Earth in bearing properties, demonstrating greater bearing strength than that identified during the Apollo missions. In sharp contrast to the sparsity of rocks along the traverse route, small fresh craters with unilateral moldable ejecta are abundant, and some of them contain high-reflectance materials at the bottom, suggestive of secondary impact events. These findings hint at notable differences in the surface geology between the lunar farside and nearside. Experience gained with Yutu-2 improves the understanding of the farside of the Moon, which, in return, may lead to locomotion with improved efficiency and larger range.

Expansion of multifunctionality in off-stoichiometric manganite using post-annealing and high pressure: physical and electrochemical studies

Prospects for the use of manganites in various areas of modern technologies require comprehensive studies of their physical and chemical properties. La0.9Mn1.1O3 (LMO) ceramics have been synthesized at annealing temperature...

[Gut microbiome composition in pre-adolescent children with different meat consumption patterns]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the composition of gut microbiome in pre-adolescent children with different meat consumption patterns.

METHODS

This study was conducted among 44 healthy school-age children (age range 8-10 years) in Shenzhen. According to the monthly intake frequency ratio of white meat and red meat, the children were divided into red-meat group (n=15), balanced group (n=16) and white-meat group (n=13). The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to investigate the children's diet, and samples of morning feces were collected to study the gut microbiome. The fecal DNA was extracted and amplified, and the composition of the intestinal microbiome of the children was analyzed using Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing.

RESULTS

The children in red meat and white meat groups showed significantly lower abundance and diversity of gut microbiota than those with a balanced diet (P < 0.05). LEfSe analysis of the genus in the fecal samples showed that Escherichia-Shigella, Coprobacillus and Peptoniphilus were enriched in red-meat group and Holdemanella was enriched in the white-meat group as compared with the balanced group. In the samples of the balanced group, 31 and 25 genus (such as Laurespirillum and Rumenococcus) were significantly enriched as compared with the samples of the red-meat group and the white-meat group, respectively. Prediction of the gut microbiota KEGG pathway using PICRUSt2 suggested that compared with that in the balanced group, the gut microbiota in red-meat group had significant activation of the pathways involving lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis (P < 0.01), arachidonic acid metabolism (P < 0.01), thyroid hormone synthesis (P < 0.001), and carbohydrate digestion and absorption (P < 0.05). But compared with the white-meat group, the red-meat group showed only significant activation of the pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism (P < 0.05) and thyroid hormone synthesis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The preference of red meat and white meat consumption may significantly reduce the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota in pre-adolescent children. A red meat-rich diet may cause enrichment of Escherichia-Shigella and significant activation of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway, suggesting the potential benefit of a balanced diet for pre-adolescent children.

Dissolution pretreatment of cellulose by using levulinic acid-based protic ionic liquids towards enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis

In this study, an economically competitive and sustainable levulinic acid-based protic ionic liquids were identified to be good solvents for the dissolution pretreatment of cellulose towards enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis. The influences of protic ionic liquids species, dissolution pretreatment time, and pretreatment temperature on the physico-chemical structures of cellulose were systematically investigated by various analytical techniques. The findings indicate that the pretreatment efficiency was correlated to the basicity of the organic bases, and the presence of ketone group in the levulinate anion with particular hydrogen bonding forming ability via keto-enol tautomerism. The DBN derived protic ionic liquids exhibited best performance at 100 °C in 1 h, as evidenced by a 94% glucose yield. This solvent system was also suitable for the dissolution pretreatment of corn stover-based lignocellulosic biomass for sugars production, although a higher temperature and longer pretreatment time was required. Furthermore, the solvent system could be recycled and reused.

Sediment metals adhering to biochar enhanced phosphorus adsorption in sediment capping

Metal ions in sediment are inherent Ca and Fe sources for biochar modification. In this work, the effect of Ca²⁺ and Fe²⁺ released from sediment on biochar for phosphorus adsorption was evaluated. Results showed that raw peanut shell biochar (PSB) was poor in phosphorus adsorption (0.48 mg/g); sediment-triggered biochar (S-PSB) exhibited a P adsorption capacity of 1.32 mg/g in capping reactor and maximum adsorption capacity of 10.72 mg/g in the Langmuir model. Sediment released Ca²⁺ of 2.2-4.1 mg/L and Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ of 0.2-9.0 mg/L. The metals loaded onto the biochar surface in the forms of Ca-O and Fe-O, with Ca and Fe content of 1.47 and 0.29%, respectively. Sediment metals made point of zero charge (pHpzc) of biochar shifted from 5.39 to 6.46. The mechanisms of enhanced P adsorption by S-PSB were surface complexation of CaHPO₄ followed by precipitation of Ca₃(PO₄)₂ and Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH). Sediment metals induced the modification of biochar and improvement of P adsorption, which was feasible to overcome the shortcomings of biochar on phosphorus control in sediment capping.

A metabolic model of Lipomyces starkeyi for predicting lipogenesis potential from diverse low-cost substrates

BACKGROUND

Lipomyces starkeyi has been widely regarded as a promising oleaginous yeast with broad industrial application prospects because of its wide substrate spectrum, good adaption to fermentation inhibitors, excellent fatty acid composition for high-quality biodiesel, and negligible lipid remobilization. However, the currently low experimental lipid yield of L. starkeyi prohibits its commercial success. Metabolic model is extremely valuable to comprehend the complex biochemical processes and provide great guidance for strain modification to facilitate the lipid biosynthesis.

RESULTS

A small-scale metabolic model of L. starkeyi NRRL Y-11557 was constructed based on the genome annotation information. The theoretical lipid yields of glucose, cellobiose, xylose, glycerol, and acetic acid were calculated according to the flux balance analysis (FBA). The optimal flux distribution of the lipid synthesis showed that pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) independently met the necessity of NADPH for lipid synthesis, resulting in the relatively low lipid yields. Several targets (NADP-dependent oxidoreductases) beneficial for oleaginicity of L. starkeyi with significantly higher theoretical lipid yields were compared and elucidated. The combined utilization of acetic acid and other carbon sources and a hypothetical reverse β-oxidation (RBO) pathway showed outstanding potential for improving the theoretical lipid yield.

CONCLUSIONS

The lipid biosynthesis potential of L. starkeyi can be significantly improved through appropriate modification of metabolic network, as well as combined utilization of carbon sources according to the metabolic model. The prediction and analysis provide valuable guidance to improve lipid production from various low-cost substrates.

Osteoporosis is accompanied by reduced CD274 expression in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Underlying pathomechanisms of osteoporosis are still not fully elucidated. Cell-based therapy approaches pose new possibilities to treat osteoporosis and its complications. The aim of this study was to quantify differences in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) between healthy donors and those suffering from clinically manifest osteoporosis. Cell samples of seven donors for each group were selected retrospectively from the hBMSC cell bank of the Trauma Department of Hannover Medical School. Cells were evaluated for their adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential, for their proliferation potential and expression of surface antigens. Furthermore, a RT2 Osteoporosis Profiler PCR array, as well as quantitative real-time PCR were carried out to evaluate changes in gene expression. Cultivated hBMSCs from osteoporotic donors showed significantly lower cell surface expression of CD274 (4.98 % ± 2.38 %) than those from the control group (26.03 % ± 13.39 %; p = 0.007), as assessed by flow cytometry. In osteoporotic patients, genes involved in inhibition of the anabolic WNT signalling pathway and those associated with stimulation of bone resorption were significantly upregulated. Apart from these changes, no significant differences were found for the other cell surface antigens, adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation ability as well as proliferation potential. These findings supported the theory of an influence of CD274 on the regulation of bone metabolism. CD274 might be a promising target for further investigations of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and of cell-based therapies involving MSCs.

Revealing pseudorotation and ring-opening reactions in colloidal organic molecules

Colloids have a rich history of being used as 'big atoms' mimicking real atoms to study crystallization, gelation and the glass transition of condensed matter. Emulating the dynamics of molecules, however, has remained elusive. Recent advances in colloid chemistry allow patchy particles to be synthesized with accurate control over shape, functionality and coordination number. Here, we show that colloidal alkanes, specifically colloidal cyclopentane, assembled from tetrameric patchy particles by critical Casimir forces undergo the same chemical transformations as their atomic counterparts, allowing their dynamics to be studied in real time. We directly observe transitions between chair and twist conformations in colloidal cyclopentane, and we elucidate the interplay of bond bending strain and entropy in the molecular transition states and ring-opening reactions. These results open the door to investigate complex molecular kinetics and molecular reactions in the high-temperature classical limit, in which the colloidal analogue becomes a good model.

Diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging in synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint

The aim of this paper was to investigate the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of synovial chondromatosis (SC) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Fourteen patients with SC of the TMJ were included in the study. Clinical and MRI features were analysed and divided into three types based on MRI classification: type I with loose bodies, type II with homogeneous masses, and type III with a mixture of loose bodies and homogeneous masses. All SCs occurred in the superior compartment of the TMJ. There were two patients (14%) categorised as type I, five (36%) as type II and seven (50%) as type III. Four patients (29%) had disc perforation, and nine had bone erosion; among those nine, seven (78%) had type III and two (22%) type II. Histological examination showed inflammation and calcification in the synovial membrane and, and cartilage of the hyaline type in all cases. MRI has advantages in the diagnosis of SC.

Suppressing the oxygen-related parasitic reactions in NaTi2(PO4)3-based hybrid capacitive deionization with cation exchange membrane

The parasitic reactions leading to capacity fading and charge loss remain a serious issue for capacitive deionization (CDI). NaTi₂(PO₄)₃ (NTP) has recently emerged as a promising faradaic cathode in hybrid CDI (HCDI) with high Na⁺ uptake capacity and good Na⁺ selectivity, but it is still challenged by serious parasitic reactions. Although the irreversible faradaic reactions on carbon electrode are raising growing attention in CDI research field, the parasitic reactions on faradaic materials are seldom studied in HCDI by now. In this work, we evaluated the parasitic reactions of NTP-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) electrode in both three-electrode mode and full-cell HCDI mode. By using deaired electrolyte, the coulombic efficiency of NTP-rGO is significantly enhanced from 75.0% to 98.2% in 3rd cycle, and the capacity retention rate is promoted from 37.5% to 80.3% at the low current density of 0.1 mA g^-1 in 100 cycles, suggesting that electrochemical reduction of oxygen and its derived reactions are the main parasitic reactions in NTP-based HCDI. In full-cell HCDI desalination tests, by introducing cation exchange membrane to block the penetration of dissolved oxygen, the parasitic reactions and pH fluctuations are successfully suppressed. The study here provides an insight into understanding and suppressing the parasitic reactions in HCDI, and should be of value to the development of efficient and stable HCDI for practical applications.

Triplex qRT-PCR with specific probe for synchronously detecting Bovine parvovirus, bovine coronavirus, bovine parainfluenza virus and its applications

Bovine parvovirus (BPV), bovine coronavirus (BCoV) and bovine parainfluenza virus (BPIV) are common etiologies causing gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in dairy herds. However, there are few reports on the synchronous detection of BPV, BCoV and BPIV. The present article aimed to develop a quick and accurate RT-PCR assay to synchronously detect BPV, BCoV and BPIV based on their specific probes. One pair universal primers, one pair specific primers and one specific probe was designed and synthesized. After the concentrations of primer and probe and annealing temperature were strictly optimized, the specificity, sensitivity and repeatability of the established triplex probe qRT-PCR were evaluated, respectively. The results showed the recombinant plasmids of pMD18-T-BPV, pMD18-T-BCoV and pMD18-T-BPIV were 554bp, 699bp and 704bp, respectively. The optimal annealing temperature was set at 45.0°C for triplex qRT-PCR. The triplex probe qRT-PCR can only synchronously detect BPV, BCoV and BPIV. Detection sensitivities were 2.0×102, 2.0×102 and 2.0×101 copies/μL for BPV, BCoV and BPIV, being 1000-fold greater than that in the conventional PCR. Detection of clinical samples demonstrated that triplex probe qRT-PCR had a higher sensitivity and specificity. The intra-assay and inter-assay coefficient of variation were lower than 2.0%. Clinical specimens verified that the triplex qRT-PCR had a higher sensitivity and specificity than universal PCR. In conclusion, this triplex probe qRT-PCR could detect only BPV, BCoV and BPIV. Minimum detection limits were 2.0×102 copies/μL for BPV and BCoV, and 2.0×101 copies/μL for BPIV. The sensitivity of this triplex probe qRT-PCR was 1000-fold greater than that in the conventional PCR. The newly qRT-PCR could be used to monitor or differentially diagnose virus infection.

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped vanadium carbide MXene for highly reversible lithium-ion storage

As an emerging group of two-dimensional (2D) layered material, MXenes have received significant attention in the direction of energy storage. However, the restacking of MXene flakes severely hinders the ion transport within electrodes, which limits their application for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). To address this issue, herein, we rationally designed and optimized the structure of N, S co-doped V₂CT_x MXene, which exhibits excellent electrochemical performance with a high reversible capacity of 590 mAh g^-1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g^-1 when used as anode of LIBs. Even at a high current density of 2 A g^-1, a reversible capacity of 298 mAh g^-1 is obtained after 300 cycles, which outperforms most of the V₂CT_x-based anode materials reported so far. The lithium-ion storage mechanism of N, S co-doped V₂CT_x MXene was studied by a series of characterizations. The results show that the significant improvement of electrochemical performance should be attributed to the facilitated charge transfer after N and S co-doping in V₂CT_x MXene, which can effectively improve the ion transfer kinetics during the lithiation-delithiation process. Furthermore, the expanded interlayer spacing of N, S co-doped V₂CT_x provides more active sites for the adsorption of lithium ions, promoting the insertion capacity of lithium ions. This work indicates that the N, S co-doped 2D V₂CT_x MXene should be a promising anode material for high-performance LIBs.

Hydrated vanadium pentoxide/reduced graphene oxide composite cathode material for high-rate lithium ion batteries

As well-known, hydrated vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅·nH₂O) has a larger layer spacing than orthogonal V₂O₅, which could offer more active sites to accommodate lithium ions, ensuring a high specific capacity. However, the exploration of V₂O₅·nH₂O cathode is limited by its inherently low conductivity and slow electrochemical kinetics, leading to a significant decrease in capability. Herein, we prepared V₂O₅·nH₂O/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite with low rGO content (8 wt%) via a simple yet effective dual electrostatic assembly strategy. When used as the cathode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), V₂O₅·nH₂O/rGO manifests a high reversible capacity of 268 mAh g^-1 at 100 mA g^-1 and especially an excellent rate capability (196 mAh g^-1 at 1000 mA g^-1 and 129 mA h g^-1 at 2000 mA g^-1), surpassing those of the V₂O₅/carbon composites reported in the literatures. Notably, the remarkable performance should be referable to the synergetic effects between one-dimensional V₂O₅·nH₂O nanobelts and two-dimensional rGO nanosheets, which provide a short transport pathway and enhanced electrical conductivity. This strategy opens a new opportunity for designing high-performance cathode material with excellent rate performance for advanced LIBs.

Efficient conversion of chitin-derived carbon sources into microbial lipid by the oleaginous yeast Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum

Chitin represents the second most abundant biomass after lignocelluloses in the biosphere. It can be depolymerized into either N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) or glucosamine (GlcN) and acetate by different degradation strategies. However, these chitin-derived carbon sources have been scarcely compared for lipid production. Here, GlcNAc was found superior to GlcN or acetate for lipid accumulation by Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum. The lipid accumulation potential of these carbon sources was calculated based on a small scale metabolic model of C. oleaginosum. Co-fermentation of GlcN and acetate under phosphate limitation rendered improved lipid production. GlcN and acetate were assimilated simultaneously. The highest lipid titer and yield of 10.1 g/L and 0.25 g/g, respectively, was reached when GlcNAc was used under phosphate limitation. The fatty acids composition of the lipid samples showed similarities to vegetable oils, demonstrating the suitability in biodiesel industry. This study provides profitable guidance for the design of chitin-to-lipids routes.

Ultrafine Ru nanoclusters anchored on cucurbit[6]uril/rGO for efficient hydrogen evolution in a broad pH range

We report for the first time ultrafine Ru nanoclusters (NCs) anchored on thin reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via introduction of the macrocyclic compound cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]). The nanocomposite exhibits a comparable or better HER performance compared to Pt/C in acidic, alkaline as well as neutral media, which greatly broadens its application in different types of electrolyzers.

Direct laser acceleration of electrons assisted by strong laser-driven azimuthal plasma magnetic fields

A high-intensity laser beam propagating through a dense plasma drives a strong current that robustly sustains a strong quasistatic azimuthal magnetic field. The laser field efficiently accelerates electrons in such a field that confines the transverse motion and deflects the electrons in the forward direction. Its advantage is a threshold rather than resonant behavior, accelerating electrons to high energies for sufficiently strong laser-driven currents. We study the electron dynamics via a test-electron model, specifically deriving the corresponding critical current density. We confirm the model's predictions by numerical simulations, indicating energy gains two orders of magnitude higher than achievable without the magnetic field.

Energy gain by laser-accelerated electrons in a strong magnetic field

This paper deals with electron acceleration by a laser pulse in a plasma with a static uniform magnetic field B_{*}. The laser pulse propagates perpendicular to the magnetic field lines with the polarization chosen such that (E_{laser}·B_{*})=0. The focus of the work is on the electrons with an appreciable initial transverse momentum that are unable to gain significant energy from the laser in the absence of the magnetic field due to strong dephasing. It is shown that the magnetic field can initiate an energy increase by rotating such an electron, so that its momentum becomes directed forward. The energy gain continues well beyond this turning point where the dephasing drops to a very small value. In contrast to the case of purely vacuum acceleration, the electron experiences a rapid energy increases with the analytically derived maximum energy gain dependent on the strength of the magnetic field and the phase velocity of the wave. The energy enhancement by the magnetic field can be useful at high laser amplitudes, a_{0}≫1, where the acceleration similar to that in the vacuum is unable to produce energetic electrons over just tens of microns. A strong magnetic field helps leverage an increase in a_{0} without a significant increase in the interaction length.