Organo-Ptii Complexes for Potent Photodynamic Inactivation of Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria and the Influence of Configuration

PtII based organometallic photosensitizers (PSs) have emerged as novel potent photodynamic inactivation (PDI) reagents through their enhanced intersystem crossing (ISC) processes. Currently, few PtII PSs have been investigated as antibacterial materials, with relatively poor performances reported and with structure-activity relationships not well described. Herein, a pair of configurational isomers are reported of Bis-BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-boradizaindacene) embedded PtII PSs. The cis-isomer (cis-BBP) displayed enhanced 1O2 generation and better bacterial membrane anchoring capability as compared to the trans-isomer (trans-BBP). The effective PDI concentrations (efficiency > 99.9%) for cis-BBP in Acinetobacter baumannii (multi-drug resistant (MDR)) and Staphylococcus aureus are 400 nM (12 J cm-2) and 100 nM (18 J cm-2), respectively; corresponding concentrations and light doses for trans-BBP in the two bacteria are 2.50 µM (30 J cm-2) and 1.50 µM (18 J cm-2), respectively. The 50% and 90% minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50 and MIC90) ratio of trans-BBP to cis-BBP is 22.22 and 24.02 in A. baumannii (MDR); 21.29 and 22.36 in methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), respectively. Furthermore, cis-BBP displays superior in vivo antibacterial performance, with acceptable dark and photoinduced cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate cis-BBP is a robust light-assisted antibacterial reagent at sub-micromolecular concentrations. More importantly, configuration of PtII PSs should be an important issue to be considered in further PDI reagents design.

Precisely Activating cGAS-STING Pathway with a Novel Peptide-Based Nanoagonist to Potentiate Immune Checkpoint Blockade Cancer Immunotherapy

As an essential intracellular immune activation pathway, the cGAS-STING pathway has attracted broad attention in cancer treatment. However, low bioavailability, nonspecificity, and adverse effects of small molecule STING agonists severely limit their therapeutic efficacy and in vivo application. In this study, a peptide-based STING agonist is first proposed, and KLA is screened out to activate the cGAS-STING pathway by promoting mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leakage. To precisely activate the cGAS-STING pathway and block the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, a multi-stimuli activatable peptide nanodrug (MAPN) is developed for the effective delivery of KLA and PD-L1 antagonist peptide (CVR). With rational design, MAPN achieved the site-specific release of KLA and CVR in response to multiple endogenous stimuli, simultaneously activating the cGAS-STING pathway and blocking PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, ultimately initiating robust and durable T cell anti-tumor immunity with a tumor growth inhibition rate of 78% and extending the median survival time of B16F10 tumor-bearing mice to 40 days. Overall, antimicrobial peptides, which can promote mtDNA leakage through damaging mitochondrial membranes, may be potential alternatives for small molecule STING agonists and giving a new insight for the design of novel STING agonists. Furthermore, MAPN presents a universal delivery platform for the effective synergy of multiple peptides.

The reduced growth due to elevated CO2 concentration hinders the sexual reproduction of mature Northern pipevine (Aristolochia contorta Bunge)

The phenology has gained considerably more attention in recent times of climate change. The transition from vegetative to reproductive phases is a critical process in the life history of plants, closely tied to phenology. In an era of climate change, understanding how environmental factors affect this transition is of paramount importance. This study consisted of field surveys and a greenhouse experiment on the reproductive biology of Northern pipevine (Aristolochia contorta Bunge). During field surveys, we investigated the environmental factors and growth characteristics of mature A. contorta, with a focus on both its vegetative and reproductive phases. In its successful flowering during the reproductive phase, A. contorta grew under the conditions of 40% relative light intensity and 24% soil moisture content, and had a vertical rhizome. In the greenhouse experiments, we examined the impact of increased CO2 concentration on the growth and development of 10-year-old A. contorta, considering the effect of rhizome direction. Planted with a vertical rhizome direction, A. contorta exhibited sufficient growth for flowering under ambient CO2 concentrations. In contrast, when planted with a horizontal rhizome direction, it was noted to significantly impede successful growth and flowering under elevated CO2 concentrations. This hindered the process of flowering, highlighting the pivotal role of substantial vegetative growth in achieving successful flowering. Furthermore, we observed a higher number of underground buds and shoots under the conditions of elevated CO2 concentration and a horizontal rhizome direction instead of flowering. Elevated CO2 concentrations also exhibited diverse effects on mature A. contorta's flower traits, resulting in smaller flower size, shorter longevity, and reduced stigma receptivity, and pollen viability. The study shed light on elevated CO2 concentrations can hinder growth, potentially obstructing sexual reproduction and diminishing genetic diversity.

Diselenophene-Dithioalkylthiophene Based Quinoidal Small Molecules for Ambipolar Organic Field Effect Transistors

This work presents a series of novel quinoidal organic semiconductors based on diselenophene-dithioalkylthiophene (DSpDST) conjugated cores with various side-chain lengths (-thiohexyl, -thiodecyl, and -thiotetradecyl, designated DSpDSTQ-6, DSpDSTQ-10, and DSpDSTQ-14, respectively). The purpose of this research is to develop solution-processable organic semiconductors using dicyanomethylene end-capped organic small molecules for organic field effect transistors (OFETs) application. The physical, electrochemical, and electrical properties of these new DSpDSTQs are systematically studied, along with their performance in OFETs and thin film morphologies. Additionally, the molecular structures of DSpDSTQ are determined through density functional theory (DFT) calculations and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The results reveal the presence of intramolecular S (alkyl)···Se (selenophene) interactions, which result in a planar SR-containing DSpDSTQ core, thereby promoting extended π-orbital interactions and efficient charge transport in the OFETs. Moreover, the influence of thioalkyl side chain length on surface morphologies and microstructures is investigated. Remarkably, the compound with the shortest thioalkyl chain, DSpDSTQ-6, demonstrates ambipolar carrier transport with the highest electron and hole mobilities of 0.334 and 0.463 cm2 V-1 s-1 , respectively. These findings highlight the excellence of ambipolar characteristics of solution-processable OFETs based on DSpDSTQs even under ambient conditions.

High Thermoelectric Performance in Solution-Processed Semicrystalline PEDOT:PSS Films by Strong Acid-Base Treatment: Limitations and Potential

Thermoelectric (TE) generation with solution-processable conducting polymers offers substantial potential in low-temperature energy harvesting based on high tunability in materials, processes, and form-factors. However, manipulating the TE and charge transport properties accompanies structural and energetic disorders, restricting the enhancement of thermoelectric power factor (PF). Here, solution-based strong acid-base treatment techniques are introduced to modulate the doping level of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin films with preserving its molecular orientation, enabling to achieve a remarkably high PF of 534.5 µW m-1  K-2 . Interestingly, theoretical modeling suggested that further de-doping can increase the PF beyond the experimental value. However, it is impossible to reach this value experimentally, even without any degradation of PEDOT crystallinity. Uncovering the underlying reason for the limitation, an analysis of the relationship among the microstructure-thermoelectric performance-charge transport property revealed that inter-domain connectivity via tie-chains and the resultant percolation for transport are crucial factors in achieving high TE performance, as in charge transport. It is believed that the methods and fundamental understandings in this work would contribute to the exploitation of conducting polymer-based low-temperature energy harvesting.

Advances and Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) in Emerging Technologies: A Comprehensive Review

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that are the wonder material of the 21st century consist of metal ions/clusters coordinated to organic ligands to form one- or more-dimensional porous structures with unprecedented chemical and structural tunability, exceptional thermal stability, ultrahigh porosity, and a large surface area, making them an ideal candidate for numerous potential applications. In this work, the recent progress in the design and synthetic approaches of MOFs and explore their potential applications in the fields of gas storage and separation, catalysis, magnetism, drug delivery, chemical/biosensing, supercapacitors, rechargeable batteries and self-powered wearable sensors based on piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators are summarized. Lastly, this work identifies present challenges and outlines future opportunities in this field, which can provide valuable references.

Association of low muscle mass and obesity with increased all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in US adults

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenic obesity, defined as the coexistence of low muscle mass and high adiposity, is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. However, to what extent sarcopenia contributes to these risks independently or in conjunction with other cardiovascular risk factors remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association of low muscle mass, central obesity (COB), metabolic abnormalities, and their combinations with CVD and mortality risk.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2006 and 2011-2018. Participants aged >20 years and with reported whole-body dual X-ray absorptiometry data were included. Participants were divided into eight groups based on low muscle mass, metabolic abnormalities, and COB status.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 55 years, and 50.4% of participants were male. Low muscle mass was observed in 2472 (14.6%) out of 16 839 participants. Among the eight groups, the metabolically unhealthy COB group with low muscle mass had the highest hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.56-2.56; P < 0.001), whereas the metabolically healthy COB group with low muscle mass had the highest HR for CVD mortality (HR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.53-6.65; P = 0.001). The mediation analysis showed that low muscle mass directly increased the risk of both all-cause mortality (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.35-1.79; P < 0.001) and CVD mortality (HR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.40-2.31; P < 0.001). Additionally, subgroup analysis revealed that low muscle mass significantly increased the risk of all-cause and CVD mortality in participants without a prior CVD history and those with diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSIONS

Low muscle mass is an independent risk factor for all-cause and CVD mortality, especially in individuals with metabolic abnormalities and COB.

Decoupled Design for Highly Efficient Perchlorate Anion Intercalation and High-Energy Rechargeable Aqueous Zn-Graphite Batteries

Seeking new cathode chemistry with high onset potential and compatibility with electrolytes has become a challenge for aqueous Zn ion batteries. Anion intercalation in graphite (4.5 V vs Li+ /Li) possesses the potentiality but usually shows a competitive relationship with oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in aqueous solutions. Herein, a decoupled design is proposed to optimize a full utilization of perchlorate ion intercalation in graphite cathode by pH adjustment. Benefiting from the decoupled design, high Coulombic efficiency is obtained by decelerating the kinetic of OER in acidic media. The decoupled Zn-graphite battery exhibits a wide potential window of 2.01 V, as well as an attractive energy density of 231 Wh kg-1 . In addition, a Zn-graphite battery withSO 4 2 - ${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2 - }$ insertion is assembled, which demonstrates the capability of the proposed decoupled strategy to integrate novel electrode chemistries for high-performance aqueous Zn-based energy storage systems.

Prevalence of porcine circovirus type 2 and type 3 in slaughtered pigs and wild boars in Korea

BACKGROUND

Porcine circovirus, a non-enveloped single-stranded DNA virus belonging to the genus Circovirus of the family Circoviridae, is a major pathogen of porcine circovirus-associated disease. Porcine circovirus 3, a novel porcine circovirus, has been identified in individuals with clinical symptoms.

OBJECTIVES

The prevalence of porcine circovirus 2 and porcine circovirus 3 and the confirmation of diagnosis of this emerging viral disease have not been fully studied yet. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of porcine circovirus 2 and porcine circovirus 3 in slaughtered pigs and wild boars in Korea between 2018 and 2019.

METHODS

Lungs and hilar lymph nodes of healthy pigs slaughtered in slaughterhouses and captured wild pigs were collected, and viruses were detected by multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction and two staining methods (in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry) to confirm the presence of porcine circovirus 2 and porcine circovirus 3.

RESULTS

Positive rates of porcine circovirus 2 in lungs and hilar lymph nodes were 78.1% (75/96) and 89.5% (86/96) in slaughtered pigs, respectively. They were 18.0% (30/167) and 46.3% (24/55) in wild boars, respectively. Positive rates of porcine circovirus 3 in lungs and hilar lymph nodes were 30.2% (29/96) and 13.5% (13/96) in slaughtered pigs, respectively. They were 4.2% (7/167) and 5.5% (3/55) in wild boars, respectively. At the farm level, positive rates of porcine circovirus 2 and porcine circovirus 3 were 97.9% (47/48) and 54.2% (26/48), respectively. Positive rates of porcine circovirus 2 and porcine circovirus 3 decreased in spring. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization confirmed the presence of porcine circovirus 2 and porcine circovirus 3 in lungs, but not porcine circovirus 3 in the hilar lymph nodes.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the prevalence of porcine circovirus 2 and porcine circovirus 3 might vary depending on the season and the type of sample. Wild boars might play a role in the epidemiology of porcine circovirus 2 and porcine circovirus 3 in South Korea. Continuous surveillance and further study are needed for this emerging disease.

Ultrasensitive and High-Resolution Protein Spatially Decoding Framework for Tumor Extracellular Vesicles

Proteins localized on the surface or within the lumen of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) play distinct roles in cancer progression. However, quantifying both populations of proteins within EVs has been hampered due to the limited sensitivity of the existing protein detection methods and inefficient EV isolation techniques. In this study, the eSimoa framework, an innovative approach enabling spatial decoding of EV protein biomarkers with unmatched sensitivity and specificity is presented. Using the luminal eSimoa pipeline, the absolute concentration of luminal RAS or KRASG12D proteins is released and measured, uncovering their prevalence in pancreatic tumor-derived EVs. The pulldown eSimoa pipeline measured absolute protein concentrations from low-abundance EV subpopulations. The eSimoa assays detected EVs in both PBS and plasma samples, confirming their applicability across diverse clinical sample types. Overall, the eSimoa framework offers a valuable tool to (1) detect EVs at concentrations as low as 105 EV mL-1 in plasma, (2) quantify absolute EV protein concentrations as low as fM, and (3) decode the spatial distribution of EV proteins. This study highlights the potential of eSimoa in identifying disease-specific EV protein biomarkers in clinical samples with minimal pre-purification, thereby driving advancements in clinical translation.

APP-C31: An Intracellular Promoter of Both Metal-Free and Metal-Bound Amyloid-β40 Aggregation and Toxicity in Alzheimer's Disease

Intracellular C-terminal cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is elevated in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and produces a peptide labeled APP-C31 that is suspected to be involved in the pathology of AD. But details about the role of APP-C31 in the development of the disease are not known. Here, this work reports that APP-C31 directly interacts with the N-terminal and self-recognition regions of amyloid-β40 (Aβ40 ) to form transient adducts, which facilitates the aggregation of both metal-free and metal-bound Aβ40 peptides and aggravates their toxicity. Specifically, APP-C31 increases the perinuclear and intranuclear generation of large Aβ40 deposits and, consequently, damages the nucleus leading to apoptosis. The Aβ40 -induced degeneration of neurites and inflammation are also intensified by APP-C31 in human neurons and murine brains. This study demonstrates a new function of APP-C31 as an intracellular promoter of Aβ40 amyloidogenesis in both metal-free and metal-present environments, and may offer an interesting alternative target for developing treatments for AD that have not been considered thus far.

Viperin mutation is linked to immunity, immune cell dynamics, and metabolic alteration during VHSV infection in zebrafish

Viperin is a prominent antiviral protein found in animals. The primary function of Viperin is the production of 3'-deoxy-3',4'-didehydro-cytidine triphosphate (ddhCTP), an inhibitory nucleotide involved in viral RNA synthesis. Studies in mammalian models have suggested that ddhCTP interferes with metabolic proteins. However, this hypothesis has yet to be tested in teleost. In this study, the role of Viperin in regulating metabolic alterations during viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) infection was tested. When infected with VHSV, viperin -/- fish showed considerably higher mortality rates. VHSV copy number and the expression of the NP gene were significantly increased in viperin -/- fish. Metabolic gene analysis revealed significant differences in soda, hif1a, fasn, and acc expression, indicating their impact on metabolism. Cholesterol analysis in zebrafish larvae during VHSV infection showed significant upregulation of cholesterol production without Viperin. In vitro analysis of ZF4 cells suggested a considerable reduction in lipid production and a significant upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation with the overexpression of viperin. Neutrophil and macrophage recruitment were significantly modulated in viperin -/- fish compared to the wild-type (WT) fish. Thus, we have demonstrated that Viperin plays a role in interfering with metabolic alterations during VHSV infection.

HER2 positivity predicts BCG unresponsiveness and adaptive immune cell exhaustion in EORTC risk-stratified cohort of bladder cancer

Introduction

Predicting the response to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy in high-risk patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is crucial, as failure may necessitate interventions, such as radical cystectomy or salvage therapy. With the recent classification of genetic class 2a (which has HER2 protein abundance as its signature mutation of ERBB2), evaluating its prognostic role and relationship with BCG response could yield important results.

Methods

This retrospective study included 160 patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors at Gangneung Asan Hospital between 2000 and 2013 and were stratified based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk criteria. In addition, we analyzed a subset of 67 patients who had received BCG induction therapy to identify factors predictive of BCG treatment response. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the impact of clinicopathological factors, HER2 positivity, and EORTC risk on recurrence, progression, survival, and BCG response. Each variable's prognostic significance was determined using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. The tumor microenvironments (TMEs) were evaluated in relation to HER2 and EORTC risk.

Results

Patients with HER2+ had a higher median age, a greater prevalence of high-grade tumors, and more frequent recurrences. The univariate analysis demonstrated that the HER2+, intermediate (vs. low-risk) high (vs. low-risk), and EORTC recurrence risk groups were significantly associated with recurrence. In patients treated with BCG, only the HER2+ status predicted recurrence. In the univariate analysis for progression, age, high EORTC progression risk (vs. low-to-intermediate), HER2+, and programmed death-ligand 1 positive (PD-L1+) were significant factors. In multivariate analyses for progression, age, high EORTC progression risk, and PD-L1+ were significant factors for progression. HER2 expression was associated with the TME, influencing the proportion of PD-L1+ cells, as well as other markers of PD-1, CD8, and Ki67.

Conclusion

The HER2+ status may be related to genetic characteristics that appear more frequently in older age, which suggests a potential for predicting the recurrence and response to BCG treatment. Additionally, analyzing TME trends of aggressive adaptive immune response characterized by HER2 expression provides insight into recurrence and BCG response mechanisms.

Metallization of Targeted Protein Assemblies in Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrix by Antibody-Guided Biotemplating

Biological systems are composed of hierarchical structures made of a large number of proteins. These structures are highly sophisticated and challenging to replicate using artificial synthesis methods. To exploit these structures in materials science, biotemplating is used to achieve biocomposites that accurately mimic biological structures and impart functionality of inorganic materials, including electrical conductivity. However, the biological scaffolds used in previous studies are limited to stereotypical and simple morphologies with little synthetic diversity because of a lack of control over their morphologies. This study proposes that the specific protein assemblies within the cell-derived extracellular matrix (ECM), whose morphological features are widely tailorable, can be employed as versatile biotemplates. In a typical procedure, a fibrillar assembly of fibronectin-a constituent protein of the ECM-is metalized through an antibody-guided biotemplating approach. Specifically, the antibody-bearing nanogold is attached to the fibronectin through antibody-antigen interactions, and then metals are grown on the nanogold acting as a seed. The biomimetic structure can be adapted for hydrogen production and sensing after improving its electrical conductivity through thermal sintering or additional metal growth. This study demonstrates that cell-derived ECM can be an attractive option for addressing the diversity limitation of a conventional biotemplate.

Regional differences and coronary microvascular dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

AIMS

In heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), regional heterogeneity of clinical phenotypes is increasingly recognized, with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) potentially being a common shared feature. We sought to determine the regional differences in clinical characteristics and prevalence of CMD in HFpEF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analysed clinical characteristics and CMD in 202 patients with stable HFpEF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%) in Finland, Singapore, Sweden, and United States in the multicentre PROMIS-HFpEF study. Patients with unrevascularized macrovascular coronary artery disease were excluded. CMD was assessed using Doppler echocardiography and defined as coronary flow reserve (adenosine-induced vs. resting flow) < 2.5. Patients from Singapore had the lowest body mass index yet highest prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and diabetes; patients from Finland and Sweden were oldest, with the most atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, and high smoking rates; and those from United States were youngest and most obese. The prevalence of CMD was 88% in Finland, 80% in Singapore, 77% in Sweden, and 59% in the United States; however, non-significant after adjustment for age, sex, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, smoking, left atrial reservoir strain, and atrial fibrillation. Associations between CMD and clinical characteristics did not differ based on region (interaction analysis).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite regional differences in clinical characteristics, CMD was present in the majority of patients with HFpEF across different regions of the world with the lowest prevalence in the United States. This difference was explained by differences in patient characteristics. CMD could be a common therapeutic target across regions.

Contrast Agent-Free 3D Renal Ultrafast Doppler Imaging Reveals Vascular Dysfunction in Acute and Diabetic Kidney Diseases

To combat the irreversible decline in renal function associated with kidney disease, it is essential to establish non-invasive biomarkers for assessing renal microcirculation. However, the limited resolution and/or vascular sensitivity of existing diagnostic imaging techniques hinders the visualization of complex cortical vessels. Here, a 3D renal ultrafast Doppler (UFD) imaging system that uses a high ultrasound frequency (18 MHz) and ultrahigh frame rate (1 KHz per slice) to scan the entire volume of a rat's kidney in vivo is demonstrated. The system, which can visualize the full 3D renal vascular branching pyramid at a resolution of 167 µm without any contrast agent, is used to chronically and noninvasively monitor kidneys with acute kidney injury (AKI, 3 days) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD, 8 weeks). Multiparametric UFD analyses (e.g., vessel volume occupancy (VVO), fractional moving blood volume (FMBV), vessel number density (VND), and vessel tortuosity (VT)) describe rapid vascular rarefaction from AKI and long-term vascular degeneration from DKD, while the renal pathogeneses are validated by in vitro blood serum testing and stained histopathology. This work demonstrates the potential of 3D renal UFD to offer valuable insights into assessing kidney perfusion levels for future research in diabetes and kidney transplantation.

Analysis of temperature effects on the protein accumulation of the FT-FD module using newly generated Arabidopsis transgenic plants

Arabidopsis flowering is dependent on interactions between a component of the florigens FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor FD. These proteins form a complex that activates the genes required for flowering competence and integrates environmental cues, such as photoperiod and temperature. However, it remains largely unknown how FT and FD are regulated at the protein level. To address this, we created FT transgenic plants that express the N-terminal FLAG-tagged FT fusion protein under the control of its own promoter in ft mutant backgrounds. FT transgenic plants complemented the delayed flowering of the ft mutant and exhibited similar FT expression patterns to wild-type Col-0 plants in response to changes in photoperiod and temperature. Similarly, we generated FD transgenic plants in fd mutant backgrounds that express the N-terminal MYC-tagged FD fusion protein under the FD promoter, rescuing the late flowering phenotypes in the fd mutant. Using these transgenic plants, we investigated how temperature regulates the expression of FT and FD proteins. Temperature-dependent changes in FT and FD protein levels are primarily regulated at the transcript level, but protein-level temperature effects have also been observed to some extent. In addition, our examination of the expression patterns of FT and FD in different tissues revealed that similar to the spatial expression pattern of FT, FD mRNA was expressed in both the leaf and shoot apex, but FD protein was only detected in the apex, suggesting a regulatory mechanism that restricts FD protein expression in the leaf during the vegetative growth phase. These transgenic plants provided a valuable platform for investigating the role of the FT-FD module in flowering time regulation.

Performance of Cardiovascular Risk Prediction Models in Korean Patients With New-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis: National Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to compare the performance of established cardiovascular risk algorithms in Korean patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This retrospective cohort study identified patients newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis without a history of cardiovascular diseases between 2013 and 2019 using the National Health Insurance Service database. The cohort was followed up until 2020 for the development of the first major adverse cardiovascular event. General cardiovascular risk prediction algorithms, such as the systematic coronary risk evaluation model, the Korean risk prediction model for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association pooled equations, and the Framingham Risk Score, were used. The discrimination and calibration of cardiovascular risk prediction models were evaluated. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. A total of 611 patients among 24 889 patients experienced a major adverse cardiovascular event during follow-up. The median 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases risk score was significantly higher in patients with major adverse cardiovascular events than those without. The C-statistics of risk algorithms ranged between 0.72 and 0.74. Compared with the low-risk group, the actual risk of developing major adverse cardiovascular events increased significantly in the intermediate- and high-risk groups for all algorithms. However, the risk predictions calculated from all algorithms overestimated the observed cardiovascular risk in the middle to high deciles, and only the systematic coronary risk evaluation algorithm showed comparable observed and predicted event rates in the low-intermediate deciles with the highest sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The systematic coronary risk evaluation model algorithm and the general risk prediction models discriminated patients with rheumatoid arthritis appropriately. However, overestimation should be considered when applying the cardiovascular risk prediction model in Korean patients.

Postmortem quantitative MRI disentangles histological lesion types in multiple sclerosis

Quantitative MRI (qMRI) probes the microstructural properties of the central nervous system (CNS) by providing biophysical measures of tissue characteristics. In this work, we aimed to (i) identify qMRI measures that distinguish histological lesion types in postmortem multiple sclerosis (MS) brains, especially the remyelinated ones; and to (ii) investigate the relationship between those measures and quantitative histological markers of myelin, axons, and astrocytes in the same experimental setting. Three fixed MS whole brains were imaged with qMRI at 3T to obtain magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), myelin water fraction (MWF), quantitative T1 (qT1), quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) maps. The identification of lesion types (active, inactive, chronic active, or remyelinated) and quantification of tissue components were performed using histological staining methods as well as immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Pairwise logistic and LASSO regression models were used to identify the best qMRI discriminators of lesion types. The association between qMRI and quantitative histological measures was performed using Spearman's correlations and linear mixed-effect models. We identified a total of 65 lesions. MTR and MWF best predicted the chance of a lesion to be remyelinated, whereas RD and QSM were useful in the discrimination of active lesions. The measurement of microstructural properties through qMRI did not show any difference between chronic active and inactive lesions. MWF and RD were associated with myelin content in both lesions and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), FA was the measure most associated with axon content in both locations, while MWF was associated with astrocyte immunoreactivity only in lesions. Moreover, we provided evidence of extensive astrogliosis in remyelinated lesions. Our study provides new information on the discriminative power of qMRI in differentiating MS lesions -especially remyelinated ones- as well as on the relative association between multiple qMRI measures and myelin, axon and astrocytes.

Self-Reinforced Inductive Effect of Symmetric Bipolar Organic Molecule for High-Performance Rechargeable Batteries

Herein, the self-reinforced inductive effect derived from coexistence of both p- and n-type redox-active motifs in a single organic molecule is presented. Molecular orbital energy levels of each motif are dramatically tuned, which leads to the higher oxidation and the lower reduction potentials. The self-reinforced inductive effect of the symmetric bipolar organic molecule, N,N'-dimethylquinacridone (DMQA), is corroborated, by both experimental and theoretical methods. Furthermore, its redox mechanism and reaction pathway in the Li+ -battery system are scrutinized. DMQA shows excellent capacity retention at the operating voltage of 3.85 and 2.09 V (vs Li+ /Li) when used as the cathode and anode, respectively. Successful operation of DMQA electrodes in a symmetric all-organic battery is also demonstrated. The comprehensive insight into the energy storage capability of the symmetric bipolar organic molecule and its self-reinforced inductive effect is provided. Thus, a new class of organic electrode materials for symmetric all-organic batteries as well as conventional rechargeable batteries can be conceived.

Engineered small extracellular vesicle-mediated NOX4 siRNA delivery for targeted therapy of cardiac hypertrophy

Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy is considered a powerful therapeutic strategy for treating cardiac hypertrophy, an important risk factor for subsequent cardiac morbidity and mortality. However, the lack of safe and efficient in vivo delivery of siRNAs is a major challenge for broadening its clinical applications. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are a promising delivery system for siRNAs but have limited cell/tissue-specific targeting ability. In this study, a new generation of heart-targeting sEVs (CEVs) has been developed by conjugating cardiac-targeting peptide (CTP) to human peripheral blood-derived sEVs (PB-EVs), using a simple, rapid and scalable method based on bio-orthogonal copper-free click chemistry. The experimental results show that CEVs have typical sEVs properties and excellent heart-targeting ability. Furthermore, to treat cardiac hypertrophy, CEVs are loaded with NADPH Oxidase 4 (NOX4) siRNA (siNOX4). Consequently, CEVs@siNOX4 treatment enhances the in vitro anti-hypertrophic effects by CEVs with siRNA protection and heart-targeting ability. In addition, the intravenous injection of CEVs@siNOX4 into angiotensin II (Ang II)-treated mice significantly improves cardiac function and reduces fibrosis and cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, with limited side effects. In conclusion, the utilization of CEVs represents an efficient strategy for heart-targeted delivery of therapeutic siRNAs and holds great promise for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy.

Realizing High Brightness Quasi-2D Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes with Reduced Efficiency Roll-Off via Multifunctional Interface Engineering

Quasi-2D perovskites have recently flourished in the field of luminescence due to the quantum-confinement effect and the efficient energy transfer between different n phases resulting in exceptional optical properties. However, owing to the lower conductivity and poor charge injection, quasi-2D perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) typically suffer from low brightness and high-efficiency roll-off at high current densities compared to 3D perovskite-based PeLEDs, which is undoubtedly one of the most critical issues in this field. In this work, quasi-2D PeLEDs with high brightness, reduced trap density, and low-efficiency roll-off are successfully demonstrated by introducing a thin layer of conductive phosphine oxide at the perovskite/electron transport layer interface. The results surprisingly show that this additional layer does not improve the energy transfer between multiple quasi-2D phases in the perovskite film, but purely improves the electronic properties of the perovskite interface. On the one hand, it passivates the surface defects of the perovskite film; on the other hand, it promotes electron injection and prevents hole leakage across this interface. As a result, the modified quasi-2D pure Cs-based device shows a maximum brightness of > 70,000 cd m-2 (twice that of the control device), a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of > 10% and a much lower efficiency roll-off at high bias voltages.

Structural Basis for the Enzymatic Activity of the HACE1 HECT-Type E3 Ligase Through N-Terminal Helix Dimerization

HACE1 is an ankyrin repeat (AKR) containing HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligase that interacts with and ubiquitinates multiple substrates. While HACE1 is a well-known tumor suppressor, its structure and mode of ubiquitination are not understood. The authors present the cryo-EM structures of human HACE1 along with in vitro functional studies that provide insights into how the enzymatic activity of HACE1 is regulated. HACE1 comprises of an N-terminal AKR domain, a middle (MID) domain, and a C-terminal HECT domain. Its unique G-shaped architecture interacts as a homodimer, with monomers arranged in an antiparallel manner. In this dimeric arrangement, HACE1 ubiquitination activity is hampered, as the N-terminal helix of one monomer restricts access to the C-terminal domain of the other. The in vitro ubiquitination assays, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) analysis, mutagenesis, and in silico modeling suggest that the HACE1 MID domain plays a crucial role along with the AKRs in RAC1 substrate recognition.

Primary pyomyositis and uveitis in a cat

A 6-year-old neutered male Siamese cat was referred for investigation of hindlimb ataxia and blindness of 2 weeks' duration. A swollen right hind limb, with no history of trauma, and no evidence of an external wound, was observed on physical examination. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral absence of the menace response and changes consistent with uveitis. Blood tests identified changes consistent with inflammation including serum amyloid A elevation. Infectious disease testing was negative. Degenerate neutrophils and bacterial cocci were detected on fine needle aspiration cytology of the affected limb. Thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasonography identified no abnormalities. Primary pyomyositis was suspected and clindamycin was prescribed following Penrose drain tube placement. In addition, eye drops containing tobramycin, atropine, and prednisolone were administered. The clinical signs and serum amyloid A level were markedly improved after 5 days of treatment. Based on the medical history and lack of other findings, the uveitis was suspected to be secondary to the pyomyositis. The clinical signs resolved completely, and no recurrence was reported within a 6-month follow-up period. To the best of our knowledge, primary pyomyositis with uveitis has not been previously reported in cats.

Melt-Encoded-Tags for Expanded Optical Readout in Digital PCR (METEOR-dPCR) Enables Highly Multiplexed Quantitative Gene Panel Profiling

Digital PCR (dPCR) is an important tool for precise nucleic acid quantification in clinical setting, but the limited multiplexing capability restricts its applications for quantitative gene panel profiling. Here, this work describes melt-encoded-tags for expanded optical readout in digital PCR (METEOR-dPCR), a simple two-step assay that enables simultaneous quantification of a large panel of arbitrary genes in a dPCR platform. Target genes are quantitatively converted into DNA tags with unique melting temperatures through a ligation approach. These tags are then counted and distinguished by their melt-curve profiles on a dPCR platform. A multiplexing capacity of M^N, where M is the number of resolvable melting temperature and N is the number of fluorescence channel, can be achieved. This work validates METEOR-dPCR with simultaneous DNA copy number profiling of 60 targets using dPCR in cancer cells, and demonstrates its sensitivity for estimating tumor fraction in mixed tumor and normal DNA samples. The rapid, quantitative, and highly multiplexed METEOR-dPCR assay will have wide appeal for many clinical applications.

Design Strategies of Li-Si Alloy Anode for Mitigating Chemo-Mechanical Degradation in Sulfide-Based All-Solid-State Batteries

Composite anodes of Li3 PS4  glass+Li-Si alloy (Type 1) and Li3 N+LiF+Li-Si alloy (Type 2) are prepared for all-solid-state batteries with Li3 PS4 (LPS) glass electrolyte and sulfur/LPS glass/carbon composite cathode. Using a three-electrode system, the anode and cathode potentials are separated, and their polarization resistances are individually traced. Even under high-cutoff-voltage conditions (3.7 V), Type 1 and 2 cells are stably cycled without voltage noise for >200 cycles. Although cathode polarization resistance drastically increases after 3.7 V charge owing to LPS oxidation, LPS redox behavior is fairly reversible upon discharge-charge unlike the non-composite alloy anode cell. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis reveals that the enhanced cyclability is attributed to uniform Li-Si alloying throughout the composite anode, providing more pathways for lithium ions even when these ions are over-supplied via LPS oxidation. These results imply that LPS-based cells can be reversibly cycled with LPS redox even under high-cutoff voltages, as long as non-uniform alloying (lithium dendrite growth) is prevented. Type 1 and 2 cells exhibit similar performance and stability although reduction product is formed in Type 1. This work highlights the importance of alloy anode design to prevent chemo-mechanical failure when cycling the cell outside the electrochemical stability window.

Materials Quest for Advanced Interconnect Metallization in Integrated Circuits

Integrated circuits (ICs) are challenged to deliver historically anticipated performance improvements while increasing the cost and complexity of the technology with each generation. Front-end-of-line (FEOL) processes have provided various solutions to this predicament, whereas the back-end-of-line (BEOL) processes have taken a step back. With continuous IC scaling, the speed of the entire chip has reached a point where its performance is determined by the performance of the interconnect that bridges billions of transistors and other devices. Consequently, the demand for advanced interconnect metallization rises again, and various aspects must be considered. This review explores the quest for new materials for successfully routing nanoscale interconnects. The challenges in the interconnect structures as physical dimensions shrink are first explored. Then, various problem-solving options are considered based on the properties of materials. New materials are also introduced for barriers, such as 2D materials, self-assembled molecular layers, high-entropy alloys, and conductors, such as Co and Ru, intermetallic compounds, and MAX phases. The comprehensive discussion of each material includes state-of-the-art studies ranging from the characteristics of materials by theoretical calculation to process applications to the current interconnect structures. This review intends to provide a materials-based implementation strategy to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

Nanoporous electroporation needle for localized intracellular delivery in deep tissues

The exogenous control of intracellular drug delivery has been shown to improve the overall efficacy of therapies by reducing nonspecific off-target toxicity. However, achieving a precise on-demand dosage of a drug in deep tissues with minimal damage is still a challenge. In this study, we report an electric-pulse-driven nanopore-electroporation (nEP) system for the localized intracellular delivery of a model agent in deep tissues. Compared with conventional bulk electroporation, in vitro nEP achieved better transfection efficiency (>60%) with a high cell recovery rate (>95%) under a nontoxic low electroporation condition (40 V). Furthermore, in vivo nEP using a nanopore needle electrode with a side drug-releasing compartment offered better control over the dosage release, time, and location of propidium iodide, which was used as a model agent for intracellular delivery. In a pilot study using experimental animals, the nEP system exhibited two times higher transfection efficiency of propidium iodide in the thigh muscle tissue, while minimizing tissue damage (<20%) compared to that of bulk electroporation. This tissue-penetrating nEP platform can provide localized, safe, and effective intracellular delivery of diverse therapeutics into deep tissues in a controlled manner.

Inflammasomes during SARS-CoV-2 infection and development of their corresponding inhibitors

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to be a burden for human health since its outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Recently, the emergence of new variants of concerns (VOCs) is challenging for vaccines and drugs efficiency. In severe cases, SARS-CoV-2 provokes inappropriate hyperinflammatory immune responses leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and even death. This process is regulated by inflammasomes which are activated after binding of the viral spike (S) protein to cellular angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and triggers innate immune responses. Therefore, the formation of "cytokines storm" leads to tissue damage and organ failure. NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) is the best studied inflammasome known to be activated during SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, some studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with other inflammasomes as well; such as NLRP1, absent in melanoma-2 (AIM-2), caspase-4 and -8 which were mostly found during dsRNA virus or bacteria infection. Multiple inflammasome inhibitors that exist for other non-infectious diseases have the potential to be used to treat severe SARS-CoV-2 complications. Some of them have showed quite encouraging results during pre- and clinical trials. Nevertheless, further studies are in need for the understanding and targeting of SARS-Cov-2-induced inflammasomes; mostly an update of its role during the new VOCs infection is necessary. Hence, this review highlights all reported inflammasomes involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection and their potential inhibitors including NLRP3- and Gasdermin D (GSDMD)-inhibitors. Further strategies such as immunomodulators and siRNA are also discussed. As highly related to COVID-19 severe cases, developing inflammasome inhibitors holds a promise to treat severe COVID-19 syndrome effectively and reduce mortality.

Ascorbate peroxidase plays an important role in photoacclimation in the extremophilic red alga Cyanidiococcus yangmingshanensis

Introduction

Acidothermophilic cyanidiophytes in natural habitats can survive under a wide variety of light regimes, and the exploration and elucidation of their long-term photoacclimation mechanisms promises great potential for further biotechnological applications. Ascorbic acid was previously identified as an important protectant against high light stress in Galdieria partita under mixotrophic conditions, yet whether ascorbic acid and its related enzymatic reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging system was crucial in photoacclimation for photoautotrophic cyanidiophytes was unclear.

Methods

The significance of ascorbic acid and related ROS scavenging and antioxidant regenerating enzymes in photoacclimation in the extremophilic red alga Cyanidiococcus yangmingshanensis was investigated by measuring the cellular content of ascorbic acid and the activities of ascorbate-related enzymes.

Results and discussion

Accumulation of ascorbic acid and activation of the ascorbate-related enzymatic ROS scavenging system characterized the photoacclimation response after cells were transferred from a low light condition at 20 μmol photons m^-2 s^-1 to various light conditions in the range from 0 to 1000 μmol photons m^-2 s^-1. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was most remarkably enhanced with increasing light intensities and illumination periods among the enzymatic activities being measured. Light-dependent regulation of the APX activity was associated with transcriptional regulation of the chloroplast-targeted APX gene. The important role of the APX activity in photoacclimation was evidenced by the effect of the APX inhibitors on the photosystem II activity and the chlorophyll a content under the high light condition at 1000 μmol photons m^-2 s^-1. Our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the acclimation of C. yangmingshanensis to a wide range of light regimes in natural habitats.

Genetic diagnosis of inborn errors of immunity using clinical exome sequencing

Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) include a variety of heterogeneous genetic disorders in which defects in the immune system lead to an increased susceptibility to infections and other complications. Accurate, prompt diagnosis of IEI is crucial for treatment plan and prognostication. In this study, clinical utility of clinical exome sequencing (CES) for diagnosis of IEI was evaluated. For 37 Korean patients with suspected symptoms, signs, or laboratory abnormalities associated with IEI, CES that covers 4,894 genes including genes related to IEI was performed. Their clinical diagnosis, clinical characteristics, family history of infection, and laboratory results, as well as detected variants, were reviewed. With CES, genetic diagnosis of IEI was made in 15 out of 37 patients (40.5%). Seventeen pathogenic variants were detected from IEI-related genes, BTK, UNC13D, STAT3, IL2RG, IL10RA, NRAS, SH2D1A, GATA2, TET2, PRF1, and UBA1, of which four variants were previously unreported. Among them, somatic causative variants were identified from GATA2, TET2, and UBA1. In addition, we identified two patients incidentally diagnosed IEI by CES, which was performed to diagnose other diseases of patients with unrecognized IEI. Taken together, these results demonstrate the utility of CES for the diagnosis of IEI, which contributes to accurate diagnosis and proper treatments.

Electrostatic Induction Nanogenerator Boosted by One-Dimensional Metastructure: Application to Energy and Information Transmitting Smart Tag System

The recent application of the internet of things demands the ubiquitous utilization of data and electrical power. Even with the development of a wide variety of energy-harvesting technologies, few studies have reported a device transporting electrical energy and data simultaneously. This paper reports an electrostatic induction nanogenerator (ESING) consisting of a one-dimensional metastructure that can modulate the output voltage based on the resonance of ultrasound waves to transmit energy and data simultaneously. The ESING device is fabricated using electronegative poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane using a phase inversion process. The output voltage from the ESING device exhibits periodic resonant peaks as the gap between the PVDF membrane and the Al electrode changes, showing an up to 35-fold difference between the maximum and minimum output voltages depending on the resonance state. The energy and electrical signal can be transmitted simultaneously in free space because the ESING converts energy from high-frequency ultrasound waves. This paper provides proof of concept for a data and energy-transferable smart tag device based on ESING devices exhibiting resonant and non-resonant states. A device consisting of four ESINGs for a 4-bit signal is implemented to demonstrate 16 signals.

Clinical implications of gut microbiota and cytokine responses in coronavirus disease prognosis

Objectives

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects gut luminal cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor and disrupts the gut microbiome. We investigated whether the gut microbiome in the early stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with the prognosis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Methods

Thirty COVID-19 patients and 16 healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. Blood and stool samples and clinical details were collected on days 0 (enrollment), 7, 14, and 28. Participants were categorized into four groups by their clinical course.

Results

Gut microbiota composition varied during the clinical course of COVID-19 and was closely associated with cytokine levels (p=0.003). A high abundance of the genus Dialister (linear discriminant analysis [LDA] effect size: 3.97856, p=0.004), species Peptoniphilus lacrimalis (LDA effect size: 4.00551, p=0.020), and Anaerococcus prevotii (LDA effect size: 4.00885, p=0.007) was associated with a good prognosis. Starch, sucrose, and galactose metabolism was highly activated in the gut microbiota of the poor prognosis group. Glucose-lowering diets, including whole grains, were positively correlated with a good prognosis.

Conclusion

Gut microbiota may mediate the prognosis of COVID-19 by regulating cytokine responses and controlling glucose metabolism, which is implicated in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2.

Oncolytic viruses-modulated immunogenic cell death, apoptosis and autophagy linking to virotherapy and cancer immune response

Recent reports have revealed that oncolytic viruses (OVs) play a significant role in cancer therapy. The infection of OVs such as oncolytic vaccinia virus (OVV), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), parvovirus, mammalian reovirus (MRV), human adenovirus, Newcastle disease virus (NDV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), avian reovirus (ARV), Orf virus (ORFV), inactivated Sendai virus (ISV), enterovirus, and coxsackievirus offer unique opportunities in immunotherapy through diverse and dynamic pathways. This mini-review focuses on the mechanisms of OVs-mediated virotherapy and their effects on immunogenic cell death (ICD), apoptosis, autophagy and regulation of the immune system.

All-Solid-State Garnet-Based Lithium Batteries at Work-In Operando TEM Investigations of Delithiation/Lithiation Process and Capacity Degradation Mechanism

Li₇ La₃ Zr₂ O₁₂ (LLZO)-based all-solid-state Li batteries (SSLBs) are very attractive next-generation energy storage devices owing to their potential for achieving enhanced safety and improved energy density. However, the rigid nature of the ceramics challenges the SSLB fabrication and the afterward interfacial stability during electrochemical cycling. Here, a promising LLZO-based SSLB with a high areal capacity and stable cycle performance over 100 cycles is demonstrated. In operando transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used for successfully demonstrating and investigating the delithiation/lithiation process and understanding the capacity degradation mechanism of the SSLB on an atomic scale. Other than the interfacial delamination between LLZO and LiCoO₂ (LCO) owing to the stress evolvement during electrochemical cycling, oxygen deficiency of LCO not only causes microcrack formation in LCO but also partially decomposes LCO into metallic Co and is suggested to contribute to the capacity degradation based on the atomic-scale insights. When discharging the SSLB to a voltage of ≈1.2 versus Li/Li⁺ , severe capacity fading from the irreversible decomposition of LCO into metallic Co and Li₂ O is observed under in operando TEM. These observations reveal the capacity degradation mechanisms of the LLZO-based SSLB, which provides important information for future LLZO-based SSLB developments.

Multi-Modal Locomotion of Caenorhabditis elegans by Magnetic Reconfiguration of 3D Microtopography

Miniaturized untethered soft robots are recently exploited to imitate multi-modal curvilinear locomotion of living creatures that perceive change of surrounding environments. Herein, the use of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is proposed as a microscale model capable of curvilinear locomotion with mechanosensing, controlled by magnetically reconfigured 3D microtopography. Static entropic microbarriers prevent C. elegans from randomly swimming with the omega turns and provide linear translational locomotion with velocity of ≈0.14 BL s-1 . This velocity varies from ≈0.09 (for circumventing movement) to ≈0.46 (for climbing) BL s-1 , depending on magnetic bending and twisting actuation coupled with assembly of microbarriers. Furthermore, different types of neuronal mutants prevent C. elegans from implementing certain locomotion modes, indicating the potential for investigating the correlation between neurons and mechanosensing functions. This strategy promotes a platform for the contactless manipulation of miniaturized biobots and initiates interdisciplinary research for investigating sensory neurons and human diseases.

Ultrafast Near-Ideal Phase-Change Memristive Physical Unclonable Functions Driven by Amorphous State Variations

There is an ever-increasing demand for next-generation devices that do not require passwords and are impervious to cloning. For traditional hardware security solutions in edge computing devices, inherent limitations are addressed by physical unclonable functions (PUF). However, realizing efficient roots of trust for resource constrained hardware remains extremely challenging, despite excellent demonstrations with conventional silicon circuits and archetypal oxide memristor-based crossbars. An attractive, down-scalable approach to design efficient cryptographic hardware is to harness memristive materials with a large-degree-of-randomness in materials state variations, but this strategy is still not well understood. Here, the utilization of high-degree-of-randomness amorphous (A) state variations associated with different operating conditions via thermal fluctuation effects is demonstrated, as well as an integrated framework for in memory computing and next generation security primitives, viz., APUF, for achieving secure key generation and device authentication. Near ideal uniformity and uniqueness without additional initial writing overheads in weak memristive A-PUF is achieved. In-memory computing empowers a strong exclusive OR (XOR-) and-repeat A PUF construction to avoid machine learning attacks, while rapid crystallization processes enable large-sized-key reconfigurability. These findings pave the way for achieving a broadly applicable security primitive for enhancing antipiracy of integrated systems and product authentication in supply chains.

The influence of species identity and geographic locations on gut microbiota of small rodents

Although the correlation between gut microbiota, species identity and geographic locations has long attracted the interest of scientists, to what extent species identity and geographic locations influence the gut microbiota assemblages in granivorous rodents needs further investigation. In this study, we performed a survey of gut microbial communities of four rodent species (Apodemus agrarius, A. peninsulae, Tamias sibiricus and Clethrionomys rufocanus) distributed in two areas with great distance (> 600 km apart), to assess if species identity dominates over geographic locations in shaping gut microbial profiles using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We found that gut microbiota composition varied significantly across host species and was closely correlated with host genetics. We identified strong species identity effects on gut microbial composition, with a comparatively weaker signal of geographic provenance on the intestinal microbiota. Specifically, microbiota of one species was on average more similar to that of conspecifics living in separate sites than to members of a closely related species living in the same location. Our study suggests that both host genetics and geographical variations influence gut microbial diversity of four rodent species, which merits further investigation to reveal the patterns of phylogenetic correlation of gut microbial community assembly in mammals across multiple habitats.

Catchment characteristics and seasonality control the composition of microbial assemblages exported from three outlet glaciers of the Greenland Ice Sheet

Glacial meltwater drains into proglacial rivers where it interacts with the surrounding landscape, collecting microbial cells as it travels downstream. Characterizing the composition of the resulting microbial assemblages in transport can inform us about intra-annual changes in meltwater flowpaths beneath the glacier as well as hydrological connectivity with proglacial areas. Here, we investigated how the structure of suspended microbial assemblages evolves over the course of a melt season for three proglacial catchments of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS), reasoning that differences in glacier size and the proportion of glacierized versus non-glacierized catchment areas will influence both the identity and relative abundance of microbial taxa in transport. Streamwater samples were taken at the same time each day over a period of 3 weeks (summer 2018) to identify temporal patterns in microbial assemblages for three outlet glaciers of the GrIS, which differed in glacier size (smallest to largest; Russell, Leverett, and Isunnguata Sermia [IS]) and their glacierized: proglacial catchment area ratio (Leverett, 76; Isunnguata Sermia, 25; Russell, 2). DNA was extracted from samples, and 16S rRNA gene amplicons sequenced to characterize the structure of assemblages. We found that microbial diversity was significantly greater in Isunnguata Sermia and Russell Glacier rivers compared to Leverett Glacier, the latter of which having the smallest relative proglacial catchment area. Furthermore, the microbial diversity of the former two catchments continued to increase over monitored period, presumably due to increasing hydrologic connectivity with proglacial habitats. Meanwhile, diversity decreased over the monitored period in Leverett, which may have resulted from the evolution of an efficient subglacial drainage system. Linear discriminant analysis further revealed that bacteria characteristic to soils were disproportionately represented in the Isunnguata Sermia river, while putative methylotrophs were disproportionately abundant in Russell Glacier. Meanwhile, taxa typical for glacierized habitats (i.e., Rhodoferax and Polaromonas) dominated in the Leverett Glacier river. Our findings suggest that the proportion of deglaciated catchment area is more influential to suspended microbial assemblage structure than absolute glacier size, and improve our understanding of hydrological flowpaths, particulate entrainment, and transport.

Gut microbiome metabolites as key actors in atherosclerosis co-depression disease

Cardiovascular diseases, mainly characterized by atherosclerosis (AS), and depression have a high comorbidity rate. However, previous studies have been conducted under a single disease, and there is a lack of studies in comorbid states to explore the commonalities in the pathogenesis of both diseases. Modern high-throughput technologies have made it clear that the gut microbiome can affect the development of the host's own disorders and have shown that their metabolites are crucial to the pathophysiology of AS and depression. The aim of this review is to summarize the current important findings on the role of gut microbiome metabolites such as pathogen-associated molecular patterns, bile acids, tryptophan metabolites, short-chain fatty acids, and trimethylamine N -oxide in depression and AS disease, with the aim of identifying potential biological targets for the early diagnosis and treatment of AS co-depression disorders.

The influence of parent-child attachment on school adjustment among the left-behind children of overseas Chinese: The chain mediating role of peer relationships and hometown identity

BACKGROUND

The left-behind children of overseas Chinese are a kind of vulnerable children in the eastern coastal areas of China. Previous studies have shown that there are problems in their school adjustment. This study explored the relationship between parent-child attachment and school adaptation among the left-behind children of overseas Chinese parents, as well as the chain mediating role of peer relationships and hometown identity.

METHODS

A total of 1,047 students in grades 3-8 from 5 schools in Zhejiang Province were selected by cluster sampling. The cross-sectional survey was compiled from the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, the Adaptation subscale of the Adolescent Mental Health Quality Questionnaire-Chinese Version, the Hometown Identity Scale, and the Student Peer Relationship Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to test the conceptual model.

RESULTS

The results showed that the influence of parent-child attachment on school adjustment among the left-behind children of overseas Chinese was mediated by hometown identity. Moreover, this impact was also sequentially mediated by peer relationships and hometown identity.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed peer relationships and hometown identity as underlying mechanism that explained the influence of parent-child attachment on school adjustment among left-behind children. It may provide empirical support for future interventions.

Schisantherin A inhibits cell proliferation by regulating glucose metabolism pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Schisantherin A (STA) is a traditional Chinese medicine extracted from the plant Schisandra chinensis, which has a wide range of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological effects. This study investigates the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects of STA and the underlying mechanisms. STA significantly inhibits the proliferation and migration of Hep3B and HCCLM3 cells in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. RNA-sequencing showed that 77 genes are upregulated and 136 genes are downregulated in STA-treated cells compared with untreated cells. KEGG pathway analysis showed significant enrichment in galactose metabolism as well as in fructose and mannose metabolism. Further gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis (GC-MS) confirmed this, indicating that STA significantly inhibits the glucose metabolism pathway of Hep3B cells. Tumor xenograft in nude mice showed that STA has a significant inhibitory effect on tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, our results indicate that STA can inhibit cell proliferation by regulating glucose metabolism, with subsequent anti-tumor effects, and has the potential to be a candidate drug for the treatment of liver cancer.

Tuning Ambipolarity of the Conjugated Polymer Channel Layers of Floating-Gate Free Transistors: From Volatile Memories to Artificial Synapses

Three-terminal synaptic transistor has drawn significant research interests for neuromorphic computation due to its advantage of facile device integrability. Lately, bulk-heterojunction-based synaptic transistors with bipolar modulation are proposed to exempt the use of an additional floating gate. However, the actual correlation between the channel's ambipolarity, memory characteristic, and synaptic behavior for a floating-gate free transistor has not been investigated yet. Herein, by studying five diketopyrrolopyrrole-benzotriazole dual-acceptor random conjugated polymers, a clear correlation among the hole/electron ratio, the memory retention characteristic, and the synaptic behavior for the polymer channel layer in a floating-gate free transistor is described. It reveals that the polymers with balanced ambipolarity possess better charge trapping capabilities and larger memory windows; however, the high ambipolarity results in higher volatility of the memory characteristics, namely poor memory retention capability. In contrast, the polymer with a reduced ambipolarity possesses an enhanced memory retention capability despite showing a reduced memory window. It is further manifested that this enhanced charge retention capability enables the device to present artificial synaptic characteristics. The results highlight the importance of the channel's ambipolarity of floating-gate free transistors on the resultant volatile memory characteristics and synaptic behaviors.

The relationship between Chinese college students' mate preferences and their parents' education level

Parents have an influence on the formation of their children's mate preferences. This research conducted two studies to test the relationship between parents' education level and the gender role characteristics (masculinity and femininity) of ideal mate for college students, and the moderating role of urban-rural residence on this relationship. In study 1, 1,033 participants (627 females) reported their explicit attitude toward gender role characteristics for an ideal mate via the Chinese Sex Role Inventory-50. In study 2, we recruited 130 participants (66 females) and used an implicit association test to measure their implicit attitude. Regression-based analyses showed that the higher education level of parents was significantly associated with female students' mate preferences with high-femininity but low-masculinity traits. For male students, the higher education level of parents was associated with their explicit (not implicit) preferences of mates with high-masculinity but low-femininity traits. The significant moderating effect of urban-rural residence was observed in explicit preference, with the different patterns in gender groups. In conclusion, parents with higher educational attainment might bring up children who are more likely to embrace a partner with non-traditional gender roles (e.g., androgynous individuals, feminine men or masculine women).

Comparative study on consumers’ choice behaviors in selecting pork in rational and irrational scenarios

To better understand the purchasing decision-making process of humane pork, and examine the internal relationship between consumers’ preferences in rational consumption and irrational decoy scenarios, 405 consumers in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, and China were surveyed. Attributes were set for breeding time, breeding mode, diet cleanliness label, and price, and the first three among them reflect animal welfare conditions. The results show that in the rational consumption scenarios, consumers pay the most attention to the price attribute, followed by the attribute of diet cleanliness label, breeding mode, and breeding time. In the irrational decoy scenarios, consumers are most likely to be affected by the attribute decoy of diet cleanliness label, which have the utility of avoiding food safety risks. In addition, the decoy effect triggered by the price attribute which owned the highest degree of rational preference among consumers is also substantially higher, but lower than that of the diet cleanliness label attribute. The decoy effect caused by the breeding time attribute with the lowest degree of consumers’ rational preference is also the lowest. Therefore, the government should strengthen the publicity of the humane treatment of pigs before slaughter, and improve the certification and management system of pigs’ diet cleanliness. Besides, marketers are suggested to emphasis the product attributes that customer’s value the most in their advertising.

Compatibility of mycorrhiza-induced resistance with viral and bacterial entomopathogens in the control of Spodoptera exigua in tomato

BACKGROUND

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are soil-borne microorganisms that establish mutualistic associations with roots of most terrestrial plants. This symbiosis results in nutritional and defensive benefits to the host plant, usually conferring protection against biotic stresses, but its indirect impact on third trophic levels is still unknown. In the present work, we explore whether the symbiosis of tomato plants with Funneliformis mosseae (and/or exposition to herbivory) influences the interaction of the generalist pest Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with bacterial (Bacillus thuringiensis) and viral (baculovirus, SeMNPV) natural entomopathogens.

RESULTS

Symbiosis with AMF and previous herbivory reduces the relative growth of S. exigua, increases its susceptibility to a sublethal dose of B. thuringiensis and has positive or neutral impact on the lethality of SeMNPV. Reduction of the phenoloxidase activity, a marker of the insect immune response, was associated with the larval feeding on plant material previously exposed to herbivory but not to the AMF. In addition, no changes in the insect gut microbiota could be associated with the observed changes in larval growth and susceptibility to the entomopathogens.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide the first evidence of compatibility of AMF symbiosis in tomato with the use of bacterial and viral entomopathogens, contributing to the development of novel approaches to combine the beneficial effect of AMF and entomopathogens in biological pest control. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Clinicopathological significance of MYL9 expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies, and often involves invasion and distant metastasis from the early tumor stages. Myosin II reportedly plays a key role in regulating tumor progression and metastasis.

AIMS

We examined whether myosin regulatory light polypeptide 9 (MYL9) regulates cancer cell proliferation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To investigate the expression pattern and clinical significance of MYL9 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, we performed immunohistochemical analysis of samples collected from 101 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The expression of MYL9 was investigated to evaluate its functional role and contribution to proliferation and apoptosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. The results showed that MYL9 was predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm and membrane of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Multivariate analysis indicated that MYL9 acted as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival and distant metastasis-free survival. MYL9 expression was strongly associated with malignancy in in vitro analyses, including proliferation and anti-apoptotic activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that MYL9 is an independent prognostic factor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. MYL9 is a crucial biomarker and potential therapeutic target for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Electrochemical Reduction of Nitric Oxide with 1.7% Solar-to-Ammonia Efficiency Over Nanostructured Core-Shell Catalyst at Low Overpotentials

Transition metals have been recognized as excellent and efficient catalysts for the electrochemical nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR) to value-added chemicals. In this work, a class of core-shell electrocatalysts that utilize nickel nanoparticles in the core and nitrogen-doped porous carbon architecture in the shell (Ni@NC) for the efficient electroreduction of NO to ammonia (NH₃ ) is reported. In Ni@NC, the NC prevents the dissolution of Ni nanoparticles and ensures the long-term stability of the catalyst. The Ni nanoparticles involve in the catalytic reduction of NO to NH₃ during electrolysis. As a result, the Ni@NC achieves a faradaic efficiency (FE) of 72.3% at 0.16 V_RHE . The full-cell electrolyzer is constructed by coupling Ni@NC as cathode for NORR and RuO₂ as an anode for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which delivers a stable performance over 20 cycles at 1.5 V. While integrating this setup with a PV-electrolyzer cell, and it demonstrates an appreciable FE of >50%. Thus, the results exemplify that the core-shell catalyst based electrolyzer is a promising approach for the stable NO to NH₃ electroconversion.

Individual differences in nonnative lexical tone perception: Effects of tone language repertoire and musical experience

This study sought to understand the effects of tone language repertoire and musical experience on nonnative lexical tone perception and production. Thirty-one participants completed a tone discrimination task, an imitation task, and a musical abilities task. Results showed that a larger tone language repertoire and musical experience both enhanced tone discrimination performance. However, the effects were not additive, as musical experience was associated with tone discrimination performance for single-tone language speakers, but such association was not seen for dual-tone language speakers. Furthermore, among single-tone language speakers, but not among dual-tone language speakers, musical experience and musical aptitude positively correlated with tone discrimination accuracy. It is thus concluded that individuals with varying extents of tone language experience may adopt different strategies when performing tone discrimination tasks; single-tone language speakers may draw on their musical expertise while dual-tone language speakers may rely on their extensive tone language experience instead.