Background
Genetic programs underlying preimplantation development and early lineage segregation are highly conserved across mammals. It has been suggested that nonhuman primates would be better ...model organisms for human embryogenesis, but a limited number of studies have investigated the monkey preimplantation development. In this study, we collect single cells from cynomolgus monkey preimplantation embryos for transcriptome profiling and compare with single‐cell RNA‐seq data derived from human and mouse embryos.
Results
By weighted gene‐coexpression network analysis, we found that cynomolgus gene networks have greater conservation with human embryos including a greater number of conserved hub genes than that of mouse embryos. Consistently, we found that early ICM/TE lineage‐segregating genes in monkeys exhibit greater similarity with human when compared to mouse, so are the genes in signaling pathways such as LRP1 and TCF7 involving in WNT pathway. Last, we tested the role of one conserved pre‐EGA hub gene, SIN3A, using a morpholino knockdown of maternal RNA transcripts in monkey embryos followed by single‐cell RNA‐seq. We found that SIN3A knockdown disrupts the gene‐silencing program during the embryonic genome activation transition and results in developmental delay of cynomolgus embryos.
Conclusion
Taken together, our study provided new insight into evolutionarily conserved and divergent transcriptome dynamics during mammalian preimplantation development.
Key Findings
A dynamic transcriptome for pre‐implantation embryos in cynomolgus monkey.
SIN3A is a critical regulatory gene for pre‐implantation development in among three mammalian species.
SIN3A is important for gene silencing during the EGA.
New knowledge of evolutionarily conserved and divergent transcriptome dynamics during mammalian pre‐implantation development.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
The century-long development of surface sciences has witnessed the discoveries of a variety of quantum states. In the recently proposed “obstructed atomic insulators”, symmetric charges are ...pinned at virtual sites where no real atoms reside. The cleavage through these sites could lead to a set of obstructed surface states with partial electronic occupation. Here, utilizing scanning tunneling microscopy, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations, we observe spectroscopic signature of obstructed surface states in SrIn
2
P
2
. We find that a pair of surface states that are originated from the pristine obstructed surface states split in energy by a unique surface reconstruction. The upper branch is marked with a striking differential conductance peak followed by negative differential conductance, signaling its localized nature, while the lower branch is found to be highly dispersive. This pair of surface states is in consistency with our calculational results. Our finding not only demonstrates a surface quantum state induced by a new type of bulk-boundary correspondence, but also provides a platform for exploring efficient catalysts and related surface engineering.
Abstract
In expanding our research activities of superlattice engineering, designing new giant molecules is the necessary first step. One attempt is to use inorganic transition metal clusters as ...building blocks. Efficient functionalization of chemically precise transition metal clusters, however, remains a great challenge to material scientists. Herein, we report an efficient thiol‐Michael addition approach for the modifications of cyclic titanium‐oxo cluster (CTOC). Several advantages, including high efficiency, mild reaction condition, capability of complete addition, high atom economy, as well as high functional group tolerance were demonstrated. This approach can afford high yields of fully functionalized CTOCs, which provides a powerful platform for achieving versatile functionalization of precise transition metal clusters and further applications.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
·Hyperbranched polyphosphamide with abundant terminal groups of silane (HBPPA-Si) was synthesized with a high char yield.·HBPPA-Si and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) are synergistic for the improvement ...of flame retardancy and smoke suppression of polypropylene (PP) composites.·The weak polar silane shell of HBPPA-Si improved the interfacial compatibility of APP within the PP matrix.·Remarkable enhancement on barrier effect of char was achieved by the hybrid of P and Si containing cross-linked structures.
A novel hyperbranched polyphosphamide with abundant terminal groups of silane (HBPPA-Si) was synthesized from phosphorus oxychloride (POCl3), 4, 4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) and (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), which had high thermal stability with a residual weight of 44.0 wt% at 800°C in nitrogen atmosphere. By incorporating 25 wt% of APP and HBPPA-Si with an optimum mass ratio of 1:1 into polypropylene (PP) composites, the PP/APP/HBPPA-Si composite reached V-0 rating at the UL-94 test and also obtained a maximum LOI value of 27.5%. Meanwhile, their peak heat release rates (PHRR), total heat release (THR), and total smoke production (TSP) reduced dramatically by 72.5%, 35.8%, and 62.7% respectively, when compared with virgin PP. The improved flame retardancy and smoke suppression of PP/APP/HBPPA-Si composite were ascribed to their excellent synergistic effect working efficiently in both condensed-phase and gas-phase actions. It is noticeable that the high-quality and high-quantity char residue possessing thermal-stable P- and Si-containing cross-linked structures can shield the underlying polymeric materials from further hydrolysis and simultaneously insulate the volatile fuel and heat transfer. Moreover, the weak polar silane shell of HBPPA-Si improved the interfacial compatibility of APP within the PP matrix, leading to enhanced mechanical properties with increasing HBPPA-Si concentration.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
is a major source of asthma-inducing allergens. Allergen-specific immunotherapy improves the progression of allergic asthma. The current treatment is based on crude Alternaria extracts. Alt a 1 is ...the predominant allergen in
. However, the treatment efficacy of recombinant Alt a 1 (rAlt a 1) in an asthmatic animal model and its influence on Tfh and Breg cells are unknown.
To explore the therapeutic treatment effects of rAlt a 1 on the progress of an asthmatic mouse model and its effect on Tfh and Breg cells.
We synthesized and purified rAlt a 1.
-sensitized and challenged mice received subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) with four different rAlt a 1 dosages (5, 50, 100, and 150 µg) or PBS only. Finally, lung and airway inflammation, mouse mast cell protease 1 (MMCP-1), serum immunoglobulin responses, Tfh and Breg cell levels, and the correlation between asthmatic features (inflammation grades and IL-4 and IL-10 levels) and these two cell types were measured after
rechallenge.
High purity and allergenic potency of rAlt a 1 protein were obtained. Following treatment with four different rAlt a 1 dosages, both lung and airway inflammation ameliorated, including lung pathology, serum MMCP-1 levels, inflammatory cell numbers, and cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Additionally, rAlt a 1-SCIT increased the expression of
-sIgG1, rAlt a 1-sIgG1, rAlt a 1-sIgG2a, and rAlt a 1-sIgG2b in serum. Moreover, the number and percentage of CXCR5
PD-1
Tfh cells were increased in the PC control, while they decreased in the rAlt a 1-SCIT groups. Meanwhile, the absolute numbers and proportions of Breg cells were evaluated after administration of rAlt a 1. A positive correlation was observed between CXCR5
PD-1
Tfh cells and inflammation grades (
= 0.50,
= 0.01), as well as a slightly strong positive relationship with IL-4 (
= 0.55,
= 0.005) and IL-10 (
= 0.58,
= 0.003) levels; Breg cells showed an opposite correlation with the grades of inflammation (
= -0.68,
= 0.0003), along with a negative correlation to IL-4 (
= -0.61,
= 0.001) and IL-10 (
= -0.53,
= 0.008) levels.
We verified that treatment with rAlt a 1 can alleviate asthma progression and further have a regulatory effect on Tfh and Breg cells in an
-induced asthmatic mouse model.
Abstract 2D conductive metal–organic frameworks (2D c ‐MOFs) have attracted increasing attention as promising electrode materials for rechargeable batteries due to their designable periodic motifs, ...large specific surface areas, and prominent electrical conductivity. However, the development of 2D c ‐MOF electrode materials with functionality remains a significant challenge because of the limited electroactive ligand motifs available. Herein, a hexahydroxy‐substituted triazacoronene ligand (6OH‐TAC) is deliberately designed and synthesized, which coordinates with Cu 2+ ions to form an unprecedented 2D c ‐MOF (Cu‐TAC) with functionality sites of efficient lithium storage. The synergistic effect of TAC and CuO 4 enables Cu‐TAC as an anode for lithium‐ion batteries with a superior reversible capacity of 772.4 mAh g −1 at 300 mA g −1 , remarkable rate performance, and outstanding long‐term cyclability (83% capacity retention at 300 mA g −1 for 600 cycles). These metrics outperform almost all 2D c ‐MOF‐based electrodes, shedding light on new opportunities for energy storage devices.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
As a distributed storage scheme, the blockchain network lacks storage space has been a long-term concern in this field. At present, there are relatively few research on algorithms and protocols to ...reduce the storage requirement of blockchain, and the existing research has limitations such as sacrificing fault tolerance performance and raising time cost, which need to be further improved. Facing the above problems, this paper proposes a protocol based on Distributed Image Storage Protocol (DISP), which can effectively improve blockchain storage space and reduces computational costs in the help of InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). In order to prove the feasibility of the protocol, we make full use of IPFS and distributed database to design a simulation experiment for blockchain. Through distributed pooling (DP) algorithm in this protocol, we can divide image evidence into recognizable several small files and stored in several nodes. And these files can be restored to lossless original documents again by inverse distributed pooling (IDP) algorithm after authorization. These advantages in performance create conditions for large scale industrial and commercial applications.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Highlights
Precisely located S doping of atomic Fe-N
4
in Fe(N
3
)(N–C–S) motif was realized.
This S doping renders weakened *OH binding and faster charge transfer on Fe-N
4
.
Fe-NSC showed excellent ...oxygen reduction reaction performance with onset potential ~ 1.09 V and half-wave potential ~ 0.92 V.
Immobilizing metal atoms by multiple nitrogen atoms has triggered exceptional catalytic activity toward many critical electrochemical reactions due to their merits of highly unsaturated coordination and strong metal-substrate interaction. Herein, atomically dispersed Fe-NC material with precise sulfur modification to Fe periphery (termed as Fe-NSC) was synthesized, X-ray absorption near edge structure analysis confirmed the central Fe atom being stabilized in a specific configuration of Fe(N
3
)(N–C–S). By enabling precisely localized S doping, the electronic structure of Fe-N
4
moiety could be mediated, leading to the beneficial adjustment of absorption/desorption properties of reactant/intermediate on Fe center. Density functional theory simulation suggested that more negative charge density would be localized over Fe-N
4
moiety after S doping, allowing weakened binding capability to *OH intermediates and faster charge transfer from Fe center to O species. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the Fe-NSC sample exhibited significantly enhanced oxygen reduction reaction performance compared to the S-free Fe-NC material (termed as Fe-NC), showing an excellent onset potential of 1.09 V and half-wave potential of 0.92 V in 0.1 M KOH. Our work may enlighten relevant studies regarding to accessing improvement on the catalytic performance of atomically dispersed M-NC materials by managing precisely tuned local environments of M-N
x
moiety.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous syndrome associated with follicle growth arrest, minimal granulosa cell proliferation, dysregulated sex hormone profile, hyperthecosis, and ...insulin resistance. Using a 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced rat model that recapitulates the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of human PCOS, we have examined the steroidogenic capability of granulosa cells from DHT-treated rats. Gene expression of several key steroidogenic enzymes including p450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (p450scc), aromatase, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-17β, and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3β were markedly lower in DHT-treated rats than the controls, although the responsiveness of their granulosa cells to FSH was higher. Expression of the adipokine chemerin and its receptor, chemokine receptor-like 1, was evident in control and DHT-treated rats, with significantly higher ovarian mRNA abundances and protein contents of chemerin and its receptor. Recombinant chemerin decreases basal estradiol secretion in granulosa cells from DHT-treated rats. When the inhibitory role of chemerin on steroidogenesis was further examined in vitro, chemerin suppressed FSH-induced progesterone and estradiol secretion in cultured preantral follicles and granulosa cells. Chemerin also inhibits FSH-induced aromatase and p450scc expression in granulosa cells. Overexpression of nuclear receptors NR5a1 and NR5a2 promotes p450scc and aromatase expression, respectively, which is suppressed by chemerin. These findings suggest that chemerin is a novel negative regulator of FSH-induced follicular steroidogenesis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of PCOS.
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