Ceramic-based capacitors with high power density, fast charge/discharge rate and superior reliability are fundamental components for high/pulsed power devices. Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based relaxor ...ferroelectric ceramics with a perovskite structure are among the up-and-coming candidates for capacitive energy storage because of their environment-friendly composition, easy-synthesis and high saturation polarization. However, the simultaneous achievement of ultrahigh recoverable energy density (Wrec), high energy storage efficiency (η) and superior reliability still remains a huge challenge because of the competition between various crucial parameters. Herein, multiphase structures with rhombohedral (R3c) and tetragonal (P4bm) phases are achieved in Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–Ba0.7Sr0.3Zr0.8Sn0.2O3 ceramics. The coexistence of strong and weak coupled polar nanoregions (PNRs) results in a relatively high polarization (Pmax) and a decreased remanent polarization (Pr). Accordingly, the selective ceramics display an ultrahigh Wrec of 7.4 J cm−3, a high η of 89% at 400 kV cm−1 and remarkable thermal stability in a wide temperature range of 25–180 °C, exhibiting extraordinary comprehensive energy storage performances in BNT-based ceramic capacitors. This work demonstrates a feasible way for exploring high-performance dielectric capacitors.
Lead‐free perovskite infrared light‐emitting diodes are achieved by using a halide perovskite CsSnI3 as an emissive layer. The film shows compact micrometer‐sized grains with only a few pinholes and ...cracks at the grain boundaries. The device exhibits maximum radiance of 40 W sr−1 m−2 at a current density of 364.3 mA cm−2 and maximum external quantum efficiency of 3.8% at 4.5 V.
...our previous study 3 determined that the clinical characteristics were different between Chinese and Caucasian UM patients. ...in this study, we analyzed the clinical characteristics and survival ...status of 1553 patients diagnosed with UM over a period of 15 years in China, and also included factors that were not included in our previous study, such as the largest basal diameter, thickness, tumor size after updating the criteria, pigmentation, whether complicated with intraocular hemorrhage, ciliary body involvement, extraocular extension and TNM stage. There were few patients with known pathological types (n = 386), including spindle cell-type (n = 172), mixed cell-type (n = 131), and epithelioid cell-type (n = 83). ...pathological information was not included in the multivariate analysis. ...we chose to predict the prognosis of patients within 2 years. ...four-fold cross-validation was used to fairly assess the performance of random forest, where the training dataset and the testing dataset are subject-independent (each sample was collected from one patient and all samples were split into training and testing datasets in cross-validation, therefore, one sample were used only once in the training or testing dataset). ...we applied genetic feature selection to investigate which features were more related to the two classification problems (whether a patient would die after 2 years or have metastasis within 2 years after treatment) (Supplementary Material).
Genome‐wide association studies have linked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the interleukin‐28B gene to the hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV‐1) response to peginterferon/ribavirin ...treatment. We aimed to explore the impact on the treatment outcomes of Asian HCV‐2 patients. We determined rs8105790, rs8099917, rs4803219, and rs10853728 to be candidate SNPs in 482 Asian HCV‐2 patients treated with the standard of care. Because the first three SNPs were in very strong linkage disequilibrium with one another (r2 = 0.94‐0.96), rs8099917 and rs10853728 were selected for an analysis of their influence on the achievement of rapid virological response RVR; seronegativity for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in treatment week 4 and sustained virological response (SVR; seronegativity for HCV RNA throughout 24 weeks of posttreatment follow‐up). The rs10853728 genotype did not predict RVR or SVR in HCV‐2 patients. However, patients with the rs8099917 TT genotype, in comparison with patients with GT/GG genotypes, had a significantly higher rate of achieving RVR (85.2% versus 72.0%, P = 0.017) but did have not a significantly higher rate of achieving SVR (89.4% versus 86.0%). Multivariate analysis revealed that a baseline HCV viral load <400,000 IU/mL was the strongest predictor of RVR odds ratio (OR) = 4.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.31‐7.87, P < 0.001, and this was followed by advanced liver fibrosis (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.15‐0.53, P < 0.001), the carriage of the rs8099917 TT genotype (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.34‐7.21, P = 0.008), and the pretreatment level of aspartate aminotransferase (OR = 0.996, 95% CI = 0.99‐1.00, P = 0.04). Nevertheless, the achievement of RVR was the single predictor of SVR with an OR of 19.37 (95% CI = 8.89‐42.23, P < 0.001), whereas the rs8099917 genotypes played no role in achieving SVR with or without RVR. Conclusion: The rs8099917 TT genotype is significantly independently predictive of RVR, which is the single best predictor of SVR, in Asian HCV‐2 patients. (Hepatology 2011)
Summary
Multi‐parent advanced generation inter‐cross (MAGIC) populations are an emerging type of resource for dissecting the genetic structure of traits and improving breeding populations. We ...developed a MAGIC population for cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) from eight founder parents. These founders were genetically diverse and carried many abiotic and biotic stress resistance, seed quality and agronomic traits relevant to cowpea improvement in the United States and sub‐Saharan Africa, where cowpea is vitally important in the human diet and local economies. The eight parents were inter‐crossed using structured matings to ensure that the population would have balanced representation from each parent, followed by single‐seed descent, resulting in 305 F8 recombinant inbred lines each carrying a mosaic of genome blocks contributed by all founders. This was confirmed by single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping with the Illumina Cowpea Consortium Array. These lines were on average 99.74% homozygous but also diverse in agronomic traits across environments. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified for several parental traits. Loci with major effects on photoperiod sensitivity and seed size were also verified by biparental genetic mapping. The recombination events were concentrated in telomeric regions. Due to its broad genetic base, this cowpea MAGIC population promises breakthroughs in genetic gain, QTL and gene discovery, enhancement of breeding populations and, for some lines, direct releases as new varieties.
Significance Statement
This paper reports the development and analysis of a multi‐parent population of the warm‐season legume cowpea, a crop of vital importance in global food security, providing a foundation for breakthroughs in genetic gain and quantitative trait locus (QTL) discovery. In particular, the QTL detected for photoperiod sensitivity will further our understanding of the genetics of flowering time in the photoperiod‐sensitive cowpea and related species.
Summary
A growing body of research links traffic‐related environmental factors to childhood obesity; however, the evidence is still inconclusive. This review aims to fill this important research gap ...by systematically reviewing existing research on the relationship between traffic‐related environmental factors and childhood obesity. Based on the inclusion criteria, 39 studies are selected with environmental factors of interest, including traffic flow, traffic pollution, traffic noise, and traffic safety. Weight‐related behaviours include active travel/transport, physical activity (PA), and intake of a high trans‐fat diet or stress symptoms; weight‐related outcomes are mainly body mass index (BMI) or BMI z‐scores and overweight/obesity. Of 16 studies of weight‐related behaviours, significant associations are reported in 11 out of 12 studies on traffic flow (two positively and nine negatively associated with PA), five out of six studies on traffic safety (four positively and one negatively associated with PA), one study on traffic pollution (positively with unhealthy food consumption), and one study on traffic noise (negatively associated with PA). Among 23 studies of weight‐related outcomes, significant associations are reported in six out of 14 studies on traffic flow (five positively and one negatively associated with obesity outcome), seven out of 10 studies on traffic pollution (all positively associated with obesity outcome), and two out of five on traffic noise (all positively associated with obesity outcome). Our findings show that long‐term traffic pollution is weakly positively associated with children's BMI growth, and traffic flow, pollution, and noise could affect weight‐related behaviours. Associations between traffic density and noise and weight status are rather inconclusive.
Physical or mental stress leads to neuroplasticity in the brain and increases the risk of depression and anxiety. Stress exposure causes the dysfunction of peripheral T lymphocytes. However, the ...pathological role and underlying regulatory mechanism of peripheral T lymphocytes in mood disorders have not been well established. Here, we show that the lack of CD4+ T cells protects mice from stress-induced anxiety-like behavior. Physical stress-induced leukotriene B4 triggers severe mitochondrial fission in CD4+ T cells, which further leads to a variety of behavioral abnormalities including anxiety, depression, and social disorders. Metabolomic profiles and single-cell transcriptome reveal that CD4+ T cell-derived xanthine acts on oligodendrocytes in the left amygdala via adenosine receptor A1. Mitochondrial fission promotes the de novo synthesis of purine via interferon regulatory factor 1 accumulation in CD4+ T cells. Our study implicates a critical link between a purine metabolic disorder in CD4+ T cells and stress-driven anxiety-like behavior.
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•Peripheral CD4+ T cells control stress-induced anxiety-like behavior•Mitochondrial fission in peripheral CD4+ T cell causes severe anxiety symptoms•T cell-derived xanthine acts on the oligodendrocytes in the left amygdala•IRF-1 controls purine synthesis in CD4+ T cells and triggers the onset of anxiety
Xanthine metabolism in CD4+ T cells is found to be central to mediating the effects of stress-induced anxiety like behavior in mice through its effects on oligodendrocyte proliferation and neuronal hyperactivation.
Protein termini are determinants of protein stability. Proteins bearing degradation signals, or degrons, at their amino‐ or carboxyl‐termini are eliminated by the N‐ or C‐degron pathways, ...respectively. We aimed to elucidate the function of C‐degron pathways and to unveil how normal proteomes are exempt from C‐degron pathway‐mediated destruction. Our data reveal that C‐degron pathways remove mislocalized cellular proteins and cleavage products of deubiquitinating enzymes. Furthermore, the C‐degron and N‐degron pathways cooperate in protein removal. Proteome analysis revealed a shortfall in normal proteins targeted by C‐degron pathways, but not of defective proteins, suggesting proteolysis‐based immunity as a constraint for protein evolution/selection. Our work highlights the importance of protein termini for protein quality surveillance, and the relationship between the functional proteome and protein degradation pathways.
SYNOPSIS
Proteins with degradation signals (degron) at their amino‐ or carboxyl‐termini are eliminated by the N‐ or C‐degron pathways, respectively. Proteome‐wide analyses suggest functions of human C‐degrons signals in protein quality surveillance, as well as interplay with N‐degron‐dependent mechanisms.
The Global Protein Stability (GPS) random peptide platform enables context‐independent characterization of degron features.
The activity of C‐degrons is tuned by their surrounding sequences.
Gly/C‐degron shortage is limited to functional eukaryotic proteomes accessible to C‐degron pathways.
C‐degron pathways clear products of proteases and mislocalized cellular proteins.
Mitochondrial localization of MIC19 is dually safeguarded by the N‐ and C‐degron pathways.
Coronaviral diGly‐ending proteins evade C‐degron pathway‐mediated degradation.
Proteome‐wide analyses suggest functions of C‐terminal degradation signals in protein quality surveillance as well as interplay with N‐degron‐dependent mechanisms.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease. Matrine is the main component of the traditional Chinese medicine Sophora flavescens, and it poses good therapeutic effects on ...inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to explore the pharmacological effects of matrine on AD and its underlying mechanism. An AD mouse model and inflamed human epidermal keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) cells were established. Histopathological aspects were examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining, toluidine blue staining, and immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. The secretions of cytokines and chemokines were examined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Flow cytometry was carried out to analyze the proportions of T‐helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells. Herein, our results displayed that matrine diminished AD symptoms and decreased heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) expression. Matrine decreased the Th2 cytokine levels in the ear tissues and serum, and it also significantly repressed inflammatory cytokines (thymus activation regulated chemokine and interleukin‐6) secretions by repressing the Hsp90/NF‐κB signaling axis in inflamed HaCaT cells. Furthermore, matrine inhibited Th2 differentiation of CD4+ T cells when co‐cultured with inflamed HaCaT cells. Matrine can regulate the Th1/Th2 inflammatory response by inhibiting the Hsp90/NF‐κB signaling axis to alleviate AD. Therefore, it may be a candidate for AD treatment.
The discovery of novel antiviral materials is important because many infectious diseases are caused by viruses. Silver nanoparticles have demonstrated strong antiviral activity, and graphene is a ...potential antimicrobial material due to its large surface area, high carrier mobility, and biocompatibility. No studies on the antiviral activity of nanomaterials on non-enveloped viruses have been reported. To investigate the antiviral activity of graphene oxide (GO) sheets and GO sheets with silver particles (GO-Ag) against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, feline coronavirus (FCoV) with an envelope and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) without an envelope were chosen. The morphology and sizes of GO and GO-Ag were characterized by transmission, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. A virus inhibition assay was used to identify the antiviral activity of GO and GO-Ag. Go-Ag inhibited 25% of infection by FCoV and 23% by IBDV, whereas GO only inhibited 16% of infection by FCoV but showed no antiviral activity against the infection by IBDV. Further application of GO and GO-Ag can be considered for personal protection equipment to decrease the transmission of viruses.
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