The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on transition single‐atom catalysts (SACs) is sustainable in energy‐conversion devices. However, the atomically controllable fabrication of single‐atom sites and ...the sluggish kinetics of ORR have remained challenging. Here, we accelerate the kinetics of acid ORR through a direct O−O cleavage pathway through using a bi‐functional ligand‐assisted strategy to pre‐control the distance of hetero‐metal atoms. Concretely, the as‐synthesized Fe−Zn diatomic pairs on carbon substrates exhibited an outstanding ORR performance with the ultrahigh half‐wave potential of 0.86 V vs. RHE in acid electrolyte. Experimental evidence and density functional theory calculations confirmed that the Fe−Zn diatomic pairs with a specific distance range of around 3 Å, which is the key to their ultrahigh activity, average the interaction between hetero‐diatomic active sites and oxygen molecules. This work offers new insight into atomically controllable SACs synthesis and addresses the limitations of the ORR dissociative mechanism.
The dual single‐atom carbon electrocatalysts are rationally optimized for the interatomic distance and promote an effective oxygen reduction reaction via the direct oxygen‐oxygen bond cleavage mechanism in acid electrolyte. The specific distance of dual‐hetero single‐atom pairs weakens and destabilizes the bond energy of the oxygen‐oxygen bond through the strong and evenly bilateral electron and charge transfer capabilities.
A pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection broke out all over the world; however, epidemiological data and viral shedding in pediatric patients are limited. ...We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study, and followed‐up with all children from the families with SARS‐CoV‐2 infected members in Zhejiang Province, China. All infections were confirmed by testing the SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA with real‐time reverse transcription PCR method, and epidemiological data between children and adults in the same families were compared. Effect of antiviral therapy was evaluated observationally and fecal‐viral excretion times among groups with different antiviral regiments were compared with Kaplan‐Meier plot. By 29 February 2020, 1298 cases from 883 families were confirmed with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and 314 of which were families with children. Incidence of infection in child close contacts was significantly lower than that in adult contacts (13.2% vs 21.2%). The mean age of 43 pediatric cases was 8.2 years and mean incubation period was 9.1 days. Forty (93.0%) were family clustering. Thirty‐three children had coronavirus disease 2019 (20 pneumonia) with mild symptoms and 10 were asymptomatic. Fecal SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA detection was positive in 91.4% (32/35) cases and some children had viral excretion time over 70 days. Viral clearance time was not different among the groups treated with different antiviral regiments. No subsequent infection was observed in family contacts of fecal‐viral‐excreting children. Children have lower susceptibility of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, longer incubation, and fecal‐viral excretion time. Positive results of fecal SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA detection were not used as indication for hospitalization or quarantine.
Highlights
Children had lower susceptibility for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection than adults.
Children had longer incubation period and fecal viral excretion time after infected by SARS‐CoV‐2.
Viral clearance time was not different among the groups treated with different antiviral regiments.
Children had milder clinical symptoms, better clinical outcome, and more common fecal viral excretion.
Positive results of fecal SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA detection are not used as indication for hospitalization or quarantine.
In the present work, first, a new fractional numerical differentiation formula (called the L1-2 formula) to approximate the Caputo fractional derivative of order α (0<α<1) is developed. It is ...established by means of the quadratic interpolation approximation using three points (tj−2,f(tj−2)),(tj−1,f(tj−1)) and (tj,f(tj)) for the integrand f(t) on each small interval tj−1,tj (j⩾2), while the linear interpolation approximation is applied on the first small interval t0,t1. As a result, the new formula can be formally viewed as a modification of the classical L1 formula, which is obtained by the piecewise linear approximation for f(t). Both the computational efficiency and numerical accuracy of the new formula are superior to that of the L1 formula. The coefficients and truncation errors of this formula are discussed in detail. Two test examples show the numerical accuracy of L1-2 formula. Second, by the new formula, two improved finite difference schemes with high order accuracy in time for solving the time-fractional sub-diffusion equations on a bounded spatial domain and on an unbounded spatial domain are constructed, respectively. In addition, the application of the new formula into solving fractional ordinary differential equations is also presented. Several numerical examples are computed. The comparison with the corresponding results of finite difference methods by the L1 formula demonstrates that the new L1-2 formula is much more effective and more accurate than the L1 formula when solving time-fractional differential equations numerically.
Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a key enzyme in the generation and development of hyperuricemia. Thiazolidine-2-thione, a typical heterocyclic compound, have been widely used in the field of drug synthesis. ...In this study, a series of novel thiazolidine-2-thione derivatives were synthesized as XO inhibitors, and the XO inhibitory potencies of obtained compounds were evaluated by in vitro enzyme catalysis. The result shown that compound 6k behaved the strongest XO inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 3.56 μmol/L, which was approximately 2.5-fold more potent than allopurinol. The structure-activity relationship revealed that the phenyl-sulfonamide group was indispensable for thiazolidine-2-thione derivatives to produce XO inhibitory activity. The enzyme inhibition kinetics analyses confirmed that compound 6k exerted a mixed-type XO inhibition. Additionally, the molecular docking results suggested that the 4-fluorophenyl-sulfonyl moiety could interact with Gly260 and Ile264 in the innermost part of the active pocket through 2 hydrogen bonds, while the thiazolidinethione moiety could form two hydrogen bonds with Glu263 and Ser347 in hydrophobic pockets. In summary, the results described above suggested that compound 6k could be a valuable lead compound for the treatment of hyperuricemia as a novel XO inhibitor.
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the main obstruction against the chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, a biodegradable multifunctional tumor‐targeted core–shell structural nanocarrier (RGD ...peptide functionalized nanoparticles, RGD‐NPs) is reported for treating MDR hepatocellular carcinoma, which consists of three components: pH‐triggered calcium phosphate shell, long circulation phosphatidylserine‐polyethylene glycol (PS‐PEG) core, and an active targeting ligand RGD peptide. Drug‐resistance inhibitor (verapamil, VER) and chemotherapeutic agent (mitoxantrone, MIT) are separately encapsulated into the outer shell layer and inner core layer to obtain VER and MIT loaded RGD‐NPs (VM‐RGD‐NPs). Due to the shell–core structure, the VER and MIT can release sequentially, thus synergistically weakening the efflux effect to MIT by MDR cells. Also, the calcium phosphate can trigger lysosomal escaping through the varied pH value. Together with the optimized internalization pathway in MDR tumor cells, the increased intracellular effective chemotherapeutic drug concentration can be realized, thus achieving the improved curative effect. In this system, the PEG extends the circulation time in vivo. Also, the peptide RGD distinctly increases the affinity to MDR tumors with respect to nontargeted nanoparticles. As a consequence, VM‐RGD‐NPs exhibit a significant synergistic effect toward the MDR hepatocellular carcinoma, providing a promising therapeutic approach for MDR tumor.
A biodegradable multifunctional tumor‐targeted core–shell structural nanocarrier (RGD‐NPs) for treating multidrug resistance hepatocellular carcinoma, which consists of three components: pH‐triggered calcium phosphate shell, long circulation phosphatidylserine‐polyethylene glycol core, and an active targeting ligand RGD peptide. Drug‐resistance inhibitor (verapamil) and chemotherapeutic agent (mitoxantrone) are separately encapsulated into the outer shell layer and inner core layer.
Regeneration of injured nerve tissues requires intricate interplay of complex processes like axon elongation, remyelination, and synaptic formation in a tissue‐specific manner. A decellularized nerve ...matrix‐gel (DNM‐G) and a decellularized spinal cord matrix‐gel (DSCM‐G) are prepared from porcine sciatic nerves and spinal cord tissue, respectively, to recapitulate the microenvironment cues unique to the native tissue functions. Using an in vitro dorsal root ganglion–Schwann cells coculture model and proteomics analysis, it is confirmed that DNM‐G promotes far stronger remyelination activity and reduces synapse formation of the regenerating axons in contrast to DSCM‐G, Matrigel, and collagen I, consistent with its tissue‐specific function. Bioinformatics analysis indicates that the lack of neurotrophic factors and presence of some axon inhibitory molecules may contribute to moderate axonal elongation activity, while laminin β2, Laminin γ1, collagens, and fibronectin in DNM‐G promote remyelination. These results confirm that DNM‐G is a promising matrix material for peripheral nerve repair. This study provides more insights into tissue‐specific extracellular matrix components correlating to biological functions supporting functional regeneration.
Decellularized nerve matrix‐gel (DNM‐G) and decellularized spinal cord matrix‐gel (DSCM‐G) can recapitulate the microenvironment cues unique to the native tissue functions. In vitro study shows that DNM‐G promotes far stronger remyelination activity and reduces synapse formation of the regenerating axons in contrast to DSCM‐G; tissue‐specific extracellular matrix components correlating biological functions' supporting functional regeneration are investigated.
Progenitor-like CD8
T cells mediate long-term immunity to chronic infection and cancer and respond potently to immune checkpoint blockade. These cells share transcriptional regulators with memory ...precursor cells, including T cell-specific transcription factor 1 (TCF1), but it is unclear whether they adopt distinct programs to adapt to the immunosuppressive environment. By comparing the single-cell transcriptomes and epigenetic profiles of CD8
T cells responding to acute and chronic viral infections, we found that progenitor-like CD8
T cells became distinct from memory precursor cells before the peak of the T cell response. We discovered a coexpression gene module containing Tox that exhibited higher transcriptional activity associated with more abundant active histone marks in progenitor-like cells than memory precursor cells. Moreover, thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box protein TOX (TOX) promoted the persistence of antiviral CD8
T cells and was required for the programming of progenitor-like CD8
T cells. Thus, long-term CD8
T cell immunity to chronic viral infection requires unique transcriptional and epigenetic programs associated with the transcription factor TOX.
Herein, we report a comprehensive strategy to synthesize a full range of single‐atom metals on carbon matrix, including V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ge, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, In, Sn, W, Ir, Pt, Pb, and Bi. ...The extensive applications of various SACs are manifested via their ability to electro‐catalyze typical hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) and conversion reactions in novel room‐temperature sodium sulfur batteries (RT‐Na‐S). The enhanced performances for these electrochemical reactions arisen from the ability of different single active atoms on local structures to tune their electronic configuration. Significantly, the electrocatalytic behaviors of diverse SACs, assisted by density functional theory calculations, are systematically revealed by in situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and in situ transmission electronic microscopy, providing a strategic library for the general synthesis and extensive applications of SACs in energy conversion and storage.
Universality in preparing samples with atomic metal dopants is vital to expand the diversity of single‐atom materials and their widespread applications. We provide a comprehensive library of single atoms for systematically investigating their different electrocatalytic behaviors in HER and RT Na‐S batteries. In particular, the tuning of single‐atom local structures can achieve unexpected performance in general electrochemistry.
Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a slowly progressing neurodegenerative disease characterized by eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in the nervous system and multiple visceral ...organs. The clinical manifestation of NIID varies widely, and both familial and sporadic cases have been reported. Here we have performed genetic linkage analysis and mapped the disease locus to 1p13.3-q23.1; however, whole-exome sequencing revealed no potential disease-causing mutations. We then performed long-read genome sequencing and identified a large GGC repeat expansion within human-specific NOTCH2NLC. Expanded GGC repeats as the cause of NIID was further confirmed in an additional three NIID-affected families as well as five sporadic NIID-affected case subjects. Moreover, given the clinical heterogeneity of NIID, we examined the size of the GGC repeat among 456 families with a variety of neurological conditions with the known pathogenic genes excluded. Surprisingly, GGC repeat expansion was observed in two Alzheimer disease (AD)-affected families and three parkinsonism-affected families, implicating that the GGC repeat expansions in NOTCH2NLC could also contribute to the pathogenesis of both AD and PD. Therefore, we suggest defining a term NIID-related disorders (NIIDRD), which will include NIID and other related neurodegenerative diseases caused by the expanded GGC repeat within human-specific NOTCH2NLC.
Summary
The Orchidaceae is of economic and ecological importance and constitutes ˜10% of all seed plant species. Here, we report a genome physical map for Cymbidium sinense, a well‐known species ...belonging to genus Cymbidium that has thousands of natural variation varieties of flower organs, flower and leaf colours and also referred as the King of Fragrance, which make it arose into a unique cultural symbol in China. The high‐quality chromosome‐scale genome assembly was 3.52 Gb in size, 29 638 protein‐coding genes were predicted, and evidence for whole‐genome duplication shared with other orchids was provided. Marked amplification of cytochrome‐ and photosystem‐related genes was observed, which was consistent with the shade tolerance and dark green leaves of C. sinense. Extensive duplication of MADS‐box genes, and the resulting subfunctional and expressional differentiation, was associated with regulation of species‐specific flower traits, including wild‐type and mutant‐type floral patterning, seasonal flowering and ecological adaption. CsSEP4 was originally found to positively regulate gynostemium development. The CsSVP genes and their interaction proteins CsAP1 and CsSOC1 were significantly expanded and involved in the regulation of low‐temperature‐dependent flowering. Important genetic clues to the colourful leaf traits, purple‐black flowers and volatile trait in C. sinense were also found. The results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of important phenotypic traits of Cymbidium and its evolution and serve as a powerful platform for future evolutionary studies and molecular breeding of orchids.
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