Iron is a vital element in nearly every living organism. During pregnancy, optimal iron concentration is essential for both maternal health and fetal development. As the barrier between the mother ...and fetus, placenta plays a pivotal role in mediating and regulating iron transport. Imbalances in iron metabolism correlate with severe adverse pregnancy outcomes. Like most other nutrients, iron exhibits a U-shaped risk curve. Apart from iron deficiency, iron overload is also dangerous since labile iron can generate reactive oxygen species, which leads to oxidative stress and activates ferroptosis. In this review, we summarized the molecular mechanism and regulation signals of placental iron trafficking under physiological conditions. In addition, we revealed the role of iron metabolism and ferroptosis in the view of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus, which may bring new insight to the pathogenesis and treatment of pregnancy-related diseases.
To optimize the preparation of ACE inhibitory peptides from black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), three enzymatic methods were compared, with the technical conditions optimized by response surface ...analysis. The black soybean protein hydrolysate inhibited 70.38% of the ACE activity. The ACE inhibitory peptides were isolated from black soybean protein hydrolysates by macro-porous resin, ultrafiltration, and Sephadex G-15. Four fractions were obtained, with each fraction having some ACE inhibitory activity. Fraction III exhibited the highest activity of 90.78%, and a molecular weight range of 145–468 Da. The ACE inhibitory peptides were stable across a range of pH values (2–10), at temperatures <40 °C, and in the presence of metal ions (Ca2+, K+, Mg2+), but had little resistance to digestive enzymes. These results indicated that the ACE inhibitory peptides of black soybean are substrate-type inhibitory peptides.
•Microwave-assisted Alcalase hydrolysis was used to prepare black soybean protein hydrolysate.•The hydrolysis parameters were optimized using response surface methodology.•The hydrolysates exhibited an excellent stability in a wide variety of conditions.•ACE inhibition peptides with the highest activity were obtained by purification.
The aim of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity and mechanisms of citral, limonene and eugenol against Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. All the three essential oil ingredients presented ...strong antifungal activities against Z. rouxii. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of citral, limonene and eugenol were 0.188, 0.75 and 0.4 μL/mL, and the minimum fungicidal concentrations were 0.375, 3 and 0.8 μL/mL, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the tested essential oil compounds had destructive effects on the yeast cell surface. After treated by citral, limonene and eugenol, the relative electric conductivity and leakage of nucleic acid were increased significantly. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that the essential oil components could result in the loss of soluble proteins and might also destroy the yeast protein or inhibit their expression. These results demonstrated that citral, limonene and eugenol exerted their antifungal action against Z. rouxii through cell membrane damage and destruction of cellular proteins. This study provided a theoretical possibility that citral, limonene and eugenol could be used as natural food preservatives for the control of Z. rouxii-related spoilage in the fruit juice industry.
•MIC and MFC of citral, limonene and eugenol against Z. rouxii were determined.•Citral, limonene and eugenol had destructive effects on the yeast cell surface.•The electric conductivity and leakage of nucleic acid were increased significantly.•The essential oil ingredients might destroy the protein or inhibit their synthesis.•The antifungal mechanisms were membrane damage and destruction of proteins.
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•Cu(II) decorated thiol-functionalized MOF was used as transfer medium of charge carriers.•The UiOS-Cu transformed the I-type transfer mechanism in CdS/ZnS into II-type ...mechanism.•Cu(II) markedly lifted the HOMO of UiOS-Cu to the position higher than the VB of CdS.•The optimized UiOSCu-CdS/ZnS exhibited a high H2 generation rate of 425.5 μmol/h.•The AQE was as high as 24.6% at the wavelength of 365 nm without noble metal co-catalyst.
Herein, a new photocatalyst (UiOS-Cu-CdS/ZnS, abbreviated as SCu-CZS) with hierarchical structure is well-designed by loading CdS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) onto Cu (II) decorated thiol-functionalized UiO-66 (UiOS-Cu) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for water splitting, where CdS and ZnS QDs are evenly distributed on the surface and in the channels of MOF, respectively, and Cu (II) ions are connected with thiol groups. We find that the UiOS-Cu, as an efficient medium for the separation and transfer of charge carriers between CdS and ZnS, successfully transforms the I-type transfer mechanism of charge carriers in CdS/ZnS heterojunction into II-type transfer mechanism, in which the decoration of Cu (II) plays a key role. Due to the decoration of Cu (II), the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of UiOS-Cu is markedly lifted to the position higher than the valence band (VB) of CdS, promoting the smooth transfer of photoinduced holes from the VB of CdS to the HOMO of UiOS-Cu. Thanks to this II-type transfer mechanism, the photogenerated electrons and holes are effectively separated and transferred, significantly improving the photocatalytic H2 evolution performance. The optimized SCu-CZS sample exhibits a high H2 generation rate of 425.5 μmol/h (10 mg of catalyst) with an apparent quantum efficiency of 24.6% at the wavelength of 365 nm in the absence of noble metal co-catalyst. This work indicates that MOF can be used as an efficient transfer medium of charge carriers, promoting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by transforming the transfer mechanism of photogenerated electrons and holes, which provides a new idea for the construction of MOF-based photocatalysts.
Atmospheric electricity research has been conducted actively in China, having profited from the development and application of high temporal and spatial resolution lightning detection and location ...technologies. This paper reviews the scientific advances made in the field of atmospheric electricity in China from 2011 to 2018, covering the following five aspects: (1) lightning detection and location techniques; (2) discharge processes and parameters associated with rocket-triggered lightning; (3) physical processes in natural lightning and attachment to the ground; (4) lightning activities and charge structure in different thunderstorms; and (5) effects of thunderstorms on the upper atmosphere. In addition, some outstanding questions for future research are outlined.
Introduction In the realm of emerging e-commerce platforms, the influence of online shopping events, specifically online carnival promotions (OSC), on consumer behavior is a significant area of ...interest.This paper delves into the effects of such promotions on consumer perceptions, a topic that has not been extensively explored in academic research. Methods To investigate this phenomenon, two distinct studies were conducted. The first study employed a questionnaire-based experiment involving 220 participants, divided into two groups. The first study examined the mediating role of cognitive legitimacy in the relationship between OSC events organized by new e-commerce platforms and the perceptions of consumers. The second study utilized an event-related potentials (ERPs) experiment with 33 participants to explore the differences in consumer perceptions between OSC promotions and general promotions by new e-commerce platforms. This study measured the brain’s response to promotional stimuli to gain insights into the cognitive processes involved. Results The first study yielded results that suggest OSC activities can facilitate the establishment of cognitive legitimacy for new e-commerce platforms. This, in turn, was found to be associated with an increase in positive purchase intentions among consumers. In the second study, the ERPs data indicated that exposure to OSC promotional materials elicited larger P2 and N2 ERP components when participants were presented with the logo of a new e-commerce platform. This was in contrast to the response to general promotional materials, suggesting a heightened cognitive and perceptual engagement with OSC promotions. Discussion The findings from both studies collectively imply that OSC promotions have a distinct impact on consumer perceptions and cognitive processes. The implicit memory triggered by these promotions appears to influence the identification of new platforms and the mechanisms of cognitive control during online shopping. This, in turn, may have implications for explicit consumer behavior, suggesting that OSC promotions could be a powerful tool for shaping consumer attitudes and behaviors in the e-commerce space. The results underscore the importance of understanding the nuances of consumer engagement with new e-commerce platforms and the role of promotional strategies in fostering a positive brand image and consumer loyalty.
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play multiple key regulatory roles in various cellular pathways. However, their functions in HIV-1 latent infection remain largely unknown. Here we show that a lncRNA ...named NRON, which is highly expressed in resting CD4(+) T lymphocytes, could be involved in HIV-1 latency by specifically inducing Tat protein degradation. Our results suggest that NRON lncRNA potently suppresses the viral transcription by decreasing the cellular abundance of viral transactivator protein Tat. NRON directly links Tat to the ubiquitin/proteasome components including CUL4B and PSMD11, thus facilitating Tat degradation. Depletion of NRON, especially in combination with a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, significantly reactivates the viral production from the HIV-1-latently infected primary CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Our data indicate that lncRNAs play a role in HIV-1 latency and their manipulation could be a novel approach for developing latency-reversing agents.
The September 2022 Ms 6.8 Luding earthquake broke more than 230 years of seismic calm on the Moxi fault, providing a unique opportunity to understand its seismogenic environment, rupture dynamics, ...and seismic hazard. Using teleseismic body waves, regional strong‐motion observations, GNSS, and InSAR data, we decipher the spatiotemporal rupture evolution of the mainshock. Combining the elastic dislocation model with surface creep, we find that the coseismic slip correlates closely with a locked patch with a loading rate of 9.7 mm/yr, but the creeping rate is insufficient to make up the shallow slip deficit. Notably, the Luding earthquake ruptured only ∼1/4 of the Moxi seismic gap, and it further increased the stress in the unruptured northern part. We thus argue that the Moxi fault has the potential for magnitude 7+ earthquakes in the near future, although geodetic prediction may overestimate the actual seismic moment released by the coseismic rupture.
Plain Language Summary
The Xianshuihe fault is an area of intense tectonic activity on the Tibetan Plateau and plays an important role in accommodating the postcollisional convergence of the Eurasian and Indian plates. However, the Moxi fault, at the southeastern end of the Xianshuihe fault, has remained seismically quiescent since the last Ms 7.75 event in 1786. In September 2022, a Ms 6.8 Luding earthquake struck the Moxi seismic gap, resulting in destructive landslide damage, with 93 people dead and 25 missing. Using seismic and geodetic recordings, we recover its space‐time rupture process in detail. Our model reveals an asymmetric bilateral rupture with dominant propagation and maximum slip to the SSE. It is important to note that the 2022 Luding earthquake ruptured only the southern Moxi seismic gap, leaving the northern part unruptured. Based on the departure time of the last major earthquake and the slip rate obtained from the elastic dislocation model, we estimate the unreleased seismic energy of the Moxi fault, indicating that it still has the potential for strong earthquakes. Besides, the Luding earthquake further increased its seismic hazard through stress transfer. Therefore, we should pay great attention to the kinematic state of the Moxi fault at this time.
Key Points
The kinematic evolution of the Luding earthquake is revealed by seismic and geodetic observations
The coseismic slip asperity from 3 to 20 km depth correlates closely with the preseismic surface creep and locked patch
The unruptured Moxi seismic gap still has the potential for magnitude 7+ earthquakes and deserves further attention
Single scattering in radiative transfer is separated into rapidly-varying and slowly-varying processes, where the rapidly-varying process (RVP) is mainly contributed by the diffraction effect. ...Accordingly, the diffraction decomposition order (DDO) method is developed to solve the vector radiative transfer equation (VRTE). Instead of directly solving the original VRTE, we decompose it into a series of order equations, where the zeroth-order equation replaces the RVP with a δ-function while the high-order equations are the same as the zeroth-order one, except that the high decomposition orders of the RVP are used as driven sources. In this study, the DDO method is numerically realized using the successive order of the scattering method. The DDO is computationally efficient and accurate. More importantly, all physical processes in the VRTE are fully decomposed due to the order decomposition of the RVP and can be straightforwardly discussed.
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