Unique among cnidarians, jellyfish have remarkable morphological and biochemical innovations that allow them to actively hunt in the water column and were some of the first animals to become ...free-swimming. The class Scyphozoa, or true jellyfish, are characterized by a predominant medusa life-stage consisting of a bell and venomous tentacles used for hunting and defense, as well as using pulsed jet propulsion for mobility. Here, we present the genome of the giant Nomura's jellyfish (Nemopilema nomurai) to understand the genetic basis of these key innovations.
We sequenced the genome and transcriptomes of the bell and tentacles of the giant Nomura's jellyfish as well as transcriptomes across tissues and developmental stages of the Sanderia malayensis jellyfish. Analyses of the Nemopilema and other cnidarian genomes revealed adaptations associated with swimming, marked by codon bias in muscle contraction and expansion of neurotransmitter genes, along with expanded Myosin type II family and venom domains, possibly contributing to jellyfish mobility and active predation. We also identified gene family expansions of Wnt and posterior Hox genes and discovered the important role of retinoic acid signaling in this ancient lineage of metazoans, which together may be related to the unique jellyfish body plan (medusa formation).
Taken together, the Nemopilema jellyfish genome and transcriptomes genetically confirm their unique morphological and physiological traits, which may have contributed to the success of jellyfish as early multi-cellular predators.
Abstract
Study Objectives
We aimed to examine whether associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and longitudinal sleep quality patterns are mediated by depressive symptoms.
Methods
We utilized ...data on 3347 participants in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study aged 40–69 years at baseline from 2001 to 2002 who were followed up for 16 years. A group-based modeling approach was used to identify sleep quality trajectories using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (years 2, 6, 8, 10, and 12). Educational attainment (college graduated or less), monthly household income (≥$2500 or less), and occupation (unemployed, manual labor, and professional labor) at baseline (year 0) were used for analyses. Depressive symptoms were assessed using Beck’s Depression Inventory at year 4. Associations between SES and sleep quality patterns were examined using a multinomial logistic regression model. The mediation effect of depressive symptoms was further examined using PROC CAUSALMED.
Results
We identified five distinct sleep quality trajectories: “normal-stable” (n = 1697), “moderate-stable” (n = 1157), “poor-stable” (n = 320), “developing to poor” (n = 84), and “severely poor-stable” (n = 89). Overall, associations between SES levels and longitudinal sleep patterns were not apparent after full adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors measured at baseline. Depressive symptoms, however, tended to fully mediate associations between SES levels and sleep quality patterns (odds ratio range for indirect effects of depressive symptoms: for education, 1.05-1.17; for income, 1.05-1.15).
Conclusion
A significant mediating role for depressive symptoms between SES levels and longitudinal sleep quality warrants consideration among mental healthcare professionals.
As an alternative to the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hole transporting layer (HTL) in polymer solar cells (PSCs), moderately reduced graphene oxide (GO) films ...fabricated by simple and fast thermal treatment of solution processed GO were investigated. PSC with thermally treated GO at 250°C exhibited best performance with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.98%, compared to the PSC containing conventional PEDOT:PSS HTL with a PCE of 3.85%. Furthermore, the PSC with thermally treated GO showed superior stability compared to the PSC with conventional PEDOT:PSS HTL under the atmosphere condition without any encapsulation process. Our demonstration suggests that moderately reduced GO by simple thermal treatment could be promising HTL replacing PEDOT:PSS in PSCs as well as other organic electronics.
► Moderately reduced graphene oxide was applied to Polymer solar cells (PSCs). ► PSCs with thermally treated GO at 250°C exhibited highest efficiencies. ► Superior stability was also observed.
The benzocoumarin dyes fluoresce negligibly in aqueous media but very strongly in cells, whereas representative conventional dyes display contrasting behaviour; the distinct emission behaviour of the ...fluorophores in organic solutions, in aqueous media, and in cell convinces the uniqueness of the cellular environment. The
in cellulo
superbright benzocoumarins also reveal an environment-insensitive emission behaviour, which is required for the reliable analysis
via
ratiometric imaging.
The benzocoumarins show distinctive emission behaviour from some commonly-used dyes in organic, aqueous buffer, and cellular media, which compels us to recognize the cellular environment as the third space for fluorophores.
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•Vinyl-, bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide-, and acetal functionalized additive was proposed.•The AF-additive can make robust SEI layers before carbonate-solvent decomposition.•The AF-additive ...makes inorganic-species abundant SEI layers at the Li interface.•Even in the carbonate-based electrolyte, the AF-additive gives even SEI layers.•AF-additive offers improved cycling retention in Li/Li and Li/NCM cells.
Li metal has received noticeable interest as a post-anode material, however, many critical hurdles remain in its application in conventional batteries. Herein, we have designed and prepared an additive, the AF, that is functionalized by three individual functional groups: vinyl-, bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide-, and acetal functional groups. The AF-additive promotes forming solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers at the Li metal interface via electrochemical reduction at a higher potential than that found in the carbonate-based electrolyte, which is predominately composed of inorganic species, such as lithium fluoride, rather than polycarbonate. The ionic conductivity of the electrolyte with the AF-additive is well retained even when the amount of AF-additive is increased because the acetal functional group may form acetal–Li+ complexes, which encourages Li+ migration. The AF-additive controlled electrolyte offers improved cycling retention in the both Li/Li symmetric cell and Li/NCM cell because the AF-additive not only effectively suppresses electrolyte decomposition at the interface of Li metal but also inhibits the formation of Li dendrites based on enhanced Li metal stability.
Skeletal muscle cell differentiation requires a family of proteins called myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) to which MyoD belongs. The activity of MyoD is under epigenetic regulation, however, the ...molecular mechanism by which histone KMTs and KDMs regulate MyoD transcriptional activity through methylation remains to be determined. Here we provide evidence for a unique regulatory mechanism of MyoD transcriptional activity through demethylation by Jmjd2C demethylase whose level increases during muscle differentiation. G9a decreases MyoD stability via methylation-dependent MyoD ubiquitination. Jmjd2C directly associates with MyoD in vitro and in vivo to demethylate and stabilize MyoD. The hypo-methylated MyoD due to Jmjd2C is significantly more stable than hyper-methylated MyoD by G9a. Cul4/Ddb1/Dcaf1 pathway is essential for the G9a-mediated MyoD degradation in myoblasts. By the stabilization of MyoD, Jmjd2C increases myogenic conversion of mouse embryonic fibroblasts and MyoD transcriptional activity with erasing repressive H3K9me3 level at the promoter of MyoD target genes. Collectively, Jmjd2C increases MyoD transcriptional activity to facilitate skeletal muscle differentiation by increasing MyoD stability through inhibiting G9a-dependent MyoD degradation.
•G9a induces methylation-dependent MyoD degradation.•Dcaf1 acts as E3 ligase for G9a-methylated MyoD.•Jmjd2C demethylates G9a-methylated MyoD.•Hypo-methylated MyoD by Jmjd2C is more stable than methylated MyoD.•Jmjd2C increases MyoD transcriptional activity by increasing MyoD stability.
Organometallic halide perovskite-based solar cells have exhibited rapidly increasing efficiencies through the use of mesoporous composites. The addition of materials used in organic solar cells to ...perovskite-based solar cells (PSCs) enables the fabrication of low-cost, flexible, low-temperature, solution-processed PSCs. However, obtaining sufficient coverage of the organic layer, usually poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), with CH3NH3PbI3–x Cl x films remains difficult in spite of the advances. In this study, we investigated the influence of controlling the solvent evaporation rate on the degree of PEDOT:PSS surface coverage by CH3NH3PbI3–x Cl x . We determined that an adequately fast spinning speed, drying at room temperature, and stepwise ramp annealing are critical for obtaining optimized planar hybrid perovskite solar cells with an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CH3NH3PbI3–x Cl x /PCBM/Al structure and efficiencies of up to 11.8%.
The number of lower extremity amputations in diabetic foot patients in Korea is increasing annually. In this nationwide population-based retrospective study, we investigated the data of 420,096 ...diabetes mellitus patients aged ≥18 years using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claim database. We aimed to study the seasonal and monthly trends in diabetic foot amputations in Korea. After applying the inclusion criteria, 8156 amputation cases were included. The analysis showed an increasing trend in monthly amputation cases. In terms of seasonality, the monthly frequency of amputation was commonly observed to be lower in February and September every year. Diabetic foot amputations frequently occurred in March, July, and November. There was no difference between the amputation frequency and mean temperature/humidity. This study is meaningful as it is the first nationwide study in Korea to analyze the seasonal and monthly trends in diabetic foot amputation in relation to climatic factors. In conclusion, we recognize an increased frequency of amputation in March, July, and November and recommend intensive educational program on foot care for all diabetes patients and their caregivers. This could improve wound management and amputation prevention guidelines for diabetic foot patients in the Far East with information on dealing with various seasonal changes.
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