An enhancement strategy is realized for ultralong bright room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP), involving polymerization between phosphor monomers and acrylamide and host–guest complexation ...interaction between phosphors and cucurbit6,7,8urils (CB6,7,8). The non‐phosphorescent monomers exhibit 2.46 s ultralong lifetime after copolymerizing with acrylamide. The improvement is due to the rich hydrogen bond and carbonyl within the polymers which promote intersystem crossing, suppress nonradiative relaxation and shield quenchers effectively. By tuning the ratio of chromophores, a series of phosphorescent copolymers with different lifetimes and quantum yields are prepared. The complexation of macrocyclic hosts CB6,7,8 promote the RTP of polymers by blocking aggregation‐caused quenching, and offsetting the losses of aforementioned interaction provided by polymer. Multiple lifetime‐encoding for digit and character encryption are achieved by utilizing the difference of their lifetimes.
A synergistic enhancement strategy is realized for ultralong bright RTP, involving polymerization between phosphor monomers and acrylamide and host–guest complexation interaction between phosphors and cucurbit6, 7, 8urils (CB6, 7, 8). The phosphorescence lifetime and efficiency is up to 2.81 s and 76 %. Multiple lifetime‐encoding for digit and character encryption are achieved.
The “macrotrabecular-massive” (MTM) pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been suggested to represent a distinct HCC subtype and is associated with specific molecular features. Since the ...immune microenvironment is heterogenous in HCC, it is important to evaluate the immune microenvironment of this novel variant. CMTM6, a key regulator of PD-L1, is an important immunocheckpoint inhibitor. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic effect of CMTM6/PD-L1 coexpression and its relationship with inflammatory cells in HCC. We analyzed 619 HCC patients and tumors were classified into MTM and non-MTM HCC subtypes. The expression levels of CMTM6 and PD-L1 in tumor and inflammatory cells were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The density of inflammatory cells in the cancer cell nest was calculated. Tumoral PD-L1 expression and inflammatory cell density were higher in the MTM type than in the non-MTM type. CMTM6-high expression was significantly associated with shorter OS and DFS than CMTM6-low expression in the whole HCC patient population and the MTM HCC patient population. Moreover, MTM HCC patients with CMTM6/PD-L1 coexpression experienced a higher risk of HCC progression and death. In addition, CMTM6/PD-L1 coexpression was shown to be related to a high density of inflammatory cells. Notably, a new immune classification, based on CMTM6/PD-L1 coexpression and inflammatory cells, successfully stratified OS and DFS in MTM HCC. CMTM6/PD-L1 coexpression has an adverse effect on the prognosis of HCC patients, especially MTM HCC patients. Our study provides evidence for the combination of immune status assessment with anti-CMTM6 and anti-PD-L1 therapy in MTM HCC patients.
Dual‐atom catalysts (DACs) have emerged as efficient electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction owing to the synergistic effect between the binary metal sites. However, rationally modulating the electronic ...structure of DACs to optimize the catalytic performance remains a great challenge. Herein, we report the electronic structure modulation of three Ni2 DACs (namely, Ni2−N7, Ni2−N5C2 and Ni2−N3C4) by the regulation of the coordination environments around the dual‐atom Ni2 centres. As a result, Ni2−N3C4 exhibits significantly improved electrocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction, not only better than the corresponding single‐atom Ni catalyst (Ni−N2C2), but also higher than Ni2−N7 and Ni2−N5C2 DACs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the high electrocatalytic activity of Ni2−N3C4 for CO2 reduction could be attributed to the electronic structure modulation to the Ni centre and the resulted proper binding energies to COOH* and CO* intermediates.
Three Ni2 dual‐atom catalysts (DACs) with electronic structures tailored by the regulation of the coordination environment of Ni atoms, have been prepared for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. The optimal Ni2−N3C4 exhibits the highest performance for the reduction of CO2 to CO, highlighting the significance of the electronic structure for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction in DACs.
WRKYs are important regulators in plant development and stress responses. However, knowledge of this superfamily in soybean is limited. In this study, we characterized the drought- and salt-induced ...gene
based on RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR.
, which is 714 bp in length, encoded 237 amino acids and grouped into WRKY II. The promoter region of
included ABER4, MYB, MYC, GT-1, W-box and DPBF
-elements, which possibly participate in abscisic acid (ABA), drought and salt stress responses.
was minimally expressed in different tissues under normal conditions but highly expressed under drought and salt treatments. As a nucleus protein,
was responsive to drought, salt, ABA and salicylic acid (SA) stresses. Using a transgenic hairy root assay, we further characterized the roles of
in abiotic stress tolerance. Compared with control (Williams 82), overexpression of
enhanced drought and salt tolerance, increased proline (Pro) content and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content under drought and salt treatment in transgenic soybean seedlings. These results may provide a basis to understand the functions of
in abiotic stress responses in soybean.
Western-style diets arouse neuroinflammation and impair emotional and cognitive behavior in humans and animals. Our previous study showed that a high-fructose diet caused the hippocampal ...neuroinflammatory response and neuronal loss in animals, but the underlying mechanisms remained elusive. Here, alterations in the gut microbiota and intestinal epithelial barrier were investigated as the causes of hippocampal neuroinflammation induced by high-fructose diet.
A high-fructose diet caused the hippocampal neuroinflammatory response, reactive gliosis, and neuronal loss in C57BL/6N mice. Depletion of the gut microbiota using broad-spectrum antibiotics suppressed the hippocampal neuroinflammatory response in fructose-fed mice, but these animals still exhibited neuronal loss. Gut microbiota compositional alteration, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) reduction, intestinal epithelial barrier impairment, NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 6 (NLRP6) inflammasome dysfunction, high levels of serum endotoxin, and FITC-dextran were observed in fructose-fed mice. Of note, SCFAs, as well as pioglitazone (a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist), shaped the gut microbiota and ameliorated intestinal epithelial barrier impairment and NLRP6 inflammasome dysfunction in fructose-fed mice. Moreover, SCFAs-mediated NLRP6 inflammasome activation was inhibited by histamine (a bacterial metabolite) in ex vivo colonic explants and suppressed in murine CT26 colon carcinoma cells transfected with NLRP6 siRNA. However, pioglitazone and GW9662 (a PPAR-γ antagonist) exerted no impact on SCFAs-mediated NLRP6 inflammasome activation in ex vivo colonic explants, suggesting that SCFAs may stimulate NLRP6 inflammasome independently of PPAR-γ activation. SCFAs and pioglitazone prevented fructose-induced hippocampal neuroinflammatory response and neuronal loss in mice. Additionally, SCFAs activated colonic NLRP6 inflammasome and increased DCX
newborn neurons in the hippocampal DG of control mice.
Our findings reveal that gut dysbiosis is a critical factor for a high-fructose diet-induced hippocampal neuroinflammation in C57BL/6N mice possibly mediated by impairing intestinal epithelial barrier. Mechanistically, the defective colonic NLRP6 inflammasome is responsible for intestinal epithelial barrier impairment. SCFAs can stimulate NLRP6 inflammasome and ameliorate the impairment of intestinal epithelial barrier, resulting in the protection against a high-fructose diet-induced hippocampal neuroinflammation and neuronal loss. This study addresses a gap in the understanding of neuronal injury associated with Western-style diets. A new intervention strategy for reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases through SCFAs supplementation or dietary fiber consumption is emphasized.
A robust cluster-based Eu-MOF has been created by a tetrazolyl-carboxyl linker, which shows great chemical and thermal stability and multiple functions of fluorescent sensor for the detection of ...antibiotics (MDZ, DMZ) and pesticides (DCN).
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•A robust cluster-based Eu-MOF as a fluorescence probe.•Resistance to water, organic solvents and wide pH value range.•Selective detection of MDZ, DMZ and DCN with low detection limit, rapid response.•Detected MDZ and DMZ in calf serum and sensed DCN in lake water.•Combining experiments and calculations to study the sensing mechanism.
As a hot issue of global concern, the abuse of organic pollutants, including pesticides and antibiotics poses a great threat to the human health and ecological environment. Effective and accurate detection of these species is of profound significance in many fields. In this work, a novel 3D metal-organic framework (MOF) Eu2(dtztp)(OH)2(DMF)(H2O)2.5·2H2O (1) was solvothermally synthesized. 1 is a three-dimensional framework based on tetranuclear Eu4(μ3-OH)4(μ2-OH2)8+ clusters, and reveals the great chemical stability and excellent tolerance in water and organic solvents. The MOF also shows strong fluorescence that was undisturbed by the pH in aqueous water (pH = 3–12). Importantly, 1 can quickly detect metronidazole (MDZ) and dimetridazole (DMZ) antibiotics as well as 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline (DCN) pesticide in water with good recyclability and low detection limit. MDZ, DMZ and DCN were also successfully detected in calf serum and lake water, respectively. The mechanism of fluorescence quenching was disclosed through the combination of experiments and density functional theory calculations.
In 2009, a mysterious illness associated with fever, thrombocytopenia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and leucopenia was seen in rural areas in central China, with an initial case fatality rate of 30%. ...After extensive investigation, a novel bunyavirus was identified.
Between late March and mid-July 2009, an emerging infectious disease, which was identified as the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), was reported in rural areas of Hubei and Henan provinces in Central China. The cause of the illness was unknown. The major clinical symptoms included fever, thrombocytopenia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and leukocytopenia, and there was an unusually high initial case fatality rate of 30%. In June 2009, an investigation was performed to identify whether the disease was caused by
Anaplasma phagocytophilum
or other pathogens. Although the clinical symptoms were considered to resemble those of human anaplasmosis,
1
neither bacterial DNA nor . . .
Background
Diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia have not been established in Chinese. This study established criteria based on the L3‐skeletal muscle index (L3‐SMI) and assessed its value for outcomes ...predicting in cirrhotic Chinese patients.
Methods
Totally 911 subjects who underwent a CT scan at two centres were enrolled in Cohort 1 (394 male and 417 female subjects, aged 20–80 years). The data of those subjects younger than 60 years (365 male and 296 female subjects) were used to determine the reference intervals of the L3‐SMI and its influencing factors. Cohort 2 consisted of 480 patients (286 male and 184 female patients) from three centres, and their data were used to investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia and evaluate the value of L3‐SMI for predicting the prognosis and complications of cirrhosis.
Results
Age and sex had the greatest effects on the L3‐SMI (P < 0.001). The L3‐SMI scores were clearly higher in male patients than in female patients (52.94 ± 8.41 vs. 38.91 ± 5.65 cm2/m2, P < 0.001) and sharply declined in subjects aged ≥ 60 years. Based on the mean −1.28 × SD among adults aged < 60 years, the L3‐SMI cut‐off value for sarcopenia was 44.77 cm2/m2 in male patients and 32.50 cm2/m2 in female patients. Using these values, 22.5% of the cirrhotic patients (28.7% of male patients and 11.9% of female patients) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Compared with non‐sarcopenia individuals, sarcopenia patients had lower body mass index (21.28 ± 3.01 vs. 24.09 ± 3.39 kg/m2, P < 0.001) and serum albumin levels (31.54 ± 5.93 vs. 32.93 ± 5.95 g/L, P = 0.032), longer prothrombin times (16.39 ± 3.05 vs. 15.71 ± 3.20 s, P = 0.049), higher total bilirubin concentrations (41.33 ± 57.38 vs. 32.52 ± 31.48 μmol/L, P = 0.039), worse liver function (Child–Pugh score, 8.05 ± 2.11 vs. 7.32 ± 2.05, P = 0.001), higher prevalence of cirrhosis‐related complications (81.82% vs. 62.24%, P < 0.001) and mortality (30.68% vs. 11.22%, P < 0.001). Overall survival was significantly lower in the sarcopenia group risk ratio (RR) = 2.643, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.646–4.244, P < 0.001, accompanied with an increased cumulative incidence of ascites (RR = 1.827, 95% CI 1.259–2.651, P = 0.002), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (RR = 3.331, 95% CI 1.404–7.903, P = 0.006), hepatic encephalopathy (RR = 1.962, 95% CI 1.070–3.600, P = 0.029), and upper gastrointestinal varices (RR = 2.138, 95% CI 1.319–3.466, P = 0.002). Subgroup analysis showed sarcopenia shortened the survival of the patients with Model For End‐Stage Liver Disease score > 14 (RR = 4.310, 95% CI 2.091–8.882, P < 0.001) or Child–Pugh C (RR = 3.081, 95% CI 1.516–6.260, P = 0.002).
Conclusions
Sarcopenia is a common comorbidity of cirrhosis and can be used to predict cirrhosis‐related complications and the prognosis.
Immune checkpoint blockade of the inhibitory immune receptors PD-L1, PD-1 and CTLA-4 has emerged as a successful treatment strategy for several advanced cancers. Here we demonstrate that miR-424(322) ...regulates the PD-L1/PD-1 and CD80/CTLA-4 pathways in chemoresistant ovarian cancer. miR-424(322) is inversely correlated with PD-L1, PD-1, CD80 and CTLA-4 expression. High levels of miR-424(322) in the tumours are positively correlated with the progression-free survival of ovarian cancer patients. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that miR-424(322) inhibited PD-L1 and CD80 expression through direct binding to the 3'-untranslated region. Restoration of miR-424(322) expression reverses chemoresistance, which is accompanied by blockage of the PD-L1 immune checkpoint. The synergistic effect of chemotherapy and immunotherapy is associated with the proliferation of functional cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and the inhibition of myeloid-derived suppressive cells and regulatory T cells. Collectively, our data suggest a biological and functional interaction between PD-L1 and chemoresistance through the microRNA regulatory cascade.
The full reaction photosynthesis of H2O2 that can combine water‐oxidation and oxygen‐reduction without sacrificial agents is highly demanded to maximize the light‐utilization and overcome the complex ...reaction‐process of anthraquinone‐oxidation. Here, a kind of oxidation‐reduction molecular junction covalent‐organic‐framework (TTF‐BT‐COF) has been synthesized through the covalent‐coupling of tetrathiafulvalene (photo‐oxidation site) and benzothiazole (photo‐reduction site), which presents visible‐light‐adsorption region, effective electron‐hole separation‐efficiency and photo‐redox sites that enables full reaction generation of H2O2. Specifically, a record‐high yield (TTF‐BT‐COF, ≈276 000 μM h−1 g−1) for H2O2 photosynthesis without sacrificial agents has been achieved among porous crystalline photocatalysts. This is the first work that can design oxidation‐reduction molecular junction COFs for full reaction photosynthesis of H2O2, which might extend the scope of COFs in H2O2 production.
A kind of oxidation‐reduction molecular junction covalent‐organic‐framework (TTF‐BT‐COF) has been prepared through the covalent‐coupling between oxidation group (TTF) and reduction group (BT), which can be successfully applied for the efficient full reaction photosynthesis of H2O2.