Plastic crystal neopentylglycol (NPG) exhibits colossal barocaloric effects (BCEs) with record-high entropy changes, offering exciting prospects for the field of solid-state cooling through the ...application of moderate pressures. Here, we show that the intermolecular hydrogen bond plays a key role in the orientational order of NPG molecules, while its broken due to thermal perturbation prominently weakens the activation barrier of orientational disorder. The analysis of hydrogen bond strength, rotational entropy free energy and entropy changes provides insightful understanding of BCEs in order-disorder transition. External pressure reduce the hydsrogen bond length and enhance the activation barrier of orientational disorder, which serves as a route of varying intermolecular interaction to tune the order-disorder transition. Our work provides atomic-scale insights on the orientational order-disorder transition of NPG as the prototypical plastic crystal with BCEs, which is helpful to achieve superior caloric materials by molecular designing in the near future.
The 14‐3‐3 proteins bind to and modulate the activity of phosphorylated proteins that regulate a variety of metabolic processes in plants. Over the past decade interest in the plant 14‐3‐3 field has ...increased dramatically, mainly due to the vast number of mechanisms by which 14‐3‐3 proteins regulate metabolism. As this field develops, it is essential to understand the role of these proteins in metabolic and stress responses. This review summarizes current knowledge about 14‐3‐3 proteins in plants, including their molecular structure and function, regulatory mechanism and roles in carbon and nitrogen metabolism and stress responses. We begin with a molecular structural analysis of 14‐3‐3 proteins, which describes the basic principles of 14‐3‐3 function, and then discuss the regulatory mechanisms and roles in carbon and nitrogen metabolism of 14‐3‐3 proteins. We conclude with a summary of the 14‐3‐3 response to biotic stress and abiotic stress.
By binding to and modulating the activity of phosphorylated proteins, 14‐3‐3 proteins regulate various metabolic processes in plants, including carbon and nitrogen metabolism, stress response, and other metabolic processes.
Telomerase activation through induction of telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) contributes to malignant transformation by stabilizing telomeres. Clinical studies demonstrate that higher hTERT ...expression is associated with cancer progression and poor outcomes, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Because epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are key factors in cancer metastasis and relapse, and hTERT has been shown to exhibit multiple biological activities independently of its telomere-lengthening function, we address a potential role of hTERT in EMT and CSCs using gastric cancer (GC) as a model. hTERT overexpression promotes, whereas its inhibition suppresses, EMT and stemness of GC cells, respectively. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and β-catenin-mediated EMT was abolished by small interfering RNA depletion of hTERT expression. hTERT interacts with β-catenin, enhances its nuclear localization and transcriptional activity, and occupies the β-catenin target vimentin promoter. All these hTERT effects were independent of its telomere-lengthening function or telomerase activity. hTERT and EMT marker expression correlates positively in GC samples. Mouse experiments demonstrate the in vivo stimulation of hTERT on cancer cell colonization. Collectively, hTERT stimulates EMT and induces stemness of cancer cells, thereby promoting cancer metastasis and recurrence. Thus, targeting hTERT may prevent cancer progression by inhibiting EMT and CSCs.
Objective
To compare the bone healing effects of denosumab and alendronate in female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients by high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography.
Methods
This is ...a post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Forty patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either subcutaneous denosumab (60 mg) once or oral alendronate (70 mg) weekly for 6 months. The size of individual bone erosions and the presence and extent of erosion‐associated sclerosis (marginal osteosclerosis) were measured in the second metacarpal head of the nondominant hand at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.
Results
Forty‐two erosions were identified at baseline. After 6 months, the width, depth, and volume of erosion significantly decreased in the denosumab group (−0.23 mm, −0.16 mm, −0.91 mm3, respectively; all P < 0.01), whereas these parameters significantly increased in the alendronate group (0.19 mm, 0.32 mm, and 1.38 mm3, respectively; all P < 0.01; between‐group differences, P < 0.01 for all). Quantitative analysis showed that the bone mineral density of the erosion margin significantly increased only after treatment by denosumab (19.75 mg/cm3; P < 0.05 for denosumab, and −5.44 mg/cm3; P = 0.51 for alendronate; P < 0.05 for between‐group differences).
Conclusion
Inhibition of receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand by denosumab can induce partial repair of erosions in patients with RA, while erosions continued to progress in patients treated with alendronate. Combining denosumab with disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs may be considered for RA patients with progressive bone erosions.
The Omicron variant is rapidly becoming the dominant SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating globally. It is important to define reductions in virus neutralizing activity in the serum of convalescent or ...vaccinated individuals to understand potential loss of protection against infection by Omicron. We previously established that a 50% plaque reduction neutralization antibody titer (PRNT
) ≥25.6 in our live virus assay corresponded to the threshold for 50% protection from infection against wild-type (WT) SARS-CoV-2. Here we show markedly reduced serum antibody titers against the Omicron variant (geometric mean titer (GMT) < 10) compared to WT virus 3-5 weeks after two doses of BNT162b2 (GMT = 218.8) or CoronaVac vaccine (GMT = 32.5). A BNT162b2 booster dose elicited Omicron PRNT
titers ≥25.6 in 88% of individuals (22 of 25) who previously received 2 doses of BNT162b2 and 80% of individuals (24 of 30) who previously received CoronaVac. However, few (3%) previously infected individuals (1 of 30) or those vaccinated with three doses of CoronaVac (1 of 30) met this threshold. Our findings suggest that countries primarily using CoronaVac vaccines should consider messenger RNA vaccine boosters in response to the spread of Omicron. Studies evaluating the effectiveness of different vaccines against the Omicron variant are urgently needed.
Aquaculture in salt‐alkaline regions is encouraged in China, and culture of many aquatic species has been introduced into these areas. In this study, we cultured two species, white shrimp ...(Litopenaeus vannamei) and channel catfish (Letalurus punetaus) separately in aquaculture ponds in a salt‐alkaline region in northwest China and assessed the impacts of the aquaculture operations on the planktonic bacterial community in the culture ponds. Culture of both species decreased the planktonic bacterial diversity and altered the bacterial community structure in the aquaculture ponds compared with the source water. Among the 10 dominant bacterial phyla, 8 were significantly correlated with environmental parameters; the exception was Actinobacteriota, the most dominant phylum, and Firmicutes. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota abundances showed significant positive correlations with alkalinity, whereas Patescibacteria, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetota, and Verrucomicrobiota abundance were positively correlated with salinity. Linear regression analysis showed that alkalinity was positively correlated with bacterial beta diversity and salinity was negatively correlated with that. In addition, white shrimp aquaculture significantly lowered the alkalinity, which suggests that culture of this species in inland salt‐alkaline regions is a potential dealkalization solution.
Significance and Impact of the Study: In this study, we cultured white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and channel catfish (Letalurus punetaus) separately in a salt‐alkaline region and assessed the impacts of the aquaculture operations on the planktonic bacteria. We found that the culture of both species altered planktonic bacterial communities and the correlation between bacterial beta diversity and the salt‐alkalinity in the pond water was significant. In addition, aquaculture of white shrimp significantly lowered the alkalinity, which suggests that the culture of this species in inland salt‐alkaline regions is a potential dealkalization solution. The results may help improve the aquaculture technologies in inland saline‐alkaline regions.
Magnetic fields are ubiquitous in the Universe. The energy density of these fields is typically comparable to the energy density of the fluid motions of the plasma in which they are embedded, making ...magnetic fields essential players in the dynamics of the luminous matter. The standard theoretical model for the origin of these strong magnetic fields is through the amplification of tiny seed fields via turbulent dynamo to the level consistent with current observations. However, experimental demonstration of the turbulent dynamo mechanism has remained elusive, since it requires plasma conditions that are extremely hard to re-create in terrestrial laboratories. Here we demonstrate, using laser-produced colliding plasma flows, that turbulence is indeed capable of rapidly amplifying seed fields to near equipartition with the turbulent fluid motions. These results support the notion that turbulent dynamo is a viable mechanism responsible for the observed present-day magnetization.
Ultraviolet laser radiation has been adopted in a wide range of applications as diverse as water purification, flexible displays, data storage, sterilization, diagnosis and bioagent detection. ...Success in developing semiconductor-based, compact ultraviolet laser sources, however, has been extremely limited. Here, we report that defect-free disordered AlGaN core-shell nanowire arrays, formed directly on a Si substrate, can be used to achieve highly stable, electrically pumped lasers across the entire ultraviolet AII (UV-AII) band (∼320-340 nm) at low temperatures. The laser threshold is in the range of tens of amps per centimetre squared, which is nearly three orders of magnitude lower than those of previously reported quantum-well lasers. This work also reports the first demonstration of electrically injected AlGaN-based ultraviolet lasers monolithically grown on a Si substrate, and offers a new avenue for achieving semiconductor lasers in the ultraviolet B (UV-B) (280-320 nm) and ultraviolet C (UV-C) (<280 nm) bands.
Purpose
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has rapidly emerged as a global health threat. The purpose of this article is to share our local experience of stepping up infection control measures in ...ophthalmology to minimise COVID-19 infection of both healthcare workers and patients.
Methods
Infection control measures implemented in our ophthalmology clinic are discussed. The measures are based on detailed risk assessment by both local ophthalmologists and infection control experts.
Results
A three-level hierarchy of control measures was adopted. First, for administrative control, in order to lower patient attendance, text messages with an enquiry phone number were sent to patients to reschedule appointments or arrange drug refill. In order to minimise cross-infection of COVID-19, a triage system was set up to identify patients with fever, respiratory symptoms, acute conjunctivitis or recent travel to outbreak areas and to encourage these individuals to postpone their appointments for at least 14 days. Micro-aerosol generating procedures, such as non-contact tonometry and operations under general anaesthesia were avoided. Nasal endoscopy was avoided as it may provoke sneezing and cause generation of droplets. All elective clinical services were suspended. Infection control training was provided to all clinical staff. Second, for environmental control, to reduce droplet transmission of COVID-19, installation of protective shields on slit lamps, frequent disinfection of equipment, and provision of eye protection to staff were implemented. All staff were advised to measure their own body temperatures before work and promptly report any symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, vomiting or diarrhoea. Third, universal masking, hand hygiene, and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) were promoted.
Conclusion
We hope our initial experience in stepping up infection control measures for COVID-19 infection in ophthalmology can help ophthalmologists globally to prepare for the potential community outbreak or pandemic. In order to minimise transmission of COVID-19, ophthalmologists should work closely with local infection control teams to implement infection control measures that are appropriate for their own clinical settings.
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