•A new avenue for the fabrication of cellulose film.•The cellulose film was highly transparent (over 90%) and weakly hydrophilic.•The degradation half-life of cellulose film was 20 days.•The flexible ...electroluminescent device had been constructed by the cellulose film.
Developing green substrates based on cellulose to substitute synthetic plastics meet the requirement for the sustainable future. However, cellulose-based substrates supporting for building electronic devices are usually opaque and highly hydrophilic, which ultimately limits the performance of optoelectronic devices. Herein, we report a new avenue for fabrication of highly transparent, weakly hydrophilic and biodegradable cellulose film. The acquired cellulose film not only has high transparency (over 90%), but also displays weak hydrophilicity (∼79° of initial water-contact angle) and still remains 3.5 MPa of tensile strength after soaking for two days in deionized water. Additionally, the degradation half-life of cellulose film is 20 days, and the cellulose films also have better thermostability. Moreover, the flexible electroluminescent devices have been successfully constructed by using this cellulose film as a green substrate. This novel strategy will greatly enrich the applications of cellulose films for next generation green electronics.
It is a challenge to synthesize all-in-one molecular networks that are autonomously self-healable over a wide temperature range (from subzero to high), transparent, stretchable, and conductive. Here ...we demonstrate the fabrication of self-healing, transparent, conductive, and highly stretchable elastomers by a photoinitiated copolymerization of two polymerizable deep eutectic solvent (PDES) monomers, acrylic amide (AAm)/choline chloride (ChCl) and maleic acid (MA)/ChCl type PDESs. Hydrogen bonds between binary building blocks of the poly(AAm/ChCl-co-MA/ChCl) system can readily break and reform, allowing such all organic designed elastomers to self-heal over a wide temperature ranging from −23 to 60 °C while keep a highly transparent appearance. The hypermolecular network elastomers showed a fast self-healing property (within 2 s) without any other external stimuli and excellent self-healing efficiency (up to 94%). The elastomers were highly transparent (an average transmittance of 95.1%), intrinsically conductive (an ionic conductivity of 4.0 × 10–4 S cm–1), and stretchable (strains up to 450%) at room temperature. We hypothesize that this behavior will find their potential use in display and/or optically related fields of stretchable electronics in harsh environments.
Stretchable and compressible hydrogels based on natural polymers have received immense considerations for electronics. The feasibility of using pure natural polymer-based hydrogels could be improved ...if their mechanical behaviors satisfy the requirements of practical applications. Herein, we report highly stretchable (tensile strain ∼126%) and compressible (compression strain ∼80%) cellulose ionic hydrogels (CIHs) among pure natural polymer-based hydrogels including cellulose, chitin, and chitosan via chemical cross-linking based on free radical polymerization of allyl cellulose in NaOH/urea aqueous solution. In addition, the hydrogels have good transparency (transmittance of ∼89% at 550 nm) and ionic conductivity (∼0.16 mS cm–1) and can be worked at −20 °C without freezing and visual loss of transparency. Moreover, the CIHs can serve as reliable and stable strain sensors and have been successfully used to monitor human activities. Significantly, the various properties of hydrogel can be controlled through rationally adjusting the chemically cross-linked density. Our methodology will prove useful in developing the satisfied mechanical and transparent CIHs for a myriad of applications in flexible electronics.
Oesophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers and is the sixth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Approximately 70% of global oesophageal cancer cases occur in China, with ...oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) being the histopathological form in the vast majority of cases (>90%). Currently, there are limited clinical approaches for the early diagnosis and treatment of ESCC, resulting in a 10% five-year survival rate for patients. However, the full repertoire of genomic events leading to the pathogenesis of ESCC remains unclear. Here we describe a comprehensive genomic analysis of 158 ESCC cases, as part of the International Cancer Genome Consortium research project. We conducted whole-genome sequencing in 17 ESCC cases and whole-exome sequencing in 71 cases, of which 53 cases, plus an additional 70 ESCC cases not used in the whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing, were subjected to array comparative genomic hybridization analysis. We identified eight significantly mutated genes, of which six are well known tumour-associated genes (TP53, RB1, CDKN2A, PIK3CA, NOTCH1, NFE2L2), and two have not previously been described in ESCC (ADAM29 and FAM135B). Notably, FAM135B is identified as a novel cancer-implicated gene as assayed for its ability to promote malignancy of ESCC cells. Additionally, MIR548K, a microRNA encoded in the amplified 11q13.3-13.4 region, is characterized as a novel oncogene, and functional assays demonstrate that MIR548K enhances malignant phenotypes of ESCC cells. Moreover, we have found that several important histone regulator genes (MLL2 (also called KMT2D), ASH1L, MLL3 (KMT2C), SETD1B, CREBBP and EP300) are frequently altered in ESCC. Pathway assessment reveals that somatic aberrations are mainly involved in the Wnt, cell cycle and Notch pathways. Genomic analyses suggest that ESCC and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma share some common pathogenic mechanisms, and ESCC development is associated with alcohol drinking. This study has explored novel biological markers and tumorigenic pathways that would greatly improve therapeutic strategies for ESCC.
•Review of graphene-assisted construction strategies of both metal and non-metal based electrocatalysts.•Discussion of CO2RR electrocatalytic performances of various graphene − metal ...composites.•Overview of enhancement approaches of the graphene-based non-metal CO2RR catalytic activities.•Challenges and perspectives for the future development of graphene-based CO2RR electrocatalysts.
The electrochemical conversion of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), to energy fuels and value-added chemicals presents one of the most valuable approaches to harvest pollutants and produce renewable energy. However, the stable molecular structure of CO2 and the sluggish reaction kinetics make CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) formidably challenging to achieve reaction rate and selectivity practical in industry. Graphene and its derivatives have been considered a group of intriguing materials to develop advanced CO2RR electrocatalysts due to their large specific surface area, remarkable electron transfer ability, superior stability, and easy tunability of the structure and surface properties. Herein, we comprehensively discuss the state-of-the-art electrocatalysts constructed with graphene and derivatives for active and selective CO2RR within the recent five years, mainly including the electrocatalysts with both metal-based (e.g., noble, non-noble, or combined thereof) and non-metal (e.g., doped, modified, defected, or composited) catalytic sites. To present the versatile, high-performance metal-based CO2RR electrocatalysts constructed with graphene, we further subdivide them according to the sizes, oxidation states, metal species synergies, dimensionalities, and versatility. Finally, we provide the challenges and perspectives in this emerging area of utilising CO2 to produce various carbon-based fuels and chemicals via graphene chemistry.
The population of
, situated on the edge of the typical grassland-to-desert transition in the Mu Us Sandy Land, plays a vital ecological role in maintaining stability within the regional fragile ...ecosystem. Despite the consistent growth of
following animal grazing, the biological mechanisms underlying its compensatory growth in response to livestock consumption remain unclear. Analyzing 48 metabolomic profiles from
, our study reveals that the grazing process induces significant changes in the metabolic pathways of
branches. Differential metabolites show correlations with soluble protein content, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and proline levels. Moreover, machine learning models built on these differential metabolites accurately predict the intensity of
grazing (with an accuracy of 83.3%). The content of various metabolites, indicative of plant stress responses, including Enterolactone, Narceine, and Folcepri, exhibits significant variations in response to varying grazing intensities (
0.05). Our investigation reveals that elevated grazing intensity intensifies the stress response in
, triggering heightened antioxidative defenses and stress-induced biochemical activities. Distinctive metabolites play a pivotal role in responding to stress, facilitating the plant's adaptation to environmental challenges and fostering regeneration.
Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are transforming the treatment approach for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). However, little is known about the intertumor heterogeneity (ITH) of multifocal ...ICC and its impacts on patient response to these treatments. We aimed to characterize the immunogenomic and epigenomic heterogeneity of multifocal ICC to guide treatment decision making.
We obtained 66 tumor samples from 16 patients with multifocal ICC and characterized the tumor and immune heterogeneity using whole-exome sequencing, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, methylation microarray, and multiplex immunostaining. Patients were divided into high- or low-ITH groups according to the median ITH index. Two independent cohorts were used to validate findings. Responses to anti-PD-1 therapy were assessed.
Multifocal ICC presented considerable intertumor genomic, transcriptional, and epigenomic heterogeneity within a patient in high ITH group. The immune profile among multiple tumors within a patient was relatively less heterogeneous in high- or low-ITH group, and consistent responses of multiple tumors to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy were observed. Unsupervised clustering of immune markers identified one low and one high immune subtype, with higher immune cell infiltration, closer tumor-immune cell interactions, and upregulated IFN-signature expression in high-immune subtype. Determining expression levels of CD8B and ICOS facilitated this immune classification and prediction of patient prognosis. Finally, promoter DNA methylation contributed to different immune profiles of two subtypes by regulating immune-gene expression.
There is comprehensive heterogeneity in the genome, transcriptome, and epigenome of multifocal ICC. On the basis of the less heterogeneous immune profile of ICC, we suggest an immune classification that stratifies patients' prognosis and may support personalized immunotherapy.
The biosynthesis of the secondary cell wall (SCW) is orchestrated by an intricate hierarchical transcriptional regulatory network. This network is initiated by first-layer master switches, SCW-NAC ...transcription factors, which in turn activate the second-layer master switches MYBs. These switches play a crucial role in regulating xylem specification and differentiation during SCW formation. However, the roles of most MYBs in woody plants are yet to be fully understood.
In this study, we identified and isolated the R2R3-MYB transcription factor,
, from
. We explored its expression, mainly in xylem tissues, and its role as a transcriptional repressor in the nucleus. We used overexpression and RNA interference techniques in poplar, along with Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays, to analyze the regulatory effects of
.
Overexpression of
in poplar significantly reduced lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose content, and inhibited vascular development in stems, resulting in decreased SCW thickness in xylem tissues. Gene expression analysis showed that structural genes involved in SCW biosynthesis were downregulated in
lines. Conversely, RNA interference of
increased these compounds. Additionally, PtoMYB031 was found to recruit the repressor PtoZAT11, forming a transcriptional inhibition complex.
Our findings provide new insights into how PtoMYB031, through its interaction with PtoZAT11, forms a complex that can suppress the expression of key regulatory genes,
and
, in SCW biosynthesis. This study enhances our understanding of the transcriptional regulation involved in SCW formation in poplar, highlighting the significant role of PtoMYB031.
BackgroundProgrammed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade induces tumor regression in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); however, little is known about the efficacy of PD-1 ...blockade as neoadjuvant therapy in resectable ESCC. We aim to assess the safety and feasibility of using the combination of neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade with chemotherapy in patients with ESCC.MethodsPatients with previously untreated, resectable (stage II or III) ESCC were enrolled. Each patient received two 21-day cycles of neoadjuvant treatment with camrelizumab, nab-paclitaxel, and carboplatin before undergoing surgical resection approximately 6–9 weeks after the first cycle.ResultsBetween January 2020 and September 2020, 37 patients were screened, of whom 23 were enrolled. The neoadjuvant therapeutic regimen had an acceptable side effect profile, and no delays in surgery were observed. Severe (grade 3–4) treatment-related adverse events included neutropenia (9 of 23, 39.1%) and leukopenia (2 of 23, 8.7%). The objective response and disease control rates were 90.5% and 100%, respectively. Twenty patients received surgery, and R0 resection was achieved in all cases. Five (25%) patients had a pathological complete response (PCR) and 10 (50%) patients had a major pathological response. The proportion of patients with a high tumor mutation burden and a high expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in primary tumor was significantly higher in the PCR group than in the non-PCR group (p=0.044). The number of infiltrating PD-L1+ CD163+ cells was significantly lower in the PCR group than in the non-PCR group after treatment (p=0.017).ConclusionsNeoadjuvant camrelizumab plus carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel had manageable treatment-related adverse effects and induced an objective response in 90.5% of patients, demonstrating its antitumor efficacy in resectable ESCC.Trial registration numberChiCTR2000028900.
Aspergillus oryzae, an important filamentous fungus used in food fermentation and the enzyme industry, has been shown through genome sequencing and various other tools to have prominent features in ...its genomic composition. However, the functional complexity of the A. oryzae transcriptome has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we applied direct high-throughput paired-end RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) to the transcriptome of A. oryzae under four different culture conditions. With the high resolution and sensitivity afforded by RNA-Seq, we were able to identify a substantial number of novel transcripts, new exons, untranslated regions, alternative upstream initiation codons and upstream open reading frames, which provide remarkable insight into the A. oryzae transcriptome. We were also able to assess the alternative mRNA isoforms in A. oryzae and found a large number of genes undergoing alternative splicing. Many genes and pathways that might be involved in higher levels of protein production in solid-state culture than in liquid culture were identified by comparing gene expression levels between different cultures. Our analysis indicated that the transcriptome of A. oryzae is much more complex than previously anticipated, and these results may provide a blueprint for further study of the A. oryzae transcriptome.
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