Interactions between polymer molecules and inorganic nanoparticles can play a dominant role in nanocomposite material mechanics, yet control of such interfacial interaction dynamics remains a ...significant challenge particularly in water. This study presents insights on how to engineer hydrogel material mechanics via nanoparticle interface-controlled cross-link dynamics. Inspired by the adhesive chemistry in mussel threads, we have incorporated iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) into a catechol-modified polymer network to obtain hydrogels cross-linked via reversible metal-coordination bonds at Fe3O4 NP surfaces. Unique material mechanics result from the supra-molecular cross-link structure dynamics in the gels; in contrast to the previously reported fluid-like dynamics of transient catechol-Fe(3+) cross-links, the catechol-Fe3O4 NP structures provide solid-like yet reversible hydrogel mechanics. The structurally controlled hierarchical mechanics presented here suggest how to develop hydrogels with remote-controlled self-healing dynamics.
Mitochondria are central hubs for energy production, metabolism and cellular signal transduction in eukaryotic cells. Maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis is important for cellular function and ...survival. In particular, cellular metabolic state is in constant communication with mitochondrial homeostasis. One of the most important metabolic processes that provide energy in the cell is amino acid metabolism. Almost all of the 20 amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins are produced or degraded in the mitochondria. The synthesis of the amino acids aspartate and arginine depends on the activity of the respiratory chain, which is essential for cell proliferation. The degradation of branched-chain amino acids mainly occurs in the mitochondrial matrix, contributing to energy metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, as well as protein quality control in both mitochondria and cytosol. Dietary supplementation or restriction of amino acids in worms, flies and mice modulates lifespan and health, which has been associated with changes in mitochondrial biogenesis, antioxidant response, as well as the activity of tricarboxylic acid cycle and respiratory chain. Consequently, impaired amino acid metabolism has been associated with both primary mitochondrial diseases and diseases with mitochondrial dysfunction such as cancer. Here, we present recent observations on the crosstalk between amino acid metabolism and mitochondrial homeostasis, summarise the underlying molecular mechanisms to date, and discuss their role in cellular functions and organismal physiology.
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•History of nanomaterial-based membrane in water purification and its performance.•Strategies of nanomaterial-based membrane structure design and latest studies.•Current challenges ...and the possible toxicity of nanomaterials were discussed.
Nanomaterial and nanotechnology have emerged as the best possible methods to develop high-performance separation membrane and help solve the expected global water crisis. These nanomaterial-based membranes, including nanoparticles, nanofibers, two-dimensional layer materials, and other nanostructured nanomaterials and their composites, exhibit extraordinary permeation properties as well as some additional properties (antifouling, antibacterial, photodegradation, etc.), opening a new avenue to ultra-fast and highly selective membranes for water purification. An overview of current commercial membrane history and the advances of nanomaterial-based membrane were briefly summarized. The focus was on the strategies of nanomaterial-based membrane structure design and latest ground-breaking studies in this area. At the end, the current challenges and the possible toxicity of nanomaterials were simply discussed. Diversity in constituent, structure and modification all make the nanomaterial-based membrane possible to be an ideal separation membrane in future.
Tuning the threshold voltage of a transistor is crucial for realizing robust digital circuits. For silicon transistors, the threshold voltage can be accurately controlled by doping. However, it ...remains challenging to tune the threshold voltage of single-wall nanotube (SWNT) thin-film transistors. Here, we report a facile method to controllably n-dope SWNTs using 1 H -benzoimidazole derivatives processed via either solution coating or vacuum deposition. The threshold voltages of our polythiophene-sorted SWNT thin-film transistors can be tuned accurately and continuously over a wide range. Photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirmed that the SWNT Fermi level shifted to the conduction band edge with increasing doping concentration. Using this doping approach, we proceeded to fabricate SWNT complementary inverters by inkjet printing of the dopants. We observed an unprecedented noise margin of 28 V at V DD = 80 V (70% of 1/2 V DD) and a gain of 85. Additionally, robust SWNT complementary metal−oxide−semiconductor inverter (noise margin 72% of 1/2 V DD) and logic gates with rail-to-rail output voltage swing and subnanowatt power consumption were fabricated onto a highly flexible substrate.
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone tumor with high pathological heterogeneity. Our study aimed to investigate disulfidptosis-related modification patterns in OS and their ...relationship with survival outcomes in patients with OS. We analyzed the single-cell-level expression profiles of disulfidptosis-related genes (DSRGs) in both OS microenvironment and OS subclusters, and HMGB1 was found to be crucial for intercellular regulation of OS disulfidptosis. Next, we explored the molecular clusters of OS based on DSRGs and related immune cell infiltration using transcriptome data. Subsequently, the hub genes of disulfidptosis in OS were screened by applying multiple machine models. In vitro and patient experiments validated our results. Three main disulfidptosis-related molecular clusters were defined in OS, and immune infiltration analysis suggested high immune heterogeneity between distinct clusters. The in vitro experiment confirmed decreased cell viability of OS after ACTB silencing and higher expression of ACTB in patients with lower immune scores. Our study systematically revealed the underlying relationship between disulfidptosis and OS at the single-cell level, identified disulfidptosis-related subtypes, and revealed the potential role of ACTB expression in OS disulfidptosis.
Osteosarcoma (OS) is a type of tumor. Osteosarcoma stem cells (OSCs) are responsible for drug resistance, recurrence, and immunosuppression in OS. We aimed to determine the heterogeneity of OSCs and ...the immunosuppression mechanisms underlying the interactions between OSCs and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The cell components, trajectory changes, and cell communication profiles of OS cells were analyzed by transcriptomics at the single-cell level. The intercellular communication patterns of OSCs were verified, and the role of the cell hub genes was revealed. Hub geneS are genes that play important roles in regulating certain biological processes; they are often defined as the genes with the strongest regulatory effect on differentially expressed gene sets. Moreover, various cellular components of the OS microenvironment were identified. Malignant cells were grouped, and OSCs were identified. Further regrouping and communication analysis revealed that the genes in the stemness maintenance and differentiation subgroups were involved in communication with macrophages. Key receptor-ligand pairs and target gene sets for cell communication were obtained. Transcriptome data analysis revealed the key gene RARRES2, which is involved in intercellular communication between OSCs and TAMs. In vitro studies confirmed that macrophages promote RARRES2-mediated stemness maintenance in OSCs via the TAM-secreted cytokine insulin-like growth factor 1. Patient studies confirmed that RARRES2 could be a biomarker of OS. OSCs are highly heterogeneous, and different subgroups are responsible for proliferation and communication with other cells. The IGF-RARRES2 axis plays a key role in maintaining OSC stemness through communication with TAMs.
Energy security and environmental pollution have become key issues affecting the sustainable development of China’s economy and society. Therefore, it is particularly important for China to adopt ...effective policies and measures to control the excessive growth of energy consumption and improve energy efficiency. This paper uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure the total-factor energy efficiencies (TFEEs) of 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 2008 to 2017 and analyses the evolution of the spatial heterogeneity pattern of regional energy efficiency. Then, a spatial autocorrelation approach is applied to explore the spatial agglomeration characteristics of regional energy efficiency in China, and GeoDetector is used to assess the direct and cross-driving effects of five policy types on spatial heterogeneity and agglomeration characteristics. The results show that the spatial heterogeneity pattern of regional energy efficiency in China is significantly higher in the eastern area than in the central and western areas, with strong spatial agglomeration characteristics overall, but especially significant agglomeration in areas with low energy efficiency. Urbanisation is the leading policy driving spatial heterogeneity, and the interaction factors, especially those including urbanisation, form the most significant multiple spatial overlapping interaction effects. To improve regional energy efficiency, the government should consider overall national goals and the characteristics driving the spatial heterogeneity of energy efficiency and implement differentiated policies.
Clarifying the key sectors and influencing factors of carbon emissions from energy consumption is an important prerequisite for achieving the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals. This study ...calculated the carbon emissions of fuel combustion in 7 major departments and regional electricity trading of Sichuan Province from 2000 to 2021, and empirically analyzed the impact of energy structure effect, energy intensity effect, industrial structure effect, economic development level effect, and population size effect on the carbon emissions of energy consumption based on the LMDI model. The main research conclusions are as follows: (1) LMDI model has the advantages of no residual and high interpretation. By refining the multi-departments of energy consumption and different types of fuel, it is helpful to improve the accuracy of empirical analysis results. (2) The carbon emissions of energy consumption mainly come from the fuel combustion process. Specifically, the industry sector composed of steel, building materials, chemicals and machinery is the key emission sector, and transportation and residential life are also vital. Regional electricity trading can indirectly reduce the intensity of carbon emissions while ensuring the safety of energy supply. (3) From 2000 to 2021, the energy intensity effect and the economic development level effect were key factors in slowing down and promoting the carbon emission growth of energy consumption in Sichuan Province, respectively. The population scale effect mainly played a positive role in driving carbon emissions, but the impact is small and almost negligible. Before 2012, the energy structure effect and the industrial structure effect were mainly positive driving effects, and after 2012, they all turned into negative inhibitory effects. This was mainly due to the low-carbon transformation of energy structure and the optimization of industrial structure.
Kinesin-1 (hereafter referred to as kinesin) is a major microtubule-based motor protein for plus-end-directed intracellular transport in live cells. While the single-molecule functions of kinesin are ...well characterized, the physiologically relevant transport of membranous cargos by small teams of kinesins remains poorly understood. A key experimental challenge remains in the quantitative control of the number of motors driving transport. Here we utilized "motile fraction" to overcome this challenge and experimentally accessed transport by a single kinesin through the physiologically relevant transport by a small team of kinesins. We used a fluid lipid bilayer to model the cellular membrane in vitro and employed optical trapping to quantify the transport of membrane-enclosed cargos versus traditional membrane-free cargos under identical conditions. We found that coupling motors via a fluid membrane significantly enhances the velocity of cargo transport by small teams of kinesins. Importantly, enclosing a cargo in a fluid lipid membrane did not impact single-kinesin transport, indicating that membrane-dependent velocity enhancement for team-based transport arises from altered interactions between kinesins. Our study demonstrates that membrane-based coupling between motors is a key determinant of kinesin-based transport. Enhanced velocity may be critical for fast delivery of cargos in live cells.
The purpose of vehicle reidentification is to distinguish the same vehicle from different vehicles using different cameras. The main challenge of this task is the significant intra‐instance ...discrepancy of the same vehicle from different views and the subtle inter‐instance differences of similar vehicles from the same views. To address this problem, researchers have attempted to align features from different views, such as using additional metadata (colour, type, key points, mask, etc.) to improve performance. Although these attempts improve the performance of vehicle reidentification, considerable efforts are required to create additional precise annotations to the data before using these methods. This results in expensive data preparation costs, rendering these methods less convenient to use. Therefore, we propose a novel deep learning network, called a mixed‐attention‐based regional soft partition network, to address this problem. This network does not require additional metadata annotations; it only trains the identity label as a supervision signal and uses soft partition attention to identify specific vehicle regions. Experiments showed that the performance of the proposed method was comparable to that of the state‐of‐the‐art method with additional annotations on the VeRri‐776 and VERI‐Wild datasets.
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