Certain ciliates of the subclass Scuticociliatia (scuticociliates) are facultative parasites of fishes in which they cause a suite of diseases collectively termed scuticociliatosis. Hitherto, ...comparatively little was known about genetics and genomics of scuticociliates or the mechanism of scuticociliatosis. In this study, a laboratory culture of the facultatively pathogenic scuticociliate Pseudocohnilembus persalinus was established and its genome sequenced, giving the first genome of a marine ciliate. Genome-wide horizontal gene transfer (HGT) analysis showed P. persalinus has acquired many unique prokaryote-derived genes that potentially contribute to the virulence of this organism, including cell adhesion, hemolysis and heme utilization genes. These findings give new insights into our understanding of the pathology of scuticociliates.
The transcription factor B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is an oncogenic driver of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mediates lymphomagenesis through transcriptional repression of its target genes ...by recruiting corepressors to its N-terminal broad-complex/tramtrack/bric-a-brac (BTB) domain. Blocking the protein-protein interactions of BCL6 and its corepressors has been proposed as an effective approach for the treatment of DLBCL. However, BCL6 inhibitors with excellent drug-like properties are rare. Hence, the development of BCL6 inhibitors is worth pursuing. We screened our internal chemical library by luciferase reporter assay and Homogenous Time Resolved Fluorescence (HTRF) assay and a small molecule compound named WK500B was identified. WK500B engaged BCL6 inside cells, blocked BCL6 repression complexes, reactivated BCL6 target genes, killed DLBCL cells and caused apoptosis as well as cell cycle arrest. In animal models, WK500B inhibited germinal center (GC) formation and DLBCL tumour growth without toxic and side effects. Moreover, WK500B displayed strong efficacy and favourable pharmacokinetics and presented superior druggability. Therefore, WK500B is a promising candidate that could be developed as an effective orally available therapeutic agent for DLBCL.
•WK500B exhibits potent efficacy against DLBCL in vitro and in vivo.•WK500B shows favourable pharmacokinetic and presents superior druggability.•WK500B could be a promising therapeutic drug candidate for DLBCL.
Direct nonoxidative methane conversion (DNMC) transforms CH4 to higher (C2+) hydrocarbons and H2 in a single step, but its utility is challenged by low CH4 equilibrium conversion, carbon deposition ...(coking), and its endothermic reaction energy requirement. This work reports a heat‐exchanged autothermal H2‐permeable tubular membrane reactor composed of a thin mixed ionic‐electronic conducting SrCe0.7Zr0.2Eu0.1O3–δ membrane supported on a porous SrCe0.8Zr0.2O3–δ tube in which a Fe/SiO2 DNMC catalyst is packed, that concurrently tackles all of these challenges. The H2‐permeation flux drives CH4 conversion. O2 from an air simulant (O2/He mixture) sweep outside the membrane reacts with permeated H2 to provide heat for the endothermic DNMC reaction. The energy balance between the endothermic DNMC and exothermic H2 combustion on opposite sides of the membrane is achieved, demonstrating the feasibility for autothermal operation using a simple air sweep gas. Moreover, the back diffusion of O2 from the sweep side to the catalyst side oxidizes any deposited carbon into CO. Thus, for the first time demonstrating all the desired attributes, a heat‐exchanged H2‐permeable membrane reactor capable of achieving single‐step auto‐thermal DNMC catalysis while simultaneously improving CH4 conversion and preventing coking is achieved.
Modular gas‐to‐liquid (GTL) technology enables the utilization of immense stranded natural gas resources with major environmental benefits. By converting gaseous CH4 into liquid C2+ hydrocarbons, transportation of these liquid hydrocarbons becomes economically viable. In this paper, the first‐ever autothermal direct nonoxidative methane conversion (DNMC) to value added C2+ hydrocarbons in an integrated DNMC‐catalyst/H2‐permeable‐membrane modular reactor is presented.
The Ka-band dual one-way measurements from Inter-Satellite Link (ISL) devices equipped on the third-generation Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS3) follow a time division multiple access (TDMA) ...structure and can calculate inter-satellite and satellite-ground clock offsets. L-band two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) is also applied for time synchronization between satellites and ground master. We focus on a full-ISL clock offset estimation and prediction algorithm that estimates all satellite clock parameters simultaneously utilizing ISL clock observations and also synchronizes the constellation to the system time in Beidou Time (BDT) using Ka-band satellite-ground clock observations. We discuss the applications of this algorithm by assessing the clock performance of all BDS3 satellites equipped with a passive hydrogen maser (PHM) or rubidium atomic clock. After investigating the proper prediction model for each satellite, we use the full-ISL algorithm for 24-h clock predictions. The constant hardware delays in the ISL measurements are calibrated by comparing the derived clock parameters with TWSTFT measurements; the full-ISL clock products show high accuracy and continuity. The BDS3 PHMs and rubidium clocks both have a small clock rate drift of 10
–20
s/s
2
. The frequency stability of the BDS3 PHMs and some rubidium clocks is approximately 6–9 × 10
–15
at 1-day intervals. A linear model is suitable for these small-drift clocks, while a quadratic model is essential for the other rubidium clocks. Applying the full-ISL clock prediction method improves the RMS of the 24 h prediction error from 0.88 to 0.75 ns for PHMs and from 2.62 to 1.64 ns for rubidium clocks. The estimated ISL hardware delay STDs are less than 0.2 ns, and the prediction errors evaluated with TWSTFT clock observations are similar to those evaluated with Ka-band clock observations.
The spatial and temporal characteristics of lightning activities have been studied in seven super typhoons from 2005 to 2008 over the Northwest Pacific, using data from the World Wide Lightning ...Location Network (WWLLN). The results indicated that there were three distinct lightning flash regions in mature typhoon, a significant maximum in the eyewall regions (20–80 km from the center), a minimum from 80–200 km, and a strong maximum in the outer rainbands (out of 200 km from the center). The lightning flashes in the outer rainbands were much more than those in the inner rainbands, and less than 1% of flashes occurred within 100 km of the center. Each typhoon produced eyewall lightning outbreak during the periods of its intensification, usually several hours prior to its maximum intensity, indicating that lightning activity might be used as a proxy of intensification of super typhoon. Little lightning occurred near the center after landing of the typhoon.
Using the data from SAFIR3000 lightning detection network and Doppler weather radar, the characteristics of lightning activity in a squall line on July 31, 2007 were analyzed. In this study, the ...lightning activity and inferred charge structure of squall line were obtained. Our results reveal that: 1) the horizontal projection of the lightning radiation sources mainly corresponded to the high radar reflectivity area of the squall line, and 2) the vertical distribution of the lightning radiation sources developed from two layers into three layers. At the developing stage of squall line, the upper lightning radiation sources were centered at 11km MSL, while the lower radiation sources were located at 4km MSL. Assuming that the maximum lightning radiation sources were corresponding to the positive charge region, the squall line showed a dipole charge structure with an upper positive charge region and a lower negative charge region. At its mature stage, the entire squall line was characterized by a multi-layer charge structure with three layers of positive charge at 5km MSL, 9.5km MSL, and 13km MSL, and a two-layer negative charge region at 7km MSL and 11km MSL.
•Lightning radiation source distribution of squall line was shown.•Inferred charge structure of a squall line was indicated.•We investigated the relationship of lightning activity and radar reflectivity.
The 17th National Annual Conference on Neurological Infectious Diseases and Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytology of the Chinese Medical Association Neurology Branch was successfully held in Wuhan, Hubei, ...China. During the conference, many well-known neurology experts in China conducted in-depth and detailed discussions on the research progress of infectious diseases of the nervous system and cerebrospinal fluid cytology, which benefited the participants a lot.
In order to improve the service performance of carbon fiber reinforced polyimide (CF/PI) composites, the interfacial adhesion and failure mechanism were investigated via micro-bond test. Composites ...were formed by carbon fiber (sized and unsized TG800) and PI matrix (KH308 and KH500), and various heat treatments were designed and performed on each system. The results of CF/PI composites after high-temperature treatments showed that the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) always increased and then decreased with the increasing temperate due to the change of failure modes, and the performance retention rate of composites formed by KH500 was much higher under the same treatment. While the IFSS results of composites formed by KH308 and KH500 after long-time treatments were completely different, reflecting the proper service temperature of CF/PI composites. Besides, although it would decompose during curing process, the sizing agents still increased the active functionality on fiber surfaces, contributing to the interfacial adhesion of CF/PI composites at high temperature.
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Microplastics (MPs) are contaminants that damage lake ecosystems by enriching pollutants. This study investigated the current state of MPs in lakes using the bibliometric method and correlation ...analysis. The results show that the abundance of MPs in lakes is negatively correlated with the depth and area of lakes and distance to populated areas, and positively correlated with the surrounding population density. The main factors influencing MP abundance were human activities, including pollution diffusion and waste generation from agricultural, industrial, and domestic activities. MPs are prevalent in water systems and vary by type and shape. Moreover, MPs are vertically distributed in lakes, resulting in high concentrations in sediments. Lake ice caps adsorb MPs from water and air during freezing, leading to higher concentrations of MPs on the surface and lower layers of ice caps (10–100 times higher than in water). Moreover, mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of MPs on organisms in aquatic ecosystems are identified in the study. MPs can inhibit the growth of aquatic plants by suppressing photosynthesis. When combined with other pollutants, MPs disrupt energy metabolism, cause physiological changes in the liver, and even lead to the death of aquatic organisms. We established that the evidence regarding the migration regulation of MPs in ice, water, sediment, and other multi-media is currently insufficient and requires further exploration. This study aims to identify sources, pathways, regulations, and effects of MPs in lakes to support future research and solutions.
Graphical Abstract
Highlights
• The abundance and morphological characteristics of lake MPs are influenced by and positively correlated to human density and type of anthropogenic activities.
• Enrichment and transport of lake MPs in ice water are mainly through freezing and melting of ice sheets.
• The impact on aquatic organisms is one of the important directions for future research.
Abstract Objective Medical staff, especially nurses, suffered great anxiety and stress from the COVID-19 pandemic, which negatively affected their sleep quality. In this study, we aimed to analyze ...the sleep quality of nursing staff after terminating the Zero-COVID-19 policy in China. Methods 506 participants were involved in our study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate the sleep status of the participants. Binary regression was performed to evaluate the impact factors related to sleep difficulty. Results The majority of participants (96.44%) suffered from sleep disturbances. There were significant differences in age, education level and front-line activity between participants with good sleep quality and sleep difficulty. Younger age (16–25 years old) was independently associated with less sleep difficulty, while front-line activity was independently associated with severe sleep difficulty. Conclusion Sleep disorder was very common among nurses after ending the Zero-COVID-19 policy in China. More front-line nurses suffered severe sleep difficulty in particular, which should be worthy of attention.
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