Anisotropic Dual S-Scheme Heterojunctions Mimic Natural Photosynthetic System for Boosting Photoelectric Response.

The design of heterojunctions that mimic natural photosynthetic systems holds great promise for enhancing photoelectric response. However, the limited interfacial space charge layer (SCL) often fails to provide sufficient driving force for the directional migration of inner charge carriers. Drawing inspiration from the electron transport chain (ETC) in natural photosynthesis system, we developed a novel anisotropic dual S-scheme heterojunction artificial photosynthetic system composed of Bi2O3-BiOBr-AgI for the first time, with Bi2O3 and AgI selectively distributed along the bicrystal facets of BiOBr. Compared to traditional semiconductors, the anisotropic carrier migration in BiOBr overcomes the recombination resulting from thermodynamic diffusion, thereby establishing a potential ETC for the directional migration of inner charge carriers. Importantly, this pioneering bioinspired design overcomes the limitations imposed by the limited distribution of SCL in heterojunctions, resulting in a remarkable 55-fold enhancement in photoelectric performance. Leveraging the etching of thiols on Ag-based materials, this dual S-scheme heterojunction is further employed in the construction of photoelectrochemical sensors for the detection of acetylcholinesterase and organophosphorus pesticides.

Development and application of a colloidal-gold immunochromatographic strip for detecting Getah virus antibodies.

Getah virus (GETV) is a re-emerging mosquito-borne alphavirus that is highly pathogenic, mainly to pigs and horses. There are no vaccines or treatments available for GETV in swine in China. Therefore, the development of a simple, rapid, specific, and sensitive serological assay for GETV antibodies is essential for the prevention and control of GETV. Current antibody monitoring methods are time-consuming, expensive, and dependent on specialized instrumentation, and these features are not conducive to rapid detection in clinical samples. To address these problem, we developed immunochromatographic test strips (ICTS) using eukaryotically expressed soluble recombinant p62-E1 protein of GETV as a labelled antigen, which has good detection sensitivity and no cross-reactivity with other common porcine virus-positive sera. The ICTS is highly compatible with IFA and ELISA and can be stored for 1 month at 37 °C and for at least 3 months at room temperature. Hence, p62-E1-based ICTS is a rapid, accurate, and convenient method for rapid on-site detection of GETV antibodies. KEY POINTS: • We established a rapid antibody detection method that can monitor GETV infection • We developed colloidal gold test strips with high sensitivity and specificity • The development of colloidal gold test strips will aid in the field serologic detection of GETV.

Nanozyme Metabolism Controls Air Pollution over an Atomic Potassium Cyano Site.

Increasing threats of air pollution prompt the design of air purification systems. As a promising initiative defense strategy, nanocatalysts are integrated to catalyze the detoxification of specific pollutants. However, it remains a grand challenge to tailor versatile nanocatalysts to cope with diverse pollutants in practice. Here, we report a nanozyme metabolism system to realize broad-spectrum protection from air pollution. Atomic K-modified carbon nitride featuring flavin oxidase-like and peroxidase-like activities was synthesized to initiate nanozyme metabolism. In situ experiments and theoretical investigations collectively show that K sites optimize the geometric and electronic structure of cyano sites for both enzyme-like activities. As a proof of concept, the nanozyme metabolism was applied to the mask against volatile organic compounds, persistent organic pollutants, reactive oxygen species, bacteria, and so on. Our finding provides a thought to tackle global air pollution and deepens the understanding of nanozyme metabolism.

Does environmental pollution reduce residents' income? Evidence from CFPS in China.

Understanding the relationship between environmental pollution and residents' income is extremely important for promoting sustained progress and high-quality economic growth. This research examines the impact, mechanism, and heterogeneity of environmental contamination on residents' earnings by fusing the micro data from China Family Panel Survey with the macro data of government statistics. The results reveal that environmental degradation has a significantly negative impact on residents' individual income. Further research on the intermediary mechanism finds that environmental pollution plays a harmful role in residents' income by reducing residents' subjective well-being and labor employment. Besides, the income effect of environmental pollution is significantly heterogeneous among different regions and differentiated groups. The deteriorating environmental quality widens urban-rural income gap and increases wage inequality of inhabitants in eastern, central, and western regions of China. The gender income gap and the income disparity between different income brackets also expand with environmental deterioration. These findings not only prove that long-term development at the cost of the ecological environment is undesirable, but also demonstrate the important role of the improvement of ecological environmental quality in promoting human well-being.

Comparative transcriptomic and physiological analyses unravel wheat source root adaptation to phosphorous deficiency.

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial macronutrient for plant growth and development. Basic metabolic processes regulate growth; however, the molecular detail of these pathways under low phosphorous (LP) in wheat is still unclear. This study aims to elucidate the varied regulatory pathways responses to LP stress in wheat genotypes. Phenotypic, physiological, and transcriptome analyses were conducted on Fielder (P efficient) and Ardito (P inefficient) wheat genotypes after four days of normal phosphorous (NP) and LP stress. In response to LP, Fielder outperformed Ardito, displaying higher chlorophyll content-SPAD values (13%), plant height (45%), stem diameter (12%), shoot dry weight (42%), and root biomass (75%). Root structure analysis revealed that Fielder had greater total root length (50%), surface area (56%), volume (15%), and diameter (4%) than Ardito under LP. These findings highlight Fielder's superior performance and adaptation to LP stress. Transcriptome analysis of wheat genotype roots identified 3029 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Fielder and 1430 in Ardito, highlighting LP-induced changes. Key DEGs include acid phosphatases (PAPs), phosphate transporters (PHT1 and PHO1), SPX, and transcription factors (MYB, bHLH, and WRKY). KEGG enrichment analysis revealed key pathways like plant hormones signal transduction, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and carbohydrate biosynthesis metabolism. This study unveils crucial genes and the intricate regulatory process in wheat's response to LP stress, offering genetic insights for enhancing plant P utilization efficiency.

Development of 1 Month Sustained-Release Microspheres Containing Liraglutide for Type 2 Diabetes Treatment.

Liraglutide has been extensively applied in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but its 11-15 h half-life resulted in daily administration, which led to poor patient compliance. This study aimed to solve this problem by developing liraglutide-loaded microspheres with a 1 month sustained release prepared by the W1/O/W2 method combined with the premix membrane emulsification technique to improve therapeutic efficacy. Remarkably, we found that the amphiphilic properties of liraglutide successfully reduced the oil-water interfacial tension, resulting in a stable primary emulsion and decreasing the level of drug leakage into the external water phase. As a result, exceptional drug loading (>8%) and encapsulation efficiency (>85%) of microspheres were achieved. Furthermore, the uniformity in microsphere size facilitated an in-depth exploration of the structural characteristics of liraglutide-loaded microspheres. The results indicated that the dimensions of the internal cavities of the microspheres were significantly influenced by the size of the inner water droplets in the primary emulsion. A denser and more uniform cavity structure decreased the initial burst release, improving the release process of liraglutide from the microspheres. To evaluate the release behavior of liraglutide from microspheres, a set of in vitro release assays and in vivo pharmacodynamics were performed. The liraglutide-loaded microspheres effectively decreased fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels while enhancing the pancreatic and hepatic functions in db/db mice. In conclusion, liraglutide sustained-release microspheres showed the potential for future clinical applications in the management of T2DM and provided an effective therapeutic approach to overcoming patient compliance issues.

4-Octyl itaconate inhibits inflammation via the NLRP3 pathway in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are rare inflammatory astrocytic diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The roles of immune response gene-1 (IRG1) and the IRG1-itaconic acid-NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in the pathogenesis of NMOSD and the effects of 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) on the NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in NMOSD are unclear. This study aimed to determine the role of IRG1 and the activation status of the NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in acute-onset NMOSD and to investigate the inhibitory effects of 4-OI on NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the IRG1-itaconic acid-NLRP3 pathway in monocytes and macrophages by using in vitro models. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum were collected from patients with acute NMOSDs and healthy controls (HC), followed by monocyte typing and detection of the expression of NLRP3-related inflammatory factors. Subsequently, the effects of 4-OI on the IRG1-itaconic acid-NLRP3 pathway were investigated in peripheral monocytes from patients with NMOSD and in macrophages induced by human myeloid leukemia mononuclear cells (THP-1 cells) via in vitro experiments. RESULTS: Patients with acute NMOSD exhibited upregulated IRG1 expression. In particular, the upregulation of the expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome and proinflammatory factors was notable in monocytes in acute NMOSD patients. 4-OI inhibited the activation of the IRG1-itaconic acid-NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in the PBMCs of patients with NMOSD. INTERPRETATION: 4-OI could effectively inhibit NLRP3 signaling, leading to the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production in patients with NMOSD-derived PBMCs and in a human macrophage model. Thus, 4-OI and itaconate could have important therapeutic value for the treatment of NMOSD in the future.

Medium-temperature calcination and acid pressure leaching extract the Al2O3 from coal gangue: activation mechanism and kinetic analysis.

Bauxite is an important strategic resource, and it is facing with the problem of balance between high demand of bauxite ore and low resource of bauxite reserves in China. This research takes the Fuxin coal gangue as the object and extracts Al2O3 by medium-temperature calcination and acid pressure leaching process. The results show that at a calcination temperature of 650 °C, calcination time of 2 h, acid pressure leaching temperature of 160 °C and acid pressure leaching time of 6 h, the extraction ratio of Al2O3 reaches 80.19%. Furthermore, the research finding that the complete activation temperatures of kaolinite and muscovite are 650 °C and 850 °C, respectively, and the decomposition reactions of active Si, active Al, and metakaolinite occur above 800 °C, which leads to a low extraction ratio of Al2O3. The acid pressure leaching process can directly destroy the muscovite structure at a calcination temperature of 650 °C. The acid pressure leaching kinetic equations are studied by three kinetic models, and the apparent activation energies of the reactions are calculated by the Arrhenius formula. The results show that acid pressure leaching is subject to solid residue in-layer diffusion control, and the kinetic equation is "". The apparent activation energy is 13.48 kJ mol-1.

Identifying gray matter alterations in Cushing's disease using machine learning: An interpretable approach.

BACKGROUND: Cushing's Disease (CD) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by excessive secretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, leading to significant functional and structural brain alterations as observed in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). While traditional statistical analysis has been widely employed to investigate these MRI changes in CD, it has lacked the ability to predict individual-level outcomes. PURPOSE: To address this problem, this paper has proposed an interpretable machine learning (ML) framework, including model-level assessment, feature-level assessment, and biology-level assessment to ensure a comprehensive analysis based on structural MRI of CD. METHODS: The ML framework has effectively identified the changes in brain regions in the stage of model-level assessment, verified the effectiveness of these altered brain regions to predict CD from normal controls in the stage of feature-level assessment, and carried out a correlation analysis between altered brain regions and clinical symptoms in the stage of biology-level assessment. RESULTS: The experimental results of this study have demonstrated that the Insula, Fusiform gyrus, Superior frontal gyrus, Precuneus, and the opercular portion of the Inferior frontal gyrus of CD showed significant alterations in brain regions. Furthermore, our study has revealed significant correlations between clinical symptoms and the frontotemporal lobes, insulin, and olfactory cortex, which also have been confirmed by previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: The ML framework proposed in this study exhibits exceptional potential in uncovering the intricate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CD, with potential applicability in diagnosing other diseases.

Compliant Iontronic Triboelectric Gels with Phase-Locked Structure Enabled by Competitive Hydrogen Bonding.

Rapid advancements in flexible electronics technology propel soft tactile sensing devices toward high-level biointegration, even attaining tactile perception capabilities surpassing human skin. However, the inherent mechanical mismatch resulting from deficient biomimetic mechanical properties of sensing materials poses a challenge to the application of wearable tactile sensing devices in human-machine interaction. Inspired by the innate biphasic structure of human subcutaneous tissue, this study discloses a skin-compliant wearable iontronic triboelectric gel via phase separation induced by competitive hydrogen bonding. Solvent-nonsolvent interactions are used to construct competitive hydrogen bonding systems to trigger phase separation, and the resulting soft-hard alternating phase-locked structure confers the iontronic triboelectric gel with Young's modulus (6.8-281.9 kPa) and high tensile properties (880%) compatible with human skin. The abundance of reactive hydroxyl groups gives the gel excellent tribopositive and self-adhesive properties (peel strength > 70 N m-1). The self-powered tactile sensing skin based on this gel maintains favorable interface and mechanical stability with the working object, which greatly ensures the high fidelity and reliability of soft tactile sensing signals. This strategy, enabling skin-compliant design and broad dynamic tunability of the mechanical properties of sensing materials, presents a universal platform for broad applications from soft robots to wearable electronics.

Chromosomal-Level Reference Genome for the Chinese Endemic Pygmy Grasshopper, Zhengitettix transpicula, Sheds Light on Tetrigidae Evolution and Advancing Conservation Efforts.

The pygmy grasshopper, Zhengitettix transpicula, is a Chinese endemic species with an exceedingly limited distribution and fragile population structure, rendering it vulnerable to extinction. We present a high-continuity, chromosome-scale reference genome assembly to elucidate this species' distinctive biology and inform conservation. Employing an integrated sequencing approach, we achieved a 970.40 Mb assembly with 96.32% coverage across seven pseudo-chromosomes and impressive continuity (N50 > 220 Mb). Genome annotation achieves identification with 99.2% BUSCO completeness, supporting quality. Comparative analyses with 14 genomes from Orthoptera-facilitated phylogenomics and revealed 549 significantly expanded gene families in Z. transpicula associated with metabolism, stress response, and development. However, genomic analysis exposed remarkably low heterozygosity (0.02%), implying a severe genetic bottleneck from small, fragmented populations, characteristic of species vulnerable to extinction from environmental disruptions. Elucidating the genetic basis of population dynamics and specialization provides an imperative guideline for habitat conservation and restoration of this rare organism. Moreover, divergent evolution analysis of the CYP305m2 gene regulating locust aggregation highlighted potential structural and hence functional variations between Acrididae and Tetrigidae. Our chromosomal genomic characterization of Z. transpicula advances Orthopteran resources, establishing a framework for evolutionary developmental explorations and applied conservation genomics, reversing the trajectory of this unique grasshopper lineage towards oblivion.

ZAP facilitates NLRP3 inflammasome activation via promoting the oligomerization of NLRP3.

The NOD-like receptor family protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a crucial complex for the host to establish inflammatory immune responses and plays vital roles in a series of disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and acute peritonitis. However, its regulatory mechanism remains largely unclear. Zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP), also known as zinc finger CCCH-type antiviral protein 1 (ZC3HAV1), promotes viral RNA degradation and plays vital roles in host antiviral immune responses. However, the role of ZAP in inflammation, especially in NLRP3 activation, is unclear. Here, we show that ZAP interacts with NLRP3 and promotes NLRP3 oligomerization, thus facilitating NLRP3 inflammasome activation in peritoneal macrophages of C57BL/6 mice. The shorter isoform of ZAP (ZAPS) appears to play a greater role than the full-length isoform (ZAPL) in HEK293T cells. Congruously, Zap-deficient C57BL/6 mice may be less susceptible to alum-induced peritonitis and lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis in vivo. Therefore, we propose that ZAP is a positive regulator of NLRP3 activation and a potential therapeutic target for NLRP3-related inflammatory disorders.

Pharmacogenetic intervention improves treatment outcomes in Chinese adult men with schizophrenia.

To investigate the clinical application value of pharmacogenetic testing in individualized drug therapy for adult male patients with schizophrenia. A total of 186 adult patients with schizophrenia were enrolled and randomised into the pharmacogenetic (PGx) intervention group and the standard care group. In the PGx intervention group, PGx testing was performed, and the medication regimen was adjusted according to the results of the pharmacogenomic analysis. In contrast, in the standard care group, patients were treated according to the physician's medication experience. Differences in the primary indicator of schizophrenia, the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), and the secondary efficacy measures, the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale (CGI-SI) and Clinical Global Impressions-Global Improvement (CGI-GI) scale, were compared between the intervention and standard care groups. At baseline, the PGx intervention group consisted of 109 individuals, while the standard care group had 77 participants. After 12 weeks of treatment, 49 individuals withdrew from the PGx group (a dropout rate of 45.0%), and 34 withdrew from the standard care group (a dropout rate of 44.2%), with no significant difference in dropout rates between the two groups. The PANSS score reduction rate in the PGx intervention group significantly exceeded that of the standard care group during weeks 3, 6, and 12 of follow-up (P < 0.05). At the 12th week, the PGx intervention group achieved a treatment response rate of 81.7%, significantly surpassing the 48.8% of the standard care group (odds ratio of 4.67, 95% confidence interval of 1.96-11.41; P = 0.001). Furthermore, the PGx intervention was significantly more effective than standard care regardless of whether the patient had a first episode or a relapse (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores and the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) score changes in the PGx intervention group were both significantly different from those in the standard care group (P < 0.05). It is noteworthy that the PGx intervention similarly improves the prognostic outcomes for patients with and without a family history of mental disorders. In conclusion, the application of a PGx intervention treatment model based on PGx testing can significantly improve medication efficacy and shorten the time to achieve the effects of medication in schizophrenia.

ISGylation by HERCs facilitates STING activation.

Optimal activation of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) protein is crucial for host defenses against pathogens and avoiding detrimental effects. Various post-translational modifications control STING activity. However, the function of interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene (ISG) 15 modification (ISGylation) in controlling STING stability and activation is unclear. Here, we show that the E3 ISGylation ligases HECT domain- and RCC1-like domain-containing proteins (HERCs; HERC5 in humans and HERC6 in mice) facilitate STING activation by mediating ISGylation of STING at K150, preventing its K48-linked ubiquitination and degradation. Concordantly, Herc6 deficiency suppresses herpes simplex virus 1 infection-induced type I IFN responses and facilitates viral replication both in vitro and in vivo. Notably, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 protein papain-like protease cleaves HERC5-mediated ISGylation of STING, suppressing host antiviral responses. These data identify a mechanism by which HERCs-mediated ISGylation controls STING stability and activation and uncover the correlations and interactions of ISGylation and ubiquitination during STING activation.

Matrine reduced intestinal stem cell damage in eimeria necatrix-infected chicks via blocking hyperactivation of Wnt signaling.

BACKGROUND: Coccidiosis is a rapidly spreading and acute parasitic disease that seriously threatening the intestinal health of poultry. Matrine from leguminous plants has anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory properties. PURPOSE: This assay was conducted to explore the protective effects of Matrine and the AntiC (a Matrine compound) on Eimeria necatrix (EN)-infected chick small intestines and to provide a nutritional intervention strategy for EN injury. STUDY DESIGN: The in vivo (chick) experiment: A total of 392 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly assigned to six groups in a 21-day study: control group, 350 mg/kg Matrine group, 500 mg/kg AntiC group, EN group, and EN + 350 mg/kg Matrine group, EN + 500 mg/kg AntiC group. The in vitro (chick intestinal organoids, IOs): The IOs were treated with PBS, Matrine, AntiC, 3 µM CHIR99021, EN (15,000 EN sporozoites), EN + Matrine, EN + AntiC, EN + Matrine + CHIR99021, EN + AntiC + CHIR99021. METHODS: The structural integrity of chicks jejunal crypt-villus axis was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). And the activity of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) located in crypts was assessed by in vitro expansion advantages of a primary in IOs model. Then, the changes of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in jejunal tissues and IOs were detected by Real-Time qPCR,Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The results showed that dietary supplementation with Matrine or AntiC rescued the jejunal injury caused by EN, as indicated by increased villus height, reduced crypt hyperplasia, and enhanced expression of tight junction proteins. Moreover, there was less budding efficiency of the IOs expanded from jejunal crypts of chicks in the EN group than that in the Matrine and AntiC group, respectively. Further investigation showed that AntiC and Matrine inhibited EN-stimulated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. The fact that Wnt/ß-catenin activation via CHIR99021 led to the failure of Matrine and AntiC to rescue damaged ISCs confirmed the dominance of this signaling. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that Matrine and AntiC inhibit ISC proliferation and promote ISC differentiation into absorptive cells by preventing the hyperactivation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, thereby standardizing the function of ISC proliferation and differentiation, which provides new insights into mitigating EN injury by Matrine and AntiC.

The Phase Control of Transition Metallic Elements via Facile Chemical and Physical Syntheses.

The crystal phases of metals are important factors to tune the properties of metals, and therefore received extensive attention. Traditionally, phase control is performed within limited numbers of elements by harsh conditions, such as face-centered cubic Fe by high temperature. This review summarizes most reports in metal phase control area, including elements of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Pd, Rh, Os and Au. For every metallic element, the facile phase control methods are systematically introduced, such as epitaxial growth, ball milling, chemical reduction, etc. Their corresponding applications and the mechanisms for phase control are thoroughly discussed.

Molecular mechanism of endophytic bacteria DX120E regulating polyamine metabolism and promoting plant growth in sugarcane.

Introduction: Sugarcane endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Klebsiella variícola DX120E displayed broad impact on growth, but the exact biological mechanism, especially polyamines (PAs) role, is still meager. Methods: To reveal this relationship, the content of polyamine oxidase (PAO), PAs, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging antioxidative enzymes, phytohormones, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic synthase (ACS), chlorophyll content, and biomass were determined in sugarcane incubated with the DX120E strain. In addition, expression levels of the genes associated with polyamine metabolism were measured by transcriptomic analysis. Results: Genomic analysis of Klebsiella variícola DX120E revealed that 39 genes were involved in polyamine metabolism, transport, and the strain secrete PAs in vitro. Following a 7-day inoculation period, DX120E stimulated an increase in the polyamine oxidase (PAO) enzyme in sugarcane leaves, however, the overall PAs content was reduced. At 15 days, the levels of PAs, ROS-scavenging antioxidative enzymes, and phytohormones showed an upward trend, especially spermidine (Spd), putrescine (Put), catalase (CAT), auxin (IAA), gibberellin (GA), and ACS showed a significant up-regulation. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis found a total of 73 differentially expressed genes, involving in the cell wall (9), stimulus response (13), peroxidase activity (33), hormone (14) and polyamine metabolism (4). Discussion: This study demonstrated that endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria stimulated polyamine metabolism and phytohormones production in sugarcane plant tissues, resulting in enhanced growth. Dual RNA-seq analyses provided insight into the early-stage interaction between sugarcane seedlings and endophytic bacteria at the transcriptional level. It showed how diverse metabolic processes selectively use distinct molecules to complete the cell functions under present circumstances.

Mitochondrial calcium uniporter promotes mitophagy by regulating the PINK1/Parkin pathway in caerulein­treated pancreatic ductal epithelial cells in vitro.

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is a major protein for the uptake of mitochondrial calcium to regulate intracellular energy metabolism, including processes such as mitophagy. The present study investigated the effect of the MCU on mitophagy in pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDECs) in acute pancreatitis (AP) in vitro. The normal human PDECs (HPDE6-C7) were treated with caerulein (CAE) to induce AP-like changes, with or without ruthenium red to inhibit the MCU. The mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMPs) and mitochondrial Ca2+ levels were analyzed by fluorescence. The expression levels of MCU, LC3, p62, and translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane complex subunit 20 (TOMM20), putative kinase 1 (PINK1), and Parkin were measured by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Mitophagy was observed by confocal fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that CAE increased the MCU protein expression, mitochondrial Ca2+ levels, MMP depolarization and the protein expression of mitophagy markers including the LC3II/I ratio, PINK1, and Parkin. CAE decreased the protein expression of p62 and TOMM20, and promoted the formation of mitophagosomes in HPDE6-C7 cells. Notably, changes in these markers were reversed by inhibiting the MCU. In conclusion, an activated MCU may promote mitophagy by regulating the PINK1/Parkin pathway in PDECs in AP.

Comparative Analysis of Sucrose-Regulatory Genes in High- and Low-Sucrose Sister Clones of Sugarcane.

Sugarcane is a significant primitive source of sugar and energy worldwide. The progress in enhancing the sugar content in sugarcane cultivars remains limited due to an insufficient understanding of specific genes related to sucrose production. The present investigation examined the enzyme activities, levels of reducing and non-reducing sugars, and transcript expression using RT-qPCR to assess the gene expression associated with sucrose metabolism in a high-sucrose sugarcane clone (GXB9) in comparison to a low-sucrose sister clone (B9). Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), sucrose phosphate phosphatase (SPP), sucrose synthase (SuSy), cell wall invertase (CWI), soluble acid invertase (SAI), and neutral invertase (NI) are essential enzymes involved in sucrose metabolism in sugarcane. The activities of these enzymes were comparatively quantified and analyzed in immature and maturing internodes of the high- and low-sucrose clones. The results showed that the higher-sucrose-accumulating clone had greater sucrose concentrations than the low-sucrose-accumulating clone; however, maturing internodes had higher sucrose levels than immature internodes in both clones. Hexose concentrations were higher in immature internodes than in maturing internodes for both clones. The SPS and SPP enzymes activities were higher in the high-sucrose-storing clone than in the low-sucrose clone. SuSy activity was higher in the low-sucrose clone than in the high-sucrose clone; further, the degree of SuSy activity was higher in immature internodes than in maturing internodes for both clones. The SPS gene expression was considerably higher in mature internodes of the high-sucrose clones than the low-sucrose clone. Conversely, the SuSy gene exhibited up-regulated expression in the low-sucrose clone. The enhanced expression of SPS in the high-sucrose clone compared to the low-sucrose clone suggests that SPS plays a major role in the increased accumulation of sucrose. These findings provide the opportunity to improve sugarcane cultivars by regulating the activity of genes related to sucrose metabolism using transgenic techniques.

Latent and incubation periods of Delta, BA.1, and BA.2 variant cases and associated factors: a cross-sectional study in China.

BACKGROUND: The latent and incubation periods characterize the transmission of infectious viruses and are the basis for the development of outbreak prevention and control strategies. However, systematic studies on the latent period and associated factors with the incubation period for SAS-CoV-2 variants are still lacking. We inferred the two durations of Delta, BA.1, and BA.2 cases and analyzed the associated factors. METHODS: The Delta, BA.1, and BA.2 (and its lineages BA.2.2 and BA.2.76) cases with clear transmission chains and infectors from 10 local SAS-CoV-2 epidemics in China were enrolled. The latent and incubation periods were fitted by the Gamma distribution, and associated factors were analyzed using the accelerated failure time model. RESULTS: The mean latent period for 672 Delta, 208 BA.1, and 677 BA.2 cases was 4.40 (95%CI: 4.24 ~ 4.63), 2.50 (95%CI: 2.27 ~ 2.76), and 2.58 (95%CI: 2.48 ~ 2.69) days, respectively, with 85.65% (95%CI: 83.40 ~ 87.77%), 97.80% (95%CI: 96.35 ~ 98.89%), and 98.87% (95%CI: 98.40 ~ 99.27%) of them starting to shed viruses within 7 days after exposure. In 405 Delta, 75 BA.1, and 345 BA.2 symptomatic cases, the mean latent period was 0.76, 1.07, and 0.79 days shorter than the mean incubation period [5.04 (95%CI: 4.83 ~ 5.33), 3.42 (95%CI: 3.00 ~ 3.89), and 3.39 (95%CI: 3.24 ~ 3.55) days], respectively. No significant difference was observed in the two durations between BA.1 and BA.2 cases. After controlling for the sex, clinical severity, vaccination history, number of infectors, the length of exposure window and shedding window, the latent period [Delta: exp(ß) = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.66 ~ 0.98, p = 0.034; Omicron: exp(ß) = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.71 ~ 0.94, p = 0.004] and incubation period [Delta: exp(ß) = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.55 ~ 0.86, p < 0.001; Omicron: exp(ß) = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.72 ~ 0.96, p = 0.013] were significantly shorter in 18 ~ 49 years but did not change significantly in ≥ 50 years compared with 0 ~ 17 years. CONCLUSION: Pre-symptomatic transmission can occur in Delta, BA.1, and BA.2 cases. The latent and incubation periods between BA.1 and BA.2 were similar but shorter compared with Delta. Age may be associated with the latent and incubation periods of SARS-CoV-2.