Blood metabolites, neurocognition and psychiatric disorders: a Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate causal pathways.

BACKGROUND: Neurocognitive dysfunction is observationally associated with the risk of psychiatric disorders. Blood metabolites, which are readily accessible, may become highly promising biomarkers for brain disorders. However, the causal role of blood metabolites in neurocognitive function, and the biological pathways underlying their association with psychiatric disorders remain unclear. METHODS: To explore their putative causalities, we conducted bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) using genetic variants associated with 317 human blood metabolites (nmax = 215,551), g-Factor (an integrated index of multiple neurocognitive tests with nmax = 332,050), and 10 different psychiatric disorders (n = 9,725 to 807,553) from the large-scale genome-wide association studies of European ancestry. Mediation analysis was used to assess the potential causal pathway among the candidate metabolite, neurocognitive trait and corresponding psychiatric disorder. RESULTS: MR evidence indicated that genetically predicted acetylornithine was positively associated with g-Factor (0.035 standard deviation units increase in g-Factor per one standard deviation increase in acetylornithine level; 95% confidence interval, 0.021 to 0.049; P = 1.15 × 10-6). Genetically predicted butyrylcarnitine was negatively associated with g-Factor (0.028 standard deviation units decrease in g-Factor per one standard deviation increase in genetically proxied butyrylcarnitine; 95% confidence interval, -0.041 to -0.015; P = 1.31 × 10-5). There was no evidence of associations between genetically proxied g-Factor and metabolites. Furthermore, the mediation analysis via two-step MR revealed that the causal pathway from acetylornithine to bipolar disorder was partly mediated by g-Factor, with a mediated proportion of 37.1%. Besides, g-Factor mediated the causal pathway from butyrylcarnitine to schizophrenia, with a mediated proportion of 37.5%. Other neurocognitive traits from different sources provided consistent findings. CONCLUSION: Our results provide genetic evidence that acetylornithine protects against bipolar disorder through neurocognitive abilities, while butyrylcarnitine has an adverse effect on schizophrenia through neurocognition. These findings may provide insight into interventions at the metabolic level for risk of neurocognitive and related disorders.

Alcohol drinking triggered decrease of oxidative balance score is associated with high all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive individuals: findings from NHANES 1999-2014.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is closely associated with hypertensive outcomes. The oxidative balance score (OBS) measures oxidative stress exposure from dietary and lifestyle elements. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between OBS and mortality in hypertensive patients. METHODS: This study included 7823 hypertensive patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2014. Several models, including Cox regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis, subgroup, and sensitivity analyses, were exploited to investigate the relationship between OBS and the risk of mortality. RESULTS: Controlling for all potential confounders, a significantly inverse association was observed between elevated OBS and all-cause [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.85-0.95] and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75-0.95). With adjustment for covariates, significant associations between lifestyle OBS and mortality risks diminished, whereas associations between dietary OBS and these mortality risks remained robust (all-cause mortality: HR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.96; cardiovascular mortality: HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.76-0.96). RCS demonstrated a linear relationship between OBS and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk (P nonlinear = 0.088 and P nonlinear = 0.447, respectively). Kaplan‒Meier curves demonstrated that the mortality rate was lower with a high OBS (P < 0.001). The consistency of the association was demonstrated in subgroup and sensitivity analyses. RCS after stratification showed that among current drinkers, those with higher OBS had a lower risk of mortality compared with former or never drinkers. CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive individuals, there was a negative association between OBS and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Encouraging hypertensive individuals, especially those currently drinking, to maintain high levels of OBS may be beneficial in improving their prognosis.

Autoimmune astrocytopathy double negative for AQP4-IgG and GFAP-IgG: Retrospective research of clinical practice, biomarkers, and pathology.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the presence of astrocyte antibodies in patients, excluding aquaporin-4 or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibodies, while evaluating associated biomarkers and pathologies. METHODS: Patient serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested for antibodies using tissue- and cell-based assays. Neurofilament light chain (NFL) and GFAP in the CSF were detected using single-molecule array (SIMOA). RESULTS: 116 patients accepted SIMOA. Fifteen functional neurological disorders patients without antibodies were designated as controls. Thirty-five patients were positive for astrocyte antibodies (Anti-GFAP: 7; Anti-AQP4: 7; unknown antibodies: 21, designed as the double-negative group, DNAP). The most frequent phenotype of DNAP was encephalitis (42.9%), followed by myelitis (23.8%), movement disorders (19.0%), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like (ALS-like) disease (14.2%). The levels of CSF GFAP and NFL in DNAP were higher than in the control (GFAP: 1967.29 [776.60-13214.47] vs 475.38 [16.80-943.60] pg/mL, p < 0.001; NFL: 549.11 [162.08-2462.61] vs 214.18 [81.60-349.60] pg/mL, p = 0.002). GFAP levels decreased in DNAP (n = 5) after immunotherapy (2446.75 [1583.45-6277.33] vs 1380.46 [272.16-2005.80] pg/mL, p = 0.043), while there was no difference in NFL levels (2273.78 [162.08-2462.61] vs 890.42 [645.06-3168.06] pg/mL, p = 0.893). Two brain biopsy patterns were observed: one exhibited prominent tissue proliferation and hypertrophic astrocytes, with local loss of astrocytes, while the other showed severe astrocyte depletion with loss of neurofilaments around the vessels. Eighteen patients received immunotherapy, and improved except one with ALS-like symptoms. We identified anti-vimentin in this patient. DISCUSSION: There are unidentified astrocyte antibodies. The manifestations of double-negativity are heterogeneous; nevertheless, the pathology and biomarkers remain consistent with astrocytopathy. Immunotherapy is effective.

Multi-dimensional signals coupling of simultaneous acquisition stripping current with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for accurate analysis of Cd(II) in coexisting Cu(II).

BACKGROUND: Despite significant advancements in detecting Cd(II) using nanomaterials-modified sensitive interfaces, most detection methods rely solely on a single electrochemical stripping current to indicate concentration. This approach often overlooks potential inaccuracies caused by interference from coexisting ions. Therefore, establishing multi-dimensional signals that accurately reflect Cd(II) concentration in solution is crucial. RESULTS: In this study, we developed a system integrating concentration, electrochemical stripping current, and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) characteristic peak intensity through in-situ laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and electrochemical integrated devices. By simultaneously acquiring multi-dimensional signals to dynamically track the electrochemical deposition and stripping processes, we observed that replacement reactions occur between Cu(II) and Cd(II) on the surface of Ru-doped MoS2 modified carbon paper electrodes (Ru-MoS2/CP). These reactions facilitate the oxidation of Cd(0) to Cd(II) during the stripping process, significantly increasing the currents of Cd(II). Remarkably, the ingenious design of the Ru-MoS2 sensitive interface allowed for the undisturbed deposition of Cu(II) and Cd(II) during the electrochemical deposition process. Consequently, our in-situ integrated device achieved accurate detection of Cd(II) in complex environments, boasting a detection sensitivity of 8606.5 counts µM⁻1. SIGNIFICANCE: By coupling multi-dimensional signals from stripping current and LIBS spectra, we revealed the interference process between Cu(II) and Cd(II), providing valuable insights for accurate electrochemical analysis of heavy metal ions in complex water environments.

A novel antidepressant homogeneous polysaccharide YLP-1 from Millettia pulchra ameliorates tryptophan metabolism and SCFAs through modulating gut microbiota.

The root of Millettia pulchra (YLS) has been traditionally used as a folk medicine for the treatment of depression and insomnia in the Zhuang nationality of China, and its polysaccharides have potential antidepressant effect. In this study, a novel homogeneous polysaccharide (YLP-1) was purified from the crude polysaccharides of YLS, and it is mainly composed of glucose, arabinose and mannose with molar ratio of 87.25%, 10.77%, and 1.98%, respectively. YLP-1 is a novel α-glucan with the backbone of 1,4-Glcp and branched at C6 of 1,4,6-Glcp to combine 1,4-Manp and 1,5-Araf. The microstructure of YLP-1 displayed a uniform ellipsoidal-like chain morphology and dispersed uniformly in solution. YLP-1 effectively ameliorated depression-like ethological behaviors and restored the decreased catecholamine levels in chronic variable stress (CVS)-induced depression rats. Additionally, it significantly improved the disturbance of gut microbiota induced by CVS stimuli, particularly affecting bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as bacteria species Lactobacillus spp.. In vitro fermentation study further confirmed that YLP-1 intake could promote SCFAs production by Lactobacillus spp. YLP-1 also mitigated the disruption of tryptophan metabolites in urine and serum. These findings provide evidences for the further development of YLP-1 as a macromolecular antidepressant drug.

Characteristics of anti-contactin1 antibody positive autoimmune nodopathies combined with membranous nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune nodopathy (AN) is a very rare new disease entity, especially when combined with membranous nephropathy (MN). METHODS: Antibodies against nodal-paranodal cell adhesion molecules in the serum were detected using cell-based assays. Antibody subtypes against contactin-1 (CNTN1) were confirmed. Cases of anti-CNTN1 antibody-positive AN with and without MN were retrieved through a literature search to compare clinical and electrophysiological characteristics. RESULTS: A 65-year-old male patient with MN developed limb numbness and weakness, along with walking instability. Serum CNTN1 antibodies were positive, primarily those of the IgG4 subtype. Electromyography showed prominent demyelination patterns in both the proximal and distal segments of the nerves compared to the middle nerve trunk. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlargement of the bilateral brachial and lumbosacral plexuses and local hyperintensity of the right C5-C6 nerve roots. Thirty-five cases with anti-CNTN1 antibody-positive AN with MN and 51 cases with anti-CNTN1 antibody-positive AN without MN were compared. Furthermore, the proportion of patients with MN combined with AN presenting with acute or subacute onset was higher than that observed in the MN without AN group. Nevertheless, no substantial differences were noted between the two groups concerning the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics, which were mainly elderly men, manifested as sensory ataxia, IgG4 antibody subtype, electrophysiological demyelination, and a certain effect on immunotherapy. CONCLUSION: In cases of electrophysiological manifestation of demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, especially in distal and poximal segments of nerves, AN should be considered, and further screening for renal function should be performed. Concomitant MN does not aggravate or alleviate peripheral nerve symptoms.

Weakly supervised deep learning image analysis can differentiate melanoma from naevi on haematoxylin and eosin-stained histopathology slides.

BACKGROUND: The broad histomorphological spectrum of melanocytic pathologies requires large data sets to develop accurate and generalisable deep learning (DL)-based diagnostic pathology classifiers. Weakly supervised DL promotes utilisation of larger training data sets compared to fully supervised (patch annotation) approaches. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate weakly supervised DL image classifiers for discriminating melanomas from naevi on haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained pathology slides. METHODS: A representative H&E slide for 260 naevi and 260 melanomas from mucocutaneous sites at one tertiary institution was digitized. Clinicopathological features were recorded for each case including thickness and histological subtype. Whole-slide or whole-tissue section labels were applied. The ground truth was established by consensus diagnosis from two pathologists. Multiple-instance learning models, Trans-MIL, CLAM and DTFD-MIL were evaluated at 10×, 20× and 40× magnifications using stratified fivefold Monte Carlo cross-validation, with 80/10/10 splits for training/validation/test groups, to predict melanoma from naevus. Heatmaps were generated to understand model performance. RESULTS: Naevi cases were younger (median age: 51 years; melanoma median age: 71.5 years), with more balanced sex distribution (males: 48.8%, melanoma male subgroup: 64.2%). The most frequent histological subtypes of naevi and melanomas were dysplastic compound (n = 99, 38.1%) and superficial spreading (n = 124, 47.7%), respectively. Average AUC (±1 SD) for Trans-MIL, CLAM and DTFD-MIL across test groups were 0.9952 ± 0.006, 0.9925 ± 0.0052 and 0.9708 ± 0.0328, at 20× magnification, respectively. Performance of the models varied according to the magnification used. Heatmaps from the two best performing models, Trans-MIL and CLAM, generally indicated attention on appropriate tissue regions for interpretation. CONCLUSIONS: Weakly supervised DL on pathological slides of common mucocutaneous melanocytic tumours provides highly accurate diagnostic value for discrimination of melanomas and naevi. External validation and further assessment on less frequently occurring histologic subtypes and borderline cases using this method is required.

Anti-LGI1 Antibody-Associated Encephalitis Misdiagnosed as Schizophrenia: A Case Report.

Anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibody-associated encephalitis is a rare but clinically significant form of autoimmune encephalitis, predominantly affecting middle-aged men. Its heterogeneous clinical presentation often leads to misdiagnosis, commonly as other neurological or psychiatric disorders. This report details the case of a 46-year-old male who initially presented with depressive symptoms, personality changes, and visual hallucinations. Over time, his condition progressed to include memory impairment, disorganized behavior, and seizures. Initially misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, the correct diagnosis of LGI1 antibody-associated encephalitis was eventually established through positive serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests for LGI1 antibodies. Neuroimaging findings revealed characteristic bilateral temporal lobe lesions. The patient demonstrated marked improvement following treatment with methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin, ultimately achieving significant recovery. This case highlights the critical importance of comprehensive antibody testing and neuroimaging in patients presenting with nonspecific psychiatric and neurological symptoms to prevent misdiagnosis and delays in appropriate treatment. The article also reviews the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic strategies for LGI1 antibody-associated encephalitis, aiming to enhance clinical awareness and optimize patient outcomes.

Biochar alleviates inhibition effects of humic acid on anaerobic digestion: Insights to performances and mechanisms.

To recover methane from waste activated sludge through anaerobic digestion (AD) is one promising alternative to achieve carbon neutrality for wastewater treatment plants. However, humic acids (HAs) are one of the major compositions in waste activated sludge, and their accumulation performs inhibition effects on AD. This study investigated the potentials of biochar (BC) in alleviating inhibition effects of HAs on AD. Results showed that although the accumulated HAs reduced methane yield by 9.37% compared to control, the highest methane yield, 132.6 mL CH4/g VSS, was obtained after adding BC, which was 45.9% higher than that in HA group. Mechanism analysis showed that BC promoted the activities of hydrolase such as protease and α-glucosidase, which were 69.7% and 29.7% higher than those in HA group, respectively. The conversion of short-chain fatty acids was accelerated. In addition, the evolutions of electroactive microorganisms like Clostridium_sensu_stricto_13 and Methanosaeta were consistent with the activitiies of electron transfer and the contents of cytochrome c. Furthermore, parts of HAs rather than all of them were adsorbed by BC, and the remaining free HAs and BC formed synergistic effects on methanogenesis, then both CO2 reduction and acetoclastic methanogenesis pathways were improved. The findings may provide some solutions to alleviate inhibition effects of HAs on AD.

A novel Saclayvirus Acinetobacter baumannii phage genomic analysis and effectiveness in preventing pneumonia.

Acinetobacter baumannii, which is resistant to multiple drugs, is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for severe nosocomial infections. With no antibiotics available, phages have obtained clinical attention. However, since immunocompromised patients are often susceptible to infection, the appropriate timing of administration is particularly important. During this research, we obtained a lytic phage vB_AbaM_P1 that specifically targets A. baumannii. We then assessed its potential as a prophylactic treatment for lung infections caused by clinical strains. The virus experiences a period of inactivity lasting 30 min and produces approximately 788 particles during an outbreak. Transmission electron microscopy shows that vB_AbaM_P1 was similar to the Saclayvirus. Based on the analysis of high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics, vB_AbaM_P1 consists of 107537 bases with a G + C content of 37.68%. It contains a total of 177 open reading frames and 14 tRNAs. No antibiotic genes were detected. In vivo experiments, using a cyclophosphamide-induced neutrophil deficiency model, tested the protective effect of phage on neutrophil-deficient rats by prophylactic application of phage. The use of phages resulted in a decrease in rat mortality caused by A. baumannii and a reduction in the bacterial burden in the lungs. Histologic examination of lung tissue revealed a decrease in the presence of immune cells. The presence of phage vB_AbaM_P1 had a notable impact on preventing A. baumannii infection, as evidenced by the decrease in oxidative stress in lung tissue and cytokine levels in serum. Our research offers more robust evidence for the early utilization of bacteriophages to mitigate A. baumannii infection. KEY POINTS: •A novel Saclayvirus phage infecting A. baumannii was isolated from sewage. •The whole genome was determined, analyzed, and compared to other phages. •Assaying the effect of phage in preventing infection in neutrophil-deficient models.

Conversion and fate of waste Li-ion battery electrolyte in a two-stage thermal treatment process.

Disposal of electrolytes from waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has gained much more attention with the growing application of LIBs, yet handling spent electrolyte is challengeable due to its high toxicity and the lack of established methods. In this study, a novel two-stage thermal process was developed for treating residual electrolytes resulted from spent lithium-ion batteries. The conversion of fluorophosphate and organic matter in oily electrolyte during low-temperature rotation distillation was investigated. The distribution and migration of the concentrated electrolytes were studied and the corresponding reaction mechanisms were elucidated. Additionally, the influence of alkali on the fixation of fluorine and phosphate was further examined. The results indicated that hydrolyzed carbonate esters and lithium in the electrolyte could combine to form Li2CO3 and the hydrolysable hexafluorophosphate was proven to be stable in the concentrated electrolyte (45 rpm/85 °C, 30 min). It was found that CO2, CO, CH4, and H2 were the primary pyrolysis gases, while the pyrolysis oil consisted of extremely flammable substances formed by the dissociation and recombination of chemical bonds in the electrolyte solvent. After pyrolysis at 300 °C, fluorine and phosphate were present in the form of sodium fluoride and sodium phosphate. The stability of the residue was enhanced, and the environmental risk was reduced. By adding alkali (KOH/Ca(OH)2, 20 %), hexafluorophosphate in the electrolyte was transformed into fluoride and phosphate in the residue, thereby reducing the device's corrosion from fluorine-containing gas. This study provides a viable approach for managing the residual electrolyte in the waste lithium battery recovery process.

Insight into the Mechanism of CO2 Chemical Fixation into Epoxides by Windmill-Shaped Polyoxovanadate and n-Bu4NX (X = Br, I).

Carbon dioxide (CO2) coupled with epoxide to generate cyclic carbonate stands out in carbon neutrality due to its 100% atom utilization. In this work, the mechanism of CO2 cycloaddition with propylene oxide (PO) cocatalyzed by windmill-shaped polyoxovanadate, [(C2N2H8)4(CH3O)4VIV4VV4O16]·4CH3OH (V8-1), and n-Bu4NX (X = Br, I) was thoroughly investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The ring-opening, CO2-insertion, and ring-closing steps of the process were extensively studied. Our work emphasizes the synergistic effect between V8-1 and n-Bu4NX (X = Br, I). Through the analysis of an independent gradient model based on Hirshfeld partition (IGMH), it was found that the attack of n-Bu4NX (X = Br, I) on Cß of PO triggers a distinct attractive interaction between the active fragment and the surrounding framework, serving as the primary driving force for the ring opening of PO. Furthermore, the effect of different cocatalysts was explored, with n-Bu4NI being more favorable than n-Bu4NBr. Moreover, the role of V8-1 in the CO2 cycloaddition reaction was clarified as not only acting as Lewis acid active sites but also serving as "electron sponges". This work is expected to advance the development of novel catalysts for organic carbonate formation.

Roles of quorum-sensing molecules in methane production from anaerobic digestion aided by biochar.

Biochar has been used to enhance methane generation from anaerobic digestion through establishing direct interspecific electron transfer between microorganisms. However, the microbial communication is still inadequate, thereby limiting further methane production improvement contributed by biochar. This study investigated the roles of quorum-sensing molecules, acylated homoserine lactone (AHL), in anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge aided by biochar. Results showed that the co-addition of separated biochar and AHL achieved best methane production performance, with the maximal methane yield of 154.7 mL/g volatile suspended solids, which increased by 51.9%, 47.2%, 17.9%, and 39.4% respectively compared to that of control, AHL-loaded biochar, sole AHL, and sole biochar groups. The reason was that the co-addition of separated biochar and AHL promoted the stages of hydrolysis and acidification, promoting the conversion of organic matters and short-chain fatty acids, and optimizing the accumulation of acetate acid. Moreover, the methanogenesis stage also performed best among experimental groups. Correspondingly, the highest activities of electron transfer and coenzyme F420 were obtained, with increase ratios of 33.2% and 27.2% respectively compared to that of control. Furthermore, biochar did more significant effects on the evolution of microbial communities than AHL, and the direct interspecific electron transfer between fermentative bacteria and methanogens were possibly promoted.

In vivo efficacy of phage cocktails against carbapenem resistance Acinetobacter baumannii in the rat pneumonia model.

Acinetobacter baumannii, an opportunistic pathogen, poses a significant threat in intensive care units, leading to severe nosocomial infections. The rise of multi-drug-resistant strains, particularly carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii, has created formidable challenges for effective treatment. Given the prolonged development cycle and high costs associated with antibiotics, phages have garnered clinical attention as an alternative for combating infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. However, the utilization of phage therapy encounters notable challenges, including the narrow host spectrum, where each phage targets a limited subset of bacteria, increasing the risk of phage resistance development. Additionally, uncertainties in immune system dynamics during treatment hinder tailoring symptomatic interventions based on patient-specific states. In this study, we isolated two A. baumannii phages from wastewater and conducted a comprehensive assessment of their potential applications. This evaluation included sequencing analysis, genome classification, pH and temperature stability assessments, and in vitro bacterial inhibition assays. Further investigations involved analyzing histological and cytokine alterations in rats undergoing phage cocktail treatment for pneumonia. The therapeutic efficacy of the phages was validated, and transcriptomic studies of rat lung tissue during phage treatment revealed crucial changes in the immune system. The findings from our study underscore the potential of phages for future development as a treatment strategy and offer compelling evidence regarding immune system dynamics throughout the treatment process.IMPORTANCEDue to the growing problem of multi-drug-resistant bacteria, the use of phages is being considered as an alternative to antibiotics, and the genetic safety and application stability of phages determine the potential of phage application. The absence of drug resistance genes and virulence genes in the phage genome can ensure the safety of phage application, and the fact that phage can remain active in a wide range of temperatures and pH is also necessary for application. In addition, the effect evaluation of preclinical studies is especially important for clinical application. By simulating the immune response situation during the treatment process through mammalian models, the changes in animal immunity can be observed, and the effect of phage therapy can be further evaluated. Our study provides compelling evidence that phages hold promise for further development as therapeutic agents for Acinetobacter baumannii infections.

Two Undescribed Coumarins from Notopterygium Incisum with Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

Two previously undescribed coumarins (1-2) were isolated from the root of Notopterygium incisum. The structures of new findings were elucidated by analyses of spectral evidences in HRESIMS, NMR, as well as ICD. The absolute configurations were further confirmed by chemical calculations. 1-2 exhibits obviously anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory mediators (COX-2, iNOS), as well as reducing the release of NO and the accumulation of ROS in cells. Western blotting analysis revealed that 2 could inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway by reducing the expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT.

The function of the cytoplasmic dynein light chain PTKM23 in the transport of PTSMAD2 during spermatogenesis in Portunus trituberculatus.

Cytoplasmic dynein participates in transport functions and is essential in spermatogenesis. KM23 belongs to the dynein light chain family. The TGFß signaling pathway is indispensable in spermatogenesis, and Smad2 is an important member of this pathway. We cloned PTKM23 and PTSMAD2 from Portunus trituberculatus and measured their expression during spermatogenesis. PTKM23 may be related to cell division, acrosome formation and nuclear remodeling, and PTSMAD2 may participate in regulating the expression of genes related to spermatogenesis. We assessed the localization of PTKM23 with PTDHC and α-Tubulin, and the results suggested that PTKM23 functions in intracellular transport during spermatogenesis. We knocked down PTKM23 in vivo, and the expression of p53, B-CATAENIN and CYCLIN B decreased significantly, further suggesting a role of PTKM23 in transport and cell division. The localization of PTDIC with α-Tubulin and that of PTSMAD2 with PTDHC changed after PTKM23 knockdown. We transfected PTKM23 and PTSMAD2 into HEK-293 T cells and verified their colocalization. These results indicate that PTKM23 is involved in the assembly of cytoplasmic dynein and microtubules during spermatogenesis and that PTKM23 mediates the participation of cytoplasmic dynein in the transport of PTSMAD2 during spermatogenesis. This study provides a theoretical molecular biological basis for the breeding of P. trituberculatus.

Characterization of two virulent Salmonella phages and transient application in egg, meat and lettuce safety.

Salmonella, a prominent foodborne pathogen, has posed enduring challenges to the advancement of food safety and global public health. The escalating concern over antibiotic misuse, resulting in the excessive presence of drug residues in animal-derived food products, necessitates urgent exploration of alternative strategies for Salmonella control. Bacteriophages emerge as promising green biocontrol agents against pathogenic bacteria. This study delineates the identification of two novel virulent Salmonella phages, namely phage vB_SalS_ABTNLsp11241 (referred to as sp11241) and phage 8-19 (referred to as 8-19). Both phages exhibited efficient infectivity against Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE). Furthermore, this study evaluated the effectiveness of two phages to control SE in three different foods (whole chicken eggs, raw chicken meat, and lettuce) at different MOIs (1, 100, and 10000) at 4°C. It's worth noting that sp11241 and 8-19 achieved complete elimination of SE on eggs after 3 h and 6 h at MOI = 100, and after 2 h and 5 h at MOI = 10000, respectively. After 12 h of treatment with sp11241, a maximum reduction of 3.17 log10 CFU/mL in SE was achieved on raw chicken meat, and a maximum reduction of 3.00 log10 CFU/mL was achieved on lettuce. Phage 8-19 has the same effect on lettuce as sp11241, but is slightly less effective than sp11241 on chicken meat (a maximum 2.69 log10 CFU/mL reduction). In conclusion, sp11241 and 8-19 exhibit considerable potential for controlling Salmonella contamination in food at a low temperature and represent viable candidates as green antibacterial agents for food applications.

Galloborates as ultraviolet nonlinear optical crystals: advances and perspectives.

Metal borates are excellent source materials for exploring short-wavelength nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals. Galloborates show rich structural chemistry with various coordination configurations of Ga cation and B-O anionic units and are suitable candidates as ultraviolet NLO crystals. Up to now, the shortest cut-off edge of galloborates was reported to be down to 190 nm in KCs2Ga(B5O10)(OH), while the largest second harmonic generation (SHG) effect of galloborates was reported to be up to 4.6 times that of KH2PO4 (KDP) in Na5Ga[B7O12(OH)]2·2B(OH)3. Herein, we give a detailed summary of the recent progress in NLO inorganic galloborates, where these galloborates are grouped into two types in terms of their compositions: (1) alkali/alkaline earth metal galloborates and (2) alkali/alkaline earth metal galloborate halides. We discuss their structural features, band gaps, and SHG intensities. Finally, we give future perspectives in this field.

Occurrence and mechanism of sulfamethoxazole in alginate-like extracellular polymers from excess sludge.

The recovery of biopolymers, particularly alginate-like extracellular polymers, from municipal sludge represents a promising step toward sustainable sludge treatment practices. Originating from wastewater plants in complexly polluted environments, alginate-like extracellular polymers carry potential environmental risks concerning their reuse. This study employs ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to investigate the distribution coefficients and occurrence of alginate-like extracellular polymers and sulfamethoxazole. Results demonstrate a negative distribution coefficient, suggesting an inhibitory effect on sulfamethoxazole dissolution. The ethanol-extracted alginate-like extracellular polymers exhibits higher sulfamethoxazole levels (approximately 52%) than those obtained via dialysis extraction. Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix analysis and adsorption studies indicate the absence of tyrosine-like substances in the alginate-like extracellular polymers, unlike in other extracellular polymeric substances. This absence diminishes hydrophobic interactions, highlighting that electrostatic interactions play a more important role. These insights are crucial for understanding the adsorption behavior of alginate-like extracellular polymers and optimizing their large-scale extraction processes.

Transforming crystal structures of cobalt molybdate to generate electron-rich sites for electrochemical detection of Pb(II).

BACKGROUND: Most of the investigations on distinct crystal structures of catalysts are individually focused on the difference of surface functional groups or adsorption properties, but rarely explore the changes of active sites to affect the electrocatalytic performance. Catalysts with diverse crystal structures had been applied to modified electrodes in different electrocatalytic reactions. However, there is currently a lack of an essential understanding for the role of real active sites in catalysts with crystalline structures in electroanalysis, which is crucial for designing highly sensitive sensing interfaces. RESULTS: Herein, cobalt molybdate with divergent crystal structures (α-CoMoO4 and ß-CoMoO4) were synthesized by adjusting the calcination temperature, indicating that α-CoMoO4 (800 °C) (60.00 µA µM-1) had the highest catalytic ability than ß-CoMoO4 (700 °C) (38.68 µA µM-1) and α-CoMoO4 (900 °C) (29.55 µA µM-1) for the catalysis of Pb(II). It was proved that the proportion of Co(II) and Mo(IV) as electron-rich sites in α-CoMoO4 (800 °C) were higher than ß-CoMoO4 (700 °C) and α-CoMoO4 (900 °C), possessing more electrons to participate in the valence cycles of Co(II)/Co(III) and Mo(IV)/Mo(VI) to boost the catalytic reduction of Pb(II). Specifically, Co(II) transferred a part of electrons to Mo(VI), promoting the formation of Mo(IV). Co(II) and Mo(IV), as the electron-rich sites, providing electrons to Pb(II), further accelerating the conversion of Pb(II) into Pb(0). SIGNIFICANCE: In the process of detecting Pb(II), the CoMoO4 structures under different temperatures have distinct content of electron-rich sites Co(II) and Mo(IV). α-CoMoO4 (800 °C), with the highest content are benefited to detect Pb(II). This work is conducive to understanding the effect of the changes of active sites resulting from crystal transformation on the electrocatalytic performance, and provides a way to construct sensitive electrochemical interfaces of distinct active sites.