Contribution of plastic solid components to volatile organic compounds formation during plastics combustion.

The combustion of plastic waste releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are harmful to human health. However, information on the micro-mechanisms of VOC formation remains lacking. Here, the study hypothesized and verified the relationship between VOC formation and solid component degradation during plastics combustion. The VOCs released during plastics combustion exhibit characteristics such as low carbon content (nc< 10), volatility (9 µg m-3 < log10C0 < 11 µg m-3), and medium oxidation degree (-1.5 < OSC¯ < -0.5). The dominant VOCs ketones/aldehydes/acids (33-43 %) may be attributed to the depolymerization of the polymer structure of plastics, the oxidation of C-O/CO groups, and the secondary cleavage of gaseous oxygen-containing macromolecules. The VOCs released from the combustion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and poly(butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) contained more aromatics than polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). And the temperature response of aromatics released from PET and PBAT lagged other VOCs compared that of PP and PE. However, compared to biomass thermal conversion, combustion of plastics releases fewer aromatics and nitrogenous compounds. Collectively, this work shows that the formation mechanisms of VOCs contributed by the solid components during plastic combustion are similar for PET and PBAT due to their similar chemical structures. The proposed mechanism in this paper will provide insight into the control of contaminants during plastic combustion.

Pancreatic necrosis volume is closely associated with late-onset vascular complications after discharge in necrotizing pancreatitis.

PURPOSE: To explore the incidence, dynamic changes, prognostic factors and prognosis of late-onset vascular complications after discharge in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis (NP), and determine the relationship between the pancreatic necrosis volume (PNV) and late-onset vascular complications. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study that included NP patients who did not have any vascular complications during index hospitalization. Computed tomography (CT) examinations were performed, and the PNV was calculated based on the picture archiving and communication system. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the potential prognostic factors for late-onset vascular complications after discharge. RESULTS: A total of 35.6 % (37/104) of the patients had late-onset portal venous system involvement during the one-year follow-up period, including 35 patients with stenosis and 2 patients with occlusion. No venous thrombosis or arterial vascular complications were observed. PNV > 134 cm3 (OR, 7.08, 95 % CI 1.83-27.36; P = 0.005) and pancreatic necrosis involving the body and/or tail of the pancreas (OR, 10.05; 95 % CI, 2.66-38.02; P = 0.001) were prognostic factors for abnormal patency of the portal venous system. The abnormal patency of the portal venous system tended to persist during follow-up, and gastric varices were observed in 32.4 % (12/37) of the patients in the abnormal patency group without any symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Late-onset vascular complications involving venous stenosis or occlusion were common in NP patients after discharge, approximately one third of whom developed gastric varices. PNV and the location of necrosis were closely associated with the development of these complications.

In-vitro and in-vivo comparative studies of treatment effects on enamel demineralization during orthodontic therapy: implications for clinical early-intervention strategy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate if CPP-ACP / infiltrating resin was superior in treating enamel demineralization during orthodontic therapy compared with fluoride varnish, in order to provide early-intervention implications for dental professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the in-vitro study, premolars were grouped into four: remineralization with fluoride varnish / CPP-ACP, sealing with infiltrating resin, and negative control. Experimental demineralization of enamel surfaces was analyzed using techniques of QLF, SEM, EDS and micro-hardness testing. An in-vivo intervention study was conducted on patients randomly assigned into three groups. At the baseline and every-3-month follow-up, QLF parameters were compared temporally and parallelly to yield potential implications for promotion in clinical practice. RESULTS: The in-vitro study performed on 48 experimental tooth surfaces demonstrated that sealing with infiltrating resin reduced enamel surface porosity and increased surface micro-hardness significantly. In the in-vivo intervention study on 163 tooth surfaces, it was suggested that for those who meet the criteria of -10 < ΔF < -6 and - 1000 < ΔQ < -20 at the baseline, all these treatment methods could achieve acceptable outcomes; with the rising of absolute values of ΔF and ΔQ, sealing with infiltrating resin showed more evident advantages. CONCLUSION: For enamel demineralization during orthodontic therapy, all the treatment methods involved in this study showed acceptable effectiveness but had respective characteristics in treatment effects. QLF parameters could be used as indicators for clinical early-intervention strategy with regards to this clinical issue. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: With QLF parameters, clinical early-intervention strategy for enamel demineralization during orthodontic therapy could be optimized.

Human embryos harbor complex mosaicism with broad presence of aneuploid cells during early development.

Pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) is used in approximately half of in vitro fertilization cycles. Given the limited understanding of the genetics of human embryos, the current use of PGT-A is based on biologically uncertain assumptions and unvalidated guidelines, leading to the possibility of disposing of embryos with pregnancy potential. We isolated and sequenced all single cells (1133) from in vitro cultured 20 human blastocysts. We found that all blastocysts exhibited mosaicism with mitotic-induced aneuploid cells and showed an ~25% aneuploidy rate per embryo. Moreover, 70% (14/20) of blastocysts contained 'chromosome-complementary' cells, suggesting genetic mosaicism is underestimated in routine PGT-A. Additionally, the analysis of 20,945 single cells from day 8-14 embryos (in vitro cultured) and embryonic/fetal organs showed that 97% of the analyzed embryos/organs were mosaic. Over 96% of their aneuploid cells harbored ≤ 2 chromosome errors. Our findings have revealed a high prevalence of mosaicism in human embryos.

Identifying potential key ferroptosis-related genes and therapeutic drugs in sepsis-induced ARDS by bioinformatics and experimental verification.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious pathological process with high mortality. Ferroptosis is pivotal in sepsis, whose regulatory mechanisms in sepsis-induced ARDS remains unknown. We aimed to determine key ferroptosis-related genes in septic ARDS and investigate therapeutic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). METHOD: Sepsis-induced ARDS dataset obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was analyzed to identify ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (FRDEGs). Enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction were performed to identify hub genes. Immune cells infiltration was analyzed and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed. The diagnostic value of hub genes in septic ARDS was analyzed and the occurrence of ferroptosis and the expression of hub genes were detected. TCM targeting hub genes was predicted via SymMap database and was verified. RESULTS: 16 FRDEGs were obtained, among which the top four genes (IL1B, TXN, MAPK3, HSPB1) were selected as hub genes, which may be potential diagnostic markers of septic ARDS. Immunoassay showed that sepsis-induced ARDS and hub genes were closely related to immune cells. The ceRNA network showed 26 microRNAs and 38 long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs). Ferroptosis occurred and the expressions of IL1B, MAPK3 and TXN were increased in septic ARDS mice and LPS-challenged human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEpiCs). Sea buckthorn alleviated septic lung injury and affected hub genes expression. CONCLUSIONS: Ferroptosis-related genes of IL1B, MAPK3 and TXN serve as potential diagnostic genes for sepsis-induced ARDS. Sea buckthorn may be therapeutic medication for ARDS. This study provides a new direction for septic ARDS treatment.

The relationship between semen quality in male infertility clinic patients and bisphenol A：A Chinese cross-sectional study.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a growing concern as an endocrine-disrupting chemical due to its adverse health effects. However, the association between BPA and sperm quality in adult human males remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the daily life exposure level of BPA and analyze its correlation with sperm quality in males. Patients who sought treatment in Chinese infertility clinics between May and October 2023 were selected as study subjects. We determined participants' serum BPA content using high-performance liquid chromatography. Sperm count and motility were assessed using a computer-aided sperm analysis system, while sperm morphology was analyzed using an improved Papanicolaou stain. A total of 405 participants, averaging 33.01 ± 5.44 years old, were included. We observed low semen quality among participants in infertility clinics. Principal component analysis was performed for each semen quality index, and three principal components reflecting sperm motility, count, and morphology were extracted. The participants' mean serum BPA level was 6.96 ng/mL. Negative correlations were observed between serum BPA content and total sperm count, sperm density, forward motility rate, and non-forward motility rate. A positive correlation was found between the non-motile sperm rate and the head deformity rate. Morphological abnormalities were the predominant adverse effects observed. Despite low daily life BPA exposure, long-term low-dose exposure in the general population may damage semen quality. This study provides a scientific basis for managing health risks associated with BPA exposure.

CircRNA-Cacna1d Plays a Critical Role in Sepsis-induced Lung Injury by Sponging miRNA-185-5p.

The role of circRNAs in sepsis-induced lung injury is not clear. This study investigated the role and molecular mechanism of a novel circRNA in sepsis-induced lung injury and explored its prognostic value in sepsis patients. In this study, aberrant circRNA expression profiling in lung tissues from mice with sepsis-induced lung injury was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. CircRNA-Cacna1d was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and its biological function in sepsis-induced lung injury was validated in vitro and in vivo. The interactions among circRNA-Cacna1d, miRNAs, and their downstream genes were verified. Furthermore, the clinical value of circRNA-Cacna1d in peripheral blood from sepsis patients was also evaluated. We found that circRNA-Cacna1d expression was significantly increased in lung tissues of sepsis mice and microvascular endothelial cells after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. CircRNA-Cacna1d knockdown alleviated inflammatory response and ameliorated the permeability of vascular endothelium, thereby mitigating sepsis-induced lung injury and significantly improving the survival rate of sepsis mice. Mechanistically, circRNA-Cacna1d directly interacted with miRNA-185-5p and functioned as a miRNA sponge to regulate the RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway. The expression level of circRNA-Cacna1d in patients with early sepsis was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls. Higher levels of circRNA-Cacna1d in sepsis patients were associated with increased disease severity and poorer outcomes. In conclusions, circRNA-Cacna1d may play a role in sepsis-induced lung injury by regulating the RhoA/ROCK1 axis by acting as miRNA-185-5p sponge. CircRNA-Cacna1d is a potential therapeutic target for sepsis-induced lung injury and a prognostic biomarker in sepsis.

Zosuquidar Promotes Antitumor Immunity by Inducing Autophagic Degradation of PD-L1.

The intracellular distribution and transportation process are essential for maintaining PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) expression, and intervening in this cellular process may provide promising therapeutic strategies. Here, through a cell-based high content screening, it is found that the ABCB1 (ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1) modulator zosuquidar dramatically suppresses PD-L1 expression by triggering its autophagic degradation. Mechanistically, ABCB1 interacts with PD-L1 and impairs COP II-mediated PD-L1 transport from ER (endoplasmic reticulum) to Golgi apparatus. The treatment of zosuquidar enhances ABCB1-PD-L1 interaction and leads the ER retention of PD-L1, which is subsequently degraded in the SQSTM1-dependent selective autophagy pathway. In CT26 mouse model and a humanized xenograft mouse model, zosuquidar significantly suppresses tumor growth and accompanies by increased infiltration of cytotoxic T cells. In summary, this study indicates that ABCB1 serves as a negative regulator of PD-L1, and zosuquidar may act as a potential immunotherapy agent by triggering PD-L1 degradation in the early secretory pathway.

Five Undescribed Sesquiterpenes with Anti-inflammasome Activity Isolated from Saussurea laniceps.

Five previously undescribed guaialactone-type sesquiterpenes (1-5), called Lanicepsmines A-E, along with eleven know compounds (6-16), were isolated from the whole plant of Saussurea laniceps. NMR spectroscopic data analysis and MASS permitted the definition of their structures. The stereochemistry of the compounds was confirmed by ECD calculations. It is worth noting that compound 1 and 2 contain amino groups. Part of compounds were tested the anti-inflammasome activity, and compound 14 exhibited potent activity and decreased LDH level in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 0.698 µM.

Feedstock variability impacts the bioconversion of sugar and lignin streams derived from corn stover by Clostridium tyrobutyricum and engineered Pseudomonas putida.

Feedstock variability represents a challenge in lignocellulosic biorefineries, as it can influence both lignocellulose deconstruction and microbial conversion processes for biofuels and biochemicals production. The impact of feedstock variability on microbial performance remains underexplored, and predictive tools for microbial behaviour are needed to mitigate risks in biorefinery scale-up. Here, twelve batches of corn stover were deconstructed via deacetylation, mechanical refining, and enzymatic hydrolysis to generate lignin-rich and sugar streams. These batches and their derived streams were characterised to identify their chemical components, and the streams were used as substrates for producing muconate and butyrate by engineered Pseudomonas putida and wildtype Clostridium tyrobutyricum, respectively. Bacterial performance (growth, product titers, yields, and productivities) differed among the batches, but no strong correlations were identified between feedstock composition and performance. To provide metabolic insights into the origin of these differences, we evaluated the effect of twenty-three isolated chemical components on these microbes, including three components in relevant bioprocess settings in bioreactors, and we found that growth-inhibitory concentrations were outside the ranges observed in the streams. Overall, this study generates a foundational dataset on P. putida and C. tyrobutyricum performance to enable future predictive models and underscores their resilience in effectively converting fluctuating lignocellulose-derived streams into bioproducts.

Global research trends in transcranial magnetic stimulation for stroke (1994-2023): promising, yet requiring further practice.

Background: Scholars have been committed to investigating stroke rehabilitation strategies over many years. Since its invention, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been increasingly employed in contemporary stroke rehabilitation research. Evidence has shown the significant potential of TMS in stroke research and treatment. Objective: This article reviews the research conducted on the use of TMS in stroke from 1994 to 2023. This study applied bibliometric analysis to delineate the current research landscape and to anticipate future research hotspots. Method: The study utilized the Web of Science Core Collection to retrieve and acquire literature data. Various software tools, including VOSviewer (version 1.6.19), CiteSpace (version 6.3.R1), Scimago Graphica (version 1.0.36), and WPS (version 11572), were used for data analysis and visualization. The review included analyses of countries, institutions, authors, journals, articles, and keywords. Results: A total of 3,425 articles were collected. The top three countries in terms of publication output were the United States (953 articles), China (546 articles), and Germany (424 articles). The United States also had the highest citation counts (56,764 citations), followed by Germany (35,211 citations) and the United Kingdom (32,383 citations). The top three institutions based on the number of publications were Harvard University with 138 articles, the University of Auckland with 81 articles, and University College London with 80 articles. The most prolific authors were Abo, Masahiro with 54 articles, Fregni, Felipe with 53 articles, and Pascual-Leone, Alvaro with 50 articles. The top three journals in terms of article count were Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair with 139 articles, Clinical Neurophysiology with 128 articles, and Frontiers in Neurology with 110 articles. The most frequently occurring keywords were stroke (1,275 occurrences), transcranial magnetic stimulation (1,119 occurrences), and rehabilitation (420 occurrences). Conclusion: The application of TMS in stroke research is rapidly gaining momentum, with the USA leading in publications. Prominent institutions, such as Harvard University and University College London, show potential for collaborative research. The key areas of focus include post-stroke cognitive impairment, aphasia, and dysphagia, which are expected to remain significant hotspots in future research. Future research should involve large-scale, randomized, and controlled trials in these fields. Additionally, identifying more effective combined therapies with rTMS should be a priority.

Machine learning-based corrosion rate prediction of steel embedded in soil.

Predicting the corrosion rate for soil-buried steel is significant for assessing the service-life performance of structures in soil environments. However, due to the large amount of variables involved, existing corrosion prediction models have limited accuracy for complex soil environment. The present study employs three machine learning (ML) algorithms, i.e., random forest, support vector regression, and multilayer perception, to predict the corrosion current density of soil-buried steel. Steel specimens were embedded in soil samples collected from different regions of the Wisconsin state. Variables including exposure time, moisture content, pH, electrical resistivity, chloride, sulfate content, and mean total organic carbon were measured through laboratory tests and were used as input variables for the model. The current density of steel was measured through polarization technique, and was employed as the output of the model. Of the various ML algorithms, the random forest (RF) model demonstrates the highest predictability (with an RMSE value of 0.01095 A/m2 and an R2 value of 0.987). In light of the feature selection method, the electrical resistivity is identified as the most significant feature. The combination of three features (resistivity, exposure time, and mean total organic carbon) is the optimal scenario for predicting the corrosion current density of soil-buried steel.

Aluminum-Lithium Alloy Fillers Enhancing the Room Temperature Performances of Polymer Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries.

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) electrolytes usually suffer from low room temperature (RT) ionic conductivity and a narrow voltage window, which limits the improvement of energy density and practical applications in all-solid-state batteries. Composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) are regarded as the common method to reduce the crystallinity of polymers and increase the lithium ion conductivity. Compared with active or inert ceramic material fillers in previous studies, aluminum-lithium alloy fillers are used to prepare composite electrolytes in this study, showing excellent performance at room temperature. The conductivity of the PEO-based electrolytes increases by a factor of 3.62-3.62× 10-4 S cm-1 at RT with 5 wt % Al-Li alloy. The transference number of Li+ is increased to 0.524. The characteristics of the Al-Li alloy and higher conductivity enable the composite electrolyte to stabilize the interface with the electrodes, reducing the polarization of solid-state batteries. The all-solid-state Li/PEO-5%/LiFePO4 cells show the highest initial discharge capacity of 153 mAh g-1 and the highest stable discharge capacity of 147 mAh g-1 with the initial Coulombic efficiency of more than 100%. It also exhibits the best rate capacity and cycle performance (90% capacity retention rate after 100 cycles).

Serum uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio is a predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in patients with diabetes: Evidence from NHANES 2005-2018.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The relationship between uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR) and mortality in individuals with diabetes remains uncertain. This study aimed to explore the relationship between serum UHR and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in adults with diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 5,665 patients with diabetes were enrolled from the 2005-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Mortality data were determined through the National Death Index (NDI) until December 31, 2019. The multivariate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were examined by Cox proportional risk modeling and threshold effects analysis. Stratified analyses were conducted to identify the populations with high-risk mortality. Among the participants with diabetes, 1,088 all-cause mortality, containing 310 CVD mortality occurred. Following adjustment for multivariate, higher UHR was significantly and nonlinearly associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.02-1.02) and CVD mortality (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.03-1.03). Furthermore, a U-shaped relationship between UHR and all-cause and CVD mortality, with a plateau at 12.57% for all-cause mortality and 9.86% for CVD mortality. Below the inflection points, a higher UHR was associated with a 4% reduced risk for all-cause mortality. Conversely, exceeding the inflection points, a 4% higher risk for all-cause and a 3% higher risk for CVD mortality associated with elevated UHR. CONCLUSIONS: Nonlinearity of UHR with all-cause and CVD mortality was observed in adults with diabetes in the United States, with thresholds identified at 12.57% for all-cause and 9.86% for CVD mortality respectively.

Obesity-derived macrophages upregulate TNF-α to induce apoptosis in glial cell via the NF-κB/PHLPP1 axis.

Macrophages in obese adipose tissue have been shown to damage nerve fibers, however, the mechanism underlying how macrophages cause glial cell damage remains unknown. This study aimed to characterize the mechanism by which macrophages induce apoptosis in glial cell during obesity formation in mice by single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). Cells obtained from paraepididymal adipose tissue in obese mice underwent snRNA-seq. Eighteen different clusters were identified, and 12 cell types were annotated, including glial cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts. There was a negative correlation between the number of glial cells and macrophages in mouse adipose tissue during the formation of obesity. The pro-apoptotic factor PHLPP1 was identified in GO Terms. The interaction between adipose tissue glial cells and macrophages was revealed via in-depth analysis, and the cell-cell communication mechanism between the TNF-α and NF-KB/PHLPP1 axes was perfected. Apoptosis of glial cell by upregulation of TNF-α via obesity-derived macrophages and activation of the NF-κB/PHLPP1 axis. We further revealed how macrophages induce apoptosis in glial cells during obesity formation, as well as different changes in the two cell populations. This study provides valuable resources and foundations for understanding the mechanistic effects of macrophages and glial cells during obesity formation, as well as diseases and potential interventions.

The mediating effect of TyG and its derived indices in the association between OSAHS and atherosclerosis in patients with T2DM.

OBJECTIVE: Triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and its derived indices which better reflect metabolic disturbances on atherosclerosis has not been reliably compared in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Besides, obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), a driver of atherosclerosis (AS), can exacerbate metabolic disturbances strongly. The aim of this study is to explore the mediating effect of glycolipid metabolism on the association between OSAHS and arterial stiffness in T2DM patients. METHODS: 154 T2DM patients were involved in this study and were split into two groups: T2DM and T2DM + AS. Logistic regression analysis determined the accurate effects of different factors on the AS of T2DM patients. The capacity of TyG and the indices it derives to predict AS was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Mediation analysis was employed to investigate the mediating effect of TyG and its derived indices on the association between OSAHS and arterial stiffness in T2DM patients. RESULTS: OSAHS, TyG, and its derived indices were independent risk factors for AS in T2DM patients. Stratified by age, the hazardous effects of TyG and its derived indices remained significant in T2DM patients aged ≥ 50 years, but not in those aged < 50 years. In T2DM patients aged ≥ 50 years, the novel indices have a high predictive value for AS, with TyG-BMI exhibiting the largest AUC(AUC:0.788;95% CI:0.647 ∼ 0.928; P < 0.001). The mediation analysis results indicated that in T2DM patients aged ≥ 50 years, TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHtR acted as potential mediators in the association between OSAHS and AS, with mediation effects of 33.42%, 48.2%, 37.7%, and 40.21%, respectively. However, there was no significant mediating effect observed in the younger patients. CONCLUSION: TyG and its derived indices are strongly correlated with AS in T2DM patients, of which TyG-BMI has the best predictive performance. Besides, OSAHS partially exerts its atherogenic effect through glucolipid metabolism disorder in the T2DM population aged ≥ 50 years, while it mainly exerts a direct atherogenic effect in patients aged < 50 years.

Seven New Species of Entoloma Subgenus Cubospora (Entolomataceae, Agaricales) from Subtropical Regions of China.

Entoloma is a relatively large genus in Agaricales, with a rich diversity of species and a wide distribution. In this study, seven new species of Entoloma belonging to the subgenus Cubospora have been identified based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence from subtropical regions of China. Morphologically, E. excavatum is characterized by the yellow, depressed, estriate pileus and medium-sized basidiospores; E. lacticolor is recognized by the white and papillate pileus, adnexed lamellae, and presence of clamp connections; E. phlebophyllum is identified by the pink-to-maroon and estriate pileus, and lamellae with lateral veins; E. rufomarginatum differs from other cuboid-spored species by the lamellae edge which is red-brown-underlined; E. subcycneum is characterized by the white pileus and carneogriseum-type cheilocystidia; E. submurrayi is recognized by the pileus margin exceeding the lamellae, 2-layered pileipellis with hyphae of different widths, and the presence of clamp connections; E. tomentosum is identified by the tomentose pileus, heterogeneous lamella edge, and versiform cheilocystidia with brown-yellow contents. Their distinct taxonomic status is confirmed by the positions of the seven new species in both the ITS + LSU and 3-locus (LSU, tef-1α, rpb2) phylogenetic trees. Detailed descriptions, color photos, and a key to related species are presented.

A human fetal cerebellar map of the late second trimester reveals developmental molecular characteristics and abnormality in trisomy 21.

Our understanding of human fetal cerebellum development during the late second trimester, a critical period for the generation of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and unipolar brush cells (UBCs), remains limited. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in human fetal cerebellum samples from gestational weeks (GWs) 18-25. We find that proliferating UBC progenitors distribute in the subventricular zone of the rhombic lip (RLSVZ) near white matter (WM), forming a layer structure. We also delineate two trajectories from astrogenic radial glia (ARGs) to Bergmann glial progenitors (BGPs) and recognize oligodendrogenic radial glia (ORGs) as one source of primitive oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (PriOPCs). Additionally, our scRNA-seq analysis of the trisomy 21 fetal cerebellum at this stage reveals abnormal upregulated genes in pathways such as the cell adhesion pathway and focal adhesion pathway, which potentially promote neuronal differentiation. Overall, our research provides valuable insights into normal and abnormal development of the human fetal cerebellum.

Iron-Catalyzed Electrophotochemical α-Functionalization of a Silylcyclobutanol.

Four-membered ring structure is important in organic chemistry, and selective cleavage and functionalization of these strained rings are of great interest. However, direct α-functionalization of cyclobutanols is rarely reported because of the high O-H bond dissociation energy and the occurrence of ß-scission of C-C bonds in these alcohols. Recently, transition-metal catalysis has facilitated alkoxy radical generation. Herein, we report a method for electrophotochemical α-functionalization of a silylcyclobutanol via visible-light-induced LMCT reactions of M-alkoxy complexes. Introduction of the silyl group into the cyclobutanol structure favored fast [1,2]-silyl transfer over ring opening, thus allowing the generation of α-functionalized products.

Interactions between Iron Minerals and Dissolved Organic Matter Derived from Microplastics Inhibited the Ferrihydrite Transformation as Revealed at the Molecular Scale.

Microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM) is an emerging carbon source in the environment. Interactions between MP-DOM and iron minerals alter the transformation of ferrihydrite (Fh) as well as the distribution and fate of MP-DOM. However, these interactions and their effects on both two components are not fully elucidated. In this study, we selected three types of MP-DOM as model substances and utilized Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy to characterize the structural features of DOMs and DOM-mineral complexes at the molecular and atomic levels. Our results suggest that carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in MP-DOM increased the Fe-O bond length by 0.02-0.03 Å through interacting with Fe atoms in the first shell, thereby inhibiting the transformation of Fh to hematite (Hm). The most significant inhibition of Fh transformation was found in PS-DOM, followed by PBAT-DOM and PE-DOM. MP-DOM components, such as phenolic compounds and condensed polycyclic aromatics (MW > 360 Da) with high oxygen content and high unsaturation, exhibited stronger mineral adsorption affinity. These findings provide a profound theoretical basis for accurately predicting the behavior and fate of iron minerals as well as MP-DOM in complex natural environments.