Discovery of a novel homocysteine thiolactone hydrolase and the catalytic activity of its natural variants.

Homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), a toxic metabolite of homocysteine (Hcy) in hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), is known to modify protein structure and function, leading to protein damage through formation of N-Hcy-protein. HTL has been highly linked to HHcy-associated cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The protective role of HTL hydrolases against HTL-associated vascular toxicity and neurotoxicity have been reported. Although several endogeneous enzymes capable of hydrolyzing HTL have been identified, the primary enzyme responsible for its metabolism remains unclear. In this study, three human carboxylesterases were screened to explore new HTL hydrolase and human carboxylesterase 1 (hCES1) demonstrates the highest catalytic activity against HTL. Given the abundance of hCES1 in the liver and the clinical significance of its single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), six common hCES1 nonsynonymous coding SNP (nsSNPs) variants were examined and characterized for their kinetic parameters. Variants E220G and G143E displayed 7.3-fold and 13.2-fold lower catalytic activities than its wild-type counterpart. In addition, the detailed catalytic mechanism of hCES1 for HTL hydrolysis was computational investigated and elucidated by Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) molecular dynamics (MD) method. The function of residues E220 and G143 in sustaining its hydrolytic activity of hCES1 was analyzed, and the calculated energy difference aligns well with experimental-derived results, supporting the validity of our computational insights. These findings provide insights into the potential protective role of hCES1 against HTL-associated toxicity, and warrant future studies on the possible association between specific genetic variants of hCES1 with impaired catalytic function and clinical susceptibility of HTL-associated cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

Biological aging mediates the associations of metabolic score for insulin resistance with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality among US adults: A nationwide cohort study.

AIM: To investigate the associations of metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-specific mortality and the potential mediating role of biological ageing. METHODS: A cohort of 19 204 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018 was recruited for this study. Cox regression models, restricted cubic splines, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to determine the relationships of METS-IR with all-cause and CVD-specific mortality. Mediation analyses were performed to explore the possible intermediary role of biological ageing markers, including phenotypic age (PhenoAge) and biological age (BioAge). RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 9.17 years, we observed 2818 deaths, of which 875 were CVD-specific. Multivariable Cox regression showed that the highest METS-IR level (Q4) was associated with increased all-cause (hazard ratio [HR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-1.67) and CVD mortality (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.10-2.12) compared with the Q1 level. Restricted cubic splines showed a nonlinear relationship between METS-IR and all-cause mortality. Only METS-IR above the threshold (41.02 µg/L) was positively correlated with all-cause death. METS-IR had a linear positive relationship with CVD mortality. In mediation analyses, we found that PhenoAge mediated 51.32% (p < 0.001) and 41.77% (p < 0.001) of the association between METS-IR and all-cause and CVD-specific mortality, respectively. For BioAge, the mediating proportions of PhenoAge were 21.33% (p < 0.001) and 15.88% (p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the detrimental effects of insulin resistance, as measured by METS-IR, on all-cause and CVD mortality. Moreover, it underscores the role of biological ageing in mediating these associations, emphasizing the need for interventions targeting both insulin resistance and ageing processes to mitigate mortality risks in metabolic disorders.

Facile synthesis of 2-vinylindolines via a phosphine-mediated α-umpolung/Wittig olefination/cyclization cascade process.

A novel phosphine-mediated α-umpolung/Wittig olefination/cyclization cascade process between o-aminobenzaldehydes and Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates has been ingeniously developed. This protocol serves as a practical tool for the facile synthesis of a broad range of 2-vinylindolines in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions. The applicability of this method was demonstrated with gram-scale reaction and various transformations of the corresponding product.

Stochastic process is main factor to affect plateau river fish community assembly.

Plateau river ecosystems are often highly vulnerable and responsive to environmental change. The driving mechanism of fish diversity and community assembly in plateau rivers under changing environments presents a significant complexity to the interdisciplinary study of ecology and environment. This study integrated molecular biological techniques and mathematical models to identify the mechanisms influencing spatial heterogeneity of freshwater fish diversity and driving fish community assembly in plateau rivers. By utilizing environmental-DNA metabarcoding and the null model, this study revealed the impact of the stochastic process on fish diversity variations and community assembly in the Huangshui Plateau River of the Yellow River Basin (YRB) in China. This research identified 30 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which correspond to 20 different fish species. The findings of this study revealed that the fish α-diversity in the upstream region of Xining is significantly higher than in the middle-lower reach (Shannon index: P = 0.017 and Simpson: P = 0.035). This pattern was not found to be related to any other environmental factors besides altitude (P = 0.023) that we measured. Further, the study indicated that the assembly of fish communities in the Huangshui River primarily depends on stochastic ecological processes. These findings suggested that elevation was not the primary factor impacting the biodiversity patterns of fish in plateau rivers. In plateau rivers, spatial heterogeneity of fish community on elevation is mainly determined by stochastic processes under habitat fragmentation, rather than any other physicochemical environmental factors. The limitations of connectivity in the downstream channel of the river could be taken the mainly responsibility for stochastic processes of fish community in Huangshui River. Incorporating ecological processes in the eDNA approach holds great potential for future monitoring and evaluation of fish biodiversity and community assembly in plateau rivers.

Association between dietary supplement use and mortality in cancer survivors with different body mass index and frailty status: a cohort study.

Background: The association between Body Mass Index (BMI), frailty index (FI), and dietary supplement in cancer survivors has been a subject of growing interest. This study investigates the relationship of BMI and FI with mortality in American cancer survivors and explores the impact of dietary supplement usage on different BMI and FI groups. Methods: Three thousand nine hundred and thirty-two cancer patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database were included in the analyses. BMI, FI, and supplement usage were obtained through the NHANES structured survey and the 49-item FI tool. Weighted logistic and Cox proportional hazards models, Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to elucidate the relationships between BMI, FI, dietary supplement, and mortality outcomes. Results: The study found significant associations between higher BMI and increased frailty (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.02-1.06). BMI < 25 kg/m2 and FI > 0.2 are associated with an increased mortality rate. Dietary supplement use can reduce all-cause and cancer mortality in cancer patients with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (Hazard ratio [HR] = 0.63, 95% CI, 0.47-0.84; HR = 0.48, 95% CI, 0.29-0.80) or FI ≤ 0.2 (HR = 0.77, 95% CI, 0.60-0.99; HR = 0.59, 95% CI, 0.39-0.89). In cancer patients with BMI < 25 kg/m2 and FI ≤ 0.2, dietary supplement users had lower all-cause and cancer mortality (HR = 0.49, 95% CI, 0.30-0.79; HR = 0.25, 95% CI, 0.10-0.60). Conclusion: The study revealed a negative correlation between BMI and the FI among the cancer patient cohort as well as their complex impact on mortality and highlighted the role of dietary supplement in cancer prognosis, indicating benefits for non-frail patients with BMI < 25 kg/m2.

Multifunctional ORF3 protein of hepatitis E virus.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that is transmitted primarily through the fecal-oral route and can cause acute hepatitis in humans. Since HEV was identified as a zoonotic pathogen, different species of HEV strains have been globally identified from various hosts, leading to an expanding range of hosts. The HEV genome consists of a 5' noncoding region, three open reading frames (ORFs), and a 3' noncoding region. The ORF3 protein is the smallest but has many functions in HEV release and pathogenesis. In this review, we systematically summarize recent progress in understanding the functions of the HEV ORF3 protein in virion release, biogenesis of quasi-enveloped viruses, antigenicity, and host environmental regulation. This review will help us to understand HEV replication and pathogenesis mechanisms better.

Mott-Schottky Construction Boosted Plasmon Thermal and Electronic Effects on the Ag/CoV-LDH Nanohybrids for Highly-Efficient Water Oxidation.

Mott-Schottky construction and plasmon excitation represent two highly-efficient and closely-linked coping strategies to the high energy loss of oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but the combined effect has rarely been investigated. Herein, with Ag nanoparticles as electronic structure regulator and plasmon exciter, Ag/CoV-LDH@G nanohybrids (NHs) with Mott-Schottky heterojunction and notable plasmon effect are well-designed. Combining theoretical calculations with experiments, it is found that the Mott-Schottky construction modulates the Fermi level/energy band structure of CoV-LDH, which in turn leads to lowered d-band center (from -0.89 to -0.93), OER energy barrier (from 6.78 to 1.31 eV), and preeminent plasmon thermal/electronic effects. The thermal effect can offset the endothermic enthalpy change of OER, promote the deprotonation of *OOH, and accelerate electron transfer kinetics. Whereas the electronic effect can increase the density of charge carriers (from 0.70 × 1020 to 1.64 × 1020 cm-3), lower the activation energy of OER (from 30.3 to 17.7 kJ mol-1). Benefiting from these favorable factors, the Ag/CoV-LDH@G NHs show remarkable electrocatalytic performances, with an overpotential of 178 and 263 mV to afford 10 and 100 mA cm-2 for OER, respectively, and a low cell voltage of 1.42 V to drive 10 mA cm-2 for overall water splitting under near-infrared light irradiation.

Integrated machine learning reveals aquatic biological integrity patterns in semi-arid watersheds.

Semi-arid regions present unique challenges for maintaining aquatic biological integrity due to their complex evolutionary mechanisms. Uncovering the spatial patterns of aquatic biological integrity in these areas is a challenging research task, especially under the compound environmental stress. Our goal is to address this issue with a scientifically rigorous approach. This study aims to explore the spatial analysis and diagnosis method of aquatic biological based on the combination of machine learning and statistical analysis, so as to reveal the spatial differentiation patterns and causes of changes of aquatic biological integrity in semi-arid regions. To this end, we have introduced an innovative approach that combines XGBoost-SHAP and Fuzzy C-means clustering (FCM), we successfully identified and diagnosed the spatial variations of aquatic biological integrity in the Wei River Basin (WRB). The study reveals significant spatial variations in species number, diversity, and aquatic biological integrity of phytoplankton, serving as a testament to the multifaceted responses of biological communities under the intricate tapestry of environmental gradients. Delving into the depths of the XGBoost-SHAP algorithm, we discerned that Annual average Temperature (AT) stands as the pivotal driver steering the spatial divergence of the Phytoplankton Integrity Index (P-IBI), casting a positive influence on P-IBI when AT is below 11.8 °C. The intricate interactions between hydrological variables (VF and RW) and AT, as well as between water quality parameters (WT, NO3-N, TP, COD) and AT, collectively sculpt the spatial distribution of P-IBI. The fusion of XGBoost-SHAP with FCM unveils pronounced north-south gradient disparities in aquatic biological integrity across the watershed, segmenting the region into four distinct zones. This establishes scientific boundary conditions for the conservation strategies and management practices of aquatic ecosystems in the region, and its flexibility is applicable to the analysis of spatial heterogeneity in other complex environmental contexts.

Constructing and validating a risk model based on neutrophil-related genes for evaluating prognosis and guiding immunotherapy in colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer is one of the most common digestive tract malignancies. Although immunotherapy has brought new hope to colon cancer patients, there is still a large proportion of patients who do not benefit from immunotherapy. Studies have shown that neutrophils can interact with immune cells and immune factors to affect the prognosis of patients. METHODS: We first determined the infiltration level of neutrophils in tumors using the CIBERSORT algorithm and identified key genes in the final risk model by Spearman correlation analysis and subsequent Cox analysis. The risk score of each patient was obtained by multiplying the Cox regression coefficient and the gene expression level, and patients were divided into two groups based on the median of risk score. Differences in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and model accuracy was validated in independent dataset. Differences in immune infiltration and immunotherapy were evaluated by immunoassay. Finally, immunohistochemistry and western blotting were performed to verify the expression of the three genes in the colon normal and tumor tissues. RESULTS: We established and validated a risk scoring model based on neutrophil-related genes in two independent datasets, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, with SLC11A1 and SLC2A3 as risk factors and MMP3 as a protective factor. A new nomogram was constructed and validated by combining clinical characteristics and the risk score model to better predict patients OS and PFS. Immune analysis showed that patients in the high-risk group had immune cell infiltration level, immune checkpoint level and tumor mutational burden, and were more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The low-risk group showed better OS and PFS than the high-risk group in the neutrophil-related gene-based risk model. Patients in the high-risk group presented higher immune infiltration levels and tumor mutational burden and thus may be more responsive to immunotherapy.

Weakened hydrological oscillation period increased the frequency of river algal blooms.

The evolution of riverine aquatic ecosystems typically exhibits notable characteristic with cumulative, enduring, and hysteresis. Exploring the non-linear response of riverine ecology to long-term hydrological fluctuations become a major challenge in contemporary interdisciplinary research. In response to the critical issue of frequent river algal blooms in the lower Han River, which is impacted by Asian largest inter-basin water diversion project. We identified the non-linear response of eco-hydrology across various time scales through the integration of Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) and Inverse Wavelet Transform (IWT). Our study revealed that: 1) Over the past half century, the hydrological regime in the lower Han river showed a significant downward trend, and existed three significant hydrological oscillation periods (HOPs), including the short-scale Intra-AC (180 days), the medium-scale AC (365 days, the first major period), and the long-scale Inter-AC (2500 days), the variation of Inter-AC changed most dramatically. 2) We further found that the Inter-AC variation of hydrology is more closely related to the formation of river algal blooms in the Han River, and when the hydrological Inter-AC shows steady state or downward trend, the frequency of algal blooms in the lower Han River increases significantly. 3) The river algal blooms in the lower Han River is a cumulative consequence to the long-term hydrological influences. Weakened hydrological Inter-AC is more likely to increase the frequency of river algal blooms, and 10-years Inter-AC cumulation increased the frequency by 60%. Therefore, the weaken of long-scale HOP will significantly increase the frequency of river algal blooms in the future. This study received a critical scientific insight and aimed at provide guidance for the optimization of ecological management within the framework of national large-scale water conservation.

Prevention and treatment of HPV-related cancer through a mRNA vaccine expressing APC-targeting antigen.

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with multiple malignancies. Developing therapeutic vaccines to eliminate HPV-infected and malignant cells holds significant value. In this study, we introduced a lipid nanoparticle encapsulated mRNA vaccine expressing tHA-mE7-mE6. Mutations were introduced into E6 and E7 of HPV to eliminate their tumourigenicity. A truncated influenza haemagglutinin protein (tHA), which binds to the CD209 receptor on the surface of dendritic cells (DCs), was fused with mE7-mE6 in order to allow efficient uptake of antigen by antigen presenting cells. The tHA-mE7-mE6 (mRNA) showed higher therapeutic efficacy than mE7-mE6 (mRNA) in an E6 and E7+ tumour model. The treatment resulted in complete tumour regression and prevented tumour formation. Strong CD8+ T-cell immune response was induced, contributing to preventing and curing of E6 and E7+ tumour. Antigen-specific CD8+ T were found in spleens, peripheral blood and in tumours. In addition, the tumour infiltration of DC and NK cells were increased post therapy. In conclusion, this study described a therapeutic mRNA vaccine inducing strong anti-tumour immunity in peripheral and in tumour microenvironment, holding promising potential to treat HPV-induced cancer and to prevent cancer recurrence.

Hepatitis E virus ORF3 protein hijacking thioredoxin domain-containing protein 5 (TXNDC5) for its stability to promote viral particle release.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide, responsible for approximately 20 million infections annually. Among the three open reading frames (ORFs) of the HEV genome, the ORF3 protein is involved in virus release. However, the host proteins involved in HEV release need to be clarified. In this study, a host protein, thioredoxin domain-containing protein 5 (TXNDC5), interacted with the non-palmitoylated ORF3 protein by co-immunoprecipitation analysis. We determined that the overexpression or knockdown of TXNDC5 positively regulated HEV release from the host cells. The 17FCL19 mutation of the ORF3 protein lost the ability to interact with TXNDC5. The releasing amounts of HEV with the ORF3 mutation (FCL17-19SSP) were decreased compared with wild-type HEV. The overexpression of TXNDC5 can stabilize and increase ORF3 protein amounts, but not the TXNDC5 mutant with amino acids 1-88 deletion. Meanwhile, we determined that the function of TXNDC5 on the stabilization of ORF3 protein is independent of the Trx-like domains. Knockdown of TXNDC5 could lead to the degradation of ORF3 protein by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein degradation-proteasome system. However, the ORF3 protein cannot be degraded in the knockout-TXNDC5 stable cells, suggesting that it may hijack other proteins for its stabilization. Subsequently, we found that the other members of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), including PDIA1, PDIA3, PDIA4, and PDIA6, can increase ORF3 protein amounts, and PDIA3 and PDIA6 interact with ORF3 protein. Collectively, our study suggested that HEV ORF3 protein can utilize TXNDC5 for its stability in ER to facilitate viral release. IMPORTANCE: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is the leading cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. After the synthesis and modification in the cells, the mature ORF3 protein is essential for HEV release. However, the host protein involved in this process has yet to be determined. Here, we reported a novel host protein, thioredoxin domain-containing protein 5 (TXNDC5), as a chaperone, contributing to HEV release by facilitating ORF3 protein stability in the endoplasmic reticulum through interacting with non-palmitoylated ORF3 protein. However, we also found that in the knockout-TXNDC5 stable cell lines, the HEV ORF3 protein may hijack other proteins for its stabilization. For the first time, our study demonstrated the involvement of TXNDC5 in viral particle release. These findings provide some new insights into the process of the HEV life cycle, the interaction between HEV and host factors, and a new direction for antiviral design.

Multilayered Fe3O4@(ZIF-8)3 combined with a computer-vision-enhanced immunosensor for chloramphenicol enrichment and detection.

The misuse and overuse of chloramphenicol poses severe threats to food safety and human health. In this work, we developed a magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) pretreatment material coated with a multilayered metal-organic framework (MOF), Fe3O4 @ (ZIF-8)3, for the separation and enrichment of chloramphenicol from fish. Furthermore, we designed an artificial-intelligence-enhanced single microsphere immunosensor. The inherent ultra-high porosity of the MOF and the multilayer assembly strategy allowed for efficient chloramphenicol enrichment (4.51 mg/g within 20 min). Notably, Fe3O4 @ (ZIF-8)3 exhibits a 39.20% increase in adsorption capacity compared to Fe3O4 @ZIF-8. Leveraging the remarkable decoding abilities of artificial intelligence, we achieved the highly sensitive detection of chloramphenicol using a straightforward procedure without the need for specialized equipment, obtaining a notably low detection limit of 46.42 pM. Furthermore, the assay was successfully employed to detect chloramphenicol in fish samples with high accuracy. The developed immunosensor offers a robust point-of-care testing tool for safeguarding food safety and public health.

Recent advances in microbial fuel cell-based self-powered biosensors: a comprehensive exploration of sensing strategies in both anode and cathode modes.

With the rapid development of society, it is of paramount importance to expeditiously assess environmental pollution and provide early warning of toxicity risks. Microbial fuel cell-based self-powered biosensors (MFC-SPBs) have emerged as a pivotal technology, obviating the necessity for external power sources and aligning with the prevailing trends toward miniaturization and simplification in biosensor development. In this case, vigorous advancements in MFC-SPBs have been acquired in past years, irrespective of whether the target identification event transpires at the anode or cathode. The present article undertakes a comprehensive review of developed MFC-SPBs, categorizing them into substrate effect and microbial activity effect based on the nature of the target identification event. Furthermore, various enhancement strategies to improve the analytical performance like accuracy and sensitivity are also outlined, along with a discussion of future research trends and application prospects of MFC-SPBs for their better developments.

Prognostic potential of nutritional risk screening and assessment tools in predicting survival of patients with pancreatic neoplasms: a systematic review.

BACKGROUNDS & AIMS: The nutritional evaluation of pancreatic cancer (PC) patients lacks a gold standard or scientific consensus, we aimed to summarize and systematically evaluate the prognostic value of nutritional screening and assessment tools used for PC patients. METHODS: Relevant studies were retrieved from major databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) and searched from January 2010 to December 2023. We performed meta-analyses with STATA 14.0 when three or more studies used the same tool. RESULTS: This analysis included 27 articles involving 6,060 PC patients. According to a meta-analysis of these studies, poor nutritional status evaluated using five nutritional screening tools Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Controlling Nutritional Status Score (CONUT), Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS2002) and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) was associated with all-cause mortality in PC patients. But Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) did not. Of all tools analyzed, CONUT had the maximum HR for mortality (HR = 1.978, 95%CI 1.345-2.907, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: All-cause mortality in PC patients was predicted by poor nutritional status. CONUT may be the best nutritional assessment tool for PC patients. The clinical application value of Short Form Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF), Generated Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and Patient-generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) in PC patients need to be confirmed. In order to improve patients' nutritional status and promote their recovery, nutritional screening tools can be used. REGISTRATION: This systematic review was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (number CRD42022376715).

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: A new synonym mutation in the WAS gene.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X-linked recessive primary immunodeficiency disorder. Mutations in the WAS gene are considered to be the primary cause of WAS. In this work, we report a boy who presented with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) as an initial symptom and detects a novel pathogenic synonymous mutation in his WAS gene. His mother was a carrier of the mutant gene. The mutation, located at position c.273 (c.273 G>A) in exon 2, is a synonym mutation and predicted to affect protein expression by disrupting gene splicing. This study summarizes the diagnosis and treatment process of the patient and expands the genetic spectrum of WAS.

Built-In Electric Field Boosted Overall Water Electrolysis at Large Current Density for the Heterogeneous Ir/CoMoO4 Nanosheet Arrays.

Advanced bifunctional electrocatalysts are essential for propelling overall water splitting (OWS) progress. Herein, relying on the obvious difference in the work function of Ir (5.44 eV) and CoMoO4 (4.03 eV) and the constructed built-in electric field (BEF), an Ir/CoMoO4 /NF heterogeneous catalyst, with ultrafine Ir nanoclusters (1.8 ± 0.2 nm) embedded in CoMoO4 nanosheet arrays on the surface of nickel foam skeleton, is reported. Impressively, the Ir/CoMoO4 /NF shows remarkable electrocatalytic bifunctionality toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), especially at large current densities, requiring only 13 and 166 mV to deliver 10 and 1000 mA cm-2 for HER and 196 and 318 mV for OER. Furthermore, the Ir/CoMoO4 /NF||Ir/CoMoO4 /NF electrolyzer demands only 1.43 and 1.81 V to drive 10 and 1000 mA cm-2 for OWS. Systematical theoretical calculations and tests show that the formed BEF not only optimizes interfacial charge distribution and the Fermi level of both Ir and CoMoO4 , but also reduces the Gibbs free energy (ΔGH* , from 0.25 to 0.03 eV) and activation energy (from 13.6 to 8.9 kJ mol-1 ) of HER, the energy barrier (from 3.47 to 1.56 eV) and activation energy (from 21.1 to 13.9 kJ mol-1 ) of OER, thereby contributing to the glorious electrocatalytic bifunctionality.

MAC3A and MAC3B mediate degradation of the transcription factor ERF13 and thus promote lateral root emergence.

Lateral roots (LRs) increase root surface area and allow plants greater access to soil water and nutrients. LR formation is tightly regulated by the phytohormone auxin. Whereas the transcription factor ETHYLENE-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING FACTOR13 (ERF13) prevents LR emergence in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), auxin activates MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE14 (MPK14), which leads to ERF13 degradation and ultimately promotes LR emergence. In this study, we discovered interactions between ERF13 and the E3 ubiquitin ligases MOS4-ASSOCIATED COMPLEX 3A (MAC3A) and MAC3B. As MAC3A and MAC3B gradually accumulate in the LR primordium, ERF13 levels gradually decrease. We demonstrate that MAC3A and MAC3B ubiquitinate ERF13, leading to its degradation and accelerating the transition of LR primordia from stage IV to stage V. Auxin enhances the MAC3A and MAC3B interaction with ERF13 by facilitating MPK14-mediated ERF13 phosphorylation. In summary, this study reveals the molecular mechanism by which auxin eliminates the inhibitory factor ERF13 through the MPK14-MAC3A and MAC3B signaling module, thus promoting LR emergence.

Cooperative Photoredox and N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis Suzuki-Miyaura-Type Reaction: Radical Coupling of Aroyl Fluorides and Alkyl Boronic Acids.

An intermolecular Suzuki-Miyaura-type reaction of benzoyl fluorides with alkyl boronic acids to synthetic ketone was revealed by cooperative N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and photoredox catalysis. Various alkyl boric acids can be converted into alkyl radicals without external oxidants or activators. Moreover, the catalytic system was feasible for the difunctionalization of styrenes via a radical relay process. Mechanistic experiments suggested that the benzoate anion intermediate might play a unique role in this reaction system.

The effects of different themes of self-disclosure on health outcomes in cancer patients-A meta-analysis.

Self-disclosure (SD) is a common psychological intervention that involves expressing the patient's feelings and thoughts. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of different themes of SD on cancer patients. We searched eight databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library Trials, Web of Science, CINAHL, Medline, EMBASE, CNKI and Wanfang from inception to July 2022. Other sources included clinical data registers. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. RevMan Analysis software 5.3 was used for data analysis. The protocol of this meta-analysis has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022339661). Twenty-two RCTs studies were included. The pooled results demonstrated that self-regulation self-disclosure (SRD) had significant effects on patients' sleep quality, benefit-finding, anxiety and quality of life (QOL), whereas emotional disclosure (ED) did not. Furthermore, enhanced self-regulation self-disclosure (ESRD) or cancer-related self-disclosure (CD) significantly improved patients' QOL, although health education self-disclosure (HED) and positive self-disclosure (PD) did not. Our study suggests that different themes of SD have varied effects on patients, but it remains unclear which themes to use at what point in time. Future research should investigate what themes of SD are adopted at different points in time and the duration of different periods.