A Strong, Tough, and Stable Composite with Nacre-Inspired Sandwich Structure.

Improving the fracture resistance of nacre-inspired composites is crucial in addressing the strength-toughness trade-off. However, most previously proposed strategies for enhancing fracture resistance in these composites have been limited to interfacial modification by polymer, which restricts mechanical enhancement. Here, a composite material consisting of graphene oxide (GO) lamellae and nanocrystalline reinforced amorphous alumina nanowires (NAANs) has been developed. The structure of the composite is inspired by nacre and is composed of stacked GO nanosheets with NAANs in between, forming a sandwich-like structure. This design enhances the fracture resistance of the composite through the pull-out of GO nanosheets at the nanoscale and GO/NAANs sandwich-like coupling at the micro-scale, while also providing stiff ceramic support. This composite simultaneously possesses high strength (887.8 MPa), toughness (31.6 MJ m-3), superior cyclic stability (1600 cycles), and long-term (2 years) immersion stability, which outperform previously reported GO-based lamellar composites. The hierarchical fracture design provides a new path to design next-generation strong, tough, and stable materials for advanced engineering applications.

Crystal-Site Engineering of Novel Na3KMg7(PO4)6-x(BO3)x:Eu2+ Phosphors for Full-Spectrum Lighting.

The "cyan gap" is the bottleneck problem in violet-driven full-spectrum white-light-emitting diodes (wLEDs) in healthy lighting. Accordingly, we develop a novel broadband-blue-cyan emission Na3KMg7(PO4)6-x(BO3)x:Eu2+ (NKMPB:Eu2+) phosphor via crystal-site engineering. This phosphor is derived from the Na3KMg7(PO4)6:Eu2+ phosphor, which shows desired abundant cyan emissive components. A comparative study is conducted to reveal the microstructure-property relationship and the key influential factors to its spectrum distribution. It can be found that the introduced (BO3)3- units can manipulate the site-selective occupation of Eu2+ activators, asymmetrically broadening the emission spectrum in NKMPB:Eu2+. Considering detailed luminescence performance analysis and the density functional theory calculations, a new substitution pathway of Eu2+ is created by substituting (PO4)3- with (BO3)3- units, making partial Eu2+ ions enter the Mg2+ (CN = 5, CN = 6) crystallographic sites, and yielding an extra emission band at 600 nm (16667 cm-1) and especially 501 nm (19960 cm-1). Meanwhile, a high-color-quality full-spectrum-emitting wLEDs was fabricated, upon 100 mA forward-bias current driven. Due to the achieved extra cyan emissive components of NKMPB:Eu2+, the constructed NKMPB:Eu2+-based wLEDs show better color rendering ability (∼90.9) than that of Na3KMg7(PO4)6:Eu2+-based wLEDs (∼86.3), and also demonstrate its great potential in full-spectrum healthy lighting.

[Reversal Effect of NVP-BEZ235 on Doxorubicin-Resistance in Burkitt Lymphoma RAJI Cell Line].

OBJECTIVE: To study the reversal effect of NVP-BEZ235 on doxorubicin resistance in Burkitt lymphoma RAJI cell line. METHODS: The doxorubicin-resistant cell line was induced by treating RAJI cells with a concentration gradient of doxorubicin. The levels of Pgp, p-AKT, and p-mTOR in cells were detected by Western blot. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. IC50 was computed by SPSS. RESULTS: The doxorubicin-resistant Burkitt lymphoma cell line, RAJI/DOX, was established successfully. The expression of Pgp and the phosphorylation levels of AKT and mTOR in RAJI/DOX cell line were both higher than those in RAJI cell line. NVP-BEZ235 downregulated the phosphorylation levels of AKT and mTOR in RAJI/DOX cell line. NVP-BEZ235 inhibited the proliferation of RAJI/DOX cell line, and the effect was obvious when it was cooperated with doxorubicin. CONCLUSION: The constitutive activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway of RAJI/DOX cell line was more serious than RAJI cell line. NVP-BEZ235 reversed doxorubicin resistance of RAJI/DOX cell line by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway.

RBM25 induces trophoblast epithelial-mesenchymal transition and preeclampsia disorder by enhancing the positive feedback loop between Grhl2 and RBM25.

Defects in migration and invasion caused by dysregulation of trophoblast epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) are one of the key factors in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). RNA-binding motif protein 25 (RBM25) is an RNA-binding protein involved in a variety of cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration and invasion, and EMT. However, the expression and function of RBM25 in placental of PE remain unclear. In this study, we reveal that the expression of RBM25 is significantly elevated in PE placental tissue. RBM25 depletion and over-expression in trophoblast cells increase and decrease, respectively, cell migration and invasion by regulating EMT marker E-cadherin and Vimentin expression. Mechanistically, Grhl2 is involved in RBM25-regulated trophoblast cell migration, invasion, and EMT through RBM25-facilitated mRNA stabilization. Furthermore, the upregulation of Grhl2 enhances the expression of RBM25 through transcription and forms a positive feedback regulation in the progression of PE. These findings suggest that upregulation of RBM25 induces dysregulation of trophoblast EMT by enhancing positive feedback regulation of Grhl2 and RBM25, leading to defects in cell migration and invasion. Targeting this newly identified regulatory axis may provide benefits in the prevention and treatment of PE.

Malignant cerebral edema after cranioplasty: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Cranioplasty is a common surgery in the neurosurgery for patients with skull defects following decompression craniectomy. Concomitant rare complications are increasingly reported, such as malignant cerebral edema after cranioplasty. CASE REPORT: A 45-year-old man underwent decompression craniectomy due to traumatic brain injury. At 3 months after the decompression craniectomy, the patient developed refractory subdural hydrogen and received ipsilateral refractory subdural effusion capsule resection, but no significant relief was seen. Therefore, the cranioplasty was decided to treat subdural hydrogen and restore the normal appearance of the skull. After the successful cranioplasty surgery and the expected anesthesia recovery period, the pupils of the patients were continued to be dilated and fixed, without light reflection and spontaneous breathing. The Computed Tomography of the patient 1 hour after surgery showed malignant cerebral edema. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant cerebral edema is a rare and lethal complication after cranioplasty. Negative pressure drainage and deregulation of cerebral blood flow at the end of cranioplasty may partially explain the malignant cerebral after cranioplasty. In addition, patients with epileptic seizures, no spontaneous breathing, dilated pupils without reflection, and hypotension within a short period after cranioplasty may show the occurrence of malignant cerebral.

The association between vitamin D levels in the second trimester of pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) affects glucose metabolism by increasing insulin secretion and insulin receptor expression. However, whether 25(OH)D deficiency will increase the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has not been clearly reported. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between vitamin D levels in the second trimester of pregnancy and the risk of GDM. METHODS: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 247 pregnant women came to the fourth hospital of Shijiazhuang (The affiliated obstetrics and gynecology hospital of Hebei Medical University) for obstetrics were investigated during the period of January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020. The levels of 25(OH)D in the second trimester (16-20 weeks) and oral 75 g glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy were reviewed. The sociodemographic data were collected from questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between vitamin D levels and GDM. RESULTS: The incidence of GDM in the observation group (25(OH)D ≤ 26 ng/ml) was higher than that in the control group (25(OH)D > 26 ng/ml) (p = 0.039). Compared with control group, the observation group had significantly higher level of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (4.7 [4.5-5.0] mmol/L vs. 4.6 [4.4-4.8] mmol/L, p = 0.012). In the whole study, the level of 25(OH)D was negatively correlated with FPG (r = - 0.164，p = 0.010). After adjusting for age, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity and adverse pregnancy history, compared with the observation group (25 (OH) D ≤ 26 ng/ml), the risk of developing GDM decreased by 50.9% in control group (25(OH)D > 26 ng/ml) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.491, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.243-0.989, p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Adequate vitamin D levels during the second trimester of pregnancy may reduce the risk of GDM.

Compact ultrabroadband light-emitting diodes based on lanthanide-doped lead-free double perovskites.

Impurity doping is an effective approach to tuning the optoelectronic performance of host materials by imparting extrinsic electronic channels. Herein, a family of lanthanide (Ln3+) ions was successfully incorporated into a Bi:Cs2AgInCl6 lead-free double-perovskite (DP) semiconductor, expanding the spectral range from visible (Vis) to near-infrared (NIR) and improving the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). After multidoping with Nd, Yb, Er and Tm, Bi/Ln:Cs2AgInCl6 yielded an ultrabroadband continuous emission spectrum with a full width at half-maximum of ~365 nm originating from intrinsic self-trapped exciton recombination and abundant 4f-4f transitions of the Ln3+ dopants. Steady-state and transient-state spectra were used to ascertain the energy transfer and emissive processes. To avoid adverse energy interactions between the various Ln3+ ions in a single DP host, a heterogeneous architecture was designed to spatially confine different Ln3+ dopants via a "DP-in-glass composite" (DiG) structure. This bottom-up strategy endowed the prepared Ln3+-doped DIG with a high PLQY of 40% (nearly three times as high as that of the multidoped DP) and superior long-term stability. Finally, a compact Vis-NIR ultrabroadband (400~2000 nm) light source was easily fabricated by coupling the DiG with a commercial UV LED chip, and this light source has promising applications in nondestructive spectroscopic analyses and multifunctional lighting.

A single-beam NIR laser-triggered full-color upconversion tuning of a Er/Tm:CsYb2F7@glass photothermal nanocomposite for optical security.

The development of advanced luminescent materials is highly desirable for addressing the rising threat of forgery. However, it is challenging to achieve stable full-color upconversion (UC) tuning in the same matrix upon a single-beam light excitation so as to ensure that authentic items are irreproducible. Herein, hexagonal Er/Tm:CsYb2F7 nanocrystals (NCs) embedded inorganic glass via an in situ crystallization strategy is fabricated, which can emit blue, cyan, green, yellow, orange, red and near-infrared (NIR) UC emissions by simply modifying an incident 980 nm laser power. This UC tuning is attributed to the combination roles of the highly efficient laser-induced photothermal effect of the CsYb2F7 host and simultaneous emissions of Er and Tm activators. Importantly, the robust inorganic glass matrix endows Er/Tm:CsYb2F7 NCs with excellent water resistance and the ability to withstand high-power laser irradiation. Based on these unique characteristics, a proof-of-concept anti-counterfeiting experiment is designed. The results indicate that dynamic full-color UC luminescence patterns can be easily tuned by simply changing the power of the incident 980 nm laser. The present work not only confirms that the designed photothermal material can increase information security, but also provides a new idea for practical applications in the field of anti-counterfeiting.

Silencing Aurora-kinase-A (AURKA) reinforced the sensitivity of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells to cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) via suppressing ß-Catenin and RAS-extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) pathway.

The therapeutic effects of standard cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP) therapy for prevalent lymphoma diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBC, DLBCL) still require improvement. Cancer-related aurora-kinase-A (AURKA) may work as a target for DLBCL treatment and its effect on CHOP therapy was investigated in the present study. The Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 was applied to analyze AURKA expression in DLBC tumor tissues and normal lymphoid tissues. The DLBCL tissues and normal lymphoid tissues were obtained from the DLBCL patients and healthy volunteers. Clinic data of patients were recorded, and AURKA expression in tissues and cells was detected and analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. After AURKA in DLBCL cells was silenced or overexpressed and treated with CHOP, viability and apoptosis were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry. Expressions of AURKA, ß-Catenin, phosphorylated (p)-ß-Catenin, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2), p-ERK1/2 and RAS were detected using qRT-PCR and Western blot. AURKA was highly expressed in DLBCL tissues and cells. Silencing AURKA inhibited AURKA expression and viability, but promoted apoptosis of DLBCL cells. CHOP had no obvious effects on AURKA expression while reducing viability and promoting apoptosis of DLBCL cells. Silencing AURKA enhanced the effects of CHOP on cell apoptosis of DLBCL cells by inhibiting the expressions of RAS and ß-Catenin as well as the ratio of p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2 and promoting the ratio of p-ß-Catenin/ß-Catenin. Silencing AURKA reinforced the therapeutic effects of CHOP on reducing viability and promoting apoptosis of DLBCL cell via repressing ß-Catenin and RAS-ERK1/2 pathway.

International Normalized Ratio to Albumin Ratio (PTAR): An Objective Risk Stratification Tool in Patients with Sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a life-threatening multiple-organ dysfunction caused by dysregulation of host response to severe infection. Liver failure is a validated independent predictor of mortality. Accurate and rapid assessment of liver function is critical in patients with sepsis. However, an appropriate scoring system for liver function requires further development. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to validate the usefulness of the prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) to albumin ratio (PTAR) in predicting the mortality of patients with sepsis. METHODS: Data on a total of 4536 patients, obtained from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care III database, were included in our retrospective study. Logistic regression, Poisson regression with robust variance estimate analysis, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the relationship between PTAR and mortality. Area under the curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to estimate the performance of PTAR in predicting the prognosis in septic patient. RESULTS: Multivariable Poisson regression showed that the relative risk (RR) of PTAR to ICU mortality, hospital mortality, and 28-day and 90-day mortality in septic patients was 1.26 (95% CI: 1.15-1.37), 1.24 (95% CI: 1.15-1.34), 1.23 (95% CI: 1.15-1.31), and 1.21 (95% CI: 1.13-1.28), respectively. Multivariable Cox regression showed that the hazard ratio (HR) of PTAR to 28-day mortality and 90-day mortality was 1.56 (95% CI: 1.44-1.70), and 1.55 (95% CI: 1.43-1.68), respectively. PTAR showed a moderate discrimination capacity in predicting hospital mortality (AUC: 0.655, 95% CI: 0.636-0.675) and 90-day mortality (AUC: 0.650, 95% CI: 0.633-0.667). CONCLUSION: The PTAR scoring system is a convenient tool for predicting the prognosis of patients with sepsis.

Two-dimensional arsenene polymorph beyond the auxetic foam: high mechanical sensitivity and large, negative NPR.

Single-layer δ-As and γ-P have unique atomic arrangement, which belong to the Pmc21 and Pbcm space groups, respectively. Because of the coupling hinge structure, the physical properties of the two materials have obvious anisotropy. In this paper, we report the mechanical properties of the single-layer δ-As and γ-P. That is, their inherent negative Poisson ratio (NPR) is -0.708 and -0.226, respectively. Surprisingly, the absolute value of the NPR of δ-As is approximately 26.2 times greater than that of single-layer black phosphorus (the NPR of single-layer black phosphorus is -0.027), and remains invariant at a certain strain range. Thus, single-layer δ-As will have huge potential applications in nanosensors and electronic wearable devices due to its invariant and large, negative NPR.

GRK4-mediated adiponectin receptor-1 phosphorylative desensitization as a novel mechanism of reduced renal sodium excretion in hypertension.

Hypertensive patients have impaired sodium excretion. However, the mechanisms are incompletely understood. Despite the established association between obesity/excess adiposity and hypertension, whether and how adiponectin, one of the adipokines, contributes to impaired sodium excretion in hypertension has not been previously investigated. The current study tested the hypothesis that adiponectin promotes natriuresis and diuresis in the normotensive state. However, impaired adiponectin-mediated natriuresis and diuresis are involved in pathogenesis of hypertension. We found that sodium excretion was reduced in adiponectin knockout (Adipo-/-) mice; intrarenal arterial infusion of adiponectin-induced natriuresis and diuresis in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. However, the natriuretic and diuretic effects of adiponectin were impaired in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), which were ascribed to the hyperphosphorylation of adiponectin receptor and subsequent uncoupling from Gαi. Inhibition of adiponectin receptor phosphorylation by a specific point mutation restored its coupling with Gαi and the adiponectin-mediated inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity in renal proximal tubule (RPT) cells from SHRs. Finally, we identified G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) as a mediator of adiponectin receptor hyperphosphorylation; mice transgenic for a hyperphosphorylating variant of GRK4 replicated the abnormal adiponectin function observed in SHRs, whereas down-regulation of GRK4 by renal ultrasound-directed small interfering RNA (siRNA) restored the adiponectin-mediated sodium excretion and reduced the blood pressure in SHRs. We conclude that the stimulatory effect of adiponectin on sodium excretion is impaired in hypertension, which is ascribed to the increased renal GRK4 expression and activity. Targeting GRK4 restores impaired adiponectin-mediated sodium excretion in hypertension, thus representing a novel strategy against hypertension.

Identification of a novel pathogenic variant in the MYH3 gene in a five-generation family with CPSFS1A (Contractures, Pterygia, and Spondylocarpotarsal Fusion Syndrome 1A).

BACKGROUND: Distal arthrogryposis (DA) is a group of rare Mendelian conditions that demonstrate heterogeneity with respect to genetics and phenotypes. Ten types of DAs, which collectively involve six genes, have been reported. Among them, the MYH3 gene causes several types of arthrogryposis conditions and therefore has a pivotal role in the skeletal and muscle development of the fetus. For this study, we recruited a five-generation Chinese family with members presenting DA features and phenotypic variability. Further clinical study characterized it as CPSFS1A (Contractures, Pterygia, and Spondylocarpotarsal Fusion Syndrome 1A). METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from eight family members, including one fetus. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was then conducted on the proband's sample, followed by Sanger sequencing as validation for each of the participants. In silico analysis was performed. Western blotting (WB) detection and pathological staining were conducted on skeletal muscle tissue of the induced fetus after prenatal diagnosis. RESULTS: A novel heterozygous pathogenic variant, namely NM_002470.3: c.3044_3047delinsTCAATTTGTT: p.E1015_D1016delinsVNLF in the MYH3 gene, was identified and shown to be cosegregated with the condition in the subject family. This variant resulted in the replacement of amino-acid residues E1015 and D1016 by a string of VNLFs. The pregnancy was selectively terminated because the fetus was genetically affected. However, the WB and pathological results did not indicate a significant change in the norm. CONCLUSIONS: Our study expanded the variant spectrum of CPSFS1A, in addition to which it provided solid evidence for the appropriateness of genetic counseling and pregnancy management for the family. The results may also provide further insight into the molecular mechanism of MYH3.

A New System for Surveillance and Digital Contact Tracing for COVID-19: Spatiotemporal Reporting Over Network and GPS.

The current pandemic of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has highlighted the importance of rapid control of the transmission of infectious diseases. This is particularly important for COVID-19, where many individuals are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms but can still spread the disease. Current systems for controlling transmission rely on patients to report their symptoms to medical professionals and be able to recall and trace all their contacts from the previous few days. This is unrealistic in the modern world. However, existing smartphone-based GPS and social media technology may provide a suitable alternative. We, therefore, developed a mini-program within the app WeChat. This analyzes data from all users and traces close contacts of all patients. This permits early tracing and quarantine of potential sources of infection. Data from the mini-program can also be merged with other data to predict epidemic trends, calculate individual and population risks, and provide recommendations for individual and population protection action. It may also improve our understanding of how the disease spreads. However, there are a number of unresolved questions about the use of smartphone data for health surveillance, including how to protect individual privacy and provide safeguards against data breaches.

Lanthanide-Doped Core@Multishell Nanoarchitectures: Multimodal Excitable Upconverting/Downshifting Luminescence and High-Level Anti-Counterfeiting.

The development of luminescent materials with concurrent multimodal emissions is a great challenge to improve security and data storage density. Lanthanide-doped nanocrystals are particularly appropriate for such applications for their abundant intermediate energy states and distinguishable spectroscopic profiles. However, traditional lanthanide luminescent nanoparticles have a limited capacity for information storage or complexity to shield against counterfeiting. Herein, it is demonstrated that the combination of upconverting and downshifting emissions in a particulate designed lanthanide-doped core@multishell nanoarchitecture allows the generation of multicolor dual-modal luminescence over a wide spectral range for complex information storage. Precise control of lanthanide dopants distribution in the core and distinct shells enables simultaneous excitation of 980/808 nm focusing/defocusing laser and 254 nm light and produces complex upconverting emissions from Er, Tm, Eu, and Tb via multiphoton energy transfer processes and downshifting emissions from Eu and Tb via efficient energy transfer from Ce to Eu/Tb in Gd-assisted lattices. It is experimentally proven that multiple visualized anti-counterfeit and information encryption with facile decryption and authentication using screen-printing inks containing the present core@multishell nanocrystals are practically applicable by selecting different excitation modes.

CsRe2F7@glass nanocomposites with efficient up-/down-conversion luminescence: from in situ nanocrystallization synthesis to multi-functional applications.

Recently, lanthanide-doped luminescent materials have been widely studied and most investigations have been limited to rare-earth-containing fluorides formed with lighter alkali metals (Li, Na and K). Hence, it is important to understand the luminescence properties of cesium rare-earth fluorides. Herein, a novel type of multi-functional luminescent material, hexagonal ß-CsRe2F7 (Re = La-Lu, Y, Sc) nanocrystals, is successfully prepared via in situ crystallization inside glass. Specifically, Yb/Er:ß-CsLu2F7@glass exhibits a much higher upconversion quantum yield than Yb/Er:ß-NaYF4@glass (about 6 times), which is believed to be one of the most efficient upconversion materials so far. Impressively, Er:CsYb2F7@glass shows a significant photothermal effect, which can produce variable upconversion emission colors induced by an incident 980 nm laser diode, enabling it to find practical application in novel/high-precision anti-counterfeiting. In addition, Ce:CsLu2F7@glass with a maximal photoluminescence quantum yield reaching 67% can yield intense X-ray excitable radioluminescence, which is even higher than that of a commercial Bi4Ge3O12 scintillator. Benefitting from the effective protection of robust oxide glass, lanthanide-doped CsRe2F7 nanocrystals show long-term stability in harsh environments, retaining near 100% luminescence after directly immersing them in water/oil for 30 days. It is expected that the present nanocomposites have potential applications in the fields of high-end upconversion anti-counterfeiting and high-energy radiation detection.

Seasonal dynamics of microbial diversity in the rhizosphere of Ulmus pumila L. var. sabulosa in a steppe desert area of Northern China.

The seasonal dynamics of microbial diversity within the rhizosphere of Ulmus pumila L. var. sabulosa in the hinterland of the Otindag Sandy Land of China were investigated using high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS region sequences. A significant level of bacterial and fungal diversity was observed overall, with detection of 7,676 bacterial Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) belonging to 40 bacteria phyla and 3,582 fungal OTUs belonging to six phyla. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the dominant bacterial phyla among communities, while Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Zygomycota were the dominant phyla of fungal communities. Seasonal changes influenced the α-diversity and ß-diversity of bacterial communities within elm rhizospheres more than for fungal communities. Inferred functional analysis of the bacterial communities identified evidence for 41 level two KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) orthology groups, while guild-based analysis of the fungal communities identified eight ecological guilds. Metabolism was the most prevalent bacterial functional group, while saprotrophs prevailed among the identified fungal ecological guilds. Soil moisture and soil nutrient content were important factors that affected the microbial community structures of elm rhizospheres across seasons. The present pilot study provides an important baseline investigation of elm rhizosphere microbial communities.

Role of Thioredoxin 1 in Impaired Renal Sodium Excretion of hD 5 R F173L Transgenic Mice.

Background Dopamine D5 receptor (D5R) plays an important role in the maintenance of blood pressure by regulating renal sodium transport. Our previous study found that human D5R mutant F173L transgenic ( hD 5 R F173L-TG) mice are hypertensive. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms causing this renal D5R dysfunction in hD 5 R F173L-TG mice. Methods and Results Compared with wild-type D5R-TG ( hD 5 R WT-TG) mice, hD 5 R F173L-TG mice have higher blood pressure, lower basal urine flow and sodium excretion, and impaired agonist-mediated natriuresis and diuresis. Enhanced reactive oxygen species production in hD 5 R F173L-TG mice is caused, in part, by decreased expression of antioxidant enzymes, including thioredoxin 1 (Trx1). Na+-K+-ATPase activity is increased in mouse renal proximal tubule cells transfected with hD 5 R F173L, but is normalized by treatment with exogenous recombinant human Trx1 protein. Regulation of Trx1 by D5R occurs by the phospholipase C/ protein kinase C (PKC) pathway because upregulation of Trx1 expression by D5R does not occur in renal proximal tubule cells from D1R knockout mice in the presence of a phospholipase C or PKC inhibitor. Fenoldopam, a D1R and D5R agonist, stimulates PKC activity in primary renal proximal tubule cells of hD5R WT -TG mice, but not in those of hD 5 R F173L-TG mice. Hyperphosphorylation of hD5RF173L and its dissociation from Gαs and Gαq are associated with impairment of D5R-mediated inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity in hD 5 R F173L-TG mice. Conclusions These suggest that hD 5 R F173L increases blood pressure, in part, by decreasing renal Trx1 expression and increasing reactive oxygen species production. Hyperphosphorylation of hD5RF173L, with its dissociation from Gαs and Gαq, is the key factor in impaired D5R function of hD 5 R F173L-TG mice.

Two-Dimensional Amorphous TiO2 Nanosheets Enabling High-Efficiency Photoinduced Charge Transfer for Excellent SERS Activity.

Substrate-molecule vibronic coupling enhancement, especially the efficient photoinduced charge transfer (PICT), is pivotal to the performance of nonmetal surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology. Here, through developing novel two-dimensional (2D) amorphous TiO2 nanosheets (a-TiO2 NSs), we successfully obtained an ultrahigh enhancement factor of 1.86 × 106. Utilizing the Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) technology, we found that these 2D a-TiO2 NSs possessed more positive surface potential than their 2D crystalline counterpart (c-TiO2 NSs). First-principles density functional theory (DFT) was used to further reveal that the low coordination number of surface Ti atoms and the large amount of surface oxygen defects endowed the 2D a-TiO2 with high electrostatic potential, which allowed significant charge transfer from the adsorbed molecule to the 2D a-TiO2 and facilitated the formation of a stable surface charge-transfer (CT) complex. Significantly, comparing with the 2D c-TiO2, the smaller band gap and higher electronic density of states (DOS) of the 2D a-TiO2 effectively enhanced the vibronic coupling of resonances in the substrate-molecule system. The strong vibronic coupling within the CT complex obviously enhanced the PICT resonance and lead to the remarkable SERS activity of a-TiO2 NSs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the remarkable SERS activity of 2D amorphous semiconductor nanomaterials, which may bring the cutting edge of development of stable and highly sensitive nonmetal SERS technology.

S100A8/A9 in Inflammation.

S100A8 and S100A9 (also known as MRP8 and MRP14, respectively) are Ca2+ binding proteins belonging to the S100 family. They often exist in the form of heterodimer, while homodimer exists very little because of the stability. S100A8/A9 is constitutively expressed in neutrophils and monocytes as a Ca2+ sensor, participating in cytoskeleton rearrangement and arachidonic acid metabolism. During inflammation, S100A8/A9 is released actively and exerts a critical role in modulating the inflammatory response by stimulating leukocyte recruitment and inducing cytokine secretion. S100A8/A9 serves as a candidate biomarker for diagnosis and follow-up as well as a predictive indicator of therapeutic responses to inflammation-associated diseases. As blockade of S100A8/A9 activity using small-molecule inhibitors or antibodies improves pathological conditions in murine models, the heterodimer has potential as a therapeutic target. In this review, we provide a comprehensive and detailed overview of the distribution and biological functions of S100A8/A9 and highlight its application as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in inflammation-associated diseases.