Browse Articles

Alterations and resilience of intestinal microbiota to increased water temperature are accompanied by the recovery of immune function in Nile tilapia

Unveiling charge utilization mechanisms in ferroelectric for water splitting

Abstract Charge separation is a critical process for achieving high photocatalytic efficiency, and ferroelectrics hold significant potential for facilitating effective charge separation. However, few studies have demonstrated substantial photocatalytic activity in these materials. In this study, we demonstrate that in ferroelectric PbTiO3, surface Ti vacancy defects near the positively polarized facets impede photocatalytic performance by trapping electrons and inducing their recombination. To tackle this issue, we selectively grew SrTiO3 nanolayers on the polarized facets PbTiO3, effectively mitigating interface Ti defects. This modification establishes a efficient electron transfer pathway at the interface between the positively polarized facets and the cocatalyst, extending the electron lifetime from 50 microseconds to the millisecond scale and significantly increasing electron participation in water-splitting reactions. Consequently, the apparent quantum yield for overall water splitting achieves the highest values reported to date for ferroelectric photocatalytic materials. This work provides an effective strategy for designing advanced ferroelectric photocatalytic systems.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of Tartary buckwheat roots during cadmium stress

Correction for Knight and Zhang, Residential mobility and persistently depressed voting among disadvantaged adults in a large housing experiment

The spatiotemporal transcriptional profiling of murine brain during cerebral malaria progression and after artemisinin treatment

Supplementing NSP enzymes in high concentrate diets can prevent foamy rumen bloat in goats

Human and mouse proteomics reveals the shared pathways in Alzheimer’s disease and delayed protein turnover in the amyloidome

Identification of ARF gene family and functional analysis of CqARF05 under drought and salt stress in quinoa

Conserved GTPase OLA1 promotes efficient translation on D/E-rich mRNA

Early life factors and variation in adult kidney function in the Swedish LifeGene cohort

Abstract Intrauterine fetal programming determines cardiorenal interaction later in life. We hypothesize that early life factors affect adult glomerular filtration rate and mean arterial pressure (MAP) directly or by interacting with postnatal growth trajectories. The population-based LifeGene study (Sweden) randomly recruited individuals aged 18 to 43 years ( n  = 12 167). They filled in a web-questionnaire and performed health tests (including bioimpedance measurements). Birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), head circumference (HC), and birth length data were acquired from the Swedish Medical Birth Register. Postnatal growth was determined from BWz-scores and adult fat mass index. Creatinine and cystatin C-based kidney function were calculated (eGFRcr, eGFRcysC). After adjusting for sex, GA, adult age, and eGFRcr, a 1SD increase in BWz-score predicted a 1.15 mmHg increase in MAP. Meanwhile, every 1 cm decrease in HC was associated with an expected 0.29 mL/min/1.73m 2 decrease in eGFRcr. Lower birth weight-to-placenta ratio was inversely related to eGFRcysC ( p  = 0.034). Postnatal down-regulation significantly affected a relatively lower eGFR but within normal range ( p  < 0.001). The postnatal catch-up did not affect kidney function. This study reveals the complex interrelationship between early life factors and adult kidney function that could be directly and indirectly influenced by adult body fat accumulation.

Author Correction: Single-zinc vacancy unlocks high-rate H2O2 electrosynthesis from mixed dioxygen beyond Le Chatelier principle

State of thermal tolerance in an endangered himalayan fish Tor putitora revealed by expression modulation in environmental stress related genes

Author Correction: NS1 binding protein regulates stress granule dynamics and clearance by inhibiting p62 ubiquitination

Ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction, process optimization, and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from sugarcane peel

Cryptic genetic variation shapes the fate of gene duplicates in a protein interaction network

Analysis of human papillomavirus infection and its correlation with cervical lesions in Huizhou women

Unraveling metal effects on CO2 uptake in pyrene-based metal-organic frameworks

Abstract Pyrene-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have tremendous potential for various applications. With infinite structural possibilities, the MOF community often relies on simulations to identify the most promising candidates for given applications. Among thousands of reported structures, many exhibit limited reproducibility — in either synthesis, performance, or both — owing to the sensitivity of synthetic conditions. Geometric distortions that may arise in the functional groups of pyrene-based ligands during synthesis and/or activation cannot easily be predicted. This sometimes leads to discrepancies between in silico and experimental results. Here, we investigate a series of pyrene-based MOFs for carbon capture. These structures share the same ligand (1,3,6,8–tetrakis(p–benzoic acid)pyrene (TBAPy)) but have different metals (M-TBAPy, M = Al, Ga, In, and Sc). The ligands stack parallel in their orthorhombic crystal structure, creating a promising binding site for CO2. As predicted, the metal is shown to affect the pyrene stacking distance and, therefore, the CO2 uptake. Here, we investigate the metal’s intrinsic effects on the MOFs’ crystal structure. Crystallographic analysis shows the emergence of additional phases, which thus impacts the overall adsorption characteristics of the MOFs. Considering these additional phases improves the prediction of adsorption isotherms, enhancing our understanding of pyrene-based MOFs for carbon capture.

Relationship between dietary inflammatory index and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease in children

Cryo-EM structure of the botulinum neurotoxin A/SV2B complex and its implications for translocation

Abstract Botulinum neurotoxin A1 (BoNT/A1) belongs to the most potent toxins and is used as a major therapeutic agent. Neurotoxin conformation is crucial for its translocation to the neuronal cytosol, a key process for intoxication that is only poorly understood. To gain molecular insights into the steps preceding toxin translocation, we determine cryo-EM structures of BoNT/A1 alone and in complex with its receptor synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2B (SV2B). In solution, BoNT/A1 adopts a unique, semi-closed conformation. The toxin changes its structure into an open state upon receptor binding with the translocation domain (HN) and the catalytic domain (LC) remote from the membrane, suggesting translocation incompatibility. Under acidic pH conditions, where translocation is initiated, receptor-bound BoNT/A1 switches back into a semi-closed conformation. This conformation brings the LC and HN close to the membrane, suggesting that a translocation-competent state of the toxin is required for successful LC transport into the neuronal cytosol.

Efficacy of compound betamethasone combined with ropivacaine in iliac fascial space nerve block analgesia