The mammalian epididymis not only plays a fun dame ntal role in the maturati on of spermatozoa,but also provides protecti on agai nst various stressors.The foremost among these is the threat posed by oxidative stress,...The mammalian epididymis not only plays a fun dame ntal role in the maturati on of spermatozoa,but also provides protecti on agai nst various stressors.The foremost among these is the threat posed by oxidative stress,which arises from an imbalance in reactive oxygen species and can elicit damage to cellular lipids,proteins,and nucleic acids.In mice,the risk of oxidative damage to spermatozoa is mitigated through the expression and secretion of glutathione peroxidase 5(GPX5)as a major luminal scavenger in the proximal caput epididymidal segment.Accordingly,the loss of GPX5^-/-mediated protection leads to impaired DNA integrity in the spermatozoa of aged Gpx57 mice.To explore the underlying mechanism,we have conducted transcriptomic analysis of caput epididymidal epithelial cells from aged(13 months old)Gpx5^-/-m mice.This analysis revealed the dysregulation of several thousand epididymal mRNA transcripts,in eluding the downregulation of a subgroup of piRNA pathway gen es,in aged Gpx5^-/-mice.In agreeme nt with these fin dings,we also observed the loss of piRNAs,which potentially bind to the P-element-induced wimpy testis(PlWI)-like proteins PIWIL1 and PIWIL2.The absence of these piRNAs was correlated with the elevated mRNA levels of their putative gene targets in the caput epididymidis of Gpx5^-/-mice.Importantly,the oxidative stress response genes tend to have more targeting piRNAs,and many of them were among the top increased genes upon the loss of GPX5^-/-.Taken together,our findings suggest the existence of a previously uncharacterized somatic piRNA pathway in the mammalian epididymis and its possible invoIvement in the aging and oxidative stress-mediated responses.展开更多
Developing the multifunctional nanocarriers for long-term drug release and luminescence traceability is a challenging assignment.In this task,we designed a novel nanoplatform for long-term and luminescence trackable c...Developing the multifunctional nanocarriers for long-term drug release and luminescence traceability is a challenging assignment.In this task,we designed a novel nanoplatform for long-term and luminescence trackable chemotherapy,which is prepared via a hollow ZIF-8(where ZIF is zeolitic imidazolate frameworks)coated by the Eu^(3+)-doped mesoporous silica(ZIF-8@mesoporous silica).The hollow ZIF-8 is used as a drug library for loading the anticancer drug,and the pH-sensitive properties of ZIF-8 can targeted-release drugs in the tumor and cut down the poisonousness of drugs to normal cells.The shell layer of mesoporous silica can achieve the long-term drug release,which solves the problem of short drug circulation time in the body,reduces the drug administration frequency,and improves the therapeutic effect.Notably,the ZIF-8@mesoporous+doxorubicin(DOX)is injected only once during the 14-day chemotherapy.In addition,Eu^(3+)doped in mesoporous silica ensures luminescence tracking and detection of drug pathways in living cells.Hence,this nanoplatform provides a whole new strategy for the longterm treatment of tumors.展开更多
Xitian tin-polymetallic deposit, located in the eastern Hunan Province, SE China, hosts quartz vein and skarn in the contact zone between carbonate and two stages granites. Critical geodynamic questions for South Chin...Xitian tin-polymetallic deposit, located in the eastern Hunan Province, SE China, hosts quartz vein and skarn in the contact zone between carbonate and two stages granites. Critical geodynamic questions for South China are whether different types of mineralization form in the same time and how the magmatism–tectonic system controls the ore-forming process. Based on the distribution of the orebodies, six cassiterite samples from different types of mineralization are collected for dating. In-situ LA-MCICP-MS U–Pb isotopic data yielded concordia low intercept ages between 154 and 157 Ma, indicating that different types of mineralization belong to the same magmatism–mineralization system. Coupled with the study of the kinematic indicators, it suggests that the structural control of the wall rocks constrain the types of mineralization. These results provide further evidence of a close temporal link between the structure and the tin-polymetallic mineralization in Xitian deposit. Considering the structure in the district, granite dome plays an important role in the ore-forming process. The age and structural signatures in Xitian deposit are the response to the subduction of Pacific Plate.展开更多
The link of hedgehog (Hh) signaling activation to human cancer and synthesis of a variety of Hh signaling inhibitors raise great expectation that inhibiting Hh signaling may be effective in human cancer treatment. Cyc...The link of hedgehog (Hh) signaling activation to human cancer and synthesis of a variety of Hh signaling inhibitors raise great expectation that inhibiting Hh signaling may be effective in human cancer treatment. Cyclopamine (Cyc), an alkaloid from the Veratrum plant, is a specific natural product inhibitor of the Hh pathway that acts by targeting smoothened (SMO) protein. However, its poor solubility, acid sensitivity, and weak potency relative to other Hh antagonists prevent the clinical development of Cyc as a therapeutic agent. Here, we report properties of cyclopamine tartrate salt (CycT) and its activities in Hh signaling-mediated cancer in vitro and in vivo. Unlike Cyc, CycT is water soluble (5-10 mg/mL). The median lethal dose (LD50) of CycT was 62.5 mg/kg body weight compared to 43.5 mg/kg for Cyc, and the plasma half-life (T1/2) of CycT was not significantly different from that of Cyc. We showed that CycT had a higher inhibitory activity for Hh signaling-dependent motor neuron differentiation than did Cyc (IC50 = 50 nmol/L for CycT vs. 300 nmol/L for Cyc). We also tested the antitumor effectiveness of these Hh inhibitors using two mouse models of basal cell carcinomas (K14cre:Ptch1neo/neo and K14cre:SmoM2YFP). After topical application of CycT or Cyc daily for 21 days, we found that all CycT-treated mice had tumor shrinkage and decreased expression of Hh target genes. Taken together, we found that CycT is an effective inhibitor of Hh signaling-mediated carcinogenesis.展开更多
BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global metabolism-associated liver disease.Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a newly discovered secreted protein that is involved in...BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global metabolism-associated liver disease.Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a newly discovered secreted protein that is involved in metabolic homeostasis.However,much remains to be discovered about its function in hepatic lipid metabolism;thus,we assessed whether MANF could regulate hepatic metabolism.AIM To establish in vivo and in vitro NAFLD models to explore the role of MANF in hepatic lipid metabolism.METHODS HepG2 cells treated with free fatty acids (FFAs) and ob/ob mice were used as NAFLD models.Liver tissues collected from wild type and ob/ob mice were used to detect MANF expression.Cells were treated with FFAs for different durations.Moreover,we used lentiviral constructs to establish overexpression and knockdown cell models in order to interfere with MANF expression levels and observe whether MANF influences hepatic steatosis.Western blot analysis and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect protein and gene expression,and oil red O staining was used to visualize intracellular lipid droplets.RESULTS Hepatic MANF protein and mRNA expression in wild type mice were 10-fold and 2-fold higher,respectively,than those in ob/ob mice.The MANF protein was temporarily increased by 1.3-fold after stimulation with FFAs for 24 h and gradually decreased to 0.66-fold that of the control at the 72 h time point in HepG2 cells.MANF deficiency upregulated the expression of genes involved infatty acid synthesis,cholesterol synthesis,and fatty acid uptake and aggravated HepG2 cell steatosis,while MANF overexpression inhibited fatty acid synthesis and uptake and cholesterol synthesis,and rescued HepG2 cells from FFAsinduced steatosis.Furthermore,a significant decrease in triglyceride levels was observed in the MANF overexpression group compared with the control group(0.4288±0.0081 mmol/g vs 0.3746±0.0121 mmol/g,P <0.05) upon FF As treatment.There was also a 17%decrease in intracellular total cholesterol levels between the MANF overexpression group and the control group (0.1301±0.0059mmol/g vs 0.1088±0.0009 mmol/g,P <0.05) upon FF As treatment.Moreover,MANF suppressed lipid deposition in HepG2 cells.CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that MANF improves the phenotype of liver cell steatosis and may be a potential therapeutic target in hepatic steatosis processes.展开更多
The Triassic Lower Karamay Formation（T2k1） is one of the main oil-bearing stratigraphic units in the northwestern margin of Junggar Basin（NW Junggar）, China. Based on an integrated investigation of outcrops, well ...The Triassic Lower Karamay Formation（T2k1） is one of the main oil-bearing stratigraphic units in the northwestern margin of Junggar Basin（NW Junggar）, China. Based on an integrated investigation of outcrops, well logs and seismic data of NW Junggar, the Lower Karamay Formation is subdivided into 2 sets, 6 beds and 13 layers. Also, it is considered that the alluvial fan, the braided river, the meandering river and the shore-shallow lacustrine were developed during the early period of Middle Triassic in Karamay districts Ⅰ, Ⅲ. The Lower Karamay Formation deposits the following 9 sedimentary subfacies： the lower fan, the middle fan, the upper fan, the braided channel, the overflow bank, the river flood of braided river, the meandering channel, the river flood of meandering river, the shore-shallow lacustrine. Seventeen microfacies such as the braided stream channel, the alluvial sand floodplain, the alluvial glutenite floodplain, the water channel, the channel bar etc. have been identified in subfacies as well. The thickness of strata is firstly up-thinning and then thickening upward to the top, it is a process from large-scale lacustrine transgression to partly lacustrine regression. Furthermore, the microfacies planar distributing law proves that the remaining oil may enrich along the margin of microfacies because of the planar microfacies changes. Therefore, this research is beneficial for searching remaining oil in NW Junggar and providing information to the project ＂The Secondary Exploration＂ of PetroChina.展开更多
The effects of free chlorine disinfection of tap water and wastewater effluents on the infectivity, gene integrity and surface antigens of rotaviruses were evaluated by a bench-scale chlorine disinfection experiments....The effects of free chlorine disinfection of tap water and wastewater effluents on the infectivity, gene integrity and surface antigens of rotaviruses were evaluated by a bench-scale chlorine disinfection experiments. Plaque assays, integrated cell culture-quantitative RT- PCR （ICC-RT-qPCR）, RT-qPCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays （ELISA）, respectively, were used to assess the influence of the disinfectant on virus infectivity as well as genetic and antigenic integrity of simian rotavirus SA11 as a surrogate for human rotaviruses. The ICC-RT-qPCR was able to detect rotaviruses survival from chlorine disinfection at chlorine dose up to 20 mg/L （60 min contact）, which suggested a required chlorine dose of 5 folds （from 1 to 5 mg/L） higher than that indicated by the plaque assay to achieve 1.8 log10 reductions in tap water with 60 rain exposing. The VP7 gene was more resistant than the infectivity and existed at chlorine dose up to 20 mg/L （60 min contact）, while the antigencity was undetectable with chlorine dose more than 5 mg/L （60 min contact）. The water quality also impacted the inactivation efficiencies, and rotaviruses have a relatively higher resistant in secondary effluents than in the tap water under the same chlorine disinfection treatments. This study indicated that rotaviruses have a higher infectivity, gene and antigencity resistance to chlorine than that previously indicated by plaque assay only, which seemed to underestimate the resistance of rotaviruses to chlorine and the risk of rotaviruses in environments. Present results also suggested that re-evaluation of resistance of other waterborne viruses after disinfections by more sensitive infectivity detection method （such as ICC-RT-qPCR） may be necessary, to determine the adequate disinfectant doses required for the inactivation of waterborne viruses.展开更多
Systems biology has become an effective approach for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of lung cancer.In this study,sequences of 100 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-related proteins ...Systems biology has become an effective approach for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of lung cancer.In this study,sequences of 100 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-related proteins were downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases.The Theory of Coevolution was then used to build a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of NSCLC.Adopting the reverse thinking approach,we analyzed the NSCLC proteins one at a time.Fifteen key proteins were identified and categorized into a special protein family F(K),which included Cyclin D1 (CCND1),E-cadherin (CDH1),Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A),chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12),epidermal growth factor (EGF),epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR),TNF receptor superfamily,member 6(FAS),FK506 binding protein 12-rapamycin associated protein 1 (FRAP1),O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT),parkinson protein 2,E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PARK2),phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN),calcium channel voltage-dependent alpha 2/delta subunit 2 (CACNA2D2),tubulin beta class I (TUBB),SWI/SNF-related,matrix-associated,actin-dependent regulator of chromatin,subfamily a,member 2 (SMARCA2),and wingless-type MMTV integration site family,member 7A (WNT7A).Seven key nodes of the sub-network were identified,which included PARK2,WNT7A,SMARCA2,FRAP1,CDKN2A,CCND1,and EGFR.The PPI predictions of EGFR-EGF,PARK2-FAS,PTEN-FAS,and CACNA2D2-CDH1 were confirmed experimentally by retrieving the Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets (BioGRID) and PubMed databases.We proposed that the 7 proteins could serve as potential diagnostic molecular markers for NSCLC.In accordance with the developmental mode of lung cancer established by Sekine et al.,we assumed that the occurrence and development of lung cancer were linked not only to gene loss in the 3p region (WNT7A,3p25) and genetic mutations in the 9p region but also to similar events in the regions of 1p36.2 (FRAP1),6q25.2-q27 (PARK2),and 11q13 (CCND1).Lastly,the invasion or metastasis of lung cancer happened.展开更多
Many non-precious metal-based catalysts with high intrinsic activity for catalytic reactions are prone to structural degradation in practical application,which leads to poor stability.In this work,we propose c-CoSe_(2...Many non-precious metal-based catalysts with high intrinsic activity for catalytic reactions are prone to structural degradation in practical application,which leads to poor stability.In this work,we propose c-CoSe_(2)/o-CoSe_(2)as the oxygen electrode of lithium-oxygen batteries(LOBs)to improve its cycle stability.The heterogeneous interface inside c-CoSe_(2)/o-CoSe_(2)leads to an increase in the covalence bonds between Co and Se ions,which greatly enhances the robustness of the crystal lattice,thereby improving the stability of the catalyst.In addition,the strong interaction between the mixed phases is favorable for adjusting the electron density around the active sites and boosting oxygen electrode kinetics.Moreover,the epitaxial growth of o-CoSe_(2)on c-CoSe_(2)will cause abundant heterogeneous interfaces and slight lattice distortion along the interfaces,thereby providing sufficient catalytic reaction sites.The DFT calculation results show that the optimized adsorption of intermediates at the heterogeneous interface plays an important role in boosting oxygen electrode reactions and improving the electrochemical performance of LOBs.The experimental results show that LOBs with the c-CoSe_(2)/o-CoSe_(2)electrodes exhibit outstanding performance,including large specific capacity of about 23,878 m A h g^(-1),high coulombic efficiency of up to 93.66%,and excellent stability of over 176 cycles(1410 h).展开更多
Aqueous phase of acids as catalysts for the desulfurization of gasoline by condensation of thiophenes with form- aldehyde in a biphasic system was investigated. Two types of model gasoline with and without aromatics a...Aqueous phase of acids as catalysts for the desulfurization of gasoline by condensation of thiophenes with form- aldehyde in a biphasic system was investigated. Two types of model gasoline with and without aromatics and olefins were employed in this work. The desulfurization rates were above 90% on these two types of model gasoline using formic acid and HaPW12O40 （0.8 mol·L-1）, indicating that the presence of aromatics and olefins has no effect on the desulfurization rate. High temperature （above 90 ℃） was more favorable to the process for desulfurization. Four hours was considered to be the proper treating time for the sulfur removal. In addition, aqueous phase of acids could be recycled at least 4 times without decreasing desulfurization rate. Finally, the possible process for the integration of condensation desulfurization into the existing refinery process for the production of gasoline with low sulfur content was proposed.展开更多
Orofacial clefts(OFCs),particularly cleft lip with or without cleft palate(CL/P)and cleft palate only(CPO),are among the most common birth defects in humans(Mossey et al.,2009;Dixon et al.,2011).The birth prevalence r...Orofacial clefts(OFCs),particularly cleft lip with or without cleft palate(CL/P)and cleft palate only(CPO),are among the most common birth defects in humans(Mossey et al.,2009;Dixon et al.,2011).The birth prevalence rate of OFCs in China is reported to be as high as 1.66 per thousand newborns.展开更多
The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory(JUNO)is a multi-purpose neutrino experiment.One of the main goals is to determine the neutrino mass ordering by precisely measuring the energy spectrum of reactor antineut...The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory(JUNO)is a multi-purpose neutrino experiment.One of the main goals is to determine the neutrino mass ordering by precisely measuring the energy spectrum of reactor antineutrinos.For the detection of reactor antineutrinos,cosmogenic backgrounds,such as^(9)Li/^(8)He and fast neutrons induced by cosmic muons,should be rejected carefully by applying muon veto cuts,which require good muon track reconstruction.With a 20-kton liquid scintillator detector,the simulation shows the proportion of muon bundles(muon multiplicity≥2)to be approximately 8%in JUNO,whereas its reconstruction has been rarely discussed in previous experiments.This study proposes an efficient algorithm for muon track reconstruction based on the charge response of a photomultiplier tube array.This is the first reconstruction of muon bundles in a large-volume liquid scintillator detector.In addition,the algorithm shows good performance and potential for reconstruction for both a single muon and double muons(muon multiplicity=2).The spatial resolution of a single-muon reconstruction was20 cm,and the angular resolution was 0.5°.For doublemuon reconstruction,the spatial and angular resolutions could be 30 cm and 1.0°,respectively.Moreover,this paper also discusses muon classification and the veto strategy.展开更多
Aqueous zinc-air battery(ZAB)has attractive features as the potential energy storage system such as high safety,low cost and good environmental compatibility.However,the issue of dendrite growth on zinc metal anodes h...Aqueous zinc-air battery(ZAB)has attractive features as the potential energy storage system such as high safety,low cost and good environmental compatibility.However,the issue of dendrite growth on zinc metal anodes has seriously hindered the development of ZAB.Herein,the N-doped carbon cloth(NC)prepared via magnetron sputtering is explored as the substrate to induce the uniform nucleation of zinc metal and suppress dendrite growth.Results show that the introduction of heteroatoms accelerates the migration and deposition kinetics of Zn^(2+)by boosting the desolvation process of Zn^(2+),eventually reducing the nucleation overpotential.Besides,theoretical calculation results confirm the zincophilicity of N-containing functional group(such as pyridine N and pyrrole N),which can guide the nucleation and growth of zinc uniformly on the electrode surface by both promoting the redistribution of Zn^(2+) in the vicinity of the surface and enhancing its interaction with zinc atoms.As a result,the half-cell assembled with magnetron sputtered carbon cloth achieves a high zinc stripping/plating coulombic efficiency of 98.8%and long-term stability of over 500 cycles at 0.2 mA cm^(-2).And the Coulombic efficiency reached about 99.5%at the 10th cycle and maintained for more than 210 cycles at a high current density of 5.0 mA cm^(-2).The assembled symmetrical battery can deliver 220 plating/stripping cycles with ultra-low voltage hysteresis of only 11 mV.In addition,the assembled zinc-air full battery with NC-Zn anode delivers a high special capacity of about 429 mAh g_(Zn)^(-1) and a long life of over 430 cycles.The effectiveness of surface functionalization in promoting the transfer and deposition kinetics of Zn^(2+) presented in this work shows enlightening significance in the development of metal anodes in aqueous electrolytes.展开更多
Due to the lack of inversion,mirror or other roto-inversion symmetries,chiral crystals possess a well-defined handedness which,when combined with time-reversal symmetry breaking from the application of magnetic fields...Due to the lack of inversion,mirror or other roto-inversion symmetries,chiral crystals possess a well-defined handedness which,when combined with time-reversal symmetry breaking from the application of magnetic fields,can give rise to directional dichroism of the electrical transport phenomena via the magnetochiral anisotropy.In this study,we investigate the nonreciprocal magneto-transport in microdevices of NbGe_(2),a superconductor with structural chirality.A giant nonreciprocal signal from vortex motions is observed during the superconducting transition,with the ratio of nonreciprocal resistance to the normal resistanceγreaching 6×10^(5)T^(-1)·A^(-1).Interestingly,the intensity can be adjusted and even sign-reversed by varying the current,the temperature,and the crystalline orientation.Our findings illustrate intricate vortex dynamics and offer ways of manipulation on the rectification effect in superconductors with structural chirality.展开更多
Genome-wide association studies(GWASs) are the most widely used method to identify genetic risk loci associated with orofacial clefts(OFC). However, despite the increasing size of cohort, GWASs are still insufficient ...Genome-wide association studies(GWASs) are the most widely used method to identify genetic risk loci associated with orofacial clefts(OFC). However, despite the increasing size of cohort, GWASs are still insufficient to detect all the heritability,suggesting there are more associations under the current stringent statistical threshold. In this study, we obtained an integrated epigenomic dataset based on the chromatin conformation of a human oral epithelial cell line(HIOEC) using RNA-seq, ATAC-seq,H3K27ac Ch IP-seq, and DLO Hi-C. Presumably, this epigenomic dataset could reveal the missing functional variants located in the oral epithelial cell active enhancers/promoters along with their risk target genes, despite relatively less-stringent statistical association with OFC. Taken a non-syndromic cleft palate only(NSCPO) GWAS data of the Chinese Han population as an example, 3664 SNPs that cannot reach the strict significance threshold were subjected to this functional identification pipeline.In total, 254 potential risk SNPs residing in active cis-regulatory elements interacting with 1 718 promoters of oral epitheliumexpressed genes were screened. Gapped k-mer machine learning based on enhancers interacting with epithelium-expressed genes along with in vivo and in vitro reporter assays were employed as functional validation. Among all the potential SNPs, we chose and confirmed that the risk alleles of rs560789 and rs174570 reduced the epithelial-specific enhancer activity by preventing the binding of transcription factors related to epithelial development. In summary, we established chromatin conformation datasets of human oral epithelial cells and provided a framework for testing and understanding how regulatory variants impart risk for clefts.展开更多
Objective： It is known that chronic hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection is a main risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. To assess the effect of HBV infection and its interaction with other factors on the ...Objective： It is known that chronic hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection is a main risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. To assess the effect of HBV infection and its interaction with other factors on the risk for HCC, a hospital-based case-control study was carried out in Northeast China. Methods： A total of 384 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma and 432 controls without evidence of liver diseases were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected to detect the serum markers of hepatitis B virus （HBV） and hepatitis C virus （HCV） and questionnaires about lifestyle and family tumor history were performed in all subjects. Results： The total infection rate of HBV in hepatocellular carcinoma cases was 70.8% and 10.0% in non-liver disease controls. There was a statistically significant difference （P〈0.0001） between cases and controls （OR= 22.0; 95%CI：15.0-32.3）. Interaction analysis indicated that in HBV chronic carriers with HCV infection or alcohol consumption or family HCC history, the risk for HCC increased （OR=41.1, 95%CI： 20.2-83.9, OR=125.0, 95%CI： 66.5-235.2; OR=56.9, 95%CI： 27.2-119.3 respectively）. In addition, hepatitis B history, HCV infection, hepatic cirrhosis and family history of HCC were also potential HCC independent risk factors. Conclusion： We confirmed that HBV is a chief risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma and accounts for 67.7% of all hepatocellular carcinoma in Northeast China. HCV infection, alcohol intake and family history could enhance the risk for HCC in chronic HBV carriers.展开更多
Kagome magnets have attracted considerable research attention due to the interplay between topology,magnetism and electronic correlations.In this study we report single-crystal synthesis of a series of the kagome magn...Kagome magnets have attracted considerable research attention due to the interplay between topology,magnetism and electronic correlations.In this study we report single-crystal synthesis of a series of the kagome magnets.RCr_(6)Ge_(6)(R=Gd-Tm) that possess defect-free Cr kagome lattices and systematically study their magnetic and electrical transport properties.The transition from a canted ferrimagnetic to a paramagnetic state in GdCr_(6)Ge_(6),TbCr_(6)Ge_(6),DyCr_(6)Ge_(6),HoCr_(6)Ge_(6),ErCr_(6)Ge_(6) and TmCr_(6)Ge_(6) occurs at 11.3 K,10.8 K,4.3 K,2.5 K,3.3 K and below 2 K,respectively,due to R-R interactions within the compounds.Magnetization measurements reveal highly anisotropic magnetism with canted magnetic moments in these compounds.In electrical transport,both negative and positive magnetoresistances at different magnetic fields and temperatures have been observed due to the competition between different scattering mechanisms.This work enriches our understanding of the Cr-based kagome magnets and paves the way to search for possible topological responses in this family.展开更多
Transition metal and rare earth intermetallics have been a fertile playground for research of various quantum states.We report detailed magnetic studies on Sm Mn_(2)Ge_(2),an anisotropic itinerant magnet with multiple...Transition metal and rare earth intermetallics have been a fertile playground for research of various quantum states.We report detailed magnetic studies on Sm Mn_(2)Ge_(2),an anisotropic itinerant magnet with multiple magnetic phases.The critical behavior of the ferromagnetic phase transition is investigated by employing the modified Arrott plot with the Kouvel-Fisher method.The critical temperature TCis determined to be around 342.7 K with critical exponents ofβ=0.417 andγ=1.122,and the interaction function is found to be J(r)~r^(-4.68),suggesting the coexistence of long-range and shortrange magnetic interactions.Our results contribute to the understanding of complex magnetism in Sm Mn_(2)Ge_(2),which may provide fundamental guidance in future spintronic applications.展开更多
Geometrical frustration in low-dimensional magnetic systems has been an intriguing research aspect,where the suppression of conventional magnetic order may lead to exotic ground states such as spin glass or spin liqui...Geometrical frustration in low-dimensional magnetic systems has been an intriguing research aspect,where the suppression of conventional magnetic order may lead to exotic ground states such as spin glass or spin liquid.In this work we report the synthesis and magnetism study of the monocrystalline Mn_(2)Ga_(2)S_(5),featuring both the van derWaals structure and a bilayered triangular Mn lattice.Magnetic susceptibility reveals a significant antiferromagnetic interaction with a Curie-Weiss temperature θ_(w)~-260 K and a high spin S=5/2 Mn^(2+) state.However,no long range magnetic order has been found down to 2 K,and a spin freezing transition is found to occur at around 12 K well below its θ_(w).This yields a frustration index of f=-θ_(w)/T_(f)≈22,an indication that the system is highly frustrated.The absence of a double-peak structure in magnetic specific heat compared with the TM_(2)S_(4) compounds implies that the spin freezing behavior in Mn_(2)Ga_(2)S_(5)is a result of the competition between exchange interactions and the 2D crystalline structure.Our results suggest that the layered Mn_(2)Ga_(2)S_(5)would be an excellent candidate for investigating the physics of 2D magnetism and spin disordered state.展开更多
Abnormal visual experience during the critical period can cause deficits in visual function,such as amblyopia.High magnesium(Mg^(2+))supplementary can restore ocular dominance(OD)plasticity,which promotes the recovery...Abnormal visual experience during the critical period can cause deficits in visual function,such as amblyopia.High magnesium(Mg^(2+))supplementary can restore ocular dominance(OD)plasticity,which promotes the recovery of amblyopic eye acuity in adults.However,it remains unsolved whether Mg^(2+)could recover binocular vision in amblyopic adults and what the molecular mechanism is for the recovery.We found that in addition to the recovery of OD plasticity,binocular integration can be restored under the treatment of high Mg^(2+)in amblyopic mice.Behaviorally,Mg^(2+)-treated amblyopic mice showed better depth perception.Moreover,the effect of high Mg^(2+)can be suppressed with transient receptor potential melastatin-like 7(TRPM7)knockdown.Collectively,our results demonstrate that high Mg^(2+)could restore binocular visual functions from amblyopia.TRPM7 is required for the restoration of plasticity in the visual cortex after high Mg^(2+)treatment,which can provide possible clinical applications for future research and treatment of amblyopia.展开更多
基金This research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2014CB943103)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31471104,No.31671203,No.31301225,No.31301226,No.31701119,and No.31571192)and was partly realized under the frame of the France-China scientific exchange programs"Xu Guangqi"and"Cai Yuanpei"of the"Partenariat Hubert CurienM attributed to J RD and YLZ The authors thank Prof.Winnie Wai Chi Shum,Prof.Xiaodong Sun,Ms.Aihua Liu,Dr.Chaobao Zhang,Dr.Zhen Lin,Dr.Xueting Luo,and the Bio-Med Big Data Center,CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology,Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences,and Chinese Academy of Sciences for their kind support.
文摘The mammalian epididymis not only plays a fun dame ntal role in the maturati on of spermatozoa,but also provides protecti on agai nst various stressors.The foremost among these is the threat posed by oxidative stress,which arises from an imbalance in reactive oxygen species and can elicit damage to cellular lipids,proteins,and nucleic acids.In mice,the risk of oxidative damage to spermatozoa is mitigated through the expression and secretion of glutathione peroxidase 5(GPX5)as a major luminal scavenger in the proximal caput epididymidal segment.Accordingly,the loss of GPX5^-/-mediated protection leads to impaired DNA integrity in the spermatozoa of aged Gpx57 mice.To explore the underlying mechanism,we have conducted transcriptomic analysis of caput epididymidal epithelial cells from aged(13 months old)Gpx5^-/-m mice.This analysis revealed the dysregulation of several thousand epididymal mRNA transcripts,in eluding the downregulation of a subgroup of piRNA pathway gen es,in aged Gpx5^-/-mice.In agreeme nt with these fin dings,we also observed the loss of piRNAs,which potentially bind to the P-element-induced wimpy testis(PlWI)-like proteins PIWIL1 and PIWIL2.The absence of these piRNAs was correlated with the elevated mRNA levels of their putative gene targets in the caput epididymidis of Gpx5^-/-mice.Importantly,the oxidative stress response genes tend to have more targeting piRNAs,and many of them were among the top increased genes upon the loss of GPX5^-/-.Taken together,our findings suggest the existence of a previously uncharacterized somatic piRNA pathway in the mammalian epididymis and its possible invoIvement in the aging and oxidative stress-mediated responses.
基金financially supported by the Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum,Beijing (No. 2462019BJRC001)
文摘Developing the multifunctional nanocarriers for long-term drug release and luminescence traceability is a challenging assignment.In this task,we designed a novel nanoplatform for long-term and luminescence trackable chemotherapy,which is prepared via a hollow ZIF-8(where ZIF is zeolitic imidazolate frameworks)coated by the Eu^(3+)-doped mesoporous silica(ZIF-8@mesoporous silica).The hollow ZIF-8 is used as a drug library for loading the anticancer drug,and the pH-sensitive properties of ZIF-8 can targeted-release drugs in the tumor and cut down the poisonousness of drugs to normal cells.The shell layer of mesoporous silica can achieve the long-term drug release,which solves the problem of short drug circulation time in the body,reduces the drug administration frequency,and improves the therapeutic effect.Notably,the ZIF-8@mesoporous+doxorubicin(DOX)is injected only once during the 14-day chemotherapy.In addition,Eu^(3+)doped in mesoporous silica ensures luminescence tracking and detection of drug pathways in living cells.Hence,this nanoplatform provides a whole new strategy for the longterm treatment of tumors.
基金financially supported by the Public Welfare Project of the Ministry of land and Resources of China (201211024-04)National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFC0600401)+1 种基金National Science Foundation of China (NSFC Grant 41273046)Research Cooperation between Institute and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Grant (Y552012Y00)
文摘Xitian tin-polymetallic deposit, located in the eastern Hunan Province, SE China, hosts quartz vein and skarn in the contact zone between carbonate and two stages granites. Critical geodynamic questions for South China are whether different types of mineralization form in the same time and how the magmatism–tectonic system controls the ore-forming process. Based on the distribution of the orebodies, six cassiterite samples from different types of mineralization are collected for dating. In-situ LA-MCICP-MS U–Pb isotopic data yielded concordia low intercept ages between 154 and 157 Ma, indicating that different types of mineralization belong to the same magmatism–mineralization system. Coupled with the study of the kinematic indicators, it suggests that the structural control of the wall rocks constrain the types of mineralization. These results provide further evidence of a close temporal link between the structure and the tin-polymetallic mineralization in Xitian deposit. Considering the structure in the district, granite dome plays an important role in the ore-forming process. The age and structural signatures in Xitian deposit are the response to the subduction of Pacific Plate.
基金supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health, USA (No. R01-CA94160)
文摘The link of hedgehog (Hh) signaling activation to human cancer and synthesis of a variety of Hh signaling inhibitors raise great expectation that inhibiting Hh signaling may be effective in human cancer treatment. Cyclopamine (Cyc), an alkaloid from the Veratrum plant, is a specific natural product inhibitor of the Hh pathway that acts by targeting smoothened (SMO) protein. However, its poor solubility, acid sensitivity, and weak potency relative to other Hh antagonists prevent the clinical development of Cyc as a therapeutic agent. Here, we report properties of cyclopamine tartrate salt (CycT) and its activities in Hh signaling-mediated cancer in vitro and in vivo. Unlike Cyc, CycT is water soluble (5-10 mg/mL). The median lethal dose (LD50) of CycT was 62.5 mg/kg body weight compared to 43.5 mg/kg for Cyc, and the plasma half-life (T1/2) of CycT was not significantly different from that of Cyc. We showed that CycT had a higher inhibitory activity for Hh signaling-dependent motor neuron differentiation than did Cyc (IC50 = 50 nmol/L for CycT vs. 300 nmol/L for Cyc). We also tested the antitumor effectiveness of these Hh inhibitors using two mouse models of basal cell carcinomas (K14cre:Ptch1neo/neo and K14cre:SmoM2YFP). After topical application of CycT or Cyc daily for 21 days, we found that all CycT-treated mice had tumor shrinkage and decreased expression of Hh target genes. Taken together, we found that CycT is an effective inhibitor of Hh signaling-mediated carcinogenesis.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81300702 and No.81501199Natural Science Foundation Project of Chongqing CSTC,No.cstc2018jcyj AX0210 and No.cstc2017jcyj AX0016the Kuanren Talents Program of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
文摘BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global metabolism-associated liver disease.Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a newly discovered secreted protein that is involved in metabolic homeostasis.However,much remains to be discovered about its function in hepatic lipid metabolism;thus,we assessed whether MANF could regulate hepatic metabolism.AIM To establish in vivo and in vitro NAFLD models to explore the role of MANF in hepatic lipid metabolism.METHODS HepG2 cells treated with free fatty acids (FFAs) and ob/ob mice were used as NAFLD models.Liver tissues collected from wild type and ob/ob mice were used to detect MANF expression.Cells were treated with FFAs for different durations.Moreover,we used lentiviral constructs to establish overexpression and knockdown cell models in order to interfere with MANF expression levels and observe whether MANF influences hepatic steatosis.Western blot analysis and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect protein and gene expression,and oil red O staining was used to visualize intracellular lipid droplets.RESULTS Hepatic MANF protein and mRNA expression in wild type mice were 10-fold and 2-fold higher,respectively,than those in ob/ob mice.The MANF protein was temporarily increased by 1.3-fold after stimulation with FFAs for 24 h and gradually decreased to 0.66-fold that of the control at the 72 h time point in HepG2 cells.MANF deficiency upregulated the expression of genes involved infatty acid synthesis,cholesterol synthesis,and fatty acid uptake and aggravated HepG2 cell steatosis,while MANF overexpression inhibited fatty acid synthesis and uptake and cholesterol synthesis,and rescued HepG2 cells from FFAsinduced steatosis.Furthermore,a significant decrease in triglyceride levels was observed in the MANF overexpression group compared with the control group(0.4288±0.0081 mmol/g vs 0.3746±0.0121 mmol/g,P <0.05) upon FF As treatment.There was also a 17%decrease in intracellular total cholesterol levels between the MANF overexpression group and the control group (0.1301±0.0059mmol/g vs 0.1088±0.0009 mmol/g,P <0.05) upon FF As treatment.Moreover,MANF suppressed lipid deposition in HepG2 cells.CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that MANF improves the phenotype of liver cell steatosis and may be a potential therapeutic target in hepatic steatosis processes.
基金supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project (No. 2011ZX05043-005)Chinese Geological Survey based comprehensive geological research Project (No. 1212011120181)
文摘The Triassic Lower Karamay Formation（T2k1） is one of the main oil-bearing stratigraphic units in the northwestern margin of Junggar Basin（NW Junggar）, China. Based on an integrated investigation of outcrops, well logs and seismic data of NW Junggar, the Lower Karamay Formation is subdivided into 2 sets, 6 beds and 13 layers. Also, it is considered that the alluvial fan, the braided river, the meandering river and the shore-shallow lacustrine were developed during the early period of Middle Triassic in Karamay districts Ⅰ, Ⅲ. The Lower Karamay Formation deposits the following 9 sedimentary subfacies： the lower fan, the middle fan, the upper fan, the braided channel, the overflow bank, the river flood of braided river, the meandering channel, the river flood of meandering river, the shore-shallow lacustrine. Seventeen microfacies such as the braided stream channel, the alluvial sand floodplain, the alluvial glutenite floodplain, the water channel, the channel bar etc. have been identified in subfacies as well. The thickness of strata is firstly up-thinning and then thickening upward to the top, it is a process from large-scale lacustrine transgression to partly lacustrine regression. Furthermore, the microfacies planar distributing law proves that the remaining oil may enrich along the margin of microfacies because of the planar microfacies changes. Therefore, this research is beneficial for searching remaining oil in NW Junggar and providing information to the project ＂The Secondary Exploration＂ of PetroChina.
基金supported by the Special Fund of State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control of China (No. 10Y04ESPCT)the National Natural Science Fundation of China (No. 51178242)the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment of China (No. 2008ZX07313-007)
文摘The effects of free chlorine disinfection of tap water and wastewater effluents on the infectivity, gene integrity and surface antigens of rotaviruses were evaluated by a bench-scale chlorine disinfection experiments. Plaque assays, integrated cell culture-quantitative RT- PCR （ICC-RT-qPCR）, RT-qPCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays （ELISA）, respectively, were used to assess the influence of the disinfectant on virus infectivity as well as genetic and antigenic integrity of simian rotavirus SA11 as a surrogate for human rotaviruses. The ICC-RT-qPCR was able to detect rotaviruses survival from chlorine disinfection at chlorine dose up to 20 mg/L （60 min contact）, which suggested a required chlorine dose of 5 folds （from 1 to 5 mg/L） higher than that indicated by the plaque assay to achieve 1.8 log10 reductions in tap water with 60 rain exposing. The VP7 gene was more resistant than the infectivity and existed at chlorine dose up to 20 mg/L （60 min contact）, while the antigencity was undetectable with chlorine dose more than 5 mg/L （60 min contact）. The water quality also impacted the inactivation efficiencies, and rotaviruses have a relatively higher resistant in secondary effluents than in the tap water under the same chlorine disinfection treatments. This study indicated that rotaviruses have a higher infectivity, gene and antigencity resistance to chlorine than that previously indicated by plaque assay only, which seemed to underestimate the resistance of rotaviruses to chlorine and the risk of rotaviruses in environments. Present results also suggested that re-evaluation of resistance of other waterborne viruses after disinfections by more sensitive infectivity detection method （such as ICC-RT-qPCR） may be necessary, to determine the adequate disinfectant doses required for the inactivation of waterborne viruses.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.91130009)Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province of China(No.2003A3080503)
文摘Systems biology has become an effective approach for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of lung cancer.In this study,sequences of 100 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-related proteins were downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases.The Theory of Coevolution was then used to build a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of NSCLC.Adopting the reverse thinking approach,we analyzed the NSCLC proteins one at a time.Fifteen key proteins were identified and categorized into a special protein family F(K),which included Cyclin D1 (CCND1),E-cadherin (CDH1),Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A),chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12),epidermal growth factor (EGF),epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR),TNF receptor superfamily,member 6(FAS),FK506 binding protein 12-rapamycin associated protein 1 (FRAP1),O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT),parkinson protein 2,E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PARK2),phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN),calcium channel voltage-dependent alpha 2/delta subunit 2 (CACNA2D2),tubulin beta class I (TUBB),SWI/SNF-related,matrix-associated,actin-dependent regulator of chromatin,subfamily a,member 2 (SMARCA2),and wingless-type MMTV integration site family,member 7A (WNT7A).Seven key nodes of the sub-network were identified,which included PARK2,WNT7A,SMARCA2,FRAP1,CDKN2A,CCND1,and EGFR.The PPI predictions of EGFR-EGF,PARK2-FAS,PTEN-FAS,and CACNA2D2-CDH1 were confirmed experimentally by retrieving the Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets (BioGRID) and PubMed databases.We proposed that the 7 proteins could serve as potential diagnostic molecular markers for NSCLC.In accordance with the developmental mode of lung cancer established by Sekine et al.,we assumed that the occurrence and development of lung cancer were linked not only to gene loss in the 3p region (WNT7A,3p25) and genetic mutations in the 9p region but also to similar events in the regions of 1p36.2 (FRAP1),6q25.2-q27 (PARK2),and 11q13 (CCND1).Lastly,the invasion or metastasis of lung cancer happened.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21905033)Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province(No.2019YJ0503)State Key Laboratory of Vanadium and Titanium Resources Comprehensive Utilization(No.2020P4FZG02A)。
文摘Many non-precious metal-based catalysts with high intrinsic activity for catalytic reactions are prone to structural degradation in practical application,which leads to poor stability.In this work,we propose c-CoSe_(2)/o-CoSe_(2)as the oxygen electrode of lithium-oxygen batteries(LOBs)to improve its cycle stability.The heterogeneous interface inside c-CoSe_(2)/o-CoSe_(2)leads to an increase in the covalence bonds between Co and Se ions,which greatly enhances the robustness of the crystal lattice,thereby improving the stability of the catalyst.In addition,the strong interaction between the mixed phases is favorable for adjusting the electron density around the active sites and boosting oxygen electrode kinetics.Moreover,the epitaxial growth of o-CoSe_(2)on c-CoSe_(2)will cause abundant heterogeneous interfaces and slight lattice distortion along the interfaces,thereby providing sufficient catalytic reaction sites.The DFT calculation results show that the optimized adsorption of intermediates at the heterogeneous interface plays an important role in boosting oxygen electrode reactions and improving the electrochemical performance of LOBs.The experimental results show that LOBs with the c-CoSe_(2)/o-CoSe_(2)electrodes exhibit outstanding performance,including large specific capacity of about 23,878 m A h g^(-1),high coulombic efficiency of up to 93.66%,and excellent stability of over 176 cycles(1410 h).
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.20126008)
文摘Aqueous phase of acids as catalysts for the desulfurization of gasoline by condensation of thiophenes with form- aldehyde in a biphasic system was investigated. Two types of model gasoline with and without aromatics and olefins were employed in this work. The desulfurization rates were above 90% on these two types of model gasoline using formic acid and HaPW12O40 （0.8 mol·L-1）, indicating that the presence of aromatics and olefins has no effect on the desulfurization rate. High temperature （above 90 ℃） was more favorable to the process for desulfurization. Four hours was considered to be the proper treating time for the sulfur removal. In addition, aqueous phase of acids could be recycled at least 4 times without decreasing desulfurization rate. Finally, the possible process for the integration of condensation desulfurization into the existing refinery process for the production of gasoline with low sulfur content was proposed.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81970904 to MH,81970923 to ZB)Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine(ZHYX2020A005 to LS)+2 种基金the University Synergy Innovation Program of Anhui Province(GXXT-2020-064 to LS)Clinical medicine discipline construction project of Anhui Medical University(2021lcxk008 to LS)the National Key Research and Development Program(2016YFC1000505 to ZB)。
文摘Orofacial clefts(OFCs),particularly cleft lip with or without cleft palate(CL/P)and cleft palate only(CPO),are among the most common birth defects in humans(Mossey et al.,2009;Dixon et al.,2011).The birth prevalence rate of OFCs in China is reported to be as high as 1.66 per thousand newborns.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12005044 and 11975258)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Nos.XDA10011200 and XDA10010900)。
文摘The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory(JUNO)is a multi-purpose neutrino experiment.One of the main goals is to determine the neutrino mass ordering by precisely measuring the energy spectrum of reactor antineutrinos.For the detection of reactor antineutrinos,cosmogenic backgrounds,such as^(9)Li/^(8)He and fast neutrons induced by cosmic muons,should be rejected carefully by applying muon veto cuts,which require good muon track reconstruction.With a 20-kton liquid scintillator detector,the simulation shows the proportion of muon bundles(muon multiplicity≥2)to be approximately 8%in JUNO,whereas its reconstruction has been rarely discussed in previous experiments.This study proposes an efficient algorithm for muon track reconstruction based on the charge response of a photomultiplier tube array.This is the first reconstruction of muon bundles in a large-volume liquid scintillator detector.In addition,the algorithm shows good performance and potential for reconstruction for both a single muon and double muons(muon multiplicity=2).The spatial resolution of a single-muon reconstruction was20 cm,and the angular resolution was 0.5°.For doublemuon reconstruction,the spatial and angular resolutions could be 30 cm and 1.0°,respectively.Moreover,this paper also discusses muon classification and the veto strategy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.21905033)the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province(Grant No.2019YJ0503)State Key Laboratory of Vanadium and Titanium Resources Comprehensive Utilization(2020P4FZG02A).
文摘Aqueous zinc-air battery(ZAB)has attractive features as the potential energy storage system such as high safety,low cost and good environmental compatibility.However,the issue of dendrite growth on zinc metal anodes has seriously hindered the development of ZAB.Herein,the N-doped carbon cloth(NC)prepared via magnetron sputtering is explored as the substrate to induce the uniform nucleation of zinc metal and suppress dendrite growth.Results show that the introduction of heteroatoms accelerates the migration and deposition kinetics of Zn^(2+)by boosting the desolvation process of Zn^(2+),eventually reducing the nucleation overpotential.Besides,theoretical calculation results confirm the zincophilicity of N-containing functional group(such as pyridine N and pyrrole N),which can guide the nucleation and growth of zinc uniformly on the electrode surface by both promoting the redistribution of Zn^(2+) in the vicinity of the surface and enhancing its interaction with zinc atoms.As a result,the half-cell assembled with magnetron sputtered carbon cloth achieves a high zinc stripping/plating coulombic efficiency of 98.8%and long-term stability of over 500 cycles at 0.2 mA cm^(-2).And the Coulombic efficiency reached about 99.5%at the 10th cycle and maintained for more than 210 cycles at a high current density of 5.0 mA cm^(-2).The assembled symmetrical battery can deliver 220 plating/stripping cycles with ultra-low voltage hysteresis of only 11 mV.In addition,the assembled zinc-air full battery with NC-Zn anode delivers a high special capacity of about 429 mAh g_(Zn)^(-1) and a long life of over 430 cycles.The effectiveness of surface functionalization in promoting the transfer and deposition kinetics of Zn^(2+) presented in this work shows enlightening significance in the development of metal anodes in aqueous electrolytes.
基金Project supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFA1403603)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U2032213,12104461,12374129,and 12304156)+1 种基金Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant Nos.YSBR-084,and JZHKYPT-2021-08)A portion of this work was supported by the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of Anhui Province.
文摘Due to the lack of inversion,mirror or other roto-inversion symmetries,chiral crystals possess a well-defined handedness which,when combined with time-reversal symmetry breaking from the application of magnetic fields,can give rise to directional dichroism of the electrical transport phenomena via the magnetochiral anisotropy.In this study,we investigate the nonreciprocal magneto-transport in microdevices of NbGe_(2),a superconductor with structural chirality.A giant nonreciprocal signal from vortex motions is observed during the superconducting transition,with the ratio of nonreciprocal resistance to the normal resistanceγreaching 6×10^(5)T^(-1)·A^(-1).Interestingly,the intensity can be adjusted and even sign-reversed by varying the current,the temperature,and the crystalline orientation.Our findings illustrate intricate vortex dynamics and offer ways of manipulation on the rectification effect in superconductors with structural chirality.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant numbers:82071077,81771057,and 81400477 to H.L.82181340279,82071110,and 81771066 to Z.C.)+1 种基金“the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities”(no.2042021kf0197)“The Young Top-notch Talent Cultivation Program of Hubei Province”to H.L.
文摘Genome-wide association studies(GWASs) are the most widely used method to identify genetic risk loci associated with orofacial clefts(OFC). However, despite the increasing size of cohort, GWASs are still insufficient to detect all the heritability,suggesting there are more associations under the current stringent statistical threshold. In this study, we obtained an integrated epigenomic dataset based on the chromatin conformation of a human oral epithelial cell line(HIOEC) using RNA-seq, ATAC-seq,H3K27ac Ch IP-seq, and DLO Hi-C. Presumably, this epigenomic dataset could reveal the missing functional variants located in the oral epithelial cell active enhancers/promoters along with their risk target genes, despite relatively less-stringent statistical association with OFC. Taken a non-syndromic cleft palate only(NSCPO) GWAS data of the Chinese Han population as an example, 3664 SNPs that cannot reach the strict significance threshold were subjected to this functional identification pipeline.In total, 254 potential risk SNPs residing in active cis-regulatory elements interacting with 1 718 promoters of oral epitheliumexpressed genes were screened. Gapped k-mer machine learning based on enhancers interacting with epithelium-expressed genes along with in vivo and in vitro reporter assays were employed as functional validation. Among all the potential SNPs, we chose and confirmed that the risk alleles of rs560789 and rs174570 reduced the epithelial-specific enhancer activity by preventing the binding of transcription factors related to epithelial development. In summary, we established chromatin conformation datasets of human oral epithelial cells and provided a framework for testing and understanding how regulatory variants impart risk for clefts.
基金supported by grant from Department of Education of LaoningProvincia1(No.2008S232)
文摘Objective： It is known that chronic hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection is a main risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. To assess the effect of HBV infection and its interaction with other factors on the risk for HCC, a hospital-based case-control study was carried out in Northeast China. Methods： A total of 384 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma and 432 controls without evidence of liver diseases were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected to detect the serum markers of hepatitis B virus （HBV） and hepatitis C virus （HCV） and questionnaires about lifestyle and family tumor history were performed in all subjects. Results： The total infection rate of HBV in hepatocellular carcinoma cases was 70.8% and 10.0% in non-liver disease controls. There was a statistically significant difference （P〈0.0001） between cases and controls （OR= 22.0; 95%CI：15.0-32.3）. Interaction analysis indicated that in HBV chronic carriers with HCV infection or alcohol consumption or family HCC history, the risk for HCC increased （OR=41.1, 95%CI： 20.2-83.9, OR=125.0, 95%CI： 66.5-235.2; OR=56.9, 95%CI： 27.2-119.3 respectively）. In addition, hepatitis B history, HCV infection, hepatic cirrhosis and family history of HCC were also potential HCC independent risk factors. Conclusion： We confirmed that HBV is a chief risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma and accounts for 67.7% of all hepatocellular carcinoma in Northeast China. HCV infection, alcohol intake and family history could enhance the risk for HCC in chronic HBV carriers.
基金Project supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2021YFA1600204)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U2032213,12104461,12374129,12304156,and 52325105)+1 种基金Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant Nos.YSBR-084 and JZHKYPT2021-08)supported by the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of Anhui Province。
文摘Kagome magnets have attracted considerable research attention due to the interplay between topology,magnetism and electronic correlations.In this study we report single-crystal synthesis of a series of the kagome magnets.RCr_(6)Ge_(6)(R=Gd-Tm) that possess defect-free Cr kagome lattices and systematically study their magnetic and electrical transport properties.The transition from a canted ferrimagnetic to a paramagnetic state in GdCr_(6)Ge_(6),TbCr_(6)Ge_(6),DyCr_(6)Ge_(6),HoCr_(6)Ge_(6),ErCr_(6)Ge_(6) and TmCr_(6)Ge_(6) occurs at 11.3 K,10.8 K,4.3 K,2.5 K,3.3 K and below 2 K,respectively,due to R-R interactions within the compounds.Magnetization measurements reveal highly anisotropic magnetism with canted magnetic moments in these compounds.In electrical transport,both negative and positive magnetoresistances at different magnetic fields and temperatures have been observed due to the competition between different scattering mechanisms.This work enriches our understanding of the Cr-based kagome magnets and paves the way to search for possible topological responses in this family.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2021YFA1600204)the Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology(Grant No.2021ZD0302802)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U1832214,U2032213,12104461,and 12074135)the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of Anhuisupported by the Start-up Project of Anhui University(Grant No.S020318001/020)。
文摘Transition metal and rare earth intermetallics have been a fertile playground for research of various quantum states.We report detailed magnetic studies on Sm Mn_(2)Ge_(2),an anisotropic itinerant magnet with multiple magnetic phases.The critical behavior of the ferromagnetic phase transition is investigated by employing the modified Arrott plot with the Kouvel-Fisher method.The critical temperature TCis determined to be around 342.7 K with critical exponents ofβ=0.417 andγ=1.122,and the interaction function is found to be J(r)~r^(-4.68),suggesting the coexistence of long-range and shortrange magnetic interactions.Our results contribute to the understanding of complex magnetism in Sm Mn_(2)Ge_(2),which may provide fundamental guidance in future spintronic applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U1832214,11774007,U2032213,and 12104461).
文摘Geometrical frustration in low-dimensional magnetic systems has been an intriguing research aspect,where the suppression of conventional magnetic order may lead to exotic ground states such as spin glass or spin liquid.In this work we report the synthesis and magnetism study of the monocrystalline Mn_(2)Ga_(2)S_(5),featuring both the van derWaals structure and a bilayered triangular Mn lattice.Magnetic susceptibility reveals a significant antiferromagnetic interaction with a Curie-Weiss temperature θ_(w)~-260 K and a high spin S=5/2 Mn^(2+) state.However,no long range magnetic order has been found down to 2 K,and a spin freezing transition is found to occur at around 12 K well below its θ_(w).This yields a frustration index of f=-θ_(w)/T_(f)≈22,an indication that the system is highly frustrated.The absence of a double-peak structure in magnetic specific heat compared with the TM_(2)S_(4) compounds implies that the spin freezing behavior in Mn_(2)Ga_(2)S_(5)is a result of the competition between exchange interactions and the 2D crystalline structure.Our results suggest that the layered Mn_(2)Ga_(2)S_(5)would be an excellent candidate for investigating the physics of 2D magnetism and spin disordered state.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(31872764 and 82171090)Shanghai Science and Technology Committee Rising-Star Program(19QA1401600)+1 种基金Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(2018SHZDZX01)ZJLab,Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology.
文摘Abnormal visual experience during the critical period can cause deficits in visual function,such as amblyopia.High magnesium(Mg^(2+))supplementary can restore ocular dominance(OD)plasticity,which promotes the recovery of amblyopic eye acuity in adults.However,it remains unsolved whether Mg^(2+)could recover binocular vision in amblyopic adults and what the molecular mechanism is for the recovery.We found that in addition to the recovery of OD plasticity,binocular integration can be restored under the treatment of high Mg^(2+)in amblyopic mice.Behaviorally,Mg^(2+)-treated amblyopic mice showed better depth perception.Moreover,the effect of high Mg^(2+)can be suppressed with transient receptor potential melastatin-like 7(TRPM7)knockdown.Collectively,our results demonstrate that high Mg^(2+)could restore binocular visual functions from amblyopia.TRPM7 is required for the restoration of plasticity in the visual cortex after high Mg^(2+)treatment,which can provide possible clinical applications for future research and treatment of amblyopia.
