Soil salinity hampers plant performance.Elevated atmospheric CO_(2)(e[CO_(2)])could alleviate the detrimental effect of salinity on plants but whether abscisic acid(ABA)is involved in this process is unclear.To addres...Soil salinity hampers plant performance.Elevated atmospheric CO_(2)(e[CO_(2)])could alleviate the detrimental effect of salinity on plants but whether abscisic acid(ABA)is involved in this process is unclear.To address this issue,three tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)genotypes with varying endogenous ABA concentrations(wild-type AC,ABA-deficient mutant flacca and ABA-overproduction line SP5)were grown in pots under ambient(400μmol·mol^(-1))or elevated(800μmol·mol^(-1))CO_(2)with or without the addition of 100 mmol·L-1sodium chloride(NaCl).The results showed that e[CO_(2)]favored ion homeostasis by decreasing root-to-shoot delivery of Na^(+),which was mainly attributed to lowered transpiration rate rather than altered xylem-sap Na^(+)concentration.In AC and SP5,the low transpiration rate of e[CO_(2)]-plants under salinity was accompanied by enhanced endogenous ABA levels,which might play a role in upregulating the abundance of specific transcripts related to Na^(+)homeostasis(i.e.,SALT OVERLY SENSITIVE)under salt stress.In flacca,e[CO_(2)]-induced Na^(+)homeostasis was abolished,which could be ascribed to the low and unaltered ABA levels,albeit the ethylene biosynthesis was enhanced in flacca under salt stress,indicating an antagonistic relationship between ABA and ethylene.Furthermore,e[CO_(2)]inhibited ethylene biosynthesis under salt stress in all three genotypes.The results enrich our comprehension of the fundamental processes of e[CO_(2)]-conferred salt tolerance in tomato.展开更多
A switch from avian-typeα-2,3 to human-typeα-2,6 receptors is an essential element for the initiation of a pandemic from an avian influenza virus.Some H9N2 viruses exhibit a preference for binding to human-typeα-2,...A switch from avian-typeα-2,3 to human-typeα-2,6 receptors is an essential element for the initiation of a pandemic from an avian influenza virus.Some H9N2 viruses exhibit a preference for binding to human-typeα-2,6 receptors.This identifies their potential threat to public health.However,our understanding of the molecular basis for the switch of receptor preference is still limited.In this study,we employed the random forest algorithm to identify the potentially key amino acid sites within hemagglutinin(HA),which are associated with the receptor binding ability of H9N2 avian influenza virus(AIV).Subsequently,these sites were further verified by receptor binding assays.A total of 12 substitutions in the HA protein(N158D,N158S,A160 N,A160D,A160T,T163I,T163V,V190T,V190A,D193 N,D193G,and N231D)were predicted to prefer binding toα-2,6 receptors.Except for the V190T substitution,the other substitutions were demonstrated to display an affinity for preferential binding toα-2,6 receptors by receptor binding assays.Especially,the A160T substitution caused a significant upregulation of immune-response genes and an increased mortality rate in mice.Our findings provide novel insights into understanding the genetic basis of receptor preference of the H9N2 AIV.展开更多
Objectives:Progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer(CRPC)and metastasis are the greatest challenges to effective treatment.Anticancer strategies targeting the key kinases associated with the development of ...Objectives:Progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer(CRPC)and metastasis are the greatest challenges to effective treatment.Anticancer strategies targeting the key kinases associated with the development of CRPC may represent a breakthrough.The tyrosine kinase receptor Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular(Eph)A2 receptor is highly expressed in CRPC cell lines and may be associated with tumor invasion and metastasis.However,the effects and exact mechanisms of EphA2 in CRPC are only partially understood.This study aimed to investigate the impact of EphA2 on CRPC cell behaviors and underlyingmolecular pathways.Methods:CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing induced EphA2-disrupted in human-derived PC3 andDU145 cells.Single-guideRNAs(sgRNAs)targeting EphA2 were designed,and editing efficiency was validated.Optimal sgRNA sequences were selected to generate EphA2-knockdown(KD)and-overexpressing(OE)cell lines.Cell migration,proliferation,and apoptosis were assessed via functional assays.Transcriptomic analysis,quantitative PCR,and Western blotting were performed to identify downstream effectors.Bioinformatics analyses were used to correlate EphA2 and CDH1 expression with clinical parameters in prostate cancer patients.Results:Editing efficiency was found to vary among different sgRNAs targeting the EphA2 gene.EphA2-KD significantly inhibited CRPC cell migration but did not affect cell proliferation or apoptosis.Conversely,EphA2-OE significantly enhanced the migration of DU145 cells.Molecular analyses revealed that the expression of CDH1(an important marker of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in tumors)was significantly upregulated in PC3-EphA2-KD cells and downregulated in DU145-EphA2-OE cells,indicating that CDH1 is a downstream regulator of EphA2.Bioinformatic analysis revealed that higher EphA2 levels and lower CDH1 expression were both associated with an advanced tumor T stage,higher Gleason scores,and lymph nodemetastases in prostate cancer patients.More importantly,EphA2 was found to be an important predictor of lymph nodemetastasis,in addition to the Gleason score.Adding EphA2 to the Gleason score could significantly improve the detection of lymph node metastasis.Conclusion:CRISPR/Cas9-mediated EphA2-KD significantly suppressed the migration of CRPC cells through the inhibition of the EphA2-CDH1 axis.Strategies targeting the EphA2 genemay be promising for the treatment of CRPC.展开更多
Flare and multiple recurrences pose significant challenges in gouty arthritis.Traditional treatments provide temporary relief from inflammation but fail to promptly alleviate patient pain or effectively prevent subseq...Flare and multiple recurrences pose significant challenges in gouty arthritis.Traditional treatments provide temporary relief from inflammation but fail to promptly alleviate patient pain or effectively prevent subsequent recurrences.It should also be noted that both anti-inflammation and metabolism of uric acid are necessary for gouty arthritis,calling for therapeutic systems to achieve these two goals simultaneously.In this study,we propose a biomimetic integrated nanozyme,HMPB-Pt@MM,comprising platinum nanozyme and hollow Prussian blue.It demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties by eliminating reactive oxygen species and reducing infiltration of inflammatory macrophages.Additionally,it rapidly targets inflamed ankles through the camouflage of macrophage membranes.Furthermore,HMPB-Pt@MM exhibits urate oxidase-like capabilities,continuously metabolizing locally elevated uric acid concentrations,ultimately inhibiting multiple recurrences of gouty arthritis.In summary,HMPB-Pt@MM integrates ROS clearance with uric acid metabolism,offering a promising platform for the treatment of gouty arthritis.展开更多
The weak layer of steel concrete (RC) frame structure is easy to destroy under the action of the earthquake, the damage mechanism is more difficult to control. Severe damage to the building structure after the earthqu...The weak layer of steel concrete (RC) frame structure is easy to destroy under the action of the earthquake, the damage mechanism is more difficult to control. Severe damage to the building structure after the earthquake, resulting in too high repair costs or having to dismantle and rebuild. In order to improve and enhance the anti-seismic performance of the RC framework structure, energy consumption devices are added between the frame columns to achieve the effect of reducing the RC frame structure damage and improving the seismic performance of the RC frame structure. In this article, high-performance fiber-enhanced cement base composite materials fabricated energy consumption walls are prepared in the RC frame structure to form a new type of seismic structure system of RC frame-prefabricated HPFRCC energy consumption wall. This article uses the power timing analysis of the ABAQUS finite element software to study the anti-seismic performance, influencing factors and energy consumption distribution of the RC frame-prefabricated HPFRCC energy wall structural system.展开更多
This empirical study intends to explore the questioning behaviors of an English as a second language(hereinafter referred to as ESL)teacher in Hong Kong by quantitatively looking at the distribution of the two types o...This empirical study intends to explore the questioning behaviors of an English as a second language(hereinafter referred to as ESL)teacher in Hong Kong by quantitatively looking at the distribution of the two types of questions,namely display questions and referential questions,as well as by qualitatively evaluating the universally accepted functions of the questions and the effectiveness of the modification techniques used to enhance the factual value of the questions.Data-based explorations challenging the traditional views toward questions are critically presented,and new findings are excavated and advocated.Pedagogical implications are considerably raised as they serve as a theoretical framework to be applied and further analyzed in future real-life EFL and ESL settings,so as to realize better assessment for learning.展开更多
The Chinese pangolin(Manis pentadactyla,MP)has been extensively exploited and is now on the brink of extinction,but its population structure,evolutionary history,and adaptive potential are unclear.Here,we analyzed 94 ...The Chinese pangolin(Manis pentadactyla,MP)has been extensively exploited and is now on the brink of extinction,but its population structure,evolutionary history,and adaptive potential are unclear.Here,we analyzed 94 genomes from three subspecies of the Chinese pangolin and identified three distinct genetic clusters(MPA,MPB,and MPC),with MPB further divided into MPB1 and MPB2 subpopulations.The divergence of these populations was driven by past climate change.For MPB2 and MPC,recent human activities have caused dramatic population decline and small population size as well as increased inbreeding,but not decrease in genomic variation and increase in genetic load probably due to strong gene flow;therefore,it is crucial to strengthen in situ habitat management for these two populations.By contrast,although human activities have a milder impact on MPA,it is at high risk of extinction due to long-term contraction and isolation,and genetic rescue is urgently needed.MPB1 exhibited a relatively healthy population status and can potentially serve as a source population.Overall,our findings provide novel insights into the conservation of the Chinese pangolin and biogeography of the mammals of eastern Asia.展开更多
Obeticholic acid(OCA),a farnesoid X receptor(FXR)agonist with favorable effects on fatty and glucose metabolism,has been considered the leading candidate drug for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)treatment.However,it...Obeticholic acid(OCA),a farnesoid X receptor(FXR)agonist with favorable effects on fatty and glucose metabolism,has been considered the leading candidate drug for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)treatment.However,its limited effectiveness in resolving liver fibrosis and lipotoxicity-induced cell death remains a major drawback.Ferroptosis,a newly recognized form of cell death characterized by uncontrolled lipid peroxidation,is involved in the progression of NASH.Nitric oxide(NO)is a versatile biological molecule that can degrade extracellular matrix.In this study,we developed a PEGylated thiolated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles(MSN)loaded with OCA,as well as a ferroptosis inhibitor liproxsatin-1 and a NO donor S-nitrosothiol(ONL@MSN).Biochemical analyses,histology,multiplexed flow cytometry,bulk-tissue RNA sequencing,and fecal 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing were utilized to evaluate the effects of the combined nanoparticle(ONL@MSN)in a mouse NASH model.Compared with the OCA-loaded nanoparticles(O@MSN),ONL@MSN not only protected against hepatic steatosis but also greatly ameliorated fibrosis and ferroptosis.ONL@MSN also displayed enhanced therapeutic actions on the maintenance of intrahepatic macrophages/monocytes homeostasis,inhibition of immune response/lipid peroxidation,and correction of microbiota dysbiosis.These findings present a promising synergistic nanotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of NASH by simultaneously targeting FXR,ferroptosis,and fibrosis.展开更多
Gap-surface plasmon(GSP)metasurfaces have attracted progressively increasing attention due to their planar configurations,ease of fabrication,and unprecedented capabilities in manipulating the reflected fields that en...Gap-surface plasmon(GSP)metasurfaces have attracted progressively increasing attention due to their planar configurations,ease of fabrication,and unprecedented capabilities in manipulating the reflected fields that enable integrating diverse bulk-optic-based optical components into a single ultrathin flat element.In this work,we design and experimentally demonstrate multifunctional metalenses that perform simultaneous linear-polarization conversion,focusing,and beam splitting,thereby reproducing the combined functionalities of conventional halfwave plates,parabolic reflectors,and beam splitters.The fabricated single-focal metalens incorporates properly configured distinct half-wave-plate-like GSP meta-atoms and exhibits good performance under linearly polarized incidence in terms of orthogonal linear-polarization conversion(>75%)and focusing(overall efficiency>22%)in the wavelength spectrum ranging from 800 to 950 nm.To further extend the combined functionalities,we demonstrate a dual-focal metalens that splits and focuses a linearly polarized incident beam into two focal spots while maintaining the capability of orthogonal linear-polarization conversion.Furthermore,the power distribution between two split beams can readily be controlled by judiciously positioning the incident beam.The demonstrated multifunctional GSP-based metalenses mimic the combined functionalities of a sequence of discrete bulk optical components,thereby eliminating the need for their mutual alignment and opening new perspectives in the development of ultracompact and integrated photonic devices.展开更多
Variations of phosphorus （P） and its species in surface sediment of Baiyangdian Lake, a eutrophic shallow lake located in North China, were investigated through combination of field survey and numerical calculation ...Variations of phosphorus （P） and its species in surface sediment of Baiyangdian Lake, a eutrophic shallow lake located in North China, were investigated through combination of field survey and numerical calculation based on cluster analysis. P fractionation was performed by a sequential extraction scheme, categorized as loosely bound P （NH4Cl-P）, reductant soluble P （BD-P）, metallic oxide bound P （NaOH-P）, calcium bound P （HCl-P） and organic P （Org-P）. P concentrations exhibited regional similarities and a total of four sub-areas were identified in which the same rank was HCl-P 〉 Org-P 〉 BD-P ,=NaOH-P 〉NH4Cl-E NH4Cl-P, BD-P and Org-P were found to contribute to P enrichment in overlying water column. Specifically, labile Org-P acted as a potential pool with a greater contribution in aerobic layer compared to anaerobic layer. A hysteresis （lag = 4 months） existed when labile Org-P concentration was negatively correlated with aerobic layer thickness. In view of magnitude of identified P contributors in sub-areas, higher potential of P release was present in Fuhe River and Tang River estuary areas. On the basis of calibration and verification, the mathematical model with parameter settings applied in this study was improved to serve as a tool for limnology management and eutrophic control.展开更多
Constructed wetlands(CWs)are widely used as a tertiary treatment technology,and the addition of carbon sources can significantly improve advanced nitrogen removal.However,excessive carbon sources would lead to an incr...Constructed wetlands(CWs)are widely used as a tertiary treatment technology,and the addition of carbon sources can significantly improve advanced nitrogen removal.However,excessive carbon sources would lead to an increase in the effluent chemical oxygen demand in CWs,and microbial fuel cells(MFCs)can convert these into electricity.In this study,constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells(CW-MFCs)were built to achieve simultaneous nitrogen removal and electricity generation,using wetland plant litter fermentation broths as carbon sources.The total nitrogen removal in the groups with fermentation broth addition(FGs)reached 83.33%,which was 19.64%higher than that in the CG(group without fermentation broth),and the mean voltages in the FGs were at least 2.6 times higher than that of the CG.Furthermore,two main components of the fermentation broths,acetic acid(Ac)and humic acid(HA),were identified using a three-dimensional excitation emission matrix and gas chromatograph and added to CW-MFCs to explore the influence mechanism on the treatment performance.Denitrification and electrogenesis presented the same tendency:Ac&HA>Ac>CG’(groups without Ac and HA).These results indicate that Ac and HA increased the abundance of functional genes associated with nitrogen metabolism and electron transfer.This study demonstrated that CW-MFC fermentation broth addition can be a potential strategy for the disposal of secondary effluent and bioelectricity generation.展开更多
The shift from skotomorphogenesis to photomorphogenesis,a developmental transition in seed plants,in-volves dramatic proteomic changes.Lysine acetylation(Lys-Ac)is an evolutionarily conserved and recog-nized post-tran...The shift from skotomorphogenesis to photomorphogenesis,a developmental transition in seed plants,in-volves dramatic proteomic changes.Lysine acetylation(Lys-Ac)is an evolutionarily conserved and recog-nized post-translational modification that plays a crucial role in plant development.However,its role in seedling deetiolation remains unclear.In this study,we conducted a comparative lysine acetylomic anal-ysis of etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings before and after red(R)light irradiation,uncovering that exposure to R light mainly led to protein lysine deacetylation during seedling deetiolation.Phytochrome A(phyA),a unique far-red(FR)light photoreceptor,was deacetylated at lysine 65(K65)when etiolated seedlings were moved to light.This residue is a critical ubiquitination site that regulates phyA stability.Moreover,K65 deacetylation facilitates phyA ubiquitination and 26s proteasome-mediated degradation,and is required for the function of phyA in FR light signaling and seedling photomorphogenesis.Furthermore,we identified a plant-specific lysine deacetylase HDT2 that interacts with and deacetylates phyA in the nu-cleus to promote its ubiquitination and degradation during seedling deetiolation.Genetic analysis revealed that HDT2 is critical for phyA-mediated photomorphogenic growth.Taken together,these findings reveal that lysine deacetylation of phyA by HDT2 plays a crucial role in modulating phyA turnover in response to light,suggesting that Lys-Ac might be central to the reprogramming of plants for photomorphogenic growth.展开更多
基金supported by the Chinese Scholarship Council(CSC).
文摘Soil salinity hampers plant performance.Elevated atmospheric CO_(2)(e[CO_(2)])could alleviate the detrimental effect of salinity on plants but whether abscisic acid(ABA)is involved in this process is unclear.To address this issue,three tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)genotypes with varying endogenous ABA concentrations(wild-type AC,ABA-deficient mutant flacca and ABA-overproduction line SP5)were grown in pots under ambient(400μmol·mol^(-1))or elevated(800μmol·mol^(-1))CO_(2)with or without the addition of 100 mmol·L-1sodium chloride(NaCl).The results showed that e[CO_(2)]favored ion homeostasis by decreasing root-to-shoot delivery of Na^(+),which was mainly attributed to lowered transpiration rate rather than altered xylem-sap Na^(+)concentration.In AC and SP5,the low transpiration rate of e[CO_(2)]-plants under salinity was accompanied by enhanced endogenous ABA levels,which might play a role in upregulating the abundance of specific transcripts related to Na^(+)homeostasis(i.e.,SALT OVERLY SENSITIVE)under salt stress.In flacca,e[CO_(2)]-induced Na^(+)homeostasis was abolished,which could be ascribed to the low and unaltered ABA levels,albeit the ethylene biosynthesis was enhanced in flacca under salt stress,indicating an antagonistic relationship between ABA and ethylene.Furthermore,e[CO_(2)]inhibited ethylene biosynthesis under salt stress in all three genotypes.The results enrich our comprehension of the fundamental processes of e[CO_(2)]-conferred salt tolerance in tomato.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32273037 and 32102636)the Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research(2020B0301030007)+4 种基金Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Project(NT2021007)the Guangdong Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talent Program(2019TX05N098)the 111 Center(D20008)the double first-class discipline promotion project(2023B10564003)the Department of Education of Guangdong Province(2019KZDXM004 and 2019KCXTD001).
文摘A switch from avian-typeα-2,3 to human-typeα-2,6 receptors is an essential element for the initiation of a pandemic from an avian influenza virus.Some H9N2 viruses exhibit a preference for binding to human-typeα-2,6 receptors.This identifies their potential threat to public health.However,our understanding of the molecular basis for the switch of receptor preference is still limited.In this study,we employed the random forest algorithm to identify the potentially key amino acid sites within hemagglutinin(HA),which are associated with the receptor binding ability of H9N2 avian influenza virus(AIV).Subsequently,these sites were further verified by receptor binding assays.A total of 12 substitutions in the HA protein(N158D,N158S,A160 N,A160D,A160T,T163I,T163V,V190T,V190A,D193 N,D193G,and N231D)were predicted to prefer binding toα-2,6 receptors.Except for the V190T substitution,the other substitutions were demonstrated to display an affinity for preferential binding toα-2,6 receptors by receptor binding assays.Especially,the A160T substitution caused a significant upregulation of immune-response genes and an increased mortality rate in mice.Our findings provide novel insights into understanding the genetic basis of receptor preference of the H9N2 AIV.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81801754)the Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau Development Plan(Grant No.SYS2020147)the 26th Batch of Extra-Curricular Academic Research Fund Project of Soochow University(Grant No.KY2024235B).
文摘Objectives:Progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer(CRPC)and metastasis are the greatest challenges to effective treatment.Anticancer strategies targeting the key kinases associated with the development of CRPC may represent a breakthrough.The tyrosine kinase receptor Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular(Eph)A2 receptor is highly expressed in CRPC cell lines and may be associated with tumor invasion and metastasis.However,the effects and exact mechanisms of EphA2 in CRPC are only partially understood.This study aimed to investigate the impact of EphA2 on CRPC cell behaviors and underlyingmolecular pathways.Methods:CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing induced EphA2-disrupted in human-derived PC3 andDU145 cells.Single-guideRNAs(sgRNAs)targeting EphA2 were designed,and editing efficiency was validated.Optimal sgRNA sequences were selected to generate EphA2-knockdown(KD)and-overexpressing(OE)cell lines.Cell migration,proliferation,and apoptosis were assessed via functional assays.Transcriptomic analysis,quantitative PCR,and Western blotting were performed to identify downstream effectors.Bioinformatics analyses were used to correlate EphA2 and CDH1 expression with clinical parameters in prostate cancer patients.Results:Editing efficiency was found to vary among different sgRNAs targeting the EphA2 gene.EphA2-KD significantly inhibited CRPC cell migration but did not affect cell proliferation or apoptosis.Conversely,EphA2-OE significantly enhanced the migration of DU145 cells.Molecular analyses revealed that the expression of CDH1(an important marker of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in tumors)was significantly upregulated in PC3-EphA2-KD cells and downregulated in DU145-EphA2-OE cells,indicating that CDH1 is a downstream regulator of EphA2.Bioinformatic analysis revealed that higher EphA2 levels and lower CDH1 expression were both associated with an advanced tumor T stage,higher Gleason scores,and lymph nodemetastases in prostate cancer patients.More importantly,EphA2 was found to be an important predictor of lymph nodemetastasis,in addition to the Gleason score.Adding EphA2 to the Gleason score could significantly improve the detection of lymph node metastasis.Conclusion:CRISPR/Cas9-mediated EphA2-KD significantly suppressed the migration of CRPC cells through the inhibition of the EphA2-CDH1 axis.Strategies targeting the EphA2 genemay be promising for the treatment of CRPC.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology (2022YFC2304303)。
文摘Flare and multiple recurrences pose significant challenges in gouty arthritis.Traditional treatments provide temporary relief from inflammation but fail to promptly alleviate patient pain or effectively prevent subsequent recurrences.It should also be noted that both anti-inflammation and metabolism of uric acid are necessary for gouty arthritis,calling for therapeutic systems to achieve these two goals simultaneously.In this study,we propose a biomimetic integrated nanozyme,HMPB-Pt@MM,comprising platinum nanozyme and hollow Prussian blue.It demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties by eliminating reactive oxygen species and reducing infiltration of inflammatory macrophages.Additionally,it rapidly targets inflamed ankles through the camouflage of macrophage membranes.Furthermore,HMPB-Pt@MM exhibits urate oxidase-like capabilities,continuously metabolizing locally elevated uric acid concentrations,ultimately inhibiting multiple recurrences of gouty arthritis.In summary,HMPB-Pt@MM integrates ROS clearance with uric acid metabolism,offering a promising platform for the treatment of gouty arthritis.
文摘The weak layer of steel concrete (RC) frame structure is easy to destroy under the action of the earthquake, the damage mechanism is more difficult to control. Severe damage to the building structure after the earthquake, resulting in too high repair costs or having to dismantle and rebuild. In order to improve and enhance the anti-seismic performance of the RC framework structure, energy consumption devices are added between the frame columns to achieve the effect of reducing the RC frame structure damage and improving the seismic performance of the RC frame structure. In this article, high-performance fiber-enhanced cement base composite materials fabricated energy consumption walls are prepared in the RC frame structure to form a new type of seismic structure system of RC frame-prefabricated HPFRCC energy consumption wall. This article uses the power timing analysis of the ABAQUS finite element software to study the anti-seismic performance, influencing factors and energy consumption distribution of the RC frame-prefabricated HPFRCC energy wall structural system.
文摘This empirical study intends to explore the questioning behaviors of an English as a second language(hereinafter referred to as ESL)teacher in Hong Kong by quantitatively looking at the distribution of the two types of questions,namely display questions and referential questions,as well as by qualitatively evaluating the universally accepted functions of the questions and the effectiveness of the modification techniques used to enhance the factual value of the questions.Data-based explorations challenging the traditional views toward questions are critically presented,and new findings are excavated and advocated.Pedagogical implications are considerably raised as they serve as a theoretical framework to be applied and further analyzed in future real-life EFL and ESL settings,so as to realize better assessment for learning.
基金supported by the Major Program of the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province of China(20233ACB209001)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2022A1515111016)+1 种基金Science and Technology Department of Guangdong Province(2021QN02H103)Natural Resources Affairs Management-Ecological Forestry Construction Special Project of Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province(SLYJ2023B4002,SLYJ2023B4003,SLYJ2023B4005)。
文摘The Chinese pangolin(Manis pentadactyla,MP)has been extensively exploited and is now on the brink of extinction,but its population structure,evolutionary history,and adaptive potential are unclear.Here,we analyzed 94 genomes from three subspecies of the Chinese pangolin and identified three distinct genetic clusters(MPA,MPB,and MPC),with MPB further divided into MPB1 and MPB2 subpopulations.The divergence of these populations was driven by past climate change.For MPB2 and MPC,recent human activities have caused dramatic population decline and small population size as well as increased inbreeding,but not decrease in genomic variation and increase in genetic load probably due to strong gene flow;therefore,it is crucial to strengthen in situ habitat management for these two populations.By contrast,although human activities have a milder impact on MPA,it is at high risk of extinction due to long-term contraction and isolation,and genetic rescue is urgently needed.MPB1 exhibited a relatively healthy population status and can potentially serve as a source population.Overall,our findings provide novel insights into the conservation of the Chinese pangolin and biogeography of the mammals of eastern Asia.
基金This work was supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China(82073915 and 82104530)Shanghai Natural Science Foundation(23ZR1477500,China)+1 种基金Shanghai Science and Technology Commission(21XD1424900,China)Shanghai Shuguang Program(19SG32,China).
文摘Obeticholic acid(OCA),a farnesoid X receptor(FXR)agonist with favorable effects on fatty and glucose metabolism,has been considered the leading candidate drug for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)treatment.However,its limited effectiveness in resolving liver fibrosis and lipotoxicity-induced cell death remains a major drawback.Ferroptosis,a newly recognized form of cell death characterized by uncontrolled lipid peroxidation,is involved in the progression of NASH.Nitric oxide(NO)is a versatile biological molecule that can degrade extracellular matrix.In this study,we developed a PEGylated thiolated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles(MSN)loaded with OCA,as well as a ferroptosis inhibitor liproxsatin-1 and a NO donor S-nitrosothiol(ONL@MSN).Biochemical analyses,histology,multiplexed flow cytometry,bulk-tissue RNA sequencing,and fecal 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing were utilized to evaluate the effects of the combined nanoparticle(ONL@MSN)in a mouse NASH model.Compared with the OCA-loaded nanoparticles(O@MSN),ONL@MSN not only protected against hepatic steatosis but also greatly ameliorated fibrosis and ferroptosis.ONL@MSN also displayed enhanced therapeutic actions on the maintenance of intrahepatic macrophages/monocytes homeostasis,inhibition of immune response/lipid peroxidation,and correction of microbiota dysbiosis.These findings present a promising synergistic nanotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of NASH by simultaneously targeting FXR,ferroptosis,and fibrosis.
基金FP7 Ideas European Research Council(341054)Villum Fonden(00022988,Award in Technical and Natural Sciences 2019)Syddansk Universitet(SDU2020)。
文摘Gap-surface plasmon(GSP)metasurfaces have attracted progressively increasing attention due to their planar configurations,ease of fabrication,and unprecedented capabilities in manipulating the reflected fields that enable integrating diverse bulk-optic-based optical components into a single ultrathin flat element.In this work,we design and experimentally demonstrate multifunctional metalenses that perform simultaneous linear-polarization conversion,focusing,and beam splitting,thereby reproducing the combined functionalities of conventional halfwave plates,parabolic reflectors,and beam splitters.The fabricated single-focal metalens incorporates properly configured distinct half-wave-plate-like GSP meta-atoms and exhibits good performance under linearly polarized incidence in terms of orthogonal linear-polarization conversion(>75%)and focusing(overall efficiency>22%)in the wavelength spectrum ranging from 800 to 950 nm.To further extend the combined functionalities,we demonstrate a dual-focal metalens that splits and focuses a linearly polarized incident beam into two focal spots while maintaining the capability of orthogonal linear-polarization conversion.Furthermore,the power distribution between two split beams can readily be controlled by judiciously positioning the incident beam.The demonstrated multifunctional GSP-based metalenses mimic the combined functionalities of a sequence of discrete bulk optical components,thereby eliminating the need for their mutual alignment and opening new perspectives in the development of ultracompact and integrated photonic devices.
基金Acknowledgements This paper was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant Nos. 41171384, 41271414 and 41301529） and Grand Special Science and Technology Project on National Water Pollution Management of China （No. 2008ZX07209-009）.
文摘Variations of phosphorus （P） and its species in surface sediment of Baiyangdian Lake, a eutrophic shallow lake located in North China, were investigated through combination of field survey and numerical calculation based on cluster analysis. P fractionation was performed by a sequential extraction scheme, categorized as loosely bound P （NH4Cl-P）, reductant soluble P （BD-P）, metallic oxide bound P （NaOH-P）, calcium bound P （HCl-P） and organic P （Org-P）. P concentrations exhibited regional similarities and a total of four sub-areas were identified in which the same rank was HCl-P 〉 Org-P 〉 BD-P ,=NaOH-P 〉NH4Cl-E NH4Cl-P, BD-P and Org-P were found to contribute to P enrichment in overlying water column. Specifically, labile Org-P acted as a potential pool with a greater contribution in aerobic layer compared to anaerobic layer. A hysteresis （lag = 4 months） existed when labile Org-P concentration was negatively correlated with aerobic layer thickness. In view of magnitude of identified P contributors in sub-areas, higher potential of P release was present in Fuhe River and Tang River estuary areas. On the basis of calibration and verification, the mathematical model with parameter settings applied in this study was improved to serve as a tool for limnology management and eutrophic control.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U20A20326)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2020CDJDPT002)Chongqing Talents Plan for Young Talents(No.CQY201905062).
文摘Constructed wetlands(CWs)are widely used as a tertiary treatment technology,and the addition of carbon sources can significantly improve advanced nitrogen removal.However,excessive carbon sources would lead to an increase in the effluent chemical oxygen demand in CWs,and microbial fuel cells(MFCs)can convert these into electricity.In this study,constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells(CW-MFCs)were built to achieve simultaneous nitrogen removal and electricity generation,using wetland plant litter fermentation broths as carbon sources.The total nitrogen removal in the groups with fermentation broth addition(FGs)reached 83.33%,which was 19.64%higher than that in the CG(group without fermentation broth),and the mean voltages in the FGs were at least 2.6 times higher than that of the CG.Furthermore,two main components of the fermentation broths,acetic acid(Ac)and humic acid(HA),were identified using a three-dimensional excitation emission matrix and gas chromatograph and added to CW-MFCs to explore the influence mechanism on the treatment performance.Denitrification and electrogenesis presented the same tendency:Ac&HA>Ac>CG’(groups without Ac and HA).These results indicate that Ac and HA increased the abundance of functional genes associated with nitrogen metabolism and electron transfer.This study demonstrated that CW-MFC fermentation broth addition can be a potential strategy for the disposal of secondary effluent and bioelectricity generation.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32371326 and 32070551)the Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou(E3330900-01)the Youth Innovation PromotionAssociation,CAs(201860).
文摘The shift from skotomorphogenesis to photomorphogenesis,a developmental transition in seed plants,in-volves dramatic proteomic changes.Lysine acetylation(Lys-Ac)is an evolutionarily conserved and recog-nized post-translational modification that plays a crucial role in plant development.However,its role in seedling deetiolation remains unclear.In this study,we conducted a comparative lysine acetylomic anal-ysis of etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings before and after red(R)light irradiation,uncovering that exposure to R light mainly led to protein lysine deacetylation during seedling deetiolation.Phytochrome A(phyA),a unique far-red(FR)light photoreceptor,was deacetylated at lysine 65(K65)when etiolated seedlings were moved to light.This residue is a critical ubiquitination site that regulates phyA stability.Moreover,K65 deacetylation facilitates phyA ubiquitination and 26s proteasome-mediated degradation,and is required for the function of phyA in FR light signaling and seedling photomorphogenesis.Furthermore,we identified a plant-specific lysine deacetylase HDT2 that interacts with and deacetylates phyA in the nu-cleus to promote its ubiquitination and degradation during seedling deetiolation.Genetic analysis revealed that HDT2 is critical for phyA-mediated photomorphogenic growth.Taken together,these findings reveal that lysine deacetylation of phyA by HDT2 plays a crucial role in modulating phyA turnover in response to light,suggesting that Lys-Ac might be central to the reprogramming of plants for photomorphogenic growth.
