Explore the vast range of titles available.

Few-layer black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets were first reported as a 2D material for the application of field-effect transistors in 2014 and have stimulated intense activity among physicists, chemists, and material and biomedical scientists, driving research into novel synthetic techniques to produce BP nanosheets. At present, exfoliation is the main route toward few-layer BP nanosheets via employing bulk BP as raw material. However, this is a complicated and timeconsuming process, which is difficult for the large-scale synthesis of BP nanosheets. Moreover, BP degrades rapidly when exfoliated to nanoscale dimensions, resulting in the rapid loss of semiconducting properties. Here, we report the direct wet-chemical synthesis of fewlayer BP nanosheets in gram-scale quantities in a bottom-up approach based on common laboratory reagents at low temperature, showing excellent stability due to partial oxidation of surface. Solvent and temperature are two critical factors, controlling not only the formation of BP nanosheets but also the thickness. The as-prepared BP nanosheets can extract hydrogen from pure water (pH = 6.8), exhibiting more than 24-fold higher activity than the well-known C₃N₄ nanosheets. Our results reporting the ability to prepare few-layer BP nanosheets with a facile, scalable, low-cost approach take us a step closer to real-world applications of phosphorene including next-generation metal-free photocatalysts for photosynthesis.

Non-Saccharomyces yeast plays an important role in the initial stages of a wild ferment, as they are found in higher abundance in the vineyard than Saccharomyces cerevisiae. As such, there has been a focus in recent years to isolate these yeast species and characterize their effect on wine fermentation and subsequent aroma. This effect on wine aroma is often species and strain dependent, as the enzymatic profile of each yeast will determine which aroma compounds are formed as secondary metabolites. Semi-fermentative yeast, such as Hanseniaspora spp., Candida spp. and Metschnikowia pulcherrima, are commonly in high abundance in fresh grape must and have diverse enzymatic profiles, however they show a weak tolerance to ethanol, limiting their impact to the initial stages of fermentation. Fully fermentative non-Saccharomyces yeast, characterized by high ethanol tolerance, are often found at low abundance in fresh grape must, similar to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Their ability to influence the aroma profile of wine remains high, however, due to their presence into the final stages of fermentation. Some fermentative yeasts also have unique oenological properties, such as Lanchancea thermotolerans and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, highlighting the potential of these yeast as inoculants for specific wine styles.

The 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of mRNAs contain cis elements involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Over half of all mammalian genes contain multiple polyadenylation sites that lead to different 3'UTRs for a gene. Studies have shown that the alternative polyadenylation (APA) pattern varies across tissues, and is dynamically regulated in proliferating or differentiating cells. Generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, in which differentiated cells are reprogrammed to an embryonic stem (ES) cell-like state, has been intensively studied in recent years. However, it is not known how 3'UTRs are regulated during cell reprogramming. Using a computational method that robustly examines APA across DNA microarray data sets, we analyzed 3'UTR dynamics in generation of iPS cells from different cell types. We found that 3'UTRs shorten during reprogramming of somatic cells, the extent of which depends on the type of source cell. By contrast, reprogramming of spermatogonial cells involves 3'UTR lengthening. The alternative polyadenylation sites that are highly responsive to change of cell state in generation of iPS cells are also highly regulated during embryonic development in opposite directions. Compared with other sites, they are more conserved, can lead to longer alternative 3'UTRs, and are associated with more cis elements for polyadenylation. Consistently, reprogramming of somatic cells and germ cells involves significant upregulation and downregulation, respectively, of mRNAs encoding polyadenylation factors, and RNA processing is one of the most significantly regulated biological processes during cell reprogramming. Furthermore, genes containing target sites of ES cell-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in different portions of 3'UTR are distinctively regulated during cell reprogramming, suggesting impact of APA on miRNA targeting. Taken together, these findings indicate that reprogramming of 3'UTRs by APA, which result from regulation of both general polyadenylation activity and cell type-specific factors and can reset post-transcriptional gene regulatory programs in the cell, is an integral part of iPS cell generation, and the APA pattern can be a good biomarker for cell type and state, useful for sample classification. The results also suggest that perturbation of the mRNA polyadenylation machinery or RNA processing activity may facilitate generation of iPS cells.

Background Abnormal activation of immune system is an important pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, but the relationship between peripheral inflammation, central microglia activation and dopaminergic degeneration remains unclear. Objectives To evaluate the brain regional microglia activation and its relationship with clinical severity, dopaminergic presynaptic function, and peripheral inflammatory biomarkers related to adaptive immunity. Methods In this case–control study, we recruited 23 healthy participants and 24 participants with early-stage Parkinson’s disease. 18 F-PBR06 PET/MR for microglia activation, 18 F-FP-DTBZ for dopaminergic denervation, total account of T cells and subpopulations of T helper (Th1/Th2/Th17) cells, and the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines were assessed. Sanger sequencing was used to exclude the mix-affinity binders of 18 F-PBR06-PET. Results Compared to healthy controls, patients with Parkinson’s disease had an increased 18 F-PBR06-PET standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) in the putamen, particularly in the ipsilateral side of the motor onset. 18 F-PBR06-PET SUVR was positively associated with 18 F-FP-DTBZ-PET SUVR in the brainstem and not associated with disease severity measured by Hoehn and Yahr stage, MDS-UPDRS III scores. Patients with Parkinson’s disease had elevated frequencies of Th1 cells and serum levels of IL10 and IL17A as compared to healthy controls. No significant association between peripheral inflammation markers and microglia activation in the brain of PD was observed. Conclusion Parkinson’s disease is associated with early putaminal microglial activation and peripheral phenotypic Th1 bias. Peripheral adaptive immunity might be involved in microglia activation in the process of neurodegeneration in PD indirectly, which may be a potential biomarker for the early detection and the target for immunomodulating therapy.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), which is mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum , is a destructive wheat disease that threatens global wheat production. Fhb1 , a quantitative trait locus discovered in Chinese germplasm, provides the most stable and the largest effect on FHB resistance in wheat. Here we show that TaHRC , a gene that encodes a putative histidine-rich calcium-binding protein, is the key determinant of Fhb1 -mediated resistance to FHB. We demonstrate that TaHRC encodes a nuclear protein conferring FHB susceptibility and that a deletion spanning the start codon of this gene results in FHB resistance. Identical sequences of the TaHRC-R allele in diverse accessions indicate that Fhb1 had a single origin, and phylogenetic and haplotype analyses suggest that the TaHRC-R allele most likely originated from a line carrying the Dahongpao haplotype. This discovery opens a new avenue to improve FHB resistance in wheat, and possibly in other cereal crops, by manipulating TaHRC sequence through bioengineering approaches. Genetic studies using map-based cloning, gene editing, RNA interference, haplotyping and association analyses identify a deletion in TaHRC as a key determinant of Fhb1 -mediated resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat.

Fully exploiting the silicon photonics platform for large-volume, cost-sensitive applications requires a fundamentally new approach to directly integrate high-performance laser sources using wafer-scale fabrication methods. Direct-bandgap III–V semiconductors allow efficient light generation, but the large mismatch in lattice constant, thermal expansion and crystal polarity makes their epitaxial growth directly on silicon extremely complex. Using a selective-area growth technique in confined regions, we surpass this fundamental limit and demonstrate an optically pumped InP-based distributed feedback laser array monolithically grown on (001)-silicon operating at room temperature and suitable for wavelength-division-multiplexing applications. The novel epitaxial technology suppresses threading dislocations and anti-phase boundaries to a less than 20-nm-thick layer, which does not affect device performance. Using an in-plane laser cavity defined using standard top-down lithographic patterning together with a high yield and high uniformity provides scalability and a straightforward path towards cost-effective co-integration with silicon photonic and electronic circuits. Scientists demonstrate an optically pumped InP-based distributed feedback laser array monolithically grown on (001)-silicon operating at room temperature that is suitable for wavelength-division multiplexing applications.

Magnolol (MG) is one of the primary active components of Magnoliae officinalis cortex, which has been widely used in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine and possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities. In recent years, attention has been drawn to this component due to its potential as an anti-inflammatory and antitumor drug. To summarize the new biological and pharmacological data on MG, we screened the literature from January 2011 to October 2020. In this review, we provide an actualization of already known anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection, antiangiogenesis, antidiabetes, hypoglycemic, antioxidation, neuroprotection, gastrointestinal protection, and antibacterial activities of MG. Besides, results from studies on antitumor activity are presented. We also summarized the molecular mechanisms, toxicity, bioavailability, and formulations of MG. Therefore, we provide a valid cognition of MG.

Exercise has profound beneficial effects on bone health, yet the molecular mechanisms that mediate mechanical force transduction remain incompletely understood. Exosomal noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as critical intercellular messengers that translate mechanical stimuli into coordinated signaling cascades within the bone microenvironment. The present review systematically synthesizes evidence demonstrating that exercise dynamically modulates exosomal ncRNA expression in a modality-dependent and temporally regulated manner. These exercise-induced exosomal ncRNAs orchestrate bone remodeling by activating osteogenic pathways such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, suppressing osteoclastogenesis via receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) ligand (RANKL)/RANK/osteoprotegerin axis modulation, and coordinating multicellular interactions. Translational applications for sports-related bone injuries are critically evaluated, including noninvasive biomarkers, personalized exercise prescriptions, and engineered exosome-based therapeutics, alongside current limitations. Collectively, these findings support exercise-induced exosomal ncRNAs as a central paradigm linking physical activity to skeletal adaptation.

Skeletal muscle functions as an endocrine organ, secreting myokines that mediate interorgan communication with bone. Exercise-induced myokines regulate bone homeostasis by orchestrating osteoblast differentiation, osteoclastogenesis, and osteocyte mechano-sensing through key signaling pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin, mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT, nuclear factor kappa B and transforming growth factor-beta/bone morphogenetic protein pathways. The present review provides a critical synthesis of the current evidence and proposes a conceptual framework for the tripartite muscle-bone-immune axis, which has not been systematically integrated into previous reviews. Emerging evidence highlights a tripartite muscle-bone immune axis, wherein myokines modulate immune cells within the bone niche, with dysregulation contributing to age-related osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Methodological innovations such as multi-omics, single cell and spatial transcriptomics, organ-on-a-chip platforms, and artificial intelligence are accelerating discovery. The present review synthesizes current knowledge on myokine mediated muscle-bone crosstalk and evaluates the therapeutic implications for bone disorders.

Dysfunction of the neuroendocrine HPA axis is associated with a variety of physiological and psychological pathologies. The authors show that corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptors within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus are a key central component of HPA axis regulation that prepares the organism for chronic exposure to stressful stimuli. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis is a pivotal component of an organism's response to stressful challenges, and dysfunction of this neuroendocrine axis is associated with a variety of physiological and psychological pathologies. We found that corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptor within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus is an important central component of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis regulation that prepares the organism for successive exposure to stressful stimuli.