MALT1 is a potential therapeutic target in glioblastoma and plays a crucial role in EGFR‐induced NF‐κB activation

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant tumour in the adult brain and hard to treat. Nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) signalling has a crucial role in the tumorigenesis of GBM. EGFR signalling is an important driver of NF‐κB activation in GBM; however, the correlation between EGFR and the NF‐κB pathway remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of mucosa‐associated lymphoma antigen 1 (MALT1) in glioma progression and evaluated the anti‐tumour activity and effectiveness of MI‐2, a MALT1 inhibitor in a pre‐clinical GBM model. We identified a paracaspase MALT1 that is involved in EGFR‐induced NF‐kB activation in GBM. MALT1 deficiency or inhibition significantly affected the proliferation, survival, migration and invasion of GBM cells both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, MALT1 inhibition caused G1 cell cycle arrest by regulating multiple cell cycle–associated proteins. Mechanistically, MALTI inhibition blocks the degradation of IκBα and prevents the nuclear accumulation of the NF‐κB p65 subunit in GBM cells. This study found that MALT1, a key signal transduction cascade, can mediate EGFR‐induced NF‐kB activation in GBM and may be potentially used as a novel therapeutic target for GBM.     

Vacancy in Ultrathin 2D Nanomaterials toward Sustainable Energy Application

The unique physicochemical properties of (2D) nanomaterials make them well‐suited for use in sustainable energy applications. Many of these materials can be further improved with vacancy engineering. This review details recent progress in the vacancy engineering of ultrathin 2D nanomaterials. For clarity, it mainly focuses on various ultrathin 2D materials in three categories: X_a&X_aY_b‐, M_aX_b‐, or M_aX_bY_c‐structured materials. Recently developed vacancies in different types of ultrathin 2D materials, as well as their preparation and characterization, are described. Emphasis is placed on the potential electrochemical energy storage and conversion applications of these materials. This review considers the relationship between vacancy properties and material categories of various ultrathin 2D materials in terms of application requirements, preparation, and characterization techniques. The challenges and future outlook of this promising field are summarized.     

Rational Design of Nanocatalysts with Nonmetal Species Modification for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Converting CO₂ to valuable carbonaceous fuels and chemicals via electrochemical CO₂ reduction by using renewable energy sources is considered to be a scalable strategy with substantial environmental and economic benefits. One of the challenges in this field is to develop nanocatalysts with superior electrocatalytic activity and selectivity for targeted products. Nonmetal species modification of nanocatalysts is of great significance for the construction of distinctive active sites to overcome the kinetic limitations of CO₂ reduction. These types of modification enable the efficient control of the selectivity and significantly decrease the reaction overpotential. Herein, a comprehensive review of the recent progress of nonmetal species modification of nanocatalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction is presented. After discussing some fundamental parameters and the basic principles of CO₂ reduction, including possible reaction pathways in light of theoretical modeling and experiments, the identification of active sites and elucidation of reaction mechanisms are emphasized for unraveling the role of nonmetal species modification, such as heteroatom incorporation, organic molecule decoration, electrolyte engineering, and single‐atom engineering. In the final section, future challenges and constructive perspectives are provided, facilitating the accelerated advancement of mechanism research and practical applications of green carbon cycling.     

CRP、PCT、WBC联合检测对中老年社区获得性肺炎的诊断效果

目的:研究C反应蛋白(C-reactive protein,CRP)、降钙素原(Procalcitonin,PCT)以及白细胞(White blood cell,WBC)联合检测对中老年社区获得性肺炎患者的诊断效果。方法:选择2018年1月～2019年1月我院收治的76例中老年社区获得性肺炎患者为观察组,同期在我院体检中心选取30例健康体检者为对照组。检测两组研究对象的CRP、PCT及WBC水平。采取肺炎严重程度CURB-65评分将观察组的76例患者分为低危组(n=63例),CURB-65评分3分,以及高危组(n=13例),CURB-65评分≥3分;依照观察组的转归情况分为存活组(n=70例)以及死亡组(n=6例),比较观察组和对照组患者,低危组和高危组患者,存活组和死亡组患者的CRP、PCT及WBC水平的差异。结果:观察组患者的CRP、PCT及WBC水平明显高于对照组(P0.05);高危组患者的CRP、PCT水平明显高于低危组患者(P0.05),而WBC水平两组无明显差异(P0.05);死亡组患者的CRP、PCT水平明显高于存活组患者(P0.05),而WBC水平两组无明显差异(P0.05)。经Pearson相关分析发现,CURB-65评分与PCT、CRP均呈明显的正相关(t=0.532,0.497,P均0.05)。结论:CRP、PCT以及联合检测可以为中老年社区获得性肺炎的诊断提供有利的信息,且CRP、PCT与患者的病情严重程度有一定的相关性。     

Setosphaeria turcica ATR turns off appressorium-mediated maize infection and triggers melanin-involved self-protection in response to genotoxic stress

Eukaryotic organisms activate conserved signalling networks to maintain genomic stability in response to DNA genotoxic stresses. However, the coordination of this response pathway in fungal pathogens remains largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism by which the northern corn leaf blight pathogen Setosphaeria turcica controls maize infection and activates self-protection pathways in response to DNA genotoxic insults. Appressorium-mediated maize infection by S. turcica was blocked by the S-phase checkpoint. This repression was dependent on the checkpoint central kinase Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR), as inhibition of ATR activity or knockdown of the ATR gene recovered appressorium formation in the presence of genotoxic reagents. ATR promoted melanin biosynthesis in S. turcica as a defence response to stress. The melanin biosynthesis genes StPKS and StLac2 were induced by the ATR-mediated S-phase checkpoint. The responses to DNA genotoxic stress were conserved in a wide range of phytopathogenic fungi, including Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Cochliobolus carbonum, Alternaria solani, and Alternaria kikuchiana, which are known causal agents for plant diseases. We propose that in response to genotoxic stress, phytopathogenic fungi including S. turcica activate an ATR-dependent pathway to suppress appressorium-mediated infection and induce melanin-related self-protection in addition to conserved responses in eukaryotes.     

Numerical Study of the MSCB Nanoantenna as Ultra-broadband Absorber

Plasmonics - In this paper, we propose an ultra-broadband multi-slot cross bowtie (MSCB) nanoantenna for light absorption, whose elements compose of dual rectangles and cross bowtie and rectangular...     

干旱胁迫下喷施外源植物激素对甘薯生理特性和产量的影响

为探讨不同时期干旱胁迫下喷施外源植物激素对甘薯生理特性和产量的影响,明确喷施外源植物激素的最佳时期,在人工控水条件下研究了移栽后20(前期)、60(中期)和100 d(后期)干旱胁迫下喷施6-苄氨基嘌呤(6-BA)、α-萘乙酸(NAA)和脱落酸(ABA)对甘薯内源激素含量、光合荧光特性和产量的影响。结果表明: 与喷清水相比,喷施外源植物激素均能显著提高甘薯产量,以6-BA增幅最大,其次是NAA和ABA;前期喷施效果好于中期和后期。不同时期干旱胁迫下,喷施外源植物激素可显著提高甘薯叶片的光合和叶绿素荧光参数,缓解因干旱引起的玉米素核糖核苷(ZR)和生长素(IAA)含量下降的现象。逐步回归分析表明,内源激素和光合特性是影响甘薯产量的关键指标。通径分析表明,前期干旱胁迫下喷施外源植物激素主要通过影响净光合速率(P_n)、IAA、ZR、最大光化学效率和光化学性能指数来影响甘薯产量。生长前期喷施6-BA可调控甘薯内源激素含量,提高光合特性,有效缓解干旱造成的产量损失。