Molecular Co-occupancy Identifies Transcription Factor Binding Cooperativity In Vivo

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Cooperativity of ligand binding as a function of monomer-dimer equilibrium parameters and acceptor concentration

A general monomer-dimer equilibrium system involving ligand interactions ispresented. Cooperativity features of specific limited models are analyzed by selecting the appropriate family of equilibrium constants from this general scheme. Each system is then characterized in terms of Hill coefficient dependency on alterations in values of equilibrium constants and total acceptor concentration. This method permits comparison of predicted cooperativity trends between systems. Contrasting reports concerning cooperativity dependencies for certain defined equilibrium systems are compared and the discrepancies resolved. Characteristics of cooperativity binding patterns are shown to include symmetry about dimerization association constant values, both positive and negative cooperativity for a single set of parameters, and significant changes in cooperativity features with relatively small changes in equilibrium parameters.     

致病性念珠菌对常见抗真菌药物的耐药性研究进展

近年来,致病性念珠菌感染引起的侵袭性念珠菌病患者人数逐年增多。白念珠菌仍是引起感染的主要致病菌,但是由非白念念珠菌引起的感染比例显著升高。致病性念珠菌对常见抗真菌药物的耐药现象呈上升趋势,这是导致临床治疗其所致的侵袭性感染失败的重要原因之一。本文就致病性念珠菌耐药性的流行病学以及其耐药机制方面的研究进展进行了介绍。     

Accessing the Two‐Electron Charge Storage Capacity of MnO2 in Mild Aqueous Electrolytes

Rechargeable batteries based on MnO₂ cathodes, able to operate in mild aqueous electrolytes, have attracted attention due to their appealing features for the design of low‐cost stationary energy storage devices. However, the charge/discharge mechanism of MnO₂ in such media is still a matter of debate. Here, an in‐depth quantitative spectroelectrochemical analysis of MnO₂ thin‐films provides a set of unrivaled mechanistic insights. A major finding is that charge storage occurs through the reversible two‐electron faradaic conversion of MnO₂ into Mn²⁺ in the presence of a wide range of weak Brønsted acids, including the [Zn(H₂O)₆]²⁺ or [Mn(H₂O)₆]²⁺ complexes present in aqueous Zn/MnO₂ batteries. Furthermore, it is shown that buffered electrolytes loaded with Mn²⁺ are ideal to achieve highly reversible conversion of MnO₂ with both high gravimetric capacity and remarkably stable charging/discharging potentials. In the most favorable case, a record gravimetric capacity of 450 mA·h·g^?1 is obtained at a high rate of 1.6 A·g^?1, with a Coulombic efficiency close to 100% and a MnO₂ utilization of 84%. Overall, the present results challenge the common view on MnO₂ the charge storage mechanism in mild aqueous electrolytes and underline the benefit of buffered electrolytes for high‐performance rechargeable aqueous batteries.     

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.     

Staphylococcus aureus persistence properties associated with bovine mastitis and alternative therapeutic modalities

Staphylococcus aureus is an important agent of contagious bovine intramammary infections in dairy cattle. Its ability to persist inside the udder is based on the presence of important mechanisms such as its ability to form biofilms, polysaccharide capsules small colony variants, and their ability to invade professional and nonprofessional cells, which will protect S. aureus from the innate and adaptive immune response of the cow, and from antibiotics that are no longer considered to be sufficient against S. aureus bovine mastitis. In this review, we present the recent research outlining S. aureus persistence properties inside the mammary gland, including its regulation mechanisms, and we highlight alternative therapeutic strategies that were tested against S. aureus isolated from bovine mastitis such as the use of probiotic bacteria, bacteriocins and bacteriophages. Overall, the persistence of S. aureus inside the mammary gland remains a pressing veterinary problem. A thorough understanding of staphylococcal persistence mechanisms will elucidate novel ways that can help in the identification of novel treatments.     

藻类中添加剂的应用研究进展

藻类富含多种营养元素和活性物质,具有重要的经济价值和广阔的应用前景。现阶段藻类培养多采用露天跑道池,成本低,但易受环境影响。不适宜的环境条件(温度、酸性、重金属、紫外、盐度和光强胁迫等)会造成藻类生产成本上升、产品产量及品质下降等后果,严重制约藻类养殖业及相关产业的发展。添加剂不仅能有效促进藻类生长,还能缓解环境胁迫对其带来的逆境伤害。将近年来添加剂在藻类生长及抗逆方面的应用进行系统汇总,并对已阐明的几种添加剂的作用机理进行分析整理。添加剂在藻类中的应用研究大多停留在生长及生理指标的测定,如藻细胞密度、光系统活性、渗透调节物质含量、脂质含量、过氧化氢酶和硝酸还原酶活力等,仅有少部分研究是利用分子技术测定防御基因的表达情况,尝试进一步探究藻类抗逆性分子机制。旨在为研究者进一步明确常用添加剂在藻类中的信号传导机制及改善非生物胁迫造成的产品产量及品质的问题提供理论依据,具有重要现实意义。     

Phenomenon of music-induced opening of the blood-brain barrier in healthy mice

Music plays a more important role in our life than just being an entertainment. For example, it can be used as an anti-anxiety therapy of human and animals. However, the unsafe listening of loud music triggers hearing loss in millions of young people and professional musicians (rock, jazz and symphony orchestra) owing to exposure to damaging sound levels using personal audio devices or at noisy entertainment venues including nightclubs, discotheques, bars and concerts. Therefore, it is important to understand how loud music affects us. In this pioneering study on healthy mice, we discover that loud rock music below the safety threshold causes opening of the blood-brain barrier (OBBB), which plays a vital role in protecting the brain from viruses, bacteria and toxins. We clearly demonstrate that listening to loud music during 2 h in an intermittent adaptive regime is accompanied by delayed (1 h after music exposure) and short-lasting to (during 1–4 h) OBBB to low and high molecular weight compounds without cochlear and brain impairments. We present the systemic and molecular mechanisms responsible for music-induced OBBB. Finally, a revision of our traditional knowledge about the BBB nature and the novel strategies in optimizing of sound-mediated methods for brain drug delivery are discussed.