Core Stabilization

Over the last decade, the composition of the C-to-U RNA editing complex in embryophyte organelles has turned out to be much more complex than first expected. While PPR proteins were initially thought to act alone, significant evidences have clearly depicted a sophisticated mechanism with numerous protein-protein interaction involving PPR and non-PPR proteins. Moreover, the identification of specific functional partnership between PPRs also suggests that, in addition to the highly specific PPRs directly involved in the RNA target recognition, non-RNA-specific ones are required...

Introducing the appropriate vacancies to augment the active sites and improve the electrochemical kinetics while maintaining high cyclability is a major challenge for its widespread application in electrochemical energy storage. Here, core-shell structured Bi2 S3 @C with sulfur vacancies was prepared by hydrothermal method and one-step carbonization/sulfuration process, which significantly improves the intrinsic electrical conductivity and ion transport efficiency of Bi2 S3 . Additionally, the uniform protective carbon layer around surface of composite maintains structural stability and effectively alleviates volume expansion during alloying/dealloying...

HdeA and HdeB are dimeric ATP-independent acid-stress chaperones, which protect the periplasmic proteins of enteric bacteria at pH 2.0 and 4.0, respectively, during their passage through the acidic environment of the mammalian stomach. Despite being structurally similar, they exhibit distinct functional pH optima and conformational prerequisite for their chaperone action. HdeA undergoes a dimer-to-monomer transition at pH 2.0, whereas HdeB remains dimeric at pH 4.0. The monomerization of HdeA exposes its hydrophobic motifs, which facilitates its interaction with the partially folded substrates...

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of surveillance systems has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify the performance and areas for improvement. Universal salt iodization (USI) as one of the surveillance systems in Tanzania needs periodic evaluation for its optimal function. This study aimed at evaluating the universal salt iodization (USI) surveillance system in Tanzania from January to December 2021 to find out if the system meets its intended objectives by evaluating its attributes as this was the first evaluation of the USI surveillance system since its establishment in 2010...

This case report explores how the presence of an adjacent implant influenced the restoration of a tooth with pulpitis in a gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) patient. A patient with GERD requires a tooth-colored crown not only for aesthetics but also to address potential galvanic concerns arising from an adjacent implant. GERD, a condition causing non-cavity erosion, weakens tooth structure over time, presenting significant challenges in treatment. It resulted in bite relapse and insufficient occlusal clarity over time...

The fast-charging performance of conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is determined by the working temperature. LIBs may fail to work under harsh conditions, especially in the low-temperature range of the local environment or in the high-temperature circumstances resulting from the release of substantial Joule heating in the short term. Constructing a thermal engineering framework for thermal regulation and maintaining the battery running at an appropriate temperature range are feasible strategies for developing temperature-tolerant, fast-charging LIBs...

Investigations into the compositional model of the Earth, particularly the atypical concentrations of volatile elements within the silicate portion of the early Earth, have attracted significant interest due to their pivotal role in elucidating the planet's evolution and dynamics. To understand the behavior of such volatile elements, an established 'volatility trend' has been used to explain the observed depletion of certain volatile elements. However, elements such as Se and Br remain notably over-depleted in the silicate Earth...

OBJECTIVE: Phase-shift contrast agents consist of a liquid perfluorocarbon core that can be vaporized by ultrasound to generate echogenic contrast with excellent spatiotemporal control. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo behavior of condensed lipid-shelled nanodroplets (NDs) using different analytical procedures. METHODS: Perfluorobutane NDs were prepared by condensation of precursor fluorescently labeled lipid-shelled microbubbles (MBs) and were characterized in terms of size distribution, gas core content and in vitro stability in blood, as well as for their acoustic vaporization behavior using a custom-made setup...

Membrane-bound O-acyltransferases (MBOATs) are membrane-embedded enzymes that catalyze acyl chain transfer to a diverse group of substrates, including lipids, small molecules, and proteins. MBOATs share a conserved structural core, despite wide-ranging functional specificity across both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The structural basis of catalytic specificity, regulation and interactions with the surrounding environment remain uncertain. Here, we combine comparative molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with bioinformatics to assess molecular and interactional divergence across the family...

Herein, we report a computation study based on the density functional theory calculations to understand the mechanism and ligand effect of the base-stabilized dialumenes toward dihydrogen activation. Among all of the examined modes of dihydrogen activation using the base-stabilized dialumene, we found that the concerted 1,2-hydrogenation of the Al═Al double bond is kinetically more preferable. The concerted 1,2-hydrogenation of the Al═Al double bond adopts an electron-transfer model with certain asynchrony...

The evolution of two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks (2D c-MOFs) provides a significant prospect for researching the next generation of green and advanced energy storage systems (ESSs). Especially, conjugation and topology engineering serve as an irreplaceable character in adjusting the electrochemical properties of ESSs. Herein, we proposed a novel strategy using conjugation and topology engineering to demonstrate the application of 2D c-MOFs in robust potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) for the first time...

The N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) mRNA modification is crucial for plant development and stress responses. In rice, the male sterility resulting from the deficiency of OsFIP37, a core component of m6 A methyltransferase complex, emphasizes the significant role of m6 A in male fertility. m6 A is reversible and can be removed by m6 A demethylases. However, whether mRNA m6 A demethylase regulates male fertility in rice has remained unknown. Here, we identify the mRNA m6 A demethylase OsALKBH9 and demonstrate its involvement in male fertility regulation...

Global climate change, with warming as its main feature, has altered the spatial-temporal evolution of factors such as precipitation and temperature that can cause meteorological disasters. The complex and changeable climate has led to frequent natural disasters, while the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events have also significantly increased, posing an enormous threat to societal production and human life. As the most important geoecological transitional zone of mainland China, the stability of agricultural production in China's north-south transitional zone is crucial for ensuring food security under climate change...

Efficient and robust n-i-p perovskite solar cells necessitate superior organic hole-transport materials with both mechanical and electronic prowess. Deciphering the structure-property relationship of these materials is crucial for practical perovskite solar cell applications. Through direct arylation, we synthesized two high glass transition temperature molecular semiconductors, DBC-ETPA (202 °C) and TPE-ETPA (180 °C), using dibenzo[g,p]chrysene (DBC) and 1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethene (TPE) tetrabromides with triphenylene-ethylenedioxythiophene-dimethoxytriphenylamine (ETPA)...

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a family of cell membrane receptors that couple and activate heterotrimeric G proteins and their associated intracellular signalling processes after ligand binding. Although the carboxyl terminal of the receptors is essential for this action, it can also serve as a docking site for regulatory proteins such as the β-arrestins. Prokineticin receptors (PKR1 and PKR2) are a new class of GPCRs that are able to activate different classes of G proteins and form complexes with β-arrestins after activation by the endogenous agonists PK2...

Precise control of gene expression levels is essential for normal cell functions, yet how they are defined and tightly maintained, particularly at intermediate levels, remains elusive. Here, using a series of newly developed sequencing, imaging, and functional assays, we uncover a class of transcription factors with dual roles as activators and repressors, referred to as condensate-forming level-regulating dual-action transcription factors (TFs). They reduce high expression but increase low expression to achieve stable intermediate levels...

Introduction Sensory nerve endings transmit mechanical stimuli into afferent neural signals and form the basis of proprioception, giving rise to the self-perception of dynamic stability of joints. We aimed to analyze the three-dimensional structure of periarticular corpuscular sensory nerve endings in a carpal ligament to enhance our understanding of their microstructure. Methods Two dorsal parts of the scapholunate ligament were excised from two human cadaveric wrist specimens. Consecutive cryosections were stained with immunofluorescence markers protein S100B, neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75), protein gene product 9...

CuInS2 (CIS) quantum dots (QDs) represent an important class of colloidal materials with broad application potential, owing to their low toxicity and unique optical properties. Although coating with a ZnS shell has been identified as a crucial method to enhance optical performance, the occurrence of cation exchange has historically resulted in the unintended formation of Cu-In-Zn-S alloyed QDs, causing detrimental blueshifts in both absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectral profiles. In this study, we present a facile one-pot synthetic strategy aimed at impeding the cation exchange process and promoting ZnS shell growth on CIS core QDs...

E-skins, capable of responding to mechanical stimuli, hold significant potential in the field of robot haptics. However, it is a challenge to obtain e-skins with both high sensitivity and mechanical stability. Here, we present a bioinspired piezoresistive sensor with hierarchical structures based on polyaniline/polystyrene core-shell nanoparticles polymerized on air-laid paper. The combination of laser-etched reusable templates and sensitive materials that can be rapidly synthesized enables large-scale production...

Numerous technological advancements have been developed to tackle the issue of wastewater remediation effectively. However, the practical application of these technologies on a large scale has faced several challenges that have hindered their progress. These challenges include low selectivity, high energy requirements, and significant expenses. Nanoscale materials have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in removing a wide range of contaminants. Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) exhibits a range of distinctive physical and chemical properties that have proven to be highly effective in various environmental remediation applications...