Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Bayesian co-evolutionary optimization based entropy search for high-dimensional many-objective optimization

Bayesian evolutionary optimization algorithms have been widely employed to solve expensive many-objective optimization problems. However, the existing approaches are generally designed for low-dimensional problems. In high-dimensional problems, the accuracy of the prediction decreases. And the acquisition function becomes ineffective. The combination of these challenges renders existing approaches unsuitable for selecting potential individual solutions for high-dimensional many-objective optimization problems. To address these limitations, we propose a novel Entropy Search-based Bayesian Co-Evolutionary Optimization approach (ESB-CEO). With the co-evolutionary algorithm as the basic optimizer, it executes an adaptive acquisition function combining the Lp-norm and information entropy to efficiently solve computationally expensive many-objective optimization problems. Individual solutions that have a significant effect on different search stages can be effectively identified, which improves the convergence and diversity of the algorithm. Extensive experimental results based on a set of expensive multi/many-objective test problems demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly outperforms five state-of-the-art surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithms.Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)Nanyang Technological UniversityNational Research Foundation (NRF)This research is supported, in part, by National Science Foundation of China under Grants 62006143; National Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2020MF152); National Science Foundation of China under Grants 61773192, 61803192 and 61773246; the National Research Foundation Singapore and DSO National Laboratories under the AI Singapore Programme (AISG Award No: AISG2-RP-2020-019); the Nanyang Assistant Professorship (NAP); and the RIE 2020 Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) Programmatic Fund (No. A20G8b0102), Singapore

The preparation of intrinsic DOPO-Cinnamic flame-retardant cellulose and its application for lithium-ion battery separator

A renewable and superior intrinsic thermal-resistant cellulose-based nonwoven was explored as lithium-ion battery separator via phase separation mechanism. Herein, we sparked a robust strategy for improving the flammability of cellulose, namely DOPO- Cinnamoyl Cellulose (DCC) with intrinsic flame retardant was obtained via the incorporation of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and Cinnamoyl Chloride attached on the backbone of cellulose. It demonstrates that the heat release rate and total heat release significantly reduced. Meanwhile the membrane displayed excellent self-extinction. Additionally, after the DCC membrane assembled into lithium battery, under the optimum formulation situation, the electrochemical properties established that the LIBs showed superior electrochemical performance compared with PP separator. The interface impedance of DCC separator was less than 300 Ω, which was much smaller than that of commercial separator of 410 Ω. After 50 cycles, the battery with DCC-0.11 separator retained 84.2% of its initial discharge capacity, which was higher than the commercial polypropylene separator with the numeric of 79.1%. In sum, this novel, environmental friendly and intrinsic DOPO-Cinnamic flame-retardant cellulose based separator can be considered as an expectant candidate for lithium ion battery separator with high performance

G-MDSC-derived exosomes mediate the differentiation of M-MDSC into M2 macrophages promoting colitis-to-cancer transition

Backgrounds In inflammatory bowel disease microenvironment, transdifferentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and M2 macrophage accumulation are crucial for the transition of colitis-to-cancer. New insights into the cross-talk and the underling mechanism between MDSCs and M2 macrophage during colitis-to-cancer transition are opening new avenues for colitis-associated cancer (CAC) prevention and treatment.Methods The role and underlying mechanism that granulocytic MDSCs (G-MDSCs) or exosomes (Exo) regulates the differentiation of monocytic MDSCs (M-MDSCs) into M2 macrophages were investigated using immunofluorescence, FACS, IB analysis, etc, and employing siRNA and antibodies. In vivo efficacy and mechanistic studies were conducted with dextran sulfate sodium-induced CAC mice, employed IL-6 Abs and STAT3 inhibitor.Results G-MDSCs promote the differentiation of M-MDSC into M2 macrophages through exosomal miR-93–5 p which downregulating STAT3 activity in M-MDSC. IL-6 is responsible for miR-93–5 p enrichment in G-MDSC exosomes (GM-Exo). Mechanistically, chronic inflammation-driven IL-6 promote the synthesis of miR-93–5 p in G-MDSC via IL-6R/JAK/STAT3 pathway. Early use of IL-6 Abs enhances the effect of STAT3 inhibitor against CAC.Conclusions IL-6-driven secretion of G-MDSC exosomal miR-93–5 p promotes the differentiation of M-MDSC into M2 macrophages and involves a STAT3 signaling mechanism that promote colitis-to-cancer transition. Combining STAT3 inhibitors with strategies that inhibit IL-6-mediated G-MDSC exosomal miR-93–5 p production is beneficial for the prevention and treatment of CAC

Sensitive Immunosensor for N‑Terminal Pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide Based on N‑(Aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol)-Functionalized Gold Nanodots/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Electrochemiluminescence Nanointerface

A novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor was developed for the determination of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) by using N-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) (ABEI)-functionalized gold nanodots/chitosan/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (ABEI/GNDs/chitosan/COOH-MWCNTs) hybrid as nanointerface. First, ABEI/GNDs/chitosan/COOH-MWCNTs hybrid nanomaterials were grafted onto the surface of ITO electrode via the film-forming property of hybrid nanomaterials. The anti-NT-proBNP antibody was connected to the surface of modified electrode by virtue of amide reaction via glutaraldehyde. The obtained sensing platform showed strong and stable ECL signal. When NT-proBNP was captured by its antibody immobilized on the sensing platform via immunoreaction, the ECL intensity decreased. Direct ECL signal changes were used for the determination of NT-proBNP. The present ECL immunosensor demonstrated a quite wide linear range of 0.01–100 pg/mL. The achieved low detection limit of 3.86 fg/mL was about 3 orders of magnitude lower than that obtained with electrochemistry method reported previously. Because of the simple and fast analysis, high sensitivity and selectivity, and stable and reliable response, the present immunosensor has been successfully applied to quantify NT-proBNP in practical plasma samples. The success of the sensor in this work also confirms that ABEI/GNDs/chitosan/COOH-MWCNTs hybrid is an ideal nanointerface to fabricate a sensing platform. Furthermore, the proposed strategy could be applied in the detection of other clinically important biomarkers

CQDs-Doped Magnetic Electrospun Nanofibers: Fluorescence Self-Display and Adsorption Removal of Mercury(II)

This paper reports the carbon quantum dots-doped magnetic electrospinning nanofibers for the self-display and removal of Hg­(II) ions from water. The fluorescent carbon quantum dots and magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were pre-prepared successfully, and they appeared to be homogeneously dispersed in nanofibers via electrospinning. During the sorption of Hg­(II) ions, the significant fluorescence signals of nanofibers gradually declined and exhibited a good linear relationship with cumulative adsorption capacity, which could be easily recorded by the photoluminescence spectra. The sorption performance of mercury ions onto the nanofibers was investigated in terms of different experimental factors including contact time, solution pH value, and initial ion concentration. Considering the actual parameters, the nanofibers were sensitive self-display adsorption system for Hg­(II) ions in the existence of other cation. The sorption data were described by different kinetic models, which indicate that the whole sorption was controlled by chemical adsorption. The intraparticle diffusion mass transfer was not obvious in this system, which further proved the uniform adsorption and even fluorescence quenching in nanofibers. Additionally, the nanocomposite fiber could regenerate in several cycles with no significant loss of adsorption capacity and fluorescence intensity. Thus, the nanofibers are promising alternatives for environmental pollution incidents. It is especially competent due to its high efficiency for self-display and removal of high concentration of mercury ions

JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION CORRECTION Open Access

adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) deficiency promotes retinal ganglion cell survival and axon regeneration via nuclear factor-κ