Near-infrared quantum cutting in Ho3+, Yb3+-codoped BaGdF5 nanoparticles via first- and second-order energy transfers

Infrared quantum cutting involving Yb(3+) 950–1,000 nm ((2) F(5/2) → (2) F(7/2)) and Ho(3+) 1,007 nm ((5)S(2),(5)F(4) → (5)I(6)) as well as 1,180 nm ((5)I(6) → (5)I(8)) emissions is achieved in BaGdF(5): Ho(3+), Yb(3+) nanoparticles which are synthesized by a facile hydrothermal route. The mechanisms through first- and second-order energy transfers were analyzed by the dependence of Yb(3+) doping concentration on the visible and infrared emissions, decay lifetime curves of the (5) F(5) → (5)I(8), (5)S(2)/(5)F(4) → (5)I(8), and (5) F(3) → (5)I(8) of Ho(3+), in which a back energy transfer from Yb(3+) to Ho(3+) is first proposed to interpret the spectral characteristics. A modified calculation equation for quantum efficiency of Yb(3+)-Ho(3+) couple by exciting at 450 nm was presented according to the quantum cutting mechanism. Overall, the excellent luminescence properties of BaGdF(5): Ho(3+), Yb(3+) near-infrared quantum cutting nanoparticles could explore an interesting approach to maximize the performance of solar cells

Effects of tea garden soil on aroma components and related gene expression in tea leaves

In order to explore the effect of soil on the synthesis of aroma components in tea leaves, tea seedlings replanted in tea rhizosphere soil of different ages were used as research materials. Tea seedlings were replanted in soils aged 0, 4, 9, and 30 years, and after one year of growth, 34, 37, 29, and 26 substances were detected in the tea leaves, respectively, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The relative contents of terpenoids and alcohols in the tea leaves dropped from 66.40% to 44.52% and 5.21% to 2.61%, respectively, as the age of the rhizosphere soil increased. Aldehydes, esters, and nitrogen compounds increased from 3.80% to 22.36%, 1.33% to 12.02%, and 3.13% to 19.96%, respectively, as the age of the rhizosphere soil increased. Gene differential expression measured by fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that the number of nerolidol synthetase and linalool synthase genes in tea leaves increased significantly, and the terpineol synthetase, phellandrene synthase, myrcene synthetase, ocimene synthase, limonene synthetase, germacrene synthase, and farnesene synthase genes declined significantly with the increase in soil age. In summary, as the number of years tea had been planted in the soil increased, the soil significantly affected the expression of terpene synthase genes in tea leaves, and then the composition and content of aroma substances in tea leaves changed. The results provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of tea quality

Metagenomics-based exploration of key soil microorganisms contributing to continuously planted Casuarina equisetifolia growth inhibition and their interactions with soil nutrient transformation

Casuarina equisetifolia (C. equisetifolia) is an economically important forest tree species, often cultivated in continuous monoculture as a coastal protection forest. Continuous planting has gradually affected growth and severely restricted the sustainable development of the C. equisetifolia industry. In this study, we analyzed the effects of continuous planting on C. equisetifolia growth and explored the rhizosphere soil microecological mechanism from a metagenomic perspective. The results showed that continuous planting resulted in dwarfing, shorter root length, and reduced C. equisetifolia seedling root system. Metagenomics analysis showed that 10 key characteristic microorganisms, mainly Actinoallomurus, Actinomadura, and Mycobacterium, were responsible for continuously planted C. equisetifolia trees. Quantitative analysis showed that the number of microorganisms in these three genera decreased significantly with the increase of continuous planting. Gene function analysis showed that continuous planting led to the weakening of the environmental information processing-signal transduction ability of soil characteristic microorganisms, and the decrease of C. equisetifolia trees against stress. Reduced capacity for metabolism, genetic information processing-replication and repair resulted in reduced microbial propagation and reduced microbial quantity in the rhizosphere soil of C. equisetifolia trees. Secondly, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, lipid metabolism, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins were all significantly reduced, resulting in a decrease in the ability of the soil to synthesize and metabolize carbon and nitrogen. These reduced capacities further led to reduced soil microbial quantity, microbial carbon and nitrogen, microbial respiration intensity, reduced soil enzyme nutrient cycling and resistance-related enzyme activities, a significant reduction in available nutrient content of rhizosphere soils, a reduction in the ion exchange capacity, and an impediment to C. equisetifolia growth. This study provides an important basis for the management of continuously planted C. equisetifolia plantations

Construction and validation of a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma: Inflammatory ferroptosis and mitochondrial metabolism indicate a poor prognosis

BackgroundAn increasing number of innovations have been discovered for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC or commonly called HCC) therapy, Ferroptosis and mitochondrial metabolism are essential mechanisms of cell death. These pathways may act as functional molecular biomarkers that could have important clinical significance for determining individual differences and the prognosis of HCC. The aim of this study was to construct a stable and reliable comprehensive model of genetic features and clinical factors associated with HCC prognosis.MethodsIn this study, we used RNA-sequencing (fragments per kilobase of exon model per million reads mapped value) data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to establish a prognostic model. We enrolled 104 patients for further validation. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses (KEGG) analysis were used for the functional study of differentially expressed genes. Pan-cancer analysis was performed to evaluate the function of the Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs). Thirteen genes were identified by univariate and least absolute contraction and selection operation (LASSO) Cox regression analysis. The prognostic model was visualized using a nomogram.ResultsWe found that eight genes, namely EZH2, GRPEL2, PIGU, PPM1G, SF3B4, TUBG1, TXNRD1 and NDRG1, were hub genes for HCC and differentially expressed in most types of cancer. EZH2, GRPEL2 and NDRG1 may indicate a poor prognosis of HCC as verified by tissue samples. Furthermore, a gene set variation analysis algorithm was created to analyze the relationship between these eight genes and oxidative phosphorylation, mitophagy, and FeS-containing proteins, and it showed that ferroptosis might affect inflammatory-related pathways in HCC.ConclusionEZH2, GRPEL2, NDRG1, and the clinical factor of tumor size, were included in a nomogram for visualizing a prognostic model of HCC. This nomogram based on a functional study and verification by clinical samples, shows a reliable performance of patients with HCC

OCLN as a novel biomarker for prognosis and immune infiltrates in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma: an integrative computational and experimental characterization

BackgroundOccludin (OCLN) is an important tight junction protein and has been reported to be abnormally expressed in the development of malignant tumors. However, its biomarker and carcinogenic roles in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) are less investigated.MethodsThe Cancer Genome Atlas database and Human Protein Atlas database were used to analyze the expression of OCLN in KIRC. UALCAN database and methylation-specific PCR assay were used to evaluate the methylation level of OCLN in KIRC. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to model the prognostic significance of OCLN in KIRC patient cohorts. The correlation between OCLN expression and the immune cell infiltration, immune-related function and immune checkpoints were explored. Finally, EdU, scratch assay and transwell experiments were conducted to validate the role of OCLN in KIRC development.ResultsThe expression of OCLN was significantly downregulated in KIRC, compared with normal renal tissues (p<0.001). Patients with low OCLN expression showed a worse prognosis and poorer clinicopathological characteristics. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that OCLN was mainly involved in biological processes such as immune response, immunoglobulin complex circulating and cytokine and chemokine receptor to mediate KIRC development. Immune-related analysis indicated that OCLN could potentially serve as a candidate target for KIRC immunotherapy. OCLN overexpression inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of KIRC cells in vitro.ConclusionOCLN was validated as a candidate prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target of KIRC based both on computational and experimental approaches. More in vivo experiments will be conducted to decode its molecular mechanism in KIRC carcinogenesis in the future work

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in Chinese infected with HIV-1 B'/C Recombinant (CRF07_BC)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The characterization of HIV-1-specific T cell responses in people infected with locally circulating HIV-1 strain will facilitate the development of HIV-1 vaccine. Sixty intravenous drug users infected with HIV-1 circulating recombinant form 07_BC (CRF07_BC), which has been spreading rapidly in western China from north to south, were recruited from Xinjiang, China to assess the HIV-1-specific T cell responses at single peptide level with overlapping peptides (OLP) covering the whole concensus clades B and C proteome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median of the total magnitude and total number of OLPs recognized by CTL responses were 10925 SFC/million PBMC and 25 OLPs, respectively, when tested by clade C peptides, which was significantly higher than when tested by clade B peptides. The immunodominant regions, which cover 14% (58/413) of the HIV-1 proteome, are widely distributed throughout the HIV-1 proteome except in Tat, Vpu and Pol-PR, with Gag, Pol-RT, Pol-Int and Nef being most frequently targeted. The subdominant epitopes are mostly located in p24, Nef, integrase, Vpr and Vif. Of the responses directed to clade C OLPs, 61.75% (972/1574) can be observed when tested with corresponding clade B OLPs. However, Pol-PR and Vpu tend to be targeted in the clade B sequence rather than the clade C sequence, which is in line with the recombinant pattern of CRF07_BC. Stronger and broader CTL responses in subjects with CD4 cell counts ranging from 200 to 400/mm³were observed when compared to those with less than 200/mm³or more than 400/mm³, though there have been no significant correlations identified between the accumulative CTL responses or overall breadth and CD4 cell count or plasma viral load.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first study conducted to comprehensively address T cell responses in Chinese subjects infected with HIV-1 CRF07_BC in which subtle differences in cross-reactivity were observed, though similar patterns of overall immune responses were demonstrated with clade B infected populations. The immunodominant regions identified in this population can facilitate future HIV-1 vaccine development in China.</p

Reasonable deep application of sheep manure fertilizer to alleviate soil acidification to improve tea yield and quality

Soil acidification in Chinese tea plantations is widespread, and it has significantly affected the growth of tea trees; it was important to explore soil remediation of acidified tea plantations in depth for the sustainable development of tea industry. In this study, the effects of sheep manure fertilizer with different application depths on soil acidification, tea yield and quality, and soil nitrogen transformation in tea plantations were analyzed for five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022. The results showed that long-term use of sheep manure fertilizer significantly reduced soil acidification (P&lt; 0.05) in tea plantations, improved soil pH and soil ammonium nitrogen content, enhanced root activity and root nitrogen uptake capacity of tea trees, and thus improved tea yield and quality. The effect of different application depths of sheep manure fertilizer on tea yield and quality was mainly reflected in the transformation ability of soil ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, which showed that high transformation ability of soil ammonium nitrogen and high ammonium nitrogen content were beneficial to high tea yield and vice versa, and the best effect was achieved when sheep manure was applied at a depth of 50 cm and 70 cm. The topsis analysis confirmed that sheep manure fertilization had a greater effect on root activity, ammonium nitrogen, ammonia intensity, and nifH gene. This study provided an important practical basis for the restoration of acidified tea plantation soil through sheep manure fertilizer management