TFAP2A orchestrates gene regulatory networks and tubular architecture in kidney outer medullary collecting ducts.

Mutations in the transcription factor TFAP2A are linked to congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract in humans. While Tfap2a knockout (KO) in mouse collecting ducts leads to tubular epithelial abnormalities, its precise molecular functions in kidney tubules remain unclear. To investigate Tfap2a-dependent gene regulatory networks in the mouse kidney collecting ducts, we employed conditional knockout (Hoxb7-Cre; Tfap2aflox/flox) models combined with transcriptomics.

Development of efficient and simple straw biochar: in-depth analysis of its performance and mechanism in eliminating chemical oxygen demand.

Designing simple and efficient biochar adsorbents for removing chemical oxygen demand (COD) is of great significance for environmental protection and human health. In this study, phenol was used as a model pollutant. KCO-modified soybean straw biochar (CSBC) with efficient adsorption properties was simply synthesized for the removal of COD from wastewater.

Discovery of Indole-3-acetamide Derivatives as Potent Transketolase-Inhibiting-Based Herbicidal Leads.

Transketolase (TKL; EC 2.2.1.

Prevalence of Polyhalogenated Carbazole in an Anthropogenically Impacted Soil Groundwater System.

It has been proven that highly halogenated conditions could favor the generation of PHCZs in laboratory experiments, which has not been confirmed in the environment. In this study, carbazoles (CZs) and eight polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs) were investigated in the groundwater-surface soil system along the coast of Laizhou Bay, around the main halogen producing areas, covering chemical enterprises, agriculture, aquaculture, and salt fields. The concentrations of PHCZs in surface soil and groundwater samples range from 0.

Eu-doped nickel oxide for low-temperature direct decomposition of nitrous oxide.

Nitrous oxide (NO) is a potent greenhouse gas with high global warming potential. It is urgent to develop active and stabile catalysts for NO direct catalytic decomposition (deNO) in industrial exhaust gas. In this study, a series of Eu-doped NiO catalysts were synthesized by co-precipitation method.

An activatable near-infrared probe for in situ monitoring of hydrogen peroxide in plant tissues.

Biotic and abiotic stresses can disrupt plant metabolic processes. This leads to the excessive accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (HO) in plants, which in turn induces oxidative stress. Therefore, detection of HO is critical to understanding plant growth.

Executives' IT background and corporate digital technology innovation: Evidence from Chinese microenterprises.

This study examines how executives' IT backgrounds affect corporate digital technology innovation, using panel data from listed companies between 2011 and 2021. Findings indicate that executives' IT backgrounds significantly enhance corporate digital technology innovation, particularly in digital technology invention patents, where the effect is especially pronounced, and the results are robust. Mechanistic analysis suggests managerial myopia and executives' attention to digital technology are key factors that allow executives' IT backgrounds to promote corporate digital technology innovation.

pH-Sensitive Porphyrin Metal-Organic Frameworks for Controlled Delivery of Para-Toluenesulfonamide and Photodynamic Cancer Therapy.

Introduction: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising approach for tumor treatment. PDT for treating lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) under the guidance of bronchoscopy has great potential for development. However, the use of high-intensity lasers in treatment may pose a risk of tissue damage.

Deep learning for hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence before and after liver transplantation: a multicenter cohort study.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) is a major contributor to mortality. We developed a recurrence prediction system for HCC patients before and after LT. Data from patients with HCC who underwent LT were retrospectively collected from three specialist centres in China.

Decoding Osteosarcoma's Lactylation Gene Expression: Insights Into Prognosis, Immune Dynamics, and Treatment.

Osteosarcoma (OS), characterized by a complex tumor microenvironment, poses challenges in treatment, metastasis, and therapy resistance. This study examined the impact of lactylation, a posttranslational modification, on gene expression and tumor behavior in OS, particularly its influence on prognosis, immune cell infiltration, and chemotherapy response. Utilizing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus series accession number 21257 (GSE21257) and the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments on Osteosarcoma (TARGET-OS) datasets, the investigation focused on analyzing the expression profiles of 267 lactylation modifier genes, which were selected from a total of 336 lactylation-related genes compiled from various studies in the literature.

"Light-Up" Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe for Visualization of Hydrogen Sulfide Content and Abiotic Stress Response in Plants.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) plays a vital role in plant physiology and stress adaptation, but the detection of endogenous HS remains a challenge. In this work, a near-infrared fluorescent probe (NIR-BOD-HS) was synthesized using boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) as the raw material, which showed a good linear relationship in the concentration range of 0.1-70 μM and a detection limit of 56 nM.

Diverse pharmacological activities of β-carbolines: Substitution patterns, SARs and mechanisms of action.

β-Carbolines, a class of indole-containing heterocyclic alkaloids, are widely distributed in nature and possess diverse bioactivities, making them promising drug candidates against a wide range of diseases. The remarkable medicinal potential of β-carbolines has spurred the pharmaceutical research community to study their derivatives extensively. This review updates the development of β-carboline derivatives in recent years (2015-2024), particularly with a focus on their anticancer, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antiviral, and neuroprotective properties, based on the modification approaches such as substitution on indole N (ring B), pyridine or its reduced forms (ring C), and dimerization of β-carbolines.

SMARCA2 protein: Structure, function and perspectives of drug design.

SMARCA2 is an ATPase that regulates chromatin structure via ATP pathways, controlling cell division and differentiation. SMARCA2's bromodomain and ATPase domain, crucial for chromatin remodeling and cell regulation, are therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. This review explores the role of SMARCA2 in cancer development by studying its protein structure and physiological functions.

Self-Reconstruction of High Entropy Alloys for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution.

Alkaline water (HO) electrolysis is currently a commercialized green hydrogen (H) production technology, yet the unsatisfactory hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance severely limits its energy conversion efficiency and cost reduction. Herein, PtRuFeCoNi high entropy alloys (HEAs) is synthesized and subsequently exploited electrochemically induced structural oxidation processes to construct self-reconfigurable HEAs, as an efficient alkaline HER catalyst. The optimized self-reconstructed PtRuFeCoNi HEAs with the HEAs and cobalt rutheniate interface (HEAs-CoRuO) exhibits excellent alkaline HER performance, requiring just 11.

Design of a pseudo-color-assisted biocompatible supramolecular sensing probe for "lighting up" endogenous salicylic acid in plants.

The widely recognized phytohormone, salicylic acid (SA), serves not only as an exogenous additive for fruits and vegetables but, more crucially, as an in vivo regulator of the entire plant growth process. Consequently, it is essential to achieve both in vitro detection and in vivo imaging analysis of the plant hormone SA. In this study, a biocompatible supramolecular probe was crafted using a "label-free" SA aptamer as the host for an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) organic small molecule.

Design, Synthesis, and Herbicidal Activity Study of Novel Pyrazole-Carboxamides as Potential Transketolase Inhibitors.

Transketolase (TKL; EC 2.2.1.

Antibacterial and antifungal pyrazoles based on different construction strategies.

The growing prevalence of microbial infections, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stemming from the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, call for novel therapeutic agents, particularly ones targeting resistant microbial strains. Scientists are striving to develop innovative agents to tackle the rising microbial infections and abate the risk of AMR. Pyrazole, a five-membered heterocyclic compound belonging to the azole family, is a versatile scaffold and serves as a core structure in many drugs with antimicrobial and other therapeutic effects.

Single Nucleotide Recognition and Mutation Site Sequencing Based on a Barcode Assay and Rolling Circle Amplification.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) present significant challenges in microbial detection and treatment, further raising the demands on sequencing technologies. In response to these challenges, we have developed a novel barcode-based approach for highly sensitive single nucleotide recognition. This method leverages a dual-head folded complementary template probe in conjunction with DNA ligase to specifically identify the target base.

Recent advances in peptoids as promising antimicrobial agents to target diverse microbial species.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant microbial species has become a global health concern, calling for novel antimicrobial agents. Peptoids, a class of synthetic peptidomimetics with unique structural properties, exhibit antimicrobial activity against a broad-spectrum of microbes, in addition to their stability to enzymatic degradation, selectivity, and relative ease of synthesis. Thus, peptoids have great potential in combating various drug-resistant pathogenic microbes.

Simultaneously Producing H and HO by Photocatalytic Water Splitting: Recent Progress and Future.

The solar-driven overall water splitting (2HO→2H + O) is considered as one of the most promising strategies for reducing carbon emissions and meeting energy demands. However, due to the sluggish performance and high H cost, there is still a big gap for the current photocatalytic systems to meet the requirements for practical sustainable H production. Economic feasibility can be attained through simultaneously generating products of greater value than O, such as hydrogen peroxide (HO, 2HO→H + HO).

Synergistic Effect of Rutile and Brookite TiO for Photocatalytic Formic Acid Dehydrogenation.

Solar energy is an ideal clean and inexhaustible energy source. Solar-driven formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation is one of the promising strategies to address safety and cost issues related to the storage, transport, and distribution of hydrogen energy. For FA dehydrogenation, the O-H and C-H cleavages are the key steps, and developing a photocatalyst with the ability to break these two bonds is critical.