Lipid droplets in the nervous system:involvement in cell metabolic homeostasis

Lipid droplets serve as primary storage organelles for neutral lipids in neurons,glial cells,and other cells in the nervous system.Lipid droplet formation begins with the synthesis of neutral lipids in the endoplasmic reticulum.Previously,lipid droplets were recognized for their role in maintaining lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis;however,recent research has shown that lipid droplets are highly adaptive organelles with diverse functions in the nervous system.In addition to their role in regulating cell metabolism,lipid droplets play a protective role in various cellular stress responses.Furthermore,lipid droplets exhibit specific functions in neurons and glial cells.Dysregulation of lipid droplet formation leads to cellular dysfunction,metabolic abnormalities,and nervous system diseases.This review aims to provide an overview of the role of lipid droplets in the nervous system,covering topics such as biogenesis,cellular specificity,and functions.Additionally,it will explore the association between lipid droplets and neurodegenerative disorders.Understanding the involvement of lipid droplets in cell metabolic homeostasis related to the nervous system is crucial to determine the underlying causes and in exploring potential therapeutic approaches for these diseases.

Genomic divergence and mutation load in the Begonia masoniana complex from limestone karsts

Understanding genome-wide diversity,inbreeding,and the burden of accumulated deleterious mutations in small and isolated populations is essential for predicting and enhancing population persistence and resilience.However,these effects are rarely studied in limestone karst plants.Here,we re-sequenced the nuclear genomes of 62 individuals of the Begonia masoniana complex(B.liuyanii,B.longgangensis,B.masoniana and B.variegata)and investigated genomic divergence and genetic load for these four species.Our analyses revealed four distinct clusters corresponding to each species within the complex.Notably,there was only limited admixture between B.liuyanii and B.longgangensis occurring in overlapping geographic regions.All species experienced historical bottlenecks during the Pleistocene,which were likely caused by glacial climate fluctuations.We detected an asymmetric historical gene flow between group pairs within this timeframe,highlighting a distinctive pattern of interspecific divergence attributable to karst geographic isolation.We found that isolated populations of B.masoniana have limited gene flow,the smallest recent population size,the highest inbreeding coefficients,and the greatest accumulation of recessive deleterious mutations.These findings underscore the urgency to prioritize conservation efforts for these isolated population.This study is among the first to disentangle the genetic differentiation and specific demographic history of karst Begonia plants at the whole-genome level,shedding light on the potential risks associated with the accumulation of deleterious mutations over generations of inbreeding.Moreover,our findings may facilitate conservation planning by providing critical baseline genetic data and a better understanding of the historical events that have shaped current population structure of rare and endangered karst plants.

Predicting and controlling interfacial microstructure of magnesium/aluminum bimetallic structures for improved interfacial bonding

In this study,an overcasting process followed by a low-temperature(200°C)annealing schedule has been developed to bond magnesium to aluminum alloys.ProCAST software was used to optimize the process parameters during the overcasting process which lead to Mg/Al bimetallic structures to be successfully produced without formation of Mg-Al intermetallic phases.Detailed microstructure evolution during annealing,including the formation and growth of Al-Mg interdiffusion layer and intermetallic phases(Al12Mg17 and Al3Mg2),was experimentally observed for the first time with direct evidence,and predicted using Calculation of Phase Diagrams(CALPHAD)modeling.Maximum interfacial strength was achieved when the interdiffusion layer formed at the Mg/Al interface reached a maximum thickness the without formation of brittle intermetallic compounds.The precise diffusion modeling of the Mg/Al interface provides an efficient way to optimize and control the interfacial microstructure of Mg/Al bimetallic structures for improved interfacial bonding.

Application of functionalized magnetic silica nanoparticles for selective induction of three coumarin metastable polymorphs

The precise control of active pharmaceutical ingredient(API)crystal nucleation and polymorphism is a key consideration in pharmaceutical manufacturing.In this study,tunable nanoparticles were developed to regulate the nucleation process of coumarin.Magnetic silica nanoparticles with four different functional groups(-NH_(2),-COOH,-SH,-NCO)were prepared and coated on the substrate for inducing the crystallization of coumarin.Confined melt crystallization and microspacing sublimation crystallization methods were used to investigate the regulation mechanism.The results indicated that three metastable forms of coumarin can be obtained as pure components based on the combined influence of crystallization methods and functionalized nanoparticles.FormⅡcould be selectively obtained by microspacing sublimation crystallization on Fe_(3)O_(4)@SiO_(2)-SH substrates,and FormⅣcould be obtained by confined melt crystallization on Fe_(3)O_(4)@SiO_(2)-NCO substrates.FormⅢcould be obtained by further heating FormⅣcrystals to 52℃on Fe_(3)O_(4)@SiO_(2)-NCO substrates.Moreover,the polarized light microscopy results also indicated that the introduction of nanoparticles could also increase the stability of the metastable crystalline forms of coumarin.Finally,the diffusion and surface dynamics during nanoparticle induced crystallization were comparatively investigated and the corresponding polymorphic selectivity mechanism was proposed.

Progress and Implications from Genetic Studies of Bipolar Disorder

With the advancements in gene sequencing technologies,including genome-wide association studies,polygenetic risk scores,and high-throughput sequencing,there has been a tremendous advantage in mapping a detailed blueprint for the genetic model of bipolar disorder(BD).To date,intriguing genetic clues have been identified to explain the development of BD,as well as the genetic association that might be applied for the development of susceptibility prediction and pharmacogenetic intervention.Risk genes of BD,such as CACNA1C,ANK3,TRANK1,and CLOCK,have been found to be involved in various pathophysiological processes correlated with BD.Although the specific roles of these genes have yet to be determined,genetic research on BD will help improve the prevention,therapeutics,and prognosis in clinical practice.The latest preclinical and clinical studies,and reviews of the genetics of BD,are analyzed in this review,aiming to summarize the progress in this intriguing field and to provide perspectives for individualized,precise,and effective clinical practice.

Cooperative Assembly of Asymmetric Carbonaceous Bivalve-Like Superstructures from Multiple Building Blocks

Te assembly of superstructures from building blocks is of fundamental importance for engineering materials with distinct morphologies and properties,and deepening our understanding of self-assembly processes in nature.Up to now,it is still a great challenge in materials science to construct multiple-component superstructure with unprecedented architectural complexity and symmetry from molecular.Here,we demonstrate an improved one-pot hydrothermal carbonization of biomass strategy that is capable of fabricating unprecedented asymmetric carbonaceous bivalve-like superstructures with in suit generated solid particles and ordered porous polymers as two kinds of building blocks.In our system,diferent building blocks can be controllably generated,and they will assemble into complex superstructures through a proposed“cooperative assembly of particles and ordered porous polymers”mechanism.We believe that this assembly principle will open up new potential felds for the synthesis of superstructures with diverse morphologies,compositions,and properties.

Effect of crystalline structure on terbuthylazine degradation by H_2O_2-assisted TiO_2 photocatalysis under visible irradiation

Various methods for shifting the optical response of TiO_2 into the visible(Vis) range have been reported. Herein, we reported the application of a TiO_2/H_2O_2/Vis process and the effects of TiO_2 crystalline structure on the degradation of terbuthylazine. The results indicated that TiO_2 crystalline structure and H_2O_2 addition had significant effects on terbuthylazine degradation: its degradation rate could be increased from 7% to 70% with H_2O_2 addition after 180 min of reaction, the synergistic degradation of terbuthylazine by TiO_(2-)Fe^(3+) was substantially accelerated, with the degradation rate reaching up to 100% after20 min of reaction, and rutile TiO_2 showed better photocatalytic activity and a more obvious synergistic effect than anatase TiO_2. The addition of free-radical scavengers(tert-butyl alcohol or methanol) inhibited the degradation efficiency of rutile TiO_2, but had a relatively minor effect on anatase TiO_2. Fluorescence spectrophotometry analysis indicated that hydroxyl free radicals could be continuously produced when using rutile TiO_2 as the photocatalyst. Degradation of terbuthylazine catalyzed by rutile TiO_2 occurred mainly in solution, but occurred on the particle surface of the photocatalyst when catalyzed by anatase TiO_2. This study provides new insight into the role of TiO_2 crystalline structure on the degradation of terbuthylazine and its photocatalytic degradation mechanism.

The synergy between cementite spheroidization and Cu alloying on the corrosion resistance of ferrite-pearlite steel in acidic chloride solution

In this work,the corrosion behavior of medium-carbon steels(45,45 Cu and 45 Cuq steels)in acidic chloride environment was investigated.The results indicated that the micro-galvanic effect between the anodic ferrite matrix phase and the cathodic cementite secondary phase notably affected the corrosion resistance of the three steels.For 45 steel,serious pitting corrosion happened in and around the pearlite regions,and a large number of lamellar cementite was fixed in the corrosion pits.Meanwhile,the continuously increasing superficial area of cathodic cementite enhanced the micro-galvanic corrosion,resulting in a rapidly increase in corrosion rate with time.While for 45 Cu and 45 Cuq steels,macroscopic uniform corrosion occurred,and the cementite accumulation was markedly reduced as compared with 45 steel,thus the micro-galvanic effect was weakened and the corrosion rate was decreased accordingly.Among these,45 Cuq steel showed the most stable and excellent corrosion resistance during long-term corrosion,indicating the occurrence of a synergistic effect between cementite spheroidization and Cu alloying,thereby significantly improving the corrosion resistance of 45 steel.

Influence of cementite spheroidization on relieving the micro-galvanic effect of ferrite-pearlite steel in acidic chloride environment

The corrosion behavior of the as-received steel and the spheroidized steel in acidic chloride environment was investigated. The results indicate the corrosion mode and corrosion rate of two steels are diverse due to their difference in microstructure. For as-received steel with ferrite-pearlite microstructure, severe localized corrosion happens on the pearlite regions, and plenty of cathodic cementite remains in the pits, further strengthening the micro-galvanic effect and accelerating the corrosion rate. While for spheroidized steel with tempered martensite microstructure, the nanosized cementite particles evenly distributed on the ferrite substrate are easy to fall off, which can significantly reduce the cementite accumulation on the steel surface, relieving the acceleration effect of micro-galvanic corrosion.

西漂一族:两岸社会保障制度夹缝中的台湾青年移工

随着台商资金投资大陆,台湾人才亦前赴后继地移往大陆发展,对台湾社会发展产生相当程度的影响,最重要的议题之一即是台湾青年移工西漂工作之后所带来的社会保障议题。作为社会的一分子,每个人都应该享有社会保障的权利,但跨境移动劳工可能会面对与就业地本地劳工在社会保障上存在差别待遇之问题,甚至有可能同时失去原居地及就业地的社会保障。台湾地区对于劳工跨境移动的研究大多针对外地劳工引进对台湾就业市场的影响,或是聚焦于外地劳工的管理及权益保障,对于台湾劳工向外移出的相关研究及调查仍相当缺乏。因此,本文的研究问题聚焦在离开台湾到大陆工作的台湾青年,他们为什么离开?以及两岸社会保障制度的不同是否会构成其生涯发展的风险?并针对台籍移工在大陆工作所遇到之退休保险、失业保险、医疗保险、与职业灾害等面向加以分析。

Influence of pH on the Formation, Composition and Protectiveness of Fluoride Conversion Film Deposited on AZ31 Magnesium Alloy in KF Solution

In deaerated 0.1 M KF solution at pH 5, pH 7.5 and pH 9, fluoride films were deposited on AZ31 magnesium (Mg) alloy at − 1.4 V vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE). The morphology, phase composition, elemental and compositional depth distribution of different fluoride films and their influences on the corrosion resistance of AZ31 Mg alloy were explored in detail. The results indicated that the films deposited at weak acidic and nearly neutral pH consisted of two layers with amorphous Mg(OH)_(2) and MgF_(2) as the inner layer, and Mg(OH)_(2), MgF_(2) and KMgF_(3) crystals the outer layer. The film deposited at alkaline pH was a monolayer structure consisting of amorphous Mg(OH)_(2) as the major constitute and MgF_(2) as the minor constitute. The protectiveness of fluoride film was intimately related to its composition and structure. The content and crystal regularity of KMgF_(3) were the two main factors influencing the protectiveness of fluoride film. The fluoride film deposited at pH 7.5 offered the best protection to AZ31 Mg alloy.

Hydrothermal synthesis of manganese oxide encapsulated multiporous carbon nanofibers for supercapacitors

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of biomass to produce one-dimensional carbon materials with hierarchical pores is of significant importance. Here, we fabricate composites of MnOx-encapsulated multiporous carbon nanofibers (M-MCNFs) from naturally available carbohydrates through a dopamine-assisted HTC/ templating process. The introduction of dopamine aids in the formation of the morphology of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) by enhancing the interactions between the hard-templates and carbohydrates. The chosen cryptomelane hard-templates, which are superior to traditional hard-templates, are converted into Mn3O4nanoparticles embedded in multiporous CNFs (MCNFs), eliminating the need for tedious post deposition procedures to introduce redox active sites. Hence, the obtained hybrids with large surface areas, hierarchical pores, and unique structures show great potential in supercapacitors. This economic and sustainable strategy paves a new way for synthesizing MCNFs and metal oxide-encapsulated MCNFs composites from biomass. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2016, Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.