Comprehensive analysis of the gut microbiome and posttranslational modifications elucidates the route involved in microbiota-host interactions

The gut microbiome interacts with the host to maintain body homeostasis,with gut microbial dysbiosis implicated in many diseases.However,the underlying mechanisms of gut microbe regulation of host behavior and brain functions remain unclear.This study aimed to elucidate the influence of gut microbiota on brain functions via post-translational modification mechanisms in the presence or absence of bacteria without any stimulation.We conducted succinylome analysis of hippocampal proteins in germ-free(GF)and specific pathogen-free(SPF)mice and metagenomic analysis of feces from SPF mice.These results were integrated with previously reported hippocampal acetylome and phosphorylome data from the same batch of mice.Subsequent bioinformatics analyses revealed 584 succinylation sites on 455 proteins,including 54 up-regulated succinylation sites on 91 proteins and 99 down-regulated sites on 51 proteins in the GF mice compared to the SPF mice.We constructed a panoramic map of gut microbiota-regulated succinylation,acetylation,and phosphorylation,and identified cross-talk and relative independence between the different types of post-translational modifications in modulating complicated intracellular pathways.Pearson correlation analysis indicated that 13 taxa,predominantly belonging to the Bacteroidetes phylum,were correlated with the biological functions of post-translational modifications.Positive correlations between these taxa and succinylation and negative correlations between these taxa and acetylation were identified in the modulation of intracellular pathways.This study highlights the hippocampal physiological changes induced by the absence of gut microbiota,and proteomic quantification of succinylation,phosphorylation,and acetylation,contributing to our understanding of the role of the gut microbiome in brain function and behavioral phenotypes.

Implications of electrode modifications in aqueous organic redox flow batteries

Aqueous organic redox flow batteries(RFBs)exhibit favorable characteristics,such as tunability,multielectron transfer capability,and stability of the redox active molecules utilized as anolytes and catholytes,making them very viable contenders for large-scale grid storage applications.Considerable attention has been paid on the development of efficient redox-active molecules and their performance optimization through chemical substitutions at various places on the backbone as part of the pursuit for high-performance RFBs.Despite the fact that electrodes are vital to optimal performance,they have not garnered significant attention.Limited research has been conducted on the effects of electrode modifications to improve the performance of RFBs.The primary emphasis has been given on the impact of electrode engineering to augment the efficiency of aqueous organic RFBs.An overview of electron transfer at the electrode-electrolyte interface is provided.The implications of electrode modification on the performance of redox flow batteries,with a particular focus on the anodic and cathodic half-cells separately,are then discussed.In each section,significant discrepancies surrounding the effects of electrode engineering are thoroughly examined and discussed.Finally,we have presented a comprehensive assessment along with our perspectives on the future trajectory.

Stem cell-based ischemic stroke therapy:Novel modifications and clinical challenges

Ischemic stroke(IS)causes severe disability and high mortality worldwide.Stem cell(SC)therapy exhibits unique therapeutic potential for IS that differs from current treatments.SC’s cell homing,differentiation and paracrine abilities give hope for neuroprotection.Recent studies on SC modification have enhanced therapeutic effects for IS,including gene transfection,nanoparticle modification,biomaterial modification and pretreatment.Thesemethods improve survival rate,homing,neural differentiation,and paracrine abilities in ischemic areas.However,many problems must be resolved before SC therapy can be clinically applied.These issues include production quality and quantity,stability during transportation and storage,as well as usage regulations.Herein,we reviewed the brief pathogenesis of IS,the“multi-mechanism”advantages of SCs for treating IS,various SC modification methods,and SC therapy challenges.We aim to uncover the potential and overcome the challenges of using SCs for treating IS and convey innovative ideas for modifying SCs.

Variations of Atmospheric ELF/VLF Radio Noise Due to Seismogenic Modifications in Tropospheric Conductivity

We suggest a possible explanation of the influence of pre-seismic activity on the registration rate of natural ELF(extremely low frequency)/VLF(very low frequency) pulses and the changes of their characteristics. The main idea is as follows. The distribution of the electric field around a thundercloud depends on the conductivity profile of the atmosphere. Quasi-static electric fields of a thundercloud decrease in those tropospheric regions where an increase of air conductivity is generated by pre-seismic activities due to emanation of radioactive gas and water into the lower atmosphere. The electric field becomes reduced in the lower troposphere, and the probability decreases of the cloud-to-ground (CG) strokes in such “contaminated” areas. Simultaneously, the electric field grows inside and above the thunderclouds, and hence, we anticipate a growth in the number of horizontal and tilted inter-cloud (or intra-cloud) (both termed as IC discharges) strokes. Spatial orientation of lightning strokes reduces vertical projection of their individual amplitudes, while the rate (median number strokes per a unit time) of discharges grows. We demonstrate that channel tilt of strokes modifies the spectral content of ELF/VLF radio noise and changes the rate of detected pulses during the earthquake preparation phase.

Epigenetic modifications and metabolic memory in diabetic retinopathy:beyond the surface

Epigenetics focuses on DNA methylation,histone modification,chromatin remodeling,noncoding RNAs,and other gene regulation mechanisms beyond the DNA sequence.In the past decade,epigenetic modifications have drawn more attention as they participate in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy despite tight control of glucose levels.The underlying mechanisms of epigenetic modifications in diabetic retinopathy still urgently need to be elucidated.The diabetic condition facilitates epigenetic changes and influences target gene expression.In this review,we summarize the involvement of epigenetic modifications and metabolic memory in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy and propose novel insights into the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

Succinylation modification:a potential therapeutic target in stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide.Ischemic cell death triggered by the compromised supply of blood oxygen and glucose is one of the major pathophysiology of strokeinduced brain injury.Impaired mitochondrial energy metabolism is observed minutes after stroke and is closely associated with the progression of neuropathology.Recently,a new type of posttranslational modification,known as lysine succinylation,has been recognized to play a significant role in mitochondrial energy metabolism after ischemia.However,the role of succinylation modification in cell metabolism after stroke and its regulation are not well understood.We aimed to review the effects of succinylation on energy metabolism,reactive oxygen species generation,and neuroinflammation,as well as Sirtuin 5 mediated desuccinylation after stroke.We also highlight the potential of targeting succinylation/desuccinylation as a promising strategy for the treatment of stroke.The succinylation level is dynamically regulated by the nonenzymatic or enzymatic transfer of a succinyl group to a protein on lysine residues and the removal of succinyl catalyzed by desuccinylases.Mounting evidence has suggested that succinylation can regulate the metabolic pathway through modulating the activity or stability of metabolic enzymes.Sirtuins,especially Sirtuin 5,are characterized for their desuccinylation activity and have been recognized as a critical regulator of metabolism through desuccinylating numerous metabolic enzymes.Imbalance between succinylation and desuccinylation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of stroke.Pharmacological agents that enhance the activity of Sirtuin 5 have been employed to promote desuccinylation and improve mitochondrial metabolism,and neuroprotective effects of these agents have been observed in experimental stroke studies.However,their therapeutic efficacy in stroke patients should be validated.

Genetically modified non-human primate models for research on neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases(NDs)are a group of debilitating neurological disorders that primarily affect elderly populations and include Alzheimer's disease(AD),Parkinson's disease(PD),Huntington's disease(HD),and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Currently,there are no therapies available that can delay,stop,or reverse the pathological progression of NDs in clinical settings.As the population ages,NDs are imposing a huge burden on public health systems and affected families.Animal models are important tools for preclinical investigations to understand disease pathogenesis and test potential treatments.While numerous rodent models of NDs have been developed to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms,the limited success of translating findings from animal models to clinical practice suggests that there is still a need to bridge this translation gap.Old World nonhuman primates(NHPs),such as rhesus,cynomolgus,and vervet monkeys,are phylogenetically,physiologically,biochemically,and behaviorally most relevant to humans.This is particularly evident in the similarity of the structure and function of their central nervous systems,rendering such species uniquely valuable for neuroscience research.Recently,the development of several genetically modified NHP models of NDs has successfully recapitulated key pathologies and revealed novel mechanisms.This review focuses on the efficacy of NHPs in modeling NDs and the novel pathological insights gained,as well as the challenges associated with the generation of such models and the complexities involved in their subsequent analysis.

Current Strategies of Surface Modifications to Polyurethane Biomaterials for Vascular Grafts

As the number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases and peripheral vascular diseases rises,the constraints of autologous transplantation remain unavoidable.As a result,artificial vascular grafts must be developed.Adhesion of proteins,platelets and bacteria on implants can result in stenosis,thrombus formation,and postoperative infection,which can be fatal for an implantation.Polyurethane,as a commonly used biomaterial,has been modified in various ways to deal with the adhesions of proteins,platelets,and bacteria and to stimulate endothelium adhesion.In this review,we briefly summarize the mechanisms behind adhesions,overview the current strategies of surface modifications of polyurethane biomaterials used in vascular grafts,and highlight the challenges that need to be addressed in future studies,aiming to gain a more profound understanding of how to develop artificial polyurethane vascular grafts with an enhanced implantation success rate and reduced side effect.

Genetically modified pigs:Emerging animal models for hereditary hearing loss

Hereditary hearing loss(HHL),a genetic disorder that impairs auditory function,significantly affects quality of life and incurs substantial economic losses for society.To investigate the underlying causes of HHL and evaluate therapeutic outcomes,appropriate animal models are necessary.Pigs have been extensively used as valuable large animal models in biomedical research.In this review,we highlight the advantages of pig models in terms of ear anatomy,inner ear morphology,and electrophysiological characteristics,as well as recent advancements in the development of distinct genetically modified porcine models of hearing loss.Additionally,we discuss the prospects,challenges,and recommendations regarding the use pig models in HHL research.Overall,this review provides insights and perspectives for future studies on HHL using porcine models.

Compared discharge characteristics and film modifications of atmospheric pressure plasma jets with two different electrode geometries

Atmospheric pressure plasma jet shows great potential for polymer film processing. The electrode geometry is the key factor to determine discharge characteristics and film modification of jets. In this paper, we compared the discharge characteristics and the film modifications of atmospheric pressure plasma jets with needle-ring electrode(NRE) and doublering electrode(DRE). The results show that jet with NRE has stronger electric field intensity and higher discharge power,making it present more reactive oxygen particles and higher electron temperature, but its discharge stability is insufficient.In contrast, the jet with DRE has uniform electric field distribution of lower field intensity, which allows it to maintain stable discharge over a wide range of applied voltages. Besides, the modification results show that the treatment efficiency of PET film by NRE is higher than that by DRE. These results provide a suitable atmospheric pressure plasma jets device selection scheme for polymer film processing process.

Peanut proteins:Extraction,modifications,and applications:A comprehensive review

As naturally sourced proteins,peanut proteins have garnered significant attention from the food industry,owing to their numerous advantages,such as easy extraction,non-pungency,and high bioavailability.Furthermore,peanut proteins are highly digestible in the gastrointestinal tract and boast a high net protein utilization rate,making them an appealing protein source in food products and a promising alternative to animal protein.In this paper,the recent works on the extraction method,modification method,and application of peanut proteins were reviewed.Both advantages and disadvantages of current extraction and modification were discussed.Recently updated information about peanut protein research was summarized.Based on these,the prospection of peanut proteins research was presented,which may be instructive for future research in this field.Future research is still needed for accessible modification methods to develop the functional properties of peanut proteins.

Surface-modified Ag@Ru-P25 for photocatalytic CO_(2) conversion with high selectivity over CH_(4) formation at the solid–gas interface

Systematic optimization of the photocatalyst and investigation of the role of each component is important to maximizing catalytic activity and comprehending the photocatalytic conversion of CO_(2) reduction to solar fuels.A surface-modified Ag@Ru-P25 photocatalyst with H_(2)O_(2) treatment was designed in this study to convert CO_(2) and H_(2)O vapor into highly selective CH4.Ru doping followed by Ag nanoparticles(NPs)cocatalyst deposition on P25(TiO_(2))enhances visible light absorption and charge separation,whereas H_(2)O_(2) treatment modifies the surface of the photocatalyst with hydroxyl(–OH)groups and promotes CO_(2) adsorption.High-resonance transmission electron microscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,X-ray absorption near-edge structure,and extended X-ray absorption fine structure techniques were used to analyze the surface and chemical composition of the photocatalyst,while thermogravimetric analysis,CO_(2) adsorption isotherm,and temperature programmed desorption study were performed to examine the significance of H_(2)O_(2) treatment in increasing CO_(2) reduction activity.The optimized Ag1.0@Ru1.0-P25 photocatalyst performed excellent CO_(2) reduction activity into CO,CH4,and C2H6 with a~95%selectivity of CH4,where the activity was~135 times higher than that of pristine TiO_(2)(P25).For the first time,this work explored the effect of H_(2)O_(2) treatment on the photocatalyst that dramatically increases CO_(2) reduction activity.

Redox and metabolic regulation of epigenetic modifications:an emerging toxic action mechanism

Epigenetic modifications modulate conformational structure of chromatin and consequently gene expression by enzyme-mediated chemical modifications of DNA and histones.The activities of epigenetic modifying enzymes depend on many co-substrates and cofactors,such as 2-oxoglutarate(2-OG),iron,S-adenosylmethionine(SAM),nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+),flavin adenine dinucleotide(FAD),and acetyl-CoA.These factors are inter-connecting molecules that integrate cellular nutrient metabolism and redox homeostasis,two key regulators of cell proliferation,cell survival,and cell functions.Dysregulation of such delicate regulatory network has been implicated in many pathological conditions and also been increasingly recognized as an emerging mechanism responsible for environmental pollutant-induced adverse effects.In this review,we first summarize DNA and histone modifying enzymes and their essential factors,then discuss the metabolic sources and the redox regulatory roles of these enzymatic factors,and finally elaborate the mechanisms of how targeting such factors by environmental pollutants influences epigenetic regulation and perturbs cellular functions.

Successful lifestyle modifications may underlie umbilical cordmesenchymal stromal cell effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is a lifelong condition and a grave threat to human health.Innovative efforts to relieve its detrimental effects are acutely needed.The sine qua non in T2DM management is consistent adherence to a prudent lifestyle and nutrition,combined with aerobic and resistance exercise regimens,together repeatedly shown to lead to complete reversal and even longterm remission.Non-adherence to the above lifestyle adjustments condemns any treatment effort and ultimately the patient to a grim fate.It is thus imperative that every study evaluating the effects of innovative interventions in T2DM objectively compares the novel treatment modality to lifestyle modifications,preferably through double-blind controlled randomization,before claiming efficacy.

A concise review on surface and structural modification of porous zeolite scaffold for enhanced hydrogen storage

Investigating zeolites as hydrogen storage scaffolds is imperative due to their porous nature and favorable physicochemical properties.Nevertheless,the storage capacity of the unmodified zeolites has been rather unsatisfactory(0.224%-1.082%(mass))compared to its modified counterpart.Thus,the contemporary focus on enhancing hydrogen storage capacities has led to significant attention towards the utilization of modified zeolites,with studies exploring surface modifications through physical and chemical treatments,as well as the integration of various active metals.The enhanced hydrogen storage properties of zeolites are attributed to the presence of aluminosilicates from alkaline and alkaline-earth metals,resulting in increased storage capacity through interactions with the charge density of these aluminosilicates.Therefore,there is a great demand to critically review their role such as well-defined topology,pore structure,good thermal stability,and tunable hydrophilicity in enhanced hydrogen storage.This article aimed to critically review the recent research findings based on modified zeolite performance for enhanced hydrogen storage.Some of the factors affecting the hydrogen storage capacities of zeolites that can affect the rate of reaction and the stability of the adsorbent,like pressure,structure,and morphology were studied,and examined.Then,future perspectives,recommendations,and directions for modified zeolites were discussed.

Silica-modified Pt/TiO_(2) catalysts with tunable suppression of strong metal-support interaction for cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation

Tuning Strong Metal-support Interactions(SMSI)is a key strategy to obtain highly active catalysts,but conventional methods usually enable TiO_(x) encapsulation of noble metal components to minimize the exposure of noble metals.This study demonstrates a catalyst preparation method to modulate a weak encapsulation of Pt metal nanoparticles(NPs)with the supported TiO_(2),achieving the moderate suppression of SMSI effects.The introduction of silica inhibits this encapsulation,as reflected in the characterization results such as XPS and HRTEM,while the Ti^(4+) to Ti^(3+) conversion due to SMSI can still be found on the support surface.Furthermore,the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde(CAL)as a probe reaction revealed that once this encapsulation behavior was suppressed,the adsorption capacity of the catalyst for small molecules like H_(2) and CO was enhanced,which thereby improved the catalytic activity and facilitated the hydrogenation of CAL.Meanwhile,the introduction of SiO_(2) also changed the surface structure of the catalyst,which inhibited the occurrence of the acetal reaction and improved the conversion efficiency of C=O and C=C hydrogenation.Systematic manipulation of SMSI formation and its consequence on the performance in catalytic hydrogenation reactions are discussed.

Emerging perovskite materials for supercapacitors:Structure,synthesis,modification,advanced characterization,theoretical calculation and electrochemical performance

As a new generation electrode materials for energy storage,perovskites have attracted wide attention because of their unique crystal structure,reversible active sites,rich oxygen vacancies,and good stability.In this review,the design and engineering progress of perovskite materials for supercapacitors(SCs)in recent years is summarized.Specifically,the review will focus on four types of perovskites,perovskite oxides,halide perovskites,fluoride perovskites,and multi-perovskites,within the context of their intrinsic structure and corresponding electrochemical performance.A series of experimental variables,such as synthesis,crystal structure,and electrochemical reaction mechanism,will be carefully analyzed by combining various advanced characterization techniques and theoretical calculations.The applications of these materials as electrodes are then featured for various SCs.Finally,we look forward to the prospects and challenges of perovskite-type SCs electrodes,as well as the future research direction.

Influence of laser parameters on the microstructures and surface properties in laser surface modification of biomedical magnesium alloys

Biodegradable implants from magnesium(Mg)alloys have emerged in the biomedical field especially in the orthopedic and cardiovascular stent applications owing to their low density,high specific strength,excellent machinability,good biocompatibility,and biodegradability.The primary shortcoming of Mg-based implants is their low corrosion resistance in the physiological environment,which results in premature mechanical integrity loss before adequate healing and the production of excessive hydrogen gas,which is harmful to the body tissues and negatively affects the biocompatibility of the implant.Laser surface modification has recently received attention because it can improve the surface properties such as surface chemistry,roughness,topography,corrosion resistance,wear resistance,hydrophilicity,and thus cell response to the surface of the material.The composition and microstructures including textures and phases of laser-treated surfaces depend largely on the laser processing parameters(input laser power,laser scan velocity,frequency,pulse duration,pressure,gas circulation,working time,spot size,beam focal position,and laser track overlap)and the thermophysical properties of the substrate(solubility,melting point,and boiling point).This review investigates the impacts of various laser surface modification techniques including laser surface melting,laser surface alloying,laser cladding,laser surface texturing,and laser shock peening,and highlights their significance in improving the surface properties of biodegradable Mg alloys for implant applications.Additionally,we explore how different laser process parameters affect its composition,microstructure,and surface properties in each laser surface modification technique.

Coupling effect of cement-stabilization and biopolymer-modification on the mechanical behavior of dredged sediment

Nowadays,biopolymer stabilization as a promising eco-friendly approach in soft ground improvement has attracted wide attentions.However,the feasibility of using biopolymer as a green additive of cementstabilized dredged sediment(CDS)with high water content is still unknown.In this study,guar gum(GG)and xanthan gum(XG)were adopted as typical biopolymers,and a series of unconfined compressive strength(UCS),splitting tensile strength(STS)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical and microstructural properties of XG-and GG-modified CDSs considering several factors including biopolymer modification,binderesoil ratio and wateresolid ratio.Furthermore,the micro-mechanisms revealing the evolutions of mechanical properties of biopolymermodified CDS were analyzed.The results indicate that the addition of XG can effectively improve the strength of CDS,while the GG has a side effect.The XG content of 9%was recommended,which can improve the 7 d-and 28 d-UCSs by 196%and 51.8%,together with the 7 d-and 28 d-STSs by 118.3%and 42.2%,respectively.Increasing the binderesoil ratio or decreasing the wateresolid ratio significantly improved the strength gaining but aggravated the brittleness characteristics of CDS.Adding XG to CDS contributed to the formation of microstructure with more compactness and higher cementation degrees of ordinary Portland cement(OPC)-XG-stabilized DS(CXDS).The micro-mechanism models revealing the interactions of multiple media including OPC cementation,biopolymer film bonding and bridging effects inside CXDS were proposed.The key findings confirm the feasibility of XG modification as a green and high-efficiency mean for improving the mechanical properties of CDS.

Effect of surface modification on the radiation stability of diamond ohmic contacts

The ohmic contact interface between diamond and metal is essential for the application of diamond detectors.Surface modification can significantly affect the contact performance and eliminate the interface polarization effect.However,the radiation stability of a diamond detector is also sensitive to surface modification.In this work,the influence of surface modification technology on a diamond ohmic contact under high-energy radiation was investigated.Before radiation,the specific contact resistivities(ρc)between Ti/Pt/Au-hydrogen-terminated diamond(H-diamond)and Ti/Pt/Au-oxygenterminated diamond(O-diamond)were 2.0×10^(-4)W·cm^(2) and 4.3×10^(-3)Wcm^(2),respectively.After 10 MeV electron radiation,the ρc of Ti/Pt/Au H-diamond and Ti/Pt/Au O-diamond were 5.3×10^(-3)W·cm^(2)and 9.1×10^(-3)W·cm^(2),respectively.The rates of change of ρc of H-diamond and O-diamond after radiation were 2550%and 112%,respectively.The electron radiation promotes bond reconstruction of the diamond surface,resulting in an increase in ρc.