Ubiquitination-mediated protein degradation and modification:an emerging theme in plant-microbe interactions

Post-translational modification is central to protein stability and to the modulation of protein activity. Various types of protein modification, such as phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, myristoylation, glycosylation, and ubiquitination, have been reported. Among them, ubiquitination distinguishes itself from others in that most of the ubiquitinated proteins are targeted to the 26S proteasome for degradation. The ubiquitin/26S proteasome system constitutes the major protein degradation pathway in the cell. In recent years, the importance of the ubiquitination machinery in the control of numerous eukaryotic cellular functions has been increasingly appreciated. Increasing number of E3 ubiquitin ligases and their substrates, including a variety of essential cellular regulators have been identified. Studies in the past several years have revealed that the ubiquitination system is important for a broad range of plant developmental processes and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. This review discusses recent advances in the functional analysis of ubiquitination-associated proteins from plants and pathogens that play important roles in plant-microbe interactions.

The Role of the Plasma Membrane H＋-ATPase in Plant-Microbe Interactions

Plasma membrane （PM） H＋-ATPases are the primary pumps responsible for the establishment of cellular mem- brane potential in plants. In addition to regulating basic aspects of plant cell function, these enzymes contribute to sig- naling events in response to diverse environmental stimuli. Here, we focus on the roles of the PM H＋-ATPase during plant- pathogen interactions. PM H＋-ATPases are dynamically regulated during plant immune responses and recent quantitative proteomics studies suggest complex spatial and temporal modulation of PM H＋-ATPase activity during early pathogen recognition events. Additional data indicate that PM H＋-ATPases cooperate with the plant immune signaling protein RIN4 to regulate stomatal apertures during bacterial invasion of leaf tissue. Furthermore, pathogens have evolved mechanisms to manipulate PM H＋-ATPase activity during infection. Thus, these ubiquitous plant enzymes contribute to plant immune responses and are targeted by pathogens to increase plant susceptibility.

Ecological network analysis reveals complex responses of tree species life stage interactions to stand variables

Tree interactions are essential for the structure,dynamics,and function of forest ecosystems,but variations in the architecture of life-stage interaction networks(LSINs)across forests is unclear.Here,we constructed 16 LSINs in the mountainous forests of northwest Hebei,China based on crown overlap from four mixed forests with two dominant tree species.Our results show that LSINs decrease the complexity of stand densities and basal areas due to the interaction cluster differentiation.In addition,we found that mature trees and saplings play different roles,the first acting as“hub”life stages with high connectivity and the second,as“bridges”controlling information flow with high centrality.Across the forests,life stages with higher importance showed better parameter stability within LSINs.These results reveal that the structure of tree interactions among life stages is highly related to stand variables.Our efforts contribute to the understanding of LSIN complexity and provide a basis for further research on tree interactions in complex forest communities.

Molecular dynamics simulations on the interactions between nucleic acids and a phospholipid bilayer

Recently,lipid nanoparticles(LNPs)have been extensively investigated as non-viral carriers of nucleic acid vaccines due to their high transport efficiency,safety,and straightforward production and scalability.However,the molecular mechanism underlying the interactions between nucleic acids and phospholipid bilayers within LNPs remains elusive.In this study,we employed the all-atom molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the interactions between single-stranded nucleic acids and a phospholipid bilayer.Our findings revealed that hydrophilic bases,specifically G in single-stranded RNA(ssRNA)and single-stranded DNA(ssDNA),displayed a higher propensity to form hydrogen bonds with phospholipid head groups.Notably,ssRNA exhibited stronger binding energy than ssDNA.Furthermore,divalent ions,particularly Ca2+,facilitated the binding of ssRNA to phospholipids due to their higher binding energy and lower dissociation rate from phospholipids.Overall,our study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying nucleic acidphospholipid interactions,with potential implications for the nucleic acids in biotherapies,particularly in the context of lipid carriers.

Light-Material Interactions Using Laser and Flash Sources for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the progress in light-material interactions(LMIs),focusing on lasers and flash lights for energy conversion and storage applications.We discuss intricate LMI parameters such as light sources,interaction time,and fluence to elucidate their importance in material processing.In addition,this study covers various light-induced photothermal and photochemical processes ranging from melting,crystallization,and ablation to doping and synthesis,which are essential for developing energy materials and devices.Finally,we present extensive energy conversion and storage applications demonstrated by LMI technologies,including energy harvesters,sensors,capacitors,and batteries.Despite the several challenges associated with LMIs,such as complex mechanisms,and high-degrees of freedom,we believe that substantial contributions and potential for the commercialization of future energy systems can be achieved by advancing optical technologies through comprehensive academic research and multidisciplinary collaborations.

Strong metal-support interactions between highly dispersed Cu^(+) species and ceria via mix-MOF pyrolysis toward promoted water-gas shift reaction

The modulation of metal-support interfacial interaction is significant but challenging in the design of high-efficiency and high-stability supported catalysts.Here,we report a synthetic strategy to upgrade Cu-CeO_(2)interfacial interaction by the pyrolysis of mixed metal-organic framework(MOF)structure.The obtained highly dispersed Cu/CeO_(2)-MOF catalyst via this strategy was used to catalyze water-gas shift reaction(WGSR),which exhibited high activity of 40.5μmolCOgcat^(-1).s^(-1)at 300℃and high stability of about 120 h.Based on comprehensive studies of electronic structure,pyrolysis strategy has significant effect on enhancing metal-support interaction and then stabilizing interfacial Cu^(+)species under reaction conditions.Abundant Cu^(+)species and generated oxygen vacancies over Cu/CeO_(2)-MOF catalyst played a key role in CO molecule activation and H2O molecule dissociation,respectively.Both collaborated closely and then promoted WGSR catalytic performance in comparison with traditio nal supported catalysts.This study shall offer a robust approach to harvest highly dispersed catalysts with finely-tuned metal-support interactions for stabilizing the most interfacial active metal species in diverse heterogeneous catalytic reactions.

Effects of layer interactions on instantaneous stability of finite Stokes flows

The stability analysis of a finite Stokes layer is of practical importance in flow control. In the present work, the instantaneous stability of a finite Stokes layer with layer interactions is studied via a linear stability analysis of the frozen phases of the base flow. The oscillations of two plates can have different velocity amplitudes, initial phases, and frequencies. The effects of the Stokes-layer interactions on the stability when two plates oscillate synchronously are analyzed. The growth rates of two most unstable modes when δ < 0.12 are almost equal, and δ = δ*/h*, where δ*and h*are the Stokes-layer thickness and the half height of the channel, respectively. However, their vorticities are different. The vorticity of the most unstable mode is symmetric, while the other is asymmetric. The Stokes-layer interactions have a destabilizing effect on the most unstable mode when δ < 0.68, and have a stabilizing effect when δ > 0.68. However, the interactions always have a stabilizing effect on the other unstable mode. It is explained that one of the two unstable modes has much higher dissipation than the other one when the Stokes-layer interactions are strong. We also find that the stability of the Stokes layer is closely related to the inflectional points of the base-flow velocity profile. The effects of inconsistent velocity-amplitude, initial phase, and frequency of the oscillations on the stability are analyzed. The energy of the most unstable eigenvector is mainly distributed near the plate of higher velocity amplitude or higher oscillation frequency. The effects of the initial phase difference are complicated because the base-flow velocity is extremely sensitive to the initial phase.

FLOCKING OF A THERMODYNAMIC CUCKER-SMALE MODEL WITH LOCAL VELOCITY INTERACTIONS

In this paper, we study the flocking behavior of a thermodynamic Cucker–Smale model with local velocity interactions. Using the spectral gap of a connected stochastic matrix, together with an elaborate estimate on perturbations of a linearized system, we provide a sufficient framework in terms of initial data and model parameters to guarantee flocking. Moreover, it is shown that the system achieves a consensus at an exponential rate.

Local coordination and electronic interactions of Pd/MXene via dual‐atom codoping with superior durability for efficient electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation

Catalyst design relies heavily on electronic metal‐support interactions,but the metal‐support interface with an uncontrollable electronic or coordination environment makes it challenging.Herein,we outline a promising approach for the rational design of catalysts involving heteroatoms as anchors for Pd nanoparticles for ethanol oxidation reaction(EOR)catalysis.The doped B and N atoms from dimethylamine borane(DB)occupy the position of the Ti_(3)C_(2)lattice to anchor the supported Pd nanoparticles.The electrons transfer from the support to B atoms,and then to the metal Pd to form a stable electronic center.A strong electronic interaction can be produced and the d‐band center can be shifted down,driving Pd into the dominant metallic state and making Pd nanoparticles deposit uniformly on the support.As‐obtained Pd/DB–Ti_(3)C_(2)exhibits superior durability to its counterpart(∼14.6%retention)with 91.1%retention after 2000 cycles,placing it among the top single metal anodic catalysts.Further,in situ Raman and density functional theory computations confirm that Pd/DB–Ti_(3)C_(2)is capable of dehydrogenating ethanol at low reaction energies.

Magnetic Interactions with Strain Gradient in Ultrathin Pr_(0.67)Sr_(0.33)MnO_(3) Films

Strain gradient is a normal phenomenon around a heterostructural interface in ultrathin film,and it is important to determine its effect on magnetic interactions to understand interfacial coupling.In this work,ultrathin Pr_(0.67)Sr_(0.33)MnO_(3)(PSMO)films on different substrates are studied.For PSMO film under different in-plane strain conditions,the saturated magnetization and Curie temperature can be qualitatively explained by double-exchange interaction and the Jahn-Teller distortion.However,the difference in the saturated magnetization with zero field cooling and 5 T field cooling is proportional to the strain gradient.Strain-gradient-induced structural disorder is proposed to enhance phonon-electron antiferromagnetic interactions and the corresponding antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition via a strong magnetic field during the field cooling process.A non-monotonous structural transition of the MnO_(6) octahedral rotation can enlarge the strain gradient in PSMO film on a SrTiO_(3) substrate.This work demonstrates the existence of the flexomagnetic effect in ultrathin manganite film,which should be applicable to other complex oxide systems.

T cell interactions with microglia in immune-inflammatory processes of ischemic stroke

The primary mechanism of secondary injury after cerebral ischemia may be the brain inflammation that emerges after an ischemic stroke,which promotes neuronal death and inhibits nerve tissue regeneration.As the first immune cells to be activated after an ischemic stroke,microglia play an important immunomodulatory role in the progression of the condition.After an ischemic stroke,peripheral blood immune cells(mainly T cells)are recruited to the central nervous system by chemokines secreted by immune cells in the brain,where they interact with central nervous system cells(mainly microglia)to trigger a secondary neuroimmune response.This review summarizes the interactions between T cells and microglia in the immune-inflammatory processes of ischemic stroke.We found that,during ischemic stroke,T cells and microglia demonstrate a more pronounced synergistic effect.Th1,Th17,and M1 microglia can co-secrete proinflammatory factors,such as interferon-γ,tumor necrosis factor-α,and interleukin-1β,to promote neuroinflammation and exacerbate brain injury.Th2,Treg,and M2 microglia jointly secrete anti-inflammatory factors,such as interleukin-4,interleukin-10,and transforming growth factor-β,to inhibit the progression of neuroinflammation,as well as growth factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor to promote nerve regeneration and repair brain injury.Immune interactions between microglia and T cells influence the direction of the subsequent neuroinflammation,which in turn determines the prognosis of ischemic stroke patients.Clinical trials have been conducted on the ways to modulate the interactions between T cells and microglia toward anti-inflammatory communication using the immunosuppressant fingolimod or overdosing with Treg cells to promote neural tissue repair and reduce the damage caused by ischemic stroke.However,such studies have been relatively infrequent,and clinical experience is still insufficient.In summary,in ischemic stroke,T cell subsets and activated microglia act synergistically to regulate inflammatory progression,mainly by secreting inflammatory factors.In the future,a key research direction for ischemic stroke treatment could be rooted in the enhancement of anti-inflammatory factor secretion by promoting the generation of Th2 and Treg cells,along with the activation of M2-type microglia.These approaches may alleviate neuroinflammation and facilitate the repair of neural tissues.

Achieving asymmetric redox chemistry for oxygen evolution reaction through strong metal-support interactions

Water electrolysis poses a significant challenge for balancing catalytic activity and stability of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)electrocatalysts.In this study,we address this challenge by constructing asymmetric redox chemistry through elaborate surface OO–Ru–OH and bulk Ru–O–Ni/Fe coordination moieties within single-atom Ru-decorated defective NiFe LDH nanosheets(Ru@d-NiFe LDH)in conjunction with strong metal-support interactions(SMSI).Rigorous spectroscopic characterization and theoretical calculations indicate that single-atom Ru can delocalize the O 2p electrons on the surface and optimize d-electron configurations of metal atoms in bulk through SMSI.The^(18)O isotope labeling experiment based on operando differential electrochemical mass spectrometry(DEMS),chemical probe experiments,and theoretical calculations confirm the encouraged surface lattice oxygen,stabilized bulk lattice oxygen,and enhanced adsorption of oxygen-containing intermediates for bulk metals in Ru@d-NiFe LDH,leading to asymmetric redox chemistry for OER.The Ru@d-NiFe LDH electrocatalyst exhibits exceptional performance with an overpotential of 230 mV to achieve 10 mA cm^(−2)and maintains high robustness under industrial current density.This approach for achieving asymmetric redox chemistry through SMSI presents a new avenue for developing high-performance electrocatalysts and instills confidence in its industrial applicability.

Dietary polyphenols reduced the allergenicity ofβ-lactoglobulin via non-covalent interactions:a study on the structure-allergenicity relationship

Studies showed that complexation of polyphenols with milk allergens reduced their immunogenic potential.However,the relationship between structures of polyphenols and their hypoallergenic effects on milk allergens in association with physiological and conformational changes of the complexes remain unclear.In this study,polyphenols from eight botanical sources were extracted to prepare non-covalent complexes withβ-lactoglobulin(β-LG),a major allergen in milk.The dominant phenolic compounds bound toβ-LG with a diminished allergenicity were identified to investigate their respective role on the structural and allergenic properties ofβ-LG.Extracts from Vaccinium fruits and black soybeans were found to have great inhibitory effects on the IgE-and IgG-binding abilities ofβ-LG.Among the fourteen structure-related phenolic compounds,flavonoids and tannins with larger MWs and multi-hydroxyl substituents,notably rutin,EGCG,and ellagitannins were more potent to elicit changes on the conformational structures ofβ-LG to decrease the allergenicity of complexedβ-LG.Correlation analysis further demonstrated that a destabilized secondary structure and protein depolymerization caused by polyphenol-binding were closely related to the allergenicity property of formed complexes.This study provides insights into the understanding of structure-allergenicity relationship ofβ-LG-polyphenol interactions and would benefit the development of polyphenol-fortified matrices with hypoallergenic potential.

Drug-Drug Interactions in Patients with Breast Cancer

The research paper investigates the intricate landscape of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) within the context of breast cancer treatment, with a particular focus on the elderly population and the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The study underscores the heightened susceptibility of elderly patients to DDIs due to the prevalence of polypharmacy and the widespread utilization of CAM among breast cancer patients. The potential ramifications of DDIs, encompassing adverse drug events and diminished treatment efficacy, are elucidated. The paper accentuates the imperative for healthcare providers to comprehensively understand both conventional and CAM therapies, enabling them to provide patients with informed guidance regarding safe and efficacious treatment options, culminating in enhanced patient outcomes.

Confined cobalt single-atom catalysts with strong electronic metal-support interactions based on a biomimetic self-assembly strategy

Designing high-performance and low-cost electrocatalysts for oxygen evolu-tion reaction(OER)is critical for the conversion and storage of sustainable energy technologies.Inspired by the biomineralization process,we utilized the phosphorylation sites of collagen molecules to combine with cobalt-based mononuclear precursors at the molecular level and built a three-dimensional(3D)porous hierarchical material through a bottom-up biomimetic self-assembly strategy to obtain single-atom catalysts confined on carbonized biomimetic self-assembled carriers(Co SACs/cBSC)after subsequent high-temperature annealing.In this strategy,the biomolecule improved the anchoring efficiency of the metal precursor through precise functional groups;meanwhile,the binding-then-assembling strategy also effectively suppressed the nonspecific adsorption of metal ions,ultimately preventing atomic agglomeration and achieving strong electronic metal-support interactions(EMSIs).Experimental characterizations confirm that binding forms between cobalt metal and carbonized self-assembled substrate(Co–O_(4)–P).Theoretical calculations disclose that the local environment changes significantly tailored the Co d-band center,and optimized the binding energy of oxygenated intermediates and the energy barrier of oxygen release.As a result,the obtained Co SACs/cBSC catalyst can achieve remarkable OER activity and 24 h durability in 1 M KOH(η10 at 288 mV;Tafel slope of 44 mV dec-1),better than other transition metal-based catalysts and commercial IrO_(2).Overall,we presented a self-assembly strategy to prepare transition metal SACs with strong EMSIs,providing a new avenue for the preparation of efficient catalysts with fine atomic structures.

Opinion consensus incorporating higher-order interactions in individual-collective networks

In the current information society, the dissemination mechanisms and evolution laws of individual or collective opinions and their behaviors are the research hot topics in the field of opinion dynamics. First, in this paper, a two-layer network consisting of an individual-opinion layer and a collective-opinion layer is constructed, and a dissemination model of opinions incorporating higher-order interactions(i.e. OIHOI dissemination model) is proposed. Furthermore, the dynamic equations of opinion dissemination for both individuals and groups are presented. Using Lyapunov's first method,two equilibrium points, including the negative consensus point and positive consensus point, and the dynamic equations obtained for opinion dissemination, are analyzed theoretically. In addition, for individual opinions and collective opinions,some conditions for reaching negative consensus and positive consensus as well as the theoretical expression for the dissemination threshold are put forward. Numerical simulations are carried to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed theoretical results, as well as the influence of the intra-structure, inter-connections, and higher-order interactions on the dissemination and evolution of individual opinions. The main results are as follows.(i) When the intra-structure of the collective-opinion layer meets certain characteristics, then a negative or positive consensus is easier to reach for individuals.(ii) Both negative consensus and positive consensus perform best in mixed type of inter-connections in the two-layer network.(iii) Higher-order interactions can quickly eliminate differences in individual opinions, thereby enabling individuals to reach consensus faster.

Multiparameter Numerical Investigation of Two Types of Moving Interactions Between the Deep-Sea Mining Vehicle Track Plate and Seabed Soil:Digging and Rotating Motions

To ensure the safe performance of deep-sea mining vehicles(DSMVs),it is necessary to study the mechanical characteristics of the interaction between the seabed soil and the track plate.The rotation and digging motions of the track plate are important links in the contact between the driving mechanism of the DSMV and seabed soil.In this study,a numerical simulation is conducted using the coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian(CEL)large deformation numerical method to investigate the interaction between the track plate of the DSMV and the seabed soil under two working conditions:rotating condition and digging condition.First,a soil numerical model is established based on the elastoplastic mechanical characterization using the basic physical and mechanical properties of the seabed soil obtained by in situ sampling.Subsequently,the soil disturbance mechanism and the dynamic mechanical response of the track plate under rotating and digging conditions are obtained through the analysis of the sensitivity of the motion parameters,the grouser structure,the layered soil features and the soil heterogeneity.The results indicate that the above parameters remarkably influence the interaction between the DSMV and the seabed soil.Therefore,it is important to consider the rotating and digging motion of the DSMV in practical engineering to develop a detailed optimization design of the track plate.

Assessment of the potential interactions between favipiravir and radiocontrast agents

BACKGROUND In cases of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),favipiravir is commonly included to the therapy regimen.Drug interactions between favipiravir and other COVID-19 therapy drugs are frequently researched.However,no research on possible drug interactions between Favipiravir and radiocontrast agents,which have become almost crucial in diagnostic processes while not being part of the treatment,has been found.AIM To determine potential medication interactions between Favipiravir and radiocontrast agents.METHODS The study comprised patients who were taking Favipiravir for COVID-19 therapy and underwent a contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT)or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)test while taking the medicine.The computerized patient files of the cases included in the study,as well as the pharmacovigilance forms in the designated hospital,were evaluated for this purpose.RESULTS The study included the evaluation of data from 1046 patients.The study sample's mean age was 47.23±9.48 years.The mean age of cases with drug interactions was statistically significant greater than that of cases with no drug interactions(P=0.003).When evaluated with logistic regression analysis,a 1-year raises in age increases the risk of developing drug interactions by 1.63 times(P=0.023).There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of medication interactions between the sexes(P=0.090).Possible medication interactions were discovered in 42 cases(4%).CONCLUSION The findings of this study revealed that the most notable findings as a result of the combined use of contrast agents and favipiravir were increased creatinine and transaminase values,as well as an increase in the frequency of nausea and vomiting.The majority of drug interactions discovered were modest enough that they were not reflected in the clinic.Drug interactions become more common as people get older.

Control of light-matter interactions in two-dimensional materials with nanoparticle-on-mirror structures

Light–matter interactions in two-dimensional(2D)materials have been the focus of research since the discovery of graphene.The light–matter interaction length in 2D materials is,however,much shorter than that in bulk materials owing to the atomic nature of 2D materials.Plasmonic nanostructures are usually integrated with 2D materials to enhance the light–matter interactions,offering great opportunities for both fundamental research and technological applications.Nanoparticle-on-mirror(NPo M)structures with extremely confined optical fields are highly desired in this aspect.In addition,2D materials provide a good platform for the study of plasmonic fields with subnanometer resolution and quantum plasmonics down to the characteristic length scale of a single atom.A focused and up-to-date review article is highly desired for a timely summary of the progress in this rapidly growing field and to encourage more research efforts in this direction.In this review,we will first introduce the basic concepts of plasmonic modes in NPo M structures.Interactions between plasmons and quasi-particles in 2D materials,e.g.,excitons and phonons,from weak to strong coupling and potential applications will then be described in detail.Related phenomena in subnanometer metallic gaps separated by 2D materials,such as quantum tunneling,will also be touched.We will finally discuss phenomena and physical processes that have not been understood clearly and provide an outlook for future research.We believe that the hybrid systems of2D materials and NPo M structures will be a promising research field in the future.

Capturing the non-equilibrium state in light–matter–free-electron interactions through ultrafast transmission electron microscopy

Ultrafast transmission electron microscope(UTEM) with the multimodality of time-resolved diffraction, imaging,and spectroscopy provides a unique platform to reveal the fundamental features associated with the interaction between free electrons and matter. In this review, we summarize the principles, instrumentation, and recent developments of the UTEM and its applications in capturing dynamic processes and non-equilibrium transient states. The combination of the transmission electron microscope with a femtosecond laser via the pump–probe method guarantees the high spatiotemporal resolution, allowing the investigation of the transient process in real, reciprocal and energy spaces. Ultrafast structural dynamics can be studied by diffraction and imaging methods, revealing the coherent acoustic phonon generation and photoinduced phase transition process. In the energy dimension, time-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy enables the examination of the intrinsic electronic dynamics of materials, while the photon-induced near-field electron microscopy extends the application of the UTEM to the imaging of optical near fields with high real-space resolution. It is noted that light–free-electron interactions have the ability to shape electron wave packets in both longitudinal and transverse directions, showing the potential application in the generation of attosecond electron pulses and vortex electron beams.