Publications by authors named "Cong Ma"

Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of extreme heat events globally, adversely affecting socio-economic conditions and public health. However, extreme heat has disparate effects on different population groups and the socio-economic determinants of its health effects are not well understood. In this study, we analyzed the spatial patterns of heat-related illness (HRI) visit rates at the zip-code level in Florida and applied statistical methods to examine the relationships between HRIs and environmental and socio-economic variables.

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Molybdenum diphosphide (MoP), a topological semimetal, possesses distinctive properties and applications in catalysis, energy storage, and condensed matter physics. However, synthesizing high-purity MoP is complex and often results in undesired stoichiometric by-products. Additionally, the intrinsic orthorhombic crystal structure makes it difficult to synthesize MoP in a 2D morphology, which is desirable for device and energy applications.

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Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are emerging contaminants of significant concern due to their role in facilitating the spread of antibiotic resistance, especially high-risk ARGs, which are characterized by high human accessibility, gene mobility, pathogenicity, and clinical availability. Studies have shown that cross-domain interactions, such as those between consumer protists (consumers) and bacteria, can influence bacterial diversity, distribution, and function through top-down control. The consumers-bacteria interactions may also affect the occurrence and distribution of ARGs, yet this has been scarcely explored in field investigations.

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Arsenic is a pollutant that can cross the placenta; however, research on the effects of arsenic exposure during pregnancy on the fertility of female offspring is limited. To address this gap, we developed a mouse model to investigate the relationship between arsenic exposure during pregnancy and fertility in female offspring. Our fertility assessment revealed that gestational exposure to 1 mg/kg arsenic or higher (10 mg/kg) resulted in reduction in litter size, ovarian volume, and multistage-follicle number in female offspring.

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Rational design and synthesis of subnanometric bimetallic clusters (SBCs) within a narrow size distribution, along with achieving full SBCs exposure on supporting materials, are formidable challenges that must be overcome to realize potential applications. This work details a facile strategy to synthesize fully exposed PtW SBCs with an average size of 0.81 nm on the surface of spherical N-doped carbon (PtW/NC), which is underpinned by the electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged [HPtWO] polyanions and the positively charged closed-pore metal-organic framework (MOF) [Zn(OH)(AmTRZ)].

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Internal alkynes are often contained in bioactive pharmaceuticals and crucial intermediates in material sciences, yet their production methods are often limited and challenging, necessitating the development of more efficient and versatile synthetic routes. Here we report a method of deoxygenative alkynylation of alcohols via flow photochemistry. Formation of N-heterocyclic carbene-alcohol adducts undergoes oxidation by a photocatalyst, generating alkyl radicals.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by loss of pigmentation, affecting both the appearance and mental well-being of those affected, as it involves a decrease in functioning melanocytes which produce skin color.
  • - Treatment options for vitiligo include glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, phototherapy, and surgical methods, but recent studies highlight the role of Janus kinase (JAK) hyperactivation and pro-inflammatory cytokines in escalating the condition by harming melanocytes.
  • - New research shows that JAK inhibitors can effectively counteract the negative effects of these signaling pathways, leading to potential repigmentation of the skin, and this review discusses their mechanisms and applications for improving vitiligo treatments.
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  • The regenerative ability of peripheral nervous system neurons, specifically dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, is limited, and the effects of mechanical signals on their axon regrowth are not fully understood.
  • This study investigates how varying substrate stiffness influences axon regrowth in cultured DRG neurons from newborn rats, finding that optimal stiffness is essential for this process.
  • It also reveals that the mechanosensitive channel Piezo1 helps detect stiffness and regulates axon regrowth through a specific signaling pathway, with knockdown of Piezo1 in adult neurons leading to better regeneration and quicker recovery after nerve injury, suggesting a new target for therapies.
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To study the spatial interactions among cancer and non-cancer cells, we here examined a cohort of 131 tumour sections from 78 cases across 6 cancer types by Visium spatial transcriptomics (ST). This was combined with 48 matched single-nucleus RNA sequencing samples and 22 matched co-detection by indexing (CODEX) samples. To describe tumour structures and habitats, we defined 'tumour microregions' as spatially distinct cancer cell clusters separated by stromal components.

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Analyzing somatic evolution within a tumor over time and across space is a key challenge in cancer research. Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) measures gene expression at thousands of spatial locations in a tumor, but does not directly reveal genomic aberrations. We introduce CalicoST, an algorithm to simultaneously infer allele-specific copy number aberrations (CNAs) and reconstruct spatial tumor evolution, or phylogeography, from SRT data.

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Lignocellulosic papers (LCP) are favored for electrical insulating applications due to their environmental friendliness, ease of processing, and cost-effectiveness. However, the loose structure and numerous pores inside LCP result in the poor mechanical and electrical insulating properties, posing challenges in meeting the requirements for the rapid upgrading of high-voltage electrical equipment. Herein, a 3D interconnective structure composed of 3D aramid nanofibers (ANF) and 2D carbonylated basalt nanosheets (CBSNs) is introduced to enhance the structure and the chemical bonding interactions of LCP.

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  • UVB exposure induces photodamage in skin, and the study investigates the role of FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy in this process.
  • FUNDC1 knockdown reduces mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis in UVB-treated cells and mice, while overexpression leads to increased cell death.
  • The findings suggest that decreased FUNDC1 expression correlates with photodamage in human skin, highlighting its potential as a target for protecting against UVB-induced skin damage.*
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Constructing a C-N bond by merging electrochemistry and nickel catalysis is considered a powerful strategy. Herein, we investigate highly efficient intramolecular amination at room temperature with excellent functional group tolerance. Mechanistic studies suggest that the rapid ligand exchange may lead to the Ni/Ni catalytic cycle.

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  • Bisphenol A (BPA) is known to have harmful effects on human health, leading to its restriction, while Bisphenol AP (BPAP), a potential substitute, lacks thorough health impact studies.
  • The current research found that BPAP exposure negatively affects mouse oocyte maturation by causing an arrest in the metaphase I stage of meiosis, inhibiting polar body extrusion, and disrupts normal cell cycle processes.
  • BPAP exposure also results in increased DNA damage, affects cytoskeletal assembly and histone modifications, indicating that BPAP is not a safe alternative to BPA for reproductive health.
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Methylmercury chloride (MMC) is a persistent heavy metal contaminant that can bioaccumulate in humans via the food chain, exerting detrimental effects on health. Nevertheless, the specific influence of MMC on oocyte meiotic maturation has yet to be elucidated. This research demonstrated that MMC exposure during the in vitro cultivation of mouse oocytes did not influence germinal vesicle breakdown but markedly decreased oocyte maturation rates.

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Stepwise photopolymerization is a miraculous strategy modulating the polymer skeleton and electro-optical properties of light modulators based on liquid crystal/polymer composites. However, owing to the indistinct polymerization mechanism and curing condition discrepancy, the required polymer structures and electro-optical properties are hard to be controlled precisely. Herein, a novel polymer-stabilized liquid crystal film based on acrylate/epoxy resin is proposed, fabricated and the relationships between preparation process, polymer content, polymer morphology and electro-optical properties are studied.

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The rapid diffusion kinetics and smallest ion radius make protons the ideal cations toward the ultimate energy storage technology combining the ultrafast charging capabilities of supercapacitors and the high energy densities of batteries. Despite the concept existing for centuries, the lack of satisfactory electrode materials hinders its practical development. Recently, the rapid advancement of the emerging two-dimensional (2D) materials, characterized by their ultrathin morphology, interlayer van der Waals gaps, and distinctive electrochemical properties, injects promises into future proton-based energy storage systems.

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Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP), the core enzyme responsible for bacterial transcription, requires the NusG factor for efficient transcription elongation and termination. As the primary binding site for NusG, the RNAP clamp-helix (CH) domain represents a potential protein-protein interaction (PPI) target for novel antimicrobial agent design and discovery. In this study, we designed a pharmacophore model based on the essential amino acids of the CH for binding to NusG, such as R270, R278, and R281 ( numbering), and identified a hit compound with mild antimicrobial activity.

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Given the physiological function and anatomical location of the reproductive tract, studying the upper reproductive tract microbiota may be essential for studying male infertility and other male diseases. This study aimed to characterize the microbiota of the upper reproductive tract male rats and investigate whether specific microbial compositions are associated with sperm parameters. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to characterize the microbial composition in the testis, epididymis, seminal vesicles, vas deferens and prostate tissues of the rats.

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Fine particulate matter (PM) may disrupt women's reproductive hormones, posing potential reproductive risks. However, the exact compositions of PM responsible for these effects remain unclear. Our investigation explored the long-term impacts of PM constituents on reproductive hormones, based on a large longitudinal assisted reproductive cohort study in Anhui, China.

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Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) is a nonabsorbed cation-exchanger approved in China for the treatment of hyperkalemia [HK; serum potassium (sK) levels >5.0 mmol/L]. This is the first real-world study aimed to assess the effectiveness, safety, and treatment patterns of SZC in Chinese patients with HK.

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There is a relative scarcity of large-scale population studies investigating the relationship between the insulin resistance index of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and vascular damage. Therefore, we assessed the association between HOMA-IR and vascular damage in adults aged 18 years and older in China. A total of 17,985 research subjects were included.

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The fruits of has been used a famous traditional Chinese medicine. A chemical investigation on the fruits of resulted in the isolation of one new acetylated flavanol glucuronide () and two known compounds (). Compound displayed a weak inhibitory effect on U251 cells with the IC value 128.

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