Publications by authors named "Ma Cong"

Autophagy, a conserved catabolic process implicated in a diverse array of human diseases, requires efficient fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes to function effectively. Recently, SNAP47 has been identified as a key component of the dual-purpose SNARE complex mediating autophagosome-lysosome fusion in both bulk and selective autophagy. However, the spatiotemporal regulatory mechanisms of this SNARE complex remain unknown.

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Patients suffering from psoriatic arthritis (PsA) often experience depression due to chronic joint pain, which significantly hinders their recovery process. However, the relationship between these two conditions is not well understood. Through a review of existing studies, we revealed that certain neuroendocrine hormones and neurotransmitters are involved in the neuroimmune interactions related to both PsA and depression.

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Large-amount encapsulation and subsequent expressing are common characteristics for many biomedical applications, such as cosmetic creams and medical ointments. Emulsion gels can accomplish that, but often undergo exclusive, complex, multiple synthesis steps, showing extremely laborious and non-universal. The method here is simple via precisely interfacial engineering in homogenizing a nanoparticle aqueous dispersion and a polymer oil solution, gaining interfacial 45° three-phase-contact-angle for the nanoparticle that can bridge across oil emulsions' interfaces and ultimately form interconnected macroscopic networks.

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Biofouling has been one of the major challenges impacting the long-term stable operation of ultrafiltration processes. Irreversible biofouling is considerably more harmful than reversible biofouling. Conductive membrane, as a new technology to effectively mitigate membrane fouling, lack research of controlling irreversible biofouling.

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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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Article Synopsis
  • This study presents a method for successfully creating subnanometric bimetallic clusters (SBCs), specifically PtW SBCs, with a consistent size of 0.81 nm supported on N-doped carbon, addressing challenges in achieving effective SBC exposure.
  • The electrostatic interaction between negatively charged polyanions and positively charged metal-organic frameworks facilitates this synthesis, leading to the development of an efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reactions.
  • The PtW/NC catalyst demonstrates impressive performance, including a low overpotential of 4 mV and a significantly higher Pt mass activity compared to commercial catalysts, attributed to the synergistic effect between platinum and tungsten.
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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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  • - 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 self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technique, known for its customizable molecular segments and active end groups, is widely recognized as a powerful tool for regulating the interfacial properties of high-energy-density lithium metal batteries. However, it remains unclear how the degree of long-range order in SAMs affects the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). In this study, we precisely controlled the hydrolysis of silanes to construct monolayers with varying degrees of long-range order and investigated their effects on the SEI nanostructure and lithium anode performance.

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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 in tumors over time and space is crucial for cancer research, and CalicoST is introduced as a new algorithm that enhances understanding by inferring copy number aberrations (CNAs) from spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) data.
  • CalicoST identifies types of CNAs, such as copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity and mirrored subclonal CNAs, which are often overlooked in traditional total copy number analysis, achieving an impressive average accuracy of 86% using data from nine patients.
  • This algorithm successfully reconstructs the phylogeography of tumors in three-dimensional space, illustrating mirrored subclonal CNAs in a prostate cancer study, highlighting the genetic and physical complexity of tumor evolution.
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  • Lignocellulosic papers (LCP) are eco-friendly and cost-effective for electrical insulation but struggle with mechanical and electrical performance due to their loose structure.
  • A novel composite is created using 3D aramid nanofibers and 2D carbonylated basalt nanosheets to improve LCP's properties by adding structural support and enhancing chemical bonding.
  • The resulting LCP/ANF-CBSNs composite shows significant improvements in tensile strength and dielectric breakdown strength, making it a strong candidate for high-voltage electrical applications with excellent overall performance.
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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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