Chemical-guided SHAPE sequencing (cgSHAPE-seq) informs the binding site of RNA-degrading chimeras targeting SARS-CoV-2 5' untranslated region.

One of the hallmarks of RNA viruses is highly structured untranslated regions (UTRs) which are often essential for viral replication, transcription, or translation. In this report, we discovered a series of coumarin derivatives that bind to a four-way RNA helix called SL5 in the 5' UTR of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome. To locate the binding site, we developed a sequencing-based method namely cgSHAPE-seq, in which an acylating probe was directed to crosslink with the 2'-OH group of ribose at the binding site to create read-through mutations during reverse transcription.

Porous Carbon Fabricated by Microbial Pretreatment of Brewer's Grain for the Improvement of Toluene Adsorption Performance.

Porous activated carbons (AC-AN and AC-AO) for toluene adsorption were prepared starting from brewer's grain biomass pretreated with microorganisms ( van Tieghem for AC-AN and RIB40 for AC-AO). The structures and chemical properties of the three activated carbon materials (AC-AN, AC-AO, and AC that was not pretreated with microorganisms) were characterized by N adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The adsorption behavior of the three activated carbons for toluene was studied and correlated with the physical and chemical properties of these materials.

Deposition behaviors and interfacial interaction mechanism between carboxyl-modified polystyrene nanoplastics and magnetite in aquatic environment.

In aquatic environments, the deposition behaviors of nanoplastics (NPs) are closely associated with interfacial interaction between NPs and iron (hydr)oxides minerals, which are typically coupled with solution chemistry and organic matter. However, the roles of solution chemistry and organic matter in the deposition behavior of NPs with iron (hydr)oxides minerals and related interfacial interaction mechanism are still poorly understood. In this study, the deposition behaviors of carboxyl-modified polystyrene nanoparticles (COOH-PSNPs) with magnetite were systematically investigated.

Chloroplast-localized transporter OsNTP1 mediates cadmium transport from root to shoot and sugar metabolism in rice.

Cadmium (Cd) is an element with high toxicity to living organisms, and its accumulation in rice grains poses a threat to human health. In this study, we report a novel nickel-transport family protein, OsNTP1, that is involved in Cd transport from root to shoot. Heterologous expression of OsNTP1 in yeast enhanced Ni and Cd tolerance.

Mechanistic Studies of Small Molecule Ligands Selective to RNA Single G Bulges.

Small-molecule RNA binders have emerged as an important pharmacological modality. A profound understanding of the ligand selectivity, binding mode, and influential factors governing ligand engagement with RNA targets is the foundation for rational ligand design. Here, we report a novel class of coumarin derivatives exhibiting selective binding affinity towards single G RNA bulges.

Leveraging multi-omics tools to comprehend responses and tolerance mechanisms of heavy metals in crop plants.

Extreme anthropogenic activities and current farming techniques exacerbate the effects of water and soil impurity by hazardous heavy metals (HMs), severely reducing agricultural output and threatening food safety. In the upcoming years, plants that undergo exposure to HM might cause a considerable decline in the development as well as production. Hence, plants have developed sophisticated defensive systems to evade or withstand the harmful consequences of HM.

Genome-Wide Identification of Stable RNA Secondary Structures Across Multiple Organisms Using Chemical Probing Data: Insights into Short Structural Motifs and RNA-Targeting Therapeutics.

Small molecules targeting specific RNA binding sites, including stable and transient RNA structures, are emerging as effective pharmacological approaches for modulating gene expression. However, little is understood about how stable RNA secondary structures are shared across organisms, an important factor in controlling drug selectivity. In this study, I provide an analytical pipeline named RNA Secondary Structure Finder (R2S-Finder) to discover short, stable RNA structural motifs for humans, ( ), SARS-CoV-2, and Zika virus by leveraging existing in vivo and in vitro genome-wide chemical RNA-probing datasets.

Predicting p Values of Para-Substituted Aniline Radical Cations vs. Stable Anilinium Ions in Aqueous Media.

The focus of p calculations has primarily been on stable molecules, with limited studies comparing radical cations and stable cations. In this study, we comprehensively investigate models with implicit solvent and explicit water molecules, direct and indirect calculation approaches, as well as methods for calculating free energy, solvation energy, and quasi-harmonic oscillator approximation for para-substituted aniline radical cations (R-PhNH) and anilinium cations (R-PhNH) in the aqueous phase. Properly including and positioning explicit HO molecules in the models is important for reliable p predictions.

The role of predictive and preview effects in Mongolian reading: evidence from eye movements.

Introduction: The research on contextual predictability in reading has been thoroughly investigated in the context of horizontal text comprehension. However, the performance of contextual predictive effects in Mongolian vertical reading remains unknown.

Methods: To explore this, we conducted an eye-tracking study using a boundary paradigm.

Global impact of unproductive splicing on human gene expression.

Alternative splicing (AS) in human genes is widely viewed as a mechanism for enhancing proteomic diversity. AS can also impact gene expression levels without increasing protein diversity by producing 'unproductive' transcripts that are targeted for rapid degradation by nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). However, the relative importance of this regulatory mechanism remains underexplored.

Connections between Parental Emotion Socialization and Internalizing Problems in Adolescents: Examining the Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies and Moderating Effect of Gender.

To explore the mediating effect of emotion regulation strategies on the correlation between parental emotion socialization and internalizing problems in adolescents, as well as the moderating effect of gender, a questionnaire survey was administered to 1078 junior high school students (M = 13.96 ± 1.00).

Identifying habitat modification by Chinese pangolin in subtropical forests of southern China.

The excavation of Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is expected to alter habitat heterogeneity and thus affect the functioning and structure of forest ecosystems. In this study, the bioturbation of Chinese pangolin on forest soils in three regions (Heping, Tianjingshan, and Wuqinzhang) across Guangdong province was quantified. Overall, a mean of 2.

Promising G-Quadruplex-Targeted Dibenzoquinoxaline Type-1 Photosensitizer Triggers DNA Damage in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are potential drug targets in cancer treatment. However, the G4-targeted ligands seem to lack sufficient selectivity between tumors and normal tissues, appealing for a new modified anticancer strategy on the basis of them. Type-1 photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising strategy possessing excellent spatiotemporal precision for solid tumors with a hypoxic microenvironment.

Feasibility experimental study on plugging leakage in goaf based on two-phase foam.

Air leakage in goaf often leads to coal spontaneous combustion (CSC), which not only directly affects the safety production of mines but also causes significant environmental damage. Therefore, effectively sealing the airflow in goaf is crucial for preventing CSC. Feasibility experiments on using two-phase foam to seal air leakage in goaf were conducted, leveraging the advantages of large flow rate, wide diffusion range, and good accumulation characteristics of two-phase foam.

The rehabilitation efficacy of diaphragmatic breathing combined with limb coordination training for lower limb lymphedema following gynecologic cancer surgery.

Objective: To investigate the impact of diaphragmatic breathing combined with limb training on lower limb lymphedema following surgery for gynecological cancer.

Methods: From January 2022 to May 2022, 60 patients with lower limb lymphedema post-gynecologic cancer surgery were chosen. They were split into a control group ( = 30) and a treatment group ( = 30).

Production of grains with ultra-low heavy metal accumulation by pyramiding novel Alleles of OsNramp5 and OsLsi2 in two-line hybrid rice.

Ensuring rice yield and grain safety quality are vital for human health. In this study, we developed two-line hybrid rice (TLHR) with ultra-low grain cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) accumulation by pyramiding novel alleles of OsNramp5 and OsLsi2. We first generated low Cd accumulation restorer (R) lines by editing OsNramp5, OsLCD, and OsLCT1 in japonica and indica.

The Childbearing sense of coherence scale (CSOC-scale): development and validation.

Background: the salutogenic theory is essential to explain an individual's ability to maintain health during the perinatal period. While previous studies mainly focused on the perspectives from a family-level orientation and a global orientation, the purpose of the present study was to develop and validate a scale, the childbearing sense of coherence scale (CSOC-scale) from the individual's perceptions of the stresses, resources, and meaningfulness of childbearing.

Methods: A total of 3 separate studies contributed to the development of the CSOC-scale between July 2022 and February 2023.

N6-methyladenosine modification of a parvovirus-encoded small noncoding RNA facilitates viral DNA replication through recruiting Y-family DNA polymerases.

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) is a human parvovirus that causes lower respiratory tract infections in young children. It contains a single-stranded (ss) DNA genome of ~5.5 kb that encodes a small noncoding RNA of 140 nucleotides known as bocavirus-encoded small RNA (BocaSR), in addition to viral proteins.

MALAT1/miR-7-5p/TCF4 Axis Regulating Menstrual Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Thin Endometrium Fertility by the Wnt Signaling Pathway.

Thin endometrium (TE) is a significant factor contributing to fertility challenges, and addressing this condition remains a central challenge in reproductive medicine. Menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) play a crucial role in tissue repair and regeneration, including that of TE. The Wnt signaling pathway, which is highly conserved and prevalent in eukaryotes, is essential for cell proliferation, tissue development, and reproductive functions.

Age-related differences in saccadic indices of top-down guidance via short-term memory during visual search.

Aging has been associated with significant declines in the speed and accuracy of visual search. These effects have been attributed partly to low-level (bottom-up) factors including reductions in sensory acuity and general processing speed. Aging is also associated with changes in top-down attentional control, but the impact of these on search is less well-understood.

Structural Evaluations of a Selective Human STING Agonist and Its Use in Macrophage Immunotherapies.

Previously we identified a non-nucleotide agonist BDW568 that selectively activates the human STING allele. Here, we further characterized the mechanism of BDW568 and highlighted its potential use for selectively controlling the activation of engineered macrophages that constitutively express STING as a genetic adjuvant. We obtained the crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of STING complexed with BDW-OH (active metabolite) at 1.