Publications by authors named "Xiufeng Li"
The Human Connectome Project Lifespan studies cover the Development (5-21) and Aging (36-100+) phases of life. Arterial spin labelling (ASL) was included in the imaging protocol, resulting in one of the largest datasets collected to-date of high spatial resolution multiple delay ASL covering 3,000 subjects. The HCP-ASL minimal processing pipeline was developed specifically for this dataset to pre-process the image data and produce perfusion estimates in both volumetric and surface template space, though quality control is not performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhotocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production has been considered as an effective approach to address the current energy crisis and environmental challenges. Among all materials for such applications, covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) are regarded as ideal candidates owing to their conjugated structures with rich aromatic nitrogen atoms, which can provide abundant active sites, suitable bandgaps, good structural tunability, and high chemical stability. Although current research studies have shown that the modification of functional groups in CTFs can adjust the band structure and carrier flow characteristics of photocatalysts, leading to improved performance, the impact of the intrinsic structural characteristics of CTFs (, stacking modes, hydrogen bonding) on their photocatalytic performance remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs the principal lipid transporter in the human brain, apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is tasked with the transport and protection of highly vulnerable lipids required to support and remodel neuronal membranes, in a process that is dependent on ApoE receptors. Human allele variants that encode proteins differing only in the number of cysteine (Cys)-to-arginine (Arg) exchanges (ApoE2 [2 Cys], ApoE3 [1 Cys], ApoE4 [0 Cys]) comprise the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the molecular feature(s) and resultant mechanisms that underlie these isoform-dependent effects are unknown. One signature feature of Cys is the capacity to form disulfide (Cys-Cys) bridges, which are required to form disulfide bridge-linked dimers and multimers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiamond-wire sawing silicon waste (DSSW) derived from the silicon wafer sawing process may lead to resource waste and environmental issues if not properly utilized. This paper propounds a simple technique aimed at enhancing the efficiency of hydrogen production from DSSW. The hydrolysis reaction is found to become faster when DSSW is ground.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMembers of the B-Box (BBX) family of proteins play crucial roles in the growth and development of rice. Here, we identified a rice BBX protein, Oryza sativa BBX2 (OsBBX2), which exhibits the highest expression in the root. The transcription of follows a diurnal rhythm under photoperiodic conditions, peaking at dawn.
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- Rhabdophis nuchalis, a snake found in China, has unique nucho-dorsal glands that make it interesting for studying genetic diversity and evolution.
- Researchers created a high-quality reference genome for this snake using various sequencing techniques, resulting in a 1.92 Gb genome organized into 20 chromosomes.
- The study identified over 22,000 protein-coding genes and extensive repetitive sequences, providing valuable data for understanding the species' genetics, evolution, and conservation efforts.
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- 2-methylfuran is an important organic compound made from biomass hemicellulose through processes like hydrolysis and dehydration.
- It can be transformed into valuable chemicals and liquid fuels, and recent studies focus on how it interacts with biomass-derived carbonyl compounds for fuel precursor synthesis.
- Future research should explore creating high-value chemicals and high-density liquid fuels from 2-methylfuran to maximize its potential.
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- SMARCA4-deficient tumors are rare, aggressive tumors marked by a lack of SMARCA4 expression, with adnexal tumors in the uterus being particularly uncommon.
- A 64-year-old woman diagnosed with a SMARCA4-deficient adnexal tumor was treated with chemotherapy including bevacizumab, sindilizumab, and carboplatin, which eased her abdominal distension.
- Despite initial treatment success, the patient passed away three months later, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis to differentiate these tumors from other types of adnexal uterine tumors using specific morphological and immunohistochemical features.
Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) is a retrotransposon group that constitutes 17% of the human genome and shows variable expression across cell types. However, the control of L1 expression and its function in gene regulation are incompletely understood. Here we show that L1 transcription activates long-range gene expression.
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- The study examines size scaling in membrane-less condensates, revealing it as a key feature of liquid-liquid phase separation within cells.
- Through experiments and mean-field theory, the researchers demonstrate how environmental factors like solute and salt concentrations affect the scaling ratios of these condensates.
- A noise buffering mechanism is identified that helps maintain constant volumes in large macromolecule condensates, contributing to our understanding of cell and organelle size regulation in biological systems.
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- Rice flowering time is crucial for its geographical distribution and yield, with two early-flowering cultivars, DN413 and XN, used for genetic investigation.
- A novel allele was identified that affects flowering time, showing that the Hap_E variant leads to earlier flowering compared to Hap_D.
- The study developed a CAPS marker for breeding, highlighting a new target for improving rice varieties suited for high-latitude regions.
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- The rice SnRK2 members SAPK4, SAPK5, SAPK7, and SAPK10 are identified as positive regulators of flowering in rice, while some members like SAPK1, SAPK2, and SAPK3 do not show significant effects on this process.
- These SAPK proteins are crucial in the abscisic acid pathway, impacting not just flowering, but also traits like drought resistance and salt tolerance that are important for rice yield.
- This study utilized gene editing to analyze SAPK functions in rice flowering and aims to further investigate the molecular mechanisms of these proteins to improve understanding and breeding strategies related to rice ripening dates.
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- Long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) makes up 17% of the human genome and is known for generating genetic variations and potentially causing diseases, yet its regulatory mechanisms and functions are not well understood.* -
- This study reveals that L1 can attract RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II), produce L1 chimeric transcripts, and establish domain boundaries within the genome, with a nuclear protein called SAFB acting as a regulator by inhibiting the activity of active L1s.* -
- The research suggests that the formation of these domain boundaries requires transcription from L1 and that L1 has played a role in the evolution of species-specific genome organization, highlighting its significance in gene
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- The study focuses on the role of a specific gene related to PPR proteins in rice, which is crucial for chloroplast development and photosynthesis.
- Researchers identified a mutant rice plant with pale green leaves, indicating reduced chlorophyll and abnormal chloroplast development compared to the wild type.
- Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, they confirmed that the identified gene affects RNA editing and splicing within chloroplasts, highlighting its importance in regulating chloroplast function in rice plants.
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- The study aimed to explore how vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) influences gastric cancer (GC) and its mechanisms.
- Researchers analyzed gene expression in gastric cancer tissues and utilized various human cell lines and mouse models to understand these effects.
- Findings indicated that higher levels of VEGFR-3 correlate with advanced cancer stages and metastasis, and silencing its expression reduced cell growth and migration while promoting cell death, suggesting potential targets for new GC treatments.
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- Panicle exsertion is an important trait for rice production, and its shortening can lead to reduced seed yield due to panicle enclosure.
- The oswrky78 mutant displays severe panicle enclosure linked to decreased levels of bioactive gibberellin (GA).
- The study shows that OsWRKY78 enhances GA biosynthesis and interacts with MAPK kinase OsMAPK6, which stabilizes OsWRKY78 and is crucial for its function in regulating panicle exsertion.
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- Global warming is leading to increased scrutiny of environmental issues, particularly in materials like crystalline silicon used in photovoltaics and semiconductors, which produces significant silicon waste during cutting.
- The article assesses the environmental impacts of hydrogen production using diamond-wire sawing silicon waste (DSSW) compared to alkaline water electrolysis (AEL), with findings showing that the hydrogen production stage in the DSSW method has substantial environmental impacts.
- While the DACH route (using DSSW) has a higher environmental impact than the AEL route, it's primarily due to raw material use, whereas AEL’s impact stems from electricity consumption; using renewable energy for AEL could greatly lessen its environmental effects.
Plant-based foods are gaining popularity as alternatives to meat and dairy products due to sustainability and health concerns. As a consequence, there is a renewed interest in the phase behaviour of plant proteins and of mixtures of plant proteins and polysaccharides, in particular in the cases where coacervation is found to occur, , liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) into two phases, one of which is rich in biopolymers and one of which is poor in biopolymer. Here we review recent research into both simple and complex coacervation in systems involving plant proteins, and their applications in food- as well as other technologies, such as microencapsulation, microgel production, adhesives, biopolymer films, and more.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEfficacy of Qingpeng ointment (a Tibetan medicine) for acute gouty arthritis: a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
BMC Complement Med Ther
January 2024
Article Synopsis
- This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of Qingpeng ointment (QPO), a Tibetan remedy, for treating symptoms of acute gouty arthritis (AGA) in patients experiencing significant joint pain.
- Conducted as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 203 participants with AGA received either QPO or a placebo for seven days, with joint pain and swelling being the primary outcomes measured.
- The results indicated that the QPO group had reduced joint pain and swelling compared to the placebo group, along with improved joint mobility, while some mild adverse events were reported among participants, mainly skin irritations.
Primary adenomatoid tumor of the adrenal gland: A case report and literature review.
Medicine (Baltimore)
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- Adenomatoid tumors are uncommon benign tumors typically found in the reproductive tract, but this report highlights a rare case occurring in the adrenal gland of a 50-year-old man.
- The patient presented with an adrenal mass observed on ultrasound, and further imaging revealed a mixed-density lesion, leading to a diagnosis of a primary adenomatoid tumor based on clinical evaluation and histological analysis.
- The tumor was successfully excised, with the patient experiencing an uneventful recovery, underscoring the importance of accurate diagnosis to differentiate adenomatoid tumors from other adrenal conditions.
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- Rice is sensitive to cold temperatures, which greatly affects production, yet the specific signaling pathways for chilling stress are not well understood.
- Research demonstrates that the gene OsMAPK6 plays a crucial role in enhancing rice's ability to tolerate cold, with overexpressed plants showing higher survival rates compared to mutants with decreased function.
- Findings suggest that OsMAPK6 promotes chilling tolerance through a signaling cascade involving key regulators, contributing valuable insights into rice cold response, particularly at the seedling stage.