Study on Microscopic Properties of Molten NaF-AlF-CaF/LiF/KF Using First-Principles Molecular Dynamics.

This study employs first-principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) simulations combined with the Voronoi tessellation method to explore the microstructure, transport properties, electronic properties, and Raman spectra of the NaF-AlF-CaF/LiF/KF systems with varying cryolite ratios, additive types, and concentrations. The results indicate that Na, Ca, Li, and K exist in a free state in the molten salts, while Al forms complex ion groups in the form of [AlF] with F, and free F also exists in the molten salts. In the NaF-AlF-CaF system, the average Al-F distance is slightly shorter than that in the other two systems, while the Al-F coordination number is higher in NaF-AlF-LiF.

Configuration of electrical synapses filters sensory information to drive behavioral choices.

Synaptic configurations underpin how the nervous system processes sensory information to produce a behavioral response. This is best understood for chemical synapses, and we know far less about how electrical synaptic configurations modulate sensory information processing and context-specific behaviors. We discovered that innexin 1 (INX-1), a gap junction protein that forms electrical synapses, is required to deploy context-specific behavioral strategies underlying thermotaxis behavior in C.

: A Software Suite for Quantifying Properties of Locomotion, Bending, Sleep, and Action Potentials.

Comparative analyses of locomotor behavior and cellular electrical properties between wild-type and mutant are crucial for exploring the gene basis of behaviors and the underlying cellular mechanisms. Although many tools have been developed by research labs and companies, their application is often hindered by implementation difficulties or lack of features specifically suited for . addresses these challenges with three key components: , , and .

Stepwise extraction of lithium and potassium and recovery of fluoride from aluminum electrolyte wastes through calcification roasting-two-stage leaching.

Aluminum electrolyte is a necessity for aluminum reduction cells; however, its stock is rising every year due to several factors, resulting in the accumulation of solid waste. Currently, it has become a favorable material for the resources of lithium, potassium, and fluoride. In this study, the calcification roasting-two-stage leaching process was introduced to extract lithium and potassium separately from aluminum electrolyte wastes, and the fluoride in the form of CaF was recycled.

Regulation of Neurotransmitter Release by K Channels.

K channels play potent roles in the process of neurotransmitter release by influencing the action potential waveform and modulating neuronal excitability and release probability. These diverse effects of K channel activation are ensured by the wide variety of K channel genes and their differential expression in different cell types. Accordingly, a variety of K channels have been implicated in regulating neurotransmitter release, including the Ca- and voltage-gated K channel Slo1 (also known as BK channel), voltage-gated K channels of the Kv3 (Shaw-type), Kv1 (Shaker-type), and Kv7 (KCNQ) families, G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying K (GIRK) channels, and SLO-2 (a Ca-.

Regulation of Ryanodine Receptor-Dependent Neurotransmitter Release by AIP, Calstabins, and Presenilins.

Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are Ca release channels located in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Presynaptic RyRs play important roles in neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. Recent studies suggest that the proper function of presynaptic RyRs relies on several regulatory proteins, including aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein, calstabins, and presenilins.

Roles and Sources of Calcium in Synaptic Exocytosis.

Calcium ions (Ca) play a critical role in triggering neurotransmitter release. The rate of release is directly related to the concentration of Ca at the presynaptic site, with a supralinear relationship. There are two main sources of Ca that trigger synaptic vesicle fusion: influx through voltage-gated Ca channels in the plasma membrane and release from the endoplasmic reticulum via ryanodine receptors.

Specific configurations of electrical synapses filter sensory information to drive choices in behavior.

Synaptic configurations in precisely wired circuits underpin how sensory information is processed by the nervous system, and the emerging animal behavior. This is best understood for chemical synapses, but far less is known about how electrical synaptic configurations modulate, and in specific neurons, sensory information processing and context-specific behaviors. We discovered that INX-1, a gap junction protein that forms electrical synapses, is required to deploy context-specific behavioral strategies during thermotaxis behavior.

Locomotion modulates olfactory learning through proprioception in C. elegans.

Locomotor activities can enhance learning, but the underlying circuit and synaptic mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we show that locomotion facilitates aversive olfactory learning in C. elegans by activating mechanoreceptors in motor neurons, and transmitting the proprioceptive information thus generated to locomotion interneurons through antidromic-rectifying gap junctions.

CaV1 and CaV2 calcium channels mediate the release of distinct pools of synaptic vesicles.

Activation of voltage-gated calcium channels at presynaptic terminals leads to local increases in calcium and the fusion of synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitter. Presynaptic output is a function of the density of calcium channels, the dynamic properties of the channel, the distance to docked vesicles, and the release probability at the docking site. We demonstrate that at neuromuscular junctions two different classes of voltage-gated calcium channels, CaV2 and CaV1, mediate the release of distinct pools of synaptic vesicles.

Baseline ALBI Grade Predicts Benefits After Splenectomy for Cirrhotic Patients with Hypersplenism.

Purpose: Splenectomy is an effective treatment for correcting cytopenia caused by hypersplenism secondary to cirrhosis. However, other potential benefits have not been well characterized. In this study, we investigated the value of splenectomy as it relates to improvement in hepatic function, liver regeneration, and health-related quality of life, and their association with baseline characteristics to clarify which patients may benefit the most from splenectomy.

Genotype-guided model significantly improves accuracy of tacrolimus initial dosing after liver transplantation.

Background: The initial dose of tacrolimus after liver transplantation (LT) is critical for rapidly achieving the steady state of the drug concentration, minimizing the potential adverse reactions and warranting long-term patient prognosis. We aimed to develop and validate a genotype-guided model for determining personalized initial dose of tacrolimus.

Methods: By combining pharmacokinetic modeling, pharmacogenomic analysis and multiple statistical methods, we developed a genotype-guided model to predict individualized tacrolimus initial dose after LT in the discovery (n = 150) and validation cohorts (n = 97) respectively.

Channel-independent function of UNC-9/Innexin in spatial arrangement of GABAergic synapses in .

Precise synaptic connection of neurons with their targets is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system. A plethora of signaling pathways act in concert to mediate the precise spatial arrangement of synaptic connections. Here we show a novel role for a gap junction protein in controlling tiled synaptic arrangement in the GABAergic motor neurons in , in which their axons and synapses overlap minimally with their neighboring neurons within the same class.

Leaching valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries using the reducing agent methanol.

When considering resource shortages and environmental pressures, salvaging valuable metals from the cathode materials of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a very promising strategy to realize the green and sustainable development of batteries. The reductive acid leaching of valuable metals from cathode materials using methanol as a reducing agent was studied. The results show that the leaching efficiencies of Co and Li are 99% under optimal leaching conditions.

Porous ZnO Nanosphere Inherently Encapsulated in Carbon Framework as a High-Performance Anode For Ni-Zn Secondary Batteries.

Nickel-zinc (Ni-Zn) secondary battery that is environmentally friendly and inexpensive has been regarded as a promising rechargeable battery system. However, the generation of deformation and dendrites of the traditional zinc anode during the cycling can cause capacity degradation and impede its practical application. Herein, we design a hierarchical ZnO nanosphere coated with an inherently derived ZIF-8 porous carbon shell (ZnO@C) using a simple controllable method.

NLRP3 activation in tumor-associated macrophages enhances lung metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer and is highly malignant due to its late diagnosis and early metastasis. Lung metastasis of PDAC occurs in a significant number of diagnosed patients and represents high severity of disease and poor clinical outcome. However, the molecular regulation of lung metastasis of PDAC is still not fully understood.

Combined Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application and High Temperature on Grain Quality Properties of Cooked Rice.

Ambient temperature and nitrogen (N) fertilizer are two of the most important factors that affect rice grain quality. However, less information has been available on the interactive effect of N fertilizer and ambient temperature on grain quality under stressful high temperature (HT). In this article, the effects of panicle N fertilizer, ambient temperature, and their interaction on starch composition, particle size distribution of starch granules, starch physicochemical properties, and storage protein accumulation in milled grains were investigated to clarify the potential role of panicle N fertilizer topdressing in regulating rice grain quality under stressful HT by using a two-factor experiment of three N levels in combination with two temperature regimes.

Risk Factors for New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus After Heart Transplantation: A Nomogram Approach.

Background: New-onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation (NODAT) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation (HT), which still remains a clinical challenge.

Methods: In this study, 522,708 follow-up records of HT were reviewed. After screening, 14,452 patients were analyzed when combined with immunosuppression records.

Recording Gap Junction Current from Xenopus Oocytes.

Heterologous expression of connexins and innexins in Xenopus oocytes is a powerful approach for studying the biophysical properties of gap junctions (GJs). However, this approach is technically challenging because it requires a differential voltage clamp of two opposed oocytes sharing a common ground. Although a small number of labs have succeeded in performing this technique, essentially all of them have used either homemade amplifiers or commercial amplifiers that were designed for single-oocyte recordings.

A novel approach for lithium recovery from waste lithium-containing aluminum electrolyte by a roasting-leaching process.

With the development of secondary resources, development of suitable methods for the recovery of high value metals from solid waste is crucial for sustainable development. Aluminum electrolysis of China, solid waste, such as waste aluminum electrolyte, has been largely idled and caused serious environmental pollution. In this paper, a novel approach is developed for achieving the separation/recovery of lithium from spent lithium-containing aluminum electrolyte by a sodium carbonate roasting-acid leaching process.

Estradiol is significantly associated with prognosis in non-surgical liver cancer patients: from bench to bedside.

There are rarely systematic studies to analyze the prognostic factors among non-surgical liver cancer patients. Whether there is a gender difference in the survival of non-surgical liver cancer patients and what may cause this difference is still unclear. A total of 12,312 non-surgical liver cancer patients were enrolled in this study.

The influence of recipient SLCO1B1 rs2291075 polymorphism on tacrolimus dose-corrected trough concentration in the early period after liver transplantation.

Purpose: To explore the relationship between rs2291075 polymorphism in SLCO1B1 gene, which encodes an influx transmembrane protein transporter, and tacrolimus dose-corrected trough concentration (C/D, ng ml mg kg) in the early period after liver transplantation.

Methods: CYP3A5 rs776746 and SLCO1B1 rs2291075 polymorphisms of 210 liver transplantation patients and their corresponding donor livers were assessed by PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. The influence of gene polymorphisms on C/D values of tacrolimus was analyzed.

GABAergic motor neurons bias locomotor decision-making in C. elegans.

Proper threat-reward decision-making is critical to animal survival. Emerging evidence indicates that the motor system may participate in decision-making but the neural circuit and molecular bases for these functions are little known. We found in C.