Mechanisms Of Differentiation Research Articles

Modulating efficient differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons by using plasmonic nanoparticles and the NIR II irradiation to boost therapy of Parkinson’s disease

Progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons is the primary pathological feature of Parkinson's disease (PD), which causes severe cognitive and motor dysfunction. In this context, transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is the most promising approach to supply new dopaminergic neurons for the treatment of PD, which faces the challenge of precisely controlling the differentiation direction of NSCs. Herein, we report the efficient differentiation of NSCs into neurons boosted by the joint use of Cu2-xSe nanoparticles (CS NPs) with the second near-infrared (NIR-II) laser irradiation. We reveal the mechanism of neuronal differentiation of NSCs and find that the voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) of NSCs can be opened under the stimulation of CS NPs and NIR-II laser irradiation to trigger Ca2+/CaMK/CREB/c-Fos signaling pathway, which promotes the neural differentiation and survival. More importantly, when a mixture of CS NPs and NSCs was injected into the damaged striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA)-induced PD mice and then irradiated with an external 1064 nm NIR-II laser, the NSCs were efficiently differentiated into dopaminergic neurons to effectively repair the damaged neural circuits in the nigra-striatum and ameliorate the motor disorders and anxiety of PD mice. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and importance of precise modulation of directional differentiation of NSCs into matured functional neurons in vivo and in vitro through advanced functional nanoparticles and nanotechnology, which offers a promising approach for the treatment of PD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

TGF-β Modulated Pathways in Colorectal Cancer: New Potential Therapeutic Opportunities.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, with 20% of patients presenting with metastatic disease at diagnosis. TGF-β signaling plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including growth, differentiation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), regulation of the extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, and immune responses. TGF-β signals through SMAD proteins, which are intracellular molecules that transmit TGF-β signals from the cell membrane to the nucleus. Alterations in the TGF-β pathway and mutations in SMAD proteins are common in metastatic CRC (mCRC), making them critical factors in CRC tumorigenesis. This review first analyzes normal TGF-β signaling and then investigates its role in CRC pathogenesis, highlighting the mechanisms through which TGF-β influences metastasis development. TGF-β promotes neoangiogenesis via VEGF overexpression, pericyte differentiation, and other mechanisms. Additionally, TGF-β affects various elements of the tumor microenvironment, including T cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages, promoting immunosuppression and metastasis. Given its strategic role in multiple processes, we explored different strategies to target TGF-β in mCRC patients, aiming to identify new therapeutic options.

The processed Euphorbia lathyris L. alleviates the inflammatory injury via regulating LXRα/ABCA1 expression and TLR4 positioning to lipid rafts

Euphorbia lathyris L. (EL) is a traditional poisonous herbal medicine used to treat dropsy, ascites, amenorrhea, anuria and constipation. Processing to reduce toxicity of EL is essential for its safe and effective application. However, there is little known regarding the molecular mechanism of reducing toxicity after EL processing. This research aimed to screen the differential markers for EL and PEL, explore the differential mechanisms of inflammatory injury induced by EL and processed EL (PEL) to expound the mechanism of alleviating toxicity after EL processing. The results showed that 15 potential biomarkers, mainly belonging to diterpenoids, were screened to distinguish EL from PEL. EL promoted the expressions of TLR4, NLRP3, NF-κB p65, IL-1β and TNF-α, increased lipid rafts abundance and promoted TLR4 positioning to lipid rafts. Meanwhile, EL decreased LXRα and ABCA1 expression, and reduced cholesterol efflux. In contrast to EL, the effects of PEL on these indicators were markedly weakened. In addition, Euphorbia factors L1, L2, and L3 affected LXRα, ABCA1, TLR4, NLRP3, NF-κB p65, TNF-α and IL-1β expression, influenced cholesterol efflux and lipid rafts abundance, and interfered with the colocalization of TLR4 and lipid rafts. The inflammatory injury caused by processed EL was significantly weaker than that caused by crude EL, and reduction of Euphorbia factors L1, L2, and L3 as well as attenuation of inflammatory injury participated in processing-based detoxification of EL. Our results provide valuable insights into the attenuated mechanism of EL processing and will guide future research on the processing mechanism of toxic traditional Chinese medicine.

The Function and Mechanism of Long Noncoding RNAs in Adipogenic Differentiation.

Adipocytes are crucial for maintaining energy balance. Adipocyte differentiation involves distinct stages, including the orientation stage, clone amplification stage, clone amplification termination stage, and terminal differentiation stage. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing adipogenic differentiation is essential for comprehending the physiological processes and identifying potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases, ultimately improving glucose and fat metabolism. Adipogenic differentiation is influenced not only by key factors such as hormones, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family, and the CCATT enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) family but also by noncoding RNA, including microRNA (miRNA), long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA). Among these, lncRNA has been identified as a significant regulator in adipogenic differentiation. Research has demonstrated various ways in which lncRNAs contribute to the molecular mechanisms of adipogenic differentiation. Throughout the adipogenesis process, lncRNAs modulate adipocyte differentiation and development by influencing relevant signaling pathways and transcription factors. This review provides a brief overview of the function and mechanism of lncRNAs in adipogenic differentiation.

Differential pattern of neurotoxicity induced by the gliadin peptides p31-43 and p57-68 in in vitro model of epilepsy

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (CNS) disorder causing repeated seizures due to a transient excessive or synchronous alteration in the electrical activity of the brain. Several neurological disorders have been associated to gluten-related diseases (GRD), including epilepsy. However, the molecular mechanisms that associate GRD and epileptogenesis are still unknown. Our previous data have shown that the gliadin peptide 31–43 (p31-43) enhanced number and duration of seizures induced by kainate in mice and exacerbated CA3-kainate-induced neurotoxicity in organotypic hippocampal slices. Here, we investigated whether another important gliadin peptide p57-68 may exerts effects similar to p31-43 on kainate-induced neurotoxicity. We find that both peptides exacerbate kainate-induced damage in the CA3 region once simultaneously challenged. However, after pre-incubation, p31-43 additionally exacerbates neurotoxicity in the CA1 region, while p57-68 does not. These data suggested differential intracellular mechanisms activated by the peptides. Indeed, analysing intracellular signalling pathways we discover that p31-43 induces significant intracellular changes, including increased phosphorylation of Akt, Erk1/2, and p65, decreased p38 phosphorylation, and deacetylation of nuclear histone-3. Based on these observations, we demonstrate that p31-43 likely activates specific intracellular signaling pathways involved in neuronal excitability, inflammation, and epigenetic regulation, which may contribute to its exacerbation of kainate-induced neurotoxicity. In contrast, p57-68 appears to exert its effects through different mechanisms. Further research is necessary to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which these peptides influence neurotoxicity and understand their implications for neurological disorders.

Analysis and Experiment of Thermal Field Distribution and Thermal Deformation of Nut Rotary Ball Screw Transmission Mechanism

This study designs a differential dual-drive micro-feed mechanism, superposing the two “macro feed motions” (“motor drive screw” and “motor drive nut”) using the same transmission of “the nut rotary ball screw pair” structure. These two motions are almost equal in terms of speed and turning direction, thus the “micro feed” can be obtained. (1) Background: Thermal deformation is the primary factor that can restrict the high-precision micro-feed mechanism and the distribution of heat sources differs from that of the conventional screw single-drive system owing to the structure and motion features of the transmission components. (2) Discussion: This study explores the thermal field distribution and thermal deformation of the differentially driven micro-feed mechanism when two driving motors are combined at different speeds. (3) Methods: Based on the theory of heat transfer, the differential dual-drive system can be used as the research object. The thermal equilibrium equations of the micro-feed transmission system are established using the thermal resistance network method, and a thermal field distribution model is obtained. (4) Results: Combined with the mechanism of thermal deformation theory, the established thermal field model is used to predict the axial thermal deformation of the differential dual-drive ball screw. (5) Conclusions: Under the dual-drive condition, the steady-state thermal error of the nut-rotating ball screw transmission mechanism increases with the increase in nut speed and composite speed and is greater than the steady-state thermal error under the single screw drive condition. After reaching the thermal steady state, the measured thermal elongation at the end of the screw in the experiment is approximately 10.5 μm and the simulation result is 11.98 μm. The experimental measurement result demonstrates the accuracy of the theoretical analysis model for thermal error at the end of the screw.

Soybean symbiotic-nodule zonation and cell differentiation are defined by NIN2 signaling and GH3-dependent auxin homeostasis

Symbiotic nodules comprise two classes, indeterminate and determinate, defined by the presence/absence of apical meristem and developmental zonation. Why meristem and zonation are absent from determinate nodules remains unclear. Here, we define cell types in developing soybean nodules, highlighting the undifferentiated infection zones and differentiated nitrogen-fixation zones. Auxin governs infection zone maintenance. GRETCHEN HAGEN 3 (GH3) enzymes deactivate auxin by conjugation and promote cell differentiation. gh3 mutants increased undifferentiated cells and enlarged infection zones. The central symbiosis-transcription factor NIN2a activates GH3.1 to reduce auxin levels and facilitates cell differentiation. High auxin promotes NIN2a protein accumulation and enhances signaling, further deactivating auxin and depleting infection zones. Our findings shed light on the NIN2a-GH3-auxin module that drives soybean nodule cell differentiation. This study challenges our understanding of determinate nodule development and proposes that the regulation of nodule zonation offers valuable insights into broader mechanisms of cell differentiation across plant species.

Paternal mixed exposure to nicotine/ethanol/caffeine damaged cartilage quality in paternal/offspring rats and its differential glucocorticoid regulation mechanisms

Paternal mixed exposure to nicotine/ethanol/caffeine damaged cartilage quality in paternal/offspring rats and its differential glucocorticoid regulation mechanisms

Two C-terminal isoforms of Aplysia tachykinin–related peptide receptors exhibit phosphorylation-dependent and phosphorylation-independent desensitization mechanisms

Diversity, a hallmark of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, partly stems from alternative splicing of a single gene generating more than one isoform for a receptor. Additionally, receptor responses to ligands can be attenuated by desensitization upon prolonged or repeated ligand exposure. Both phenomena have been demonstrated and exemplified by the deuterostome tachykinin (TK) signaling system, although the role of phosphorylation in desensitization remains a subject of debate. Here, we describe the signaling system for tachykinin-related peptides (TKRPs) in a protostome, mollusk Aplysia. We cloned the Aplysia TKRP precursor, which encodes three TKRPs (apTKRP-1, apTKRP-2a, and apTKRP-2b) containing the FXGXR-amide motif. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed predominant expression of TKRP mRNA and peptide in the cerebral ganglia. TKRPs and their post-translational modifications were observed in extracts of CNS ganglia using mass spectrometry. We identified two Aplysia TKRP receptors (TKRPRs), named apTKRPR-A and apTKRPR-B. These receptors are two isoforms generated through alternative splicing of the same gene and differ only in their intracellular C-termini. Structure-activity relationship analysis of apTKRP-2b revealed that both C-terminal amidation and conserved residues of the ligand are critical for receptor activation. C-terminal truncates and mutants of apTKRPRs suggested that there is a C-terminal phosphorylation-independent desensitization for both receptors. Moreover, apTKRPR-B also exhibits phosphorylation-dependent desensitization through the phosphorylation of C-terminal Ser/Thr residues. This comprehensive characterization of the Aplysia TKRP signaling system underscores the evolutionary conservation of the TKRP and TK signaling systems, while highlighting the intricacies of receptor regulation through alternative splicing and differential desensitization mechanisms.

Morphogenesis, megagametogenesis, and microgametogenesis in Actinidia arguta flower buds

In dioecious plants, understanding sexual differentiation is important for improving cultivation techniques. Flower bud morphogenesis and gametophyte formation underlie the mechanism of sexual differentiation. Actinidia arguta (hardy kiwi) is a unisexual plant, and there have been few studies on its flower bud differentiation or gametophyte formation. We studied flower bud morphogenesis and gametophyte formation in A. arguta using paraffin sections and found that the morphogenesis of male and female flower buds was divided into six stages: the undifferentiated stage, inflorescence initials differentiation stage, calyx primordium differentiation stage, petal primordium differentiation stage, stamen primordium differentiation stage, and pistil primordium differentiation stage. Morphogenesis in the male inflorescence can reach quaternary flower primordia, and morphogenesis in the female inflorescence can reach the tertiary flower primordia, however, no Stage 4 lateral flowers in the male inflorescence or Stage 3 lateral flowers in the female inflorescence were found in natural situation. The embryo sac in female plants was a monocellular Polygonum type, and the embryo sac development in male plants was incomplete; abortion occurred before the archesporial cells developed. The male gametophyte differentiation process in the male plant was normal, with pollen grains similar in shape to a rugby ball and arranged neatly in the anther. The pollen grain differentiation in female plants was abnormal; abortion occurred at the uninucleate microspore stage, and mature pollen grains were irregularly spherical.

An advanced kernel search optimization for dynamic economic emission dispatch with new energy sources

Integrating renewable energy sources, such as wind and photovoltaic power generation, into the power grid is crucial for sustainable power system development and mitigating pollutant emissions. However, these sources’ inherent uncertainty and randomness pose significant challenges to grid operations. Metaheuristic algorithms offer efficient solutions to optimization problems in this context and are widely employed in practice. Kernel Search Optimization (KSO) has emerged as a prominent metaheuristic algorithm due to its parameter-free nature and applicability to power dispatch problems. Nevertheless, KSO’s limited local search capabilities necessitate enhancements for improved performance. This paper introduces an enhanced variant of KSO, termed Upgraded Kernel Search Optimization (UKSO), which incorporates differential evolution techniques, including mutation, crossover, and selection mechanisms, to bolster KSO’s search capabilities and overall performance. The efficacy and feasibility of UKSO are evaluated through comprehensive testing using the CEC2017 benchmark. Comparative analysis demonstrates that UKSO outperforms other algorithms by achieving more optimal solutions. To address power dispatch challenges in the context of renewable energy sources, a Two-Time Energy Dispatch (TTED) model is proposed, leveraging a weighted summation approach to minimize total fuel costs and pollution emissions simultaneously. The application of the Prophet model, based on Bayesian fitting, facilitates accurate prediction of wind and photovoltaic power outputs. Through experimentation across small (8 and 14 units) and large (58 units) systems, the feasibility of UKSO and TTED is validated. In complex scenarios, UKSO demonstrates a 0.69% to 3.64% reduction in pollution emissions and a 0.99% to 1.23% decrease in economic costs compared to KSO under varying weight configurations. Furthermore, UKSO achieves a renewable energy generation utilization rate exceeding 90%, emphasizing its ability to iterate efficiently through complex problems and its efficacy in addressing renewable power dispatch challenges. These results highlight the practical significance of UKSO in optimizing power systems and provide valuable insights for future research and applications in this domain.

Gastroduodenal injury and repair mechanisms.

Although the mucosal barrier serves as a primary interface between the environment and host, little is known about the repair of acute, superficial lesions or deeper, persistent lesions that if not healed, can be the site of increased permeability to luminal antigens, inflammation, and/or neoplasia development. Studies on acute superficial lesions have been sparse in the past year, with more focus given to novel mechanisms of mucosal protection, and the way in which mature epithelial cells or committed stem cells dedifferentiate, reprogram, proliferate, and then regenerate the gastroduodenal mucosa after injury. For this, adenoviral therapy showed organ specific targeting with mRNA and protein expression of effectors to protect against mucosal injury and ulceration. A large database of plant-based agents known to protect against injury and ulceration was published, along with studies using plant-based compounds delivered with alginates, polysaccharide/gel floating rafts, or incorporated into nanoparticles or green carbon dots to improve targeting and retention at the ulcerated lesion. With RNA technology developing rapidly, particularly single-cell RNA sequencing, important and novel data was forthcoming on mucosal regeneration. In particular, the role of interleukin-17 hub proteins in mucosal healing was highlighted. The presence and role of injury reserve cells was determined, as was the composition of ligand gradients for cell differentiation in both stomach and duodenum. The role of amphiregulin in parietal cell differentiation from lineage-restricted stem cells and the Yap1 gene signature in metaplasia vs. healing ulcers were of particular importance. Additionally, studies unveiled the important role of mesenchymal stromal cells in differentiation and repair mechanisms, in Muse cells as an exciting new therapy for mucosal repair after injury, and the role of sympathetic neurons in activating the immune system to regulate mucosal repair mechanisms. Recent studies highlight novel mechanisms that promote mucosal regeneration after injury of the gastroduodenal mucosa.

Synchronized development of thymic eosinophils and thymocytes.

The thymus is an organ required for T cell development and is also an eosinophil-rich organ; however, the nature and function of thymic eosinophils remain unclear. Here, we characterized the gene expression and differentiation mechanism of thymic eosinophils in mice. Thymic eosinophils showed a distinct gene expression profile compared with other organ-resident eosinophils. The number of thymic eosinophils was controlled by medullary thymic epithelial cells. In Rag-deficient mice, the unique gene expression signature of thymic eosinophils was lost but restored by pre-T cell receptor signaling, which induces CD4+ CD8+ thymocyte differentiation, indicating that T cell differentiation beyond the CD4- CD8- stage is necessary and sufficient for the induction of thymic eosinophils. These results demonstrate that thymic eosinophils are quantitatively and qualitatively regulated by medullary thymic epithelial cells and developing thymocytes, respectively, suggesting that thymic eosinophils are a distinct, thymus-specific cell subset, induced by interactions with thymic cells.

СПОСОБИ МЕХАНІЧНОЇ СТАБІЛІЗАЦІЇ ЧАСТОТИ ОБЕРТАННЯ ЕЛЕКТРИЧНОГО ГЕНЕРАТОРА СИЛОВОЇ УСТАНОВКИ

When studying the electrical on-board system of the vehicle as a whole, it is necessary to consider the dynamic characteristics of all its components. One of the links of the system is considered - a mechanical variator for stabilizing the frequency of rotation of the generator rotor. When the generator is driven by an aircraft engine, there are factors that prevent its stable operation. The rotation frequency of the drive motor is constantly changing, so there is a problem related to the creation of a high-quality system of mechanical stabilization of the rotation frequency. Possible methods of stabilizing the frequency of rotation of the electric generator rotor by using stepless variators are considered. When analyzing the possible types of stepless variable speed variators, mechanical variators were chosen, which have a number of advantages over other types, such as their compactness, low cost, high efficiency, etc. In particular, it is proposed to use differential gear mechanisms of various schemes as stabilizers: a differential variator made using schemes IA and AI, as well as a differential mechanism AI with a free carrier. As devices that provide self-regulation of the output rotation frequency, it is proposed to use speed regulators, the principle of operation of which is based on the use of centrifugal force, which changes when the rotation frequency changes at the input to the variator. A concrete example for a differential mechanism (AI) shows how to perform kinematic and force calculations to ensure constancy of the output speed when the input speed changes within ± 6%.

Distributed differentially private energy management of virtual power plants

Prosumers with flexible distributed energy resources (DERs) can be aggregated as a virtual power plant (VPP) to participate in the electricity market. However, the VPP’s energy management requires the prosumers to share individual data, which poses privacy concerns. This paper proposes a distributed differentially private energy management strategy for the VPP to maximize its profit by coordinating the prosumers and at the same time mitigate the privacy risks of local prosumers. Specifically, the coordination of prosumers is first formulated as an optimization problem, which includes the operation constraints of each individual prosumer and the VPP coordination process. On this basis, this paper proposes to solve the optimization problem with a two-level privacy protection strategy. For the individual level, a distributed solution framework is proposed to keep the private information of each prosumer preserved locally. For the communication level, a differential privacy mechanism is integrated into the information exchange process thus reducing the privacy leakage risk. Both theoretical and practical results are provided to verify the performance of the proposed method in terms of optimality and privacy protection levels.

Differential enrichment mechanism of helium in the Jinqiu gas field of Sichuan Basin, China

Helium is extensively utilized in aerospace, healthcare, electronics, semiconductors, advanced science, and renewable energy sectors, playing a pivotal role in the advancement of human technology. Presently, helium is primarily extracted from natural gas as an associated resource. The cost of extraction decreases with an increase in the helium concentration within the gases. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms involved in helium generation, migration, and accumulation underground is vital. This article delves into the differential enrichment mechanism of helium in the Jinqiu gas field, situated in the Sichuan Basin of China, by analyzing the molecular and isotopic composition characteristics of the major gases and noble gases, employing gas dissolution and diffusion models. Compared with other Jurassic gas reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin, the Jinqiu gas field contains a significantly higher helium concentration, displaying unique enrichment patterns within its area. The majority of hydrocarbon gases originate from the local underlying Triassic Xujiahe Formation source rocks. Specifically, the western section of the Jinqiu field is primarily supplied by the higher maturity Xujiahe Formation source rocks located in the western Sichuan Basin. Notably, there is no significant contribution of mantle-derived volatile components in the Jinqiu field. Helium and argon are primarily radiogenic, whereas neon primarily originates from atmosphere. The good linear correlation between 4He and 20Ne suggests that their transfer is primarily facilitated through groundwater. The solubility calculation reveals that the helium exsolved from the in-situ pore water of the reservoir, due to stratigraphic uplift during the Himalayan movement, comprises only 0.04%–0.11% of the existing reserves. This suggests that gas desolvation plays a relatively minor role in helium enrichment in the Jinqiu field. Additionally, the calculation results of gas diffusion indicate that diffusion's contribution to helium enrichment in the Jinqiu gas field remains minimal. Finally, our analysis of methane reserve changes suggests that the combined effect of differential loss and dilution of hydrocarbon gases is the primary mechanism for helium's differential enrichment in the Jinqiu field. Notably, methane and carbon dioxide depletion may be a significant factor in helium enrichment within the crustal natural gas system.

CRIP1 regulates osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells and pre-osteoblasts via the Wnt signaling pathway

With the aging of the global demographic, the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis are becoming crucial issues. The gradual loss of self-renewal and osteogenic differentiation capabilities in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) is one of the key factors contributing to osteoporosis. To explore the regulatory mechanisms of BMSCs differentiation, we collected bone marrow cells of femoral heads from patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty for single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed significantly reduced CRIP1 (Cysteine-Rich Intestinal Protein 1) expression and osteogenic capacity in the BMSCs of osteoporosis patients compared to non-osteoporosis group. CRIP1 is a gene that encodes a member of the LIM/double zinc finger protein family, which is involved in the regulation of various cellular processes including cell growth, development, and differentiation. CRIP1 knockdown resulted in decreased alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization and expression of osteogenic markers, indicating impaired osteogenic differentiation. Conversely, CRIP1 overexpression, both in vitro and in vivo, enhanced osteogenic differentiation and rescued bone mass reduction in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis mice model. The study further established CRIP1's modulation of osteogenesis through the Wnt signaling pathway, suggesting that targeting CRIP1 could offer a novel approach for osteoporosis treatment by promoting bone formation and preventing bone loss.

Differential Mechanisms of Microbial As(III) and Sb(III) Oxidation and Their Contribution to Tailings Reclamation.

Mine tailings are extremely oligotrophic environments frequently contaminated with elevated As and Sb, making As(III) and Sb(III) oxidation potentially important energy sources for the tailing microbiome. Although they have been proposed to share similar metabolic pathways, a systemic comparison of the As(III) and Sb(III) oxidation mechanisms and energy utilization efficiencies requires further elucidation. In this study, we employed a combination of physicochemical, molecular, and bioinformatic analyses to compare the kinetic and genetic mechanisms of As(III) and Sb(III) oxidation as well as their respective energy efficiencies for fueling the key nutrient acquisition metabolisms. Thiobacillus and Rhizobium spp. were identified as functional populations for both As(III) and Sb(III) oxidation in mine tailings by DNA-stable isotope probing. However, these microorganisms mediated As(III) and Sb(III) oxidation via different metabolic pathways, resulting in preferential oxidation of Sb(III) over As(III). Notably, both As(III) and Sb(III) oxidation can facilitate nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization in mine tailings, with Sb(III) oxidation being more efficient in powering these processes. Thus, this study provided novel insights into the microbial As(III) and Sb(III) oxidation mechanisms and their respective nutrient acquisition efficiencies, which may be critical for the reclamation of mine tailings.

Fluorescent carbon dots for discriminating cell types: a review.

Carbon dots (CDs) are quasi-spherical carbon nanoparticles with excellent photoluminescence, good biocompatibility, favorable photostability, and easily modifiable surfaces. CDs, serving as fluorescent probes, have emerged as an ideal tool for cellular differentiation owing to their outstanding luminescence performance and tunable surface properties. In this review, we summarize the recent research progress with CDs in the differentiation of cancer/normal cells, Gram-positive/Gram-negative bacteria, and live/dead cells, as well as the cellular differences used for differentiation. Additionally, we summarize the preparation methods, raw materials, and properties of the CDs used for cell discrimination. The differentiation mechanisms and the advantages or limitations of the differentiation methods are also introduced. Finally, we propose several research challenges in this field and future research directions that require extensive investigation. It is hoped that this review will help researchers in the design of new CDs as ideal fluorescent probes for realizing diverse cell differentiation applications.

Coupled zoning and spatial heterogeneity of human activities and natural endowments based on self-organizing map and random forest: A case study of the agro-pastoral ecotone in Gansu, China

Regional zoning is an important way for humans to understand geographical space，but the existing research on regional zoning focuses on natural conditions, ignoring the interdependent characteristics of human and nature, and the driving mechanism of regional differentiation is not sufficiently explained. In this study, using algorithms such as self-organizing feature map, clustering quality index, structural similarity index measure (SSIM) and random forest, the human activity (HA)–natural endowment (NE) coupled zoning in the agro-pastoral ecotone in Gansu, China (AEGC), was conducted to explore the driving mechanism of regional differentiation. Results show the following: (1) The HA-NE coupled zoning has the best clustering effect when implementing the partitioning scheme with a classification number of 4. Accordingly, the AEGC can be divided into four regions with significant differences between HAs and NEs. (2) From the perspective of spatial distribution, HA–NE coupled zoning, climate zoning, geographic zoning, and vegetation zoning are similar, whereas HA zoning is different. The results of SSIM showed that HA–NE coupled zoning takes all types of factors into consideration (SSIM mean 0.708), and the zoning results are better than single type zonings. HAs have strong independence (SSIM mean 0.576), and geographic conditions are closely related to all other factors (SSIM mean 0.671). (3) Elevation is the most important driver of regional differentiation in the AEGC, with a contribution degree of 22.36%; other important drivers include land use intensity, precipitation, and normalized difference vegetation index, with contribution degree distributions of 17.38%, 16.34%, and 15.79%. Furthermore, the dominant factors of regional differentiation in each sub-region are different. This study emphasizes that regional characteristic factors and uneven spatial distribution factors are important drivers of regional differentiation, and land use intensity has become an important force influencing geographic space. Policy recommendations for zonal governance are made based on the inherent conditions of different regions. This study may provide a reference for scientific regional zoning and cognitive regional differentiation.