Synthesis Capability Research Articles

Generative modeling and augmentation of EEG signals using improved diffusion probabilistic models.

The development of deep learning models for electroencephalography (EEG) signal processing is often constrained by the limited availability of high-quality data. Data augmentation techniques are among the solutions to overcome these challenges, and deep neural generative models, with their data synthesis capabilities, are potential candidates. The current work investigates enhanced diffusion probabilistic models (DPM) and sampling methods for brain signal generation and data augmentation. We used implicit sampling and progressive distillation to shorten the inference and subsequently analysed the effects of these methods on the generated data. To assess the feasibility of our method, four classification models were trained and evaluated in an inter-subject setting on datasets augmented with synthetic signals. Our analysis of generative metrics and statistical evaluations, including subject- and group-level tests, showed that our DPMs could generate visual evoked potentials and motor imagery signals. Distilled, single-step DPMs were trained on two publicly available datasets and were used to synthesize relatively high-quality EEG samples. The performance of the classifiers was improved by the application of the synthesized signals. The present work demonstrates that DPMs are capable of augmenting data with high fidelity and improving the diversity of EEG signals. Although samples can be generated in a single step, there is a significant trade-off between the data quality and sampling steps. The findings and results of this study demonstrate the promising capability of diffusion models for EEG synthesis, which marks progress toward an efficient and generalizable augmentation method for various EEG decoding tasks.

Genetic Code Expansion of the Silkworm Bombyx mori Using a Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase/tRNAPyl Pair.

The domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori, an essential industrial animal for silk production, has attracted attention as a host for protein production due to its remarkable protein synthesis capability. Here, we applied genetic code expansion (GCE) using a versatile pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)/tRNAPyl pair from Methanosarcina mazei to B. mori; GCE enables synthetic amino acid incorporation into proteins to give them non-natural functions. Transgenic B. mori lines expressing M. mazei PylRS and its cognate tRNAPyl were generated and cross-mated to obtain their F1 hybrid. Orally administering a click-compatible synthetic amino acid, trans-cyclooctene-lysine (TCO-Lys), to the F1 hybrid has led to the production of silk fiber incorporated with TCO-Lys. TCO-Lys incorporation in silk fiber was verified by selective labeling of the TCO group by click chemistry. The developed system is available for large-scale protein production with a wide variety of synthetic amino acids.

Facile synthesis and microwave absorption capabilities of hierarchical porous BN@C composites

With the rapid advancement of electronic information technology, the issue of electromagnetic radiation has become increasingly severe. It is urgent to develop high efficiency microwave absorber with excellent microwave absorbing performance. The construction of complex and diversified hierarchical porous structure is regarded as a promising way to enhance electromagnetic wave absorption. In this study, leveraging the porous architecture of melamine foam, a BN@C composite material featuring a hierarchical pore structure comprising larger and smaller pores, both residing in the micrometer regime, was synthesized via a high-temperature-assisted sol-gel method, using polyvinyl alcohol as the carbon precursor and boron nitride (BN) as the filler. By optimizing the molar ratio of raw materials, BN@C composites exhibiting superior microwave absorption performance were successfully obtained. When the matching thickness was set at 2.5 mm and 1.5 mm, respectively, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) reached −29.12 dB, and the maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) was 5.44 GHz, demonstrating a broad application prospect in the realm of microwave absorption. This research not only provides novel insights into enhancing the microwave absorption capabilities of carbon-based materials but also lays a material foundation for the development of electromagnetic radiation protection and stealth technologies.

Artificial Intelligence and its Role in Legislative Practices

One of the most significant challenges faced by the average person is understanding the general context of the legislation that applies to them. The legal discipline has certain characteristics that make it almost esoteric for those who are not part of it, however, it is necessary to know the legal norms as comprehensively as possible. People today are no longer just "from a village/town/province/country", but have become something almost universal within the frameworks of globalization and the vast library the Internet offers at nearly zero cost. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that is beginning to fundamentally change society, and within this "sea of transformations", the law – and legal and political practices in general – cannot avoid contact and change. There is no area of law not being altered, but in my opinion, the most significant place where transformations will be recorded is in legislating and drafting normative acts. Legislative operations are always complex and rarely bring satisfaction to those subject to regulation, given the relationship between the rights and obligations set out by normative acts. At the same time, it is challenging to legislate in an increasingly complex society, where enduring and situational interests intersect, where there are poor-quality mechanisms in legal documentation, and where the concept of legality is not always correctly perceived in the political environment. AI should offer a greater understanding of legal concepts to both ordinary citizens and legislators, precisely through its extensive library and its demonstrated synthesis and analysis capabilities. Therefore, the use of AI in the legislative process will become increasingly necessary as its capabilities grow, primarily to produce faster syntheses of legal documentation, essential for correctly understanding the context that justifies the need for new legislation. I believe that in the coming years, no country will escape this change, and AI will help eliminate some of the poor-quality practices that do not offer countries and citizens better prospects for wealth and professional development.

Isolation of salt-tolerant Vibrio alginolyticus X511 for efficient co-production of 2,3-butanediol and alginate lyase from Laminaria japonica.

In order to establish an efficient microbial transformation platform based on seaweed feedstocks, experiments were performed to isolate a salt-tolerant strain capable of producing alginate lyase and 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO). Its physiological and biochemical characteristics, carbon source utilization, and product synthesis capabilities were investigated, and then the process for co-producing alginate lyase and 2,3-BDO from Laminaria japonica was optimized. Results showed that the isolated strain was identified as Vibrio alginolyticus, which was capable of utilizing multiple carbon sources to produce alginate lyase and 2,3-BDO even in the presence of 5 % NaCl. The highest reducing sugar yield was achieved as the Laminaria japonica pretreated with 1 % (v/v) sulfuric acid at 120 °C for 18 min. The enzymatic hydrolysis was boosted by devising a novel tween 80-assisted enzyme complex containing 60 FPU/g of cellulase, 15 U/g of pectinase, 20 U/g of alginate lyase, and 90 mg/g of tween 80. After establishing a semi-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (S-SSF) strategy, the sugars could be fully utilized, yielding 14.83 g/L 2,3-BDO and 11.02 kU/L alginate lyase, respectively. Mass balance calculations indicating that up to 140 g of 2,3-butanediol and 120 kU of alginate lyase can be obtained from per kg of Laminaria japonica via this integrated approach.

Strategies to Improve Hydrolysis Efficiency of Fish Skin Collagen: Study on ACE Inhibitory Activity and Fibroblast Proliferation Activity.

Collagen peptides play a crucial role in promoting skin elasticity and enhancing joint health, with potential functions to be explored. Enzyme hydrolysis is crucial for the molecular weight and sequence of peptides, influencing the bio-activity. In this study, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and fibroblast proliferation activity of differentially molecular weight peptides derived from dual- or triple-enzyme hydrolysis were compared. Ultrafiltration membrane filtration was used to separate the hydrolyzed prepared collagen peptides into two components based on the molecular size. The results showed that the low-molecular-weight peptide fraction containing peptides with P at the C-terminal, such as KP, RP, and POGP, exhibited high ACE inhibitory activity. The low-molecular-weight peptide fraction obtained through triple-enzyme hydrolysis incorporating ginger protease exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity, with an IC50 3.1 mg/mL. In addition, the triple-enzyme hydrolyzed collagen peptides passing across membranes displayed higher migration rates and enhanced collagen synthesis capabilities, containing peptide sequences, such as POGP, POGA, and LPO, potentially promoting fibroblast proliferation. The results would provide practical guidance for the production of collagen peptides with high ACE inhibitory activity and fibroblast proliferation activity, in terms of enzyme processing and highly active peptide separation.

Stress-induced premature senescence in high five cell cultures: a principal factor in cell-density effects

The Baculovirus Expression Vector System (BEVS) is highly valued in vaccine development, protein engineering, and drug metabolism research due to its biosafety, operational convenience, rapid scalability, and capacity for self-assembling virus-like particles. However, increasing cell density at the time of inoculation severely compromises the production capacity of BEVS, resulting in the “cell density effect”. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms of the cell density effect through time-series analysis of transcriptomes and proteomes, with the goal of overcoming or alleviating the decline in productivity caused by increased cell density. The dynamic analysis of the omics of High Five cells under different CCI (cell density at infection) conditions showed that the impact of the “cell density effect” increased over time, particularly affecting genetic information processing, error repair, protein expression regulation, and material energy metabolism. Omics analysis of the growth stage of High Five cells showed that after 36 h of culture (cell density of about 1 × 106 cells/mL), the expression of ribosome-related proteins decreased, resulting in a rapid decrease in protein synthesis capacity, which was a key indicator of cell aging. Senescence verification experiments showed that cells began to show obvious early aging characteristics after 36 h, resulting in a decrease in the host cell’s ability to resist stress. Overexpression and siRNA inhibition studies showed that the ndufa12 gene was a potential regulatory target for restricting the “cell density effect”. Our results suggested that stress-induced premature senescence in High Five cell cultures, resulting in reduced energy metabolism and protein synthesis capabilities, was a critical factor contributing to cell density effects, and ultimately affecting virus production. In conclusion, this study provided new insights into managing virus production limitations due to cell density effects and offered innovative strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of cellular aging in biomanufacturing technologies.Graphical abstract

The Synthesis and Application of Solid-Supported Metal Borate Nanoparticles As Photo-Redox Catalyst for Environmental Remediation

The burgeoning global population, coupled with increasing urbanization and industrialization, poses significant threats to environmental sustainability. Among these threats, the dissemination of hazardous substances—specifically, industrial dyes, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals—into natural ecosystems is a primary concern. This proliferation of toxic agents contributes to the diminishing availability of clean water, adversely affecting both aquatic life and human health. Concurrently, the shift in global demographics toward urban centers exacerbates the challenges posed by climate change, particularly concerning the availability and quality of freshwater resources. This issue is particularly pronounced in densely populated urban areas with limited access to fresh water. In this context, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) emerge as a viable solution to mitigate these environmental challenges. AOP's appeal lies in its simplicity, efficacy, and versatility in addressing a broad spectrum of organic pollutants. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated the successful synthesis and photoredox capabilities of a novel, single-component metal borate catalyst. This catalyst showcases superior catalytic performance in degrading various organic contaminants. In comparison to emerging catalysts, which necessitate complex heterostructures for enhanced activity, the C, N-doped iron borate developed by our group exhibits significantly higher degradation rates—26-fold and 10-fold greater than those of pristine FeBO3 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, respectively, under solar irradiation. Similarly, our cobalt pyroborate (Co2B2O5) nanoparticles catalysts have demonstrated marked improvements in degradation rates, achieving seven-fold and 2.7-fold increases, respectively, in solar-light-assisted sulfate radical-advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOP). Both metal borates possess a large absorbance in the visible light region and simultaneously exhibit high activity towards H2O2 and peroxymonosulfate (PMS), respectively. Consequently, the catalytic efficiency of both metal borate catalysts is notably augmented under solar light irradiation. This enhancement is primarily due to the photogenerated electrons that facilitate metal redox cycling, thereby accelerating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS play a crucial role in the degradation of organic pollutants present in wastewater. The enhanced catalytic activity of metal borates relative to their corresponding oxides can also be attributed to the synergistic effects associated with the borate ligand. Functioning as an electron donor, the borate ligand facilitates electron transfer to the metal center, thereby promoting the reduction processes of the transition metal. This interaction creates a more conducive environment for the efficient degradation of pollutants. Despite considerable advances in the development of new materials for AOP catalysts and their engineering applications in laboratories, there remains a critical need for efficient composite materials. These materials must not only possess high catalytic activity but also enable straightforward recovery through simple methods such as filtration or gravity sedimentation, thereby facilitating the practical application of AOP in treating real-world wastewater streams. This paper elucidates the synthesis of solid-supported iron borate and cobalt borate nanoparticles within mesoporous silica and KCC-1 frameworks, respectively. The formation of metal borate on these supports, necessitating high-temperature conditions, presents a challenge for achieving complete phase transformation of metal oxides without compromising the integrity of the support structure. We have systematically explored two immobilization strategies—hydrothermal reaction and impregnation—and examined the effects of varying the Si:Co and boron:metal precursor ratios. Through the hydrothermal method, a one-step reaction followed by high-temperature calcination is employed to produce solid-supported metal borate, necessitating precise adjustments to the Si:Co and B:Co ratios to ensure the preservation of the support structure and complete phase conversion. Our laboratory's findings indicate that the impregnation approach successfully yields cobalt pyroborate within the KCC-1 framework. The resulting Co2B2O5@KCC-1 structure exhibits a promising 41% degradation efficiency in SR-AOP conditions. Further research will focus on optimizing the Co:B ratio, impregnation temperature and duration, and degradation parameters to enhance this efficiency.

(Invited) Nano-Sized Metal Deposition on Doped Silicon: Electrodeposition and Characterization

The electrodeposition of nanostructured materials onto silicon substrates offers a pathway to blend the advantageous traits of metals with silicon's exceptional electronic properties. This amalgamation facilitates the creation of integrated circuits, electrodes for batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, sensors, and photovoltaic cells [1]. This deposition method was selected for its cost-effectiveness, scalability, and rapid synthesis capability. It operates at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, utilizing aqueous solutions with adjustable properties.In this study, we examined the feasibility of electrodeposited nanoparticles, ultra-thin films, and Under Potential Deposition (UPD) on n-doped silicon [2]. The initial metal selection for electroplating was based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, considering factors such as the Schottky barrier, metal-silicon interactions, and metal-metal formation energy. Voltammetric analyses were conducted using solutions containing Ni, Ru, Pd, Rh, Pt, Ag, Mn, Co, and Au. Charge-controlled depositions were executed, supplemented by tests on electroless deposition. Optimal deposition conditions were sought for the most promising metals. The resulting deposits were morphologically and compositionally characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) techniques, complemented by analytical spectroscopy including Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy Analysis (EDS) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).Multiple charge-controlled deposition cycles were carried out to modulate the surface coverage, the average thickness, and the particle size distribution. The metal deposits thus obtained are under study to be used as promising templates to partially wet etching the underneath silicon and produce silicon nanowires (NWs). This procedure could create new opportunities for small-size and better-performing sensors [3].Project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.3 - Call for tender No. 341 of 15 March 2023 of Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU - Project code PE_00000004, CUP B83C22004890007, Project title "3A-ITALY - Made-in-Italy circolare e sostenibile".

Dinitrogen Activation and Conversion by Actinide Complexes.

The efficient activation and conversion of dinitrogen (N2) represent a significant challenge in sustainable chemistry, offering potential pathways for synthesizing valuable nitrogen-containing compounds while reducing the environmental impact of traditional nitrogen fixation processes. While transition metal catalysts have been extensively studied for this purpose, actinide complexes have been less explored but have recently emerged as promising candidates due to their unique electronic properties and reactivity. This Perspective systematically examines the recent advances in N2 activation and conversion mediated by actinide complexes, with a particular focus on their synthesis, mechanistic insights, and catalytic capabilities.

Hiding secret messages in large-scale graphs

Digital steganography is an information hiding technique that conceals secret messages within cover data. While image and audio data have traditionally been the primary focus, graph datasets have recently gained attention for steganographic purposes. To explore the feasibility and characteristics of graph datasets in steganography, we develop two algorithms, BIND and BYNIS, for real-world and synthetic graphs. BIND encodes two bits of a message into node degrees, whereas BYNIS synthesizes the edges of a stego graph from a message. We introduce the concepts of the payload unit ‘bpe (bits per edge)’ and ‘ELBPC (estimated lower bound of the payload capacity)’ to analyze the payload capacity of BIND. Through Monte Carlo experiments on random and real-world graphs, we demonstrate that BIND is sensitive to edge type imbalance, particularly in smaller graphs, as shown by experiments on the Open Graph Benchmark and Netzschleuder datasets. In contrast, BYNIS is not limited by edge type imbalance, as it synthesizes the graph structure. In the graph synthesis experiments, BYNIS could generate graphs with either a power-law or binomial distribution of node degrees, depending on the edge addition policy. To overcome BIND’s limitations on smaller graphs, we also develop AdaBIND, which supplements the necessary edges with synthetic edges for BIND. Additionally, we explore the collaboration between BIND and BYNIS, leveraging BYNIS’s graph synthesis capability to complement BIND’s encoding process and ensure robust performance.

Boron-Nitrogen Compounds in Luminescent Materials: A Review of Applications and Synthesis Methods

Boron-nitrogen compounds (B-N) have emerged as a promising material due to their unique electronic structure and excellent luminescent properties, showing great potential in organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) and electroluminescent devices. This paper systematically reviews the molecular structure, optical, and electronic properties of B-N compounds, discusses their applications in luminescent materials, and explores synthesis methods, including Friedel-Crafts-type reactions, borohydride reduction reactions, and olefin metathesis. Additionally, the paper analyzes key factors in controlling the performance of luminescent materials, investigating the impact of synthesis conditions, doping, and the preparation of composite materials on luminescent efficiency and stability. Despite significant progress in B-N compound research, challenges remain in synthesis precision, luminescent efficiency, and industrial production. Future research should focus on improving targeted synthesis capabilities, optimizing electronic structure and luminescent performance, and exploring more efficient, cost-effective production processes. With continued innovation, B-N compounds are poised to become a foundation for the next generation of high-efficiency luminescent materials, driving advancements in optoelectronic technology.

Poly(4‐Vinylpyridine)‐Based Cubosomes: Synthesis, Assembly, and Loading Capabilities

Polymer cubosomes (PCs) are 3D porous microparticles with high surface area that have great potential for applications that require a large interfacial area including catalysis, drug delivery, and energy storage. Most reported PCs are based on chemically inert block copolymers (BCPs) with limited intrinsic functionality, which is why they have been mainly used as templating material. Herein, the synthesis, self‐assembly, and loading of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP)‐based PCs are reported. The pyridinic moieties are located inside the PC wall and are well‐known functional groups for coordination, cross‐linking, and pH response, which is demonstrated on platinum coordination and pH‐dependent dye release.

Widespread production of plant growth-promoting hormones among marine bacteria and their impacts on the growth of a marine diatom

BackgroundReciprocal exchanges of metabolites between phytoplankton and bacteria influence the fitness of these microorganisms which ultimately shapes the productivity of marine ecosystems. Recent evidence suggests that plant growth-promoting hormones may be key metabolites within mutualistic phytoplankton-bacteria partnerships, but very little is known about the diversity of plant growth-promoting hormones produced by marine bacteria and their specific effects on phytoplankton growth. Here, we aimed to investigate the capacity of marine bacteria to produce 7 plant growth-promoting hormones and the effects of these hormones on Actinocyclus sp. growth.ResultsWe examined the plant growth-promoting hormone synthesis capabilities of 14 bacterial strains that enhance the growth of the common diatom Actinocyclus. Plant growth-promoting hormone biosynthesis was ubiquitous among the bacteria tested. Indeed all 14 strains displayed the genomic potential to synthesise multiple hormones, and mass-spectrometry confirmed that each strain produced at least 6 out of the 7 tested plant growth-promoting hormones. Some of the plant growth-promoting hormones identified here, such as brassinolide and trans-zeatin, have never been reported in marine microorganisms. Importantly, all strains produced the hormone indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) in high concentrations and released it into their surroundings. Furthermore, indole-3 acetic acid extracellular concentrations were positively correlated with the ability of each strain to promote Actinocyclus growth. When inoculated with axenic Actinocyclus cultures, only indole-3 acetic acid and gibberellic acid enhanced the growth of the diatom, with cultures exposed to indole-3 acetic acid exhibiting a two-fold increase in cell numbers.ConclusionOur results reveal that marine bacteria produce a much broader range of plant growth-promoting hormones than previously suspected and that some of these compounds enhance the growth of a marine diatom. These findings suggest plant growth-promoting hormones play a large role in microbial communication and broaden our knowledge of their fuctions in the marine environment.4YJWCKdNErspcm2bUDNM6tVideo

Enhancing electromagnetic interference mitigation: A comprehensive study on the synthesis and shielding capabilities of polypyrrole/cobalt ferrite nanocomposites

In a society increasingly infiltrated by digital and networking technologies, designing electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials is critical for safeguarding sensitive electronic equipment and ensuring the smooth functioning of essential communication networks. This study focuses on the optimization of the properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4)/polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposites made by in-situ polymerization used for electromagnetic (EM) shielding based on their magnetic and dielectric losses. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and vector network analyzer (VNA) were employed to study the materials' physical and chemical characteristics. The findings demonstrate that the magnetic and electric properties of the materials composed of CoFe2O4 and PPy are substantially altered by the integration of CoFe2O4 and PPy. Adding PPy to CoFe2O4 reduces the real and imaginary parts of magnetic permeability, and the conductivity, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss are increased. These effects are advantageous for EM shielding applications. The high electromagnetic shielding performance mainly results from the enhanced interfacial polarization induced by interface region among CoFe2O4 and PPy molecules. The influence of the PPy matrix in altering the dielectric and magnetic loss factors (tanδE and tanδM) of the embedded ferrite particles is pronounced. Although CoFe2O4 shows excellent attenuation characteristics, it cannot optimally match impedance with free space, particularly at higher frequencies. In addition, material thickness and shielding efficiency adjust the reflection loss (RL) performance. The prepared composites can attenuate more than 95 % of the incident electromagnetic waves. This study emphasizes the benefits of employing composite materials in EMI shielding designs and the combined advantages of conductive and magnetic materials.

Biochemical simulation of mutation synthesis and repair during SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerization

We biochemically simulated the mutation synthesis process of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) complex (nsp7/nsp8/nsp12) involving two sequential mechanistic steps that occur during genomic replication: misinsertion (incorporation of incorrect nucleotides) and mismatch extension. Then, we also simulated mismatch repair process catalyzed by the viral nsp10/nsp14 ExoN complex. In these mechanistic simulations, while SARS-CoV-2 RdRp displays efficient mutation synthesis capability, the viral ExoN complex was able to effectively repair the mismatch primers generated during the mutation synthesis. Also, we observed that the delayed RNA synthesis induced by mutation synthesis process was rescued by the viral ExoN activity. Collectively, our biochemical simulations suggest that SARS-CoV-2 ExoN complex may contribute to both maintenance of proper viral genetic diversity levels and successful completion of the viral large RNA genome replication by removing mismatches generated by the viral RdRp.

Novel genomic and phenotypic traits of polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacterium ZZQ-149, the type strain of Halomonas qinghailakensis

BackgroundPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are optimal potential materials for industrial and medical uses, characterized by exceptional sustainability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. These are primarily from various bacteria and archaea. Bacterial strains with effective PHA formation capabilities and minimal production cost form the foundation for PHA production. Detailed genomic analysis of these PHA-generating bacteria is vital to understand their PHA production pathways and enhance their synthesis capability.ResultsZZQ-149, a halophilic, PHA-producing bacterium, was isolated from the sediment of China’s Qinghai Lake. Here, we decoded the full genome of ZZQ-149 using Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT) technology based on PacBio RS II platform, coupled with Illumina sequencing platforms. Physiological, chemotaxonomic traits, and phylogenetic analysis based on 16 S rRNA gene and single copy core genes of ninety-nine Halomonas type strains identified ZZQ-149 as the type strain of Halomonas qinghailakensis. Furthermore, a low average nucleotide identity (ANI, < 95%) delineated the genetic differences between ZZQ-149 and other Halomonas species. The ZZQ-149 genome, with a DNA G + C content of 52%, comprises a chromosome (3, 798, 069 bps) and a plasmid (6, 107 bps). The latter encodes the toxin-antitoxin system, BrnT/BrnA. Through comprehensive genome sequencing and analysis, we identified multiple PHA-synthesizing enzymes and an unprecedented combination of eight PHA-synthesizing pathways in ZZQ-149.ConclusionsBeing a halophilic, PHA-producing bacterium, ZZQ-149 exhibits potential as a high PHA producer for engineered bacteria via genome editing while ensuring low-cost PHA production through continuous, unsterilized fermentation.

Synergistic regulation of chassis cell growth and screening of promoters, signal peptides and fusion protein linkers for enhanced recombinant protein expression in Bacillus subtilis

Growth-advantageous microbial chassis cells are beneficial for shortening fermentation period and boosting biomolecule productivity. This study focused on enhancing recombinant proteins synthesis efficiency in Bacillus subtilis by CRISPRi-mediated metabolism regulation for improved cell growth and screening expression elements. Specifically, by repressing odhA gene expression to reallocate cellular resource and overexpressing atpC, atpD and atpG genes to reprogram energy metabolism, the growth-advantageous chassis cell with high specific growth rate of 0.63 h−1 and biomass yield of 0.41 g DCW/g glucose in minimum medium was developed, representing 61.54 % and 46.43 % increasements compared to B. subtilis 168. Subsequently, using screened optimal P566 promoter and (EAAAK)3 protein linker, secretory bovine alpha-lactalbumin (α-LA) titer reached 1.02 mg/L. Finally, to test protein synthesis capability of cells, intracellular GFP, secretory α-LA and α-amylase were expressed with P566 promoter, representing 43.76 %, 75.49 % and 82.98 % increasements. The growth-advantageous B. subtilis chassis cells exhibit their potential to boost bioproduction productivity.

Scalable and facile fabrication of sulfonic-acid-functionalized porous hypercrosslinked polymers for efficient recovery of rare earth elements from tailing wastewater

The separation and enrichment of rare earth elements (REEs) from tailing wastewater is of great significance for the sustainable supply of REEs and environmental remediation. As Al3+ exhibits extreme similar properties with REE3+, selective recovery of REE3+ from the sulphate tailing wastewater remains a considerable challenge. Based on the difference in the binding stability of REE3+ and Al3+ with sulfate ions, the utilization of sulfonic acid groups may provide a promising method for enhancing the selectivity of REE3+/Al3+ in the sulphate aqueous solution. Herein, a series of sulfonic-acid-functionalized hyper-crosslinked polymers (SHCP-Ps) were successfully synthesized through a facile, scalable and one-step method catalyzed by chlorosulfonic acid, which has the advantages of high sulfonic acid density (3.27 mmol/g), specific surface area (1044.6 m2/g), abundant micropores and superhydrophilicity. These properties result in SHCP-P exhibiting fast adsorption kinetics (30 min) and high adsorption capacities (106.78 mg/g (La), 111.99 mg/g (Eu) and 126.27 mg/g (Lu)). Additionally, it exhibits extremely high REE3+/Al3+ selectivity (SF(La/Al) = 6929, SF(Eu/Al) = 4810, SF(Lu/Al) = 3003) in sulfate medium, surpassing that of most existing REEs adsorbents. Upon application of SHCP-P to actual wastewater, the recovery rate of total REE3+ was observed to reach 87 %, while the adsorption rate of Al3+ was found to be 0. Simultaneously, SHCP-P exhibits both high reusability and magnification synthesis capabilities. The results indicate that SHCP-P has significant potential for industrial applications in the selective recovery of REEs from tailing wastewater.

Transcriptomics analysis of the role of SdiA in desiccation tolerance of Cronobacter sakazakii in powdered infant formula

The quorum-sensing receptor SdiA is vital for regulating the desiccation tolerance of C. sakazakii, yet the specific mechanism remains elusive. Herein, transcriptomics and phenotypic analysis were employed to explore the response of C. sakazakii wild type (WT) and sdiA knockout strain (ΔsdiA) under drying conditions. Following 20 days of drying in powdered infant formula (PIF), WT exhibited 4 log CFU/g higher survival rates compared to ΔsdiA. Transcriptome revealed similar expression patterns between csrA and sdiA, their interaction was confirmed both by protein-protein interaction analysis and yeast two-hybrid assays. Notably, genes associated with flagellar assembly and chemotaxis (flg, fli, che, mot regulon) showed significantly higher expression levels in WT than in ΔsdiA, indicating a reduced capacity for flagellar synthesis in ΔsdiA, which was consistent with cellular morphology observations. Similarly, genes involved in trehalose biosynthesis (ostAB, treYZS) and uptake (thuEFGK) exhibited similar expression patterns to sdiA, with higher levels of trehalose accumulation observed in WT under desiccation conditions compared to ΔsdiA. Furthermore, WT demonstrated enhanced protein and DNA synthesis capabilities under desiccation stress. Higher expression levels of genes related to oxidative phosphorylation were also noted in WT, ensuring efficient cellular ATP synthesis. This study offers valuable insights into how SdiA influences the desiccation tolerance of C. sakazakii, paving the way for targeted strategies to inhibit and control this bacterium.