Chinese Journal of Nature

Functional applications of CRISPR gene editing tools for microbes

CHENG Zhouhua, YU Hanqing

2024, 46(5): 317-329. doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2024.05.001

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The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system, a powerful and tunable gene-editing tool, holds great promise in the fields of microbial mechanism analysis, functional enhancement, and detection tracing due to its precision and flexibility. The system’s two core functions, the specific recognition and cis-cleavage by Cas (CRISPR-associated) proteins and the trans-cleavage, have garnered significant attention. Efficient microbial genome editing tools based on the specific recognition and cutting function have strengthened the functionality of microorganisms, enhancing their application potential in environmental protection, ecological restoration, and energy recovery. Moreover, the rapid detection methods for pathogenic microorganisms, developed based on its trans-cleavage, provide technical support for epidemic prevention and control caused by pathogenic microorganisms. This paper focuses on the current application status and future prospects of CRISPR gene-editing technology in microbes.

The changes of Arctic sea ice and their impacts

CHEN Jinlei, KANG Shichang

2024, 46(5): 330-336. doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2024.05.002

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The Arctic cryosphere has experienced substantial changes under global warming. Arctic sea ice has been steadily receding, with diminishing area, thickness, and volume in recent decades. It is projected that the sea ice will vanish entirely during summers by mid-century. This decline in Arctic sea ice has profound impacts on ecosystems, atmospheric circulation, ocean currents, mid-latitude weather and climate, as well as socio-economic development. The study on the changes of Arctic sea ice and their impacts is vital for the Arctic’s sustainable development. Additionally, it also helps to enhance China's discourse power, and safeguard our interests in the Arctic.

The current situation and prospects of clean energy in Antarctica

ZHANG Weizhe, LI Bingrui, DOU Yinke, CHEN Yan, LI Yahao

2024, 46(5): 337-346. doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2024.05.003

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With the in-depth development of Antarctic scientific expeditions, the environmental problems caused by the logistics support of Antarctic expeditions become increasingly prominent, and the traditional fuel-based energy consumption structure is unable to meet the developing needs, and the harsh natural environment and complex application scenarios made energy supply and use methods rarely innovative. Clean energy utilization technology has increasingly been an important factor influencing Antarctic scientific expeditions, so there is an urgent need to develop clean energy utilization technologies and apply them to Antarctic scientific expeditions. Based on this, this paper systematically reviews the achievements of the current Antarctic clean energy utilization technology, points out the current energy consumption structure of Antarctica, which is still dominated by fuel oil, expounds the current status of clean energy application in Antarctic research stations in various countries, and discusses the problems and difficulties of clean energy utilization technology and the prospect of clean energy utilization technology in the future.

The application of unmanned surface vehicles in Antarctic scientific expeditions

ZHONG Yuxuan, LIU Ruixuan, KONG Xiangshen, BAO Lingzhi

2024, 46(5): 347-353. doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2024.05.004

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Antarctic scientific expeditions are of immense significance for understanding global climate change, ecosystem protection, and the history of the Earth itself. With the advancement of technology, the application of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in Antarctic research has been increasingly widespread. USVs can conduct environmental exploration and data collection in extreme conditions, providing valuable data for Antarctic expeditions. This article first introduces the application of USVs in Antarctic expeditions at home and abroad, as well as the value they reflect. Then, it analyzes the technical characteristics of USVs for Antarctic expeditions and the prospects for future application and promotion. Finally, development suggestions for USVs and related technologies are proposed from aspects such as adapting to extreme environments, long-term maritime operations, and marine environmental cognition.

Joining of metallic glasses in liquid via ultrasonic vibrations

LI Luyao, LI Xin, MA Jiang

2024, 46(5): 354-362. doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2024.03.013

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Welding technology plays a pivotal role in the development of human society. Currently, specialized environment welding techniques, such as underwater welding, have profound implications for aerospace, defense, and deep-sea exploration. However, the difficulty of welding significantly increases when operations must be conducted in complex underwater conditions. Furthermore, welding processes hold great potential in complex environments such as flammable or explosive liquids, as well as extremely low temperature. Applications in fields like oil and gas storage container repair, polar and deep-space manufacturing, require further research in related welding technologies. Ultrasonic vibration processing is a unique technique that applies frequencies reaching tens of thousands of Hertz. For metallic glasses (amorphous alloys), the application of ultrasonic vibration can soften its with liquid-like state. Capitalizing on this characteristic, we have introduced ultrasonic vibration technology into the field of under-liquid welding. In this work, successful welding of amorphous alloys has been achieved in water, seawater, alcohol, and liquid nitrogen environments.
This breakthrough provides a viable strategy for manufacturing in extreme environments.

Research on senescent macrophages and senescent neutrophils in liver diseases

LIU Zhenni, WANG Hua

2024, 46(5): 363-374. doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2024.01.015

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As a firewall for the body to deal with various internal and external crises, the aging of the immune system will increase the mortality and incidence rate of people, especially the elderly. In recent years, the role of immune cell senescence in diseases has received increasing attention. Inhibiting immune cell senescence has become a key target for delaying aging. The liver is considered an important immune organ with abundant and active natural immune cells, among which myeloid cells (macrophages and neutrophils) are involved in various liver diseases. The aging environment can have many impacts on myeloid cells, thereby affecting the progression of diseases. This review summarizes the characteristics and current research status of senescent macrophages and senescent neutrophils, with the aim of providing new methods for treating liver diseases targeting senescent immune cells.

How do liver and ovary communicate with each other?

XU Qiuyu, ZHANG Jie, WU Ling

2024, 46(5): 375-380. doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2024.04.015

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Liver and ovary are two important and separated organs, which have been inextricably linked to each other from physiology to pathology. The liver mainly functions in metabolism, drug detoxification, protein synthesis and secretion, while the ovary primarily functions in secreting sex hormones to maintain secondary sexual characteristics and produce oocytes. SHBG, sex hormone-binding globulin, which is produced by hepatocyte in the liver, regulates free testosterone levels in the serum through binding androgen and inactivating it, thereby keeping ovary and the whole body healthy. The estrogens produced by the ovaries are also metabolized and inactivated by the liver. Conversely estrogens can protect the liver from the adverse effects of various chronic diseases. In summary, maintaining the normal functions of the liver and ovaries, as well as keeping smooth communication between the liver and the ovaries, is of great benefit to our health.

Science, culture and art: Glass under multiple perspectives

LI Jing

2024, 46(5): 381-388. doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2024.05.008

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As a synthetic material, glass has been produced and used for nearly 5 000 years. Unique working processes were gradually developed based on its significant material properties. While the understanding of glass in science is constantly developing and deepening, the public and the art world have a long-term cognitive bias against this material. This paper discuss glass from scientific, cultural, and artistic aspect, including glass is a state of matter — the glassy state, the complex history of naming the material in both eastern and western culture, and its unique charm as an artistic medium.

Bose’s life and physical thought: to mark the 130th anniversary of Bose’s birth

LI Zaidong, NAN Xuemeng, LIU Wuming

2024, 46(5): 389-394. doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2024.05.009

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This paper focuses on the life and contributions to physics of Satyendra Nath Bose (1894—1974), an outstanding Indian physicist from the early 20th century. Bose considered the indistinguishability and probability explanation of identical particles. He discovered the statistical law of photonic gases based on quantum mechanics. Additionally, he derived Planck’s formula for blackbody radiation. His work led to the discovery of Bose-Einstein statistics and Bose-Einstein condensates, which reflect Bose's outstanding contributions to the development of quantum physics.

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