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Calmodulins (CaMs) and calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs) belong to families of calcium-sensors that act as calcium ion (Ca2+) signal-decoding proteins and regulate downstream target proteins. As a tropical halophyte, Canavalia rosea shows great resistance to multiple abiotic stresses, including high salinity/alkalinity, extreme drought, heat, and intense sunlight. However, investigations of calcium ion signal transduction involved in the stress responses of C. rosea are limited. The CaM and CML gene families have been identified and characterized in many other plant species. Nevertheless, there is limited available information about these genes in C. rosea. In this study, a bioinformatic analysis, including the gene structures, conserved protein domains, phylogenetic relationships, chromosome distribution, and gene synteny, was comprehensively performed to identify and characterize CrCaMs and CrCMLs. A spatio-temporal expression assay in different organs and environmental conditions was then conducted using the RNA sequencing technique. Additionally, several CrCaM and CrCML members were then cloned and functionally characterized using the yeast heterogeneous expression system, and some of them were found to change the tolerance of yeast to heat, salt, alkalinity, and high osmotic stresses. The results of this study provide a foundation for understanding the possible roles of the CrCaM and CrCML genes, especially for halophyte C. rosea's natural ecological adaptability for its native habitats. This study also provides a theoretical basis for further study of the physiological and biochemical functions of plant CaMs and CMLs that are involved in tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article designs a fully decoupled finite element algorithm with second order time-accuracy for the incompressible vector potential magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) system. The novel feature lies in the fact that it naturally produces an exactly divergence-free discretized solution of magnetic induction. The designed algorithm exhibits second-order accuracy, unconditional stability, linearity and fully decoupling. It is implemented by introducing the scalar auxiliary variable (SAV) techniques, combining second-order pressure-correction method, explicit treatment for the nonlinear/coupled terms, and a finite element method for spatial discretization. The effectiveness of this developed algorithm is demonstrated through various three-dimensional numerical simulations, including convergence tests and benchmark issues such as the driven cavity flow, the hydromagnetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and the island coalescence problem. • A novel fully decoupled algorithm for 3D potential MHD is proposed for first time. • Features: divergence free, fully decoupled second order, unconditionally stable. • Some 3D benchmark examples are simulated, i.e. KH instability and island coalescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is one of the most crucial crustacean species cultured in China. However, in recent years, M. rosenbergii aquaculture in China has encountered several challenges, including low productivity and growth retardation. A decline in genetic variation has been implicated in this phenomenon. This study aims to develop microsatellite multiplex PCR panels to elucidate the genetic diversity and differentiation of cultured M. rosenbergii populations in China. Based on our previous transcriptome sequencing, we developed 24 polymorphic molecular markers. The average number of alleles (Na), observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), and polymorphism information content (PIC) were 4.042, 0.535, 0.605, and 0.543, respectively. Two multiplex PCR panels involving six microsatellite loci were obtained by combining different amplicon lengths from these 24 loci. The panels were used to evaluate the genetic structure of six cultured M. rosenbergii populations in China, including one population in Guangxi (GX) and another in Guangdong (GD) province, along with two populations each in Jiangsu (JSA and JSB) and Zhejiang (ZJA and ZJB) provinces. Results revealed that the polymorphism among the six populations ranged from 0.365 to 0.682 with reduced genetic diversity in ZJA and JSB populations (PIC < 0.5). Pairwise FST, Nei's genetic distance, and STRUCTURE analysis revealed significant differentiation among the six cultured populations. ZJA and GD exhibited pronounced genetic distinctiveness from the other populations and were consequently assigned to distinct groups. Populations GX and JSB (FST=0.058, DA=0.045) and populations ZJB and JSA (FST=0.009, DA=0.016) were assigned to two clusters, respectively, suggesting they share similar origins. This study provided polymorphic microsatellite markers and genetic diversity assessment of cultured M. rosenbergii populations, laying a foundation for future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze (Aizoaceae, 2n = 2x = 32), a vegetable used for both food and medicine, is a halophyte that is widely distributed in the coastal areas of the tropics and subtropics. Saline–alkaline soils and drought stress are two major abiotic stressors that significantly affect the distribution of tropical coastal plants. Abscisic acid-, stress-, and ripening-induced (ASR) proteins belong to a family of plant-specific, small, and hydrophilic proteins with important roles in plant development, growth, and abiotic stress responses. Here, we characterized the ASR gene family from T. tetragonoides, which contained 13 paralogous genes, and divided TtASRs into two subfamilies based on the phylogenetic tree. The TtASR genes were located on two chromosomes, and segmental duplication events were illustrated as the main duplication method. Additionally, the expression levels of TtASRs were induced by multiple abiotic stressors, indicating that this gene family could participate widely in the response to stress. Furthermore, several TtASR genes were cloned and functionally identified using a yeast expression system. Our results indicate that TtASRs play important roles in T. tetragonoides' responses to saline–alkaline soils and drought stress. These findings not only increase our understanding of the role ASRs play in mediating halophyte adaptation to extreme environments but also improve our knowledge of plant ASR protein evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a speech recognition method based on a domain-specific language speech network (DSL-Net) and a confidence decision network (CD-Net). The method involves automatically training a domain-specific dataset, using pre-trained model parameters for migration learning, and obtaining a domain-specific speech model. Importance sampling weights were set for the trained domain-specific speech model, which was then integrated with the trained speech model from the benchmark dataset. This integration automatically expands the lexical content of the model to accommodate the input speech based on the lexicon and language model. The adaptation attempts to address the issue of out-of-vocabulary words that are likely to arise in most realistic scenarios and utilizes external knowledge sources to extend the existing language model. By doing so, the approach enhances the adaptability of the language model in new domains or scenarios and improves the prediction accuracy of the model. For domain-specific vocabulary recognition, a deep fully convolutional neural network (DFCNN) and a candidate temporal classification (CTC)-based approach were employed to achieve effective recognition of domain-specific vocabulary. Furthermore, a confidence-based classifier was added to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the overall approach. In the experiments, the method was tested on a proprietary domain audio dataset and compared with an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system trained on a large-scale dataset. Based on experimental verification, the model achieved an accuracy improvement from 82% to 91% in the medical domain. The inclusion of domain-specific datasets resulted in a 5% to 7% enhancement over the baseline, while the introduction of model confidence further improved the baseline by 3% to 5%. These findings demonstrate the significance of incorporating domain-specific datasets and model confidence in advancing speech recognition technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSC-CMs) have been widely accepted as a promising cell source for cardiac drug screening and heart regeneration therapies. However, unlike adult cardiomyocytes, the underdeveloped structure, the immature electrophysiological properties and metabolic phenotype of PSC-CMs limit their application. This project aimed to study the role of the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel in regulating the maturation of embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (ESC-CMs). Methods: The activity and expression of TRPA1 in ESC-CMs were modulated by pharmacological or molecular approaches. Knockdown or overexpression of genes was done by infection of cells with adenoviral vectors carrying the gene of interest as a gene delivery tool. Immunostaining followed by confocal microscopy was used to reveal cellular structure such as sarcomere. Staining of mitochondria was performed by MitoTracker staining followed by confocal microscopy. Calcium imaging was performed by fluo-4 staining followed by confocal microscopy. Electrophysiological measurement was performed by whole-cell patch clamping. Gene expression was measured at mRNA level by qPCR and at protein level by Western blot. Oxygen consumption rates were measured by a Seahorse Analyzer. Results: TRPA1 was found to positively regulate the maturation of CMs. TRPA1 knockdown caused nascent cell structure, impaired Ca2+ handling and electrophysiological properties, and reduced metabolic capacity in ESC-CMs. The immaturity of ESC-CMs induced by TRPA1 knockdown was accompanied by reduced mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion. Mechanistically, we found that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), the key transcriptional coactivator related to mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism, was downregulated by TRPA1 knockdown. Interestingly, overexpression of PGC-1α ameliorated the halted maturation induced by TRPA1 knockdown. Notably, phosphorylated p38 MAPK was upregulated, while MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), a calcium-sensitive MAPK inhibitor, was downregulated in TRPA1 knockdown cells, suggesting that TRPA1 may regulate the maturation of ESC-CMs through MKP-1-p38 MAPK-PGC-1α pathway. Conclusions: Taken together, our study reveals the novel function of TRPA1 in promoting the maturation of CMs. As multiple stimuli have been known to activate TRPA1, and TRPA1-specific activators are also available, this study provides a novel and straightforward strategy for improving the maturation of PSC-CMs by activating TRPA1. Since a major limitation for the successful application of PSC-CMs for research and medicine lies in their immature phenotypes, the present study takes a big step closer to the practical use of PSC-CMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop and analyze a finite element projection method for magnetohydrodynamics equations in Lipschitz domain. A fully discrete scheme based on Euler semi‐implicit method is proposed, in which continuous elements are used to approximate the Navier–Stokes equations and H(curl) conforming Nédélec edge elements are used to approximate the magnetic equation. One key point of the projection method is to be compatible with two different spaces for calculating velocity, which leads one to obtain the pressure by solving a Poisson equation. The results show that the proposed projection scheme meets a discrete energy stability. In addition, with the help of a proper regularity hypothesis for the exact solution, this paper provides a rigorous optimal error analysis of velocity, pressure and magnetic induction. Finally, several numerical examples are performed to demonstrate both accuracy and efficiency of our proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies found that the reward effect is stronger in more difficult retrieval tasks of item memory. However, it remains unclear whether the effect of reward is influenced by the memory task difficulty level in the source memory. We investigated the effects and neural mechanisms of the processing depth during encoding and rewards at retrieval on the item and source memory using event-related potentials (ERPs). Participants were required to carry out the congruity-judgment (deep processing) and size-judgment (shallow processing) tasks during encoding, and they completed separate object and background tests (half presented with reward) immediately after encoding. The results revealed that congruity-judgment (compare to size-judgment) task had longer response time in encoding phase, and evoked significantly greater reward differences at Prs (the hit rate minus the false alarm rate) in item retrieval, and the reward (relative to no reward) significantly improved recognition accuracy in source retrieval. ERP results also showed that congruity-judgment (compare to size-judgment) task evoked the larger N170, P3a, LPP and a decreased P3b of the stimuli in encoding phase, and elicited the wider distribution of LPC and LPN reward effects (i.e., the average amplitudes under the reward condition were significantly more positive than under the non-reward condition) in item retrieval, and the reward effects at FN400, LPC, and LPN were found only in the congruity-judged items with optimal difficulty in source retrieval. The results suggest that reward at retrieval evoked a greater boost in the congruity-judged stimuli, whether in item or source retrieval, which maybe be related to their optimal retrieval difficulty (Pr is closer to medium 0.50). This meant that the reward is more effective in memory retrieval with optimal difficulty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by MeCP2 mutations. Nonetheless, the pathophysiological roles of MeCP2 mutations in the etiology of intrinsic cardiac abnormality and sudden death remain unclear. In this study, we performed a detailed functional studies (calcium and electrophysiological analysis) and RNA-sequencing-based transcriptome analysis of a pair of isogenic RTT female patient-specific induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) that expressed either MeCP2wildtype or MeCP2mutant allele and iPSC-CMs from a non-affected female control. The observations were further confirmed by additional experiments, including Wnt signaling inhibitor treatment, siRNA-based gene silencing, and ion channel blockade. Compared with MeCP2wildtype and control iPSC-CMs, MeCP2mutant iPSC-CMs exhibited prolonged action potential and increased frequency of spontaneous early after polarization. RNA sequencing analysis revealed up-regulation of various Wnt family genes in MeCP2mutant iPSC-CMs. Treatment of MeCP2mutant iPSC-CMs with a Wnt inhibitor XAV939 significantly decreased the β-catenin protein level and CACN1AC expression and ameliorated their abnormal electrophysiological properties. In summary, our data provide novel insight into the contribution of activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade to the cardiac abnormalities associated with MeCP2 mutations in RTT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a decoupled, unconditionally energy stable and charge-conservative finite element method for the inductionless magnetohydrodynamic equations. The time marching is combined with a first order semi-implicit Euler scheme, a first order perturbation term and some delicate implicit-explicit treatments for coupling terms. The finite element discretization is based on mixed conforming elements, where the hydrodynamic unknowns are approximated by stable finite element pairs, and the current density and electric potential are discretized by divergence-conforming face elements and discontinuous volume elements. This fully discrete scheme only needs to solve a linear subsystem at each time step and yields an exactly divergence-free current density directly. We show that the proposed scheme is well-posed and unconditionally energy stable. Under a weak regularity hypothesis on the exact solution, we present the error estimates for velocity, current density and electric potential. Finally, the validity, reliability, and accuracy of the proposed algorithm are supported by several numerical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a stable mixed finite element method for unsteady inductionless magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) problem coupled heat equation is devised. We first propose a mixed variational formulation based on all the variables, in which the thermal equation and Navier-Stokes equations are approximated by mini finite element method and the current density is discretized by the divergence-conforming elements. The novel feature of this scheme is that the discrete current density keeps charge conservation property. It is shown that the fully discrete first order Euler semi-implicit scheme is well-posed and unconditionally stable. The existence and uniqueness of the weak solutions for continuous problem is established by a numerical version analysis. Furthermore, under the low regularity hypothesis for the exact solutions, we prove the optimal error estimates of the velocity, current density and electric potential. Finally, some numerical experiments have been performed to validate the theoretical analysis and the law of charge conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop and analyze a fully decoupled finite element method for the non-stationary generalized Boussinesq equations, where the viscosity and thermal conductivity depend on the temperature. Based on some subtle implicit-explicit treatments for the nonlinear coupling terms, we develop a second-order in time, fully decoupled, linear and unconditionally energy stable scheme for solving this system. The unconditional stability of the fully discrete scheme with finite element approximation is proved. The optimal L 2 -error estimates are analyzed for temperature-dependent thermal conductivity system. Numerical experiments are presented to illustrate the convergence, accuracy and applicability of the proposed numerical scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on pressure-robust analysis of a mixed finite element method for the numerical discretization of nonstationary magnetohydrodynamics system. The velocity field is discretized by divergence-conforming Raviart-Thomas spaces with interior penalties, and the magnetic equation is approximated by curl-conforming Nédélec edge elements. The main feature of the method is that it produces exactly divergence-free velocity approximation, and captures the strongest magnetic singularities. The results show that the proposed scheme meets a discrete unconditional energy stability and the numerical solution is well-posedness. In addition, a priori error estimates are given, in which the constants are independent of the Reynolds number. Finally, we provide several numerical results illustrating the good performance of the scheme and confirming the theoretical rates of convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming levulinic acid (LA) to γ -valerolactone (GVL) is a significant route for converting biomass into valuable chemicals. The development of an efficient and robust heterogeneous catalyst for this reaction has aroused great interest. In this work, nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) supported nickel (Ni) based heterogeneous catalyst with excellent activities was successfully synthesized. The Ni/NG catalyst shows outstanding performance for hydrogenation of LA to GVL at a relatively low temperature of 140 °C, which is superior to most of reported heterogeneous catalysts. Further investigations indicate Ni nanoparticles are the active sites and the NG also plays an indispensable role. The catalytic performance is highly depended on the crystallinity, particles sizes and electronic structure of Ni in Ni/NG catalyst, which can be optimized by nitrogen doping. This work affords a new route for designing robust and excellent heterogeneous catalysts by doping method to optimize the support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a mixed finite element method for thermally coupled, stationary incompressible MHD problems with physical parameters dependent on temperature in the Lipschitz domain is considered. Due to the variable coefficients of the MHD model, the nonlinearity of the system is increased. A stationary discrete scheme based on the coefficients dependent temperature is proposed, in which the magnetic equation is approximated by Nédélec edge elements, and the thermal and Navier–Stokes equations are approximated by the mixed finite elements. We rigorously establish the optimal error estimates for velocity, pressure, temperature, magnetic induction and Lagrange multiplier with the hypothesis of a low regularity for the exact solution. Finally, a numerical experiment is provided to illustrate the performance and convergence rates of our numerical scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have explored the effects of retrieval reward and depth of processing in encoding on recognition, but it remains unclear whether and how reward and depth of processing during encoding influence recognition. We investigated the effect and neural mechanisms of encoding reward and processing depth on recognition using event-related potentials (ERPs) in this study. In the study phase, participants were asked to perform two encoding tasks: congruity-judgment (deep processing) and size-judgment (shallow processing) in reward and no-reward conditions. The test phases included object (item) and background (source) tests. The results of item retrieval showed that the accuracy of rewarded items was higher than that of unrewarded items only in the congruity-judgment task, and the reward effect (the average amplitudes in the reward condition were significantly more positive than those in the no-reward condition) in the 300–500 and 500–700 ms were greater in the congruity-judgment task than in the size-judgment task. The results of source retrieval showed that the accuracy of rewarded items was higher than that of unrewarded items, that the difference in the size-judgment task was significantly larger, and that the reward effect in the 300–500 and 500–700 ms were greater in the size-judgment task than in the congruity-judgment task. In conclusion, the encoding task moderated the reward effect in item and source memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study a fully discrete finite element scheme of thermally coupled incompressible magnetohydrodynamic with temperature-dependent coefficients in Lipschitz domain. The variable coefficients in the MHD system and possible nonconvex domain may cause nonsmooth solutions. We propose a fully discrete Euler semi-implicit scheme with the magnetic equation approximated by Nédélec edge elements to capture the physical solutions. The fully discrete scheme only needs to solve one linear system at each time step and is unconditionally stable. Utilizing the stability of the numerical scheme and the compactness method, the existence of weak solution to the thermally coupled MHD model in three dimensions is established. Furthermore, the uniqueness of weak solution and the convergence of the proposed numerical method are also rigorously derived. Under the hypothesis of a low regularity for the exact solution, we rigorously establish the error estimates for the velocity, temperature and magnetic induction unconditionally in the sense that the time step is independent of the spacial mesh size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mild, efficient, and straightforward synthesis of pharmaceutically and biologically active N3-substituted and N1,N3-disubstituted quinazoline-2,4-(1H,3H)-diones from simple and readily available substrates has been a huge challenge. Described here is a Pd(II)-catalyzed [4 + 1 + 1] modular synthesis of diverse quinazoline-2,4-(1H,3H)-diones through one-pot cascade reactions of cyclocondensation of o-(alkyl)aminobenzoic acids with CO, amidation of the intermediate isatoic anhydrides with amines, and unprecedented carbonylation of the resulting o-aminobenzamides with CO under 1 atm and 60 °C conditions. The chemoselective and versatile multicomponent reaction allows for the diversities of the products including N3-substituted and N1,N3-disubstituted products, and even makes the substituents on N1,N3 the same or different from each other, which cannot be achieved by most traditional synthetic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the nonstationary magnetohydrodynamic coupled heat equation through the well-known Boussinesq approximation. The Crank-Nicolson extrapolation scheme is used for time derivative terms, and the mixed finite method is used for spatial discretization. We employ the Taylor-Hood finite elements to approximate Navier-Stokes equations, Nédélec edge element for the magnetic induction and the equal order Lagrange elements for the thermal equation. This fully discrete scheme only needs to solve a linear system at each time step, and the system is unique solvable. We prove the proposed scheme is unconditionally energy stable. Under a weak regularity hypothesis on the exact solution, we present optimal error estimates for the velocity, magnetic induction and temperature. Finally, several numerical examples are performed to demonstrate both accuracy and efficiency of our proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are a family of extracellular vesicles that are secreted from almost all types of cells and are associated with cell-to-cell communication. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived exosomes (hiPSC-exo) on cell viability, capillary-like structure formation and senescence in endothelial cells exposed to high glucose. Exosomes were isolated from the conditional medium of hiPSCs and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and western blot analysis using Alix and cluster of differentiation-63 as markers. hiPSC-exo were labeled with PKH26 for tracking, and it was determined that spherical exosomes, with a typical cup-shape, were absorbed by human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Cultured HUVECs were treated with high glucose (33 mM) with or without hiPSC-exo (20 µg/ml) for 48 h, and cell viability, capillary tube formation and senescence were assessed. When exposed to high glucose, viability and tube formation in HUVECs was significantly reduced (P<0.0001), whereas the proportion of senescent cells was higher compared with that in control HUVECs (P<0.0001). Furthermore, hiPSC-exo restored cell viability and capillary-like structure formation, and reduced senescence in HUVECs exposed to high glucose (P<0.0001). However, hiPSC-exo had minimal effects on normal HUVECs. These findings suggest that stem cell-derived exosomes are able to promote cell proliferation, enhance capillary-like structure formation and reduce senescence in endothelial cells exposed to high glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new gelator 1, containing a quinoline group, was designed, synthesized, and fully characterized. It was found that a stable organogel of 1 could be obtained in some solvents, including ethanol, acetonitrile, n-hexane, petroleum ether, and DMSO. It is worth mentioning that a supragel was formed in hexane and petroleum ether with critical gel concentrations of 0.16% and 0.17%, respectively. The self-assembly process of gelator 1 in the above five solvents was carefully investigated by FESEM, UV-vis, FL, FTIR, XRD, and water contact angle experiments. It was found that gelator molecule 1 could self-assemble into different self-assembly structures with different surface wettabilities – from super-hydrophilicity to super-hydrophobicity – in the self-assembly process. The organogel of 1 that was formed in acetonitrile could emit strong light when compared with that emitted by organogel 1 in the other four solvents under the stimulation of 365 nm light. At the same time, the fluorescence emission of the organogel state had a red-shift of 70 nm when compared with that of the solution state. The fluorescence emission of molecule 1 in solution and its gel state was further and well verified via theoretical calculations. The fluorescence emission of the acetonitrile solution of gelator 1 could reversibly respond to TFA and TEA, along with a change in the maximum emission wavelength between 382 nm and 458 nm, in turn. The xerogel of 1 formed in acetonitrile exhibited a sensitive responsive ability towards TFA and TEA. More interesting are the different changes in behavior of the fluorescence emission of molecule 1 in solution and the xerogel state in response to TFA and TEA. This research will provide a new way to design multi-functional soft matter materials that show a response to volatile acid and organic amine vapors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new gelators ( N12 and N18 ) containing naphthalimides group were designed and synthesized which the C-4 of naphthalimide derivative was modified by isopropoxyboronic acid ester. The two gelators could form gels in different solvents, and different structures were formed and exhibited hydrophobicity. The self-assembly processes of gelator were investigated by UV–vis, fluorescence, infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction, NMR spectrum and contact angle experiments in detail. The gelator in solution or gel state could emit blue light which response to some organic amine, and the fluorescence of gelator was quenched. The fluorescence of gelator could be recovered after acid was added again. Take Et 3 N for instance, the association constant (K) between N12 and Et 3 N was calculated to be 3.75 × 10 3 M −1 and the gelator N12 could detect Et 3 N in solution with the detection limit of 4.77 × 10 −7 M. This research would expand the supramolecular self-assembly materials application in sensor field and offer a new detection method for organic amines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cysteine-rich transmembrane module (CYSTM) proteins constitute small molecular protein families and have been identified across eukaryotes, including yeast, humans, and several plant species. Plant CYSTM s play vital roles in growth regulation, development, phytohormone signal transduction, pathogen defense, environmental stress response, and even heavy metal binding and detoxification. Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC is a perennial halophyte with great semi-arid and saline-alkali tolerance. In this study, the CrCYSTM family including 10 members were identified in the C. rosea genome, with the purpose of clarifying the possible roles of CrCYSTM s in C. rosea plants development and stress resistance. The phylogenetic relationships, exon–intron structure, domain structure, chromosomal localization, and putative cis -acting elements in promoter regions were predicted and analyzed. Transcriptome analysis combined with quantitative reverse transcription PCR showed that different CrCYSTM members exhibited varied expression patterns in different tissues and under different abiotic stress challenges. In addition, several CrCYSTM s were cloned and functionally characterized for their roles in abiotic stress tolerance with yeast expression system. Overall, these findings provide a foundation for functionally characterizing plant CYSTM s to unravel their possible roles in the adaptation of C. rosea to tropical coral reefs. Our results also lay the foundation for further research on the roles of plant CYSTM genes in abiotic stress signaling, especially for heavy metal detoxification. • A CrCYSTM gene family is characterized from halophyte Canavalia rosea (Canavalia DC). • Ten CrCYSTM genes were identified and the chromosomal localization, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, protein domain structures, promoters' features were predicted systematically. • The expression patterns of CrCYSTM s analyzed based on the RNA-seq data and quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR, with the purpose of identification whether CrCYSTMs are involved in C. rosea plants responding to abiotic stress. • Seven CrCYSTM s were cloned and functionally characterized for their roles in abiotic stress tolerance in yeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new serial of gelators with two cholesteryl groups based on o-phenylenediamine, m-phenylenediamine and p-phenylenediamine were synthesized, and their organogelation ability was evaluated. We found that G-o could form gels in DMF, DMSO and ethyl acetate, G-m and G-p could only gel DMF and 1,4-dioxane. The organogels were thoroughly characterized using various microscopic techniques including field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis spectrum, FT-IR spectrum and contact angle. The gelation ability, morphology, self-assembly mode and materials surface wettability all could be tuned via isomeride effect in self-assembly system. Interestingly, superhydrophobic surface was formed via the self-assembly of compound G-p in 1,4-dioxane and exhibited very high adsorption capacity for water. This gel system provided new method for modulation self-assembly process in supramolecular field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Preparation of ultrafine Pt nanoparticles immobilized catalyst layer (Pt-CL). • Pt-CL were developed via biomass-derived carbon thermal curing process. • The Pt-CL exhibited a superior ORR performance and higher power density. Ultrafine Pt nanoparticle immobilized catalysts were developed via a facile one-step biomass-derived carbon thermal curing process. The electrochemical investigation confirms that benefits from the lower oxygen mass transfer resistance and electron transfer resistance, the as-prepared catalysts displayed a discharge power density of 1.246 W cm−2 at 2000 mA cm−2 when assembled in an H2-air fuel cell. This research not only develops a new electrocatalyst but also paves the way for the rational design and synthesis of superior electrocatalysts for energy storage and conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop and analyze a fully discrete mixed finite element method for unsteady inductionless magnetohydrodynamics problem. An Euler semi-implicit scheme is proposed with a mixed variational formulation based on the variables (u , p , j , ϕ) , in which the Navier–Stokes equations are approximated by stable finite elements and the current density is discretized by the divergence-conforming finite element. This scheme has the feature that the discrete current density keeps charge conservation property. It is shown that both the continuous problem and its fully discrete Euler semi-implicit scheme are well-posed. We prove unconditionally convergence and error estimates for velocity, pressure and current density. Finally, numerical experiments have been performed to validate the theoretical analysis and the law of charge conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A simple approach was used to synthesize Ag-coated Ni@TiO2 nanocomposites. [•] The nanocomposites can be the convenient and effective SERS substrate. [•] The nanocomposites can be a self-cleaning SERS substrate. [•] The nanocomposites can monitor the catalytic degradation of dye molecules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We have developed a simple and efficient approach to synthesize Ni@Au core-shell nanostructures using the simple redox transmetalation reaction. The as-synthesized nanomaterial with clean and reproducible properties was used as the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. In addition, these nanostructures are stable for at least a 30-day period, and the long-term stability is of the great importance in practical application. The magnetic behavior serves as an added advantage of its easy separation from the analytes. So that it can be reused. This novel multifunctional hybrid nanostructure will open up an exciting opportunity in multiple uses SERS measures. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ag NPs were obtained by isopropyl alcohol restore silver nitrate with silicotungstic acid as a stabilizer under the condition of UV irradiation. From changing the amount of isopropyl alcohol and silver nitrate, we obtained Ag NPs of which plasmon peak was similar to the excitation wavelength, and the enhancement effect will be greatly improved. Enriching, degrading, and detecting dye molecular can be achieved by the simple SERS substrate, and the photo-degradation process was monitored by SERS successfully for the first time, and the sensitivity was improved compare to traditional detection by UV–vis spectroscopy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Flower-like hierarchical nanostructures of titanium dioxide (TiO2) have been synthesized in large scale by a facile and controlled hydrothermal and after annealing process. The morphologies of flower-like hierarchical nanostructures are formed by self-organization of several tens of radially distributed thin flakes with a thickness of several nanometers holding a larger surface area. The materials are characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The ultraviolet photocatalytic degradation of R6G dyes has been studied over this flower-like hierarchical nanostructures and the activity is compared with that of commercial P25 TiO2 under same conditions. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 1,4-bis(Trimethylsilyl)-2-butene 1 can react with alkyl and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of titanium tetrachloride to give α-(trimethylsilyl)methyl homoallylic alcohols and (1-vinylallyl)benzene type compounds in poor to good yield according to the related position of each substituents present on the aromatic ring. In the last case, the reaction involves a type electrophilic substitution of 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2-butene by aromatic aldehydes activated by TiCl4, followed by a 1,2-migration of a vinyl group. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can undergo unlimited self-renewal and can differentiate into all the cell types present in our body, including cardiomyocytes. Therefore, PSCs can be an excellent source of cardiomyocytes for future regenerative medicine and medical research studies. However, cardiomyocytes obtained from PSC differentiation culture are regarded as immature structurally, electrophysiologically, metabolically, and functionally. Mitochondria are organelles responsible for various cellular functions such as energy metabolism, different catabolic and anabolic processes, calcium fluxes, and various signaling pathways. Cells can respond to cellular needs to increase the mitochondrial mass by mitochondrial biogenesis. On the other hand, cells can also degrade mitochondria through mitophagy. Mitochondria are also dynamic organelles that undergo continuous fusion and fission events. In this review, we aim to summarize previous findings on the changes of mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and mitochondrial dynamics during the maturation of cardiomyocytes. In addition, we intend to summarize whether changes in these processes would affect the maturation of cardiomyocytes. Lastly, we aim to discuss unanswered questions in the field and to provide insights for the possible strategies of enhancing the maturation of PSC-derived cardiomyocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction for 'Pd(II)-Catalyzed [4 + 1 + 1] cycloaddition of simple o-aminobenzoic acids, CO and amines: direct and versatile synthesis of diverse N-substituted quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones' by Xiaopeng Zhang et al., Green Chem., 2021, DOI: 10.1039/d0gc03254a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmonic polycrystals composed of loosely packed plasmonic nanoparticles formed microscale plasmonic grains with random orientations may exhibit interesting optical properties. Their fabrication includes placing nanoparticles in order to form plasmonic grains and forming the random orientation of the plasmonic grains. The seemingly mutually exclusive nanoparticle ordering and random grain orientation processes challenge existing technologies. Here a self‐assembled bowl‐in‐bowl template‐confined dewetting process to prepare plasmonic polycrystals is developed. The size and composition of the plasmonic nanoparticles can be conveniently designed before experiments, which are inaccessible to conventional fabrication methods. Complex plasmonic coupling between the Au nanoparticles and the plasmonic grains within the plasmonic polycrystals is observed. The microbowls further endow plasmonic nanostructures with more interesting optical properties arising from multiple scattering processes within the concave bowl surfaces. The broadband response of the plasmonic polycrystals makes them active under 532, 633, and 785 nm laser excitation for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing applications. Finite‐difference time‐domain simulations are performed to explain the optical properties of the plasmonic polycrystals and the SERS enhancement. The simple template‐confined dewetting process provides a powerful approach to design plasmonic polycrystals with application potentials in plasmonic, sensing, and photonic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biological pacemakers consisting of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes are potentially useful for treating bradycardia. However, tachyarrhythmia caused by derived cardiomyocytes themselves is one of main barriers hampering their clinical translation. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms underlying the spontaneous action potential (a.k.a. automaticity) might provide potential approaches to solve this problem. The aim of this project is to study the role of canonical transient receptor potential isoform 7 (TRPC7) channels in regulating the automaticity of embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (ESC-CMs). Methods and results: By Western blotting, the expression of TRPC7 was found to be increased during the differentiation of mouse ESC-CMs (mESC-CMs). Adenovirus-mediated TRPC7 knockdown decreased while overexpression increased the frequency of Ca2+ transients (CaTs), local Ca2+ releases (LCRs), and action potentials (APs) as detected by confocal microscopy and whole-cell patch-clamping. TRPC7 was found to be positively associated with the activity of ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2), sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), and sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) but not hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (HCN), and inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R). Knockdown or overexpression of TRPC7 did not alter the expression of HCN4, Cav1.3, Cav3.1, Cav3.2, IP3R1, RyR2, and SERCA but positively regulated the phosphorylation of RyR2 at S2814 and phospholamban (PLN) at T17. Moreover, the positive regulation of APs by TRPC7 was Ca2+-dependent, as overexpression of N-terminus of TRPC7 (dominant negative of TRPC7) which diminished the Ca2+ permeability of TRPC7 decreased the AP frequency. Conclusions: TRPC7 regulates the automaticity of mESC-CMs through two mechanisms. On the one hand, TRPC7 positively regulates the intracellular Ca2+ clock through the regulation of activities of both RyR2 and SERCA; on the other hand, TRPC7 also positively regulates the membrane clock via its influence on NCX activity. Altogether, our study reveals that TRPC7 is a potential drug target to manipulate the action potential firing rate of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte-based biological pacemakers to prevent tachyarrhythmia, a condition that might be encountered after transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dialkyl pentasulfide (DPS) – filled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites were successfully prepared by liquid phase wet chemistry method. Firstly, the CNTs were truncated with concentrated acid, and the end cap of CNTs was opened after the treatment. Under the liquid phase condition, the DPS was filled in the CNTs through the capillary force. Then, the composition and morphological structure of the samples were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DSC). The results showed that the DPS filled CNTs could be obtained by liquid-phase wet chemistry method. During the filling process, the DPS and the CNTs were mainly physical combinations, and the filling ratio of DPS was about 25%. The DPS was infiltrated into CNTs through a capillary effect and then protected by CNTs after the formation of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the glucose tolerance of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii , and investigate the underlying mechanisms that regulate glucose homeostasis. A glucose tolerance test was conducted by fasting the giant freshwater prawns for 24 h, followed by an intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg of glucose per gram of body weight. The content of glucose, trehalose (disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules), glycogen, triglyceride, and protein levels in the plasma, hepatopancreas and muscle, as well as the transcriptional level of metabolism-related genes, were examined. Besides, the potential damage caused by glucose injection was evaluated by histological examination. Results showed that plasma glucose and trehalose levels peaked at 0.5 and 1 h after injection, respectively, and returned to baseline levels between 2 and 4 h, indicating a rapid clearance of exogenous glucose. The content of trehalose, glycogen, and triglyceride in both the hepatopancreas and muscle significantly increased at a relatively high speed after the glucose load, while the protein levels remained unchanged. Transcriptional levels of a rate-limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase), and several enzymes involved in catabolism of trehalose (trehalase), glycogen (glycogen debranching enzyme), and triglyceride (adipose triglyceride lipase), were observed to be downregulated immediately following the glucose injection. In contrast, glycolysis and anabolism were stimulated, as indicated by increased mRNA levels of glucokinase, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, glycogen branching enzyme, and diacylglycerol acyltransferase. Furthermore, the glucose injection decreased the expression of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) and increased the expression of insulin-like peptide 1 (ILP1), while insulin-like peptide 2 (ILP2) expression remained unchanged. No noticeable histopathological damage to the hepatopancreas and muscle was observed after glucose injection. These findings suggest that M. rosenbergii demonstrated a rapid clearance of exogenous glucose. A glucose load may induce the expression of ILP1 , stimulate glycolysis and the conversion of glucose to trehalose, glycogen, and triglyceride, while decreasing the expression of CHH and inhibiting gluconeogenesis to aid in the efficient regulation of glucose homeostasis in M. rosenbergii. • M. rosenbergii rapidly clears exogenous glucose within 4 h. • Glucose load boosts conversion to trehalose, glycogen, and lipids. • Glycolysis stimulation and gluconeogenesis inhibition aid to clear glucose load. • ILP 1 and CHH are crucial for glucose homeostasis. • Study unveils M. rosenbergii 's glucose tolerance and regulatory mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An economical and efficient approach to pharmaceutically and biologically significant 2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones has been disclosed. The one‐pot multicomponent reaction was performed through a palladium‐catalyzed ortho‐selective oxidative carbonylation of N‐substituted anilines with CO and primary amines, and subsequent condensation with aldehydes in MeCN by using alkylamino as the directing group, KI/AcOH as the additives, and Cu(OAc)2 as the oxidant. This intriguing straightforward method features embedded directing strategy, simple starting materials, mild conditions, high atom/step economic economy, broad substrate scope and good product diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We successfully realised plasmon-driven selective reduction reactions of 2-amino-5-nitrobenzenethiol (2A-5-NBT) to 3,3'-dimercapto-4,4'-diaminoazobenzene , an azobenzene derivative, using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy, and supported by the theoretical calculations. The SERS spectra demonstrated that two 5-nitro groups of 2A-5-NBTs were selectively reduced to the -N=N- chemical bond of 3,3'-dimercapto-4,4'-diaminoazobenzene, whereas the 2-amine group of 2A-5-NBT remained unchanged. Our experimental results revealed that aqueous environments were preferable to ambient atmospheric environments for this selective reduction reaction. The product is very stable in aqueous environments. However, in ambient atmosphere environments, the product is not stable and can revert back to 2A-5-NBT, where the -N=N- chemical bond can be broken by plasmon scissors. The plasmon-induced catalytic reactions in aqueous environments could be used for the efficient synthesis of aromatic azobenzene derivative compounds, which are valuable chemicals that are widely used in the chemical industry as dyes, food additives and drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with malignancy are at a higher risk of developing nosocomial infections. However, limited studies investigated the clinical features and prognostic factors of nosocomial infections due to fungi in cancer patients. Herein, this study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics of in-hospital fungal infections and develop a nomogram to predict the risk of in-hospital death during fungal infection of hospitalized cancer patients. Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled cancer patients who experienced in-hospital fungal infections between September 2013 and September 2021. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Variables demonstrating significant statistical differences in the multivariate analysis were utilized to construct a nomogram for personalized prediction of in-hospital death risk associated with nosocomial fungal infections. The predictive performance of the nomogram was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Results: A total of 216 participants were included in the study, of which 57 experienced in-hospital death. C.albicans was identified as the most prevalent fungal species (68.0%). Respiratory infection accounted for the highest proportion of fungal infections (59.0%), followed by intra-abdominal infection (8.8%). The multivariate regression analysis revealed that Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) 3–4 (odds ratio [OR] = 6.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.04–18.12), pulmonary metastases (OR = 2.76, 95%CI: 1.11–6.85), thrombocytopenia (OR = 2.58, 95%CI: 1.21–5.47), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 2.44, 95%CI: 1.22–4.90), and mechanical ventilation (OR = 2.64, 95%CI: 1.03–6.73) were independent risk factors of in-hospital death. A nomogram based on the identified risk factors was developed to predict the individual probability of in-hospital mortality. The nomogram demonstrated satisfactory performance in terms of classification ability (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.759), calibration ability, and net clinical benefit. Conclusions: Fungi-related nosocomial infections are prevalent among cancer patients and are associated with poor prognosis. The constructed nomogram provides an invaluable tool for oncologists, enabling them to make timely and informed clinical decisions that offer substantial net clinical benefit to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, charge-transfer mechanism of surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectroscopy of pyrazine absorbed on Ac@Au7 clusters is theoretically investigated, and the coupling effect between the nanoparticles is especially concerned. First, the contributions of coupling effect to surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) are compared between the ground-state nanoparticles. Second, the visualization of charge transfer provides evidence for the coupling effect on the charge-transfer enhancement mechanism of SERRS spectroscopy. The theoretical results show that the coupling effect on charge-transfer mechanism of SERRS can significantly enhance the intensity of SERS spectra up to about 6 × 105 times. The different coupling ways not only result in different degree of charge transfer on electronic transitions, but also cause different intensity of charge-transfer absorption peaks. Both of them strongly influence the enhancement of charge-transfer mechanism of SERRS. This study promotes the understanding of charge-transfer enhancement mechanism of SERRS for ultrasensitive Raman spectral analysis at nanoscale. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Remdesivir is a prodrug of an adenosine triphosphate analogue and is currently the only drug formally approved for the treatment of hospitalized coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Nucleoside/nucleotide analogues have been shown to induce mitochondrial damage and cardiotoxicity, and this may be exacerbated by hypoxia, which frequently occurs in severe COVID-19 patients. Although there have been few reports of adverse cardiovascular events associated with remdesivir, clinical data are limited. Here, we investigated whether remdesivir induced cardiotoxicity using an in vitro human cardiac model. Methods and results Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) were exposed to remdesivir under normoxic and hypoxic conditions to simulate mild and severe COVID-19, respectively. Remdesivir induced mitochondrial fragmentation, reduced redox potential, and suppressed mitochondrial respiration at levels below the estimated plasma concentration under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Non-mitochondrial damage such as electrophysiological alterations and sarcomere disarray were also observed. Importantly, some of these changes persisted after the cessation of treatment, culminating in increased cell death. Mechanistically, we found that inhibition of DRP1, a regulator of mitochondrial fission, ameliorated the cardiotoxic effects of remdesivir, showing that remdesivir-induced cardiotoxicity was preventable and excessive mitochondrial fission might contribute to this phenotype. Conclusions Using an in vitro model, we demonstrated that remdesivir can induce cardiotoxicity in hiPSC-CMs at clinically relevant concentrations. These results reveal previously unknown potential side-effects of remdesivir and highlight the importance of further investigations with in vivo animal models and active clinical monitoring to prevent lasting cardiac damage to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the quantum and quasi-quantum plasmonic systems have attractive much attention in the design of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. The purpose of this work is to experimentally demonstrate an idea of introducing a rough spacer layer into the quasi-quantum plasmonic system for obtaining enhanced SERS performance. This idea was implemented in a simple 3D structure containing Au film, Raman active molecules, alumina spacer layer, and Au nanoparticles, where the rough spacer layer was prepared by dropping method and atomic layer deposition. The hybrid structure with a 4 nm alumina spacer demonstrated obviously higher amplification times of Raman signal than some previous works related to the plasmonic systems. • The idea of using a rough spacer layer in the quasi-quantum plasmonic system with enhanced SERS performance has been firstly demonstrated. • Our design shows a much higher analytical enhancement factor than previous works. • Our design also shows low LOD and good reproducibility, making it as a potential SERS substrate for trace detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacopaside I (BSI) is a natural compound that is difficult to absorb orally but has been shown to have antidepressant effects. The microbiota-gut-brain axis is involved in the development of depression through the peripheral nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system and may be a key factor in the effect of BSI. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism of BSI in the treatment of depression via the microbiota-gut-brain axis and to validate it in a fecal microbiota transplantation model. The antidepressant effect of BSI was established in CUMS-induced mice using behavioral tests and measurement of changes in hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis-related hormones. The improvement of stress-induced gut-brain axis damage by BSI was observed by histopathological sections and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 16 S rDNA sequencing analysis indicated that BSI could modulate the abundance of gut microbiota and increase the abundance of probiotic bacteria. We also observed an increase in short-chain fatty acids, particularly acetic acid. In addition, BSI could modulate the disruption of lipid metabolism induced by CUMS. Fecal microbiota transplantation further confirmed that disruption of the microbiota-gut-brain axis is closely associated with the development of depression, and that the microbiota regulated by BSI exerts a partial antidepressant effect. In conclusion, BSI exerts antidepressant effects by remodeling gut microbiota, specifically through the Lactobacillus and Streptococcus -acetic acid-neurotrophin signaling pathways. Furthermore, BSI can repair damage to the gut-brain axis, regulate HPA axis dysfunction, and maintain immune homeostasis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature of exosome-secreting cells determines exosome content and function. ALIX, involved in exosome biogenesis, promotes cell degeneration. Here, ALIX was knocked out (iPSC-ALIX−/−) and overexpressed (iPSC-ALIX3+) in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using CRISPR-Cas9 and lentiviral transduction, respectively, and the secreted exosomes were analyzed. Exosomes from iPSC-ALIX−/− (exosome-KO), iPSC-ALIX3+ (exosome-over), and their corresponding controls contained 176, 529, 431, and 351 proteins, respectively. Exosome-over showed increased protein levels, while exosome-KO contained fewer protein types without differing in total protein content. ALIX knockout did not affect exosome uptake by endothelial cells. Exosome-over more effectively promoted cell viability than exosome-GFP, in a dose-dependent manner. All exosomes were protective for endothelial cells injured by hydrogen peroxide or cisplatin, as demonstrated by promotion of cell viability, horizontal migration, angiogenic sprouting from aortic rings, and formation of capillary-like structures, inhibition of apoptosis, and maintenance of permeability of endothelial monolayer, although exosome-over and exosome-KO had stronger and weaker effects, respectively. SNX2 was important for ALIX-mediated exosomal function. Beneficial functions of the exosomes were independent of experimental models, targeted cell types, causes of injury, exosome-producing iPSC passages, clones of ALIX knockout, and transfection batches of ALIX overexpression. Thus, we present a novel strategy to manipulate iPSCs for production of exosomes with beneficial ALIX-regulated protein composition for varied exosome functions. Key messages: ALIX knockout and overexpression regulate protein profile in iPSC-derived exosome. ALIX knockout decreases therapeutic function of iPSC-derived exosomes. ALIX overexpression increases therapeutic function of iPSC-derived exosomes. Manipulating iPSCs can produce exosomes with more beneficial protein content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new gelator 1 containing triphenylamine was designed and synthesized, and formed stable gel in ethyl acetate. The self-assembly process of molecule 1 was thoroughly investigated. The solid microsphere structure formed in gel 1 could be turned into nanotube in the transition process of gel to gel via sonication. At the same time, the intermolecular hydrogen bond of self-assembly system was obviously enhanced under sonication. The XRD and water contact angle experiments results of xerogel 1 before and after sonication showed great difference. The hydrophobicity of xerogel 1 film was obviously decreased with the change of contact angle from 142° to 129° after sonication at 100 W for one minute. From the results, it was possible that the solid microsphere was re-dissolved and further reassembled into nanotube. To our knowledge, it was the first example that the solid sphere structure was changed into nanotube in self-assembly system via sonication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a disease that seriously threatens human life and health. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of ulinastatin combined with mechanical ventilation on oxygen metabolism, inflammation and stress response, as well as the antioxidant capacity of ARDS. Eighty patients with ARDS treated in Yiwu Central Hospital from January, 2015 to December, 2016 were enrolled in the present study and divided into the observation (n=40) and control (n=40) groups, using a random number table. The control group was treated with mechanical ventilation, while the observation group, based on treatment of the control group, was treated with ulinastatin for 14 consecutive days as one course of treatment. The changes in the relevant indexes of oxygen metabolism, lung function, time of ventilator treatment, total hospital stay, and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score of the two groups after intervention were compared, and the changes in inflammatory cytokine levels, dopamine receptor-related hormone levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity of the two groups before intervention and at 1 and 4 weeks after intervention were compared. After intervention, the arterial blood lactate in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), the oxygen uptake rate was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) and the arterial oxygen content was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). In the lung function indexes, the FEV1 and FEV1/FVC levels in the observation group were smaller than those in the control group (P<0.05), the duration of ventilator treatment was significantly shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the hospital stay was significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.05). Prior to intervention, SGRQ scores in the two groups were not statistically signifi- cant (P>0.05). At 1 and 4 weeks after intervention, the SGRQ scores of the observation group were significantly increased to those of the control group (P<0.05). The tumor levels of necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and CRP were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The levels of adrenaline and norepinephrine were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The levels of MDA, SOD and the total antioxidant capacity were significantly increased to those of control group (P<0.05). The application of ulinastatin combined with mechanical ventilation in ARDS patients is of great significance in improving the oxygen delivery-consumption balance of body, increasing the lung function, reducing the inflammatory and stress response, and improving the antioxidant capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]