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Brain's unique anatomical structure and physiological environment make it difficult to deliver therapeutic agents such as drug or light to a focal volume in brain for disease treatment. Physically targeting a fine structure in brain with a micro‐neural probe is an effective solution. Here, we present a hybrid miniaturized neural probe designed with micro‐fluidic channel(s) for drug delivery, micro‐electrode(s) for neural sensing and an optical fiber for optical‐related treatment. These functional components are integrated in a micro‐cannula (diameter <300 µm) with modular design and fabrication properties which can be conveniently adjusted for diverse applications. In vitro and in vivo tests confirm that this probe can precisely deliver drug to a focal volume in brain bypassing the blood brain barrier, and on‐site neural sensing can be achieved with the integrated neural electrode. Leveraging near infrared light’s scattering properties in brain, we demonstrate in vivo with rat glioblastoma model that this hybrid neural probe can be a platform for photothermal treatment of brain tumor. With these merits, the hybrid miniaturized neural probe will be an effective tool with great translational potentials for minimally invasive neural intervention such as drug delivery or combination treatment of brain diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease and affects about 25% of the population globally. NAFLD has the potential to cause significant liver damage in many patients because it can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis, which substantially increases disease morbidity and mortality. Despite the key role of innate immunity in the disease progression, the underlying molecular and pathogenic mechanisms remain to be elucidated. RNase L is a key enzyme in interferon action against viral infection and displays pleiotropic biological functions such as control of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy. Recent studies have demonstrated that RNase L is involved in innate immunity. In this study, we revealed that RNase L contributed to the development of NAFLD, which further progressed to NASH in a time‐dependent fashion after RNase L wild‐type (WT) and knockout mice were fed with a high‐fat and high‐cholesterol diet. RNase L WT mice showed significantly more severe NASH, evidenced by widespread macro‐vesicular steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning degeneration, inflammation, and fibrosis, although physiological and biochemical data indicated that both types of mice developed obesity, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, dysfunction of the liver, and systemic inflammation at different extents. Further investigation demonstrated that RNase L was responsible for the expression of some key genes in lipid metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis signaling. Taken together, our results suggest that a novel therapeutic intervention for NAFLD may be developed based on regulating the expression and activity of RNase L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of organic semiconductor single crystal (OSSC) arrays has recently attracted considerable interest given their potential applications in flexible displays, smart wearable devices, biochemical sensors, etc. Patterning of OSSCs is the prerequisite for the realization of organic integrated circuits. Patterned OSSCs can not only decrease the crosstalk between adjacent organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs), but also can be conveniently integrated with other device elements which facilitate circuits application. Tremendous efforts have been devoted in the controllable preparation of OSSC arrays, and great progress has been achieved. In this review, the general strategies for patterning OSSCs are summarized, along with the discussion of the advantages and limitations of different patterning methods. Given the identical thickness of monolayer molecular crystals (MMCs) which is beneficial to achieve super uniformity of OSSC arrays and devices, patterning of MMCs is also emphasized. Then, OFET performance is summarized with comparison of the mobility and coefficient of variation based on the OSSC arrays prepared by different methods. Furthermore, advances of OSSC array‐based circuits and flexible devices of different functions are highlighted. Finally, the challenges that need to be tackled in the future are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation-induced intestinal fibrosis, a common complication of long-term survivors after receiving abdominal and pelvic radiotherapy, has no effective clinical drugs at present. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) has been reported to alleviate a variety of age-related diseases and has potential of regulating gut microbiota. The current study focuses on the role of gut microbiota in chronic radiation induced intestinal fibrosis, and investigates whether NMN plays a protective role in radiation-induced intestinal fibrosis as well as the impact of NMN on radiation-induced dysbiosis of gut microbiota. C57BL/6J mice received 15 Gy abdominal irradiation and NMN (300 mg/kg/day) supplement in drinking water. Feces were collected at 4- and 8-months post-irradiation and performed 16S rRNA sequencing to detect the gut microbiota. Colon tissues were isolated at 12 months after irradiation with or without NMN supplementation for histological analysis. We found that irradiation caused intestinal fibrosis, and altered the β diversity and composition of gut microbiota, while the gut microbiota was observed to be affected by time post-irradiation and age of mice. Long-term NMN supplementation alleviated intestinal fibrosis, and reshaped the composition and function of gut microbiota dysregulated by ionizing radiation (IR). In addition, Akkermansia muciniphila, a promising probiotic, and metabolism-related pathways, such as Biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites and Amino acid metabolism, were more abundant after NMN treatment in irradiated mice. IR has a long-term effect on the gut microbiota and NMN supplementation can alleviate radiation induced intestinal fibrosis by reshaping the composition of gut microbiota and regulating the metabolic function of the microorganism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-localization of platelets and tumor cells in hematogenous metastases has long been recognized. Interactions between platelets and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) contribute to tumor cell survival and migration via the vasculature into other tissues. Taking advantage of the interactions between platelets and tumor cells, two schemes, direct and indirect, were proposed to target the modified human serum albumin submicron particles (HSA-MPs) towards tumor cells. HSA-MPs were constructed by the Co-precipitation–Crosslinking–Dissolution (CCD) method. The anti-CD41 antibody or CD62P protein was linked to the HSA-MPs separately via 1-ethyl-3-(-3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) EDC/NHS chemistry. The size of modified HSA-MPs was measured at approximately 1 µm, and the zeta potential was around −24 mV. Anti-CD41-HSA-MPs adhered to platelets as shown by flowcytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. In vitro, we confirmed the adhesion of platelets to tumor lung carcinoma cells A549 under shearing conditions. Higher cellular uptake of anti-CD41-HSA-MPs in A549 cells was found in the presence of activated platelets, suggesting that activated platelets can mediate the uptake of these particles. RNA-seq data in the Cancer Cell Lineage Encyclopedia (CCLE) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database showed the expression of CD62P ligands in different types of cancers. Compared to the non-targeted system, CD62P-HSA-MPs were found to have higher cellular uptake in A549 cells. Our results suggest that the platelet-based and platelet-mimicking modified HSA-MPs could be promising options for tracking metastatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk of cancer often increases with aging, and radiotherapy is an essential component of treatment. As for abdominal and pelvic cancer, radiotherapy always inevitably causes injury to intestines through direct DNA damage or overload of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) has been identified as a key protective factor against ionizing-radiation induced damage through promoting DNA damage repair and antioxidant modulation. However, the level of NRF2 always decreases with aging. Here, we demonstrated that NRF2 deficiency aggravated cellular DNA damage and the intestinal pathological lesion. Overexpression of SIRT6 or SIRT7 could improve cell proliferation and protect against radiation injury in NRF2 knock-out (KO) cells by modulating oxidative-stress and DNA damage repair. Consistently, supplement of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), the agonist of sirtuins, increased the level of SIRT6 and SIRT7 in NRF2 KO cells, concomitant with reduced cellular ROS level and ameliorated DNA damage. In vivo, long-term oral administration of NMN attenuated the radiation-induced injury of jejunum, increased the number of intestinal stem cells, and promoted the ability of intestinal proliferation in NRF2−/− mice. Together, our results indicated that SIRT6 and SIRT7 had involved in scavenging ROS and repairing DNA damage, and NMN could be a promising candidate for preventing radiation damage when NRF2 is lacking. [Display omitted] • NRF2 KO reduced the expression of sirtuins and increased the sensitivity to IR. • Overexpression of SIRT6/7 ameliorated IR-induced DNA damage in NRF2 KO cells. • NMN, the agonist of SIRT6/7, alleviated DNA damage in NRF2 KO cells. • Administration of NMN could reverse IR induced intestinal injury in NRF2−/− mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel ICCU-RWGS process using Li, Na, and K carbonates mixed with boric acid as dual functional materials, enhancing CO 2 capture and conversion without traditional CaO adsorbents. These molten salts, compatible with solar energy systems, enable efficient integration with CSP, storing heat from CO 2 capture for utilization. The addition of boric acid significantly boosts CO 2 uptake and conversion, achieving 2.0 mmol, 1.1 mmol, and 1.3 mmol CO 2 uptake with conversion of 51.1 %, 58.3 %, and 57.6 % over three cycles, respectively. A 10-cycle test confirmed stable performance, with conversion rates between 53.0 % and 58.7 %. Characterization techniques (XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, in-situ DRIFTS) revealed new borate phases after CO 2 capture. TG-DSC analysis showed exothermic peaks during CO 2 capture and RWGS stages, indicating that molten salt has the potential to generate heat for CSP systems, thus offering efficient CO 2 conversion and sustainable energy recovery. [Display omitted] • ICCU-RWGS with molten salts was demonstrated. • Boric acid combined with Li/Na/K carbonates as ICCU DFMs. • Stability was confirmed over 10 cycles with 53. 0 %-58.7 % CO 2 conversion. • XPS confirms the critical role of boric in ICCU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The main contributions of our research are mainly as follows: • Establish a time-varying simplified acceleration modeling of the end-effector with the inverse of the end-cable element length as the input and the state of the end-effector as the output. • Design the H-MPC algorithm and the method for correcting the state space matrix for different stress distributions and the bounds of the optimization variables. • Propose a compensation mechanism for slack cables and a physics-informed neural networks for the prediction of the direction vectors of tension. Cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) use flexible cables to connect the end-effector to a fixed base, which is prioritized for large workspace and fast operation speed, but the presence of flexible cables creates a challenge for high-precision control of CDPRs. The mass and elasticity of the cables need to be considered to model the CDPRs in a large workspace more accurately. In this paper, the dynamics of the CDPRs are modeled using the finite element method. In order to more accurately predict the simulation results of the discrete-time model at the actual control frequency, the hierarchical model predictive control (H-MPC) algorithm is proposed with an internal mapping module for mapping control signals and an external prediction module for predictive control. In the control process, we designed a physics-informed neural network (PINN) to predict the state of end-cable elements. Under the same hardware conditions, the H-MPC algorithm effectively reduces the vibration of the end-effector during operation compared to the model predictive control (MPC) algorithm. Our proposed algorithm is validated under various trajectories, and the results show that the H-MPC algorithm can mitigate the vibration condition of the end-effector. We provide new solutions and ideas for the research in high precision control and vibration control of CDPRs. Our H-MPC algorithms are also easier to deploy in industrial controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ni/SiO 2 activation and CO 2 supply are pivotal for ICCU-DRM. • Reverse Boudouard reaction plays an essential role in CO 2 conversion. • Ni/SiO 2 -CaO interaction needs to be optimised to enhance ICCU-DRM efficiency. • Synergies exist between Ni/SiO 2 catalyst and CaO sorbent in CO 2 conversion. Integrated carbon capture and utilisation (ICCU) is an emerging technology for simultaneous CO 2 adsorption and conversion into value-added products. This provides a more sustainable approach compared to carbon capture and storage. Dual-functional materials (DFMs) that couple CO 2 sorbents (e.g. CaO) and catalysts (e.g. Ni) enable direct utilisation of sorbed CO 2 for reactions like dry reforming of methane (DRM). However, the potential interactions between sorbent and catalyst components within DFMs may induce distinct mechanisms compared to individual materials. Elucidating these synergies and interfacial phenomena is vital for guiding the rational design of DFMs. This article investigates the respective roles of Ni/SiO 2 catalyst and sol–gel synthesised CaO sorbent in integrated CO 2 capture and utilisation via dry reforming of methane (ICCU-DRM) using a decoupling approach. Through decoupled reactor experiments, it is found that Ni/SiO 2 activates CO 2 to react with carbon deposits from CH 4 decomposition, achieving maximal CO and H 2 yields of 43.41 mmol g−1 and 46.78 mmol g−1 as well as 87.2 % CO 2 conversion at 650 °C. Characterisation shows that coke would encapsulate Ni nanoparticles and be active for CO 2 conversion via Boudouard reaction, indicating sufficient catalyst-sorbent contact is necessary for CO 2 spillover. In-situ DRIFTS reveals that no obvious CH 4 -CaCO 3 reaction occurs, CO 2 chemisorption on Ni/SiO 2 enables the reverse Boudouard reaction, which is further verified by DFT calculations. The findings elucidate the dependent and synergistic roles of Ni/SiO 2 and CaO/CaCO 3 in ICCU-DRM, and highlight the importance of catalyst-adsorbent interactions in optimising dual-functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion‐coordination‐driven assembly (ACDA) is showing increasing power in the construction of anionic supramolecular architectures. Herein, by expanding the anion centers from oxoanion (phosphate or sulfate) to organic tris‐carboxylates, an Archimedean solid (truncated tetrahedron) and a highly entangled, double‐walled tetrahedron featuring a ravel topology have been assembled with tris‐bis(urea) ligands. The results demonstrate the promising ability of tris‐carboxylates as new anion coordination centers in constructing novel topologies with increasing complexity and diversity compared to phosphate or sulfate ions on account of the modifiable size and easy functionalization character of these organic anions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion‐coordination‐driven assembly (ACDA) is showing increasing power in the construction of anionic supramolecular architectures. Herein, by expanding the anion centers from oxoanion (phosphate or sulfate) to organic tris‐carboxylates, an Archimedean solid (truncated tetrahedron) and a highly entangled, double‐walled tetrahedron featuring a ravel topology have been assembled with tris‐bis(urea) ligands. The results demonstrate the promising ability of tris‐carboxylates as new anion coordination centers in constructing novel topologies with increasing complexity and diversity compared to phosphate or sulfate ions on account of the modifiable size and easy functionalization character of these organic anions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell therapy is widely recognized as a promising strategy for exerting therapeutic effects after injury in degenerative diseases. However, limitations such as low cell retention and survival rates after transplantation exist in clinical applications. In recent years, emerging biomaterials that provide a supportable cellular microenvironment for transplanted cells have optimized the therapeutic efficacy of stem cells in injured tissues or organs. Advances in the engineered microenvironment are revolutionizing our understanding of stem cell-based therapies by co-transplanting with synthetic and tissue-derived biomaterials, which offer a scaffold for stem cells and propose an unprecedented opportunity to further employ significant influences in tissue repair and regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a 3D nitrogen‐doped carbon network with excellent adsorption properties was prepared for bisphenol S (BPS) removal from water. An optimized sample B‐T700‐N3 with high Langmuir specific surface area as well as plentiful heteroatoms was screened out. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of conjugation and hydrogen bonding between the adsorbent and bisphenol S, B‐T700‐N3 demonstrated superior adsorption performance. The maximum adsorption amount (qmax,e) of the B‐T700‐N3 at equilibrium was determined to be up to 91 mg/g, which was comparable or even higher than that of the state‐of‐the‐art reported adsorbents. Experimental results illustrated that this adsorbent could also effectively remove other bisphenols (BPA, BPAF) from water. Overall, this novel adsorbent demonstrated a competitive performance for bisphenols removal in aqueous solution and can be a highly interesting candidate for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the experimental realization of a microsphere laser resonator designed to operate within the approximate wavelength range of 1.2 μm and 2.0 μm. This resonator, employing a Ho3+-doped fluoroaluminate glass microsphere, was stimulated by a 1150 nm laser, marking the first demonstration of its kind. The observed laser emissions at ∼1.2 μm and ∼2.0 μm were ascribed to the transitions of Ho3+ ions, specifically 5I 6 → 5I 8 and 5I 7 → 5I 8 , respectively. The fabrication of the microsphere, possessing a characteristic diameter of approximately 50 μm, entailed the controlled melting of a fluoroaluminate glass filament through the application of a focused CO 2 laser beam. Concurrently, a tapered fiber with a waist diameter of ∼2 μm was created by subjecting a standard silica single-mode fiber to a process of controlled heating and stretching. The findings of this investigation suggest promising prospects for the development of multi-wavelength lasers utilizing fluoroaluminate glass microspheres, particularly in intricate environmental settings. • 1 mol% Ho3+-doped fluoroaluminate glass microsphere possessing a characteristic diameter of approximately 50 μm was fabricated. • Stimulated by a 1150 nm laser, laser emissions at ∼1.2 μm and ∼2.0 μm were observed in 1 mol% Ho3+-doped fluoroaluminate glass microsphere employing a conventional fiber-cone-microsphere coupling method. • ∼1.2 μm and ∼2.0 μm laser emissions with different pump power in 1 mol% Ho3+-doped fluoroaluminate glass microsphere were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platycodonis Radix (PR) is a traditional herbal remedy used to prevent and treat lung inflammation, and platycodins are speculated to be the major active constituents. However, concrete experimental verification for this assertion remains absent thus far. This study aims to compare the pulmonary distribution dynamics of five platycodins and analyze their effects on cytokines. Through the grey relational analysis (GRA) between pulmonary active components and cytokines, the study ascertains platycodins as the potential effective component against lung inflammation. A rat lung inflammation model was created using lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Pulmonary distribution dynamics were analyzed via LC-MS/MS. Cytokine changes and distribution patterns in lung tissues were studied by multi-factor reagent kit. GRA was applied to determine correlations between pulmonary components and cytokines. Finally, the anti-inflammatory properties of platycodins were further studied using LPS-induced BEAS-2B cells in vitro. The results showed that five platycodins (Platycodin D, Platycodin D 3 , Deapio Platycodin D, 3-O-β-D-Glucopyranosyl Platycodigenin, and Platycodigenin) featured fast absorption rate, short time to peak, and slow metabolism rate. The pulmonary distribution dynamics were significantly affected within 2 h after LPS modeling. At the same time, PR altered the relationships among different cytokines induced by LPS stimulation, particularly inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IFN-γ. The GRA results indicated good correlation between the pulmonary distribution dynamics of the five platycodins components and the changing patterns of cytokine levels, with Platycodin D 3 contributing the most. Additionally, Platycodin D 3 exhibited a protective role against LPS-induced inflammation by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, IL-8, and ROS, as well as increasing the expression of the anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10. Platycodins are the main anti-inflammatory agents in PR and there is a good correlation with cytokines. This contributes to the anti-pneumonia effect of PR. [Display omitted] • Distribution kinetics study of Platycodonis Radix in rat lungs. • Relationship of cytokines in model and administered group was explored. • Grey relational analysis showed a correlation between platycodins and cytokines. • Platycodin D 3 showed protective effects against LPS-induced inflammation in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three tris-bis(urea) ligands with triphenylamine-based C3-symmetric spacers were synthesized, which assembled with sulfate or phosphate to form anionic A3L2 pinwheel helices (A = anion and L = ligand) and A4L4 tetrahedra, respectively. Interestingly, narcissistic self-sorting was observed in both structures from the mixture of the ligands, wherein each assembly contains only one type of ligand with no detectable mixed-ligand product as confirmed by the NMR and MS studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel gamma aminobutyric acid type B receptor subunit 1a (GABABR1a) biosensor modified with double‐layer gold has been developed for the first time. In this work, the synthesized plasmid was transfected into HEK‐293T cells by liposome transfection, and the target protein GABABR1a was obtained. The horseradish peroxidase was used as a signal amplification system to produce a double‐layer gold modified GABABR1a receptor biosensor. The ligand gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), jujuboside A and baclofen were detected by the time‐current method with the biosensor. The results showed that the action regularity of GABA, jujuboside A, and baclofen on GABABR1a receptor was fitted with hyperbolic fitting (R2 was 0.9740, 0.9770 and 0.9770, respectively). The double reciprocal method was used to figure out the affinity constant (Ka) of GABA, jujuboside A, and baclofen with the receptor, i. e. 2.1016×10−15 mol/L, 1.7601×10−14 mol/L, and 1.633×10−14 mol/L, respectively, indicating that these measured compounds exhibited different action strength on the receptor. Based on the above, this study will provide a basis for drug screening and will also provide a new idea and method for investigating quantitatively the interaction between receptors and ligands in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly pure and dense high entropy (Zr 0. 2 Ta 0. 2 Nb 0.2 Hf 0.2 Mo 0.2)B 2 ceramics have been obtained via oscillatory pressure sintering (OPS) at 1800 °C–1900 °C for 1 h under 30 ± 5 MPa. The formation of a single-phase solid solution was confirmed through XRD and TEM. The relative density and hardness of (Zr 0. 2 Ta 0. 2 Nb 0.2 Hf 0.2 Mo 0.2)B 2 sintered at 1900 °C are 96.6% and 24.0 ± 1.0 GPa, respectively. The thermal conductivity of (Zr 0. 2 Ta 0. 2 Nb 0.2 Hf 0.2 Mo 0.2)B 2 is 12.2 W/m·K at 30 °C, which is only 10% of ZrB 2 , which might greatly be related to mass fluctuations and strain filed fluctuations caused by the interaction of solid solution effects. This is the first report of preparation of high entropy ceramics using oscillatory pressure sintering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cinnamaldehyde (CIN) was added to edible composite films of soy protein isolate (SPI) and egg white (EW) to develop active food packaging. The effects of adding 2%–10% CIN on the structural, physical, and functional properties of the SPI/EW films were systematically evaluated. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction suggested the excellent compatibility of the components because hydrogen bonding occurred. Scanning electron microscopy indicated CIN affected the structure of the films. The incorporation of CIN significantly improved the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the films, but reduced the tensile strength and water vapor permeability. In particular, the addition of CIN at different concentrations significantly increased the elongation at break, water resistant, and UV–vis light barrier properties of the films. Therefore, SPI/EW/CIN films can be used as eco‐friendly bioactive materials in food packaging. Practical applications: In recent decades, many studies were devoted to the development of biodegradable and edible natural biopolymers to replace petroleum‐based polymer packaging. The edible bioactive packaging film can be prepared by adding active substances to the food packaging materials instead of directly adding it to the food, which not only maintains the original characteristics of the food, but also delays the deterioration and autoxidation of the food. This study evaluated the Microstructural, physical, and functional properties (antioxidant and antimicrobial activities) of composite films for use in food packaging and it is proved that it is possible in practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of Ziziphus jujuba Mill var. spinosa seeds (ZSS) polysaccharides on the bioavailability of spinosin in mice and its molecular mechanism were investigated. After continuously fed with ZSS polysaccharides 100 mg/kg·d−1 for 28 consecutive days, the C57BL/6 mice absorbed spinosin at an obvious lower level compared with the control group. The expression levels of P-gp, MRP2 and Occludin in the colon were significantly increased. ZSS polysaccharides significantly regulated the composition of the gut microbiota, reducing the abundance of Bacteroidetes , and increasing the richness of Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia. Moreover, ZSS polysaccharides can significantly regulate the expression levels of tight junction proteins and efflux transporters in Caco-2 cells. However, the gut microbiota culture supernatant showed no obvious biological activity in this regard. Furthermore, histopathological analysis revealed ZSS polysaccharides can alleviate TNBS-induced colitis, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. This immune regulation was related to the NF-κB and MAPK pathways in RAW264.7 cells. Unlabelled Image • ZSS polysaccharides can reduce spinosin concentrations in blood of C57BL/6 mice. • ZSS polysaccharides regulated the expression of P-gp, MRP2, Occludin and Claudin-1. • ZSS polysaccharides significantly regulated the composition of the gut microbiota. • ZSS polysaccharides can alleviate TNBS-induced colitis. • ZSS polysaccharides exerted immunomodulatory through the NF-κB and MAPK pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethanol decomposition process for hydrogen-rich gas synthesis via microwave discharge in ethanol-water mixtures was investigated in this study. Excited active species and gas-phase products based on ethanol's varying volume fraction were detected via optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and mass spectrometry (MS). The correlation between the spectrum signal of the active species and the mass spectrum signal of the gas phase products was quantitatively analyzed. The experimental results showed that the intermediate active species mainly consisted of OH, C 2 , CH 2 , CH, C, and H, and the gas phase products mainly included H 2 , CH 4 , C 2 H 2 , CO, C 2 H 4 , and CO 2. There were significantly positive linear relationships between H or CH 2 and H 2 , demonstrating that both H and CH 2 were important radicals for generating H 2. Based on the experimental results and analyzed from the perspective of thermodynamics, the reactions of H + H (+M) → H 2 (+M) and H + H + H 2 →H 2 + H 2 , H + H + H 2 O → H 2 + H 2 O, CH 2 + CH 2 → H 2 + C 2 H 2 were all likely to produce hydrogen. • There were significantly positive linear relationships between H or CH 2 and H 2. • H and CH 2 were important radicals for generating H 2. • Possible reaction path of microwave discharge in ethanol solution was given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• iNOS and COX-2 were induced by Agaricus bisporus polysaccharide (TJ3) in macrophages. • TJ3 promotes the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. • The bioactivity mechanism of TJ3 in macrophages was revealed for the first time. In the present study, a glucogalactomanan polysaccharide isolated from Agaricus bisporus named as TJ3 was investigated its immunomodulatory effects and molecular mechanisms in RAW 264.7 cells. Functional analysis showed TJ3 could inhibit the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells in a certain concentration range. Moreover, TJ3 treatment increased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which was responsible for increasing nitric oxide (NO) production. TJ3 also increased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the mRNA levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and COX-2 in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, further elucidation of molecular mechanisms showed that ERK/MAPK and IκB/NFκB pathways were activated by TJ3 treatment via increased phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and IκB-α, respectively. These findings indicated that TJ3 had a huge promising immunostimulatory activity and its induced immune responses probably through stimulating the ERK/MAPK and IκB/NFκB pathways. Our results demonstrate that TJ3 may be used as a potent immune modulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prediabetes is associated with a high risk of colon cancer, and abdominal obesity, which can result in the secretion of several obesity-related adipocytokines, is an independent influencing factor for colonic polyps in prediabetes subjects. However, the correlation between adipocytokine levels and colonic polyps in prediabetes subjects is unclear. This research explores the relationship between plasma adiponectin, visfatin, leptin, and resistin levels and the development of colonic polyps in prediabetes subjects. Methods: A total of 468 prediabetes subjects who underwent electronic colonoscopy examinations were enrolled in this study; there were 248 cases of colonic polyps and 220 cases without colonic mucosal lesions. Then, colonic polyps patients with prediabetes were subdivided into a single-polyp group, multiple-polyps group, low-risk polyps group, or high-risk polyps group. In addition, 108 subjects with normal glucose tolerance who were frequency matched with prediabetes subjects by sex and age were selected as the control group; 46 control subjects had polyps, and 62 control subjects were polyp-free. Plasma adiponectin, visfatin, leptin, and resistin levels were measured in all the subjects, and the related risk factors of colonic polyps in prediabetes subjects were analysed. Results: Plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower in the polyps group than in the polyp-free group [normal glucose tolerance (9.8 ± 4.8 vs 13.3 ± 3.9) mg/L, P = 0.013; prediabetes (5.6 ± 3.7 vs 9.2 ± 4.4) mg/L, P = 0.007]. In prediabetes subjects, plasma adiponectin levels were decreased significantly in the multiple polyps group [(4.3 ± 2.6 vs 6.7 ± 3.9) mg/L, P = 0.031] and the high-risk polyps group [(3.7 ± 2.9 vs 7.4 ± 3.5) mg/L, P < 0.001] compared to their control groups. Plasma visfatin levels were higher in the polyps group and the multiple-polyps group than those in their control groups (P = 0.041 and 0.042, respectively), and no significant difference in plasma leptin and resistin levels was observed between these three pairs of groups (all P > 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lower levels of plasma adiponectin was a risk factor for colonic polyps, multiple colonic polyps, and high-risk colonic polyps in prediabetes subjects. Conclusions: Plasma adiponectin levels are inversely associated with colonic polyps, multiple colonic polyps, and high-risk colonic polyps in prediabetes subjects. And adiponectin may be involved in the development of colon tumours in prediabetes subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Omentin-1, a 34-kDa protein, has been demonstrated to be associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). Epidemiological and clinical studies have indicated that the levels of circulating omentin-1 are significantly increased in patients with CRC, but the cause of the high omentin-1 levels and whether CRC cells express this adipokine have not been determined. In the present study, human colorectal carcinoma and para-carcinoma tissues were collected from 24 patients with CRC. In addition, SW480 and HCT116 colon cancer cells were cultured in vitro. The expression and localization of omentin-1 protein in human CRC and para-carcinoma tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of omentin-1 in human CRC and para-carcinoma tissues were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting, respectively. In addition, omentin-1 mRNA expression levels in SW480 and HCT116 cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR. Since SW480 cells exhibited higher omentin-1 mRNA levels compared with those of HCT116 cells, SW480 cells were selected for further experiments. The expression of omentin-1 protein in the supernatant and lysate of SW480 cells obtained at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h was determined by ELISA. The immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the positive expression of omentin-1 protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm of cancer cells in human CRC tissues. The mRNA and protein expression levels of omentin-1 in the CRC tissues were higher compared with those in para-carcinoma tissues. The expression levels of omentin-1 were detected in the cell lysate and supernatant of SW480 cells; the expression level of omentin-1 protein in the cell lysate was higher compared with that in the supernatant. These results indicated that SW480 cells secret and express the adipokine omentin-1 endogenously. Omentin-1 may serve its potential carcinogenetic role in CRC through endocrine, autocrine and paracrine pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dense ZrB2‐SiC‐Al3BC3 ultra‐high temperature ceramic composite was fabricated by hot pressing sintering at 1900°C for 1 hour under a pressure of 20 MPa using Zirconium diboride (ZrB2) as the raw material and a powder mixture of SiC, B4C, Al, and carbon as the sintering additive. Al and B4C underwent in situ reaction with carbon powder to produce Al3BC3, which promoted the densification of ZrB2 ceramic. SiC grains were found to be elongated during sintering. The ZrB2‐SiC‐Al3BC3 composite exhibited excellent mechanical properties, such as high flexural strength of 589 ± 147 MPa and fracture toughness of 7.81 ± 1.09 MPa m1/2. Oxidation behavior of the ZrB2‐SiC‐Al3BC3 composite was studied in air at 1500°C for 1 hour. A continuous layer of oxides consisting of a mixture of SiO2, Al2SiO5, and Al2O3 was formed on the surface of the ZrB2‐SiC‐Al3BC3 composite. This layer of oxides efficiently prevented oxygen from diffusing into the specimens during oxidation, which improved the oxidation resistance of the ZrB2 ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rod-like ZrB 2 crystals were synthesized at 1600 °C in Ar atmosphere by boro/carbothermal reduction using ZrOCl 2 ⋅8H 2 O, B 4 C and carbon powders as raw materials. The optimum molar ratio of raw materials required to form pure ZrB 2 grains was found to be 2: 1.2: 3. With increase in temperature and subsequent heat preservation stage, ZrB 2 powders grew into a rod-like morphology along the c axis. The rod-like ZrB 2 grains obtained at 1600 °C have diameters of 0.5–3 μm and high aspect ratios of >8. Effects of molar ratio of raw materials, heating temperature and holding time on the phase composition and final morphology were investigated. Growth mechanism of rod-like ZrB 2 grains was also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ni 0.05 /CaO 0.95 were evaluated for integrated CO 2 capture and utilization. • NiO needs to be reduced by CH 4 after the CO 2 capture stage to initiate the DRM reaction. • O 2 and moisture triggered Ni and CaO expansion inhibiting NiO reduction and decreasing DFM performance. Global warming and climate change require urgent reduction of CO 2 emissions. Integrated carbon capture and utilisation combined with dry reforming of methane (ICCU-DRM) has the potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and converting CO 2 and CH 4 into valuable syngas. However, the performance and stability of dual-functional materials (DFMs) are unclear under real-world flue gas conditions, particularly in the presence of steam and O 2. In this study, we elucidated the mechanisms of the performance of a Ni 0.05 /CaO 0.95 DFM under various flue gas conditions and investigated the combined effects of steam and O 2 on CO 2 uptake, CO and H 2 yields and cyclic stability. Our approach includes the synthesis and evaluation of the DFM using advanced characterisation techniques, such as XRD, in-situ infrared spectroscopy, CH 4 -TPR, SEM, EXD, FIB-SEM, BET, and XPS, to gain insights into the properties and behaviour of the DFM under different flue gas conditions. The findings show that under the simulated flue gas condition (10.0 % CO 2 + 6.0 % H 2 O + 6.7 % O 2 /N 2), there was a significant deterioration in performance, with CO 2 uptake of only 5.7 mmol.g-1, average H 2 yield of 11 mmol.g−1 and average CO yield of 6.2 mmol.g−1. While under the ideal condition (10.0 % CO 2 /N 2), the CO 2 uptake, average H 2 yield and average CO yield were 10.7 mmol.g−1, 16.9 mmol.g−1 and 23.1 mmol.g−1, respectively. FIB-SEM and XPS analysis highlighted the combined effect of steam and O 2 on the performance of Ni 0.05 /CaO 0.95 DFM during ICCU-DRM. Notably, the presence of O 2 promoted the oxidation of Ni, resulting in decreased catalytic activity and volumetric expansion of Ni particles. Furthermore, the presence of steam promoted CO 2 adsorption, inducing additional volumetric expansion of the CaO component of DFM. These synergistic expansions form a dense shell on the surface, hindering the reduction of internal NiO, thereby diminishing DFM performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inflammatory response induced by implant/macrophage interaction has been considered to be one of the vital factors in determining the success of implantation. In this study, TiCuN x O y coating with an immunomodulatory strategy was proposed for the first time, using nanostructured TiCuN x O y coating synthesized on Ti-Cu alloy by oxygen and nitrogen plasma-based surface modification. It was found that TiCuN x O y coating inhibited macrophage proliferation but stimulated macrophage preferential activation and presented an elongated morphology due to the surface nanostructure. The most encouraging discovery was that TiCuN x O y coating promoted the initial pro-inflammatory response of macrophages and then accelerated the M1-to-M2 transition of macrophages via a synergistic effect of fast-to-slow Cu2+ release and surface nanostructure, which was considered to contribute to initial infection elimination and tissue healing. As expected, TiCuN x O y coating released desirable Cu2+ and generated a favorable immune response that facilitated HUVEC recruitment to the coating, and accelerated proliferation, VEGF secretion and NO production of HUVECs. On the other hand, it is satisfying that TiCuN x O y coating maintained perfect long-term antibacterial activity (≥99.9%), mainly relying on Cu 2 O/CuO contact sterilization. These results indicated that TiCuN x O y coating might offer novel insights into the creation of a surface with immunomodulatory effects and long-term bactericidal potential for cardiovascular applications. [Display omitted] • TiCuN x O y coating stimulated the initial pro-inflammatory response of macrophages. • TiCuN x O y coating accelerated the M1-to-M2 transition of macrophages. • TiCuN x O y coating created a favorable immune microenvironment for re-endothelialization. • TiCuN x O y coating had long-term antibacterial potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a broadband near-infrared emission ranging from 1400 to 1660 nm in Er3+-doped nanocrystal-modified PbO-PbF 2 -Bi 2 O 3 -Ga 2 O 3 glasses. After heat treatment, X-ray diffraction measurements were performed and confirmed that PbBiO 2 F nanocrystals were precipitated in the precursor glasses. As nanocrystals alter the local environment around Er3+ ions, the emission spectrum of the transition 4I 13/2 →4I 15/2 is broadened and enhanced, resulting in a broadband emission and an FWHM wavelength range of 143.4 nm from 1470.1 to 1613.5 nm, which overlaps the S+C+L optical communications windows. In addition, the emission intensity of the 4I 11/2 →4I 13/2 transition is also found to be increased after heat treatment, thus enhancing the λ∼2750 nm emission intensity. Our results indicate that an Er3+-doped nanocrystal-modified PbO-PbF 2 -Bi 2 O 3 -Ga 2 O 3 glass could be a competitive candidate material that can offer improved bandwidths for S+C+L broadband amplifiers used in very high-capacity optical communications systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a kind of endogenous noncoding small RNA, microRNA (miRNA) plays important roles of regulation to various physiological functions, while its affections on senescence of human Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are still unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of miR-206 in HNSCC tissues, adjacent normal tissues and cell lines, and explore its biological functions in HNSCC. In our study, the level of miR-206 in HNSCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was detected via real-time qPCR. The effect of miR-206 on cell proliferation was tested by MTT assay, colony formation and cell cycle assays. In order to explore the effect of miR-206 on HNSCC cell migration and invasion, we performed wound healing assays and transwell assays. Luciferase reporter assays were designed to identify the interaction between 3′UTR of HDAC6 and miR-206. The level of signaling pathway-related proteins was determined by western blot. The expression of miR-206 was found to be observably decreased in HNSCC tissues and cell lines through real time-PCR. Restoration of miR-206 weaked cell proliferation, invasion and migration in HNSCC cells and the cell cycle was arrest in S phase. Further explores have shown that miR-206 could inhibit HNSCC cells proliferation by targeting the HDAC6 via PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway. Taken together, our results demonstrated that miR-206 plays a critical role in HNSCC progression by targeting HDAC6 via PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway, which might be a potential target for diagnostic and therapeutic in HNSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ hydrogen production technologies have attracted attentions because of hydrogen storage and transportation safety issues. Discharge plasma technology for hydrogen production is of fast response, large capacity, small scale and portability, which is suitable for automobiles and ships. In this paper, a method for producing hydrogen by microwave discharge in ethanol solution was introduced. A microwave discharge reactor of direct standing wave coupling (MDRSWC) was designed, which was suitable for on-board hydrogen production. The characteristics of large capacity hydrogen production by applying MDRSWC in liquid ethanol were investigated. Depending on the experimental conditions of ethanol concentration and microwave power, the flow rate of hydrogen production was achieved ranging from 28.93 to 72.48 g/h. In addition to main hydrogen and carbon dioxide, a small amount of methane and acetylene as by-products were detected. By optimizing the experimental conditions, the experimental results showed that the flow rate of hydrogen, the percentage concentration of hydrogen and the energy yield of hydrogen production were 72.48 g/h, 58.1% and 48.32 g/kWh respectively. This work could provide a potentially effective hydrogen production method for on-board hydrogen utilization device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SiC whisker reinforced ZrB2-SiCw composites were prepared by sol-gel method and spark plasma sintering ( SPS) with designed composition of 10-30 vol% SiCw. The ZrB2-SiCw composite powder was synthesized by sol-gel method using zirconium diboride, tetraethoxysilane ( TEOS), and activated carbon as starting materials, then densified by SPS at 1700°C under a pressure of 40 MPa for 5 minutes. The phase compositions and microstructures of ZrB2-SiCw composites were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope, respectively. The relative density of ZrB2-SiCw composites increased from 83% to 98.5% with increasing SiCw contents from 10 vol% to 30vol% after sintering at 1700°C without additional sintering additives. Meanwhile, the fracture toughness and flexural strength of as-obtained composites exhibited a similar trend as relative density. ZrB2-30vol% SiCw composite showed the highest fracture toughness of 6.1 MPa·m1/2 and flexural strength of 350 MPa, which were attributed to the formation of SiC whisker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bufalin (BF), a traditional Chinese medicine, exhibited inhibitory activities against a broad spectrum of tumor cells. The present study elaborates that bufalin was successfully encapsulated into the cavity of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), which was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The best reaction mole ratio of BF/β-CD was 1:5. The solubilities of bufalin in water and phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7.4) were increased up to 24 and 34 times after encapsulated into the cavity of β-CD respectively. The inclusion efficiency (IE) and drug loading (DL) of bufalin in the inclusion complex were (94.22 ± 0.85)% and (14.11 ± 0.20)%, respectively. Then β-CD conjugated with folic acid (FA) were further prepared and employed to improve the anti-tumor efficacy of inclusion complex. The in vitro dissolution and solubility study showed better values of inclusion complex and FA targeted inclusion complex than that of pure BF. Cytotoxicity experiments by using HCT116 cell line revealed that the antitumor efficiency of bufalin were enhanced more than two folds in the presence of β-CD and folate conjugated β-CD (FA-PEI-β-CD), which demonstrated the potential application of β-CD (FA-PEI-β-CD) as delivery vehicles of bufalin for antitumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (ZSS) has a long history of sedative-hypnotic use in China. As a novel flavone C-glycoside, coumaroylspinosin is a main flavonoid only found in ZSS. Up to now, its pharmacokinetic information and tissue distribution in vivo are not available yet. With a simple, rapid and sensitive HPLC–MS/MS method, the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of coumaroylspinosin were investigated in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after its intravenous administration. Puerarin was used as the internal standard (IS). The samples were extracted by a simple protein precipitation method with methanol. The MS analysis was performed with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), and the transitions were set at m / z 753.3 → 427.0 for coumaroylspinosin and m / z 415.3 → 295.3 for IS, respectively. The method was successfully applied for investigating the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of coumaroylspinosin in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats after tail vein injection with 4.0 mg/kg of the flavonoid. The calibration curves covered over the range of 0.02–10 μg/mL in plasma and various tissues samples with good linearity(r ≥ 0.9956). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) in all samples was less than 20 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions were below 15% and accuracy was from −3.78% to 4.68%. No significant matrix effect was observed, and the average extraction recovery was acceptable. Coumaroylspinosin could be cleared quickly from the rat plasma with the half-life (t 1/2 ) of 1.86 ± 0.15 h. It was distribute widely in vivo , and the main tissue depots of coumaroylspinosin in rats were found to be intestine, muscle and lung. With the method, the pharmacokinetic parameters and tissue distribution of coumaroylspinosin in SD rats were investigated for the first time. The results demonstrated that coumaroylspinosin was distributed widely and rapidly in various rat tissues after intravenous administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The direct current potential drop (DCPD) method is used to measure fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) in SBF. • SBF accelerates the FCGR of Ti-6Al-4V alloys with three types of microstructures. • The effect of SBF on FCGR depends on the microstructure type. • Lamellar α/β phase boundary and β grain boundary have high corrosion sensitivity to corrosive SBF environment. The fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) of Ti-6Al-4V alloys in simulated body fluid (SBF) was first determined by direct current potential drop (DCPD) method. The results show that the acceleration effect of SBF corrosion environment on FCGR of lamellar structure is far greater than that of equiaxed and bimodal structures, especially in Paris region, which is mainly due to the high corrosion sensitivity of the lamellar α/β phase boundary to SBF under fatigue loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodomonas salina , Cryptophyta, Rhodomonas genus, is a valuable source for live feed in aquaculture and for the production of phycoerythrin (PE). In this study, PE was extracted from Rhodomonas salina and characterized as having a molecular weight of approximately 24 kDa, an absorbance at 545 nm, and a purity of up to 6.61 (which meets reagent grade requirements with an OD545/OD280 ratio >4). The effects of PE on anticancer activity and its underlying mechanisms were evaluated to assess the immunomodulatory potential on the human lung cancer A549 cell line. Biochemical assays and western blot analysis were applied to confirm the immune mechanisms. The results showed that after 24 h of exposure to PE, the proliferation of A549 cells was significantly and dose-dependently decreased. PE also caused the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The further results showed that PE can remarkably enhance the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and p53. Simultaneously, the BCL-2 family was also affected and had some changes, such as the dramatically enhance of Bim and Bak and the decrease of Bcl-2 level. However, it is interesting to note that there was no apparent alteration in Bax expression during the experiment. Furthermore, the biological mechanism for the potential of PE to induce apoptosis showed that the ERK/Bak and the JNK/caspase-3 signaling pathway were activated. This study provides evidence that the anticancer activity of PE in Rhodomonas salina may have potential for preventing cancer and serving as a novel immunostimulant in the pharmaceutical industry. • The purity ratio of phycoerythrin was up to 6.61, which meets reagent grade requirements (OD545/OD280 > 4). • First time reveal the apoptosis effect of phycoerythrin from R. salina on A549 cells. • Molecular mechanism of phycoerythrin on A549 cells was illustrated the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZrSi 2 and SiC are good candidates to improve both sinterability and mechanical properties of ZrB 2 ceramics, which were synthesized simultaneously by an in-situ reaction of ZrC and Si additives during the sintering processing in this work. The ZrB 2 ceramic composites with different amount of ZrSi 2 and SiC were fabricated by reactive spark plasma sintering (RSPS) method. X-ray diffraction, scanning microscopy and Archimedes's method are used to characterize the phase, microstructure and density of the composites. Meanwhile, fracture toughness and flexural strength of the obtained composites were investigated too. It's found that a fully dense composite can be achieved at 1500 °C by SPS. Both fracture toughness and flexural strength of ZrB 2 ceramics increased with increasing the concentration of ZrSi 2 and SiC additives and reached a maximum of 7.33 ± 0.24 MPa·m 1/2 and 471 ± 15 MPa, respectively, with the ZrSi 2 + SiC content of 30 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• D-form peptide hydrogel (Nap-DFDFKGRGD) can serve as scaffold for MSCs. • The RGD-containing hydrogel can enhance the proangiogenic activity of MSCs. • D-form amino acids increase biostability and half-life of this hydrogel. • RGD motif and D-form peptide hydrogel provide a promising option for MSC delivery. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy was an ideal strategy for therapeutic angiogenesis in ischemic tissues. However, limitations such as heterogeneous proangiogenic nature and low cell survival following transplantation is a key challenge for clinical applications. Biofunctional materials such as extracellular matrix (ECM) and hydrogels are considered with great promise for improved therapeutics by constructing a supportable 3D microenvironment niche for transplanted cells. Here, we employ the RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp)-modified self-assembling D-form peptide hydrogel (Nap-DFDFKGRGD) to serve as the co-transplantation platform for human placental MSCs (hP-MSCs). Our data showed that this D-form hydrogel possessed excellent biocompatibility and biostability, exerting an anti-apoptosis capacity and improved cell viability in vitro. Furthermore, we found that the self-assembled hydrogel improved cell survival, as well as promoted collateral vessel revascularization by bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and micro-CT imaging analysis. Further study confirmed significant up-regulation of proangiogenic cytokines of hP-MSCs in vivo. These results demonstrated the improvements of therapeutic efficacy of hP-MSCs in terms of tissue regeneration and functional recovery in the murine hindlimb ischemia (HLI) model. In conclusion, the strategy provided a promising option for ischemia diseases by improving the proangiogenic effects of MSCs and further for enhancing the therapeutic efficiency of MSCs with the RGD motif and the D-form peptide hydrogel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavor is an essential attribute of grapes, but it quickly deteriorates and loses its quality. This study examined the effects of the selenium-chitosan treatment on the amino acid content and volatile components of freshly harvested grapes stored at 0°C. The amount and composition of precursors such as fatty acids and amino acids have an important influence on the formation of aroma compounds. In this article, the amino acids, volatile components, and some enzyme activities of different treated grapes were analyzed. The results of the analysis of free amino acid composition indicated that the selenium-chitosan treatment significantly reduced the loss of amino acid content by inhibiting the activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). The analysis also revealed that the significant differences in alcohol and aldehyde compounds primarily accounted for the variation in volatile components between treatments. The selenium-chitosan treatment slowed the decline in the content of aldehyde compounds and inhibited the increase in the range of alcohol compounds. These findings demonstrated that treatment with 25 mg L-1 selenium mixed with 1.0% chitosan solution has a positive effect on maintaining the flavor of Red Globe grapes. This treatment is worthy of future promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion‐coordination‐driven assembly (ACDA) has proven to be a very effective strategy for the construction of polyhedral structures. Here we demonstrate that variation of the "angle" of the backbone of C3‐symmetric tris‐bis(urea) ligands, from triphenylamine to triphenylphosphine oxide, results in the change of the final construct from an A4L4 tetrahedron to a higher‐nuclearity, A6L6 trigonal antiprism (A=anion, herein PO43−; L=ligand). Most interestingly, this assembly features a huge hollow internal space that is divided into three compartments: one central cavity and two large outer pockets. This multi‐cavity character enables the binding of different guests, namely monosaccharides or polyethylene glycol molecules (PEG600, PEG1000 and PEG2000), respectively. The results prove that anion coordination by multiple hydrogen bonds may provide both sufficient strength and flexibility, thus making possible the formation of complicated structures with adaptive guest binding ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion‐coordination‐driven assembly (ACDA) has proven to be a very effective strategy for the construction of polyhedral structures. Here we demonstrate that variation of the "angle" of the backbone of C3‐symmetric tris‐bis(urea) ligands, from triphenylamine to triphenylphosphine oxide, results in the change of the final construct from an A4L4 tetrahedron to a higher‐nuclearity, A6L6 trigonal antiprism (A=anion, herein PO43−; L=ligand). Most interestingly, this assembly features a huge hollow internal space that is divided into three compartments: one central cavity and two large outer pockets. This multi‐cavity character enables the binding of different guests, namely monosaccharides or polyethylene glycol molecules (PEG600, PEG1000 and PEG2000), respectively. The results prove that anion coordination by multiple hydrogen bonds may provide both sufficient strength and flexibility, thus making possible the formation of complicated structures with adaptive guest binding ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The widespread use of bisphenols poses a serious threat to the human health. • Efficient removal of bisphenol A in water is incredibly challenging. • Stable, efficient and inexpensive adsorbent was introduced. • The performance of HPBNN is comparable than that of state-of-the-art adsorbents. Non-toxic, cost-effective, abundant adsorption materials are currently under examination as potential alternatives to the activated carbons for the capture of organic micropollutants from wastewater. While organic-based adsorbents demonstrate a high adsorption rate, they suffer from difficulty in large-scale applications due to poor stability under extreme environment. Hexagonal boron nitride, a cost-effective, safe, sustainable inorganic product was obtained via the simple reaction of cheap precursors. Here we prepared a high-surface-area of hierarchically porous boron nitride nanoribbon (HPBNN). Experiment results illustrated that all the adsorption performance of HPBNN was comparable or even better than that of state-of-the-art adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ascending aortic aneurysm is a serious health risk. In order to study ascending aortic aneurysms, elastase and calcium ion treatment for aneurysm formation are mainly used, but their aneurysm formation time is long and the aneurysm formation rate is low. Thus, this study aimed to construct a rat model of ascending aorta aneurysm with a short modeling time and high aneurysm formation rate, which may mimic the pathological processes of human ascending aorta aneurysm. Methods: Cushion needles with different pipe diameters (1.0, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6 mm) were used to establish a human-like rat model of ascending aortic aneurysm by narrowing the ascending aorta of rats and increasing the force of blood flow on the vessel wall. The vascular diameters were evaluated using color Doppler ultrasonography after 2 weeks. The characteristics of ascending aortic aneurysm in rats were detected by Masson's trichrome staining, Verhoeff's Van Gieson staining, and hematoxylin and eosin staining, while real-time polymerase chain reaction was utilized to assess the total RNA of cytokine interleukin-1β, interleukin 6, transforming growth factor-beta 1, and metalloproteinase 2. Results: Two weeks after surgery, the ultrasound images and the statistical analysis demonstrated that the diameter of the ascending aorta in rats increased more than 1.5 times, similar to that in humans, indicating the success of animal modeling of ascending aortic aneurysm. Moreover, the optimal constriction diameter of the ascending aortic aneurysm model is 1.4 mm by the statistical analysis of the rate of ascending aortic aneurysm and mortality rate in rats with different constriction diameters. Conclusions: The human-like ascending aortic aneurysm model developed in this study can be used for the studies of the pathological processes and mechanisms of ascending aortic aneurysm in a more clinically relevant fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the role of pectin and heat-moisture treatment in modifying the physicochemical and structural properties of corn starch. The structural features and morphological, thermal and rheological properties of samples were characterized using techniques including microscope, SEM, DSC, FTIR, NMR, and rheometer. Results reveal that the pectin-starch mixture with the heat-moisture treatment shows an improved paste stability and a modified structure with a lowest value of retrogradation degree (39.7%), syneresis rate (6.33%), double helices content (26.5%), and leaching amylose content (22.7%). All of these can be ascribed to a fact that the heat-moisture treatment could enable a strong interaction of hydrogen bonds between pectin and starch molecules (amylose/amylopectin). The current findings suggest a potential use of the heat-moisture-treated pectin-starch paste in food industry. [Display omitted] • The pectin and heat moisture treatment affected starch's structure and property. • Retrogradation of both amylose and amylopectin was inhibited by pectin. • Some new double helices were formed due to the presence of pectin. • The influence of pectin was improved further by heat moisture treatment. • The starchy paste showed a great stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women are at risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic gynaecological surgery. Traditionally, patients who undergo laparoscopic gynaecological surgery are only allowed to initiate oral intake after return of bowel function, including bowel sounds or passage of flatus or stool. The present study was designed to assess the effect of liberal oral intake immediately after discharge from the post‐anaesthesia care unit (PACU) on PONV incidence in patients who underwent elective laparoscopic gynaecological surgery. Methods: In total, 174 patients (aged 20–64 years) were randomly assigned to the traditional and liberal groups. In the traditional group, patients were allowed to initiate oral intake 6 h after discharge from the PACU. In the liberal group, patients were allowed oral intake immediately after discharge from the PACU. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV 48 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included ileus incidence, total dose of postoperative opiate (sufentanil) use, time to postoperative first flatus (FFL), first out‐of‐bed mobilisation and the duration of postoperative hospitalisation stay. Results: Incidence of PONV was not significantly different between both groups (32.18% vs. 33.33%, p = 0.872). Time to FFL in the liberal group was significantly shorter than that in the traditional group (14.82 ± 0.91 h vs. 17.50 ± 0.96 h, p = 0.024). The postoperative pain score at 48 h after surgery was significantly lower in the liberal group than that in the traditional group (2.48 ± 0.17 vs. 3.20 ± 0.19, p = 0.008) without an increase in sufentanil use (89.32 ± 1.02 µg vs. 89.92 ± 1.16 µg, p = 0.702). No ileus occurred in either group. When considering the time of actually return to regular diet, initiating regular diet no more than 6 h after discharge from PACU significantly shortened the time to first out‐of‐bed mobilisation (11.18 ± 1.01 h vs. 15.05 ± 0.70 h, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Our results indicate that liberal oral intake after discharge from the PACU in patients aged 20–64 years who underwent gynaecological surgery is safe and beneficial and supports the rationale for a more liberal diet regime postoperatively. Key points: Women are at risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic gynaecological surgery. This single‐centre randomised controlled trial was designed to assess the effect of liberal oral intake immediately after discharge from post‐anaesthesia care unit (PACU) on PONV incidence in patients who underwent elective laparoscopic gynaecological surgery. Liberal oral intake after discharge from the PACU in patients aged 20–64 years who underwent gynaecological surgery is safe and beneficial and supports the rationale for a more liberal diet regime postoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boilover is one of the most destructive tank fire scenarios, occurring in the specific conditions of explosive evaporation of the water sublayer, which causes a sudden rise in flame height accompanied by the splashing of burning fuel. In order to estimate the thermal hazards of the boilover fire, a series of experiments were conducted where the influence of pool diameters, initial fuel layer thickness and fuel types on the boilover characteristics were investigated. The results show that the boilover fire can be divided into four stages including the initial stage, steady stage, boilover stage and decay stage. The boilover onset time which is defined based on the flame enlargement, show a slight downward trend with the pool diameter but increased with the initial fuel layer thickness. The boilover intensity defined based on the mass loss rate increased with the fuel layer thickness but decreased with the pool diameter. Analysis of these phenomena was conducted based on the thermal mechanism of the boilover occurrence. The boilover splash coverage ratio is approximately exponentially distributed with distance. A model for predicting the safe distance based on boilover splash is derived by introducing the boilover intensity and critical thickness at which boilover occurs. The present results provide a guidance for boilover fire prevention during fuel storage and transportation. [Display omitted] • Boilover onset time is logarithmically with initial experimental parameter and linear with critical thickness. • Boilover intensity of light crude is positively related to pool diameter, while the heavy crude is opposite. • Boilover splash coverage ratio shows exponentially distribution, and light crude has a relatively larger value. • A new safety distance model is proposed by the boilover splash coverage ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effects of 6‴-feruloylspinosin (6-FS), one of the main active flavonoid components in Sour Jujube seeds, on beta-amyloid (Aβ) protein transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (GMC101) and PC12 cells, and determine the molecular mechanism of its action. We found that 6-FS could ameliorate the progression of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) phenotype by delaying the aging, decreasing the rate of paralysis, enhancing resistance to heat stress, and increasing the chemotaxis ability, and promotes autophagy activity though autophagy/lysosome pathway in GMC101. Furthermore, 6-FS reduced Aβ-induced toxicity by inhibiting the deposition of Aβ and the aggregated proteins, increasing the level of mitophagy in PC12 through promoting the expression of Pink1/Parkin in the mitophagy pathway. Our findings suggest that 6-FS may be used as a medicinal supplement for treating AD. Unlabelled Image • Aβ transgenic C. elegans (GMC101) were protected by 6‴-feruloylspinosin (6-FS). • 6-FS alleviated β-amyloid induced toxicity in neuronal cells. • The molecular mechanisms of 6-FS in GMC101 and neuronal cells were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CNT-S is used as the active material in the FCDI cell. It favors the flow-electrode slurry with better dispersible property and suspension stability. What's more, the CNT-S could also promote good contact between the active material and the current collector by forming the conductive network. • The sulfonated CNT-S material exhibits good hydrophilicity and suspension stability. • CNT-S flow-electrode displays excellent electrochemical properties. • The CNT-S FCDI cell achieves high salt removal efficiency of 45.8%. • The continuous desalination and desorption processes can be achieved in the CNT-S FCDI cell. The novel sulfonated carbon nanotubes (CNT-S) material was successfully introduced into the flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) process, which could reduce inter-tube aggregation and promote good contact between the active material and the current collector by forming the conductive network. The physical characteristic and electrochemical tests were carried out to analyze the effects of surface properties of CNT-S on the suspension stability and electrochemical performance of the flow-electrode, respectively. The results indicated that the CNT-S flow-electrode slurry displayed better dispersible property and suspension stability, higher charging capacity and lower ohmic impedance than that of the CNT flow-electrode slurry. Moreover, the desalination performance of the CNT-S flow-electrode was investigated based on the symmetric FCDI cell. For the 2.0 wt% CNT-S flow-electrode, the mean electrosorption rate of 4.85 mg/(g·min) and the salt removal efficiency of 45.8% were achieved in 1.0 g/L NaCl solution, both of which were all about 1.6 times that of the CNT flow-electrode. It was also found that the CNT-S FCDI system coupled with the adsorption and desorption process simultaneously can achieve high electrode regeneration efficiency by controlling the flux ratio of the washing fluid to the feed solution. Therefore, the CNT-S flow-electrode was a promising active material in the FCDI process and displayed prominent advantage in improving the desalination performance of the FCDI cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZrB 2 –SiC ceramics have become popular candidates as ultra-high temperature structural materials in recent years; however, their poor sinterability and poor thermal shock resistance has limited their application. In this paper, high density ZrB 2 –SiC–Al 3 BC 3 ultra-high temperature ceramics were successfully fabricated via the Spark Plasma Sintering(SPS) process using Al, B 4 C, and carbon powders as sintering additives. The thermal shock resistance of the sintered ZrB 2 –SiC–Al 3 BC 3 ceramics was estimated via the water quenching method and the flexural strength of the quenched specimens were determined. The critical thermal shock temperature of the sintered ZrB 2 –SiC–Al 3 BC 3 ceramics increased with rising sintering temperature. The fracture toughness and flexural strength of the sample sintered at 1800 °C were improved to 748.27 ± 77.35 MPa and 6.15 ± 0.01 MPa m1/2, respectively. This sample showed excellent thermal shock resistance behavior, with a critical thermal shock temperature of 592 °C. The improvement of the thermal shock resistance was attributed to its higher fracture toughness and the distribution of rod-like grains. • Rod-like ZrB 2 grains can be observed in the composite sintered at 1800 °C. • The composite gained at 1800 °C showed excellent mechanical properties. • The composite gained at 1800 °C showed well thermal shock resistance behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]