Search

In this paper, the crystal structure, physical properties, photoelectric conversion efficiency and large-area development of CsPbI 3 all-inorganic perovskite solar cells are comprehensively analyzed. The research results of the material in photoelectric conversion efficiency, large-area development and preparation technology are summarized. In addition, through theoretical prediction and simulation, this study simulated a CsPbI 3 all-inorganic perovskite solar cell with a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 28.29 %, which provided a theoretical basis for the preparation of high-performance devices. In this paper, the physical properties, photoelectric conversion efficiency, large area and preparation methods of CsPbI 3 all-inorganic perovskite solar cells are summarized in detail. In addition, the theoretical efficiency of the device was predicted, and the CsPbI 3 all-inorganic perovskite solar cell with a theoretical photoelectric conversion efficiency of 28.29 % was successfully obtained. [Display omitted] • CsPbI 3 all-inorganic perovskite solar cells. • Physical Properties of CsPbI 3 Materials. • Research status and preparation methods. • The theoretical efficiency of simulation prediction reaches 28.29 %. • Challenge and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chronic stress promoted tumor growth and redistributed splenic myeloid cells. • Splenectomy could inhibit tumor growth induced by stress. • β-Adrenergic signaling was responsible for tumor growth and redistribution of splenic myeloid cells induced by stress. • Stress recruited myeloid cells to tumor tissues through CXCR2-CXCL2/CXCL3 axis. Psychological stress promotes tumor progression and has a large impact on the immune system, particularly the spleen. The spleen plays an important role in tumor behavior. However, the role and mechanism of the spleen in hepatocellular carcinoma progression induced by stress is unclear. Here, we showed that the spleen plays a critical role in hepatocellular carcinoma growth induced by restraint stress. Our results demonstrated that restraint stress promoted hepatocellular carcinoma growth, changed the spleen structure, and redistributed splenic myeloid cells to tumor tissues. Interestingly, we found that splenectomy could inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma growth and prevent increases in myeloid cells and macrophages in tumor tissues in stressed mice. Restraint stress significantly elevated the concentration of norepinephrine in the spleen, serum and tumor tissues. Meanwhile, propranolol, an inhibitor of β-adrenergic signaling, could inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma growth and prevent the redistribution of splenic myeloid cells induced by restraint stress, suggesting that restraint stress promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth and redistributes splenic myeloid cells through β-adrenergic signaling. Mechanistic studies revealed that restraint stress upregulated the expressions of CXCL2/CXCL3 in tumor tissues and changed the expression of CXCR2 in myeloid cells. SB225002, an inhibitor of CXCR2, could prevent the recruitment of myeloid cells in tumor tissues and inhibit tumor growth in stressed mice. Together, these data indicate that chronic restraint stress promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth by mobilizing splenic myeloid cells to tumor tissues via activating β-adrenergic signaling. The CXCR2-CXCL2/CXCL3 axis contributed to the recruitment of myeloid cells in tumor tissues induced by restraint stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune system is sensitive to stress. Spleen is the largest peripheral immune organ innervated with sympathetic nerves and controlled by adrenomedullary system in the body. However, the alterations and mechanism of spleen immune cell subsets caused by repetitive restraint stress (RRS) is poorly understood. In this study, we found that RRS reduced spleen index in mice, and induced an expansion of white pulp and involution of the red pulp. Meanwhile, the percentage of CD3 + CD8 + T lymphocytes, CD11b + F4/80 + macrophages, CD11b + Ly-6G − Ly-6C hi monocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (mMDSCs) and CD11b + Ly-6G + Ly-6C int granulocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (gMDSCs) in spleen were significantly changed by RRS. Mechanistically, we found that the expression of norepinephrine (NE) and β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) in spleen were up-regulated after 21 days of RRS, but not 7 days. The expression of corticosterone (CORT) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in spleen were up-regulated after 7 days of RRS but were lower after 21 days of RRS, even though they were still higher than that in mice without stress. By treating the stressed mice with RU486 (antagonist of GR) or propranolol (antagonist of β-AR), we demonstrated that GR was responsible for the changes of spleen induced by 7 days of RRS and β-AR was for 21 days of RRS. Our data suggest that RRS changes spleen immune cell subsets through GR or β-AR in a stage dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The O -carbamoyltransferase VtdB catalyzes the carbamoylation of venturicidin B, which is essential for the biosynthesis of the antibiotic venturicidin A. Here, the crystal structures of VtdB and VtdB in complex with the intermediate carbamoyladenylate (VtdBCAO) were determined at resolutions of 2.99 Å and 2.90 Å, respectively. The structures resemble the conserved YrdC-like and specific Kae1-like domains. A magnesium ion and the intermediate carbamoyladenylate were also observed in the Kae1-like domain of VtdB. The structure of VtdBCAO in complex with the substrate venturicidin B was modeled by a molecular docking method to better understand the substrate binding mode, revealing a novel venturicidin B binding pocket. • The crystal structures of VtdB and VtdB in complex with the intermediate carbamoyladenylate (VtdBCAO) are determined. • The magnesium ion binds in the Kael-like domain, which is necessary to catalyze the synthesis of venturicidin A. • The intermediate carbamoyladenylate fits tightly into a pocket of the Kae1-like domain in VtdB and VtdBCAO. • The model complex structure of the VtdBCAO−VentB predicts the binding mode of the substrate VentB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of fat-laden foam cells plays an important role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Amentoflavone (AF) is found in various traditional Chinese medicines, such as ginkgo biloba, which are used to treat cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aimed to explore the potential effects and mechanisms of AF on lipid accumulation, and its possible application in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Cellular models of lipid accumulation were established by treatment of HUASMCs and THP-1 cells with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Cell viability, lipid accumulation, and ox-LDL uptake were assessed. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and overexpression plasmids were used to reveal the hierarchical correlations of regulatory pathways. AF reduced the lipid accumulation and ox-LDL uptake induced by ox-LDL, and reduced the expression levels of cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) proteins, while the expression level of ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1) increased. Knockdown of PPARγ or CD36 with siRNAs prevented ox-LDL-induced lipid accumulation. Overexpression of CD36 or PPARγ promoted the lipid accumulation induced by ox-LDL and eliminated the effect of AF on ox-LDL-induced lipid accumulation. Overall, AF prevents ox-LDL-induced lipid accumulation by suppressing the PPARγ/CD36 signaling pathway. • Amentoflavone prevents oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced lipid accumulation. • Amentoflavone prevents oxidized low-density lipoprotein uptake. • Amentoflavone exerts these effects by suppressing PPARγ/CD36 signaling. • Amentoflavone upregulated ABCA1 expression in low-density lipoprotein-induced HUASMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) and inflammation may play a decisive role in hypertensive end organ damage (EOD) including left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and vascular remodeling. It is not clear whether the local RAS and inflammatory factors are involved in hypertensive EOD, and which RAS or inflammatory factors (systematic or local) is more important in EOD. Hemodynamics, cardiovascular hypertrophy, angiotensin II (Ang II) concentration and inflammatory factors in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were measured. mRNA expression of tissue RAS and inflammatory factors in SHR was assayed by real-time PCR. The independent effects and relative importance of hemodynamic factors and mRNA expression of RAS and inflammatory factors in local tissue on cardiovascular hypertrophy were assessed by stepwise multivariate regression analysis. It was found that blood pressure (BP), blood pressure variability, circulating Ang II, inflammatory factors, cardiac and aortic gene expressions of all the components of RAS and some inflammatory factors were elevated, and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was decreased in SHR. Changes of mRNA expressions of RAS components and inflammatory factors was unidirectional in the heart and aorta in SHR. It is the tissue RAS, rather the circulating RAS and inflammatory factors, that contributed to hypertensive cardiovascular hypertrophy. Statistically, LV hypertrophy was mainly determined by diastolic blood pressure and the cardiac angiotensin-converting enzyme gene expression, and aortic hypertrophy was mainly correlated with baroreflex sensitivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is closely related to endothelial cell injury caused by lipid peroxidation-induced ferroptosis. Tanshinone IIA (TSA) protects endothelial tissues from damage. In this study, we investigated whether TSA exerts its protective effect on endothelial cells by inhibiting ferroptosis. Ferroptosis was induced in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs), and cells were treated with TSA. Morphological examination indicated that TSA exerted a significant protective effect on the HCAECs. This was further confirmed by LDH release and cell death detection assays. Flow cytometry revealed that TSA significantly reduced the excessive accumulation of total cellular ROS and lipid ROS caused by ferroptosis inducers. TSA also restored the reduction of glutathione (GSH), a potent and abundant reductant in cells. In addition, we found that TSA promoted the expression of NRF2, an essential player in response to oxidative stress, and its downstream genes. Immunofluorescent staining revealed that TSA promoted the nuclear translocation of NRF2. Increased nuclear translocation of NRF2 was validated by Western blot evaluation of cytoplasmic and nuclear protein extracts. Furthermore, NRF2 inhibition abolished the protective effects of TSA on HCAECs. These data demonstrate that TSA represses ferroptosis via activation of NRF2 in HCAECs. • TSA inhibits Erastin/RSL3-induced cell death in HCAEC cells. • TSA reverses Erastin/RSL3-induced ROS increase in HCAEC cells. • TSA may attenuate ferroptosis by reducing iron in HCAEC cells. • TSA protects the HCAEC cells from ferroptosis by activating the NRF2 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, perovskite solar cells have achieved significant progress in photovoltaic conversion efficiency, mainly using organic/inorganic hybrid materials as the perovskite absorption layer. However, this type of material has defects in thermal stability. In contrast, all-inorganic perovskite materials can effectively solve this problem, and the prepared solar cells have higher stability and longer lifespan than hybrid perovskite solar cells. Therefore, the emergence of all-inorganic perovskite solar cells has attracted widespread attention, and achieved an efficiency of 21.15% in a short period of time. However, due to the short development time of all-inorganic perovskite solar cells but with many reported articles, many researchers cannot clearly understand its current development status. Therefore, this article provides a systematic discussion on the photovoltaic conversion efficiency, working principle and structure, characterization methods, preparation process, and simulation software of all-inorganic perovskite solar cells, in order to provide readers with a clearer understanding. Finally, this article summarizes the current achievements of all-inorganic perovskite solar cells, clarifies the challenges faced in this field, and looks forward to its future development prospects. This article provides a comprehensive summary of all-inorganic perovskite solar cells and introduces their development history, structure, and working principles. In addition, the preparation process and characterization methods are also emphasized. At the end of the article, the existing problems and achievements of all-inorganic perovskite solar cells are also discussed in detail. [Display omitted] • Development of all-inorganic perovskite solar cells. • Preparation and characterization methods. • All inorganic perovskite solar cells involve simulation software. • Achievements and challenges of all-inorganic perovskite solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pollen + yeast powder supplementation enhances E. nicholsi development and reproduction. • The full-length TOR gene, a key gene in the TOR signal pathway related to nutrition, was cloned and its expression profile was investigated. • Pollen + yeast supplementation promotes TOR expression in female E. nicholsi mites. • E. nicholsi fertility and egg hatch rates are decreased when EnTOR is silenced. Euseius species are good predators and can control infestations of non-web producing spider mites (e.g., Panonychus); they face difficulties, though, in controlling web producing spider mite species such as Tentranychus urticae. Euseius nicholsi has not yet been mass reared using an alternative diet. Here we investigated the effects of nutrient supplementation to a diet of pollen on the growth, development, and reproduction of Euseius nicholsi and the underlying molecular mechanisms. When Euseius nicholsi groups fed pollen were compared to groups fed pollen + yeast powder or pollen + sugar, yeast supplementation shortened the immature stages, but sugar supplementation lengthened the immature stages. The oviposition of Euseius nicholsi reared on pollen + yeast was higher than those in the other treatments. Based on these findings, we propose that the combination of pollen and yeast powder can enhance the reproduction in Euseius nicholsi females and could be used as an alternative diet. We also characterized the expression profile of the Euseius nicholsi target of rapamycin (EnTOR) gene, which was expressed in all developmental stages tested. The EnTOR expression levels were highest in adults when reared on pollen + yeast powder. When EnTOR was silenced using RNA interference, expression of the Euseius nicholsi vitellogenin (Vg) genes was significantly decreased, reducing the oviposition period, fecundity, and egg hatching rate. Based on these findings, we conclude that protein supplementation (yeast powder) in Euseius nicholsi enhances TOR gene expression, there by promoting the expression of the vitellogeningenes and thus improving fecundity. These data provide a foundation for further research on TOR function and provide a theoretical basis for exploring the reproduction mechanism of Euseius nicholsi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]