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Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is characterized by significant treatment resistance. Palmitic acid (PA) has shown promising antitumor properties. This study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which PA influences DLBCL progression. We quantified the expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs), Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1), and DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) in both untreated and PA-treated DLBCL tumors and cell lines. Assessments were made of cell viability, apoptosis, and autophagy-related protein expression following PA administration. Interaction analyses among miR-429, DNMT3A, and FOXO1 were conducted using luciferase reporter assays and methylation-specific (MSP) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). After transfecting the miR-429 inhibitor, negative control (NC) inhibitor, shRNA against DNMT3A (sh-DNMT3A), shRNA negative control (sh-NC), overexpression vector for DNMT3A (oe-DNMT3A), or overexpression negative control (oe-NC), we evaluated the effects of miR-429 and DNMT3A on cell viability, mortality, and autophagy-related protein expression in PA-treated DLBCL cell lines. The efficacy of PA was also tested in vivo using DLBCL tumor-bearing mouse models. MiR-429 and FOXO1 expression levels were downregulated, whereas DNMT3A was upregulated in DLBCL compared to the control group. PA treatment was associated with enhanced autophagy, mediated by the upregulation of miR-429 and downregulation of DNMT3A. The luciferase reporter assay and MSP confirmed that miR-429 directly inhibits DNMT3A, thereby reducing FOXO1 methylation. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that PA promotes autophagy and inhibits DLBCL progression by upregulating miR-429 and modulating the DNMT3A/FOXO1 axis. In vivo PA significantly reduced the growth of xenografted tumors through its regulatory impact on the miR-429/DNMT3A/FOXO1 axis. Palmitic acid may modulate autophagy and inhibit DLBCL progression by targeting the miR-429/DNMT3A/FOXO1 signaling pathway, suggesting a novel therapeutic target for DLBCL management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports a room-temperature, solution-phase and one-pot method for macro-assembly of a three-dimensional (3D) reduced-graphene-oxide/copper hybrid hydrogel. The hydrogel is subsequently transformed into a highly conductive aerogel via freeze-drying. The aerogel, featuring reduced graphene oxide (rGO) networks decorated with Cu and Cu x O nanoparticles (Cu/Cu x O@rGO), exhibits a specific surface area of 48 m2/g and an apparent electrical conductivity of ∼33 and ∼430 S/m prior to and after mechanical compression, respectively. The compressed Cu/Cu x O@rGO aerogel delivers a specific capacity of ∼453 mAh g−1 at a current density of 1 A/g and ∼184 mAh g−1 at 50 A/g in a 3 M KOH aqueous electrolyte evidenced by electrochemical measurements. Galvanostatic cycling tests at 5 A/g demonstrates that the Cu/Cu x O@rGO aerogel retains 38% (∼129 mAh g−1) of the initial capacity (∼339 mAh g−1) after 500 cycles. The straightforward manufacturing process and the promising electrochemical performances make the Cu/Cu x O@rGO aerogel an attractive electrode candidate in energy storage applications. Image 1 • A straightforward and simple method for producing Cu/Cu x O@rGO aerogel had been developed. • The Cu/Cu x O@rGO aerogel exhibits rather high apparent electrical conductivity. • The compressed Cu/Cu x O@rGO aerogel delivers a specific capacity of ∼453 mAh g−1 at a current density of 1 A/g. • The Cu/Cu x O@rGO aerogel retains 38% of the initial capacity (∼339 mAh g−1) after 500 cycles at current density of 5A/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanopores have been widely studied for power generation and single-molecule detection. Although the power level generated by a single nanopore based on electrolyte concentration gradient is too low to be practically useful, such a power level is found sufficient to drive analyte translocation in nanopores. Here, we explore the simultaneous action of a solid-state nanopore as a nanopower generator and a nanoscale biosensor by exploiting the extremely small power generated to drive the analyte translocation in the same nanopore device. This autogenic analyte translocation is demonstrated using protein and DNA for their distinct shape, size and charge. The simple device structure allows for easy implementation of either electrical or optical readout. The obtained nanopore translocation is characterized by typical behaviors expected for an ordinary nanopore sensor powered by an external source. Extensive numerical simulation confirms the power generation and power level generated. It also reveals the fundamentals of autogenic translocation. As it requires no external power source, the sensing can be conducted with simple readout electronics and may allow for integration of high-density nanopores. Our approach demonstrated in this work may pave the way to practical high-throughput single-molecule nanopore sensing powered by the distributed energy harvested by the nanopores themselves. Image 1 • Transmembrane selectivity of cations and anions through asymmetric nanopores powered by the self-established nanogenerator. • Combination of power generation with high-sensitivity single-molecule detection without complex readout electronics. • Successful demonstration of autogenic translocation of proteins and DNA in the nanopores by electrical and optical means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas sensing represents a grand research and application field. Owing to their unique structure of single-atom/molecule thickness, the emerging two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are anticipated to display ultrahigh sensitivity capable of detecting minute changes in surface charge. To support the vast variety of gas sensing applications for domestic gases and environmental control, rapid and reliable quantitative analysis of measurement results based on established sensing mechanism and kinetics is essential. The present work uses graphene-based 2D sensors as a model system to establish the analytical capability for assessing the adsorption–desorption kinetics of gas molecules via electrical characterization. By linking the electrical current in graphene to the surface coverage of gas molecules and by incorporating the non-steady-state initial conditions for adsorption and desorption, an analytical model is established. Important kinetic parameters including activation energy, equilibrium coverage and adsorption–desorption time constants are obtained. The model can also facilitate real-world applications in gas sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tactile peripheral nervous system innervating human hands, which is essential for sensitive haptic exploration and dexterous object manipulation, features overlapped receptive fields in the skin, arborization of peripheral neurons and many-to-many synaptic connections. Inspired by the structural features of the natural system, we report a supersensitive artificial slowly adapting tactile afferent nervous system based on the triboelectric nanogenerator technology. Using tribotronic transistors in the design of mechanoreceptors, the artificial afferent nervous system exhibits the typical adapting behaviours of the biological counterpart in response to mechanical stimulations. The artificial afferent nervous system is self-powered in the transduction and event-driven in the operation. Moreover, it has inherent proficiency of neuromorphic signal processing, delivering a minimum resolvable dimension two times smaller than the inter-receptor distance which is the lower limit of the dimension that existing electronic skins can resolve. These results open up a route to scalable neuromorphic skins aiming at the level of human's exceptional perception for neurorobotic and neuroprosthetic applications. [Display omitted] • With self-powered mechanoreceptor based on TENG, slowly adapting features of biological SA-I nerves have been emulated. • The adapting timescale in the range of 50–100 ms comparable to that of the biological counterpart has been achieved. • A two-tier artificial tactile nervous system which is proficient in neuromorphic signal processing has been demonstrated. • The artificial TPNS reaches the minimum resolvable size 2 times smaller than the smallest inter-receptor distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]