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V-set and transmembrane domain-containing protein 1 (VSTM1) is negatively correlated with inflammation. However, its effect on atherosclerosis (AS) remains largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of VSTM1 on the biological function of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells /macrophages stimulated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL).

OBJECTIVES Due to the advantages of simple sample preparation, non-destructive determination, and rapid detection, the X-ray fluorescence spectrometry technique has become a robust method for determination of manganese in soil or sediment. Manganese in soil and sediment standard material has the maximum content of 2490mg/kg, thus the traditional X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) can easily suffer from the drawbacks of standard curve measurement range due to the limited manganese content in standard soil or sediment samples. OBJECTIVES To develop a good method for the determination of manganese in polluted soil or sediment. METHODS To address this major concern, manganese solutions were added to the commercially available soil standards in a quantitative manner to give a series of new soil standards with higher manganese content. The content of manganese can be determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. RESULTS The establishment of a novel standard curve by taking advantage of these new soil standards could significantly promote the upper limit of manganese measurement from 2490mg/kg to 3780mg/kg. The analytical results of manganese were consistent with the reference value and a recovery of 97.8%-108.3%. The results of high-manganese samples were consistent with the values acquired by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, with the relative deviation less than 5.7% and the relative standard deviation lower than 0.4% (n=7). Conclusion Results show good accuracy and precision in the determination of high-manganese soils and sediments.

Mercury intrusion is a common method for the determination of pore characteristics of shale, but the measurement results are affected by a number of factors, such as sample size and measuring range. The pore characteristics of shale and synthetic materials were analyzed under different contact angles, sample sizes and measuring ranges, all of which are reported in this paper. Porosity was related to the measuring range, and high precision results were acquired when the measuring range was between 7.1 nm and 100 μm. The fractures produced during sample preparation may have increased the porosity. Compared with synthetic samples, the mean pore diameter, the porosity and the specific pore volume of the shale were strongly influenced by the sample size, within a certain measurement range. Reducing the sample size of shale, not only increased the connectivity between the small pores, but also reduced the impact of large fractures. The mean pore diameter increased by 35% when the contact angle increased from 130° to 150°. Therefore, in order to improve the accuracy and comparability of the results, the measurement should be performed using small sample sizes and exact contact angle. Meanwhile it is necessary to further perfect the test standard concerning the measurement of pore characteristics of shale by mercury intrusion.

Alginate oligosaccharides (AOs), derived from alginate degradation, exhibit diverse biological activities and hold significant promise in various fields. The enzymatic preparation of AOs relies on alginate lyases, which offers distinct advantages. In contrast to the conventional use of sodium alginate derived from brown algae as the substrate for the enzymatic preparation of AOs, AO preparation directly from brown algae is more appealing due to its time and energy efficiency. Thus, the identification of potent alginate lyases and cost-effective brown algae substrates is crucial for optimizing AO production. Herein, we identified and characterized an alginate lyase, AlyP18, capable of efficiently decomposing algae, from a marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas agarivorans A3 based on secretome analysis. AlyP18 is a mesothermal, endo-type and bifunctional alginate lyase with high enzymatic activity. Two brown algae substrates, Laminaria japonica roots and Macrocystis pyrifera, were used for the AO preparation by AlyP18. Upon optimization of AlyP18 hydrolysis parameters, the substrate degradation efficiency and AO production reached 53% and ~32% for L. japonica roots, respectively, and 77% and ~46.5% for M. pyrifera. The generated AOs primarily consisted of dimers to pentamers, with trimers and tetramers being dominant. This study provides an efficient alginate lyase and alternative brown algal feedstock for the bioconversion of high-value AOs from brown algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Syringin is a major ingredient of phenolic glycoside in Acanthopanax senticosus. Objective: This study was performed to investigate whether Syringin could protect high glucose-induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) injury, cell senescence, and osteoporosis by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Methods: BMSCs isolated from both the tibia and femur of mice were induced for osteogenesis. The cell senescence was induced using the high glucose medium. The cells were treated with 10 and 100 ^mol/l Syringin. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to determine the p-galactosidase (SA-p-gal) levels in differentially treated BMSCs. MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis were also performed to assess cell viability and cell cycle. The level of ROS in cells with different treatment was measured by using flow cytometry with DCF-DA staining. Calcium deposition and mineralized matrices were detected with alizarin red and ALP staining, respectively. Osteogenesis related genes OCN, ALP, Runx2, and BMP-2 were detected by RT-PCR. Levels of senescence-related proteins including p53 and p21, as well as JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 were detected by Western blot analysis. Results: Syringin treatment reversed the phenotypes of senescence caused by high glucose in BMSCs, including the arrest of G0/G1 cell cycle, enhanced SA-p-gal activity, and impaired cell growth. Syringin also decreased the elevated ROS production and the levels of p53, p21, and JAK2/STAT3 signaling activation. In addition, Syringin also enhanced the osteogenic potential determined by ARS and ALP staining, as well as increasing OCN, ALP, Runx2, and BMP-2 expressions. Conclusion: Syringin protects high glucose-induced BMSC injury, cell senescence, and osteoporosis by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS), products of alginate degradation by endotype alginate lyases, possess favorable biological activities and have broad applications. Although many have been reported, alginate lyases with homogeneous AOS products and secretory production by an engineered host are scarce. Herein, the alginate lyase AlyC7 from Vibrio sp. C42 was characterized as a trisaccharide-producing lyase exhibiting high activity and broad substrate specificity. With PelB as the signal peptide and 500 mM glycine as the additive, the extracellular production of AlyC7 in Escherichia coli reached 1122.8 U/mL after 27 h cultivation in Luria-Bertani medium. The yield of trisaccharides from sodium alginate degradation by the produced AlyC7 reached 758.6 mg/g, with a purity of 85.1%. The prepared AOS at 20 μg/mL increased the root length of lettuce, tomato, wheat, and maize by 27.5%, 25.7%, 9.7%, and 11.1%, respectively. This study establishes a robust foundation for the industrial and agricultural applications of AlyC7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants possess the remarkable ability to sense detrimental environmental stimuli and launch sophisticated signal cascades that culminate in tailored responses to facilitate their survival, and transcription factors (TFs) are closely involved in these processes. Phytochrome interacting factors (PIFs) are among these TFs and belong to the basic helix–loop–helix family. PIFs are initially identified and have now been well established as core regulators of phytochrome-associated pathways in response to the light signal in plants. However, a growing body of evidence has unraveled that PIFs also play a crucial role in adapting plants to various biological and environmental pressures. In this review, we summarize and highlight that PIFs function as a signal hub that integrates multiple environmental cues, including abiotic (i.e., drought, temperature, and salinity) and biotic stresses to optimize plant growth and development. PIFs not only function as transcription factors to reprogram the expression of related genes, but also interact with various factors to adapt plants to harsh environments. This review will contribute to understanding the multifaceted functions of PIFs in response to different stress conditions, which will shed light on efforts to further dissect the novel functions of PIFs, especially in adaption to detrimental environments for a better survival of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]