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Objective Sex steroid hormones like estrogens have a key role in the regulation of energy homeostasis and metabolism. In transwomen, gender-affirming hormone therapy like estradiol (in combination with antiandrogenic compounds) could affect metabolism as well. Given that the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are not fully understood, this study assessed circulating estradiol-driven microRNAs (miRs) in transwomen and their regulation of genes involved in metabolism in mice. Methods Following plasma miR-sequencing (seq) in a transwomen discovery (n = 20) and validation cohort (n = 30), we identified miR-224 and miR-452. Subsequent systemic silencing of these miRs in male C57Bl/6 J mice (n = 10) was followed by RNA-seq-based gene expression analysis of brown and white adipose tissue in conjunction with mechanistic studies in cultured adipocytes. Results Estradiol in transwomen lowered plasma miR-224 and -452 carried in extracellular vesicles (EVs) while their systemic silencing in mice and cultured adipocytes increased lipogenesis (white adipose) but reduced glucose uptake and mitochondrial respiration (brown adipose). In white and brown adipose tissue, differentially expressed (miR target) genes are associated with lipogenesis (white adipose) and mitochondrial respiration and glucose uptake (brown adipose). Conclusion This study identified an estradiol-drive post-transcriptional network that could potentially offer a mechanistic understanding of metabolism following gender-affirming estradiol therapy.

Silicon carbide (SiC) fiber–reinforced SiC matrix (SiCf/SiC) composites, employing two SiC fibers, KD-I and KD-II, respectively, were fabricated by the precursor infiltration and pyrolysis process....

Objective: Besides hyperlipidemia, inflammation is an important determinant in the initiation and the progression of atherosclerosis. As Neuroimmune Guidance Cues (NGCs) are emerging as regulators of atherosclerosis, we set out to investigate the expression and function of inflammation-regulated NGCs.Methods and results: NGC expression in human monocytes and endothelial cells was assessed using a publicly available RNA dataset. Next, the mRNA levels of expressed NGCs were analyzed in primary human monocytes and endothelial cells after stimulation with IL1β or TNFα. Upon stimulation a total of 14 and 19 NGCs in monocytes and endothelial cells, respectively, were differentially expressed. Since plexin A4 (PLXNA4) was strongly downregulated in endothelial cells under inflammatory conditions, the role of PLXNA4 in endothelial function was investigated. Knockdown of PLXNA4 in endothelial cells markedly impaired the integrity of the monolayer leading to more elongated cells with an inflammatory phenotype. In addition, these cells showed an increase in actin stress fibers and decreased cell-cell junctions. Functional assays revealed decreased barrier function and capillary network formation of the endothelial cells, while vascular leakage and trans-endothelial migration of monocytes was increased.Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that pro-inflammatory conditions result in differential expression of NGCs in endothelial cells and monocytes, both culprit cell types in atherosclerosis. Specifically, endothelial PLXNA4 is reduced upon inflammation, while PLXNA4 maintains endothelial barrier function thereby preventing vascular leakage of fluids as well as cells. Taken together, PLXNA4 may well have a causal role in atherogenesis that deserves further investigation.

Netrin-4, recognized in neural and vascular development, is highly expressed by mature endothelial cells. The function of this netrin-4 in vascular biology after development has remained unclear. We found that the expression of netrin-4 is highly regulated in endothelial cells and is important for quiescent healthy endothelium. Netrin-4 expression is upregulated in endothelial cells cultured under laminar flow conditions, while endothelial cells stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha resulted in decreased netrin-4 expression. Targeted reduction of netrin-4 in endothelial cells resulted in increased expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1. Besides, these endothelial cells were more prone to monocyte adhesion and showed impaired barrier function, measured with electric cell-substrate impedance sensing, as well as in an 'organ-on-a-chip' microfluidic system. Importantly, endothelial cells with reduced levels of netrin-4 showed increased expression of the senescence-associated markers cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor-1 and -2A, an increased cell size and decreased ability to proliferate. Consistent with the gene expression profile, netrin-4 reduction was accompanied with more senescent associated β-galactosidase activity, which could be rescued by adding netrin-4 protein. Finally, using human decellularized kidney extracellular matrix scaffolds, we found that pre-treatment of the scaffolds with netrin-4 increased numbers of endothelial cells adhering to the matrix, showing a pro-survival effect of netrin-4. Taken together, netrin-4 acts as an anti-senescence and anti-inflammation factor in endothelial cell function and our results provide insights as to maintain endothelial homeostasis and supporting vascular health.

Background: Trigonelline have hypoglycemic effects. In previous animal experiments, we observed that trigonelline (TRL) treat-ment attenuated metabolic abnormalities associated with hyperglycemic conditions in the experimental DN model. In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rats, TRL treatment reduced albuminuria, lowered blood sugar, improved renal function and alleviated the pathological alterations within the glomerulus. Methods: We stimulated human mesangial cells (HMC) with high glucose (30 mmol / L) medium. HMCs were transfected with β-catenin plasmid or siRNA to investigate the effect of trigonelline on high glucose-induced excessive proliferation and apoptosis of HMCs, and to understand its mechanism of action. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry and terminal dUTP transferase nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Protein and mRNA expression of β-catenin, Wnt5a, TCF4, Cyclin D1, and CDK4 were detected by western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. Results: Trigonelline inhibited cell proliferation by blocking cell-cycle progression at the G1 phase and decreased apoptosis via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Elevated glucose levels enhanced the expression of β-catenin, an important modulator of diabetic nephropathy, while trigonelline restored up-regulation. Conclusions: High glucose and high expression of β-catenin could lead to cell injury; however, this effect was mitigated by trigonelline via managing the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Background Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a primary cause of end‐stage renal disease. Increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in DN pathogenesis. Trigonelline (TRL) has been shown to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, promote nerve regeneration, and exert anti-cancer and sedative properties. Method The effect of TRL on human mesangial cell (HMC) growth was assessed using the MTT assay. Differentially expressed miRNAs were validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Bioinformatics, cell transfection, and Western blot analyses were utilized to confirm the binding of miR-5189-5p to HIF1AN. The effects of miR-5189-5 expression on cell proliferation were also assessed. Western blot analysis was used to determine the activation of multiple signaling molecules including phosphorylated-(p)-AMPK, SIRT1, LC3B, p62, and Beclin-1 in the autophagy pathway. Results TRL improved proliferation, increased the expression of miR-5189-5p, reduced HIF1AN, and restored the inhibition of autophagy in HMCs induced by high glucose. MiR-5189-5p mimics inhibited HIF1AN expression, and the miR-5189-5p inhibitor increased HIF1AN expression. MiR-5189-5p mimics significantly improved the proliferation of HMCs induced by high glucose, reduced the relative protein expression of p-AMPK, SIRT1, LC3B, and Beclin-1, and significantly increased the relative protein expression of p62. Conclusion We showed that TRL up-regulated miR-5189-5p expression, activated the AMPK pathway, and activated autophagy in HMCs. Our study demonstrates that TRL could be a new treatment strategy to protect mesangial cells in response to high glucose.

Background and aims Neuroimmune guidance cues have been shown to play a role in atherosclerosis, but their exact role in human pathophysiology is largely unknown. In the current study, we investigated the role of a c.1769G > T variant in Netrin-1 in (premature) atherosclerosis. Methods To determine the effect of the genetic variation, purified Netrin-1, either wild type (wtNetrin-1) or the patient observed variation (mutNetrin-1), was used for migration, adhesion, endothelial barrier function and bindings assays. Expression of adhesion molecules and transcription proteins was analyzed by RT-PCR, Western blot or ELISA. To further delineate how mutNetrin-1 mediates its effect on cell migration, lenti-viral knockdown of UNC5B or DCC was used. Results Bindings assays revealed a decreased binding capacity of mutNetrin-1 to the receptors UNC5B, DCC and β3-integrin and an increased binding capacity to neogenin, heparin and heparan sulfate compared to wtNetrin-1. Exposure of endothelial cells to mutNetrin-1 resulted in enhanced monocyte adhesion and expression of IL-6, CCL2 and ICAM-1 compared to wtNetrin-1. In addition, mutNetrin-1 lacks the inhibitory effect on the NF-κB pathway that is observed for wtNetrin-1. Moreover, the presence of mutNetrin-1 diminished migration of macrophages and smooth muscle cells. Importantly, UNC5B or DCC specific knockdown showed that mutNetrin-1 is unable to act through DCC resulting in enhanced inhibition of migration. Conclusions Our data demonstrates that mutNetrin-1 fails to exert anti-inflammatory effects on endothelial cells and more strongly blocks macrophage migration compared to wtNetrin-1, suggesting that the carriers of this genetic molecular variant may well be at risk for premature atherosclerosis.

In normal physiology, endothelial cells (ECs) form a vital barrier between the blood and underlying tissue controlling leukocyte diapedesis and vascular inflammation. Emerging data suggest that neuronal guidance cues, typically expressed during development, have roles outside the nervous system in vascular biology and immune responses. In particular, Class III semaphorins have been reported to affect EC migration and angiogenesis. While ECs express high levels of semaphorin 3F (SEMA3F), little is known about its function in mature ECs. Here we show that SEMA3F expression is reduced by inflammatory stimuli and increased by laminar flow. Endothelial cells exposed to laminar flow secrete SEMA3F, which subsequently binds to heparan sulfates on the surface of ECs. However, under pro-inflammatory conditions, reduced levels of SEMA3F make ECs more prone to monocyte diapedesis and display impaired barrier function as measured with an electric cell–substrate impedance sensing system and a microfluidic system. In addition, we demonstrate that SEMA3F can directly inhibit the migration of activated monocytes. Taken together, our data suggest an important homeostatic function for EC-expressed SEMA3F, serving as a mediator of endothelial quiescence.

A highly efficient single atom Fe-dispersed g-C3N4 catalyst with a Fe-N4 coordination structure for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) photocatalytic activation and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation was synthesized. The dominant role of Fe single atoms in the activation of PMS and SMX removal was revealed, and the contribution of photo-generated electrons (e−) and holes (h+) to the enhanced catalytic performance of the catalyst in PMS activation was elucidated. Under visible light irradiation, 98.7% of the SMX with the initial concentration of 10 mg/L was quickly degraded within 6 min using 50 mg/L catalyst. The turnover efficiency (TOF) of the catalyst is as high as 5.27 min−1, which is 2–6 orders of magnitude higher than normal Fe-containing catalysts for SMX degradation. Moreover, this catalyst exhibits excellent stability and reusability. The dominating reaction active species involved in the degradation of SMX were identified, and the possible SMX degradation mechanism was proposed based on the detected degradation intermediates. This work provide a highly efficient visible light response single atom Fe catalyst for the sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation process.

Carbon matrix (CM) derived from biomass is low cost and easily mass produced, showing great potential as sulfur host for lithium sulfur batteries. In this paper we report on a dihydrogen phosphate modified CM (PCM-650) prepared from luffa sponge (luffa acutangula) by phosphoric acid treatment. The phosphoric acid not only increases the surface area of the PCM-650, but also introduces dihydrogen phosphate onto PCM-650 (2.28 at% P). Sulfur impregnated (63.6 wt%) PCM-650/S, in comparison with samples with less dihydrogen phosphate LPCM-650/S, shows a significant performance improvement. XPS analysis is conducted for sulfur at different stages, including sulfur (undischarged), polysulfides (discharge to 2.1 V) and short chain sulfides (discharge to 1.7 V). The results consistently show chemical shifts for S2p in PCM-650, suggesting an enhanced adsorption effect. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations is used to clarify the molecular binding: carbon/sulfur (0.86 eV), carbon/Li2S (0.3 eV), CH3-O-PO3H2/sulfur (1.24 eV), and CH3-O-PO3H2/Li2S (1.81 eV). It shows that dihydrogen phosphate group can significantly enhance the binding with sulfur and sulfide, consistent with XPS results. Consequently a CM functionalised with dihydrogen phosphate shows great potential as the sulfur host in a Li-S battery.

Pyrolysis of supramolecular assembly precursor is a promising method to prepare graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4), and the topological structure of the precursor assemblies largely determine the morphology and photoelectric properties of g-C3N4. In this paper, uniformly and highly porous g-C3N4 nanotubes were synthesized under the assistance of 1,5-naphthalene disulfonic acid (NA) through the melamine (MA)-cyanuric acid (CA) precursor self-assembly strategy. The as-synthesized g-C3N4 nanotubes in the presence of 75 mg/L NA (MNCA-75) exhibited the highest BET surface area (SBET) of 100.40 m2/g, and the smallest band gap (Eg) of 2.31 eV. 10 mg/L of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) was completely degraded within 120 min with the MNCA-75, and the degradation reaction conformed to pseudo-first-order kinetics. This paper reported a facile but effective method to prepare highly porous g-C3N4 nanotubes with large surface area and excellent photocatalytic performance.

Developing highly efficient, reusable, non-toxic and low-cost catalysts is of great importance for persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). In this work, ferrocene was mixed into paraffin to prepare a candle, and the iron-containing candle soots were collected and heated at 500 °C~900 °C under N2 atmosphere for 1 h to prepare magnetically recyclable Fe0/Fe3O4@porous carbon (Fe0/Fe3O4@PC) catalysts. The Fe0/Fe3O4@PC-700 obtained after pyrolysis at 700 °C exhibited the best catalytic activity for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation. 10 mg/L SMX could be completely degraded within 10 min by 0.2 g/L of Fe0/Fe3O4@PC-700 and 0.5 mM PMS at pH 5.0. The carbon shell effectively inhibited the Fe leaching of Fe0/Fe3O4@PC-700, and 99.73% of Fe was retained after five consecutive cycles. In the Fe0/Fe3O4@PC-700/PMS system, SMX was degraded through the sulfate radical (SO4·¯), hydroxyl radical (·OH), superoxide radical (O2·¯) dominated radical pathway, and the singlet oxygen (1O2) dominated non-radical pathway. The coexisting inorganic ions and natural organic matters (NOM) in actual water inhibited the degradation of SMX. Finally, four possible degradation pathways were proposed based on the degradation intermediates of SMX. This work provides a facile heat treatment of iron-containing candle soots strategy to prepare the metal@carbon catalysts for PMS-based AOP.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an effective endocrine-disrupting compound (EDC) that causes adverse effects on human health and environment. Therefore, it is indispensable to construct efficacious methods for evaluating the level of BPA to enhance the quality of life. In this study, a facile electrochemical sensor based on reduced graphene oxide-silver/poly- l -lysine nanocomposites (RGO-Ag/PLL) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is proposed for the detection of BPA. The synthesized RGO-Ag/PLL nanocomposites displays high electrocatalytic activity towards the electrochemical oxidation of BPA. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) is used as an analytical method for the quantitative determination of BPA, and the fabricated electrochemical sensor exhibits a linear response to BPA in the range of 1–80 μM with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.54 μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Additionally, the developed RGO-Ag/PLL/GCE sensor is applied to detect the BPA in drinking water, and obtains satisfactory results.

Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are involved in multiple processes of human malignancy, and emerge as crucial molecules in RNA biology. However, the function of lncRNAs has not been well illustrated in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). In this research, the effects of dysregulated ladybird homeobox 2 antisense RNA 1 (LBX2-AS1) or ladybird homeobox 2 (LBX2) on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) biological processes were surveyed via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) and caspase-3 activity assays. LBX2-AS1 and LBX2 both possessed pro-apoptosis and anti-proliferation functions in AAA. Mechanically, the regulation role of LBX2-AS1 on miR-4685-5p or that of miR-4685-5p on LBX2 was investigated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additionally, the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was confirmed by luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. LBX2-AS1 sequestered miR-4685-5p to release LBX2 expression via ceRNA mechanism. Further, LBX2 could act as a transcriptional activator of LBX2-AS1. A positive feedback loop was formed by LBX2-AS1, miR-4685-5p and LBX2, deteriorating AAA formation and progression. To sum up, our data suggested that LBX2-AS1, miR-4685-5p and LBX2 constituted a positive feedback loop in promoting AAA development, implying a potential usage of LBX2-AS1/miR-4685-5p/LBX2 axis in AAA management.

W-20 wt.% Cu pseudo-alloys were produced via powder injection molding (PIM) with powders prepared thermochemically. Bonding treatment and ball milling (BTBM) were used, and the effects of BTBM on the characteristics of the powders, rheological properties of the feedstock, shrinkage and properties of the sintered samples were studied. The morphology of the powder changed from extremely agglomerated small particles to pebble-shaped smooth large particles which were composed of several small particles combined tightly. The tap density increased from 3.25 g/cm3 to 7.22 g/cm3, and the specific surface area decreased from 0.86 m2/g to 0.45 m2/g. The critical powder loading of the feedstock increased from 45 vol.% to 56 vol.% due to the change in powder characteristics, thereby improving densification and dimension precision. For the PIM samples sintered at 1290 °C for 120 min in a hydrogen gas, the oversizing factor decreased from 1.297 to 1.216, and the dimension fluctuation ratio decreased from ±0.61% to ±0.33%. At the same time, the relative density increased from 97.8% to 98.6%, the thermal conductivity increased from 218 W/(m·K) to 233 W/(m·K), and the average coefficients of thermal expansion were roughly similar, within the range of 8.43–8.52 × 10−6/K.

Thermally treated candle soot (TCS) was used as a two-electron (2e¯) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst to in situ produce H2O2 in a bio-electro-Fenton (BEF) system. Compared with the pristine candle soot (CS), TCS showed larger Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area (102.54 m2 g−1 vs. 61.79 m2 g−1), higher mesoporous ratio (50.39% vs. 34.98%), and improved hydrophilicity. X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) results revealed that the C–O–C was the dominant oxygen-containing group of the CS, and its percentage reached at 80.55%. However, the C–O–C ratio of the TCS decreased to 48.93%, whilst it’s C O and O C–O ratios significantly increased to 27.92% and 23.15%. The TCS showed a high H2O2 selectivity (87.5%∼97.0%) at the neutral pH condition, which was much higher than that of the commonly used carbon black (CB) catalyst. Finally, the H2O2 concentration maxima (Cmax-H2O2) of the bio-electro-Fenton system running with the TCS air-cathode (BEF-TCS) achieved at 32.02 mg/L, which was 6.29 times higher than that of the BEF-CB (5.09 mg/L). The removal and mineralization ratios of the SMX in the BEF-TCS reached at 83.0% and 79.0%, respectively. This paper reported a novel 2e¯ ORR electro-catalyst which was low-cost, easily available and highly efficiency.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) often causes delayed wound healing in patients, which can lead to limb loss, disability, and even death. Many conventional therapeutic strategies have been proposed, but there is still no effective therapy for DM wounds. This study aimed to explore the effects of CD271 and phosphorylated tyrosine kinase receptor A (pTrkA) on the migration and proliferation abilities of epidermal stem cells (eSCs) and on the activation of DM wound healing. We investigated the interventional effects of CD271-overexpressing eSC (CD271 eSC) treatment and pTrkA inhibition (through k252a treatment) on delayed wound healing using mice with streptozotocin-induced DM. The migration and proliferation abilities of control eSCs, CD271 eSCs, and k252a-treated CD271 eSCs were observed under high-glucose conditions. Decreases in CD271 and increases in pTrkA were observed in DM mouse skin compared with control mouse skin; in addition, the rate of wound closure in DM mice was promoted by CD271 eSC treatment but delayed by pTrkA inhibition. Furthermore, the CD271 eSC migration and proliferation were greater than of control eSCs. Compared with that of CD271 eSCs, the number of CD271+k252a eSCs decreased significantly under high-glucose conditions. In parallel, the expression levels of the pERK, pAkt, and pJNK pathways increased in CD271 eSCs and decreased in CD271+k252a eSCs under high glucose. Our findings demonstrate that CD271 and pTrkA affect DM wound closure by promoting the eSC migration and proliferation. This mechanism involving the pERK, pAkt, and pJNK pathways might be a new therapeutic target for the treatment of delayed wound re-epithelialization in DM.

Objective— Accumulating evidence suggests a role of semaphorins in vascular homeostasis. Here, we investigate the role of Sema7A (semaphorin 7A) in atherosclerosis and its underlying mechanism. Approach and Results— Using genetically engineered Sema7A −/− ApoE −/− mice, we showed that deletion of Sema7A attenuates atherosclerotic plaque formation primarily in the aorta of ApoE −/− mice on a high-fat diet. A higher level of Sema7A in the atheroprone lesser curvature suggests a correlation of Sema7A with disturbed flow. This notion is supported by elevated Sema7A expression in human umbilical venous endothelial cells either subjected to oscillatory shear stress or treated with the PKA (protein kinase A)/CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) inhibitor H89 ( N -[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide·2HCl hydrate). Further studies using the partial carotid artery ligation model showed that disturbed flow in the left carotid artery of Sema7A +/+ ApoE −/− mice promoted the expression of endothelial Sema7A and cell adhesion molecules, leukocyte adhesion, and plaque formation, whereas such changes were attenuated in Sema7A −/− ApoE −/− mice. Further studies showed that blockage of β1 integrin, a known Sema7A receptor, or inhibition of FAK (focal adhesion kinase), MEK1/2 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2), or NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB) significantly reduced the expression of cell adhesion molecules and THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia cell line) monocyte adhesion in Sema7A-overexpressing human umbilical venous endothelial cells. Studies using chimeric mice suggest that vascular, most likely endothelial, Sema7A plays a major role in atherogenesis. Conclusions— Our findings indicate a significant role of Sema7A in atherosclerosis by mediating endothelial dysfunction in a β1 integrin–dependent manner.

Probucol (PB), an antioxidant drug, is commonly used as a lipid concentration lowering drug to reduce blood plasma cholesterol levels in the clinic. However, the therapeutic effects of this drug are negatively impacted by its poor water solubility and low oral absorption efficiency. In this study, a PEGylated G5 PAMAM dendrimer (G5-PEG) modified nanoliposome was employed to increase water solubility, transepithelial transport, and oral absorption of PB. The uptake mechanism was explored in vitro in Caco-2 cells with the results suggesting that the absorption improvement of G5-PEG modified PB-liposome (PB-liposome/G5-PEG) was related to P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux pump, but was independent of caveolae endocytosis pathways. Additionally, plasma lipid concentration lowering effects of PB-liposome/G5-PEG were evaluated in vivo in a LDLR−/− hyperlipidemia mouse model. Compared with saline treated group, treatment with PB-liposome/G5-PEG significantly inhibited the increase of plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) of mice induced by a high fat diet. Moreover, its lipid concentration lowering effects and plasma drug concentration were greater than PB alone or commercial PB tablets. Our results demonstrated that PB-liposome/G5-PEG significantly increased the oral absorption of PB and therefore, significantly improved its pharmacodynamic effects.

In this study, generation 5 (G5) polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers with two different surface groups, G4.5-COOH and G5-OH, were investigated for their protective effects on pancreas injury in a caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) mouse model. Both dendrimers significantly decreased pathological changes in the pancreas and reduced the inflammatory infiltration of macrophages in pancreatic tissues. In addition, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was significantly inhibited by the two dendrimers, not only in pancreatic tissues from AP mice but also in vitro in mouse peritoneal macrophages with LPS-induced inflammation. G4.5-COOH, which had better in vivo protective effects for AP than G5-OH, led to a significant reduction in the total number of plasma white blood cells (WBCs) and monocytes in AP mice, and its anti-inflammatory mechanism was related to inhibition of the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in macrophages.

The control of step bunching by solution flow in 4H-SiC solution growth is proposed. We achieved the solution flow control with the specially designed top-seeded solution growth method as follows: by deviating a seed crystal from the center of a crucible and rotating the crucible in one direction, the solution flow direction was controlled to be parallel or antiparallel to the step-flow direction. After the growth, the widely spaced, accumulated macrosteps were observed and the surface of the grown crystal became rough under the parallel flow. On the other hand, the development of the macrosteps was suppressed under the antiparallel flow. As the growth proceeds, the surface roughness of the growth surface increases under the parallel flow, while the surface roughness decreases under the antiparallel flow. This fact suggests the solution flow control can be an effective method to suppress the step bunching during the solution growth of SiC single crystals.

The electronic structure of Cu 2 HgSnSe 4 in stannite structure is studied by the first-principles calculations. This material is a direct band-gap compound. In addition, the dielectric function, absorption coefficient, reflectivity, and energy-loss function are studied using the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. We discuss the optical transitions between the valence bands and the conduction bands in the spectra of the imaginary part of the dielectric function at length. High and wide optical absorption spectrum is obtained. There are several prominent peaks for Cu 2 HgSnSe 4 in the reflectivity spectra. And a rapid decrease of reflectance corresponds to the prominent peak in the energy-loss spectrum.

The electronic structure, dielectric function, absorption coefficient, and reflectivity of two polycrystalline semiconductors CuAlSe 2 and CuAl 5 Se 8 are studied using the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. There are different peaks in the spectra of the imaginary part of the dielectric function. The transitions between the valence bands and conduction bands are discussed at length. In addition, we also notice that the reduced absorption coefficient and reflectivity near band-edge in Cu-poor CuAlSe 2 are closely related to a reduction of the density of states near the valence band maximum.

The structural, electronic, and optical properties of zinc-blende Al x Ga 1− x N alloys have been calculated based on the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. The calculated lattice constants and band gap bowing parameter are in good agreement with the previous results. According to the calculations of the density of states, we find that the peaks in the conduction band have a tendency of shifting to the higher energy as Al concentration increases, and in the deep valence band, the three peaks become smooth and unite into one peak. Furthermore, the dielectric function, reflectivity, absorption coefficient, and electron energy-loss function are presented and discussed in detail. The peaks in the imaginary part of the dielectric function, the absorption edge and the main peak in energy-loss function are found to have a remarkable blue-shift with the increase of aluminum composition.

The electronic structure of Cu 2 HgSnSe 4 in stannite structure is studied by the first-principles calculations. This material is a direct band-gap compound. In addition, the dielectric function, absorption coefficient, reflectivity, and energy-loss function are studied using the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. We discuss the optical transitions between the valence bands and the conduction bands in the spectra of the imaginary part of the dielectric function at length. High and wide optical absorption spectrum is obtained. There are several prominent peaks for Cu 2 HgSnSe 4 in the reflectivity spectra. And a rapid decrease of reflectance corresponds to the prominent peak in the energy-loss spectrum.