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The electronic structure of halide perovskites is central to their carrier dynamics, enabling the excellent optoelectronic performance. However, the experimentally resolved transient absorption spectra exhibit large discrepancies from the commonly computed electronic structure by density functional theory. Using pseudocubic CsPbI3 as a prototype example, here, it is unveiled with both ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and transmission electron microscopy that there exists pronounced dynamical lattice distortion in the form of disordered instantaneous octahedral tilting. Rigorous first‐principles calculations reveal that the lattice distortion substantially alters the electronic band structure through renormalizing the band dispersions and the interband transition energies. Most notably, the electron and hole effective masses increase by 65% and 88%, respectively; the transition energy between the two highest valence bands decreases by about one half, agreeing remarkably well with supercontinuum transient‐absorption measurements. This study further demonstrates how the resulting electronic structure modulates various aspects of the carrier dynamics such as carrier transport, hot‐carrier relaxation, Auger recombination, and carrier multiplication in halide perovskites. The insights provide a pathway to engineer carrier transport and relaxation via lattice distortion, enabling the promise to achieve ultrahigh‐efficiency photovoltaic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We showed that there are two variants of twin boundaries for each twin system in hexagonal close-packed materials in our previous study. In this work we further demonstrate that the mechanical stability of these two twin variants in Mg are controlled by their energies and theoretically tunable. In the second part of this work, we continue to incorporate this information of twin boundaries into a newly developed embedded-atom-method (EAM) potential for pure Mg. In addition to twins, the other important information of dislocations and stacking faults is also included, which renders our potential among one of the rare comprehensively optimized ones. Therefore our potential is supposed to be able to accurately capture the physics of not only single defect but also defect-defect interactions. The defect-defect interactions have not been adequately addressed, since modeling their long-range force fields based on density functional theory is computationally too expensive. The new potential will supply new momentum to the study of defect-defect (such as twin-dislocation) interactions and the defect-controlled mechanical properties in Mg. Our study therefore sheds light on the design of novel Mg alloys with optimized mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of China's economy, smart grid has been built in an all-round way. As an important basic node of smart grid, the technical complexity of smart substation automation system is getting higher and higher. Once a fault occurs, if not handled in time, it will seriously affect the safety and stability of the power grid, which poses a great loss to economic production activities. The traditional mode of local maintenance has the drawbacks of high time consuming, low efficiency, and heavy workload. To solve these problems, a remote maintenance technology for substation automation equipment based on general service protocol (GSP) is first proposed in this paper, and the brand new system architecture is designed which involves the service management center, the maintenance center, and substations. The standardized interaction mechanism, integrated deep security protection methods, and flow control strategy are adopted to ensure the standardization, security, and reliability of the remote maintenance system. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed methods is successfully demonstrated, and the comprehensive performance of the remote maintenance system is evaluated by comparing with the traditional local maintenance mode. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract Understanding the dynamic evolution and fluctuation characteristics of air traffic flow volume time series is the basis for designing effective air traffic flow management measures and controlling strategy. The research on optimization and control of air traffic flow management is fruitful. However, there is little research on dynamic evolution and fluctuation characteristics of air traffic flow volume time series. With the incorporation of complex networks theory into the time series analysis, we get complex networks description of air traffic flow volume time series in about 24 h length, correlate the visibility lines and air traffic flow volume fluctuations, extract the fluctuation patterns, differentiate the fluctuation characteristics to explore the fluctuation patterns distribution. We find that there are significant fluctuation patterns and the transition loops between these fluctuation patterns in the time series. The distribution of fluctuation patterns is not even. The minimal difference is 0.0588, and the maximal difference is 0.7199. The work in our paper maybe helpful for scholars and engineers in understanding the intrinsic nature of air traffic and in development of intelligent assistant decision making systems for air traffic management. Highlights • We use visibility graph and horizontal visibility graph to analyze the time series. • Fluctuation patterns are extracted based on sequential motif. • We find fluctuation pattern transition loops in the dynamic evolution. • Fluctuation characteristics are differentiated based on communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous and nanograined (NG) steels are two categories of strong steels. However, over the past decade, their application has been hindered by their limited plasticity, the addition of expensive alloying elements, and processing challenges associated with producing bulk materials. Here, we report that the surface of a carburized Fe-Mn-Si martensitic steel with extremely low elemental alloying additions can be economically fabricated into an amorphous-nanocrystalline hybrid structure. Atom probe tomography and nanobeam diffraction of a hard turned steel surface together with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations reveal that the original cementite surface structure experiences a size-dependent amorphization and phase transformation during heavy plastic deformation. MD simulations further show that the martensite-cementite interface serves as a nucleation site for cementite amorphization, and that cementite can become disordered if further strained when the cementite particles are relatively small. These graded structures exhibit a surface hardness of ∼16.2 GPa, which exceeds the value of ∼8.8 GPa for the original nanocrystalline martensitic steel and most nanocrystalline steels reported before. This practical and cost-efficient approach for producing a hard surface with retained bulk ductility and toughness can provide expanded opportunities for producing an amorphous-crystalline hybrid structure in steels and other alloy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis plays a major role in various diseases, including spinal cord injury (SCI). Nerve growth factor (NGF) show neuroprotective effect and improve the recovery of SCI, but the relations of ER stress-induced apoptosis and the NGF therapeutic effect in SCI still unclear.Methods: Young adult female Sprague-Dawley rats's vertebral column was exposed and a laminectomy was done at T9 vertebrae and moderate contusion injuries were performed using a vascular clip. NGF stock solution was diluted with 0.9% NaCl and administered intravenously at a dose of 20 μg/kg/day after SCI and then once per day until they were executed. Subsequently, the rats were executed at 1d, 3 d, 7d and 14d. The locomotor activities of SCI model rats were tested by the 21-point Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotion scale, inclined plane test and footprint analysis. In addition, Western blot analysis was performed to identify the expression of ER-stress related proteins including CHOP, GRP78 and caspase-12 both in vivo and in vitro. The level of cell apoptosis was determined by TUNEL in vivo and Flow cytometry in vitro. Relative downstream signals Akt/GSK-3β and ERK1/2were also analyzed with or without inhibitors in vitro.Results: Our results demonstrated that ER stress-induced apoptosis was involved in the injury of SCI model rats. NGF administration improved the motor function recovery and increased the neurons survival in the spinal cord lesions of the model rats. NGF decreases neuron apoptosis which measured by TUNEL and inhibits the activation of caspase-3 cascade. The ER stress-induced apoptosis response proteins CHOP, GRP78 and caspase-12 are inhibited by NGF treatment. Meanwhile, NGF administration also increased expression of growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43). The administration of NGF activated downstream signals Akt/GSK-3β and ERK1/2 in ER stress cell model in vitro.Conclusion: The neuroprotective role of NGF in the recovery of SCI is related to the inhibition of ER stress-induced cell death via the activation of downstream signals, also suggested a new trend of NGF translational drug development in the central neural system injuries which involved in the regulation of chronic ER stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. To date, no medication has been approved to treat NAFLD. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of the natural flavone acacetin on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD in mice and the underlying mechanisms. We found that acacetin (10, 20, 50 mg/kg/day) suppressed the increase in body weight, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels in mice fed with HFD with a dose-dependent manner. Hepatic lipid accumulation, iron overload, and lipid peroxidation were significantly alleviated by acacetin. Quantitative PCR and western blotting revealed that acacetin inhibited endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, ferroptosis, and expressions of lipid acid synthesis-related genes in the livers of HFD mice. Similar results were observed in HepG2 cells treated with oleic acid and lipopolysaccharide. The suppressive effects of acacetin on triglycerides and expression of lipid acid synthesis genes were abolished by ER stress and the ferroptosis activators, erastin or TU. Interestingly, the action of TU was more potent than that of erastin. Treatment with the ER stress inhibitor GSK and the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 revealed that ER stress was the upstream signal of ferroptosis for hepatic lipid accumulation. These findings suggest the protective effect of acacetin against lipid accumulation via suppressing ER stress and ferroptosis and provide evidence that ER stress is an upstream signal of ferroptosis in lipid accumulation. Acacetin may be a promising candidate agent for NAFLD treatment. [Display omitted] • Acacetin will suppression of lipid accumulation. • Acacetin inhibited endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and ferroptosis. • ER stress might act as the upstream signal of ferroptosis in the process of hepatic lipid accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of cholestatic liver injury (CLI) involves inflammation, but the dominant pathway mediating the chemotaxis is not yet established. This work explored key signaling pathway mediating chemotaxis in CLI and the role of Kupffer cells in the inflammatory liver injury. Probe inhibitors T-5224 (100 mg/kg) for AP-1 and C188–9 (100 mg/kg) for STAT3 were used to validate key inflammatory pathways in alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT, 100 mg/kg)-induced CLI. Two doses of GdCl 3 (10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) were used to delete Kupffer cells and explore their role in CLI. Serum and liver samples were collected for biochemical and mechanism analysis. The liver injury in ANIT-treated mice were significantly increased supported by biochemical and histopathological changes, and neutrophils gathering around the necrotic loci. Inhibitor treatments down-regulated liver injury biomarkers except the level of total bile acid. The chemokine Ccl2 increased by 170-fold and to a less degree Cxcl2 by 45-fold after the ANIT treatment. p-c-Jun and p-STAT3 were activated in the group A but inhibited by the inhibitors in western blot analysis. The immunofluorescence results showed AP-1 not STAT3 responded to inhibitors in ANIT-induced CLI. With or without GdCl 3 , there was no significant difference in liver injury among the CLI groups. In necrotic loci in CLI, CXCL2 colocalized with hepatocyte biomarker Albumin, not with the F4/80 in Kupffer cells. Conclusively, AP-1 played a more critical role in the inflammation cascade than STAT3 in ANIT-induced CLI. Hepatocytes, not the Kupffer cells released chemotactic factors mediating the chemotaxis in CLI. [Display omitted] • AP-1 inhibitor T-5224 and STAT3 inhibitor C188-9 deleted cholestatic liver injury respectively. • Activation of AP-1 correlated more to cholestatic liver injury than STAT3. • Chemokines mediating the chemotaxis in cholestatic liver injury was released by hepatocytes not the Kupffer cells. • Kupffer cells in cholestatic liver injury were neither protective nor disruptive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, a robust kernel adaptive algorithm, called the kernel recursive maximum correntropy (KRMC), is derived in kernel space and under the maximum correntropy criterion (MCC). The proposed algorithm is particularly useful for nonlinear and non-Gaussian signal processing, especially when data contain large outliers or disturbed by impulsive noises. The superior performance of KRMC is confirmed by simulation results about short-term chaotic time series prediction in alpha-stable noise environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the growth of spinel crystals in vanadium slag under different heat treatment conditions. The growth mechanism was clarified by SEM + EDS and statistical analyses based on the CSD theory. The results showed that all CSDs follow lognormal distributions. Long holding time and low holding temperature below 1300 °C benefit the growth of spinel crystals. We proposed that the growth mechanisms of the spinel crystals consist of two regimes: in the first regime, nucleation control with a decaying rate within the temperature range of 1400 to 1250 °C; in the second regime, surface control when the temperature is below 1250 °C. The mean crystal diameter changes from 16.6 to 26.2 μm with an increase in holding time at 1250 °C. The relationship between the mean diameter of the spinel crystals and the holding time in the present study can be best described by the equation D = 16.32t0.11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cobalt‐catalyzed asymmetric sequential hydroboration/isomerization/hydroboration of 2‐aryl vinylcyclopropanes was for the first time reported for the preparation of valuable chiral 1,5‐bis(boronates) in good yields with excellent enantioselectivity via asymmetric sequential isomerization/hydroboration of a trisubstituted alkene intermediate. The reaction was carried out smoothly and this protocol was used for asymmetric syntheses of (−)‐preclamol in gram‐scale. The two primary C(sp3)−B bonds in chiral 1,5‐bis(boronates) could be distinguished in iterative Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction, delivering chiral 1,2,5‐triaryl alkanes with excellent enantioselectivity. Based on experimental and computational studies, a cobalt‐hydride species was proposed as the active intermediate in hydroboration, isomerization, and second hydroboration reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Target seedling cultivation pursues high quality and nutrient utilization instead of increasing growth and size. Exposure to light-emitting diode (LED) spectra is a well-known approach that can accelerate growing speed in tree seedlings, but it is still unknown whether seedling quality and nutrient utilization would be further improved with exogeneous polymer additives. Luohan pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus) seedlings were exposed to red (red-green-blue lights, 71.7%-13.7%-14.6%), green (26.2%-56.4%-17.4%), and blue (17.8%-33.7%-48.5%) LED-light spectra with half receiving leaf spray by chitosan oligosaccharides (Cos) at a rate of 2 ppm (w/w) and the other half receiving only water. The red-light spectrum promoted height, biomass, nutrient utilization, and quality assessment (DQI) in water-sprayed seedlings. The Cos spray enhanced fine-root growth, protein, and chlorophyll-b contents with elevated nutrient utilization and quality in seedlings in the green-light spectrum. DQI was found to have a positive relationship with phosphorus utilization. In conclusion, although the red-light LED spectrum can promote seedling growth, green light combined with Cos spray is recommended with the aim of maintaining seedling quality and increasing P utilization in Luohan pine seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apatinib plus chemotherapy demonstrates good efficacy in multiple advanced carcinomas; however, its use in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has not yet been assessed. The present study evaluated the potential benefits of apatinib plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced LUAD. A total of 145 patients with advanced LUAD and negative driver genes who received apatinib plus chemotherapy (n=65) or chemotherapy alone (n=80) were analyzed. The overall response rate was significantly improved by apatinib plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone (53.8 vs. 36.3%; P=0.034). Moreover, progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer in patients who received apatinib plus chemotherapy, compared with those who received chemotherapy alone [median (95% CI), 13.4 months (11.5–15.3) vs. 8.2 months (6.9–9.5); P<0.001], as was overall survival (OS) [median (95% CI), 23.1 months (not reached) vs. 17.0 months (14.6–19.4; P=0.001). Following adjustment by multivariate Cox regression analysis, apatinib plus chemotherapy was associated with a significantly longer PFS [hazard ratio (HR), 0.444; P<0.001] and OS (HR, 0.347; P<0.001), compared with chemotherapy alone. Subgroup analyses revealed that PFS and OS were significantly improved following apatinib plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone (all P<0.05) in patients receiving first- or second-line treatment. Notably, the incidence of hypertension was significantly increased following apatinib plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone (43.1 vs. 25.0%; P=0.021), whereas the incidence of other adverse events was not significantly different between the two treatment groups (all P>0.05). In conclusion, apatinib plus chemotherapy is associated with an improved treatment response and survival compared with chemotherapy alone, with a tolerable safety profile in patients with advanced LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family is one of the largest families of transcription factors (TFs) in plants and is responsible for various functions, including regulating development and responses to abiotic/biotic stresses. However, the roles of bZIPs in the regulation of responses to drought stress and salinity stress remain poorly understood in Jatropha curcas L., a biodiesel crop. In the present study, 50 JcbZIP genes were identified and classified into ten groups. Cis-element analysis indicated that JcbZIP genes are associated with abiotic stress. Gene expression patterns and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that four JcbZIP genes (JcbZIP s 34 , 36 , 49 and 50) are key resistance-related genes under both drought and salinity stress conditions. On the basis of the results of cis-element and phylogenetic analyses, JcbZIP49 and JcbZIP50 are likely involved in responses to drought and salinity stress; moreover, JcbZIP34 and JcbZIP36 might also play important roles in seed development and response to abiotic stress. These findings advance our understanding of the comprehensive characteristics of JcbZIP genes and provide new insights for functional validation in the further. • A total of 50 JcbZIP genes were identified in Jatropha curcas were classified into ten groups. • Genome-wide characterization of 50 JcbZIP genes was conducted in Jatropha curcas. • The expression patterns of 50 JcbZIP genes in different tissues and stages, under abiotic stresses were established. • Four candidate JcbZIP genes were identified under drought and salinity stress based on RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the photodynamic efficacy of purpurin 18 (pu-18) on triple negative breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Two states of 4T1 cells, 2D culture and 3D spheroids, were used to evaluate the photodynamic action of pu-18 in vitro. The in vitro study results indicated that for the 4T1 2D cell culture, the photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment showed significant photocytotoxicity at low pu-18 concentrations following light irradiation. Pu-18 was found to distribute on the lysosomes, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and endoplasmic reticulum. After irradiation, pu-18 can generate ROS to destroy the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and eventually induce apoptosis in the 2D 4T1 cells. Light-activated pu-18 could also induce the destruction of the 3D 4T1 cell spheroids. The in vivo study was conducted by using a subcutaneous 4T1 breast cancer animal model. The results demonstrated that pu-18 could remain in the tumor for more than 4 days by direct intra-tumoral injection. The PDT treatment was performed every 2 days for a total of 3 times. The results showed that PDT treatment could significantly inhibit tumor growth in vivo, indicating a good photodynamic efficacy of pu-18 in the mouse breast cancer model, without influencing weight and major organ function. The survival pattern results showed that PDT treatment could largely extend the survival time of mice with breast cancer. The preliminary conclusion is that photodynamic treatment using pu-18 is effective at preventing the growth of triple negative breast cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. A combination of light irradiation and pu-18 could therefore be a worthwhile approach for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a better insight into the grain refining mechanism of Sc addition in an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr aluminum alloy from experiments and first-principles. It is found a higher concentration of Sc can result in finer grains, but the refining efficiency was sharply decreased when the Sc/Zr ratio(wt.%) exceeds 1. Also, we determined the L1 2 -Al 3 (Sc, Zr) was formed by Sc displacing Zr in L1 2 -Al 3 Zr, and those generated particles distributed around L1 2 -Al 3 Zr. Moreover, the content of Zr was found overwhelmed by Sc within a Sc and Zr containing particle in high Sc/Zr ratio alloys. The calculated surface energy indicates a low Sc doping (<21.4 at.%) tends to stabilize L1 2 -Al 3 Zr(111) surface, when the doping content in the range of 21.4–35.7%, the clean L1 2 -Al 3 Zr(111) is energetically favored, when the doping content is higher than 35.7%, the L1 2 -Al 3 (Sc, Zr)(111) is preferred. Based on the interface energy, the capability of heterogeneous nucleation to α-Al can be ordered as L1 2 -Al 3 (Sc, Zr) > L1 2 -Al 3 Zr > L1 2 -Al 3 Sc. However, in a Sc rich condition, the formation of L1 2 -Al 3 (Sc, Zr)(111) and Al(111)/L1 2 -Al 3 (Sc, Zr)(111) interface were hindered by the formation of L1 2 -Al 3 Sc(111), thus, further refinement of grains was limited, the results well explained the experimental observations. • Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr aluminum alloys with different Sc concentrations were prepared. • Sc and Zr containing phases were characterized by SEM and TEM. • Surface energy of Sc and Zr containing phases were calculated. • Interface energy of Al(111)/L1 2 -Al 3 Zr(111) with Sc doped was computed. • Mechanism of Sc enhanced heterogeneous nucleation of α-Al was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the complexity of airport air traffic flow volume time series helps gain insights into the evolution mechanism of the air traffic system. To obtain more reliable and stable entropy values, we introduce multiple coarse-graining procedures into the multivariate multiscale permutation entropy (MMPE) method to propose an improved MMPE (IMMPE) method to explore multivariate time series. By introducing similar multiple coarse-graining procedures, we also improve the contingency to investigate the inhomogeneity level between ordinal pattern distributions in multivariate time series. With the improved multiscale permutation entropy (IMPE) method, firstly, we investigate the complexity of the departure and the arrival air traffic flow volume time series of the top ten busiest airports in China from a univariate time series perspective. Then, with IMPE and IMMPE, we investigate the complexity of the total air traffic flow volume time series of the ten airports from a univariate and a multivariate time series perspective, respectively. Results show that the complexity is dependent on the time scale, and thus it is necessary to conduct multiscale analysis on the complexity. Benefiting from the improvement in IMPE and IMMPE, on the reliable and stable entropy curves, we can exactly explore and locate sharp decreasing points of the entropy values to reveal severe fluctuations of the multiscale complexity of the time series. Gaps between IMPE and IMMPE curves of the total air traffic flow volume time series indicate the necessity of analyzing the time series from the multivariate time series perspective. Moreover, spikes on the improved contingency curves reveal that the inhomogeneity level between fluctuations of the departure and the arrival air traffic flows is also scale-dependent, and the maxima are all located on the scale 72 (6 hours). • We propose an IMMPE method to explore multivariate time series of air traffic flows. • IMPE and IMMPE of air traffic flows of the top ten airports are investigated. • We explore spikes on the curves of IMPE and IMMPE. • Contingency of departure and arrival air traffic flow fluctuations is investigated. • Complexity of air traffic flows of the top ten airports is compared and grouped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiscale multifractality of air traffic flow volume time series characterizes the operation and the evolution characteristics of the air traffic system in the temporal dimension, which are helpful in gaining a better understanding of the dynamical evolution mechanism of this system. We identify the airport departure air traffic flow volume time series is of multiscale multifractality via the investigation on the Hurst surface obtained by the multiscale multifractal analysis. The resulting Hurst surface is of distinct local fluctuation characteristics and shows distinct fractal characteristics on different scales. We confirm that the two types of multifractality both present in the time series, with the long-range correlation being the main cause of the multifractality. We extend multifractal spectra to multifractal spectrum surfaces to provide a common multiscale framework for exploring the multifractal strength, the dominant fluctuation type and the insensitivity of the multifractality. Furthermore, we find that we can use the time series of only 101 days, saving us 116 days, to obtain a quite similar Hurst surface whose difference to the original one is only 2.11662−7. • We identify the air traffic time series of the airport is of multifractality. • The main cause of the multifractality is the long-range correlation. • We obtain multifractal spectrum surfaces of regular shapes. • The minimum length of time series for effective multifractal analysis is identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No data is available about in-flight transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we report an in-flight transmission cluster of COVID-19 and describe the clinical characteristics of these patients. After a flight, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was reported in 12 patients. Ten patients were admitted to the designated hospital. Data was collected from 25th January to 28th February 2020. Clinical information was retrospectively collected. All patients were passengers, and none were flight attendants. The median age was 33 years, and 70% were females. None was admitted to intensive care unit, and no patients died up to 28th February. The median incubation period was 3.0 days and time from onset of illness to hospital admission was 2 days. The most common symptom was fever. Two patients were asymptomatic and had normal chest CT scan during hospital stay. On admission, initial RT-PCR was positive in 9 patients, and initial chest CT was positive in half of the patients. The median lung 'total severity score' of chest CT was 6. 'Crazy-paving' pattern, pleural effusion, and ground-glass nodules were seen. There is potential for COVID-19 transmission in aeroplanes, but the symptoms were mild in our patients. Passengers and attendants must be protected during flights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium(V) valence analysis is of great significance to the vanadium recovery and environmental safety of the vanadium extraction industry. The stability constants and stereo structures of complexes between EDTA and vanadium ions with various valences are only roughly estimated, which hinders the development of vanadium valence analysis. This work investigates in detail the complexation behavior of V(IV) and V(V), the most common valences in aqueous solution, with EDTA. The stability constants of [VO(EDTA)]2− and [VO2(EDTA)]3− complexes are determined to be 107.03±0.14 and 105.47±0.25 at pH 6, respectively. First-principles calculations reveal that the stereo structure of the [VO(EDTA)]2− complex is comprised of three 5-membered rings while that of the [VO2(EDTA)]3− complex is comprised of one 8-membered ring, which calls for the reconsideration of V–EDTA structures assumed commonly. This work has corrected the assumed stability constants and stereo structures of V–EDTA complexes and provided the essential knowledge to develop vanadium valence analysis in the vanadium industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual sub-pulse train 1064 nm picosecond radially polarized beam pump KGW single-pass Raman generator was designed. The Stokes lines of both the 768 cm−1 and 901 cm−1 vibrational modes of the KGW Raman-active crystal were excited simultaneously. The Raman generator radiated up to seven Stokes lines in the infrared spectrum, which covered multiple optical communication channels. The overall Stokes average power reached 1.01 W, and the maximum Raman overall conversion efficiency was 23.1%. The interaction between the optical field and the Raman crystal was discussed from two perspectives of line width compression and beam quality. • An infrared picosecond KGW Raman generator operated at two vibrational modes simultaneously. • The first report that the radially polarized beam was employed as the pump beam for the Raman generator. • The first report on the picosecond Raman generator which adopted an innovative dual sub-pulse train pump configuration. • For the picosecond pump regime, the Raman generator obtained the most numbers of collinear infrared Stokes lines to date. • The maximum Stokes power of 1.01 W at 1 kHz was obtained and the maximum Raman conversion efficiency of 23.1% was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis and autophagy flux blockade significantly contribute to neuronal pathology of spinal cord injury (SCI). Yet, the molecular interplay between these two distinctive pathways in mediating the pathology of SCI remains largely unexplored. Currently, we aimed at exploring the crucial role of Stub1 in maintaining ER homeostasis and regulating autophagic flux after SCI. Our results demonstrate that Stub1 reduces ER stress induced neuronal apoptosis, promotes axonal regeneration, inhibits glial scar formation and fosters functional recovery by restoring autophagic flux following SCI. Stub1 enhances autophagic flux following SCI by alleviating the permeabilization of lysosomal membrane through activating TFEB. Importantly, we showed that Stub1 promotes the activation of TFEB by targeting HDAC2 for ubiquitination and degradation. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effect of Stub1 on SCI was abrogated by chloroquine administration, underscoring the essential role of Stub1-mediated enhancement of autophagic flux in its protective effects against SCI. Collectively, our data highlights the vital role of Stub1 in regulating ER stress and autophagy flux after SCI, and propose its potential as a promising target for neuroprotective interventions in SCI. • Stub1 overexpression significantly protects against spinal cord injury. • Stub1 plays a vital role in managing ER stress and autophagy flux post SCI. • Stub1 reduces ER stress-induced neuronal apoptosis by restoring the obstructed autophagy flux after SCI. • Stub1 promotes autophagic flux by activating TFEB and targeting HDAC2 for degradation. • Stub1 emerges as a promising target for neuroprotective interventions in SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liposarcoma is the most common soft tissue malignancy. We investigated the relationship between the expression of fibroblast growth factor −21 protein and recurrence in the liposarcoma tissues from 40 patients. The patients were divided into two groups (low/no- and high-expressing) for further survival analysis according to fibroblast growth factor −21 expression in their tumor tissue. Immunohistochemical staining showed that fibroblast growth factor −21 protein was located in the cytoplasm. The fibroblast growth factor −21 protein was significantly less expressed in liposarcoma than in normal tissue ( p  < 0.05). Fibroblast growth factor −21 protein expression was related to gender, but not age, cell differentiation or tumor size. The patients in the low/no fibroblast growth factor 21 expression group were more likely to relapse and die in a shorter period of time. The patients in the high-expression group had a better prognosis and less recurrence. fibroblast growth factor −21 has the potential to act both as a biomarker for liposarcoma prognosis as well as a marker for the response to therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temozolomide (TMZ) is the cornerstone of therapy for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, its efficacy is limited due to the development of multidrug resistance (MDR). In this study, we first identified the occurrence of ER stress-tolerance (ERST) in glioma cells and confirmed that ERST was positively correlated with TMZ resistance. We further showed that the seesaw-effect of HDAC6-p97/VCP (increased HDAC6 and decreased p97/VCP) in glioma cells was crucial to ERST-associated TMZ resistance. Moreover, the combination treatment of Tubastatin A (TUB, a selective inhibitor of HDAC6) and TMZ synergistically overcame ERST, reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis in TMZ-resistant glioma cells. TUB and TMZ triggered pro-apoptotic signals of the unfolded protein response (UPR) and ER stress and reversed the ratio between HDAC6 and p97/VCP, which potentially attenuated the activation of heat shock proteins and mediated the reversal of ERST. The combination treatment also triggered the dissociation of Dynein-HDAC6 and attenuation of the Dynein-Dynactin motor complex. In addition, this treatment induced HDAC6-p97/VCP-mediated ubiquitination-autophagy turnover, which was involved in the degradation and clearance of ubiquitinated misfolded proteins. This effect could be partially reversed by HDAC6 KO and/or p97/VCP overexpression. Therefore, we proposed that glioma cells optimized the clearance of ubiquitinated misfolded proteins via the reinforcement of HDAC6-facilitated autophagy and attenuation of the p97/VCP-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). In conclusion, our findings showed that the balance of HDAC6-p97/VCP was crucial to ERST-associated TMZ resistance and that HDAC6 inhibition might be a synergistic target and strategy along with TMZ for the improvement of clinical glioma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & aims MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small endogenous, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at both the transcription and translation levels. Whether miRNAs have taken part in liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury was rarely reported. The purpose of this article is to investigate the potential role of miR-370 in hepatic IR injury. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups (sham-operated group, I/R group, IPC group, antagomir-370 group and antagomir-NC), and the expression levels of miR-370 were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Serum enzyme analysis and histological examination of liver were used as the index of the effect of miR-370 on hepatic IR injury and following treatment of mice with antagomir-370 or antagomir-NC. The classical pathway factors of NF-κB (TAK 1 , TAB 1 , TAB 2 , IkBα, IKKα, IKKβ, p50, p65) were studied by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. Results The results showed that the IR group's miR-370 expression level was significantly upregulated as compared with the sham-operated group and IPC group. Also inhibition of miR-370 led to the low expression levels of miR-370 and low levels of serum aminotransferase and hepatic histological damage as compared with the IR group. Quantitative real-time PCR showed the levels of TAK1, TAB 1 , TAB2, IkBα, IKKα, p65 was elevated when improving the miR-370 levels, at the same time, Western blot showed the levels of TAK 1 , TAB 1 , TAB 2 , IkBα, IKKα, IKKβ, p50, p65 were all elevated. Conclusion miR-370 acting via NF-κB might play a crucial role in hepatic IR injury, and inhibition of miR-370 could alleviate the injury to the liver. And miR-370 might positively regulated the NF-κB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent and aggressive tumour in the central nervous system. Many studies have demonstrated that upregulation of the NF-κB onco-pathway is accompanied by the acquisition of Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance in GBM cells. Here, we show that RGFP109, a selective histone deacetylase (HDAC1 and HDAC3) inhibitor, overcomes TMZ resistance and downregulates the expression of NF-κB-regulated pro-survival genes in a TMZ-resistant (TR) GBM cell line. RGFP109 did not alter the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB/p65 or inhibitory κBα (IκBα). Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that RGFP109 does not block the nuclear translocation of NF-κB/p65. However, co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that RGFP109 induces the hyperacetylation of NF-κB/p65 and histones, and blocks interactions between NF-κB/p65 and its coactivators, p300 and p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF). These results indicate that RGFP109-mediated post-translational nuclear acetylation may be involved in the regulation of NF-κB. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that RGFP109 reduces NF-κB/p65 binding to κB-DNA and decreased the transcriptional level of κB-mediated genes, suggesting that RGFP109-induced hyperacetylation leads to attenuated transcription of the κB gene. In addition, RGFP109 elevates the expression of inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4), which is typically downregulated in GBM cells. Importantly, we found that RGFP109 enhances ING4 recognition and binding to NF-κB/p65, which may be positively correlated with reduced interactions between NF-κB/p65 and p300/PCAF, thereby effecting transcription of the κB gene. Finally, we show that knockdown of ING4 with plasmids containing pcDNA3.1-ING4 shRNA abolished the effect of RGFP109. Therefore, ING4 may act as a corepressor and facilitate RGFP109-triggered suppression of the NF-κB pathway. Taken together, our data show that RGFP109, an HDAC inhibitor, in combination with TMZ may be a therapeutic candidate for patients with temozolomide-resistant GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing study reports that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an essential role in numerous cancers growth, progression and metastasis. Aberrant miR-940 expression has been studied in gastric and breast cancer. However, the molecular mechanism of miR-940 enhancing proliferation and metastatic ability in human pancreatic carcinoma is far from to know. Real-time PCR was used to quantify miR-940 expression. Luciferase reporter assays here were performed to verify the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and targeting gene relationships, and immunofluorescence assay was applied to observe β-catenin expressed intensity. Bioinformatics analysis together with in vivo and vitro functional analysis indicated the potential targeting genes of miR-940. Specimens from 15 pairs of patients with human pancreatic carcinoma were involoved to confirm the relationship between miR-940 expression and the GSK3β/sFRP1 through real-time PCR and western blot assays. Bioinformatics combined with cell luciferase function researches determined the possible regulation of miR-940 on the 3′-UTR of the GSK3β and sFRP1 genes, resulting in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation. Further, miR-940 knockdown significantly recovered GSK3β and sFRP1 expression and relieved Wnt/β-catenin-mediated cell invasion, migration, metastasis and proliferation. The ectopic up-regulation of miR-940 significantly suppressed GSK3β/sFRP1 expression and promoted pancreatic carcinoma proliferation and invasion. Our study suggested mechanistic relationship between miR-940 and Wnt/β-catenin in the development and progression of pancreatic carcinoma through regulation of GSK3β and sFRP1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bleomycin (BLM) is an effective anti-carcinogen. With the main detrimental effects of inducing pulmonary fibrosis on patients, its clinical use is limited. Developing agents that enhance the efficacy and attenuate the side effects of cancer chemotherapy are critical. Andrographolide (Andro), an active diterpenoid labdane component extracted from Andrographis panicula , is generally prescribed for treatment of inflammatory associated diseases. The study showed that BLM combined with Andro was significantly more effective than BLM alone on inhibiting the tumor growth, arresting the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, promoting the capase−3 and capase−8 activity to induce cancer cell apoptosis. The underlying mechanisms may be related to the transcriptional regulation of P53/P21/Cyclin pathways. Moreover, BLM induced pulmonary fibrosis in tumor-bearing mice, but BLM combined with Andro dramatically alleviated the lesion in pulmonary fibrosis by activating the SOD, suppressing MDA and HYP production, in the meanwhile attenuating the IL−1β, TNF- α, IL−6 and TGF-β1 level. These mechanisms were associated with its effect on inhibition of protein expression of TGF-β, α-SMA, p–Smad2/3, enhanced expression of Smad7. Thus, it demonstrated that Andro might be a potential adjuvant therapeutic agent for BLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pogostone, a major component of Pogostemon cablin , has been demonstrated to possess antibacterial, anti-fungal, immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. To investigate the potential therapeutic effect of pogostone on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI), mice were pretreated with pogostone prior to LPS exposure. After LPS challenge, the lungs were excised and the histological changes, wet to dry weight ratios, MPO activity reflecting neutrophil infiltration, and MDA activity reflecting oxidative stress were examined. The inflammatory cytokines in the BALF were determined by ELISA assay. Moreover, the expressions of p65 and phosphorylated p65 subunit of NF-κB, and Nrf2 in the nucleus in lung tissues were measured by Western blot analysis, and meanwhile the dependent genes of NF-κB and Nrf2 were assessed by RT-qPCR. The results showed that pretreatment with pogostone markedly improved survival rate, attenuated the histological alterations in the lung, reduced the MPO and MDA levels, decreased the wet/dry weight ratio of lungs, down-regulated the level of pro-inflammatory mediators including TNF-a, IL-1β and IL-6. Furthermore, pretreatment with pogostone enhanced the Nrf2 dependent genes including NQO-1, GCLC and HO-1 but suppressed NF-κB regulated genes including TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. The mechanism behind the protective effect was correlated with its regulation on the balance between Keap1–Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Therefore, pogostone may be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for preventing and treating ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in glioma. Previously, we showed that miR-107 inhibits glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Since tumor growth and invasion are closely related to angiogenesis, we further examined the role of miR-107 in glioma angiogenesis. In a co-culture of glioma cells and human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMVEC), overexpression of miR-107 in glioma cells led to the inhibition of HBMVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation ability. ELISA, RT-PCR, and western blot assays revealed that upregulation of miR-107 in glioma cells inhibits VEGF expression. Our findings collectively support the critical involvement of miR-107 in glioma cell angiogenesis and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Zein nanoparticles for sustained-release chloroquine were successfully prepared. • Zein nanoparticles reduced chloroquine toxicity through sustained release. • Chloroquine released from zein nanoparticles inhibited neuroinflammation. • Degradation products of zein nanoparticles promoted M2 microglia polarization. Inflammation is a pivotal molecular event in secondary spinal cord injury (SCI). However, chloroquine (CQ) is an anti-malarial drug with remarkable anti-inflammatory effects. Zein is a biodegradable biomaterial derived from natural-plant protein and is widely applied in drug sustained-release carriers due to its promising biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this research, we investigated the significant effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of zein nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with CQ in SCI. More importantly, we found that local delivery of Zein-CQ NPs after SCI could significantly improved functional recovery, inhibited neuronal apoptosis, alleviated neuroinflammation and enhanced M2 phenotype microglia polarization. Mechanistically, our findings further demonstrated that local administration of Zein-CQ NPs inhibited activation of the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway after SCI in rats. Moreover, Zein-CQ NPs reduced the release of pro-inflammatory factors and augmented the protein expression of M2 phenotype microglia in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 cells. Our findings imply that local delivery of Zein-CQ NPs produces promising therapeutic benefits for the treatment and management of SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andrographolide sodium bisulfite (ASB), a water-soluble sulfonate of andrographolide has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic activities. However, there is no report on the gastroprotective effect of ASB against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer. Here we investigated the possible anti-ulcerogenic potential of ASB and the underlying mechanism against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. The ulcer area, histopathological assessment, contents of gastric mucosal glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) were examined. In addition, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression and immunohistochemical evaluation of HSP70, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were also investigated. Results indicated that ASB pre-treatment significantly reduced the ulcer areas induced by indomethacin compared with the vehicle group. The gastric levels of GSH, CAT and SOD were markedly increased by ASB while the level of MDA was decreased. In addition, ASB pretreatment significantly promoted the gastric PGE 2 levels and up-regulated the COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA expression in comparison with the vehicle group. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed obvious up-regulation of HSP70 and Bcl-2 protein expression while suppression of Bax protein in the gastric tissue of ASB-pretreated group. Taken together, these findings indicated that the gastroprotective effect of ASB might be associated with the improvement of antioxidative status, activation of COX-mediated PGE 2 synthesis, down-regulation of Bax proteins and up-regulation of Bcl-2 and HSP70 proteins. ASB might have the potential for further development as a promising alternative for antiulcer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a series of 18–25 nucleotides length non-coding RNAs, which play critical roles in tumorigenesis. Previous study has shown that microRNA-1274a (miR-1274a) is upregulated in human gastric cancer. However, its role in gastric cancer progression remains poorly understood. Therefore, the current study was aimed to examine the effect of miR-1274a on gastric cancer cells. We found that miR-1274a was overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues or gastric cancer cells including HGC27, MGC803, AGS, and SGC-7901 by qRT-PCR analysis. Transfection of miR-1274a markedly promoted gastric cancer cells proliferation and migration as well as induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells. Our further examination identified FOXO4 as a target of miR-1274a, which did not influence FOXO4 mRNA expression but significantly inhibited FOXO4 protein expression. Moreover, miR-1274a overexpression activated PI3K/Akt signaling and upregulated cyclin D1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions. With tumor xenografts in mice models, we also showed that miR-1274a promoted tumorigenesis of gastric cancer in vivo. In all, our study demonstrated that miR-1274a prompted gastric cancer cells growth and migration through dampening FOXO4 expression thus provided a potential target for human gastric cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the protective effect of pogostone (PO), a chemical constituent isolated from Pogostemonis Herba, on the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Administration of PO at doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg body weight prior to ethanol ingestion effectively protected the stomach from ulceration. The gastric lesions were significantly ameliorated by all doses of PO as compared to the vehicle group. Pre-treatment with PO prevented the oxidative damage and the decrease of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) content. In addition, PO pretreatment markedly increased the mucosa levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and decreased gastric malonaldehyde (MDA), relative to the vehicle group. In the mechanistic study, significant elevation of non-protein-sulfhydryl (NP-SH) was observed in the gastric mucosa pretreated by PO. Analysis of serum cytokines indicated that PO pretreatment obviously elevated the decrease of interleukin-10 (IL-10) level, while markedly mitigated the increment of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) secretions in ethanol-induced rats. Taken together, these results strongly indicate that PO could exert a gastro-protective effect against gastric ulceration, and the underlying mechanism might be associated with the stimulation of PGE 2 , improvement of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status, as well as preservation of NP-SH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been confirmed that repeated exposure of skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation results in cutaneous oxidative stress and inflammation, which act in concert to cause premature skin aging, well known as photoaging. 18 β -Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), widely used to treat various tissue inflammations, is the main active component of licorice root, and has also been shown to possess favorable anti-oxidative property and modulating immunity function. In the present study, we investigated the potential protective effect of GA on UV-induced skin photoaging in a mouse model. During the experimental period of ten consecutive weeks, the dorsal depilated skin of mice was treated with topical GA for 2 hours prior to UV irradiation. The results showed that GA pretreatment significantly alleviated the macroscopic and histopathological damages in mice skin caused by UV. Meanwhile, the data also indicated that GA markedly up-regulated the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH-Px), and increased the content of skin collagen, while obviously decreased malonaldehyde level and inhibited high expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and -3 (MMP-3), as well as down-regulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10. Taken together, these findings amply demonstrate that GA observably attenuates UV-induced skin photoaging mainly by virtue of its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as regulating the abnormal expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ASB simultaneously protects against DSS-induced colitis and liver injury. • ASB alleviates YAP-mediated colonic macrophage proinflammatory polarization. • ASB inhibits LPS-induced hepatic macrophage proinflammatory polarization. Ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory disease, is widely thought to be associated with colonic barrier damage and inflammatory response. With the destruction of the colonic barrier, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enters the liver through the portal vein and causes liver injury. Liver injury in turn exacerbates UC to form a vicious cycle, so the treatment of liver injury cannot be ignored. Andrographolide (Andro) has a protective effect against colitis and liver injury, but with low bioavailability. Andrographolide sodium bisulfite (ASB), a water-soluble sulfonate of Andro, has better bioavailability, whether it has a better curative effect against UC and liver injury is rarely reported. Hence, we investigated the protective effect and potential mechanism of ASB against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC and liver injury in mice. The results showed that treatment with ASB significantly relieved the clinical symptoms of UC and liver injury by reducing disease activity index, inhibiting gut-derived LPS leakage, and improving colonic and hepatic injury, and its curative effect was better than Andro. Moreover, ASB effectively decreased the YAP-mediated colonic inflammation and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB-mediated pro-inflammatory factor release in the liver. Both colonic and hepatic inflammation were associated with macrophage proinflammatory polarization, but they were significantly inhibited by ASB. ASB showed good safety in the treatment of UC and liver injury and has no nephrotoxicity as previously described. In conclusion, ASB has an effective protective effect on DSS-induced UC and liver injury, mainly by suppressing macrophage proinflammatory polarization from the gut-liver axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, known to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) excessively and elicit inflammatory response, is a potent inducer for skin photoaging. Overproduction of ROS in conjunction with the resulting inflammation stimulate the over-expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which in turn causes degradation of extracellular matrix, leading finally to coarse wrinkling, dryness, and laxity of the skin. In this study, patchouli alcohol (PA, C 15 H 26 O), an active chemical ingredient reputed for free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties, was investigated for its anti-photoaging action using a mouse model whose dorsal skin was depilated. The dorsal skin areas of six-week-old mice were smeared with PA solution or vehicle, followed by UV irradiation for nine consecutive weeks. Protective effects of PA were evaluated macroscopically and histologically, as well as by assaying the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH-Px) activities, the contents of inflammatory factors (IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α), and the levels of MMP-1 and MMP-3. Our findings amply demonstrated that PA significantly accelerated the recovery of the UV-induced skin lesions, evidently through anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory action, as well as down-regulation of the MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usnic acid is a dibenzofuran derivative found in several lichen species, which has been shown to possess several activities, including antiviral, antibiotic, antitumoral, antipyretic, analgesic, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. However, there were few reports on the effects of usnic acid on LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI). The aim of our study was to explore the effect and possible mechanism of usnic acid on LPS-induced lung injury. In the present study, we found that pretreatment with usnic acid significantly improved survival rate, pulmonary edema. In the meantime, protein content and the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) significantly decreased, and the levels of MPO, MDA, and H 2 O 2 in lung tissue were markedly suppressed after treatment with usnic acid. Meanwhile, the activities of SOD and GSH in lung tissue significantly increased after treatment with usnic acid. Additionally, to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of usnic acid, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) in BALF were studied. The results in the present study indicated that usnic acid attenuated the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and MIP-2. Meanwhile, the improved level of IL-10 in BALF was observed. In conclusion, these data showed that the protective effect of usnic acid on LPS-induced ALI in mice might relate to the suppression of excessive inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in lung tissue. Thus, it was suggested that usnic acid might be a potential therapeutic agent for ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-induced ototoxicity, as a toxic side effect, is an important issue needed to be considered in drug discovery. Nevertheless, current experimental methods used to evaluate drug-induced ototoxicity are often time-consuming and expensive, indicating that they are not suitable for a large-scale evaluation of drug-induced ototoxicity in the early stage of drug discovery. We thus, in this investigation, established an effective computational prediction model of drug-induced ototoxicity using an optimal support vector machine (SVM) method, GA-CG-SVM. Three GA-CG-SVM models were developed based on three training sets containing agents bearing different risk levels of drug-induced ototoxicity. For comparison, models based on naïve Bayesian (NB) and recursive partitioning (RP) methods were also used on the same training sets. Among all the prediction models, the GA-CG-SVM model II showed the best performance, which offered prediction accuracies of 85.33% and 83.05% for two independent test sets, respectively. Overall, the good performance of the GA-CG-SVM model II indicates that it could be used for the prediction of drug-induced ototoxicity in the early stage of drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has a very short half-life in vivo, and this limits its therapeutic value for frequent administration. Liposome technology was used to improve the stability of bFGF and to prolong its effects in vivo. Methods: bFGF-encapsulated liposomes (bFGF-lip) were prepared using the pH gradient method. Four critical factors were investigated including concentration of citric acid solution, incubation time of blank liposomes, incubation temperature and sonication time. The pharmacodynamics of bFGF-lip was investigated by establishing a deep second-degree burns model in rats. Results: The optimal bFGF-lip were characterised by high entrapment efficiency (79.88±3.37%), good physical stability (K E: 1.02±0.413%) and high bioactivity ((6.147±0.769)×105 IUml−1). The middle dose of bFGF-lip (60IUml−1) demonstrated the fastest tissue collagen generation as well as the earliest and highest tumour growth factor (TGF)-β1 and dermal cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)) expression as compared with other treatments. Conclusion: Results of the present study imply that bFGF-lip have promising prospects for application in wound-healing therapies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• C8VA induced bilateral mechanical but not thermal hypersensitivity in fore paws of adult rats. • C8VA induced delayed and slight spinal glial activation. • C8VA resulted in rapid and robust activation of SGCs in both ipsilateral and contralateral DRG. • Treatment with Fluorocitrate (FC) suppressed SGC activation and alleviated mechanical allodynia in C8VA rats. Increasing evidence suggests that activation of satellite glia cells (SGCs) in sensory ganglia play important roles in the development of neuropathic pain. The present study aimed to investigate the involvement of SGC activation in a novel model of motor nerve injury induced pain hypersensitivity. The neuropathic pain model was established by cervical 8 ventral root avulsion (C8VA). Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was used as a marker of SGC activation. Unilateral C8VA resulted in mechanical allodynia, but not thermal hyperalgesia in bilateral paws. Expectedly, SGCs were robustly activated on as early as 1 day and persisted for at least 7 days in the ipsilateral and contralateral dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of C6, C7 and C8 after C8VA. Double immunofluorescence showed that almost all the activated SGCs enveloped neurofilament 200 (NF200) positive myelinated neurons in DRG. Local application of fluorocitrate (FC), a glial metabolism inhibitor, significantly decreased the number of activated SGCs and alleviated bilateral mechanical allodynia. These results suggest that SGC activation contributed to ipsilateral and mirror-image pain hypersensitivity after C8VA. Inhibition of SGC activation represented a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of neuropathic pain following brachial plexus root avulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the interaction between purification gas media (Ar and N 2) and the main solid inclusion α-Al 2 O 3 in aluminum melt, first-principle calculation was employed to investigate the adsorption energy, bonding, electronic characteristics, and density of states of Ar and N 2 adsorption on α-Al 2 O 3 (0001) surface. We determined that the adsorption stability of N 2 is much higher than Ar, it is thus speculated N 2 can serve as a better refiner to remove α-Al 2 O 3 from molten aluminum. Also, it is found FCC sites are calculated to be energetically preferred for adsorption in these two cases. Besides, it is confirmed Ar and N 2 both have obvious bonding effect at the Top site, where N 2 has a large charge transfer at the Top site and forms covalent bonds. In particular, the adsorption of Ar and N 2 is found mainly owing to the hybridization of Ar-3p and Al-3p orbitals, and the hybridization of N 2 -p and Al-p orbitals. On the other hand, with Ar adsorbed at hcp or N 2 adsorbed at top site of α-Al 2 O 3 (0001) surface, the conductivity of α-Al 2 O 3 was enhanced, and the adverse effects of α-Al 2 O 3 to the corrosion resistance of aluminum was promoted. • Fcc site is energetically preferred for the adsorption of Ar and N 2 on Al 2 O 3 (0001). • Ar and N 2 both have bonding effect at the Top site of Al 2 O 3 (0001). • Hybridization of Ar-3p and Al-3p orbitals, N 2 -p and Al-p orbitals were found. • Adsorption affect conductivity and corrosion resistance was detailed from DOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing hierarchical superstructures through one-step bottom-up synthesis poses significant challenges due to strong interactions between additives and micelles, which hinders the formation of heterogeneous configurations. Here, we propose a high-temperature-mediated method to weaken these interactions and manipulate the thermal instability of micellar templates. This approach successfully synthesizes hierarchical superstructures that combine a carbonaceous nanosheet substrate with polyoxometalate (POM)-induced, highly ordered discontinuous nanodots in a single preparation step. The surface nanodots have a diameter of approximately 19 nm and are spaced about 32 nm apart. Besides, the nanodots with various arrangements can be generated by simply adjusting the amount of POM. Importantly, the superstructure features more exposed POM catalytic sites than conventional carbonaceous hybrids lacking surface architectures, resulting in excellent electrochemical performance in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. This high-temperature-mediated approach offers new insights for designing hierarchical superstructures and functional materials with enhanced activities., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background: Brachial plexu root avulsion (BPRA) commonly causes extensive motoneuron death, motor axon degeneration and denervation of biceps, leading to devastating motor dysfunction in the upper limb. Edaravone (Eda) has been proven to exert anti-oxidative and neuroprotective effects on various neurological disorders. Herein, we aimed to investigate the efficacy profile and potential mechanisms of Eda on BPRA in vitro and in vivo models., Methods: Rats following BPRA and reimplantation surgery were intraperitoneally injected with Eda once daily. The motor function recovery of the affected forelimb was assessed by Terzis grooming test. Histological staining and transmission electron microscopy were performed to evaluate the morphological appearance of the spinal cord, musculocutaneous nerve, and biceps. Further in-depth studies to explore the underlying mechanisms of Eda were conducted using Western blotting, biochemical assays, and immunofluorescence in H 2 O 2 -induced NSC-34 cells., Results: Eda significantly accelerated motor function recovery, enhanced motoneuron survival, prevented motor axon descent, preserved myelin sheath integrity and attenuated muscle atrophy. Additionally, Eda treatment markedly suppressed oxidative stress-related indicators, downregulated apoptosis-related proteins, mitigated glial reactivity, and activated SIRT1 and TFEB. Notably, the neuroprotective effect of Eda was diminished by the SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 in H 2 O 2 -treated NSC-34 cells, suggesting that Eda regulated oxidative stress and apoptosis through SIRT1/TFEB-induced autophagy flux., Conclusions: Eda enhanced motoneuron survival and axonal regeneration that promotes motor functional restoration by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis via the SIRT1/TFEB-autophagy pathway. Thus, it may serve as a promising strategy in reimplantation surgery for the treatment of BPRA., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Endobronchial tumors can infiltrate the bronchial wall or protrude into the bronchial lumen, causing post-obstructive pneumonia (POP). Differentiating between POP and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is challenging due to similar clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, which can delay the diagnosis and treatment of endobronchial tumors., Methods: We compared general demographic information, laboratory test results, lung CT images, bronchoscopic observations, pathological findings between the POP group and the CAP group., Results: (1) The POP group consisted mainly of older individuals (mean age 69 vs. 56 years; P < 0.05), males (93.4% vs. 47.1%; P < 0.05), and smokers (67.2% vs. 14.7%; P < 0.05). Clinical symptoms varied, with chest pain (23.0% vs. 11.8%; P < 0.05) and hemoptysis (26.2% vs. 10.8%; P < 0.05) more prevalent in the POP group. MSCT showed that bronchial wall thickening, bronchial stenosis, occlusion, obstructive emphysema, mucoid impaction, and endobronchial shadows occurred more frequently in POP, while consolidation and exudation shadows were predominant in CAP (P < 0.05). (2) In the POP group, neoplasms were the most frequent bronchoscopic findings (57 cases, 93.44%), especially in the upper lungs. Squamous cell carcinoma was the primary pathological type (52 cases, 85.25%). The average delay in diagnosing endobronchial tumors was 214.8 days. In the POP group, 34 cases (55.74%) had abnormal CT images in the past and did not undergo bronchoscopy, resulting in delayed diagnosis. (3) Factors such as gender, age, bronchial occlusion, stenosis, mucus embolism, and intraluminal shadow were determined to be independent risk factors for endobronchial tumors (P < 0.05 and OR > 1)., Conclusions: Endobronchial tumors combined with POP are easily misdiagnosed as CAP in the early stage. Factors like bronchial occlusion, stenosis, mucus embolism, and intraluminal shadows on MSCT are significant independent risk factors for these tumors, indicating the need for early bronchoscopy., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The present study was conducted in accordance with the amended Declaration of Helsinki. The Ethics Committee of Affiliated Yueqing Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University approved the protocol of this retrospective study (approval number: YQYY202300206), and granting a waiver of informed consent due to the retrospective nature of data collection. Consent to publish: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)