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Heat stress (HS) and the associated restricted blood flow to the intestine have been proven to destroy intestinal integrity. Considering the beneficial properties of L‐arginine on gut function, we investigated the protective effects of L‐arginine on the intestine under HS conditions. In vivo, the serum cortisol level and the rectal temperature increased in response to HS. Under HS, the intestinal damage showed obvious morphological changes. Furthermore, HS decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of Nurr1, ZO‐1, occludin, claudin‐6 and E‐cadherin, increased the mRNA expression of NF‐κB and IL‐1β, and increased the protein expression of cleaved caspase‐3. In contrast, L‐arginine supplementation maintained intestinal integrity and increased the villus/crypt ratio. L‐arginine also suppressed the expression of inflammation‐related genes and the protein expression of cleaved caspase‐3, whereas it upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of tight junction proteins and LC3B protein expression. In vitro, L‐arginine attenuated HS‐induced apoptosis as demonstrated by flow cytometry and decreased cleaved caspase‐3 protein expression. L‐arginine induced autophagy, which was demonstrated by decreased expression of p62 and p‐mTOR/mTOR, and increased expression of LC3B. The protein expression levels of TJ proteins also enhanced by L‐arginine in IEC‐6 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that L‐arginine can alleviate intestinal damage and protect the intestinal integrity by suppressing local inflammation response, promoting the production of TJs and facilitating autophagy under HS conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium-ion capacitors are considered as promising energy storage devices for medium/large-scale energy storage applications including electric vehicles (EVs) and smart grid technologies because of their high energy/power densities and long cycle life. However, finding a high-performance anode material has been one of the great challenges in developing this sustainable electrochemical energy storage technology. Nickel cobaltite (NiCo2O4) with rich electroactive sites is a promising anode material for electrochemical capacitors and hybrid ion capacitors. However, this material is unstable due to large volume changes during repeated cycles. Here, we report an approach to improve the stability of NiCo2O4 against cycling by using a nitrogen-doped graphene framework to encapsulate NiCo2O4 particles. The graphene framework guarantees good electronic conductivity and serves as a buffer to alleviate the volume changes of NiCo2O4. In a sodium half cell, the composite electrode displayed a reversible capacity of about 450 mA h g−1 with a current rate of 0.1 A g−1 at the 100th cycle. A full-cell sodium ion capacitor configured with the composite as the anode and a commercial activated carbon as the cathode delivered an energy density of 48.8 W h kg−1 at a power density of 9750 W kg−1 with a stable cycle life. The good electrochemical performance of the electrode material indicates that using nitrogen-doped graphene sheets to stabilise NiCo2O4 particles is a feasible approach towards developing high-performance anode materials for sodium ion capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact of dopants can direct the design of high-performance thermoelectric nanomaterials. In this study, we use Te as a dopant to modify Cu2Se nanoplates. It has been found that Te can be uniformly doped and distributed in the synthesized products to form Cu2Se1−xTex nanoplates with controlled Te content. Also, a phase transition from the original β-phase Cu2Se nanoplates to α-phase Cu2Se1−xTex nanoplates was observed with increasing Te doping level. From the thermoelectric evaluation of the sintered pellets of Cu2Se1−xTex nanoplates, it was found that Te can effectively modify their thermoelectric properties, especially their electrical transport properties. Finally, a high average figure-of-merit value of ∼1.2 in the temperature range from 400 K to 850 K was observed for the Cu2Se0.98Te0.02 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used the brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining method to group buffalo oocytes (BCB+ and BCB−) and perform in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization and embryo culture. At the same time, molecular biology techniques were used to detect gap junction protein expression and oxidative stress‐related indicators to explore the molecular mechanism of BCB staining to predict oocyte developmental potential. The techniques of buffalo oocytes to analyse their developmental potential and used immunofluorescence staining to detect the expression level of CX43 protein, DCFH‐DA probe staining to detect ROS levels and qPCR to detect the expression levels of the antioxidant‐related genes SOD2 and GPX1. Our results showed that the in vitro maturation rate, embryo cleavage rate and blastocyst rate of buffalo oocytes in the BCB+ group were significantly higher than those in the BCB− group and the control group (p <.05). The expression level of CX43 protein in the BCB+ group was higher than that in the BCB− group both before and after maturation (p <.05). The intensity of ROS in the BCB+ group was significantly lower than that in the BCB− group (p <.05), and the expression levels of the antioxidant‐related genes SOD2 and GPX1 in the BCB+ group were significantly higher than those in the BCB− group (p <.05). Brilliant cresyl blue staining could effectively predict the developmental potential of buffalo oocytes. The results of BCB staining were positively correlated with the expression of gap junction protein and antioxidant‐related genes and negatively correlated with the reactive oxygen species level, suggesting that the mechanism of BCB staining in predicting the developmental potential of buffalo oocytes might be closely related to antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructure-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing have great potential for refractive index (RI) detection in the area of life science, chemical and food safety. Recently, the studies of aluminum (Al)-based nanostructures for sensing have attracted a large attention because aluminum is a cost-effective material and have excellent plasmonic characteristics from UV to near-infrared ranges. However, the fabrication of Al nanostructures used for sensing mainly focus on lithography techniques which are complex, expensive. Here, a facile method for the fabrication of hierarchical Al nanocap arrays used as LSPR sensing device was investigated. By only controlling the deposited Al thickness onto barrier layer surface of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template, the hierarchical Al nanocap arrays with tunable plasmonic wavelength ranging from 331 nm to 428 nm were obtained. The RI sensitivity of 80 nm hierarchical Al nanocap array is 358 nm/RIU and shows a good consistency with the FDTD simulation result. The concentration detection limit of adenine aqueous and ethanol solution are 1 × 10 − 6 M and 1 × 10 − 5 M , respectively. The results provide a new approach for developing an inexpensive, efficient, and mass-produced Al nanostructure sensor. • A facile AAO template-assisted method for the fabrication of hierarchical Al nanocap arrays performed as LSPR sensing was reported. • By controlling the deposited Al thickness, the LSPR wavelength can be regulated from 331 to 428 nm. • The RI sensitivity was 358 nm/RIU. • The adenine detection limit down to 1 × 10 − 6 M for water solution and 1 × 10 − 5 M for ethanol solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inside the finger-like intestinal projections called villi, strands of smooth muscle cells contract to propel absorbed dietary fats through the adjacent lymphatic capillary, the lacteal, sending fats into the systemic blood circulation for energy production. Despite this vital function, mechanisms of formation, assembly alongside lacteals, and maintenance of villus smooth muscle are unknown. By combining single-cell RNA sequencing and quantitative lineage tracing of the mouse intestine, we identified a local hierarchy of subepithelial fibroblast progenitors that differentiate into mature smooth muscle fibers via intermediate contractile myofibroblasts. This continuum persists as the major mechanism for villus musculature renewal throughout adult life. The NOTCH3-DLL4 signaling axis governs the assembly of smooth muscle fibers alongside their adjacent lacteals and is required for fat absorption. Our studies identify the ontogeny and maintenance of a poorly defined class of intestinal smooth muscle, with implications for accelerated repair and recovery of digestive function following injury. [Display omitted] • Construction of single-cell atlas of developmental trajectories in the mouse intestine • Villus smooth muscle (SM) originates from local fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition • TNC+ SMA+ myofibroblasts are lymphatic SM progenitors in the embryo and adult • NOTCH3-DLL4 signaling governs muscular-lacteal assembly and dietary fat absorption Sanketi et al. reconstructed cellular trajectories in the developing gut and identified the progenitor cells and molecular programs that assemble and maintain the central lymphatic fat absorption apparatus inside villi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has gained popularity for electrochemical water disinfection due to its efficient antimicrobial activity when activated with low voltages. However, the antimicrobial mechanism of LIG electrodes is not yet fully understood. This study demonstrated an array of mechanisms working synergistically to inactivate bacteria during electrochemical treatment using LIG electrodes, including the generation of oxidants, changes in pH—specifically high alkalinity associated with the cathode, and electro-adsorption on the electrodes. All these mechanisms may contribute to the disinfection process when bacteria are close to the surface of the electrodes where inactivation was independent of the reactive chlorine species (RCS); however, RCS was likely responsible for the predominant cause of antibacterial effects in the bulk solution (i.e., ≥100 mL in our study). Furthermore, the concentration and diffusion kinetics of RCS in solution was voltage-dependent. At 6 V, RCS achieved a high concentration in water, while at 3 V, RCS was highly localized on the LIG surface but not measurable in water. Despite this, the LIG electrodes activated by 3 V achieved a 5.5-log reduction in Escherichia coli (E.coli) after 120-min electrolysis without detectable chlorine, chlorate, or perchlorate in the water, suggesting a promising system for efficient, energy-saving, and safe electro-disinfection. [Display omitted] • An array of mechanisms works synergistically to inactivate bacteria close to LIG electrodes. • The RCS was likely responsible for the predominant cause of antibacterial effects in the bulk solution. • At a low applied voltage (3 V), highly localized RCS on the LIG surface contributed to efficient disinfection. • LIG with low voltages inactivated bacteria without high levels of oxidants, suggesting a safe electro-disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the studies have focused on the single-angular displacement estimation, while the multiple angular displacement estimation in ideal and noisy scenarios is still elusive. In this paper, we investigate the simultaneous multiple angular displacement estimation based on an orbital angular momentum (OAM), together with inputting (d + 1) -mode NOON-like states as the probe state. By revealing the role of the intramode correlation of the probe state, this allows us to give a reasonable explanation for the corresponding quantum Cramér-Rao bound (QCRB) behaviors. Our analyses suggest that the QCRB for multiple angular displacement estimation is always positively related to the intramode correlation, especially for the multimode entangled squeezed vacuum state showing the best performance compared to another probe state. More importantly, strengthening the robustness of multiple angular-displacement estimation systems can be achieved by increasing the OAM quantum number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A double network polysaccharide hydrogel cooperated by Schiff base crosslinking and TA entanglement was developed. • For the first time, the influence of TA on the degradation and drug release behavior of Schiff base crosslinked hydrogel was investigated. • The developed CSGM@TA hydrogel with antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm properties can serve as multifunctional scaffold. Dynamic Schiff base-mediated natural polysaccharide hydrogels are often griped about rapid degradation as biological scaffolds, which is desirable for an efficient method to improve their stability. Herein, tannic acid (TA) was employed to further entangle Schiff base crosslinked hydrogel (CSGM) composed of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and oxidized konjac glucomannan (OKGM) to achieve tunable degradation and drug release of the obtained CSGM@TA hydrogel. As examined by SEM, the porous structure of CSGM hydrogel became denser after being immersed in TA solution, and the average pore size of CSGM hydrogel was decreased from 108.0 μm to 60.0 μm along with TA amount in CSGM@TA hydrogel. The degradation rate of CSGM hydrogel was remarkably inhibited upon entanglement by TA. CSGM@TA-3 with highest TA amount was found stable in PBS (pH 5.5) after 14 days, whereas ∼ 50 % of CSGM hydrogel was remained under same condition. The release of TA from CSGM@TA hydrogels was also examined under different pH, and the total TA release from three CSGM@TA hydrogels was 10 %–19 % within 14 days at pH 5.5, whereas the value was remarkably increased to 35 %–45 % at pH 7.4, suggesting a pH-dependent TA release behavior controlled by pH-responsive Shiff-base bonding and TA-CSGM bonding. Meanwhile, CSGM@TA hydrogels were found to possess good antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm capabilities, demonstrating great potential as multifunctional scaffolds for tissue engineering and wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcystis sp. is a harmful cyanobacterial species commonly seen in earthen ponds. The overgrowth of these algae can lead to fluctuations in water parameters, including DO and pH. Also, the microcystins produced by these algae are toxic to aquatic animals. This study applied hydrogen peroxide (7 mg/L) to treat Microcystis sp. in a laboratory setting and in three earthen pond trials. In the lab we observed a 64.7% decline in Microcystis sp. And in our earthen pond field experiments we measured, on average, 43% reductions in Microcystis sp. cell counts within one hour. The treatment was found to eliminate specifically Microcystis sp. and did not reduce the cell count of the other algae species in the pond. A shift of the algae community towards the beneficial algae was also found post-treatment. Lastly, during the pond trials, the gill status of Tilapia and Giant tiger prawn were not affected by the H 2 O 2 treatment suggesting this may be a good mitigation strategy for reducing cyanobacteria in pond aquaculture. • Microcystis sp. blooms are commonly found in earthen aquaculture ponds and can affect fish health and public food safety. • Hydrogen peroxide successfully controlled the cyanobacteria in ponds without affecting beneficial algae and aquatic animals. • Pros and cons of the hydrogen peroxide treatment against harmful algal bloom and how to apply this mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial composition and diversity in aquaculture pond ecosystems are closely related to animal productivity and disease outbreaks. Interventions that alter the bacteria found in pond water can therefore affect the productivity of these systems. Ozone nanobubbles have recently been shown to reduce pathogens, improve dissolved oxygen, and influence fish innate immunity. However, little is known about the effect of nanobubble treatment on the microbial community of aquaculture ponds. This study investigated the impact of ozone macrobubbles (O3MB) and nanobubbles (O3NB) on the microbial ecology of pond water and fish health. We successfully eliminated between 90.9 and 99.4% of the heterotrophic bacteria and 90.1 to 95.2% of the bacterial DNA in our small pond water ecosystems after treatment with 0.15 mg/L ozone. According to the shotgun metagenomic sequencing, ozone macro- and nanobbuble treatments reduced the relative abundance of all bacteria in our water sample, including the dominant bacterial species, as well as Cyanobacteria. The top ten bacterial species in the community changed and were more evenly distributed within the water sample. The bacterial richness of the ozone-treated water samples declined slightly, but over 6000 species were still identified 24 h after the treatment. We also observed a rebound in the bacterial community 24 h after the ozone treatments. The advantage of the nanobubble delivery of ozone over macrobubble delivery of this gas was that the former took significantly less time to deliver the desired quantity of gas while it also greatly increased the dissolved oxygen in the water. Further, we assessed the impact of ozone nanobubbles on jade perch, and no effects were found on the fish at an exposure dose of 0.15 mg/L. This study provides preliminary information on potential applications of nanobubble technology for "resetting" microbial communities, which may be useful during disease outbreaks. • A low dose ozone treatment eliminated up to 99.4% of the heterotrophic bacteria and 95.2% of the bacterial DNA in pond water. • Ozone treatment at 0.15mg/L was safe for Jade perch. • The bacterial community rebounded with an even distribution and a shift in the top 10 species 24 h after treatment. • Nanobubbles greatly increased the oxygen in the water and were more efficient than air stones for delivering ozone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]