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Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZY) is an ancient compound widely used in the treatment of coronary heart disease. However, its efficacy evaluation is not complete and its mechanism of action is not clear enough. In an attempt to address these problems, the efficacy was evaluated by meta-analysis and the mechanism was elucidated by the network pharmacology method. We systematically searched relevant studies in PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data, and other databases from 2007 to 2019. The association between XFZY treatment and CHD was estimated by risk ratio (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). The compounds and the potential protein targets of XFZY were obtained from TCMSP, and active compounds were selected according to their oral bioavailability and drug similarity. The potential genes of coronary heart disease were obtained from TTD, OMIM, and GeneCards. The potential pathways related to genes were determined by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. The compound-target and compound-target-pathway networks were constructed. Molecular docking validates the component and the target. A total of 21 studies including 1844 patients were enrolled in the present meta-analysis, indicating that XFZY has a greater beneficial on total effect (fixed effect RR = 1.30; 95% Cl: 1.24–1.36; P = 0.82 ; I2 = 0.0%) and electrocardiogram efficacy (fixed effect RR = 1.40; 95% Cl: 1.26–1.56; P = 0.96 ; I2 = 0.0%) compared with the control group. A total of 1342 components in XFZY were obtained, among which, 241 were chosen as bioactive components. GO and KEGG analyses got top 10 significantly enriched terms and 10 enriched pathways. The C-T network included 192 compounds and 3085 targets, whereas the C-T-P network included 10 compounds, 109 targets, and 5 pathways. There was a good binding activity between the components and the targets. XFZY has the curative effect on coronary heart disease, and its mechanism is related to 10 compounds, 10 core targets, and 5 pathways.

Buildings consume many resources and generate greenhouse gases during construction. One of the main sources of greenhouse gases is carbon emission associated with buildings. This research is based on the computing rule of carbon emission at the materialization stage. By taking the features of green construction into consideration, quantitative analysis on construction carbon emission was undertaken via Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Making use of Vensim (a system dynamics software package), we analyzed the amount of carbon emission at the materialization stage and determined the major subsystems affecting the carbon emission, then took into comprehensive consideration the differences of each subsystem&rsquo, s carbon emission under different construction technologies. Under the mechanism of carbon trade at the materialization stage, the total price of carbon trades remains unchanged, while the trading price of each subsystem is adjusted. Under these conditions, a coefficient for step-wise increases in carbon price was proposed. By establishing such a system of gradient prices, construction companies are encouraged to adopt high-efficiency emission reduction technologies. Meanwhile, the system also provides a reference for the formulation of price-based policies about buildings&rsquo, carbon trading, and accelerates the process of energy conservation and emission reduction in China and the world at large.

Cell-cell communication plays a vital role in biological activities; in particular, membrane-protein interactions are profoundly significant. In order to explore the underlying mechanism of intercellular signaling pathways, a full range of artificial systems have been explored. However, many of them are complicated and uncontrollable. Herein we designed an artificial signal transduction system able to control the influx of environmental ions by triggering the activation of synthetic transmembrane channels immobilized on giant membrane vesicles (GMVs). A membrane protein-like stimulator from one GMV community (GMVB) stimulates a receptor on another GMV community (GMVA) to release ssDNA messengers, resulting in the activation of synthetic transmembrane channels to enable the influx of ions. This event, in turn, triggers signal responses encapsulated in the GMVA protocell model. By mimicking natural signal transduction pathways, this novel prototype provides a workable tool for investigating cell-cell communication and expands biological signaling systems in general as well as explores useful platforms for addressing scientific problems which involve materials science, chemistry, and medicine.

Solar-driven evaporation has been recognized as a promising approach to address global crises of drinking water via virtue of abundant and green solar energy. However, a great challenge still exists for achieving efficient usage of solar energy combined with fast water evaporation. Here, a double-structural solar evaporator consists of an upper copper sulfide (CuS) agar-based aerogel and a bottom molybdenum carbide/carbon (MoCC) composite of cotton fibers-derived aerogel (CuSAA/MoCCFA), which is constructed for solar evaporation. The CuS layer performs as a solar-thermal converter with efficient light adsorption and prominent thermally localized ability, while the bottom layer (superhydrophilic porous aerogel) guarantees sufficient water transportation and excellent thermal insulation. The fully integrative solar evaporator has an attractive water evaporation rate of 2.44 kg m

Micro-aeration hydrolysis acidification (HA) is an effective method to enhance the removal of toxic and refractory organic matter, but the difficulty in stable dosing control of trace oxygen limits its wide application. Membrane-based bubbleless aeration has been proved as an ideal aeration method because of its higher oxygen transfer rate, more uniform mass transfer, and lower cost than HA. However, the available information on its application in HA is limited. In this study, membrane-based bubbleless micro-aeration coupled with hydrolysis acidification (MBL-MHA) was exploited to investigate the performance of 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) degradation via comparing it with bubble micro-aeration HA (MHA) and anaerobic HA. The results indicated that the performances in MBL-MHA and MHA were higher than those in HA during the experiment. 2,4-DNP degradation rates under redox microenvironments caused by counter-diffusion in MBL-MHA (84.43∼97.28%) were higher than those caused by co-diffusion in MHA (82.41∼94.71%) under micro-aeration of 0.5-5.0 mL air/min. The 2,4-DNP degradation pathways in MBL-MHA were nitroreduction, deamination, aromatic ring cleavage, and fermentation, while those in MHA were hydroxylation, aromatic ring cleavage, and fermentation. Reduction/oxidation-related, interspecific electron transfer-related species, and fermentative species in MBL-MHA were more abundant than that in MHA. Ultimately, more reducing/oxidizing forces formed by more redox proteins/enzymes from these rich species could enhance 2,4-DNP degradation in MBL-MHA.

Dendritic spines of excitatory neurons undergo activity-dependent structural and functional plasticity, which are cellular correlates of learning and memory. However, mechanisms underlying the rapid morphological changes immediately after NMDAR-mediated Ca2+ influx into spines remain poorly understood. Here we report that endophilin A1, a neuronal N-BAR protein, orchestrates membrane dynamics with actin polymerization to initiate spine enlargement in the induction phase of long-term potentiation (LTP). Upon LTP induction, Ca2+/calmodulin enhances its binding to both membrane and p140Cap, a cytoskeleton regulator. As a result, endophilin A1 rapidly associates with the relaxed plasma membrane and promotes actin polymerization, leading to acute expansion of spine head. Moreover, not only the p140Cap-binding, but also calmodulin- and membrane-binding capacities of endophilin A1 are required for LTP and long-term memory. Thus, endophilin A1 functions as calmodulin effector to drive spine enlargement in response to Ca2+ influx in the initial phase of structural plasticity.

Surface oxidized carbon nanotubes (oCNTs) were quite stable for the selective reduction of nitrobenzene, while notable deactivation was observed for the un-oxidized sample (rCNTs). The adsorption of N-containing compounds had a negligible effect, but the formation of a carboxyl group and anhydride was mainly responsible for the deactivation of rCNTs.

Photothermal conversion has hold great promise for facing water scarcity by solar evaporation technology. However, the photothermal performance of the evaporators is limited by weather rhythm due to strong dependence on solar energy. Herein, MoS2-based composites are well-suited for maximize resource utilization by achieving steam and electrical power from solar energy. Under one sun radiation, the output voltage can be up to ~ 300 mV synchronously with efficient solar evaporation. The power output is ~ 3.35 mW m−2 with current of 6.7 µA after half an hour of one sun illumination. The power output of ~ 0.9 mW m−2 can be readily derived with voltage of ~ 200 mV and current of 2.7 µA under ambient conditions. Furthermore, the voltage output reveals a linear increase behavior through the series connection of energy generators. MoS2-based composites show the potential of simultaneous steam and energy generation under sunlight, and it realizes the value as energy generators on cloudy days or at night. The work demonstrates that MoS2-based composites are capable of full-time function only relying on solar energy and water.

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have attracted extensive interest due to their potential application in building integrated photovoltaics. As for the emitters, organic dyes and semiconductor quantum dots are generally used for LSC fabrication. However, carbon-dots as a new class of quantum dots used in LSC study are rare. Here, N-doped carbon-dots (N-CDs) are used as phosphors to be embedded in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) thin films for LSC fabrication because of the good compatibility between them. The optical properties and performance of N-CDs/PVP thin film based LSCs with different layer numbers are investigated. The high performance of N-CDs/PVP thin film based LSCs with a power conversion efficiency of 4.97% has demonstrated that N-CDs embedded in PVP thin films is an effective approach for LSC fabrication which makes the industrial applications of LSCs more feasible.

Herein, we have developed an ultrasensitive self-powered biosensor for miRNA assay based on biofuel cells. The system is composed of indium tin oxide cathode and graphene oxide/gold nanoparticle/glucose oxidase anode. Redox probe of [Fe(CN)6]3– is entrapped inside porous Fe3O4 nanoparticles by DNA. However, in the presence of target miRNA, hybridization reaction occurs between miRNA and DNA, which initiates the release of [Fe(CN)6]3–. Moreover, duplex specific nuclease is further employed to trigger target recycling amplification. As a result, much more redox probes are released and the open circuit voltage is significantly increased. A “signal-on” self-powered biosensor for miRNA quantification is thus developed. The detection range is from 10 aM to 10 fM; meanwhile, the limit of detection is as low as 1.4 aM, which is superior to that in most reported methods. Therefore, the proposed biosensor is expected to be a powerful point-of-care tool for miRNA diagnostics, which may have wide applications in the ...

STUDY QUESTION How does aquaporin-3 (AQP3) affect endometrial receptivity? SUMMARY ANSWER AQP3, which is regulated by the combination and estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4), induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of endometrial epithelial cells. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Embryo implantation is an extremely complex process, and endometrial receptivity is essential for successful embryo implantation. Estrogen and progesterone regulate endometrial receptivity. AQP3, which is regulated by estrogen (E2), increases cell migration and invasion ability by regulating the expression of EMT-related factors and influencing the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This study investigated the pathophysiological significance of AQP3 in human endometrial function during different phases of the menstrual cycle. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS AQP3 expression levels during different phases of the menstrual cycle were measured using immunohistochemical assays. In cells of different receptivity (high-receptive RL95-2 cells and low-receptive HEC-1A cells), the expression of AQP3 was measured using western blotting, qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence assays. Activities of AQP3, and its regulation by E2 and P4, were studied through in-vitro experiments using RL95-2 cells. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE AQP3 expression in the mid- and late-secretory phases of the human endometrium is significantly higher than in other phases. Since AQP3 expression levels were higher in RL95-2 cells than in HEC-1A cells, mechanisms of AQP3 regulation by E2 and P4 were studied using RL95-2 cells. We provided the first report that P4 up-regulates AQP3 by directly targeting the promoter of the AQP3 gene. The up-regulation of AQP3 expression by a combination of E2 and P4 is significantly higher than that caused by either E2 or P4 alone. Together E2 and P4 promote RL95-2 cell migration and invasion by inducing EMT through AQP3. We also found that AQP3 co-localizes with ezrin and affects the formation of filopodia and lamellipodia during the E2 and P4-induced EMT process but has no effect on the expression of ezrin and F-actin. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION It is still unclear whether AQP3 is a main regulator of endometrial receptivity or one of several factors influencing the process. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Further investigation on AQP3 may contribute to a greater understanding of endometrial receptivity. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the National Natural Scientific Grants of China (No. 31570798), the Program for Liaoning Excellent Talents in University (LR2017042), the Doctoral Scientific Research Foundation of Liaoning province (201601236), and the Liaoning Provincial Program for Top Discipline of Basic Medical Sciences. There are no conflicts of interest.

Assessment of microbial viability plays a key role in human health protection. Optical imaging based on fluorescent dyes is a simple and convenient way to assess microbial viability. However, it is still a challenge to obtain stable, nontoxic and low-cost dyes. Herein, we prepared a nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped carbon nanodots (N, P-CDs) via a one-step solvothermal method. The prepared CDs possess plenty of functional groups and exhibit high stability, good biocompatibility, excellent photoluminescent and low toxicity. Especially, the properties of high quantum yield (89.9%) and highly negative surface charge (−41.9 mV) make the prepared N, P-CDs ideal materials for microbial differentiation. Compared with commercial dyes, our CDs are more stable, cost less, which can rapidly distinguish dead microorganisms from living ones with higher specificity.

Solar steam generation, utilizing abundant solar energy and floating photothermal materials, has been considered as one of the most sustainable, efficient ways to solve the problem of water shortage. Here, a new system for solar steam generation is fabricated based on a PEGylated MoS2-cotton cloth (PMoS2-CC). 80.5-90 ± 3.5% of high-efficiency solar steam generation is achieved under a light density of 1-5 kW m-2 because of the good gas permeability of CC and the hydrophilic property of PMoS2-CC. The self-growth PMoS2-CC provides good photothermal performances in pure water and saline water. The water evaporation rate with PMoS2-CC keeps a stable value after a long-time illumination (4 h) and 32 times cycle tests. Our result provides a way to prepare pure water in the applications for alleviating a scarcity of drinking water.

The authors are presenting the application of Fe3O4@Ag nanocomposites to a highly sensitive and selective analysis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The morphology and structure of the synthesized porous Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Fe3O4@Ag nanocomposites are well-characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV–vis absorption spectrum, etc. The nanocomposites can be facilely modified on the magnetic glassy carbon electrode, which also exhibit a sharp silver stripping peak owing to the loaded Ag nanoparticles. Since an autocatalytic oxidation reaction of Ag nanoparticles occurs with the existence of H2O2, the peak current intensity is suitable to track H2O2 levels. The analytical performance is evaluated by the technique of linear sweep voltammetry, which shows a linear range from 0.5 to 20 μM. The limit of detection is as low as 0.16 μM. The detection can be completed in 5 min, which is quite fast and convenient. In addition, an electrochemical track of H2O2 released from li...

The majority of tissues within human body are constituted of designated structures to enable specific functions. Much effort has been done to engineer artificial fabric cell-laden scaffolds which are widely used for a great diversity of linear tissue constructs. For this purpose, collagen microfibers are of great concern among diverse materials while the control of cell-laden fiber formation and orientated structure is still unsolvable. Here, we developed a novel microfluidic-based strategy for continuous fabrication and assembly of three-dimensional (3D) cell-laden oriented collagen hydrogel microfibers. Inspired by the flow-introduced shear force in a microfluidic chip, collagen hydrogel microfibers obtained the oriented fabric structure which could guide rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) oriented spreading and enhance relative cellular functional expression. Rat aortic endothelial cells (RAOECs) were introduced to construct a co-cultured microfiber model, which further facilitated the functional expression of neural cells due to the synergistic effect of both vascularized-like cells and neural-like cells. Moreover, the ability of assembling collagen microfibers into larger constructs will benefit a variety of applications in tissue engineering and biomedical research.

For an ideal biomimetic microenvironment to realize reliable cartilage regeneration, the ability to induce mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) differentiation along the chondrogenic lineage and prevent further dedifferentiation is expected. With native bioactivity, collagen has been proved to be preferential for inducing the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. However, the phenotypic maintenance of differentiated chondrocytes in a collagen matrix is still a challenge. Actin traction, which causes drastic contraction of the collagen matrix, is frequently observed and might be an important factor that affects cell fates including chondrogenic differentiation and phenotypic maintenance. In this study, photochemical modification was applied to acquire collagen hydrogels with improved mechanical strength and creep behavior. Accompanied by inherited bioactivity, the photo-crosslinked collagen hydrogel well supported the actin cytoskeleton functionalization while resisting the actin-mediated matrix contraction. Benefitting from this, the hydrogel system promoted MSCs proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation, and more importantly, prevented further dedifferentiation. By exploring the mesenchymal development-related signal transduction markers, it was revealed that the promoted chondrogenesis was achieved through inhibiting the over-expression of MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways that up-regulated dedifferentiated gene expression. The strategy of applying the hydrogel system to cartilage regeneration is foreseeable based on the positive heterotopic and orthotopic chondrogenic differentiation.

Theophylline is a common bronchodilator for the treatment of diseases like asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. However, it should be strictly used and monitored due to its toxicity when the concentration is above certain levels. In this work, an electrochemical biosensor for theophylline detection is proposed by recognition of RNA aptamer and gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based amplification technique. First, RNA aptamer is splitted into two single-stranded RNA probes. One is hybridized with DNA tetrahedron and the resulted nanostructure is then immobilized onto a gold electrode; the other is modified on the surface of AuNPs which is also labeled with methylene blue (MB) as electrochemical species. The recognition process between the two RNA probes and theophylline causes the localization of AuNPs and the enrichment of MB on the electrode interface. A significant electrochemical response is thus generated which is related to the concentration of initial theophylline. This proposed aptasensor shows excellent sensitivity and selectivity which could also be applied in quantitatively detection of theophylline in serums samples.

This study presents a facile synthesis method for the preparation of positively charged N,S co-doped carbon nanodots with excellent optical properties, and it develops a selective method for fluorescent detection of living cancer cells. The specific recognition is due to the application of an aptamer sequence, which shows high affinity and specificity to target cells. The aptamer is firstly labeled with BHQ and wraps around the carbon nanodots, then it finally quenches the fluorescence emission of the carbon nanodots. For the sensitive and selective analysis of target cells, the cells are simply mixed with the carbon nanodot-aptamer nanoconjugates, which are then centrifuged at a low speed. The recognition reaction between aptamer and target cells releases the quencher from the surface of the carbon nanodots and the centrifugation process enables the recovery of fluorescence intensity of the suspension, which reflects the level of initial cancer cells. The developed method is simple, highly selective and cost-effective, thus, it may be further exploited in clinical applications in the future.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is closely associated with many health disorders like liver diseases and bone diseases, which is a routine index of blood examination. In the current study, a fluorescent method for the detection of ALP is established based on poly(thymine)-templated selective formation of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and alkyne–azide cycloaddition “click” reaction. Generally, in the presence of ALP, l-ascorbic acid-2-phosphate is hydrolyzed, and the generated ascorbic acid reduces Cu2+ to Cu+, which further catalyzes alkyne–azide cycloaddition click reaction between two poly(thymine) segments. The two DNA fragments (18 thymine) are thus ligated, forming the DNA template (36 thymine), which is effective for the synthesis of CuNPs. Experimental results show that the fluorescence response of CuNPs increases with higher ALP concentration from 0.1 to 40 U/mL, and the limit of detection is as low as 0.05 U/mL. Furthermore, the proposed method is highly selective and is capable of detecting ALP in bio...

Bioink development is vital in biofabriacation for generating three-dimensional (3D) tissue-like constructs. As potential candidates of bioinks, hydrogels need to meet the requirements of good moldability, initially strong mechanical properties and prominent bioactivity to guarantee cell vitality and further assembly. Enzyme-induced dynamic degradation is an efficient and biocompatible approach to improve the bioactivity of hydrogels through releasing space continuously for cell proliferation and promoting the functional establishing of engineered tissue. Here a novel bioink was designed by introducing alginate lyase into composite Alginate-GelMA hydrogels. Results showed that bioink with proper lyase content exhibited desirable modability and cytocompatibility. Then cell-laden osteon-like microfibers were engineered with the microfluidic device and diverse complex 3D constructs were also successfully assembled. This degradation-regulated bioink showed great promise in a variety of applications in tissue engineering and biomedical investigation.

In alcoholic liver disease (ALD) research, animal models, as one of the most popular methods to explore pathology and therapeutic drug screening, show the limitations of expensive cost and ethic, as well as long modeling time. To minimize the use of animal models in ALD research, an artificial liver model has been developed by incorporating HepG2 cells into hydrogel matrix based on difunctional hyaluronan and collagen. And on this basis an alcohol-induced ALD model in vitro by adding alcohol in the engineering process has been established. Results showed that the construct exhibited a simulated synthetic and metabolic liver function thanks to the bionic fibrillar and viscoelastic characteristics of hydrogels. And the in vitro alcohol-induced ALD model was also proved to be successfully established, even presenting equal results with ALD mice. Furthermore, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as an intervention on ALD was confirmed in both in vitro and in vivo model. The findings indicate our simple artificial liver model is not only highly predictive but also easy to apply to drug screening and implantation studies, suggesting a promising alternative to animal models. Moreover, as the main active ingredient of tea, EGCG's effective intervention and reversal effect on fatty liver provides support for the theory that green tea could prevent alcoholic fatty liver.

This paper reported a facile microwave-assisted process to modify spent graphite (SG) powders for their re-utilization as LIBs anodes. The SG powders were treated by a simple impurity-removal process and a microwave irradiation in air for an exposure time range of 15–40 s. The as-obtained samples were characterized via various techniques. The microwave-modified samples (MW-G) exhibit enlarged interlayer distances and some open sites in their layers. The results show that the microwave-irradiation time has an obvious effect on their energy-storage property, and too long irradiation is harmful for their performance. The sample (MW-G-15) with a microwave-irradiation time of 15 s displays a high specific capacity of ≥ 400 mAh g–1, much higher than that (~300 mAh g–1) of the fresh commercially available graphite under the same test condition. MW-G-15 has a capacity retention of 96% and an initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 84%, and the charge transfer and rate capacities are highly improved. The enhanced performances of MW-G-15 are attributed to the reconstruction of graphite structure during the microwave irradiation by introducing suitable open sites or channels for the intercalation and migration of Li ions. This work gives a useful enlightenment to explore low-cost and eco-friendly approach towards re-utilization of spent graphite as LIBs anode materials.

Utilizing solar steam generation to treat seawater and sewage, as an emerging and effective technology, can obtain clean water. There is an abundance of water demand and a shortage of water supply in the world today. Herein, we demonstrate an integrated evaporator of boron nanosheets modified with molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) as a photothermal materials and a konjac glucomannan (KGM) sponge with excellent pore structure as a thermal insulator and water supplier for solar clean water generation. A rapid evaporation rate (1.538 kg m−2 h-1) and high solar evaporation efficiency (96.5 %) under 1-sun radiation (1 kW m−2) can be achieved in the two-dimensional structure system. This work provides a new way to design and manufacture renewable solar steam generation for water purification.

Oxidative damage has been implicated to be one of main mechanisms by which fluoride (F) induces toxic effects. Previous studies reported that F destroyed the epididymal structure of mouse and rabbit. Epididymis is the important place for sperm maturation. However, little is known about the effect of F on the oxidative stress status of epididymis. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the changes in the activities and transcriptional levels of CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD, SOD1) and catalase (CAT), as well as the ultrastructure, in testis and epididymis of mice administrated with F. Sixty health Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups. With one group untreated as controls, the others were treated with 25, 50, and 100 mg NaF/L in drinking water. After 10 weeks administration, mitochondrial ultrastructural changes in testis and epididymis were observed, including the incomplete membrane and the dissolved or disappeared cristae. Compared to the control group, the activities of both SOD1 and CAT in testis and epididymis were significantly reduced by 50 or 100 mg NaF exposure. In addition, the mRNA expressions of testicular SOD1 and CAT were also decreased significantly in 100 mg NaF/L group, while the SOD1 and CAT mRNA expressions in epididymides were significantly reduced in all F treatment groups. The above results suggest that in the presence of F, similar to testis, epididymis also loses the balance between oxidative stress and antioxidative defense, and perhaps more sensitive to F.

The authors are presenting an electrochemical aptasensor for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) detection that is aided by the use of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) and two DNA probes. Firstly, magnetic NPs coated with gold NPs (Fe3O4@AuNP) are synthesized. Then, DNA probe 1 with a terminal thiol group is immobilized on the surface of Fe3O4@AuNP via gold-thiol chemistry. DNA probe 1 is then hybridized with DNA probe 2, which is labeled with Methylene Blue (MB). The composite of Fe3O4@AuNP-DNA duplex is formed as a result, which can be easily absorbed on a magnetized glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemical signal is obtained after reductant-mediated amplification. Since MB-labeled DNA probe 2 is the aptamer against TNF-α, it will be released in the presence of TNF-α. This process leaves Fe3O4@AuNP-DNA probe 1 on the surface of the electrode. Thus, the recorded electrochemical response decreases dramatically. The assay, best operated at a working voltage of −0.39 V (vs. SCE), has a linear response in the 10 pg mL−1 to 100 ng·mL−1 TNF-α concentration range, and the limit of detection is 10 pg mL−1. The sensing strategy is highly sensitive and selective, and has been successfully applied to real samples.

Native tissue is naturally comprised of highly-ordered cell-matrix assemblies in a multi-hierarchical way, and the nano/submicron alignment of fibrous matrix is found to be significant in supporting cellular functionalization. In this study, a self-designed wet-spinning device appended with a rotary receiving pool was used to continuously produce shear-patterned hydrogel microfibers with aligned submicron topography. The process that the flow-induced shear force reshapes the surface of hydrogel fiber into aligned submicron topography was systematically analysed. Afterwards, the effect of fiber topography on cellular longitudinal spread and elongation was investigated by culturing rat neuron-like PC12 cells and human osteosarcoma MG63 cells with the spun hydrogel microfibers, respectively. The results suggested that the stronger shear flow force would lead to more distinct aligned submicron topography on fiber surface, which could induce cell orientation along with fiber axis and therefore form the cell-matrix dual-alignment. Finally, a multi-hierarchical tissue-like structure constructed by dual-oriented cell-matrix assemblies was fabricated based on this wet-spinning method. This work is believed to be a potentially novel biofabrication scheme for bottom-up constructing of engineered linear tissue, such as nerve bundle, cortical bone, muscle and hepatic cord.

This study assessed the feasibility of using LeY glycan secretion level in human embryos as a method of judging embryo quality. Embryo culture media from patients receiving in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer was collected, and quality scores of embryos were recorded. Secretions of LeY in the culture media in different development stages (from 4-cell to 10-cell), embryos in the same development stage of the same patients (8-cell/I) and embryos in the same development stage of different patients (8-cell/I) were examined by dot-blot. Embryos were divided into a hypersecretion group and hyposecretion group, based on their LeY secretion level. The embryo quality was evaluated by clinical observations, the number which developed to D3 cell stage and the number of successful embryo transplantations. LeY secretion increased as embryos developed from 4-cell to 10-cell (P

A novel electrochemical aptasensor for the detection of trace protein is proposed based on proximity binding-induced strand displacement and hybridization chain reaction. This method is proven to be highly selective and has potential practical utility, and offers new opportunities for the convenient detection of proteins with an enzyme-free amplification process.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic, unpredictable relapsing and inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Daily diet patterns have long been one of the most important hotspots for IBD therapeutic strategies. Sauchinone (SAU), a key bioactive lignin isolated from the roots of the herb Saururus chinensis, has been known to play an anti-inflammatory role in several diseases. However, its effect on IBD has not yet been investigated. In the current study, we established 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice and treated them with SAU. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to determine the phenotype of T cells in the lamina propria. qRT-PCR and ELISA were performed to measure cytokine transcript and protein levels, respectively. We found that SAU ameliorated TNBS-induced mouse colitis and inflammatory responses in mucosal tissues and peripheral blood CD4+ T cells from IBD patients. SAU significantly suppressed Th17 differentiation but facilitated IL-10 production, and SAU-treated Th17 cells exhibited inhibitory functions in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that SAU induced Blimp-1 expression (encoded by Prdm1) in Th17 cells, and SAU failed to increase IL-10 production in Prdm1-knockout Th17 cells. Our data reveal an uncharacterized mechanism through which SAU regulates intestinal inflammation and Th17 differentiation.

Background Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer-related deaths, with a high incidence and mortality in both sexes worldwide. Chemoprevention has been the most effective strategy for lung cancer prevention. Thus, exploring novel and effective candidate agents with low toxicity for chemoprevention is essential and urgent. Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Saururaceae) (H. cordata), which is a widely used herbal medicine and is also popularly consumed as a healthy vegetable, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumor activity. However, the chemopreventive effect of H. cordata against benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P)-initiated lung tumorigenesis and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. Methods A B[a]P-stimulated lung adenocarcinoma animal model in A/J mice in vivo and a normal lung cell model (BEAS.2B) in vitro were established to investigate the chemopreventive effects of H. cordata and its bioactive compound 2-undecanone against lung tumorigenesis and to clarify the underlying mechanisms. Results H. cordata and 2-undecanone significantly suppressed B[a]P-induced lung tumorigenesis without causing obvious systemic toxicity in mice in vivo. Moreover, H. cordata and 2-undecanone effectively decreased B[a]P-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and further notably protected BEAS.2B cells from B[a]P-induced DNA damage and inflammation by significantly inhibiting phosphorylated H2A.X overexpression and interleukin-1β secretion. In addition, H. cordata and 2-undecanone markedly activated the Nrf2 pathway to induce the expression of the antioxidative enzymes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1). Nrf2 silencing by transfection with Nrf2 siRNA markedly decreased the expression of HO-1 and NQO-1 to diminish the reductions in B[a]P-induced ROS overproduction, DNA damage and inflammation mediated by H. cordata and 2-undecanone. Conclusions H. cordata and 2-undecanone could effectively activate the Nrf2-HO-1/NQO-1 signaling pathway to counteract intracellular ROS generation, thereby attenuating DNA damage and inflammation induced by B[a]P stimulation and playing a role in the chemoprevention of B[a]P-induced lung tumorigenesis. These findings provide new insight into the pharmacological action of H. cordata and indicate that H. cordata is a novel candidate agent for the chemoprevention of lung cancer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1255-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been well-documented as a chronic gastrointestinal autoimmune disease, but its etiology remains to be elusive. Ascl2 (achaete-scute complex homologue 2), identified as a homologue of the Drosophila achaete-scute gene, has been shown to play an essential for the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and cancers. However, whether it is associated with the pathogenesis of IBD remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that Ascl2 was greatly down-regulated in human IBD and experimental colitis. Interestingly, CD4+ T cell expression of Ascl2 was regulated by intestinal microbiota. Moreover, we revealed that Ascl2 inhibited the differentiation of Th17 cells and restrained their pathogenicity through facilitating IL-10 production. We further showed that Blimp-1 might be involved in the Ascl2-inducing IL-10 expression in CD4+ T cells under Th17 differentiating condition. Notably, lentivirus-mediated overexpression of Ascl2 remarkably alleviated the severity of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid solution (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice, with decreased level of colonic IL-17A. Our findings demonstrated an unappreciated mechanism whereby Ascl2 negatively modulates pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation via promoting IL-10 production, and alleviates intestinal inflammation. Thus, Ascl2 may serve as a novel therapeutic target of IBD.

Figure S1. The GC-FID chromatogram of standard compound 2-undecanone (A) and H.cordata water extract (B). Figure S2. Representative images showing haematoxylin and eosin staining of lung samples from the different groups. Figure S3. Effects of B[a]P on viability of BEAS-2B cells. Cell viability was examined using the MTT assay. The data represent the mean ± SD (n = 3). #p < 0.05 and ###p < 0.001 compared with the control cells (given water). Figure S4. Pairwise correlation between reduction in B[a]P-induced ROS over production and decreased p-H2A.X protein levels ratio in BEAS-2B cells by H. cordata (A) and 2-undecanone (B). The correlations were analyzed by using Person analysis. Figure S5. Pairwise correlation between reduction in B[a]P-induced ROS over production and decreased protein levels of pro-IL-1β or IL-1β in BEAS-2B cells by H. cordata (A) and 2-undecanone (B). The correlations were analyzed by using Person analysis. Figure S6. The efficiency of Nrf2 silencing. Nrf2 expression was silenced in BEAS-2B cells by transfection of three Nrf2-specific siRNA (siNrf2-1, siNrf2-2 or siNrf2-3), respectively. The protein levels of Nrf2 were evaluated by using Western blot analysis. Data shown represent the mean ± SD (n = 3). ***p < 0.001 compared with the cells transfected with the control siRNA (siCtrl). siNrf2-1 and siNrf2-2 were selected for subsequent assays according to the efficiency of Nrf2 silencing. (DOCX 7901 kb)

This paper focused on the different characteristics of the shoulder cross-section curves closely related to the shape to subdivide the shoulder shapes. In this paper, 213 young college male students aged 18-26 were selected to measure the shoulder data with three-dimensional body scanner. With the help of imageware12.0 and matlabr2012b software, the cross-section curves which could be used to classify the shoulder shapes were extracted, and the method of subdividing the shoulder shapes with the curvature radius of the characteristic points of the cross-section curve and the ratio of sagittal to frontal diameter was established. K-means clustering method was used through dynamic clustering, the optimal classification number of shoulder shapes was determined to be 4 categories by variance analysis, and the shape differences of each shoulder shape were quantified; by comparing the curve shape of shoulder section, the curve change characteristics of 4 categories of shoulder section were further qualitatively described.

A simple approach has been designed for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing carbogenic polymer dots (NPDs) with relatively high nitrogen concentration (10.5 at.%), tunable size distribution, high yield (25%), and a high degree of graphitization, through a microwave-assisted polymerization of polybromopyrroles in an alkaline ethanolthermal environment at 80 °C. The structure, composition, morphology, and optical properties of NPDs were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ζ-potential, transmission electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, UV–vis absorbance, and photoluminescence techniques. At excitation wavelengths ( λ e x ) before and after 360 nm, NPDs exhibit a dual emission behavior in terms of λ e x -independence and λ e x -dependence, respectively. The absolute quantum yield of NPDs is greatly improved to be 24% from 3% after simple surface reduction by NaBH 4 . The fluorescence quenching mechanism of NPDs has been carefully investigated by using twenty aromatic compounds as quenchers. Through theoretical calculations and instrumental analysis, we conclude that non-photochemical quenching rather than the fluorescence resonance energy transfer and charge transfer dominates the quenching of NPDs by aromatic compounds. This insight shows the way for selective fluorescent detection of trace aromatic compounds with carbogenic dot-based sensors.

Obesity is a risk factor for cancer and cancer-related mortality, however, its role in lung cancer progression remains controversial. This study aimed to assess whether high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity promotes lung cancer progression and whether the promotion can be decreased by Kanglaite injection (KLTI). In vivo, HFD-induced overweight or obesity increases the lung carcinoma incidence and multiplicity in a urethane-induced lung carcinogenic model and cancer-related mortality in a LLC allograft model by increasing oxidative stress and cellular signaling molecules including JAK, STAT3, Akt, mTOR, NF-κB and cyclin D1. These changes resulted in increases in vascular disruption and the lung water content, thereby promoting lung epithelial proliferation and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during carcinogenesis. Chronic KLTI treatment substantially prevented the weight gain resulting from HFD consumption, thereby reversing the metabolic dysfunction-related physiological changes and reducing susceptibility to lung carcinogenesis. In vitro, KLTI significantly suppressed the proliferation and induced apoptosis and differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells and attenuated endothelial cell permeability in HUVECs. Our study indicates that there is a potential relationship between obesity and lung cancer. This is the first study to show that obesity can directly accelerate carcinogen-induced lung cancer progression and that KLTI can decrease the lung cancer-promoting effect of HFD-induced obesity.

Both gingerol and capsaicin are agonists of TRPV1, which can negatively control tumor progression. This study observed the long-term effects of oral administration of 6-gingerol alone or in combination with capsaicin for 20 weeks in a urethane-induced lung carcinogenic model. We showed that lung carcinoma incidence and multiplicity were 70% and 21.2 ± 3.6, respectively, in the control versus 100% and 35.6 ± 5.2 in the capsaicin group (P < 0.01) and 50% and 10.8 ± 3.1 in the 6-gingerol group (P < 0.01). The combination of 6-gingerol and capsaicin reversed the cancer-promoting effect of capsaicin (carcinoma incidence of 100% versus 20% and multiplicity of 35.6 ± 5.2 versus 4.7 ± 2.3; P < 0.001). The cancer-promoting effect of capsaicin was due to increased epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) level by decreased transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) level (P < 0.01) . The capsaicin-decreased EGFR level subsequently reduced levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and cyclin D1 that favored enhanced lung epithelial proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during lung carcinogenesis (P < 0.01). In contrast, 6-gingerol promoted TRPV1 level and drastically decreased the levels of EGFR, NF-κB, and cyclin D1 that favored reduced lung epithelial proliferation and EMT (P < 0.01). This study provides valuable information for the long-term consumption of chili-pepper-rich diets to decrease the risk of cancer development.

Lanthanide doped core-multishell structured NaGdF4:Yb,Er@NaYF4:Yb@NaGdF4:Yb,Nd@NaYF4@NaGdF4:Yb,Tm@NaYF4 nanoparticles with power-density independent orthogonal excitations-emissions upconversion luminescence (UCL) were fabricated for the first time. The optical properties of these core-multishell structured nanoparticles were related to the absorption filtration effect of the NaGdF4:Yb,Tm layer. By tuning the thickness of the filtration layer, the nanoparticles can exhibit unique two independent groups of UCL: Tm3+ prominent UV/blue (UV=ultraviolet) UCL under the excitation at 980nm and Er3+ prominent green/red UCL under the excitation at 796nm. The filtration-shell mediated orthogonal excitations-emissions UCL are power-density independent. As a proof of concept, the core-multishell nanoparticles are used in multi-dimensional security design and imaging-guided combined photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy. A different light: Lanthanide-doped nanoparticles (NPs) with a filtration shell that separates two different luminescence processes and prevents them from interfering with each other are prepared. The filtration effects allow the core-multishell upconversion NPs to show power density independent orthogonal excitations-emissions luminescence and be used in anti-counterfeiting and imaging-guided combined therapy.

As one of the most anticipated energy storage systems, the application of lithium-sulfur batteries is hindered by low conductivity of insoluble sulfur species (S8, Li2S2 and Li2S), the shuttle effect of soluble lithium polysulfides (Li2Sx, 4 = x ≤ 8) and the volume expansion of sulfur species during the cycling. To overcome these barriers, a tunable geometry of flower-like FeMoO4/FeS2/Mo2S3 composite is successfully investigated using simple one-step solvothermal technique. Fe-based sulfides with good conductivity and Mo-based sulfides with the efficient ability of catalytic sulfur species conversion are promising sulfur host for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). It should be noted that this is first time to introduce FeMoO4 as polysulfides anchoring material into the lithium-sulfur system. Consequently, the flower-like composite with 79 wt % sulfur loading exhibits a high initial capacity of 1600 mA h g−1 and a reversible capacity of 781 mAh g−1 after 300 cycles at 1 C. Even at a high rate of 10 C, a capacity of 421 mAh g−1 is maintained after 300 cycles.

Solar-powered vapor generation, by a strict structural design, has become one of the most effective ways to utilize solar energy for water remediation. Recently, low-cost molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) based solar evaporation systems have provided an ideal way for solar-powered vapor generation, while instability and low evaporation rate still remain as challenges. In this work, we introduce a stabilized Mo2S3 by FeS2 (Fe-Mo2S3) based porous solar evaporation system as a light-harvesting and light-thermal conversion material. The system reveals a dual feature with high light absorption and water supply, leading to a higher evaporation rate up to ~2.4 kg m-2 h-1 than MoS2 under 1 kW m-2 solar illumination. Long-time photothermal and cycle tests for brine further reveals that the porous solar evaporation system has excellent photothermal stability and relieves salt blockage problem to some extent. Meanwhile, this system can directly be used for the purification of seawater, organic solution and heavy metal ion solution. The water purification rate can reach approximately 1.76 kg m−2 h−1 under natural sun-light. It provides a very promising material for water purification, water pollution remediation and other related photothermal technologies.

Nerve tissues contain hierarchically ordered nerve fibers, while each of the nerve fibers has nano-oriented fibrous extracellular matrix and a core-shell structure of tubular myelin sheath with elongated axons encapsulated. Here, we report, for the first time, a ready approach to fabricate biomimetic nerve fibers which are oriented and have a core-shell structure to spatially encapsulate two types of cells, neurons and Schwann cells. A microfluidic system was designed and assembled, which contained a coaxial triple-channel chip and a stretching loading device. Alginate was used first to assist the fabrication, which was washed away afterwards. The orientation of the biomimetic nerve fibers was optimized by the control of the compositions of methacrylate hyaluronan and fibrin, together with the parameters of microfluidic shearing and external stretching. Also, neurons and Schwann cells, which were respectively located in the core and shell of the fibers, displayed advanced biologic functions, including neurogenesis and myelinating maturation. We demonstrate that the neural performance is relatively good, compared to that resulted from individually encapsulated in single-layer microfibers. The present study brings insights to fabricate biomimetic nerve fibers for their potential in neuroscience research and nerve regeneration. Moreover, the present methodology on the fabrication of oriented fibers with different types of cells separately encapsulated should be applicable to biomimetic constructions of various tissues.

Multiple-color-emissive carbon dots (CDs) is one of the hotspots due to its potential in multi-fields. However, the exploring of efficient synthetic strategies and emission mechanisms still remain challenging. Herein, we report a facile solvothermal route to prepare CDs with tunable photoluminescence (PL) from green to red via a novel PL-tuning strategy of sulfur doping and water engineering. By detailed characterizations and comparison, it is demonstrated that the S doping can significantly increase the content of graphitic nitrogen, resulting in the fluorescence shifting from green to yellow; on the other hand, water engineering is able to yield carboxyl group and enhance surface oxidation degree, which can further facilitate the PL shifting from yellow to red. Owning to multicolor emissions and S doping, the prepared PL-tunable CDs present versatility in various applications including fluorescent films, light-emitting diodes (LED), bioimaging probe and highly sensitive Fe3+ detector.

Nonprecious cocatalyst decoration is of great importance to create more active sites on the photocatalyst surface and provides insights into the photocatalytic activity enhancement. Herein, through facile hydrothermal and precipitation routes, the surface of MgAl layered double hydroxide (LDH) was modified by ultrafine NiS nanoparticles as a cocatalyst to design MgAl-LDH/NiS hybrid photocatalysts for highly-efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation. The presence of NiS not only enhances the visible-light absorption but also promotes the separation and transfer of photogenerated charges, thereby boosting the photocatalytic activity of MgAl-LDH/NiS (35.8 μmol h−1) compared with bare MgAl-LDH (2.7 μmol h−1). The MgAl-LDH/NiS hybrid, moreover, displays a superior stability towards photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. This research offers a facile route to develop a high-performance photocatalyst using low-cost metal sulfide as cocatalyst for visible light photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Solar steam generation and photocatalytic degradation have been regarded as the most promising techniques to address clean water scarcity issues. Although enormous efforts have been devoted to exploring high-efficiency clean water generation, many challenges still remain in terms of single decontamination function, relatively low efficiency, and inability to practical application. Herein, we first report the bioinspired fabrication of black titania (BT) nanocomposites with moth-eye-like nanostructures on carbon cloth for solar-driven clean water generation through solar steam generation and photocatalytic degradation. The moth-eye-like BT nanoarrays can largely prolong the effective propagation path of absorbing light and enhance the scattering of light, thereby exhibiting outstanding light absorption of 96% in the full spectrum. Such hierarchical-nanostructured BT nanocomposites not only impressively achieve solar steam efficiency of 94% under a simulated light of 1 kW m–2 but also show the prominent per...

Herein, we have developed an ultrasensitive self-powered biosensor for miRNA assay based on biofuel cells. The system is composed of indium tin oxide cathode and graphene oxide/gold nanoparticle/glucose oxidase anode. Redox probe of [Fe(CN)

Solar steam generation, utilizing abundant solar energy and floating photothermal materials, has been considered as one of the most sustainable, efficient ways to solve the problem of water shortage. Here, a new system for solar steam generation is fabricated based on a PEGylated MoS

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic autoimmune disease, and its pathogenesis remains mostly unknown. MicroRNAs (miRs) has drawn much attention as a crucial regulator of autoimmune diseases. In this study, we demonstrated, for the first time, that miR-425 was significantly up-regulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and mucosa of patients with IBD. In note, T helper (Th) 17 cells were found to be the major source of miR-425 expression. Using gain-of-function approaches, we demonstrated that miR-425 could facilitate the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Th17 lineage. In addition, forkhead box O1 (Foxo1) was identified as a novel target gene of miR-425, which was able to inhibit Th17 cell differentiation, and it was observed to be markedly decreased in PBMC and mucosa of patients with IBD. Notably, in vivo inhibition of miR-425 significantly alleviated the disease severity of TNBS-induced colitis in mice, with down-regulated levels of IL-17A. Our data reveal a novel mechanism in which the elevated miR-425 in IBD mediates pathogenic Th17 cell generation through down-regulation of Foxo1. In vivo blockade of miR-425 may serve as a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of IBD.

The authors are presenting a rapid method for the determination of theophylline using unique non-crosslinking gold nanoparticle (AuNP) aggregation. An RNA aptamer against theophylline is firstly split into two RNA fragments which then interact with bare AuNPs. The two RNA probes cause an enhancement of the salt tolerance of AuNPs. However, in the presence of theophylline, the RNA probes form a complex with theophylline so that less RNA probes are available to protect the AuNPs from salt-induced aggregation. Theophylline induced aggregation of AuNPs is accompanied by a color change from red to blue. The color change can be detected visually and via UV-vis absorptiometry by ratioing the absorbances at 650 and 520 nm. The ratio increases linearly in the 0.1 to 20 μM theophylline concentration range, with a 67 nM limit of detection. The method is highly sensitive and selective. Graphical abstract Single-stranded split RNA aptamers (R1 and R2) protect gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from salt-induced non-crosslinking aggregation. After recognition of theophylline by the RNA probe, the unprotected AuNPs aggregate and undergo a color change from red to blue, and this is used to quantify the theophylline concentration.

Angiogenesis is necessary for cancer progression, but antiangiogenic therapy actually promotes tumor recurrence, progression, and metastasis. This study focused on the contribution of the tumor interstitial fluid (TIF) to lung cancer progression. TIF was isolated and quantified for 10 μg protein/mL. Malignant driver characteristics of TIF were examined by tumor-initiating cells (TIC), self-renewal, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, and apoptosis in vitro. In vivo tumor model was used to investigate the mechanistic roles of TIF in lung cancer progression. In vitro, TIF exhibited distinct malignant driver characteristics, which led to increased numbers of TICs, increased self-renewal and EMT, as well as to decreased autophagy and apoptosis under cell starvation conditions. In vivo, the contribution of TIF was similar, as judged by increased TICs indicated by the cancer stem cell marker Nanog, the proliferation marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and the EMT marker N-cadherin; TIF also increased the formation of pulmonary tumors. Interestingly, the blockers of inflammation, Na-K-ATPase, and aldosterone receptor decreased TIF-induced tumor progression but increased angiogenesis. Further, we found that the water content of the tissue was positively correlated with the levels of plasma 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid or tissue aquaporin-1 but not with CD31. However, vadimezan reduced angiogenesis but promoted TIF-induced tumor progression. Our results suggested that TIF could provide better nutrition to the tumor than angiogenesis and that it could promote the development of malignant phenotypes of lung cancer independently of angiogenesis. Cancer Prev Res; 8(11); 1120–9. ©2015 AACR.

An integrated structure has been designed by grafting the polymer of polybromopyrroles (PPBP) onto reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to produce RGO/PPBP nanocomposites with superior electrochemical performance for supercapacitors. The RGO/PPBP nanocomposites are featured with a high nitrogen content (>9 at%), enhanced degree of graphitization, improved specific surface area, abundant micropores, and a tunable hierarchical structure on the basis of sample characterization by XRD, Raman, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, high-resolution TEM, BET, and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques. The grafting of PPBP onto RGO not only suppresses agglomeration and restacking of RGO but also tailors the growth of PPBP on RGO, producing a developed hierarchical structure beneficial for mass/charge transfer. The synergistic effect between RGO and PPBP ensures superior electrochemical performance of RGO/PPBP. In a three-electrode mode, the typical RGO/PPBP electrode presents a galvanostatic capacitance (Cg) of 256 F g−1 at a current density of 10 A g−1, with a capacitance retention of 99.2% after 10 000 cycles in 1 mol L−1 H2SO4. More significantly, the typical RGO/PPBP‖RGO/PPBP supercapacitor cell exhibits a high Ccell value of 68 F g−1 at 5 A g−1, with a capacitance retention of 91.9% after 10 000 cycles. Also, relatively high energy density values of 13.6, 9.4, and 6.7 W h kg−1 with the corresponding power density of 0.5, 2.5, and 10 kW kg−1 are achieved, enabling the tested cell to stay at the high level for carbon-based supercapacitors with an aqueous electrolyte.