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In this work, for the first time, we have successfully constructed defective heterointerfaces of p-SnO on n-SnS2 nanosheets by plasma treatment to significantly improve Li+ and electron diffusion kinetics. The defective heterointerfaces show advanced electrochemical performance as the anode in Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel, simple and efficient capillary electrophoresis method was developed to simultaneous determination of six furanocoumarins (psoralen, isopsoralen, imperatorin, isoimperatorin, phellopterin, and cnidilin). The separation buffer consisted of 30 mM boric acid, 12 mM sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin and 1.5 mM 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (pH 7.8); the voltage was 20 kV, the temperature was 25 °C and the detection wavelength was at 246 nm with a diode array detector (DAD). Under the above conditions, the analytes could be separated with high resolution in less than 7 min. This method was used to simultaneously determine the content of psoralen, imperatorin, isoimperatorin and phellopterin in Angelica Dahurica Radix. And good linearities were obtained with correlation coefficients from 0.9992 to 0.9999. The limits of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) and the limits of quantitation (LOQ, S/N = 10) ranged from 0.6 to 3.0 μg/mL and from 2.1 to 9.9 μg/mL, respectively. The recoveries ranged between 98.8% and 101.8%. The results indicated the method can achieve baseline separation and quantitative analysis of furanocoumarins in Chinese herbal medicines and formulations. Effect of HP-β-CD Concentration. [Display omitted] • We evaluated various kinds of real samples. • We separated analytes with dual CDs system. • The methods can simultaneously separate six analytes in 7 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Yubei-Tangbei structural model: fault-propagation-folds as back-thrusts. • New Cherchen Fault model: a breakthrough trishear fault propagation fold. • Southern Tarim Basin fold-and-thrust belts inherited a sequential evolution process. • Four important evolution stages are identified from growth strata and unconformities. The Yubei-Tangbei area in the southern Tarim Basin is one of the best-preserved Early Paleozoic northeast-southwest trending fold-and-thrust belts within this basin. This area is crucial for the exploration of primary hydrocarbon reservoirs in northwestern China. In this study, we constructed the structural geometric morphology of the Yubei-Tangbei area using geophysical logs, drilling, and recent two- and three-dimensional (2-D and 3-D) seismic data. The Early Paleozoic fault-propagation folds, the Tangnan triangle zone, fault-detachment folds, and trishear fault-propagation folds developed with the detachment of the Middle Cambrian gypsum–salt layer. According to a detailed chronostratigraphic framework, the growth strata in the Upper Ordovician–Lower Silurian layer formed by onlapping the back limb of the asymmetric fault-propagation folds, which therefore defines the timing of deformations. The changes in kink band hinges and amplitudes in the Permian–Carboniferous and Cenozoic folding strata suggest that the evolution of the fold-and-thrust belts followed a sequential evolution process rather than a simultaneous one. Above the pre-existing Precambrian basement structure, the Yubei-Tangbei fold-and-thrust belts can be divided into four tectonic evolution stages: Late Cambrian, Late Ordovician to Early Carboniferous, Carboniferous to Permian, and Cenozoic. The northwestern-verging Cherchen Fault is part of the piedmont fold-and-thrust system of the southern Tarim foreland basin. We interpreted its strata as a breakthrough trishear fault-propagation fold that developed in three phases: Mid–Late Ordovician, Silurian to Middle Devonian, and Triassic to present. These tectonic events are responses of the Altyn-Tagh and Kunlun collisional orogenic belts and the Indian-Eurasian collision. The inherited deformation and structural modification in the southern Tarim Basin may be an indicator of the growth and evolution of peripheral orogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • C -oriented NiFe-LDH films were fabricated by colloid self-assembly method. • NiFe-LDH-F shows superior OER performance with an low overpotential. • The self-assembly stacking film shows high proton diffusion coefficient. • Ni(OH) 2 -F shows excellent ethanol electrooxidation reaction performance. Uniform close-packed superlattice self-assembled from colloidal nanocrystals usually exhibit different chemical and physical properties compared with the homologous bulk materials. Herein, c -oriented NiFe-LDH films (NiFe-LDH-F) and Ni(OH) 2 films (Ni(OH) 2 -F) were successfully fabricated by a colloid self-assembly method. The electrocatalytic oxidation properties of the resulting c -oriented NiFe-LDH-F and Ni(OH) 2 -F were studied towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the ethanol electrooxidation reaction (EOR), respectively. Due to orderly stacking c -oriented superlattices, the NiFe-LDH-F and Ni(OH) 2 -F both showed high proton diffusion coefficients, which significantly improved the electrocatalytic activities. The NiFe-LDH-F on the glassy carbon electrode showed an excellent OER electrocatalytic activity with a small overpotential of 220 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a low Tafel slope of 53.3 mV dec−1. The Ni(OH) 2 -F showed a superior EOR performance without obvious passivation. This study may open up a new insight into designing efficient and robust materials for superior electrocatalysis.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a combined model based on radiomics features of Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) during the Kupffer phase and to evaluate its value in differentiating well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (w-HCC) from atypical benign focal liver lesions (FLLs). Methods: A total of 116 patients with preoperatively Sonazoid-CEUS confirmed w-HCC or benign FLL were selected from a prospective multiple study on the clinical application of Sonazoid in FLLs conducted from August 2020 to March 2021. According to the randomization principle, the patients were divided into a training cohort and a test cohort in a 7:3 ratio. Seventy-nine patients were used for establishing and training the radiomics model and combined model. In comparison, 37 patients were used for validating and comparing the performance of the models. The diagnostic efficacy of the models for w-HCC and atypical benign FLLs was evaluated using ROCs curves and decision curves. A combined model nomogram was created to assess its value in reducing unnecessary biopsies. Results: Among the patients, there were 55 cases of w-HCC and 61 cases of atypical benign FLLs, including 28 cases of early liver abscess, 16 cases of atypical hepatic hemangioma, 8 cases of hepatocellular dysplastic nodules (DN), and 9 cases of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). The radiomics model and combined model we established had AUCs of 0.905 and 0.951, respectively, in the training cohort, and the AUCs of the two models in the test cohort were 0.826 and 0.912, respectively. The combined model outperformed the radiomics feature model significantly. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the combined model achieved a higher net benefit within a specific threshold probability range (0.25 to 1.00). A nomogram of the combined model was developed. Conclusion: The combined model based on the radiomics features of Sonazoid-CEUS in the Kupffer phase showed satisfactory performance in diagnosing w-HCC and atypical benign FLLs. It can assist clinicians in timely detecting malignant FLLs and reducing unnecessary biopsies for benign diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pt/WO 3 catalysts have been reported to possess excellent HER activity closing to commercial Pt/C, however, the promoting mechanism of WO 3 in enhancing HER activity has not been clarified. Herein, we have successfully prepared a series of Pt-WO 3 catalysts with outstanding HER performance and low Pt contents by a simple method. Via in-situ Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterization, the electrochemically driven in-situ phase transition from WO 3 to H x WO 3 was identified and the significant role of H x WO 3 in promoting electron transfer during HER process and accelerating HER kinetics by providing the hydrogen transfer pathway from H x WO 3 onto Pt have been revealed. This work emphasized the importance of tracking the catalyst structure dynamic evolution and provided a deep insight into the electron/hydrogen transfer process for electrocatalytic HER. In this work, Pt-WO 3 catalysts were successfully synthesized and metallic Pt0 clusters were verified as the real catalytic active sites. In-situ Raman spectroscopy and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) identified the electrochemical in-situ phase transition of WO 3 to H x WO 3 with the fast electron and hydrogen transfer ability, which efficiently ensured the high HER activity of Pt. Image 1 • Pt-WO 3 catalysts were successfully synthesized and metallic Pt0 clusters were identified as the real catalytic active sites. • In-situ Raman spectroscopy confirmed the electrochemical H+ insertion induced in-situ phase transition of WO 3 to H x WO 3. • In-situ EIS results verified the the fast electron and hydrogen transfer of H x WO 3 boosted the excellent HER activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic C−N couplings are promising alternatives to construct C−N bonds and to synthesize vital chemicals, including amine, amide, amino acid, oxime, imine, and nitrile, under ambient conditions. In recent years, the electrocatalytic C−N coupling has attracted a wide range of research interest and has achieved considerable developments. Here, the electrocatalytic C−N coupling is systematically reviewed aiming at reductive cathode and oxidative anode. In the cathodic part, the electrocatalytic coupling reaction systems, the corresponding design principles of electrocatalysts for different reaction systems, the mechanism studies from experimental and theoretical aspects, and the application‐oriented electrocatalytic devices for electrocatalytic C−N couplings are summarized. Anodic C−N coupling offers a potential approach to replace the conventional energy‐demand synthesis protocols, and is an indispensable part of the green and controllable construction of unsaturated C = N and C≡N bonds. According to the principle that electron transfer is the crucial point in anodic C−N coupling, the anodic coupling reactions are sorted out based on the direct and the indirect C−N coupling paths, respectively. Finally, the challenges and outlooks in this field are proposed. Electrocatalytic C−N coupling is an appealing research topic in electrochemistry and possesses infinite possibilities in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) has severely restricted the development of the sunflower industry in China, and more efficient and convenient control methods are urgently needed. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of N, P and silica fertilizers on the parasitism rate of O. cumana, as well as on the yield of sunflower and native microbial communities in the field. Firstly, pot experiments were conducted to select the most effective fertilization method and to determine the physiological and biochemical indexes of sunflowers. Subsequently, field application studies were carried out to determine the physiological indexes, yield, O. cumana parasitism on sunflower, and the effect on the indigenous microbial community. The results demonstrate that compared with the CNP treatment (Control), the number of parasites under the N1P5 treatment significantly decreased by 66.15%. The exogenous application of silica can significantly reduce the number of O. cumana parasites. The treatments with N1P5 (N/P = 1:5) and available SiO2 content higher than 40 mg/kg (NS2, NS3, SF2 and SF3) significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in sunflower leaves. In the field, fertilization significantly decreased the number of O. cumana parasites. The S treatment improved the native microbial community structure and enriched beneficial microorganisms, including Vicinamibacteria and Pyrinomonadaceae. Additionally, applying the S treatment significantly increased sunflower yield by 23.82% and crude protein content by 20.20%. In summary, the application of silicon fertilizer can effectively improve the host microbial community, reduce O. cumana parasitism and improve the yield and quality of sunflower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted great attention owing to their maximum atomic utilization and high catalytic performance in electrochemical reactions. But the synthesis of SACs is not easy due to large surface energies of single atomic metal sites which often lead to their aggregation. The defects on supports can serve as anchor sites to stabilize single metal atoms and prevent them from aggregation, which has become an effective method to fabricate SACs. This review summarizes the meaningful findings about the defects on supports stabilizing single metal atoms, and their applications in electrocatalytic reaction. Various defects, including the intrinsic defects or heteroatom doping of carbon‐based materials, cation or anion vacancies of metal compound supports, and other defects (step edges, lattice defects, and caves), are comprehensively summarized, and the effects of defects on designing SACs are discussed. Although there are still many challenges to fully explore the SACs, it is believed that the newly established defect sites stabilized single atoms mechanism will be helpful for designing and fabricating highly powerful single atomic electrocatalysts for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

piRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that play essential roles in modulating gene expression and abundant biological processes. To decode the piRNA-regulated larval response of western honeybees (Apis mellifera) to Ascosphaera apis infection, the expression pattern of piRNAs in Apis mellifera ligustica larval guts after A. apis inoculation was analyzed based on previously obtained high-quality small RNA-seq datasets, followed by structural characterization, target prediction, regulatory network investigation, and functional dissection. Here, 504, 657, and 587 piRNAs were respectively identified in the 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old larval guts after inoculation with A. apis, with 411 ones shared. These piRNAs shared a similar length distribution and first base bias with mammal piRNAs. Additionally, 96, 103, and 143 DEpiRNAs were detected in the 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old comparison groups. Targets of the DEpiRNAs were engaged in diverse pathways such as the phosphatidylinositol signaling system, inositol phosphate metabolism, and Wnt signaling pathway. These targets were involved in three energy metabolism-related pathways, eight development-associated signaling pathways, and seven immune-relevant pathways such as the Jak-STAT signaling pathway. The expression trends of five randomly selected DEpiRNAs were verified using a combination of RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. The effective overexpression and knockdown of piR-ame-945760 in A. apis-infected larval guts were achieved by feeding a specific mimic and inhibitor. Furthermore, piR-ame-945760 negatively regulated the expression of two target immune mRNAs, SOCS5 and ARF1, in the larval gut during the A. apis infection. These findings indicated that the overall expression level of piRNAs was increased and the expression pattern of piRNAs in larval guts was altered due to the A. apis infection, DEpiRNAs were putative regulators in the A. apis-response of A. m. ligustica worker larvae. Our data provide not only a platform for the functional investigation of piRNAs in honeybees, especially in bee larvae, but also a foundation for illuminating the piRNA-involved mechanisms underlying the host response to the A. apis infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial modulators in a variety of biological processes, such as gene expression, development, and immune defense. However, little is known about the function of lncRNAs in the development of Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) larval guts. Here, on the basis of our previously obtained deep-sequencing data from the 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old larval guts of A. cerana workers (Ac4, Ac5, and Ac6 groups), an in-depth transcriptome-wide investigation was conducted to decipher the expression pattern, regulatory manners, and potential roles of lncRNAs during the developmental process of A. cerana worker larval guts, followed by the verification of the relative expression of differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and the targeting relationships within a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) axis. In the Ac4 vs. Ac5 and Ac5 vs. Ac6 comparison groups, 527 and 498 DElncRNAs were identified, respectively, which is suggestive of the dynamic expression of lncRNAs during the developmental process of larval guts. A cis-acting analysis showed that 330 and 393 neighboring genes of the aforementioned DElncRNAs were respectively involved in 29 and 32 functional terms, such as cellular processes and metabolic processes; these neighboring genes were also respectively engaged in 246 and 246 pathways such as the Hedgehog signaling pathway and the Wnt signaling pathway. Additionally, it was found that 79 and 76 DElncRNAs as potential antisense lncRNAs may, respectively, interact with 72 and 60 sense-strand mRNAs. An investigation of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks suggested that 75 (155) DElncRNAs in the Ac4 vs. Ac5 (Ac5 vs. Ac6) comparison group could target 7 (5) DEmiRNAs and further bind to 334 (248) DEmRNAs, which can be annotated to 33 (29) functional terms and 186 (210) pathways, including 12 (16) cellular- and humoral-immune pathways (lysosome pathway, necroptosis, MAPK signaling pathway, etc.) and 11 (10) development-associated signaling pathways (Wnt, Hippo, AMPK, etc.). The RT-qPCR detection of five randomly selected DElncRNAs confirmed the reliability of the used sequencing data. Moreover, the results of a dual-luciferase reporter assay were indicative of the binding relationship between MSTRG.11294.1 and miR-6001-y and between miR-6001-y and ncbi_107992440. These results demonstrate that DElncRNAs are likely to modulate the developmental process of larval guts via the regulation of the source genes' transcription, interaction with mRNAs, and ceRNA networks. Our findings not only yield new insights into the developmental mechanism underlying A. cerana larval guts, but also provide a candidate ceRNA axis for further functional dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (SNZ-CEUS) as an imaging biomarker for preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: From August 2020 to March 2021, we conducted a prospective multicenter study on the clinical application of Sonazoid in liver tumor; a MVI prediction model was developed and validated by integrating clinical and imaging variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to establish the MVI prediction model; three models were developed: a clinical model, a SNZ-CEUS model, and a combined model and conduct external validation. We conducted subgroup analysis to investigate the performance of the SNZ-CEUS model in non-invasive prediction of MVI. Results: Overall, 211 patients were evaluated. All patients were split into derivation (n = 170) and external validation (n = 41) cohorts. Patients who had MVI accounted for 89 of 211 (42.2%) patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size (> 49.2 mm), pathology differentiation, arterial phase heterogeneous enhancement pattern, non-single nodular gross morphology, washout time (< 90 s), and gray value ratio (≤ 0.50) were significantly associated with MVI. Combining these factors, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of the combined model in the derivation and external validation cohorts was 0.859 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.803–0.914) and 0.812 (95% CI: 0.691–0.915), respectively. In subgroup analysis, the AUROC of the SNZ-CEUS model in diameter ≤ 30 mm and ˃ 30 mm cohorts were 0.819 (95% CI: 0.698–0.941) and 0.747 (95% CI: 0.670–0.824). Conclusions: Our model predicted the risk of MVI in HCC patients with high accuracy preoperatively. Clinical relevance statement: Sonazoid, a novel second-generation ultrasound contrast agent, can accumulate in the endothelial network and form a unique Kupffer phase in liver imaging. The preoperative non-invasive prediction model based on Sonazoid for MVI is helpful for clinicians to make individualized treatment decisions. Key Points: • This is the first prospective multicenter study to analyze the possibility of SNZ-CEUS preoperatively predicting MVI. • The model established by combining SNZ-CEUS image features and clinical features has high predictive performance in both derivation cohort and external validation cohort. • The findings can help clinicians predict MVI in HCC patients before surgery and provide a basis for optimizing surgical management and monitoring strategies for HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Currently, little is known about the regulatory role of miRNAs in the development of the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) gut. On the basis of our previously gained small RNA-seq data, the expression pattern, regulatory network, and putative role of miRNAs in the developmental process of A. cerana worker larval guts were for the first time analyzed. DEmiRNAs were further analyzed. Here, 330, 351, and 321 miRNAs were identified in the 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old larval guts, respectively. Sequences of six miRNAs were verified using Sanger sequencing. Additionally, 15 and 10 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were, respectively, detected in the "Ac4 vs. Ac5" and"Ac5 vs. Ac6" comparison groups, and the target genes of these DEmiRNAs were involved in a series of GO terms and KEGG pathways relevant to growth and development, such as Notch and Wnt. miR-6001-y was induced to be activated in the development of larval guts. Based on RT-qPCR, we validated the expression levels of five randomly chosen DEmiRNAs. These findings lay a foundation for clarifying the developmental mechanism of the A. cerana worker larval guts. MiRNAs, as a kind of key regulators in gene expression, play vital roles in numerous life activities from cellular proliferation and differentiation to development and immunity. However, little is known about the regulatory manner of miRNAs in the development of Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) guts. Here, on basis of our previously gained high-quality transcriptome data, transcriptome-wide identification of miRNAs in the larval guts of Apis cerana cerana was conducted, followed by investigation of the miRNAs' differential expression profile during the gut development. In addition to the regulatory network, the potential function of differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) was further analyzed. In total, 330, 351, and 321 miRNAs were identified in the 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old larval guts, respectively; among these, 257 miRNAs were shared, while 38, 51, and 36 ones were specifically expressed. Sequences of six miRNAs were confirmed by stem-loop RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Additionally, in the "Ac4 vs. Ac5" comparison group, there were seven up-regulated and eight down-regulated miRNAs; these DEmiRNAs could target 5041 mRNAs, involving a series of GO terms and KEGG pathways associated with growth and development, such as cellular process, cell part, Wnt, and Hippo. Comparatively, four up-regulated and six down-regulated miRNAs detected in the "Ac5 vs. Ac6" comparison group and the targets were associated with diverse development-related terms and pathways, including cell, organelle, Notch and Wnt. Intriguingly, it was noticed that miR-6001-y presented a continuous up-regulation trend across the developmental process of larval guts, implying that miR-6001-y may be a potential essential modulator in the development process of larval guts. Further investigation indicated that 43 targets in the "Ac4 vs. Ac5" comparison group and 31 targets in the "Ac5 vs. Ac6" comparison group were engaged in several crucial development-associated signaling pathways such as Wnt, Hippo, and Notch. Ultimately, the expression trends of five randomly selected DEmiRNAs were verified using RT-qPCR. These results demonstrated that dynamic expression and structural alteration of miRNAs were accompanied by the development of A. c. cerana larval guts, and DEmiRNAs were likely to participate in the modulation of growth as well as development of larval guts by affecting several critical pathways via regulation of the expression of target genes. Our data offer a basis for elucidating the developmental mechanism underlying Asian honey bee larval guts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are pivotal regulators in gene expression and diverse biological processes, such as immune defense and host–pathogen interactions. However, little is known about the roles of lncRNAs in the response of the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) to microsporidian infestation. Based on our previously obtained high-quality transcriptome datasets from the midgut tissues of Apis cerana cerana workers at 7 days post inoculation (dpi) and 10 dpi with Nosema ceranae (AcT7 and AcT10 groups) and the corresponding un-inoculated midgut tissues (AcCK7 and AcCK10 groups), the transcriptome-wide identification and structural characterization of lncRNAs were conducted, and the differential expression pattern of lncRNAs was then analyzed, followed by investigation of the regulatory roles of differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) in host response. Here, 2365, 2322, 2487, and 1986 lncRNAs were, respectively, identified in the AcCK7, AcT7, AcCK7, and AcT10 groups. After removing redundant ones, a total of 3496 A. c. cerana lncRNAs were identified, which shared similar structural characteristics with those discovered in other animals and plants, such as shorter exons and introns than mRNAs. Additionally, 79 and 73 DElncRNAs were screened from the workers' midguts at 7 dpi and 10 dpi, respectively, indicating the alteration of the overall expression pattern of lncRNAs in host midguts after N. ceranae infestation. These DElncRNAs could, respectively, regulate 87 and 73 upstream and downstream genes, involving a suite of functional terms and pathways, such as metabolic process and Hippo signaling pathway. Additionally, 235 and 209 genes co-expressed with DElncRNAs were found to enrich in 29 and 27 terms, as well as 112 and 123 pathways, such as ABC transporters and the cAMP signaling pathway. Further, it was detected that 79 (73) DElncRNAs in the host midguts at 7 (10) dpi could target 321 (313) DEmiRNAs and further target 3631 (3130) DEmRNAs. TCONS_00024312 and XR_001765805.1 were potential precursors for ame-miR-315 and ame-miR-927, while TCONS_00006120 was the putative precursor for both ame-miR-87-1 and ame-miR-87-2. These results together suggested that DElncRNAs are likely to play regulatory roles in the host response to N. ceranae infestation through the regulation of neighboring genes via a cis-acting effect, modulation of co-expressed mRNAs via trans-acting effect, and control of downstream target genes' expression via competing endogenous RNA networks. Our findings provide a basis for disclosing the mechanism underlying DElncRNA-mediated host N. ceranae response and a new perspective into the interaction between A. c. cerana and N. ceranae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MiRNAs are critical regulators of numerous physiological and pathological processes. Ascosphaera apis exclusively infects bee larvae and causes chalkbrood disease. However, the function and mechanism of miRNAs in the bee larval response to A. apis infection is poorly understood. Here, ame-miR-34, a previously predicted miRNA involved in the response of Apis mellifera larvae to A. apis invasion, was subjected to molecular validation, and overexpression and knockdown were then conducted to explore the regulatory functions of ame-miR-34 in larval body weight and immune response. Stem-loop RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing confirmed the authenticity of ame-miR-34 in the larval gut of A. mellifera. RT-qPCR results demonstrated that compared with that in the uninfected larval guts, the expression level of ame-miR-34 was significantly downregulated (p < 0.001) in the guts of A. apis-infected 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old larvae, indicative of the remarkable suppression of host ame-miR-34 due to A. apis infection. In comparison with the corresponding negative control (NC) groups, the expression level of ame-miR-34 in the larval guts in the mimic-miR-34 group was significantly upregulated (p < 0.001), while that in the inhibitor-miR-34 group was significantly downregulated (p < 0.01). Similarly, effective overexpression and knockdown of ame-miR-34 were achieved. In addition, the body weights of 5- and 6-day-old larvae were significantly increased compared with those in the mimic-NC group; the weights of 5-day-old larvae in the inhibitor-miR-34 group were significantly decreased in comparison with those in the inhibitor-NC group, while the weights of 4- and 6-day-old larvae in the inhibitor-miR-34 group were significantly increased, indicating the involvement of ame-miR-34 in modulating larval body weight. Furthermore, the expression levels of both hsp and abct in the guts of A. apis-infected 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old larvae were significantly upregulated after ame-miR-34 overexpression. In contrast, after ame-miR-34 knockdown, the expression levels of the aforementioned two key genes in the A. apis-infected 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old larval guts were significantly downregulated. Together, the results demonstrated that effective overexpression and knockdown of ame-miR-34 in both noninfected and A. apis-infected A. mellifera larval guts could be achieved by the feeding method, and ame-miR-34 exerted a regulatory function in the host immune response to A. apis invasion through positive regulation of the expression of hsp and abct. Our findings not only provide a valuable reference for the functional investigation of bee larval miRNAs but also reveal the regulatory role of ame-miR-34 in A. mellifera larval weight and immune response. Additionally, the results of this study may provide a promising molecular target for the treatment of chalkbrood disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin dioxide (SnO 2) is widely used as an electron transport layer (ETL) in efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its excellent optoelectronic properties and low-temperature solution preparation process. However, SnO 2 ETLs fabricated by the conventional solution method have many defects, among which Sn dangling bonds (i.e., oxygen vacancies) are particularly prominent. Herein, a simple buried interface engineering is employed to introduce phenyl-phosphinic acid (PPA) into the surface of SnO 2 film for the preparation of highly efficient PSCs. A series of test results have shown that the phosphate group (P O) in PPA can not only passivate oxygen vacancy defects on the surface of SnO 2 , but also improve the film-forming quality of the upper perovskite, thereby exhibiting better photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability. Ultimately, the optimized device achieves a maximum PCE of 22.81 %, an improvement of about 15 % over the control device (19.82 %). Meanwhile, the nonencapsulated device based on SnO 2 -PPA ETL shows much better storage and light stability than the control SnO 2. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For over six decades, in many countries, youth fitness testing has been seen as a critical component of physical education programs. As such, preservice physical education teachers (PPETs) must be trained appropriately for effective youth fitness testing, with careful consideration dedicated to PPETs perceptions, since many purported attitudes to have an effect on behavior (Ajzen 1985. "From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior." In Action control: From cognition to behavior, edited by J. Kuhl, and J. Beckmann. Berlin: Springer-Verlag). Our understanding on PPETs' attitudes toward fitness testing is limited, with no research found on the topic for Chinese PPETs. Purposes: The primary purpose of the current study was to examine the overall attitudes of Chinese PPETs' toward school-based fitness testing. The secondary purpose was to test differences of attitudes in gender and years in college, and interaction between these two independent variables. Method: A total of 1012 PPETs from 11 Chinese universities participated in the study. Participants consisted of 28.3% of freshmen, 37.0% of sophomore, 19.5% of junior, and 15.2% of senior, with an average age of 21.2. Participants were recruited via emails and asked to complete a previously validated 16-item survey in English, measuring PPETs' attitudes toward fitness tests (Keating et al. 2008. "Physical Education Teacher Attitudes toward Fitness Tests Scale: Cross-Revalidation and Modification." Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science 12 (2): 72. https://doi.org/10.1080/10913670801903969). The survey consisted of two domains (i.e. beliefs of the importance of fitness testing and effects of fitness test implementation with two subdomains: enjoyment of fitness test implementation and enjoyment of using fitness test results). The survey was translated into Chinese for distribution. ANOVA was performed to test overall attitude differences in gender and year in college, while two-way MANOVA was used to examine attitude subdomain differences in gender and year in college. Results: The overall attitudes of Chinese PPETs were slightly positive, and consistent with existing literature. Only significant gender differences in both overall attitudes and the three subdomains were found. It was also found that year in college was not significant, nor was the interaction between gender and year in college. These results may suggest that PETE programs have little effect on improving PPETs' attitudes toward fitness testing. Conclusions: Chinese PPETs' attitudes toward youth fitness testing were only slightly positive. Gender may affect Chinese PPETs' attitudes, while surprisingly PETE programs may not focus on PPETs' attitudes toward fitness testing. Future interventions on improving Chinese PPETs' attitudes toward fitness tests are needed, with specialized interests targeting female candidates during PETE training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a Co 3 O 4 -NiO catalyst with a heterogeneous interface is prepared for electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), with a FDCA yield of 83.33% and a Faraday efficiency of 89.47%. The heterogeneous interface of Co 3 O 4 -NiO can effectively enhance the adsorption and conversion of organic molecules, promoting the further oxidation of 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFCA) to FDCA, thereby improving the performance of HMFOR. [Display omitted] • Co 3 O 4 -NiO with heterogeneous interface enhances electrooxidation of HMF to FDCA. • Heterogeneous interface regulates charge transfer and promotes structural evolution. • Co 3 O 4 -NiO with heterogeneous interface enhances the adsorption of HMF molecules. • Co 3 O 4 -NiO exhibits a higher FDCA yield and Faraday efficiency. The electrooxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) provides an efficient and environmentally friendly approach to obtain high-value chemicals from biomass. In this study, porous nanocube framed Co 3 O 4 -NiO electrocatalysts with heterogeneous interface are constructed for efficient HMF oxidation reaction (HMFOR). The heterogeneous interface modulates the electronic properties of Co and Ni atoms, enhances the oxidation state of Ni species, which is favorable for the oxidation of HMF. Compared to pure Co 3 O 4 and NiO, Co 3 O 4 -NiO exhibits a lower onset potential (1.22 V vs. RHE), higher FDCA yield (83.33 %) and Faraday efficiency (89.47 %). Furthermore, the results of open circuit potential (OCP), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) product analysis and in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrate that the Co 3 O 4 -NiO heterogeneous interface effectively enhances the adsorption and transformation of organic molecules and OH– species, and facilitates the further oxidation of 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFCA) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), thus improving the performance of HMFOR. This work illustrates the effect of heterogeneous interface on Co 3 O 4 -NiO catalyst for HMFOR and provides a direction for the development of high-performance electrocatalysts for HMFOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Prenatal iAs, tAs, DMA exposure was inversely associated with child neurodevelopment. • Adverse effects of arsenic exposure on neurodevelopment were found in low arsenic area. • 1st trimester might be the potential critical window for arsenic-related effect. There is limited evidence on the effects of arsenic species and metabolic capacity on child neurodevelopment, particularly at low levels. Further, little is known about the critical window of exposure. To estimate the associations of arsenic exposure and arsenic metabolism in different pregnancy periods with neurodevelopment of two-year-old children. Concentrations of arsenobetaine (AsB), arsenite, arsenate, monomethyl arsenic acid (MMA), and dimethyl arsenic acid (DMA) in urine samples collected in three trimesters from 1006 mothers were measured using HPLC − ICPMS. Inorganic arsenic (iAs) was calculated as the sum of arsenite and arsenate. Total arsenic (tAs) was calculated as the sum of iAs, MMA and DMA. Child neurodevelopment was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. The geometric mean (GM) of SG-adjusted tAs in the first, second, third trimester was 16.37, 12.94, 13.04 μg/L, respectively. The mental development index (MDI) score was inversely associated with iAs and tAs. Compared to the 1st quartile, the MDI score decreased 0.43 (95%CI: −4.22, 3.36) for the 2nd, 6.50 (95%CI: −11.73, −1.27) for the 3rd, 5.42 (95%CI: −10.74, −0.10) for the 4th quartiles of iAs, and decreased 4.03 (95%CI: −7.90, −0.15) in the 4th quartile of tAs. In trimester-specific models, negative associations of DMA [−1.94 (95%CI: −3.18, −0.71)] and tAs [−1.61 (95%CI: −3.02, −0.20)] with the psychomotor development index (PDI) were only observed in 1st trimester. Our study found inverse associations between prenatal arsenic exposure, especially in early pregnancy, and neurodevelopment of children at two years old, even at low exposure levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway is well-known for its important role in cancer growth, proliferation and migration. The activation of PI3K pathway is always connected with endocrine resistance and poor prognosis in cancers. Alpelisib, a selective inhibitor of PI3K, has been demonstrated to be effective in combination with endocrine therapy in HR+ PIK3CA-mutated advanced breast cancer in preclinical and clinical trials. Recently, the synergistic effects of alpelisib combined with targeted agents have been widely reported in PIK3CA-mutated cancer cells, such as breast, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), cervical, liver, pancreatic and lung cancer. However, previous reviews mainly focused on the pharmacological activities of alpelisib in breast cancer. The synergistic therapeutic potential of alpelisib in other cancers has not yet been well reviewed. In this review, an extensive study of related literatures (published until December 20, 2022) regarding the anti-cancer functions and synergistic effects of alpelisib was carried out through the databases. Useful information was extracted. We summarized the preclinical and clinical studies of alpelisib in combination with targeted anti-cancer agents in cancer treatment (excluding breast cancer). The combinations of alpelisib and other targeted agents significantly improved the therapeutic efficacy both in preclinical and clinical studies. Unfortunately, synergistic therapies still could not effectively avoid the possible toxicities and adverse events during treatment. Finally, some prospects for the combination studies in cancer treatment were provided in the paper. Taken together, this review provided valuable information for alpelisib in preclinical and clinical applications. [Display omitted] • The synergistic therapeutic potential of alpelisib in other cancers (excluding breast cancer) has not yet been reviewed • The synergistic effects of alpelisib in other cancers have been extensively identified in preclinical and clinical trials. • The incidence of drug-induced adverse effects of alpelisib is still a serious problem during cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel tucked flower-like SnS 2 /Co 3 O 4 structure is synthesized by growing Co 3 O 4 in the gaps between petals of SnS 2 microflowers through a facile solution method. In our strategy, the petals of the flowers are curled inwards due to the swelling force resulting from growth of Co 3 O 4 , resulting in the encapsulation of Co 3 O 4 with the SnS 2 petals forming a coating structure. The SnS 2 /Co 3 O 4 composite displays greatly improved performance in comparison with pure SnS 2 . After 100 cycles, an outstanding reversible capacity of ∼715 mAh g −1 with negligible capacity fading is achieved at current density of 100 mA g −1 for SnS 2 /Co 3 O 4 . What is more, the SnS 2 /Co 3 O 4 exhibits excellent rate capability, and a reversible capacity of up to ∼530 mAh g −1 is obtained, even at a current density as high as 1000 mA g −1 . The morphology of tucked flower-like petals and the introduction of the secondary structure of Co 3 O 4 are suggested to be responsible for the improved lithium storage capacity of the composite. The as-prepared SnS 2 /Co 3 O 4 shows promise as a potential anode material for Li-ion batteries due to its simple synthesis method and large capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradable plastic poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is considered a potential replacement for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as the main component of mulch film. However, it is not clear whether PBAT is harmful to the plant-soil system. Thus, we determined the effects of LDPE microplastics (LDPE-MPs) and PBAT microplastics (PBAT-MPs) on the growth of Arabidopsis. The inhibitory effect of PBAT-MPs was greater than that of LDPE-MPs on the growth of Arabidopsis. Transcriptome analysis showed that PBAT-MPs severely disrupted the photosynthetic system of Arabidopsis and increased the expression levels of genes in drug transport-related pathways. PBAT-MPs increased the relative abundances of Bradyrhizobium , Hydrogenophaga , and Arthrobacter in the bulk soil and rhizosphere soil. The abundances of Variovorax , Flavobacterium , and Microbacterium increased in the plant root zone only under PBAT-MPs. Functional prediction analysis suggested that microorganisms in the soil and plant root zone could degrade xenobiotics. Furthermore, the degradation products from PBAT comprising adipic acid, terephthalic acid, and butanediol were more toxic than PBAT-MPs. Our findings demonstrate that PBAT-MPs may be degraded by microorganisms to produce chemicals that are highly toxic to plants. Thus, biodegradable plastics may pose a great risk to the environment. [Display omitted] • Toxic effects of PBAT-MPs greater than those of LDPE-MPs on growth of Arabidopsis. • Expression levels of genes in Arabidopsis photosynthetic system severely disrupted by PBAT-MPs. • PBAT-MPs altered microbial community structure and functions in the bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, and plant root zone. • Degradation products from PBAT comprising adipic acid, phthalic acid, and butanediol toxic in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Additive-free electrode with low-crystalline Co 9 S 8 Ni 3 S 2 nanohybrid is fabricated. • The electrode delivers a very low η 10 of 220 mV and the stability exceeding 900 h. • It confirms the vital contribution of low-crystallinity to the highly active OER. • It reveals the dynamic balance mechanism underlying the ultrastable activity. • It discloses the sequential evolutions from Co 9 S 8 Ni 3 S 2 into CoOOH NiOOH species. The highly active electrodes for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are vital for boosting the overall efficiency of electrocatalytic water splitting to produce hydrogen fuel. Here we demonstrate a facile in-situ sulfurization strategy to construct an additive-free electrode with low-crystalline Co 9 S 8 Ni 3 S 2 nanohybrid under the joint effects of fast sulfurization and lattice-mismatched growth. The Co 9 S 8 Ni 3 S 2 nanohybrid exhibits semi-spherical architecture constructed with interconnected nanoflakes, and contains mesopores with an average pore size of 12.66 nm. The crystalline degrees of Ni 3 S 2 and Co 9 S 8 in the nanohybrid are estimated to be as low as 18.66% and 5.46%, respectively. For OER in 1 M KOH, the electrode attains a benchmark of 10 mA cm−2 at a very low overpotential (η 10) of 220 mV and impressively demonstrates the outstanding OER stability lasting for 900 h at about 50 mA cm−2, which highlights its great potential applications in water splitting devices. More importantly, this work discloses the crucial contribution from low-crystalline Co 9 S 8 Ni 3 S 2 nanohybrid to the high-efficiency OER, the key role of dynamic balance related to electroctatalytic activity in sustaining the ultralong-term stability, and the mechanisms behind the matter evolutions from Co 9 S 8 Ni 3 S 2 into CoOOH NiOOH species. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although extensive research has been conducted on the environmental impact of microplastics (MPs), their effects on microorganisms during the composting process and on the compost-soil system remain unclear. Our research investigates the microbial response to polylactic acid microplastics (PLAMPs) during aerobic composting and examines how compost enriched with PLAMPs affects plants. Our findings reveal that PLAMPs play a dual role in the composting process, influencing microorganisms differently depending on the composting phase. PLAMPs reduce the relative abundance of sensitive bacterial ASVs, specifically those belonging to Limnochordaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, during composting, while increasing the relative abundance of ASVs belonging to Steroidobacteriaceae and Bacillaceae. The impact of PLAMPs on microbial community assembly and niche width was found to be phase-dependent. In the stabilization phase (S5), the presence of PLAMPs caused a shift in the core microbial network from bacterial dominance to fungal dominance, accompanied by heightened microbial antagonism. Additionally, these intricate microbial interactions can be transferred to the soil ecosystem. Our study indicates that composting, as a method of managing PLAMPs, is also influenced by PLAMPs. This influence is transferred to the soil through the use of compost, resulting in severe oxidative stress in plants. Our research is pivotal for devising future strategies for PLAMPs management and predicting the subsequent changes in compost quality and environmental equilibrium., 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.)

Electrocatalysts are the key components of electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices. High performance electrocatalysts can effectively reduce the energy barrier of the chemical reactions, thereby improving the conversion efficiency of energy devices. The electrocatalytic reaction mainly experiences adsorption and desorption of molecules (reactants, intermediates and products) on a catalyst surface, accompanied by charge transfer processes. Therefore, surface control of electrocatalysts plays a pivotal role in catalyst design and optimization. In recent years, many studies have revealed that the rational design and regulation of a defect structure can result in rearrangement of the atomic structure on the catalyst surface, thereby efficaciously promoting the electrocatalytic performance. However, the relationship between defects and catalytic properties still remains to be understood. In this review, the types of defects, synthesis methods and characterization techniques are comprehensively summarized, and then the intrinsic relationship between defects and electrocatalytic performance is discussed. Moreover, the application and development of defects are reviewed in detail. Finally, the challenges existing in defective electrocatalysts are summarized and prospected, and the future research direction is also suggested. We hope that this review will provide some principal guidance and reference for researchers engaged in defect and catalysis research, better help researchers understand the research status and development trends in the field of defects and catalysis, and expand the application of high-performance defective electrocatalysts to the field of electrocatalytic engineering.

Urea, one of the most widely used nitrogen-containing fertilizers globally, is essential for sustainable agriculture. Improving its production is crucial for meeting the increasing demand for fertilizers. Electrocatalytic co-reduction of CO₂ and nitrogenous compounds (NO₂ - /NO₃ - ) has emerged as a promising strategy for green and energy-efficient urea synthesis. However, challenges such as slow reaction kinetics and complex multi-step electron transfers have hindered the development of efficient urea synthesis methods. This review explores recent advances in the electrocatalytic C-N coupling process, focusing on bimetallic catalysts, metal oxide/hydroxide catalysts, and carbon-based catalysts. The review also discusses the future prospects of designing effective catalysts for electrocatalytic C-N coupling to improve urea synthesis., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Patients with sepsis frequently develop septic cardiomyopathy, which is known to be closely related to excessive inflammatory responses. Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) is a tryptophan metabolite with anti-inflammatory properties that have been demonstrated in various studies. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic role of IPA in septic cardiomyopathy., Methods: To investigate the role of IPA in septic cardiomyopathy, we constructed a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat model of septic cardiomyopathy, and treated rats with IPA. Inflammatory factors and the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway were evaluated in myocardial tissues and cells after IPA treatment using RT-qPCR, ELISA, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. To further elucidate the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), we detected changes in inflammatory mediators and the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in in vivo and in vitro models of septic cardiomyopathy, which were treated with the AhR antagonist CH-223191 and/or AhR agonist FICZ., Results: IPA supplementation improved cardiac dysfunction in rats with septic cardiomyopathy. IPA reduced inflammatory cytokine release and inhibited NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway in myocardial tissue and in H9c2 cells. CH-223191 impaired the anti-inflammatory effect of IPA in LPS-treated cells, whereas FICZ exerted the same effect as IPA. IPA also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by binding to the AhR. Our results indicated that IPA attenuated septic cardiomyopathy in rats via AhR/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling., Conclusion: Our study revealed that IPA improved left heart dysfunction and myocardial inflammation caused by sepsis via AhR/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling, suggesting that IPA is a potential therapy for septic cardiomyopathy., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Zhang et al.)

Electrocatalytic reduction of nitric oxide (NO) to ammonia (NH 3 ) is a clean and sustainable strategy to simultaneously remove NO and synthesize NH 3 . However, the conversion of low concentration NO to NH 3 is still a huge challenge. In this work, the dilatation strain between Cu and Co interface over Cu@Co catalyst is built up and investigated for electroreduction of low concentration NO (volume ratio of 1%) to NH 3 . The catalyst shows a high NH 3 yield of 627.20 µg h -1 cm -2 and a Faradaic efficiency of 76.54%. Through the combination of spherical aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy and geometric phase analyses, it shows that Co atoms occupy Cu lattice sites to form dilatation strain in the xy direction within Co region. Further density functional theory calculations and NO temperature-programmed desorption (NO-TPD) results show that the surface dilatation strain on Cu@Co is helpful to enhance the NO adsorption and reduce energy barrier of the rate-determining step (*NO to *NOH), thereby accelerating the catalytic reaction. To simultaneously realize NO exhaust gas removal, NH 3 green synthesis, and electricity output, a Zn-NO battery with Cu@Co cathode is assembled with a power density of 3.08 mW cm -2 and an NH 3 yield of 273.37 µg h -1 cm -2 ., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a commonly used histological examination technique. Compared to Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining, it enables the examination of protein expression and localization in tissues, which is valuable for cancer treatment and prognosis assessment, such as the detection and diagnosis of endometrial cancer. However, IHC involves multiple staining steps, is time-consuming and expensive. One potential solution is to utilize deep learning networks to generate corresponding virtual IHC images from H&E images. However, the similarity of the IHC image generated by the existing methods needs to be further improved. In this work, we propose a novel dual-scale feature fusion (DSFF) generative adversarial network named DSFF-GAN, which comprises a cycle structure-color similarity loss, and DSFF block to constrain the model's training process and enhance its stain transfer capability. In addition, our method incorporates labeling information of positive cell regions as prior knowledge into the network to further improve the evaluation metrics. We train and test our model using endometrial cancer and publicly available breast cancer IHC datasets, and compare it with state-of-the-art methods. Compared to previous methods, our model demonstrates significant improvements in most evaluation metrics on both datasets. The research results show that our method further improves the quality of image generation and has potential value for the future clinical application of virtual IHC images., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

As one of the most common liver diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects almost one-quarter of the world's population. Although the prevalence of NAFLD is continuously rising, effective medical treatments are still inadequate. Radix Polygoni Multiflori (RPM) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. As a processed product of RPM, prepared Radix Polygoni Multiflori (PRPM) has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated whether PRPM treatment could significantly improve NAFLD. We used recent literature, the Herb database and the SwissADME database to isolate the active compounds of PRPM. The OMIM, DisGeNET and GeneCards databases were used to isolate NAFLD-related target genes, and GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were conducted. Moreover, PRPM treatment in NAFLD model mice was evaluated. The results indicate that the target genes are mainly enriched in the AMPK and de novo lipogenesis signaling pathways and that PRPM treatment improves NAFLD disease in model mice. Here, we found the potential benefits of PRPM against NAFLD and demonstrated in vivo and in vitro that PRPM and its ingredient emodin downregulate phosphorylated P38/P38, phosphorylated ERK1/2 and genes related to de novo adipogenesis signaling pathways and reduce lipid droplet accumulation. In conclusion, our findings revealed a novel therapeutic role for PRPM in the treatment of NAFLD and metabolic inflammation.

Background: Gastric cancer, one of the most familiar adenocarcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract, ranks third in the world in cancer-related deaths. Traditional Chinese medicine can suppress the growth of tumors, and the underlying mechanism may be associated with the tumor microenvironment. Here, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of the Qingrexiaoji recipe on gastric cancer and the underlying molecular mechanism., Methods: An in vivo nude mouse model was established, and the expression of CD206, CD80, and M2 phenotype-related proteins (Arg-1, Fizz1) was obtained by flow cytometry and western blotting. The expressions of the M2 phenotype-related cytokines were examined by ELISA., Results: Qingrexiaoji recipe inhibited gastric tumor growth and downregulated the expression of CD206, IFN-γ, IL-13, IL-4, and TNF-α in vivo. Qingrexiaoji recipe deceased M2 phenotypic polarization by upregulating microRNA (miR)-29a-3p level. Luciferase activity assays showed that HDAC4 is a potential target of miR-29a-3p. In cells co-transfected with HDAC4 siRNA and miR-29a-3p inhibitor and treated with IL-4 and Qingrexiaoji recipe , the miR-29a-3p inhibitorinduced increase of M2 phenotypic polarization was reversed., Conclusion: In summary, these results suggested that the Qingrexiaoji recipe regulated M2 macrophage polarization by regulating miR-29a-3p/HDAC4, providing a different and innovative treatment for gastric cancer., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)