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Background: Allergic asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease with a number of cytokines participating in its pathogenesis and progress. Interleukin (IL)-22, which is derived from lymphocytes, acts on epithelial cells and play a role in the chronic airway inflammation. However, the actual role of IL-22 in allergic asthma is still unclear. Therefore, we explored the effect of IL-22 on allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model.Methods: To evaluate the effect of IL-22 in an allergic asthma model, BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA; then the recombinant mouse IL-22 was administered intranasally 24 h prior to each challenge. The IL-22 levels in lung homogenates and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. AHR was evaluated through indicators including airways resistance (Rrs), elastance (Ers) and compliance (Crs); the inflammatory cell infiltration was assessed by quantification of differential cells counts in BALF and lung tissues stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E); IL-22 specific receptors were determined by immunohistochemistry staining.Results: The concentration of IL-22 was significantly elevated in the OVA-induced mice compared with the control mice in lung homogenates and BALF. In the OVA-induced mouse model, IL-22 administration could significantly attenuate AHR, including Rrs, Ers and Crs, decrease the proportion of eosinophils in BALF and reduce inflammatory cell infiltration around bronchi and their concomitant vessels, compared with the OVA-induced group. In addition, the expression of IL-22RA1 and IL-10RB in the lung tissues of OVA-induced mice was significantly increased compared with the control mice, while it was dramatically decreased after the treatment with IL-22, but not completely attenuated in the IL-22-treated mice when compared with the control mice.Conclusion: Interleukin-22 could play a protective role in an OVA-induced asthma model, by suppressing the inflammatory cell infiltration around bronchi and their concomitant vessels and airway hyperresponsiveness, which might associate with the expression of its heterodimer receptors. Thus, IL-22 administration might be an effective strategy to attenuate allergic airway inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, Mas et al. investigated the migrativity of uninorms and nullnorms over any fixed t-norm and t-conorm. First, they introduced the concept of migrative uninorm over any fixed t-norm. In addition, they showed equivalent characterizations of the migrativity equation when the uninorm belongs to one certain class (e.g., U min , U max , the family of idempotent uninorms, representable uninorms or uninorms continuous on ] 0 , 1 [ 2). And then, they gave the notion of migrative uninorms over any fixed t-conorm and proposed the migrativity equation using an analogous method. Finally, they discussed the migrativity of nullnorms over any fixed t-norm and t-conorm and obtained equivalent characterizations of the related migrativity equations, respectively. However, they did not discuss the migrativity property of a conjunctive (resp. disjunctive) uninorm non locally internal on the boundary over any fixed t-norm (resp. t-conorm) and the migrativity property of a conjunctive (resp. disjunctive) uninorm locally internal on the boundary over any continuous t-norm (resp. t-conorm). To fill the gap, in this paper, we explore some new results on the migrativity property of a conjunctive (resp. disjunctive) uninorm over any fixed t-norm (resp. t-conorm) and give some new characterizations of the migrativity property of nullnorms over any fixed t-norm and t-conorm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetracycline (TC) is widely distributed in environment and a significant environmental pollutant. It has been challenging to rapidly identify and effectively remove TC contaminants. This work produced a multifunctional Fe 3 O 4 -Cu 2 O-Au-MIPs nanocomposite (FCAu-MIPs NCs) based on molecular imprinting technology for selective SERS detection and photocatalytic degradation of TC. We synthesized FCAu NCs with various Au contents and analyzed the relationship between Au content and SERS performance using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique. Exceptional SERS performance could be attributed to the dense distribution of multiple hotspots on the SERS substrate. The photocatalytic mechanism of FCAu-MIPs NCs towards TC was also discussed. The combination of the narrow-bandgap semiconductor Cu 2 O and noble metal Au with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect facilitated efficient light absorption and enhanced charge carrier transfer efficiency. Both SERS detection limits as low as 10−9 M and selective photocatalytic degradation of TC in soil were achieved. Furthermore, FCAu-MIPs NCs were successfully recovered and reused with assistance of external magnetic field. After six cycles, outstanding SERS and photocatalytic capacities from FCAu-MIPs NCs could still be maintained. The FCAu-MIPs NCs with selective recognition ability to TC should thus hold tremendous applicative possibilities for highly sensitive detection and efficient degradation of TC. [Display omitted] • A novel Fe 3 O 4 -Cu 2 O-Au-MIPs was successfully constructed. • The effect of gold content on SERS performance was simulated by FDTD method. • Integration of targeted degradation and specific SERS detection by FCAu-MIPs. • Electron transfer mechanism between Cu 2 O and Au nanocrystals was analyzed. • Limit of detection of FCAu-MIPs NCs for TC was as low as 10−9 M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We highlight the role of corporate innovation disclosure as an entry deterrence strategy. • We show that innovation disclosure can effectively discourage potential rivals' entry. • We emphasize threats from potential competitors rather than existing competitors and highlighting its role in corporate innovation disclosure. Employing the deregulation of market entry barriers in China as a quasi-natural experiment, this study examines the impact of increased entry threats on firms' innovation disclosure strategies. We find that, in response to heightened entry threats, incumbent firms strategically intensify their innovation disclosure. This strategic disclosure emphasizes incumbent firms' competitive advantages in innovation while omitting detailed information that allows rivals to replicate their technologies. Additionally, the positive relation between heightened entry threats and innovation disclosure is mitigated by government ownership, product market competition, and firm size. Our study underscores the role of innovation disclosure as an entry deterrence strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human health is greatly threatened by bacterial infection, which raises the risk of serious illness and death in humans. For early screening and accurate treatment of bacterial infection, there is a strong desire to undertake ultrasensitive detection and effective killing of pathogenic bacteria. Herein, a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor based on sandwich structure consisting of capture probes/bacteria/SERS tags was established for specific identification, capture and photothermal killing of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique was used to simulate the electromagnetic field distribution of capture probes, SERS tags and sandwich-type SERS substrate, and a possible SERS enhancement mechanism based on sandwich structure was presented and discussed. Sandwich-type SERS biosensor successfully achieved distinctive identification and magnetic beneficiation of E. coli. In addition, a single SERS substrate, including capture probes and SERS tags, could also achieve outstanding photothermal effects as a consequence of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. Intriguingly, sandwich-type SERS biosensor demonstrated a higher photothermal conversion efficiency (50.03 %) than the single substrate, which might be attributed to the formation of target bacterial clusters. The superior biocompatibility and the low toxicity of the sandwich-type biosensor were confirmed. Our approach offers a fresh method for constructing sandwich-type biosensor with multiple SERS hotspots based on extremely effective hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles, and has a wide range of potential applications in the recognition and treatment of bacteria. [Display omitted] • SERS platform for simultaneous detection and inactivation of E. coli was developed. • A dual SERS enhancement strategy based on sandwich-type structure was applied. • The limit of detection for E. coli was as low as 10 cfu/mL. • Photothermal conversion efficiency of the SERS platform was as high as 50.03 %. • SERS biosensor had an excellent photothermal performance for killing of E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]