Search

• A serration design of an owl-inspired propeller shows up to 4.4 dBA noise reduction. • A numerical model combining fluid and acoustic simulation is established. • The interactions between the flow characteristics and aerodynamic noise were obtained. • The experiment strikes a balance between increased power consumption and reduced noise. The present study investigates owl-inspired propellers with various serrated trailing edge configurations. An analysis utilizes a numerical model that integrates computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Lighthill acoustic analogy. The simulation aims to clarify the mechanism behind noise reduction in the bionic propeller by comparing tip vortices and wake region vortices with or without serrated trailing edge structures. Additionally, a thorough assessment of noise and aerodynamic performance is carried out on bionic propellers with varied serrated ratios, shapes, and coverage degrees, through experimental measurements conducted under varying rotation speeds and thrust levels. Experimental results demonstrated the significant noise reduction capabilities of sawtooth bionic structures across various rotation speeds. Notably, the bionic propeller with a round-serrated trailing edge, a serrated ratio of 0.9, an arc radius of 0.3 mm, and 50 % serration coverage achieves a noteworthy noise reduction of up to 4.4 dBA. The findings highlight a significant correlation between the propeller's flow structure and its aerodynamic noise characteristics. The findings highlight a correlation between the propeller's flow structure and its aerodynamic noise characteristics. Serrated trailing edges disrupt propeller tip vortices, expediting the vortex shedding and dissipation processes, thereby mitigating trailing edge noise. Additionally, a distinctive inward shift of the wake at the trailing edge promotes the intermixing of flow structures, enhancing collisions and mixing of vortices, ultimately resulting in a significant broadband noise reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of aquaculture technology, the scale and density of aquaculture continue to increase, enteritis has become a common and frequent disease worldwide. In order to treat enteritis and prevent the abuse of antibiotics, it is of great significance to develop new and efficient drugs. Cinnamaldehyde is a natural product isolated and extracted from plants such as cinnamon and has a variety of biological functions such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiulcer, anticancer and growth-promoting. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of cinnamaldehyde on Aeromonas hydrophila infection caused by non-lethal enteritis in largemouth bass. Fish were infected with A.hydrophila by intraperitoneal injection, 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde were given for 7 days. The results showed that cinnamaldehyde decreased the clinical symptoms and intestinal pathological damage caused by A.hydrophila infection, increased the expression of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1, reduced oxidative damage and enhanced the ability of antioxidant. Cinnamaldehyde up-regulated the expression of TGF-β 2 , IL-10 and IL-11, and down-regulated the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-15 and IL-8, regulated the diversity of the intestinal microflora structure, maintained the relative balance of intestinal microflora to improve intestinal health. Overall, these data clearly indicated that cinnamaldehyde was a potentially effective drug for treatment of A.hydrophila infection caused enteritis in largemouth bass. In conclusion, Cinnamaldehyde is a potential drug for the treatment of non-fatal enteritis in aquaculture. • CIN has a good therapeutic effect on Aeromonas hydrophila infection caused non-lethal enteritis in largemouth bass. • CIN treats largemouth bass bacterial enteritis by regulating gut barrier, inflammation, microbiota and serum biochemistry. • CIN is a potential drug for the treatment of non-lethal enteritis in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the thickness of membrane electrolyte is one important direction to improve Ohmic polarization and the according performance of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells for its widespread applications. Herein, we report that robust thin membranes can be formed using a soluble ether-contained poly(4,4′-diphenylether-5,5′-bibenzimidazole) with an ultra-high molecular weight of 170 kDa. Due to the enhanced chain entanglement of high molecular weight polymers, the formed thin membrane exhibits promising mechanical strength, thermal and oxidation stability. The optimized membrane with thickness of 61 μm and phosphoric acid uptake of 606 wt% has the high specific proton conductivity of 25.9 S cm−2 at 160 °C under anhydrous conditions and mechanical strength of 11.2 MPa. The accordingly fabricated membrane electrode assembly delivers a peak power density of 0.544 W cm−2 with the open circuit voltage of 0.915 V at 160 °C using air as oxidant, outperforming the value of 0.522 W cm−2 for the commercial membrane electrode assembly with thickness of 250 μm and phosphoric acid uptake of 1018 wt%. [Display omitted] • High molecular weight OPBI based thin HT-PEMs are formed. • The enhanced chain entanglement led to high mechanical strength. • The optimized membrane had specific proton conductivity of 25.9 Scm−2 at 160 °C. • The decreased membrane thickness resulted in an improved Ohmic polarization. • The H 2 /air fuel cell demonstrated a peak power density of 0.544 Wcm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analysis of mechanical systems with clearance and uncertainty is proposed. • Parameter sensitivity could be analyzed through this method. • Clearance causes oscillation of the response bound and expands the interval length. • Clearance effect restraint zones are discovered through sensitivity analysis. A mechanical system with clearance joints exhibits non-linear characteristics. Even a small variation of one parameter may lead to a drastic change of the overall system response. The coupling of clearance and uncertainty would therefore significantly influence the system performance. In this paper, an analysis method for dynamic response and parameter sensitivity of mechanical systems is proposed with the consideration of both clearance joints and uncertainties. In this method, elements of a revolute clearance joint are modeled as colliding bodies, where continuous contact force model and modified friction force model are employed to describe the impact-contact behavior. The clearance joint model is then coupled with the system motion equations to obtain the system dynamic response. Furthermore, by introducing the multi-dimensional Chebyshev polynomials approach, dependence of the system dynamic response on its parameters can be established. The bounds of the dynamic response could be obtained by using the interval operations, and the parameter sensitivity is interpreted as the rate of the change of the system dynamic response with respect to the parameter variation, revealing the contribution of each parameter on the dynamic performance. Finally, dynamics of a crank-slider mechanism with clearance and uncertainties is investigated. Results show that a larger clearance would cause severe oscillation in the response bounds and larger expansion of the interval length, and clearance effect restraint zones can be obtained through the sensitivity analysis, where the expansion of the response interval length could be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Biomimetic nanoparticles were designed for enhanced drug delivery to treat cancer. • Targeting and modulating glucose metabolism were employed to enhance cancer therapy. • Nanoparticle intervention induce the accumulation of lactic acid within tumor cells. • Inhibition of pentose phosphate pathway perturbs the aberrant redox state in tumor. The clinical presentation of triple-negative breast cancer signifies a pathophysiological trajectory characterized by an aggressive nature. To satisfy the rapid tumor cell proliferation, glycolysis emerges as the primary modality for energy production, consequently engendering the copious generation of lactic acid. This, in turn, fosters an acidic microenvironment within the tumor milieu, which facilitates angiogenesis, tumor metastasis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and immune evasion. If the glycolytic flux was attenuated, a heightened influx of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) towards the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) ensues, promoting the synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and reduced glutathione (GSH). This orchestrated metabolic cascade gives rise to reductive equivalents and biosynthetic substrates, emblematic of a salient hallmark in the landscape of cancer cell metabolism. To surmount the quandary presented by aberrant tumor metabolism, we developed macrophage-membrane-coated metal–organic framework nanoparticles (AP@ZIF-Mem) to deliver atorvastatin (an inhibitor of MCT4, a lactic acid transporter within glycolysis) and polydatin (an inhibitor of G6PD, the rate-limiting enzyme of PPP) to interfere the glucose metabolism for sensitizing triple-negative breast cancer treatment. After i.v. injection, AP@ZIF-Mem could be accumulated into the tumor site via macrophage-biomimetic behavior. Through orchestrated intervention, these nanoparticles could provoke the accumulation of lactic acid within tumor cells, thereby precipitating a pronounced intratumoral acidosis; In parallel, the abrogation of G6PD function occasioned a surge in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), consequentially culminating in diminished ribulose-5-phosphate and NADPH production. This dual-pronged intervention not only disrupted the tumor's energy provisioning framework but also perturbed the aberrant redox state of the tumor milieu, thereby sensitizing tumor treatment and impeding the metastatic trajectory. This study provided a paradigm of treatment/adjuvant treatment via the manipulation of glucose metabolism for triple-negative breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than half of all insect species utilize various natural liquids as primary diet. The concentrated liquids with energy-dense nutrition can provide highly favorable rewards, however, their high-viscosity poses challenges to the insect for ingesting. Here we show that rhinoceros beetles, Trypoxylus dichotomus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), are capable of ingesting sugar solutions with viscosities spanning four orders of magnitude, exhibiting extraordinary adaptability to diverse natural liquid sources. We discovered a previously unidentified maxillae-sweeping motion that beetles preferentially adopt to consume highly viscous liquids, achieving a higher feeding rate than the more common direct sucking. By utilizing morphological characterizations, flow visualization, and fluid–structure coupling simulation, we revealed the underlying mechanisms of how this maxillary movement facilitates the transportation of viscous liquid. Our findings not only shed light on the multi-functionality of beetle mouthparts but also provide insights into the adaptability of generalized mouthparts to a broad range of fluid sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Side chain PBI-based AEMs were synthesized through in situ crosslinking strategy. • The optimized membrane had a hydroxide conductivity of 82.4 mS cm−1 at 80 °C. • Crosslinking of highly quaternized PBI exhibited tensile strength of 21.0 MPa. • The assembled ADMFC delivered a maximum power density of 152.6 mW cm−2 at 80 °C. The practical application of quaternized polybenzimidazole (PBI) as anion exchange membranes (AEMs) is limited by the crosslinking side reaction induced low hydroxide conductivity during the operation process. In this work, the in situ crosslinking side reaction is ingeniously controlled during the membrane preparation to achieve the balance between mechanical properties and ionic conductivity of quaternized PBI based AEMs with high ion exchange capacity. The results reveal that the in situ crosslinking reaction is easy to occur and the crosslinking effect is also better than the traditional crosslinking strategy. In addition, the in situ crosslinking can not only greatly improve the mechanical properties of quaternized PBI membranes, but the high substituted degree of ammonium hydroxide end-functionalized alkyl chain also guarantees the reasonable hydroxide conduction. The formed quaternized PBI based membrane with substituted degree of 95 % exhibits the tensile strength of 21.0 MPa under hydrated state with ion exchange capacity of 2.65 mmol g−1 and hydroxide conductivity of 82.4 mS cm−1 at 80 °C. In addition, the membrane maintains 79.7 % of its initial conductivity after treating with 1 M KOH at 80 °C for 360 h. The thus-assembled alkaline direct methanol fuel cell delivers a maximum power density of 152.6 mW cm−2 using 5 M KOH and 3 M methanol fuels at 80 °C. After chronopotentiometry test at 450 mA cm−2 for 150 h, the observed 8.7 % of voltage loss indicates its potential application in fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We study the kinematics and mechanics of mandibles of trap-jaw ants. • We analyze the trade-off between powerful clamping and efficient impact resistance. • The hollowness ratio plays an essential role in counterbalancing the trade-off. • The mandibles meet the demands of powerful clamping and efficient impact resistance. • The hollow mandible achieves a more robust balance than the solid mandible. The trap-jaw ant Odontomachus monticola manipulates its hollow mandibles to generate extremely high speed to impact various objects through a catapult mechanism, making the violent collision occur between the mandible and the impacted objects, which increases the risk of structural failure. However, how the ant balances the trade-off between the powerful clamping and impact resistance by using this hollow structure remains elusive. In this combined experimental and theoretical investigation, we revealed that the hollowness ratio of the mandible plays an essential role in counterbalancing the trade-off. Micro-CT and high-speed images suggested that the hollow mandibles facilitate a high angular acceleration to 108 rad/s2 for an enormous clamping force. However, this hollowness might challenge the structural strength while collision occurs. We found that under the same actuating energy, the von Mises stress of the object collided by the natural mandible striking can reach up to 2.9 times that generated by the entirely solid mandible. We defined the efficiency ratio of the von Mises stress on the impacted object to that on the mandible and found the hollow mandible achieves a more robust balance between powerful clamping and impact resistance compared to the solid mandible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole has been proposed as promising high-temperature proton exchange membrane, the poor absorption and immobilization ability of phosphoric acid in the membrane hinders its long-term stability. In this work, high-temperature proton exchange membranes with high phosphoric acid uptake and retention ability are fabricated thorough solvent casting of an alkali-free quaternized poly(4,4'-diphenylether-5,5'-bibenzimidazole) (OPBI), followed by doping of phosphoric acid. The optimized membrane with quaternization degree of 50% possesses a high acid-doping-level of 18.8 and an anhydrous conductivity of 85 mS cm−1 at 160 °C. Stability tests reveal that anhydrous proton conductivity remains unchanged during continuous 100 h treatment at 160 °C and it remains 91.7% of its initial value after 100 h treatment at 80 °C under 40% RH. The thus-assembled single cell exhibits the maximum power density values of 0.355, 0.495, and 0.584 Wcm−2 at 160 °C under back pressure of 0, 100, and 200 kPa using hydrogen as fuel and air as oxidant gas. [Display omitted] • Quaternized PBI was synthesized through an alkali-free strategy. • The optimized membrane exhibited high doping level and great retention ability of acid. • Proton conductivity of the optimized membrane reached 0.085 Scm−1 at 160 °C. • Single cell delivered a power density of 0.58 Wcm−2 at 160 °C under 200 kPa back pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel type of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) encapsulated hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (ZIF-8@HCCP) dodecahedral flame retardant was synthesized and incorporated into epoxy (EP) for reducing the fire hazard of EP. HCCP was successfully encapsulated into ZIF-8 by one-pot approach combining ZIF-8 synthesis and molecule encapsulation benefiting the small windows and large holes effect of ZIF-8. HCCP was interact with ZIF-8 by P–Cl–N. The thermal decomposition temperature of ZIF-8@HCCP was 550.9 °C, significantly higher than that of HCCP (105.6 °C). This encapsulation exhibits high efficiency in flame retardancy and smoke suppression. The peak heat release rate, smoke release rate and CO release rate of 4 phr ZIF-8@HCCP-incorporated EP sample decreased by 56.2%, 57.2% and 45.7% because of the "quenching mechanism". This mechanism was proposed in which the structure of ZIF-8 collapsed following the rapid release of flame retardant exhibiting instantaneous flame-retardant behavior. Additionally, EP corresponded with ZIF-8@HCCP have good mechanical properties. This work provides a promising advance in designing good-thermal stability flame retardants for improving the fire safety of EP. Image 1 • Novel ZIF-8 encapsulated HCCP flame retardant was designed and was incorporated into epoxy resin to improve its fire safety. • The thermal stability of ZIF-8@HCCP composites could be controlled by dominating of encapsulating quantity. • ZIF-8@HCCP exhibited temperature-responsive transient release. • The flame retardancy and smoke suppression of the composites were improved dramatically. • Quenching flame-retardant mechanism was proposed and confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We found multifunctionality in the mandibles of the ant Harpegnathos venator. • The mandibles can grip both strongly and gently. • This multifunctionality is achieved by microstructures and kinematics. The elongated mandibles of certain ant species are dexterous grippers that can output a wide range of forces as needed for various tasks. Our combined experimental and theoretical research reveals the multifunctionality of the mandibles of Harpegnathos venator that is facilitated by specific microstructures and characteristic kinematics. First, we found that H. venator can pull off a spider's (Heteropoda venatoria) leg by closing its long mandibles. We observed that the ant usually clamps the spider's leg using the distal or middle part of its mandibles. In contrast, the ant can grip its egg with the proximal parts of its mandibles without causing damage. Our results showed that the spider's legs are always fractured at the coxa-trochanteral joint. Second, we found that the force required to fracture the spider's leg can be up to 500 times the ant's body weight. On the other hand, the maximum force can be controlled to less than 2 × 1 0 - 6 N while gripping an egg. By combining microstructure imaging, kinematic tracking and mathematical modeling, we uncovered that the sharp teeth and dense bristles on the internal side of the mandibles determine the high adhesion force, while the concave teeth and biaxial rotation of the mandibles facilitate gentle gripping. We validated our findings by constructing an artificial mandible pair. This work expands the knowledge of the physiological multifunctionality in ant mandibles, and provides novel ways to reveal the multifunctionality in insect appendages by applying the tools of mechanical analysis and related experimental devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics can negatively affect the treatment of infected skin wounds. The combination of synergistic antibacterial therapies with photodynamic, photothermal, and chemodynamic therapies has been recognized as one of the most promising approaches. In this study, we have developed MSN@Ce6@MnO 2 -CS/Ag (MCMA) nanoparticles to serve as powerful antibacterial agents when exposed to both 660 nm visible light and 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) light. Through dual-light irradiation, MCMA can induce hyperthermia and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to a remarkable enhancement in photothermal antibacterial effects and accelerating wound healing. It has a peroxidase-like catalytic activity and promotes the generation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) by catalyzing the decomposition of H 2 O 2 . In vitro antibacterial experiments demonstrated the excellent antibacterial activity of MCMA. The antibacterial efficacy of MCMA at a concentration of 250 μg ml -1 was found to be 99.6 and 100% toward Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli , respectively, under irradiation with an 808 and 660 nm laser. The results of the animal experiments demonstrated that MCMA can effectively accelerate wound healing through wound ulceration inhabitation. These findings substantiate the assertion that synthetic MCMA represents an efficacious strategy for bacterial inhibition and wound healing.

Background: A poor prognosis is associated with atherosclerotic plaque rupture (PR) despite after conventional therapy for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Timely identification of PR improves the risk stratification and prognosis of ACS patients., Methods: A derivation cohort of 110 patients with ACS who underwent pre-intervention optical coherence tomography (OCT) were matched 1:1 to the PR and intact fibrous cap (IFC) groups according to traditional risk factors. Candidate PR proteins were identified via mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics using unbiased machine learning methods and were further validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in an external validation cohort of 85 patients with ACS. The performance of candidate biomakers was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis., Results: 1121 proteins were identified and 535 filtered proteins were used for analysis. Nine candidate proteins were screened by five machine learning algorithms. Three proteins (APOC3, RAB39A, and KNG1) were significantly different between the PR and IFC in validation cohort. The performance of plasm APOC3, RAB39A, and KNG1 for differentiating PR and IFC was superior to that of the conventional biomarkers and risk factors., Conclusion: The proteins (APOC3, RAB39A, and KNG1) serve as a potential novel diagnostic tool to identify PR in ACS patients., 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. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objectives: Persistent lower limb dysfunction is a major challenge in post-stroke recovery. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is recognized for addressing post-stroke motor deficits. Our study explores the efficacy of combining rTMS with gait-adaptive training to enhance lower limb function and regulatory mechanisms in subacute stroke., Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 27 patients with subacute hemiparesis, dividing them into experimental and control groups. Both groups underwent gait-adaptability training 5 times/week for 4 weeks, with the experimental group receiving daily low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation before training. Primary outcomes included the pairwise derived brain symmetry index, lower-extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment, 10-meter walk test, and Berg Balance Scale. Assessments occurred before and after the four-week intervention., Results: The experimental and control groups showed significant improvements in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, 10-meter walk test, and Berg Balance Scale after the 4-week intervention compared to baseline (all p<0.05). However, the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements compared to the control group in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (p=0.024) and the 10-meter walk test (p=0.033). Additionally, the experimental group exhibited a more pronounced decrease in the pairwise derived brain symmetry index (p=0.026) compared to the control group. Within the experimental group, the cortical subgroup's pairwise derived brain symmetry index was significantly lower than that of the control group (p=0.006)., Conclusions: Combining low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation with Gait-Adaptive Training effectively enhances lower limb function and Regulatory mechanisms of the cerebral hemisphere in subacute stroke recovery, and it can provide rapid and effective rehabilitation effect compared with gait adaptation training alone., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Aim: To investigate the impact of human herpes virus ( HHV ) carriage on lung microbiota, and its correlation with clinical features and laboratory indicators in patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 outpatient lung infection cases, which were divided into HHV (n = 15) and non- HHV (n = 15) groups. mNGS detected microbial composition. Microbial diversity and abundance were tested using Shannon and Chao1 indices. Their relationship with laboratory indicators were explored. Results: Significant differences in microbial abundance and distribution were found between two groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, HHV group showed negative correlations (p < 0.05) between Prevotella , Porphyromonas , Streptococcus and basophil/eosinophil percentages. Conclusion: HHV carriage impacts lung microbiota, emphasizing the need for clinicians to pay attention to HHV reactivation in outpatient lung infection patients.

Hair, or hair-like fibrillar structures, are ubiquitous in biology, from fur on the bodies of mammals, over trichomes of plants, to the mastigonemes on the flagella of single-celled organisms. While these long and slender protuberances are passive, they are multifunctional and help to mediate interactions with the environment. They provide thermal insulation, sensory information, reversible adhesion, and surface modulation (e.g., superhydrophobicity). This review will present various functions that biological hairs have been discovered to carry out, with the hairs spanning across six orders of magnitude in size, from the millimeter-thick fur of mammals down to the nanometer-thick fibrillar ultrastructures on bateriophages. The hairs are categorized according to their functions, including protection (e.g., thermal regulation and defense), locomotion, feeding, and sensing. By understanding the versatile functions of biological hairs, bio-inspired solutions may be developed across length scales., (Copyright © 2024, Amador et al.)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by cartilage destruction, synovitis, and osteophyte formation. Disease-modifying treatments for OA are currently lacking. Because inflammation mediated by an imbalance of M1/M2 macrophages in the synovial cavities contributes to OA progression, regulating the M1 to M2 polarization of macrophages can be a potential therapeutic strategy. Basing on the inherent immune mechanism and pathological environment of OA, an immunoglobulin G-conjugated bilirubin/JPH203 self-assembled nanoparticle (IgG/BRJ) is developed, and its therapeutic potential for OA is evaluated. After intra-articular administration, IgG conjugation facilitates the recognition and engulfment of nanoparticles by the M1 macrophages. The internalized nanoparticles disassemble in response to the increased oxidative stress, and the released bilirubin (BR) and JPH203 scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibit the nuclear factor kappa-B pathway, and suppress the activated mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, result in the repolarization of macrophages and enhance M2/M1 ratios. Suppression of the inflammatory environment by IgG/BRJ promotes cartilage protection and repair in an OA rat model, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes. This strategy of opsonization involving M1 macrophages to engulf carrier-free BR/JPH203 nanoparticles to suppress inflammation for OA therapy holds great potential for OA intervention and treatment., (© 2024 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

African shrimp ( Atya gabonensis ) inhabit clear freshwaters, where the notably low concentration of food may pose a challenge to the efficacy of filter fibers on the chela for filter-feeding. Here, we investigate how the distinctive cross-sectional characteristics and spatial arrangement of the African shrimp's non-circular fibers contribute to the enhanced filtration performance of these specialized fibers. The unilateral thickening of the wall along the long axis of the elliptical cross-section of African shrimp fibers markedly enhances the filtration performance. The staggered and twisted arrangement of the fibers optimizes the surrounding flow field, achieving a favorable balance between pressure drop and collection efficiency, consequently improving their filtration performance in collecting fine particles (diameter: 2-10 μ m). Moreover, the arrangement of the fibers substantially increases the effective flow-facing filtering area of the fiber bundles, thus facilitating their efficiency in collecting larger particles (diameter > 10 μ m). The unique fiber properties of the African shrimp offer novel insights for the design and optimization of new fiber-filtering robots, presenting a wide range of potential applications, such as marine in-situ resource extraction, medical filtration, and industrial filtration., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that affects worldwide. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the chronic inflammation and OA progression. Scavenging overproduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) could be rational strategy for OA treatment. Bilirubin (BR) is a potent endogenous antioxidant that can scavenge various ROS and also exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. However, whether BR could exert protection on chondrocytes for OA treatment has not yet been elucidated. Here, chondrocytes were exposed to hydrogen peroxide with or without BR treatment. The cell viability was assessed, and the intracellular ROS, inflammation cytokines were monitored to indicate the state of chondrocytes. In addition, BR was also tested on LPS-treated Raw264.7 cells to test the anti-inflammation property. An in vitro bimimic OA microenvironment was constructed by LPS-treated Raw264.7 and chondrocytes, and BR also exert certain protection for chondrocytes by activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and suppressing NF-κB signalling. An ACLT-induced OA model was constructed to test the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of BR. Compared to the clinical used HA, BR significantly reduced cartilage degeneration and delayed OA progression. Overall, our data shows that BR has a protective effect on chondrocytes and can delay OA progression caused by oxidative stress., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic heart disease are the leading causes of heart failure and mortality. Currently, research on MI treatment is focused on angiogenic and anti-inflammatory therapies. Although endothelial cells (ECs) are critical for triggering inflammation and angiogenesis, no approach has targeted them for the treatment of MI. In this study, we proposed a nonviral combined nucleic acid delivery system consisting of an EC-specific polycation (CRPPR-grafted ethanolamine-modified poly(glycidyl methacrylate), CPC) that can efficiently codeliver siR-ICAM1 and pCXCL12 for the treatment of MI. Animals treated with the combination therapy exhibited better cardiac function than those treated with each nucleic acid alone. In particular, the combination therapy of CPC/siR-ICAM1 and CPC/pCXCL12 significantly improved cardiac systolic function, anti-inflammatory responses, and angiogenesis compared to the control group. In conclusion, CPC-based combined gene delivery systems show impressive performance in the treatment of MI and provide a programmed strategy for the development of codelivery systems for various EC-related diseases.

Background: Primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Asia, and no reliable, effective diagnostic, and predictive biomarkers are used in clinical routines. A growing body of evidence shows metabolic alterations in patients with glaucoma. We aimed to develop and validate potential metabolite biomarkers to diagnose and predict the visual field progression of PACG., Methods: Here, we used a five-phase (discovery phase, validation phase 1, validation phase 2, supplementary phase, and cohort phase) multicenter (EENT hospital, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital), cross-sectional, prospective cohort study designed to perform widely targeted metabolomics and chemiluminescence immunoassay to determine candidate biomarkers. Five machine learning (random forest, support vector machine, lasso, K-nearest neighbor, and GaussianNaive Bayes [NB]) approaches were used to identify an optimal algorithm. The discrimination ability was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Calibration was assessed by Hosmer-Lemeshow tests and calibration plots., Results: Studied serum samples were collected from 616 participants, and 1464 metabolites were identified. Machine learning algorithm determines that androstenedione exhibited excellent discrimination and acceptable calibration in discriminating PACG across the discovery phase (discovery set 1, AUCs=1.0 [95% CI, 1.00-1.00]; discovery set 2, AUCs = 0.85 [95% CI, 0.80-0.90]) and validation phases (internal validation, AUCs = 0.86 [95% CI, 0.81-0.91]; external validation, AUCs = 0.87 [95% CI, 0.80-0.95]). Androstenedione also exhibited a higher AUC (0.92-0.98) to discriminate the severity of PACG. In the supplemental phase, serum androstenedione levels were consistent with those in aqueous humor (r=0.82, p=0.038) and significantly (p=0.021) decreased after treatment. Further, cohort phase demonstrates that higher baseline androstenedione levels (hazard ratio = 2.71 [95% CI: 1.199-6.104], p=0.017) were associated with faster visual field progression., Conclusions: Our study identifies serum androstenedione as a potential biomarker for diagnosing PACG and indicating visual field progression., Funding: This work was supported by Youth Medical Talents - Clinical Laboratory Practitioner Program (2022-65), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82302582), Shanghai Municipal Health Commission Project (20224Y0317), and Higher Education Industry-Academic-Research Innovation Fund of China (2023JQ006)., Competing Interests: SL, JR, ZJ, YQ, MS, YL, JW, YS, XS, SG, WC No competing interests declared, (© 2023, Li, Ren, Jiang et al.)

Natural surfaces that repel foreign matter are ubiquitous and crucial for living organisms. Despite remarkable liquid repellency driven by surface energy in many organisms, repelling tiny solid particles from surfaces is rare. The main challenge lies in the unfavourable scaling of inertia versus adhesion in the microscale and the inability of solids to release surface energy. Here we report a previously unexplored solid repellency on a honeybee's comb: a catapult-like effect to immediately eject pollen after grooming dirty antennae for self-cleaning. Nanoindentation tests revealed the 38-μm-long comb features a stiffness gradient spanning nearly two orders of magnitude from ~25 MPa at the tip to ~645 MPa at the base. This significantly augments the elastic energy storage and accelerates the subsequent conversion into kinetic energy. The reinforcement in energy storage and conversion allows the particle's otherwise weak inertia to outweigh its adhesion, thereby suppressing the unfavourable scaling effect and realizing solid repellency that is impossible in conventional uniform designs. We capitalize on this to build an elastomeric bioinspired stiffness-gradient catapult and demonstrate its generality and practicality. Our findings advance the fundamental understanding of natural catapult phenomena with the potential to develop bioinspired stiffness-gradient materials, catapult-based actuators and robotic cleaners., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Apoptosis-like programmed cell death is associated with fungal development, ageing, pathogenicity and stress responses. Here, to explore the potential of Botrytis cinerea type II inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) BcBIR1 in elevating the biocontrol efficacy of Coniothyrium minitans, the BcBIR1 gene was heterologously expressed in C. minitans. Results indicated that the strains expressing BcBIR1 had higher rates of conidiation, mycelial growth and biomass growth than the wild-type strain. Moreover, BcBIR1 was found to inhibit apoptosis, indicating its role as an IAP in C. minitans. Under various abiotic stresses, the growth rates of BcBIR1-expressing strains were significantly higher than that of the wild-type strain. Moreover, the conidial survival rate of the BcBIR1-expressing strains treated with ultraviolet irradiation was enhanced. In antifungal activity assay, the culture filtrates of BcBIR1-expressing strains displayed a stronger inhibitory effect on B. cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum than the wild-type strain. The study also found that BcBIR1 expression increased the mycoparasitism against the sclerotia, but not the hyphae of S. sclerotiorum. Taken together, these results suggest that BcBIR1 enhances vegetative growth, conidiation, anti-apoptosis activity, abiotic stress resistance, antifungal activity and mycoparasitism in C. minitans. As an IAP, BcBIR1 may improve the control capacity of C. minitans against S. sclerotiorum., (© 2024 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology published by Applied Microbiology International and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Cardiac resident MerTK + macrophages exert multiple protective roles after ischemic injury; however, the mechanisms regulating their fate are not fully understood. In the present study, we show that the GAS6-inducible transcription factor, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), prevents apoptosis of MerTK + macrophages after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury by repressing the transcription of multiple genes involved in type I interferon expression (Ifih1 and Ifnb1) and apoptosis (Apaf1). Mice lacking ATF3 in cardiac macrophages or myeloid cells showed excessive loss of MerTK + cardiac macrophages, poor angiogenesis and worse heart dysfunction after IR, which were rescued by the transfer of MerTK + cardiac macrophages. GAS6 administration improved cardiac repair in an ATF3-dependent manner. Finally, we showed a negative association of GAS6 and ATF3 expression with the risk of major adverse cardiac events in patients with ischemic heart disease. These results indicate that the GAS6-ATF3 axis has a protective role against IR injury by regulating MerTK + cardiac macrophage survival and/or proliferation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In order to obtain the real material parameters of heterogeneous rock, the material parameters of red sandstone specimens under uniaxial compression tests are inverted based on the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method and the Finite Element Model Updating (FEMU) method. The DIC method is employed to calculate the displacement field of red sandstone specimens during uniaxial compression loading. Concurrently, a uniaxial compression elastic-plastic finite element numerical model with non-uniform material parameters is developed based on the FEMU method. The model adopts the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion and adjusts the boundary conditions in real-time to maintain consistency with the test. The vertical displacement field of the numerical model is juxtaposed with that of the test to construct the objective function. Optimization is achieved using the Artificial Fish Swarm algorithm, which enables the acquisition of the non-uniform distribution and evolution process of the material parameters of specimens at different loading moments. The results indicate that this method can spatially obtain the non-uniform distribution field of material parameters and temporally track the evolution of material parameters during the loading process. This research lays a solid foundation for enhancing the accuracy of intelligent coal mining and dynamic disaster monitoring and early warning in coal mines., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To explore the risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis in the rural areas of Northwest China, and to assess whether reducing serum homocysteine can prevent carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with hyperhomocysteinemia., Method: This observational study with 767 participants aged 40 years or older was conducted over 3 years. Color Doppler ultrasonography was performed to measure carotid atherosclerosis. We recorded biochemical indexes and carotid ultrasound results in the first and fourth years., Result: A total of 767 individuals (48.5 % men) were analyzed. Older age, hypertension, and higher levels of baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were risk factors for increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), carotid plaque, and carotid stenosis (All P < 0.05). No association was found between decreased serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels and CIMT, carotid plaque, or carotid stenosis in individuals with hyperhomocysteinemia., Conclusion: Older age, hypertension, and higher baseline levels of LDL-C were independent risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis. Reducing serum Hcy levels may not prevent carotid atherosclerosis in the general population with hyperhomocysteinemia., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2023 The Authors.)

The quinoline scaffold is a widely recognized heterocycle with applications across various disease categories, ranging from malaria and viral infections to bacterial infections, high cholesterol, and even tumors. Consequently, quinoline plays a crucial role in the development of new drugs, and the field greatly benefits from advancements in computer-aided drug design. This review aims to provide insights into the evolution of quinoline and its derivatives, offering a comprehensive exploration of both marketed and developing drugs. Furthermore, the function and mechanism of quinoline compounds are introduced. Many studies rely on cell experiments to demonstrate drug cytotoxicity. In the concluding section of this review, the interaction between quinoline compounds and targets is simulated using computer-aided drug design methods. A thorough analysis is conducted on the potential influencing factors affecting the binding state between quinoline compounds and targets. Notably, the Pi-Alkyl interaction emerges as a significant contributor, while hydrogen bonding is identified as a pivotal bond in these interactions. This review serves as a valuable overview of the potential contributions of quinoline compounds to cancer treatment. It seamlessly combines the essential functions of marketed quinoline drugs with the promise held by emerging quinoline-based compounds. Additionally, the simulation of interactions between quinoline compounds and proteins through computer-aided design enhances our understanding of these compounds' efficacy., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Taking the motion reconstruction of the Cretaceous hell ants as an example, this study shows how to achieve motion reconstruction in fossil invertebrates and discusses potential challenges and opportunities., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of China Science Publishing & Media Ltd.)

The feeding mechanisms of animals constrain the spectrum of resources that they can exploit profitably. For floral nectar eaters, both corolla depth and nectar properties have marked influence on foraging choices. We report the multiple strategies used by honey bees to efficiently extract nectar at the range of sugar concentrations and corolla depths they face in nature. Honey bees can collect nectar by dipping their hairy tongues or capillary loading when lapping it, or they can attach the tongue to the wall of long corollas and directly suck the nectar along the tongue sides. The honey bee feeding apparatus is unveiled as a multifunctional tool that can switch between lapping and sucking nectar according to the instantaneous ingesting efficiency, which is determined by the interplay of nectar-mouth distance and sugar concentration. These versatile feeding mechanisms allow honey bees to extract nectar efficiently from a wider range of floral resources than previously appreciated and endow them with remarkable adaptability to diverse foraging environments.

The African shrimp ( Atya gabonensis ) uses elongated setae to filter feed, adapting to high flow velocities. The setae's stability stems from carefully designed geometric and structural parameters, notably a specialized wall and distribution principle. This study highlights the robust filtration mechanism in the shrimp and potential for developing stable structures in underwater environments., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Cable-driven continuum robots with hyper-redundant deformable backbones show great promise in applications, such as inspection in unstructured environments, where traditional rigid robots with discrete links and joints fail to operate. However, the motion of existing continuum robots is still constrained by their homogeneous backbones, and limited to environments with modest geometrical complexity. In this study, inspired by highly deformable elephant trunks, we presented a modular tensegrity structure with preprogrammable stiffness for continuum robots. Then we derived a mechanical model based on a positional formulation finite element method for predicting the configuration of the structure in different deformation scenarios. Theoretical predictions revealed that the curvature of each segment could be regulated by preprogramming their spring stiffness. Hence, our customizable design could offer an effective route for efficient robotic interactions. We further fabricated a continuum robot consisting of 12 modules, and showcased its deformation patterns under multiple scenarios. By regulating the distribution of spring stiffness, our robot could move through channels with varying curvatures, exhibiting its potential for applications where varying curvature, and conformal and efficient interactions are needed. Leveraging the inherent intelligence, this robotic system could simplify the complexity of the required actuation and control systems.

Background/aims: Timely detection and treatment of retinal detachment (RD) could effectively save vision and reduce the risk of progressing visual field defects. High myopia (HM) is known to be associated with an increased risk of RD. Evidently, it should be clearly discriminated the individuals with high or low risk of RD in patients with HM. By using multi-parametric analysis, risk assessment, and other techniques, it is crucial to create cutting-edge screening programs that may be utilized to improve population eye health and develop person-specific, cost-effective preventative, and targeted therapeutic measures. Therefore, we propose a novel, routine blood parameters-based prediction model as a screening program to help distinguish who should offer detailed ophthalmic examinations for RD diagnosis, prevent visual field defect progression, and provide personalized, serial monitoring in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3 PM)., Methods: This population-based study included 20,870 subjects (HM = 19,284, HMRD = 1586) who underwent detailed routine blood tests and ophthalmic evaluations. HMRD cases and HM controls were matched using a nested case-control design. Then, the HMRD cases and HM controls were randomly assigned to the discovery cohort, validation cohort 1, and validation cohort 2 maintaining a 6:2:2 ratio, and other subjects were assigned to the HM validation cohort. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to select feature indexes. Feature indexes were integrated into seven algorithm models, and an optimal model was selected based on the highest area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy., Results: Six feature indexes were selected: lymphocyte, basophil, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. Among the algorithm models, the algorithm of conditional probability (ACP) showed the best performance achieving an AUC of 0.79, a diagnostic accuracy of 0.72, a sensitivity of 0.71, and a specificity of 0.74 in the discovery cohort. A good performance of the ACP model was also observed in the validation cohort 1 (AUC = 0.81, accuracy = 0.72, sensitivity = 0.71, specificity = 0.73) and validation cohort 2 (AUC = 0.77, accuracy = 0.71, sensitivity = 0.70, specificity = 0.72). In addition, ACP model calibration was found to be good across three cohorts. In the HM validation cohort, the ACP model achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 0.81 for negative classification., Conclusion: We have developed a routine blood parameters-based model with an ACP algorithm that could potentially be applied in the clinic with a PPPM approach for serial monitoring and predicting the occurrence of RD in HM and can facilitate the prevention of HM progression to RD. According to the current study, routine blood measures are essential in patient risk classification, predictive diagnosis, and targeted therapy. Therefore, for high-risk RD persons, novel screening programs and prompt treatment plans are essential to enhance individual outcomes and healthcare offered to the community with HM., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-023-00319-3., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to European Association for Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine (EPMA) 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The flea beetle, Altica cirsicola, escapes predators by jumping and landing in a dense maze of leaves. How do they land on such varied surfaces? In this experimental study, we filmed the take-off, flight, and landing of flea beetles on a configurable angled platform. We report three in-flight behaviors: winged, wingless, and an intermediate winged mode. These modes significantly affected take-off speed, acceleration, and the duration that wings were deployed. When wings were closed, flea beetles rolled or pitched up to five times in the air. This work may help to understand how insects can jump and right themselves onto variable surfaces., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Although the role of tumor microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has been explored in a number of studies, the value of TME-related signatures in immunotherapy has not been comprehensively characterized. Materials and Methods: Consensus clustering was conducted to characterize TME-based molecular subtypes using transcription data of LUAD samples. The biological pathways and immune microenvironment were assessed by CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE, and gene set enrichment analysis. A TME-related risk model was established through the algorithms of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) and stepwise Akaike information criterion (stepAIC). Results: Four TME-based molecular subtypes including C1, C2, C3, and C4 were identified, and they showed distinct overall survival, genomic characteristics, DNA methylation pattern, immune microenvironment, and biological pathways. C1 had the worst prognosis and high tumor proliferation rate. C3 and C4 had higher enrichment of anti-tumor signatures compared to C1 and C2. C4 had evidently low enrichment of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signature and tumor proliferation rate. C3 was predicted to be more sensitive to immunotherapy compared with other subtypes. C1 is more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs, including Docetaxel, Vinorelbine and Cisplatin, while C3 is more sensitive to Paclitaxel. A five-gene risk model was constructed, which showed a favorable performance in three independent datasets. Low-risk group showed a longer overall survival, more infiltrated immune cells, and higher response to immunotherapy than high-risk group. Conclusion: This study comprehensively characterized the molecular features of LUAD patients based on TME-related signatures, demonstrating the potential of TME-based signatures in exploring the mechanisms of LUAD development. The TME-related risk model was of clinical value to predict LUAD prognosis and guide immunotherapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Jie, Wu, An, Li, He, Wang, Gu and E.)

Sensing physical properties of liquids, such as viscosity, is of great significance for both biological organisms and industrial applications. For terrestrial organisms feeding on liquids, such as honey bees that forage nectar, sensing viscosity may help to determine the quality of food sources. Previous experiments showed that honey bees exhibit strong preferences for less viscous nectar; however, the physical mechanism underlying how they perceive viscosity remains unexplored. In this study, we propose that the western honey bee ( Apis mellifera L.) is capable of distinguishing viscosity using the slender trichoid sensilla emerging from a ball and socket-like joint on the proboscis. Observations of the trichoid sensilla using transmission electron microscopy reveal physical characteristics that are typical of mechanosensory structures. Additionally, we found that bees actively alter the rate at which they feed based on the liquid's viscosity and not its sugar content, hinting at their sensing of viscosity. Through mathematical modeling, we found that the sensitivity of the biological viscometer was determined by its length, and the optimal sensitivity for a western honey bee occurs when the tongue interacts with nectar with a viscosity of 4.2 mPa·s, coinciding with the viscosities typically found in the wild. Our findings broaden insights into how honey bees adapt to varying-viscosity nectar from the perspective of mechanical sensing, and how the bee-flower partnership may be based around the optimal nectar viscosity for feeding. By understanding how bees may sense viscosity at the micrometer scale, we may motivate new technologies for micro-viscometers., (© 2022 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

A bee's tongue is coated in dynamic hairs that gradually unfold to entrain the viscid nectar, during which hairs inevitably deflect as a result of fluid drag. The hair deflection induced decline in nectar capture rate may be a coupled elastoviscous problem and remains poorly understood. Here we employed geometric beam theory coupled with the effective viscous force to derive a dynamic model for a rotary tongue hair deflection in a viscous fluid. Considering deflection of the tongue hair, we rationalized the nectar capture rate by taking Bombus terrestris as a model system. When the nectar concentration increases from 20% to 70%, the nectar capture rate declines by 87%, indicating that hair erection is more severely impeded in thicker nectar. Based on this model, we predicted an optimal hair length with which the bee can reach the maximum nectar capture rate. This work may provide a new theoretical framework for quantifying viscous liquid transport by hairy surfaces and shed light on design methodologies for fluid transport devices using hairy beds., (© 2022 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

With the increase in the amount of 3D point cloud data and the wide application of point cloud registration in various fields, the question of whether it is possible to quickly extract the key points of registration and perform accurate coarse registration has become a question to be urgently answered. In this paper, we proposed a novel semantic segmentation algorithm that enables the extracted feature point cloud to have a clustering effect for fast registration. First of all, an adaptive technique was proposed to determine the domain radius of a local point. Secondly, the feature intensity of the point is scored through the regional fluctuation coefficient and stationary coefficient calculated by the normal vector, and the high feature region to be registered is preliminarily determined. In the end, FPFH is used to describe the geometric features of the extracted semantic feature point cloud, so as to realize the coarse registration from the local point cloud to the overall point cloud. The results show that the point cloud can be roughly segmented based on the uniqueness of semantic features. The use of a semantic feature point cloud can make the point cloud have a very fast response speed based on the accuracy of coarse registration, almost equal to that of using the original point cloud, which is conducive to the rapid determination of the initial attitude.

Polyphenols are secondary plant metabolites or organic compounds synthesized by them. In other words, these are molecules that are found in plants. Due to the wide variety of polyphenols and the plants in which they are found, these compounds are divided according to the source of origin, the function of the polyphenols, and their chemical structure; where the main ones are flavonoids. All the beneficial properties of polyphenols have not yet been studied, since this group of substances is very extensive and diverse. However, most polyphenols are known to be powerful antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory effects. Polyphenols help fight cell damage caused by free radicals and immune system components. In particular, polyphenols are credited with a preventive effect that helps protect the body from certain forms of cancer. The onset and progression of tumors may be related directly to oxidative stress, or inflammation. These processes can increase the amount of DNA damage and lead to loss of control over cell division. A number of studies have shown that oxidative stress uncontrolled by antioxidants or an uncontrolled and prolonged inflammatory process increases the risk of developing sarcoma, melanoma, and breast, lung, liver, and prostate cancer. Therefore, a more in-depth study of the effect of polyphenolic compounds on certain signaling pathways that determine the complex cascade of oncogenesis is a promising direction in the search for new methods for the prevention and treatment of tumors., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Sufianova, Gareev, Beylerli, Wu, Shumadalova, Sufianov, Chen and Zhao.)

Aeromonas hydrophila is a common pathogen in fish that has caused severe economic losses in aquaculture worldwide. With the emergence of bacterial resistance, it is necessary to develop new drugs to combat bacterial infection, particularly for multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this study, the antibacterial activity of pinocembrin was investigated by observing bacterial growth and microscopic structure, and its mechanism of action was identified by investigating its effect on protein and DNA. The antibacterial susceptibility test indicated that pinocembrin inhibits A. hydrophila growth. The minimal inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were 256 μg/mL and 512 μg/mL, respectively. Ultrastructurally, the bacteria treated with pinocembrin showed surface roughness and plasmolysis. When bacteria were treated with 512 μg/mL pinocembrin, lactate dehydrogenase activity and soluble protein content decreased significantly, and electrical conductivity and DNA exosmosis levels increased by 4.21 ± 0.64% and 15.98 ± 1.93 mg/L, respectively. Staining with 4', 6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole showed that the nucleic acid fluorescence intensity and density decreased after the treatment with pinocembrin. Pinocembrin may inhibit the growth of A. hydrophila by increasing cell membrane permeability and affecting protein and DNA metabolism. Thus, pinocembrin is a candidate drug for the treatment of A. hydrophila infection in aquaculture., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Background: Tumors are the second most common cause of death in humans worldwide, second only to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Although methods and techniques for the treatment of tumors continue to improve, the effect is not satisfactory. These may lack effective therapeutic targets. This study aimed to evaluate the value of SNHG12 as a biomarker in the prognosis and clinical characteristics of various cancer patients., Methods: We analyzed SNHG12 expression and plotted the survival curves of all cancer samples in the TCGA database using the GEPIA tool. Then, we searched for eligible papers up to April 1, 2019, in databases. Next, the data were extracted from studies examining SNHG12 expression, overall survival and clinicopathological features in patients with malignant tumors. We used Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15 software to analyze the statistical data., Results: In the TCGA database, abnormally high expression of SNHG12 in tumor samples indicates that the patient has a poor prognosis. Results of meta-analysis is that SNHG12 high expression is related to low overall survival (HR = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.95-3.8, P < 0.00001), high tumor stage (OR = 3.94, 95% CI = 2.80-5.53, P < 0.00001), high grade (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.18-3.51, P = 0.01), distant metastasis (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.40-3.46, P = 0.0006), tumor size (OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.89-4.14, P < 0.00001), and lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.65-4.29, P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Our study confirmed that the high expression level of SNHG12 is closely related to the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients and is a new predictive biomarker for various cancer patients., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Glioma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. The standard treatment scheme of glioma is surgical resection combined alternative radio- and chemotherapy. However, the outcome of glioma patients was unsatisfied. Here, we aimed to explore the molecular and biological function characteristics of GPX7 in glioma., Methods: The multidimensional data of glioma samples were downloaded from Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). RT-qPCR method was used to identify the expression status of GPX7. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were used to explore the prognostic value of GPX7. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was applied to investigate the GPX7-related functions in glioma., Results: The results indicated that the expression of GPX7 in glioma was higher compared to that in normal brain tissue. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses confirmed that the expression value of GPX7 was an independent prognostic factor in glioma. The GSEA analysis showed that GPX7 was significantly enriched in the cell cycle pathway, ECM pathway, focal adhesion pathway, and toll-like receptor pathway., Conclusions: The GPX7 was recommended as an independent risk factor for patients diagnosed with glioma for the first time and GPX7 could be potentially used as the therapy target in future. Furthermore, we attempted to explore a potential biomarker for improving the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with glioma.

Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor in the central nervous system (CNS) with high morbidity and mortality in adults. Although standardized comprehensive therapy has been adapted, the prognosis of glioma patients is still frustrating and thus novel therapeutic strategies are urgently in need. Quercetin (Quer), an important flavonoid compound found in many herbs, is shown to be effective in some tumor models including glioma. Recently, it is reported that adequate regulation of autophagy can strengthen cytotoxic effect of anticancer drugs. However, it is not yet fully clear how we should modulate autophagy to achieve a satisfactory therapeutic effect. 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) and Beclin1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) were used to inhibit the early stage of autophage while chloroquine (CQ) to inhibit the late stage. MTT assay was implemented to determine cell viability. Transmission electron microscopy, western blot, and immunohistochemistry were adopted to evaluate autophagy. Western blot, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect apoptosis. C6 glioma xenograft models were established to assess the therapeutic effect (the body weight change, the median survival time, and tumor volume) in vivo. Quercetin can inhibit cell viability and induce autophagy of U87 and U251 glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of early-stage autophagy by 3-MA or shRNA against Beclin1 attenuated the quercetin-induced cytotoxicity. In contrast, suppression of autophagy at a late stage by CQ enhanced the anti-glioma efficiency of quercetin. Therapeutic effect of quercetin for malignant glioma can be strengthened by inhibition of autophagy at a late stage, not initial stage, which may provide a novel opportunity for glioma therapy.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE; To investigate a new composite matrix (BMSCs seeded on the denuded human amniotic membrane, BMSCs-DHAM) bridging the both stumps of spinal cord injury in rats to promote axon regeneration and improve motor function of hind limbs., Methods: The human amniotic membrane (HAM) was voluntarily donated by the healthy pregnant women after a caesarean section. The cells on the HAM were completely removed with a tryptic and mechanical approach to prepare DHAM. The BMSCs were separated and cultured from 4-week-old female rats (n = 4), then the forth passage of BMSCs were labeled by PKH26 and seeded on DHAM (BMSCs-DHAM). The growing state of BMSCs was observed under the microscopy. Moreover, 40 female rats (8-week-old, weighting 200-220 g) were made spinal cord injury models by transecting at T9 level, and were randomly divided into 4 groups (each group, n = 10). The both stumps were respectively wrapped by BMSCs-DHAM or simple DHAM in groups A and C, and the same dose of BMSCs or physiological saline were also respectively injected the central lesion in groups B and D. At 12 weeks after surgery, the functional recovery of the hindlimbs was evaluated by the BBB locomotor rating score, and other indexes were tested including cortical motion evoked potential (MEP), anterograde biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) tracing, and immunofluorescence of neurofilament protein 200 (NF-200)., Results: HE staining proved that the DHAM was devoid of cellular components by this way, and BMSCs grew well on the substrate under the microscopy. At 12 weeks after operation, the BBB score (12.50 +/- 1.26) in group A was significantly higher than those of other groups (P < 0.05), and the recovery in latency (3.52 +/- 2.45) ms and amplitude (480.68 +/- 18.41) microV of MEP was also obviously improved in group A (P < 0.05) when compared with other groups. In addition, anterograde BDA tracing revealed that the rate of the positive BDA axons 54.12% +/- 3.30% under the lesion level in group A was higher than those of other groups (P < 0.05), and lots of the regeneration axons (positive NF-200) were found to grow into the spinal cord under the composite matrix in group A., Conclusion: The BMSCs-DHAM composite matrix can improve hindlimb motor function to some extent after spinal cord injury. It will be widely applied as the matrix material in the future.