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[Display omitted] • Surface –OH and –COOH on PMIA were regulated by varying the plasma treatment times. • –OH plays as a reduction agent to facilitate the production of Mn3+ and OV. • –COOH endow MnO 2 @PMIA almost unchanged catalytic performance after 20 launderings. • MnO 2 @PMIA showed formaldehyde removal ratio up to 90.97 % after 20 home launderings. Fiber-based MnO 2 nanocatalysts show high practical potential for their easy recovery. While significantly reducing specific surface area, catalytic performance, and poor laundering durability hinder their further applications for formaldehyde removal. Here, surface –OH and –COOH on PMIA were finely regulated by varying the plasma treatment durations. –OH plays as a reduction agent to facilitate the production of Mn3+ close to the PMIA surface and thus promote subsequent output of oxygen vacancy (OV). The plasma introduced and –OH oxidated –COOH acted together as multiple binding sites to bridge the MnO 2 catalyst and PMIA fiber, which endows the MnO 2 @PMIA excellent laundering durability evidenced by the almost unchanged catalytic performance targeting formaldehyde even after 20 home laundering cycles. The mechanism of modulation of oxygen vacancy and specific surface area and water fastness by in situ –OH and –COOH on the relevant surfaces is proposed and confirmed by FTIR, XPS, SEM, and BET. MnO 2 @PMIA-6 demonstrated the highest catalytic activity for the degradation of formaldehyde, up to 95.43 % in 1 h at room temperature. The catalytic activity remained at 90.97 % with only 0.94 % loss of catalyst mass after 20 home laundering cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the strong interface between fibers and ceramic matrix in silicon carbide (SiC) fibers reinforced in ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), tremendous efforts have been devoted to the fabrication of fiber coating. However, the design and preparation of these fiber coatings still remain a considerable challenge. In this study, we report a novel strategy to synthesize foldcore sandwich structure formed by boron nitride (BN)-coated graphene nanosheets (GNS) grafted to SiC fibers and analyze how the presence of GNS/BN composite coatings influences the mechanical performance of the fibers. In the fracture process, GNS-grafted SiC fibers coated with BN provide a specific wrinkled and malleable surface, which can be flattened and then broken in the early fracture stage. As a result, the fracture process is changed, resulting in enhanced mechanical performance. Our strategy could be further extended to the fabrication of other composite coatings on fibers with enhanced mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune composition is commonly heterogeneous and varies among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. A comprehensive immune classification may act as important characteristics to predict CRC prognosis. Thus, we aimed to identify novel immune specific subtypes to guide future therapies. Unsupervised clustering was used to classify CRC samples into different immune subtypes based on abundances of immune cell populations, during which TCGA and GSE17536 datasets were used as training and validation sets, respectively. The associations between the immune subtypes and patient prognosis were investigated. Further, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between immune high and low subtypes, followed by functional enrichment analyses of DEGs. The expression levels of 74 immunomodulators (IMs) across immune subtypes were analyzed. As a result, we clustered CRC samples into three distinct immune subtypes (immune high, moderate, and low). Patients with immune-high subtype showed the best prognosis, and patients with immune-low subtype had the worst survival in both TCGA and GSE17536 cohorts. A group of 2735 up-regulated DEGs were identified across immune high and low subtypes. The main DEGs were the members of complement components, chemokines, immunoglobulins, and immunosuppressive genes that are involved in immune modulation-related pathways (e.g., cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction) or GO terms (e.g., adaptive immune response and T cell activation). The expression levels of 63 IMs were significantly varied across immune subtypes. In conclusion, this study provides a conceptual framework and molecular characteristics of CRC immune subtypes, which may accurately predict prognosis and offer novel targets for personalized immunotherapy through modifying subtype-specific tumor immune microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to determine the antidiabetic activity of Ang-(1-7), an important component of the renin–angiotensin system, in a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). A total of 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group fed standard laboratory diet, DM group fed high-fat diet and injected with STZ, and Ang-(1-7) group receiving injection of STZ followed by Ang-(1-7) treatment. Body weight, blood glucose levels, fasting serum Ang II and insulin levels, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured. The pancreas was collected for histological examination and gene expression analysis. Notably, the Ang-(1-7) group showed a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose and serum Ang II levels and HOMA-IR values and increase in fasting serum insulin levels. Pancreatic β cells in the control and Ang-(1-7) groups were normally distributed in the center of pancreatic islets with large clear nuclei. In contrast, pancreatic β cells in the DM group had a marked shrinkage of the cytoplasm and condensation of nuclear chromatin. Ang-(1-7) treatment significantly facilitated insulin production by β cells in diabetic rats. The DM-associated elevation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), caspase-3, caspase-9, caspase-8, and Bax and reduction of Bcl-2 was significantly reversed by Ang-(1-7) treatment. Taken together, Ang-(1-7) protects against STZ-induced DM through improvement of insulin resistance, insulin secretion, and pancreatic β cell survival, which is associated with reduction of iNOS expression and alteration of the Bcl-2 family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. Although the standard of care, including maximal resection, concurrent radiotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ), and adjuvant TMZ, has largely improved the prognosis of these patients, the 5-year survival rate is still < 10%. Tumor-treating fields (TTFields), a noninvasive anticancer therapeutic modality, has been rising as a fourth treatment option for GBMs, as confirmed by recent milestone large-scale phase 3 randomized trials and subsequent real-world data, elongating patient overall survival from 16 months to 21 months. However, the mechanisms of antitumor efficacy, its clinical safety, and potential benefits when combined with other treatment modalities are far from completely elucidated. As an increasing number of studies have recently been published on this topic, we conducted this updated, comprehensive review to establish an objective understanding of the mechanism of action, efficacy, safety, clinical concerns, and future perspectives of TTFields. Tumor-treating fields (TTFields), a noninvasive and innovative therapeutic approach, has emerged as the fourth most effective treatment option for the management of glioblastomas (GBMs), the most deadly primary brain cancer. According to on recent milestone randomized trials and subsequent observational data, TTFields therapy leads to substantially prolonged patient survival and acceptable adverse events. Clinical trials are ongoing to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of TTFields in treating GBMs and its biological and radiological correlations. TTFields is administered by delivering low-intensity, intermediate-frequency, alternating electric fields to human GBM function through different mechanisms of action, including by disturbing cell mitosis, delaying DNA repair, enhancing autophagy, inhibiting cell metabolism and angiogenesis, and limiting cancer cell migration. The abilities of TTFields to strengthen intratumoral antitumor immunity, increase the permeability of the cell membrane and the blood–brain barrier, and disrupt DNA-damage-repair processes make it a promising therapy when combined with conventional treatment modalities. However, the overall acceptance of TTFields in real-world clinical practice is still low. Given that increasing studies on this promising topic have been published recently, we conducted this updated review on the past, present, and future of TTFields in GBMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The daily water productivity of sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) materials is significantly limited by their low moisture sorption capacity and sluggish ab/desorption kinetics. Here, a thin, porous, mechanically stable and high LiCl-loading content super-hygroscopic SA-MXene@LiCl membrane (SM@LiCl) was fabricated via vacuum-assisted filtration and freeze-drying methods. The thin and porous characteristics of the cross-linked SA-MXene network significantly reduce moisture transport resistance, while the wrapped hygroscopic LiCl effectively enhances its moisture capture capacity. When applied to SAWH, this nanocomposite membrane demonstrates an impressive water uptake performance of 1.69 g g−1 within 1 h at 45 % RH and releases over 65 % of absorbed water after only 0.5 h of sunlight irradiation (1 kW/m2). With its high moisture sorption capacity and rapid ab/desorption kinetics, it can operate for up to 16 cycles per day in indoor environment, resulting in a record daily water yield of 19.46 L kg−1 at 45 % RH. The present study presents a straightforward approach for the development of high-quality sorbents with improved ab/desorption kinetics for SAWH. Through the combination of vacuum-assisted filtration and freeze-drying methods, a thin, porous, mechanically stable and high LiCl-loading content super-hygroscopic SA-MXene@LiCl membrane was fabricated by confining LiCl in a sodium alginate (SA)- MXene porous matrix. The obtained nanocomposite membrane demonstrates an impressive water uptake performance of 1.69 g g−1 within 1 h at 45 % RH and releases over 65 % of absorbed water after only 0.5 h of sunlight irradiation (1 kW/m2). With its high moisture sorption capacity and rapid ab/desorption kinetics, it can operate for up to 16 cycles per day in indoor environment, resulting in a record daily water yield of 19.46 L kg−1 at 45 % RH. [Display omitted] • A thin, mechanically stable and high LiCl-loading content membrane was fabricated. • The SM@LiCl exhibits an impressing water uptake of 1.69 g g−1 at 45 % RH within 1 h. • The SM@LiCl releases above 65 % of the absorbed water after 0.5 h solar irradiation. • The SM@LiCl can operate 16 sorption-desorption cycles per day. • Daily water yield of SM@LiCl can reach 19.46 L kg−1 at 45 % RH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural color is an important way to achieve the ecological coloring of textiles. SiO 2 microspheres with sizes in the range of 200–337 nm were synthesized by the Stober method and then covered with highly light-absorbing melanin PDA to form SiO 2 @PDA photonic crystals. The SiO 2 @PDA photonic crystals were assembled onto the surface of white cotton fabrics by gravity deposition to achieve structural color. The addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) enhances interfacial bonding by forming multiple hydrogen bonds between its lactam group and the phenolic hydroxyl group of PDA, resulting in a structured color cotton fabric with high color fastness. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the structure and morphology of SiO 2 @PDA microspheres. The chemical compositions of PDA and PVP were surveyed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The surface structural color of cotton fabrics was investigated by UV–Vis reflectance spectroscopy. [Display omitted] • SiO 2 @PDA microspheres to achieve structural coloring of white cotton fabrics. • Modulation of SiO 2 microsphere size can obtain a variety of structural colors. • PVP enhances color fastness of SiO 2 @PDA structured color cotton fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A matricellular protein periostin has been documented to promote macrophage recruitment in atherosclerotic lesions. However, the role of periostin in macrophage foam cell formation is still unknown. In this study, we examined the expression and function of periostin in cholesterol homeostasis in macrophages. The role of periostin in mediating Ang II-induced foam cell formation was also investigated. The mechanism by which Ang II induced the expression of periostin was explored. It was found that oxLDL treatment significantly increased the expression and secretion of periostin in THP-1 macrophages. Knockdown of periostin blocked oxLDL-induced lipid accumulation and enhanced cholesterol efflux. In contrast, treatment with recombinant periostin protein enhanced oxLDL-induced macrophage foam cell formation. Ang II caused a time-dependent induction of periostin in THP-1 macrophages, which was ascribed to Twist2-mediated transactivation of periostin. Ang II treatment significantly augmented lipid accumulation in THP-1 macrophages, and knockdown of periostin blocked the effect of Ang II on foam cell formation. Moreover, periostin depletion restored cholesterol efflux in Ang II-treated THP-1 macrophages. Clinically, there was a significant positive correlation between serum periostin and Ang II levels in patients with atherosclerosis. Collectively, we show that periostin is essential for Ang II-induced enhancement of macrophage foam cell formation via suppression of cholesterol efflux. • Periostin silencing blocks macrophage foam cell formation. • Ang II induces periostin in macrophages through Twist2-mediated transactivation. • Periostin depletion promotes cholesterol efflux in Ang II-treated macrophages. • There is a positive correlation between serum periostin and Ang II in atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A conical shaped self-healing slippery film with tunable cone angles is fabricated via simple template method and Chinese traditional origami craft. • The advantage of conical structure on preventing droplets splashing in windy condition is demonstrated. • The scratches of different widths on the fabricated film surface can be quickly repaired under solar illumination. Wind presents both advantages and disadvantages for water collection. It can bring an abundant fog resource to arid areas for water harvesting, however, some of the captured water droplets are inevitably blown away in a windy environment because of the easy-sliding property of the material surface. Herein, a conical-shaped, self-healing, liquid-infused film with tunable cone angles based on candle soot, thermoplastic poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA), and hydrophobic silicone oil has been developed using a simple template method and traditional Chinese origami. Benefiting from the inward force induced by the conical structure, the condensed droplets prefer to gather toward the top of the conical structure in windy environments rather than splashing out, which usually occurs on a plane surface. This advantage can greatly ensure the high water collection efficiency of materials in windy regions. In addition, owing to the unique photothermal property and thermoplasticity of the designed conical structure, surface scratches during application can be quickly repaired under solar illumination without extra fossil energy consumption, and long-term stable application of the materials can be guaranteed. Therefore, this study finely synergized structure design and performance enhancement and established a new paradigm for effective and reliable fog harvesting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholesterol efflux from foam cells in atherosclerotic plaques is crucial for reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), an important antiatherogenic event. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, ABCA1 and ABCG1, are key receptors in the cholesterol efflux pathway. C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-9 (CTRP9) is a newly discovered adipokine and exhibits an atheroprotective activity. However, the role of CTRP9 in RCT still remains unknown. In this work, we investigated the effect of subcutaneous administration of CTRP9 protein on RCT and atherosclerotic lesion formation in ApoE−/− mice fed with a high-fat diet. CTRP9-dependent regulation of cholesterol efflux and ABC transporters in RAW 264.7 foam cells was determined. Our results showed that CTRP9 protein decreased atherosclerotic lesions, increased cholesterol efflux, and upregulated liver ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression in ApoE−/− mice. CTRP9 treatment dose-dependently increased mRNA and protein expression of ABCA1, ABCG1, and LXR-α in RAW 264.7 foam cells. Moreover, the expression and phosphorylation of AMPK was potentiated upon CTRP9 treatment. Notably, CTRP9-induced cholesterol efflux and upregulation of ABCA, ABCG1, and LXR-α were impaired when AMPK was knocked down. AMPK depletion restored cholesterol accumulation in CTRP9-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, subcutaneous injection is an effective novel delivery route for CTRP9 protein, and exogenous CTRP9 can facilitate cholesterol efflux and promote RCT in an animal model of atherosclerosis. The atheroprotective activity of CTRP9 is mediated through the activation of AMPK signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol-induced intestinal dysbiosis disrupts and inflammatory responses are essential in the development of alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). Here, we investigated the effects of Fmo5 on changes in enteric microbiome composition in a model of AFLD and dissected the pathogenic role of Fmo5 in AFLD-induced liver pathology. Methods: The expression profile data of GSE8006 and GSE40334 datasets were downloaded from the GEO database. The WGCNA approach allowed us to investigate the AFLD-correlated module. DEGs were used to perform KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Four PPI networks were constructed using the STRING database and visualized using Cytoscape software. The Cytohubba plug-in was used to identify the hub genes. Western blot and immunohistochemistry assays were used to detect protein expression. ELISA assay was used to detect the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines. Lipid droplets in the cytoplasm were observed using Oil Red O staining. Apoptosis was detected using a TUNEL assay and flow cytometry analysis. ROS levels were detected using flow cytometry analysis. Nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 was observed using immunofluorescence staining. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to detect the co-expression of PPARα and Fmo5 in L02 cells. 16S rDNA sequencing defined the bacterial communities in mice with AFLD. Results: Fmo5 is a key DEG and is closely associated with the gut microbiota and PPAR signaling pathway. Gut microbiome function in AFLD was significantly related to the PPAR signaling pathway. AFLD induced shifts in various bacterial phyla in the cecum, including a reduction in Bacteroidetes and increased Firmicutes. Fmo5 and PPARα co-expression in cell and animal models with AFLD, which decreased significantly. Silencing of Fmo5 and PPARα aggravated the functions of AFLD inducing apoptosis and inflammatory response, promoting liver injury, and activating the NF-κB signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro. The NF-κB inhibitor abolished the functions of silencing of Fmo5 and PPARα promoting AFLD-induced apoptosis, inflammatory response, and liver injury. Conclusion: Our data indicated that the co-expression of Fmo5 and PPARα was involved in AFLD-related gut microbiota composition and alleviated AFLD-induced liver injury, apoptosis, and inflammatory response by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 to inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The PPY/PG is small-pores at top region and large-pores at the bottom region. • The long-standing trade-off between water supply and heat loss was surmounted. • The PPY/PG shows evaporation rate of 2.49 kg m−2h−1 and solar efficiency of 96.3 %. Engineering the pore structure of evaporator to effectively integrate water and thermal management is critical for efficient solar-driven interfacial vapor generation. Here, inspired by the unique structure of Benincasa hispidas , a bioinspired pore-gradient aerogel was fabricated for the first time. Experiments and numerical simulations reveal that the unique anisotropic porous structure of aerogel, which consists of small-pores at top region and large-pores at bottom region, enabling it to maximize the heat gains from the sunlight and localize the generated heat while provide adequate water supply concurrently. Under solar illumination (1 kW m−2), the fabricated aerogel can achieve a high evaporation rate of 2.49 kg m−2h−1, and the calculated energy efficiency is approximately 96.3 %, which is comparable to most of state-of-the-art evaporators. Additionally, with this aerogel employed, effective purification toward various undrinkable water can be achieved. This work derives from nature, providing us a design blueprint to integrate water and thermal management in a bulky material, and it is expected to advance one step further toward the design and practical application of high-performance solar evaporators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays a crucial role in reverse cholesterol transport and exhibits anti-atherosclerosis effects. Some microRNAs (miRs) regulate ABCA1 expression, and recent studies have shown that miR-20a/b might play a critical role in atherosclerotic diseases. Here, we attempted to clarify the potential contribution of miR-20a/b in post-transcriptional regulation of ABCA1, cholesterol efflux, and atherosclerosis. We performed bioinformatics analysis and found that miR-20a/b was highly conserved and directly bound to ABCA1 mRNA with low binding free energy. Luciferase-reporter assay also confirmed that miR-20a/b significantly reduced luciferase activity associated with the ABCA1 3′ untranslated region reporter construct. Additionally, miR-20a/b decreased ABCA1 expression, which, in turn, decreased cholesterol efflux and increased cholesterol content in THP-1 and RAW 264.7 macrophage-derived foam cells. In contrast, miR-20a/b inhibitors increased ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux, decreased cholesterol content, and inhibited foam-cell formation. Consistent with our in vitro results, miR-20a/b-treated ApoE −/− mice showed decreased ABCA1expression in the liver and reductions of reverse cholesterol transport in vivo. Furthermore, miR-20a/b regulated the formation of nascent high-density lipoprotein and promoted atherosclerotic development, whereas miR-20a/b knockdown attenuated atherosclerotic formation. miR-20 is a new miRNA capable of targeting ABCA1 and regulating ABCA1 expression. Therefore, miR-20 inhibition constitutes a new strategy for ABCA1-based treatment of atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel hierarchical starfish-like vanadium oxide is synthesized by a simple and direct hydrothermal method using a functional V 2 O 5 sol as a vanadium source. The formation mechanism of hierarchical starfish-like structure is discussed. Results demonstrate that the functional V 2 O 5 sol plays a crucial role in the formation of a hierarchical starfish-like structure. Starfish-like vanadium oxide is composed of single crystals of a metastable VO 2 (B) phase that grow along the (1 1 0) plane and four oblique sheets growing on the flanks of the (1 1 0) plane. The starfish-like structure can be preserved and undergoes phase transition to the orthorhombic V 2 O 5 phase when calcined at 350 °C. Hierarchical starfish-like V 2 O 5 displays higher electrochemical performance than pristine V 2 O 5 powder as a cathode material for LIBs. This improved performance could be attributed to the shortened diffusion path of lithium ions in the former; a large electrode/electrolyte contact area resulting from the unique hierarchical starfish-like structure composed of nanosheets also offers better electrolyte wetting and alleviates the structural degradation upon cycling. The hierarchical starfish-like V 2 O 5 can deliver a discharge capacity of approximately 163 mA h g −1 at a high current density of 1000 mA g −1 (5C) even after 50 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium pentoxide (VO) nanosheet thin film without conductive additives and binders has been synthesized via sol-gel and liquid phase deposition methods on ITO glass substrate followed by heat treatment at 450 °C. The SEM and TEM results showed that the as-deposited film presents an intertwined nanowire structure with a length of several micrometers and a width of dozens of nanometers, and it transformed into nanosheet-like crystalline orthorhombic VO after annealing. Possible formation process of the nanowired structure is briefly discussed. The analysis of XRD confirmed that the film exhibits a strong preferred orientation along c-axis. The Raman spectrum verified the layered structure of the film. The corresponding electrochemical performance tests indicated that the binder- and carbon-free film possesses comparable high specific capacity and good cyclic stability to the conventional electrodes, which manifests that this facile synthesized material is quite promising and it provides a low-cost alternative for lithium-ion battery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Highly anti-UV PMIA was prepared by a modified atomic layer deposition strategy. • Modified PMIA retain the excellent laundering durability and thermal stability. • TiO 2 film have a negligible effect on the luster and flexibility of modified PMIA. Aramid fiber holds a great potential application in harsh environments like defense and aerospace due to outstanding integrated properties, but it still falls short in poor UV resistance and surface inertness. It is an intriguing but challenging task to obtain high anti-UV efficiency for aramid fiber without compromising the mechanical characteristics. Herein, a uniform and thickness-controlled amorphous TiO 2 coating is chemically-bonded onto aramid fiber surfaces via a modified atomic layer deposition (mALD) strategy. Although mALD TiO 2 has an amorphous structure, its special chemical bonding state similar to LBL enables it to absorb UV light to a certain extent, but at the same time endows it with low photocatalytic activity. In contrast to bare aramid fiber with poor UV resistance and greatly suppressed mechanical performance, the modified aramid fibers with 1000 ALD cycles possesses well-preserved mechanical strength and flexibility. Moreover, they exhibit 54.08% retention of initial tenacity even exposure to UV irradiation with intensity of 4260 W/m2 at high temperature (> 200 °C) for 360 min (equals to continuous exposure to strong sunlight irradiation for about 7.5 years), simultaneously retain the excellent laundering durability and lustrousness, demonstrating a significant enhancement in anti-UV efficiency. Such highly anti-UV fibers fabricated by a facile mALD strategy provide a new perspective on designing multifunctional fibers and devices for future innovative applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Activated carbon aerogels (ACAs) with hierarchically porous structures and high specific surface area have been prepared via CO2 and KOH activation processes. The pore structures of ACAs are characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption and scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results show that the ACAs contain three types of pores: micropores with diameters below 2nm, small mesopores with diameters from 2 to 4nm and large pores or channels with diameters over 30nm. The typical sample ACAs-4, which possess pore volume of 2.73cm3 g−1 and specific surface area of 2119m2 g−1, exhibits high specific capacitances of 250Fg−1 and 198Fg−1 at the current densities of 0.5Ag−1 and 20Ag−1 respectively in 6M KOH aqueous solution. Furthermore, the resultant ACAs electrode materials also exhibit high power density, good cycling stability and long lifetime. With these features, ACAs are expected to be promising electrode materials for electrical double layer capacitors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, MWCNT (Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube)-induced vanadium oxide nanosheet composite is synthesized via sol–gel method and subsequent hydrothermal treatment process. TEM and SEM tests confirmed that the synthesized product shows a rectangular sheet-like nanostructure with the length of several micrometers, width of a few hundred nanometers and thickness of dozens of nanometers. The analysis of XRD verified the monoclinic crystal structure of the vanadium oxide nanosheet. The XPS results manifested that V4+ is predominant in the V element of vanadium oxide nanosheet. The corresponding electrochemical performance examinations indicated this nanosheet-MWCNT composite with distinct single phase transition feature exhibits high specific capacity and good cycling stability due to its sheet-like nanostructure and uniform adding of MWCNTs, which makes this novel vanadium oxide nanosheet-MWCNT composite quite suitable and promising as cathode material for Li+ ion batteries applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • A wound dressing hydrogel was prepared by one-step assembly of tannic acid, silk fibroin and diclofenac potassium. • The composite hydrogel has excellent underwater adhesion ability, hemostasis function and favorable biocompatibility both in vivo and in vitro. • The adhesive can significantly down-regulate inflammatory cytokines in vivo and in vitro , matching the needs of acute wounds. Acute wounds often cause overdeveloped inflammation, which can adversely affect wound healing. Wound dressing has been widely used, but it is still challenging to achieve an effective anti-inflammation treatment due to the complex wet environment of the wounds. Here, we proposed a wound sealant, tannic acid-silk fibroin-diclofenac potassium (TA-SF-DP, TSD) hydrogels. And evaluated their wet-adhesion performance and the potency on inflammation regulation through comprehensive mechanical tests and molecular biology research. The TSD hydrogels exhibited an outstanding wet-adhesion property to porcine soft tissues even in blood (up to (38.6 ± 4.6) kPa) and strong hemostatic ability in rat tail truncation model ((reduced hemostasis time from (685 ± 55) s to (160 ± 72) s and reduced blood loss from (0.59 ± 0.07) g to (0.06 ± 0.03) g compared with the gauze group). Simultaneously, the hydrogels showed satisfactory anti-inflammatory effects (sustained reduction of inflammation at 6 h and 24 h, generally the peak and persistent state of severe postoperative reaction, respectively), which works by releasing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug DP conforming to physiological needs. Combined with the wet adhesion, anti-inflammatory property and remarkable biocompatibility, the TSD hydrogels have the potential to be a clinical wound sealant to manage acute wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ultra-thin amorphous TiO 2 film was deposited by ALD on the surface of silk fibers/fabrics. • The tenacity of ALD-coated silk fabric maintains 89.17% of the original fiber after exposure to UV light. • ALD-coated silk fabrics can withstand multi-cycle laundering and accelerated light-aging. • ALD-coated silk fabrics exhibited a superior thermal insulation effect with the temperature reduction up to 10.1 °C. As a luxurious textile for more than five thousand years, silk fibers/products have always been favored by consumers and the markets, but the poor photostability seriously hinders its utilization in fashionable apparel. Even if enduing the functionality of silk fiber through surface modification, it is often at the expense of its comfort. Here, an ultra-thin amorphous titanium dioxide nano-film with a thickness of only five in a thousand of fiber diameter and the add-on percentage ≤ 5.33% was prepared on the surface of silk fibers/fabrics by atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods. The tensile strength of the modified silk fiber maintains 89.17% of the original fiber after exposure to UV light for 672 h. They can also withstand multi-cycle laundering and accelerate light-aging, which exhibiting an excellent UV resistance. Most importantly, the functional coating has a negligible impact on the comfortable and wearability performance of silk fibers/fabrics. In addition, ALD-coated silk fabric is also further used as an outdoor reflective cooling material and achieving a superior thermal insulation effect with the temperature reduction up to 10.1 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PVDF/SiO 2 composite films with a hierarchical structure were prepared by water bath solvent exchange and they realized the integration of self-cleaning and radiative cooling. The high scattering properties of SiO 2 effectively enhanced the radiative cooling performance of the films, and the weathering stability of the composite films was evaluated by UV radiation treatment and friction resistance analysis.

Rabdosia rubescens, a Chinese herbal medicine with anticancer properties, contains two active ingredients: oridonin and ponicidin. Both compounds exhibit antitumor effects by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and autophagy and inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. To further explore the differences in molecular structure and pharmacological properties between the two substances, this study employs Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) to investigate the spectral characteristics of oridonin and ponicidin in the frequency range of 0.1 to 2.3 THz. The crystal structures of the two substances are simulated using Materials Studio software and Density Functional Theory (DFT), yielding their spectra and molecular vibration modes, which elucidate the mechanism underlying the peak generation. The consistency between experimental and simulation results confirms the reliability of the experimental findings. Thus, THz spectroscopy can effectively distinguish between these two substances. Finally, a THz detection is performed on Rabdosia rubescens capsules purchased from the market, revealing the presence of absorption peaks for both substances in their absorption spectra. This provides a new approach for detecting active ingredients in Chinese herbal medicines., 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 © 2024 Gao, Peng, Yang, Zhang, Zhao, Hou, Su, Li and Zhang.)

Introduction: Renin and prorenin promote the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through the (pro)renin receptor, or (P)RR, to promote restenosis occurrence. This study aimed to explore whether prorenin promoted the proliferation of VSMCs in a (P)RR-mediated Ang II-independent manner. Methods : Losartan and PD123319 were used to block the interaction between (P)RR and angiotensin in vitro. Cells were treated with renin, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), or RNAi-(P)RR, either jointly or individually. Cell proliferation was measured via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry methods; moreover, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot (WB) assays were used to detect the expression of cyclin D1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), (P)RR, NOX1, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling proteins. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to measure the expression of (P)RR, and the levels of renin, PDGF-BB, inflammatory factors, and oxidative stress were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Moreover, a balloon catheter was used to enlarge the carotid artery of the Sprague Dawley rats. PRO20 was applied to identify angiotensin II (Ang II). The hematoxylin and eosin, RT-PCR, and WB results validated the cell assay results. Results : Renin promoted the proliferation of rat VSMCs by enhancing cell viability and cell cycle protein expression when Ang II was blocked, but silencing (P)RR inhibited this effect. Furthermore, renin enhanced NOX1-mediated oxidative stress and inflammation by activating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2)-AKT pathway in vitro. Similarly, the inhibition of (P)RR resulted in the opposite phenomenon. Importantly, the inhibition of (P)RR inhibited neointimal hyperplasia in vivo after common carotid artery injury by restraining NOX1-mediated oxidative stress through the downregulation of the ERK1/2-AKT pathway. The animal study confirmed these findings. Conclusion : Renin and (P)RR induced VSMC proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia by activating oxidative stress, inflammation, and the ERK1/2-AKT pathway in an Ang II-independent manner., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a malignant hepatobiliary cancer characterized by an intricate tumor microenvironments (TME) and heterogeneity. The traditional GBC 2D culture models cannot faithfully recapitulate the characteristics of the TME. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting enables the establishment of high-throughput and high-fidelity multicellular GBC models. In this study, we designed a concentric cylindrical tetra-culture model to reconstitute the spatial distribution of cells in tumor tissue, with the inner portion containing GBC cells, and the outer ring containing a mixture of endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages. We confirmed the survival, proliferation, biomarker expression and gene expression profiles of GBC 3D tetra-culture models. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunofluorescence staining verified the morphology and robust expression of GBC/endothelial/fibroblast/macrophage biomarkers in GBC 3D tetra-culture models. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed two distinct subtypes of GBC cells within the model, glandular epithelial and squamous epithelial cells, suggesting the mimicry of intratumoral heterogeneity. Comparative transcriptome profile analysis among various in vitro models revealed that cellular interactions and the TME in 3D tetra-culture models reshaped the biological processes of tumor cells to a more aggressive phenotype. GBC 3D tetra-culture models restored the characteristics of the TME as well as intratumoral heterogeneity. Therefore, this model is expected to have future applications in tumor biology research and antitumor drug development., (Creative Commons Attribution license.)

This study investigates the efficacy of green industrial policies in stimulating green innovation within China's polluting industries, over the period 2011-2022. Focusing on 30 provinces, we assess the dynamic relationship between green industrial policy implementation and innovation in environmentally detrimental sectors. Employing Difference-in-Differences (DID) and Propensity Score Matching DID (PSM-DID) models, we analyze comprehensive provincial-level data to quantify the impact of policy measures on green technological advancements. The results reveal a significant positive correlation between green industrial policies and the rate of green innovation, particularly in regions with higher pollution levels. These findings suggest that well-structured green industrial policies can serve as effective catalysts for fostering sustainable technological innovations in polluting industries. Policy implications highlight the necessity of targeted, region-specific approaches to maximize the potential of green industrial policies in promoting environmental sustainability and economic growth., 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., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Cactus spinelike materials have attracted much attention due to high fog harvesting efficiency, but great challenges in structure fabrication and structural controllability still remain. In this study, we proposed a magnetically driven spray-coating method to fabricate a cactus spinelike superhydrophobic Fe 3 O 4 vertical array on nonwoven cotton fabric. This method is simple and controllable; a mixture containing magnetic Fe 3 O 4 particles and organosilicon resin was atomized into tiny droplets and arranged along the magnetic field lines. Different from the traditional method to prepare a cactus spinelike structure via liquid flow under magnet, which is usually accompanied with a big structure size and an unobvious structure feature due to the high viscosity of magnetic liquid. However, if the magnetic liquid is transformed into tiny magnetic droplets by a spraying method, it is promising to prepare micrometer-scale conical structures, and the reduction degree of bionic structures is high. When the fabricated structure is used for fog harvesting, it shows an extremely high efficiency of approximately 6.33 g cm -2 h -1 , which is superior to most state-of-the-art fog harvesting materials. Considering the advantages of simplicity, structure controllability, and high fog harvesting rate, the reported strategy provides an avenue to build up high-performance fog harvesting materials.

The II-I phase transition of isotactic poly(1-butene) (iPBu) leads to improved mechanical performance. However, this will take several weeks and increase storage and processing costs. In this work, shear forces are introduced into the supercooled iPBu melt, and the effects of isothermal crystallization temperature (T c ) and shear temperature (T shear ) on crystallization and phase transition are explored. Shear-induced transcrystalline morphology of Form II with a significantly shortened crystallization induction period can be observed at relatively high T c (105 °C). Besides, the shear-induced Form II can transit to Form I faster than the unsheared one. In addition, the phase transition rate increases as the T shear decreases, with the fastest rate occurring at T shear of 120 °C. The half transition time (t 1/2 ) is measured as 6.3 h when T c = 105 °C, T shear = 120 °C, which is much shorter than the 20.7 h required for unsheared samples. The accelerated phase transition of iPBu can be attributed to the stretching of molecular chains, resulting from shear treatment. This study provides a quantitative analysis of the influence of the shear treatment and the T shear on the II-I phase transition rate. It also presents a cost-effective and straightforward approach for expediting the phase transition process., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to trigger downstream signaling upon double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) stimulation, and the condensed cGAS colocalizes with stress granules (SGs). However, the molecular mechanism underlying the modulation of cGAS activation by SGs remains elusive. In this study, we show that USP8 is localized to SGs upon dsDNA stimulation and potentiates cGAS-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling. A USP8 inhibitor ameliorates pathological inflammation in Trex1 -/- mice. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) databases indicate a positive correlation between USP8 expression and SLE. Mechanistic study shows that the SG protein DDX3X promotes cGAS phase separation and activation in a manner dependent on its intrinsic LLPS. USP8 cleaves K27-linked ubiquitin chains from the intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of DDX3X to enhance its condensation. In conclusion, we demonstrate that USP8 catalyzes the deubiquitination of DDX3X to facilitate cGAS condensation and activation and that inhibiting USP8 is a promising strategy for alleviating cGAS-mediated autoimmune diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The engineering of multifunctional structures with special surface wettability is highly desirable for all-weather freshwater production, but relevant research is scarce. In this study, a Janus conical vertical array was designed and fabricated via a magnetically driven spray-coating method for the first time. Benefiting from the special structure and wettability enhancement of the array in terms of solar absorption, fog capture and merging, droplet movement and evaporation area, all-weather freshwater production consisting of high-quality daytime solar vapor generation (water evaporation rate approximately 2.43 kg m -2 h -1 , 1 kW m -2 ) and nighttime fog collection (water collection rate approximately 3.536 g cm -2 h -1 ) can be realized concurrently. When the designed array is employed for outdoor environments (114°35'E, 30°38'N, average daily temperature 34.9 °C, average daily humidity 64.0%), reliable and efficient daily pure water yields of 19.13 kg m -2 -26.09 kg m -2 are obtainable. We believe that the proposed strategy for fabricating a Janus conical vertical array is novel in the integration of solar vapor generation and fog collection, which has great significance for all-weather freshwater production.

Predictive markers and prognostic models are useful for the individualization of cancer treatment. In this study, we sought to identify clinical and molecular factors to predict overall survival in recurrent glioma patients receiving bevacizumab-containing regimens. A cohort of 102 patients was retrospectively collected from June 2011 to January 2022 at our institution. A nomogram was generated by Cox regression and feature selection algorithms based on 19 clinicopathological and 60 molecular variables. The model's performance was internally evaluated by bootstrapping in terms of discrimination and calibration. The median overall survival from the initiation of bevacizumab administration to death or last follow-up was 11.6 months (95% CI: 9.2-13.8 months) for all 102 patients, 10.2 months (95% CI: 6.4-13.3 months) for 66 patients with grade 4 tumors, and 13.8 months (lower limit of 95% CI: 11.5 months) for 36 patients with tumors of grade lower or not available. In the final model, a lower WHO 2021 grade (Grade lower or not available vs. Grade 4, HR: 0.398, 95% CI: 0.223-0.708, p = 0.00172), having received adjuvant radiochemotherapy (Yes vs. No, HR: 0.488, 95% CI: 0.268-0.888, p = 0.0189), and wildtype EGFR (Wildtype vs. Altered, HR: 0.193, 95% CI: 0.0506-0.733, p = 0.0157; Not available vs. Altered, HR: 0.386, 95% CI: 0.184-0.810, p = 0.0118) were significantly associated with longer overall survival in multivariate Cox regression. The overall concordance index was 0.652 (95% CI: 0.566-0.714), and the areas under the time-dependent curves for 6-, 12-, and 18-month overall survival were 0.677 (95% CI: 0.516-0.816), 0.654 (95% CI: 0.470-0.823), and 0.675 (95% CI: 0.491-0.860), respectively. A prognostic model for overall survival in recurrent glioma patients treated with bevacizumab-based therapy was established and internally validated. It could serve as a reference tool for clinicians to assess the extent the patients may benefit from bevacizumab and stratify their treatment response., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) has been proven to be a promising method to alleviate the impact of the water crisis on human activities. However, the low water-sorption capacity and sluggish ab/desorption kinetics of current SAWH materials make it difficult to achieve high daily water production. In this study, a photothermal porous sodium alginate-tannic acid-5/Fe 3+ @lithium chloride aerogel (SA-TA-5/Fe 3+ @LiCl) with macroporous structure (average pore diameter ∼43.67 μm) and high solar absorbance (∼98.4 %) was fabricated via Fe 3+ -induced crosslinking and blackening methods. When it is employed for SAWH, moisture can enter the inner space of the aerogel and contact highly hygroscopic lithium chloride (LiCl) more easily via macroporous channels, resulting in the water uptake for the SA-TA-5/Fe 3+ @LiCl aerogel reaching approximately 1.229 g g -1 under dry conditions (relative humidity (RH) ∼ 45 %, 25 °C) after a short time (4 h) moisture absorption, and releasing as much as 97.7 % of the absorbed water under 1 sun irradiation within 2 h. As a proof of concept, it is estimated that the daily water yield of the fabricated SA-TA/Fe 3+ @LiCl aerogel can reach approximately 4.65 kg kg -1 in conditions close to the real outdoor environment (RH ∼ 45 %, 25 °C), which satisfies the daily minimum water consumption of two adults. This study demonstrates a novel strategy for developing advanced solar-driven SAWH materials with enhanced ab/desorption kinetics and efficient water sorption-desorption properties., 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 © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are increasingly becoming a popular research area due to their ability to function with nonprecious metals in electrochemical devices. Nevertheless, there is a challenge to simultaneously optimize the dimensional stability and ionic conductivity of AEMs due to the "trade-off" effect. Herein, we adopted a novel strategy of combining filling and cross-linking using functionalized bacterial cellulose (PBC) as a dual-functional porous support and brominated poly(phenylene oxide) (Br-PPO) as the cross-linking agent and filler. The PBC nanofiber framework together with cross-linking can provide a reliable mechanical support for the subsequent filled polymer, thus improving the mechanical properties and effectively limiting the size change of the final quaternized-PPO (QPPO)-filled PBC composite membrane. The composite membrane showed a very low swelling ratio of only 10.35%, even at a high water uptake (81.83% at 20 °C). Moreover, the existence of multiple -NR 3 + groups in the cross-link bonds between BC and Br-PPO can provide extra OH- ion transport sites, contributing to the increase in ionic conductivity. The final membrane demonstrated a hydroxide ion conductivity of 62.58 mS cm -1 , which was remarkably higher than that of the pure QPPO membrane by up to 235.93% (80 °C). The successful preparation of the PBC 3 /QPPO membrane provides an effective avenue to tackle the trade-off effect through a dual-functional strategy.

Currently, achieving a simultaneous improvement in proton conductivity and mechanical properties is a key challenge in using chitosan (CS) as a proton exchange membrane (PEM) substrate in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Herein, a novel nanofiller-zwitterionic molecule, (3-(3-aminopropyl) dimethylammonio) propane-1-sulfonate, ADPS)-modified polydopamine (PDA) (PDA-ADPS) was synthesized by the Michael addition reaction and was incorporated into a CS matrix to prepare CS/PDA-ADPS composite membranes. PDA-ADPS, which contains an acid-based ion pair can create new proton conduction channels in the composite membrane, improving proton conductivity. The proton conductivity of the CS/PDA-ADPS composite membrane was as high as 38.4 mS cm -1 at 80 °C. Moreover, due to the excellent compatibility and dispersibility of PDA-ADPS in the CS matrix, the obtained CS/PDA-ADPS composite membranes exhibited favorable mechanical properties. Such outstanding proton conductivity and mechanical properties guarantee good performance of the composite membranes in fuel cells. The peak power density of the CS/PDA-ADPS composite membranes was 30.2 mW cm -2 at 70 °C. This work provides a new strategy for fabricating high-performance CS based PEMs for DMFCs., 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 © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A global pandemic COVID-19 resulting from SARS-CoV-2 has affected a significant portion of the human population. Antiviral innate immunity is critical for controlling and eliminating the viral infection. Ubiquitination is extensively involved in antiviral signaling, and recent studies suggest that ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) modifications also participate in innate antiviral pathways such as RLR and cGAS-STING pathways. Notably, virus infection harnesses ubiquitination and Ubls modifications to facilitate viral replication and counteract innate antiviral immunity. These observations indicate that ubiquitination and Ubls modifications are critical checkpoints for the tug-of-war between virus and host. This review discusses the current progress regarding the modulation of the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle and antiviral innate immune pathways by ubiquitination and Ubls modifications. This paper emphasizes the arising concept that ubiquitination and Ubls modifications are powerful modulators of virus and host interaction and potential drug targets for treating the infection of SARS-CoV-2., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None declared., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dental caries of permanent teeth is a common public health concern and has the second-highest incidence among global diseases. The exopolysaccharides (EPS) synthesized by Streptococcus mutans ( S. mutans ) are the principal virulence factor for cariogenic etiology. We previously discovered that an endogenous antisense vicR RNA (AS vicR ) could significantly inhibit EPS synthesis in S. mutans and reduce its cariogenicity. However, AS vicR cannot be directly applied in the oral environment. An appropriate vector is of great need to protect AS vicR from being degraded by nucleases for effective gene delivery to S. mutans . Functionally modified starches shed light on this field because of their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, a biocompatible and biodegradable spermine-starch nanocomposite (SSN) was constructed for AS vicR delivery. Starch was cationically functionalized by grafting endogenous spermine to closely bind with the recombinant AS vicR plasmid. The SSN not only protected the recombinant AS vicR plasmid from DNase I but also achieved highly efficient gene transformation to S. mutans via the hydrolysis of α-amylase in the saliva. In addition, SSN-AS vicR was shown to endow AS vicR with an increasing transformation efficiency approximately four times that of the naked AS vicR plasmid, as well as allowing for targeting specificity to the transcription of the vicR gene and the suppression of biofilm organization via EPS digestion. In particular, SSN-AS vicR nanoparticles exhibited excellent biological safety and maintained oral microbiota homeostasis in vivo. The SSN can be prepared in a ready-to-use formulation for targeting cariogenic bacteria, thus demonstrating important prospects in the prevention of dental caries.

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of miR-926-3p on myocardial injury and its mechanisms., Methods: An animal model of sepsis was constructed by CLP, and animals were randomly divided into 4 groups: C group, miR-926-3p inhibitor group, CLP + NC group, and CLP + miR-926-3p inhibitor group., Results: Compared with those in C group, echocardiographic parameters remarkably declined in CLP + NC group. Compared with CLP + NC group, miR-926-3p inhibitor group indicated elevated echocardiographic parameters in mice, pathological improvement tendency of myocardial tissues and distinct reduction in cardiomyocyte apoptosis. It could be observed by electron microscopy that the number of lysosomes in miR-926-3p inhibitor group was greatly increased relative to CLP + NC group. Immunofluorescence exhibited that the number of green fluorescent puncta was significantly higher in miR-926-3p inhibitor group as compared to that in CLP + NC group. The autophagic flow was verified by observing the relative expression of LC3II at different times. The results of Western blotting manifested that miR-926-3p inhibitor up-regulated mTOR-related protein expressions and down-regulated the protein expression of p-mTOR. LPS was adopted to induce cardiomyocyte injury in vitro , and the results confirmed that, identical to in vivo experiments, miR-926-3p inhibitor was able to up-regulate the protein expressions of mTOR-related protein and down-regulate p-mTOR protein expression in cardiomyocytes. After addition of MHY1485, The expression of mTOR-related proteins changes in each group., Conclusion: Inhibition of miR-926-3p enhances autophagy through regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway, thus ameliorating myocardial injury in septic mice.

In this paper, mesoporous CuO with a novel architecture was synthesized through a conventional hydrothermal approach followed by a facile sintering procedure. HR-TEM analysis found that mesoporous CuO with an interconnected pore structure has exposed high-energy crystal planes of (002) and (200). Theoretical calculations indicated that the high-energy crystal planes have superior adsorption capacity for H + ions, which is critical for the excellent adsorption and remarkable photocatalytic activity of the anionic dye. The adsorption capacity of CuO to methyl orange (MO) at 0.4 g/L was approximately 30% under adsorption equilibrium conditions. We propose a state-changing mechanism to analyze the synergy and mutual restraint relation among the catalyst CuO, H + ions, dye and H 2 O 2 . According to this mechanism, the degradation rate of MO can be elevated 3.5 times only by regulating the MO ratio in three states.

Objective: Lymphagioma, which in most cases as benign tumors, occurs in head, neck, axilla, and mediastinum. Lymphangioma is exceedingly rare in the upper gastrointestinal tract including esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. However, the clinical characteristics, natural history, and recurrence rate after endoscopic resection remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the characteristic findings and assess the efficacy of endoscopic techniques in the management of this disease., Methods: In this systematic retrospective analysis, we evaluated all 24 cases of upper gastrointestinal lymphangioma resected by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and diagnosed by histopathology at our hospital from January 2012 to May 2021. We analyzed the results of endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), CT, histologic examination, and follow-up assessments., Results: 9 male and 15 female patients with esophageal lymphangioma were enrolled in this study, with a mean age of 54.17 ± 11.60 years (range 30-71 years). The lesions' size varied from 2.20 to 40.10 mm, with the median size of 7.83 mm. All patients were evaluated preoperatively, whose endoscopic appearance typically appears as dilated lymphatic channels beneath the surface epithelium of the protrude mucosal or sub-mucosal lesion. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed the presence of a honeycomb-like or grid-like mass with a heterogeneous echo pattern, and a clear boundary between the lesion and the muscularis propria layer may be helpful for the primary diagnosis of this disease. 22 patients underwent EMR and 2 patient were treated with ESD. Histologic examination revealed that the lesions contained many dilated lymphatic vessels, which confirmed the initial diagnosis of lymphangioma in all patients. No major adverse events were found during the operation or a median follow-up of 43 months (range 13-92)., Conclusions: Endoscopic ultrasonography has important clinical value for the primary diagnosis of lymphangioma in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This study also suggests that endoscopic resection should be considered as a more minimally invasive, safe, feasible, and effective therapeutic option comparing to laparoscopic surgery., 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 Shi, Huang, Li, Tu, Liu, Zhao, Yang, Li, Zhao, Zhang, Li and Liu.)

The tumorigenesis of esophageal carcinoma arises from transcriptional dysregulation would become exceptionally dependent on specific regulators of gene expression, which could be preferentially attributed to the larger non-coding cis -regulatory elements, i.e. super-enhancers (SEs). SEs, large genomic regulatory entity in close genomic proximity, are underpinned by control cancer cell identity. As a consequence, the transcriptional addictions driven by SEs could offer an Achilles' heel for molecular treatments on patients of esophageal carcinoma and other types of cancer as well. In this review, we summarize the recent findings about the oncogenic SEs upon which esophageal cancer cells depend, and discuss why SEs could be seen as the hallmark of cancer, how transcriptional dependencies driven by SEs, and what opportunities could be supplied based on this cancer-specific SEs., 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 Shi, Wang, Liu, Ullah, Ma, Yang and Liu.)

In this study, the asphaltene extracted from Luntai heavy oil was oxidized by a mixture of propionic anhydride and hydrogen peroxide without and with a catalyst. Elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy results indicated the occurrence of oxygen addition, condensation, and side chain cleavage reactions in the oxidation process. Oxidation products were divided into methanol solubles and methanol insolubles. The H/C and O/C atomic ratios of the MeOHS in the oxidation products without a catalyst were higher than those of the Luntai asphaltene. MeOHS had fewer aromatic rings than Luntai asphaltene. Compared with the oxidative reaction without a catalyst, the total mass of oxidation products and the proportion of MeOHS in oxidation products both increased after catalytic oxidation. This low-temperature oxidation technology can be used to upgrade asphaltenes, and thus can promote the exploitation and processing of heavy oil.

Central nervous system (CNS) diseases have been a growing threat to the health of humanity, emphasizing the urgent need of exploring the pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches of various CNS diseases. Primary neurons are directly obtained from animals or humans, which have wide applications including disease modeling, mechanism exploration and drug development. However, traditional two-dimensional (2D) monoculture cannot resemble the native microenvironment of CNS. With the increasing understanding of the complexity of the CNS and the remarkable development of novel biomaterials, in vitro models have experienced great innovation from 2D monoculture toward three-dimensional (3D) multicellular culture. The scope of this review includes the progress of various in vitro models of primary neurons in recent years to provide a holistic view of the modalities and applications of primary neuron models and how they have been connected with the revolution of biofabrication techniques. Special attention has been paid to the interaction between primary neurons and biomaterials. First, a brief introduction on the history of CNS modeling and primary neuron culture was conducted. Next, detailed progress in novel in vitro models were discussed ranging from 2D culture, ex vivo model, spheroid, scaffold-based model, 3D bioprinting model, and microfluidic chip. Modalities, applications, advantages, and limitations of the aforementioned models were described separately. Finally, we explored future prospects, providing new insights into how basic science research methodologies have advanced our understanding of the CNS, and highlighted some future directions of primary neuron culture in the next few decades., 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 Zhang, Yang, Wu, Zhang, Wang and Zhai.)

Oridonin (ORI) is known to pose anticancer activity against cancer, which could induce the therapeutic impact of chemotherapy drugs. However, such simple combinations have numerous side effects such as higher toxicity to normal cells and tissues. To enhance the therapeutic effects with minimal side effects, here we used ORI in combination with cisplitin (CIS) against different esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines in vitro, to investigate the synergistic anticancer effects of the two drugs against ESCC. Calcusyn Graphing Software was used to assess the synergistic effect. Apoptosis, wound healing and cell invasion assay were conducted to further confirm the synergistic effects of ORI and CIS. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species assay, immunofluorescence staining and western blot were used to verify the mechanism of synergistic cytotoxicity. ORI and CIS pose selective synergistic effects on ESCC cells with p53 mutations. Moreover, we found that the synergistic effects of these drugs are mediated by GSH/ROS systems, such that intracellular GSH production was inhibited, whereas the ROS generation was induced following ORI and CIS application. In addition, we noted that DNA damage was induced as in response to ORI and CIS treatment. Overall, these results suggest that ORI can synergistically enhance the effect of CIS, and GSH deficiency and p53 mutation, might be biomarkers for the combinational usage of ORI and CIS., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: A nomogram is a tool that transforms complex regression equations into simple and visual graphs and enables clinicians and patients to conveniently compute output probabilities without needing medical knowledge and complex formulas. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a predictive nomogram to screen for severe caries among 12-year-old children based on risk factors in Sichuan Province, China., Methods: A cross-sectional study of 4573 12-year-olds was conducted up to May 2016 in middle schools from three districts and three counties in Sichuan Province, China. All the children underwent oral examinations and completed questionnaires to assess general information, oral impacts on daily performance, dietary habits, subjective health conditions, history of dental trauma, frequency of toothache, dental visits, and knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours toward oral hygiene. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine which variables were significantly associated with severe caries (operationalized as DMFT ≥ 3). A nomogram was developed and validated by using the 'rms' package and two cross-validation methods., Results: Severe caries was found in 537 of the 4573 children (11.74%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the following variables predicted a higher risk of severe caries: 'female' [odds ratio (OR) = 1.985, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.63-2.411], 'urban' (OR = 2.389, 95% CI: 1.96-2.91), 'non-only child' (OR = 1.317, 95% CI: 1.07-1.625), 'very poor self-assessment of oral health status' (OR = 2.157, 95% CI: 1.34-3.467) and 'visited a dentist less than 6 months' (OR = 1.861, 95% CI: 1.38-2.505). Multivariate logistic regression analysis also indicated that the following variables predicted a lower risk of severe caries: 'middle level of urbanization' (OR = 0.395, 95% CI: 0.32-0.495) and 'high level of urbanization' (OR = 0.466, 95% CI: 0.37-0.596). Both the fivefold and leave-one-out cross-validation methods indicated that the nomogram model built by these 6 variables displayed good disease recognition ability., Conclusions: The nomogram was a simple-to-use model to screen children for severe caries. This model was found to facilitate non-dental professionals in assessing risk values without oral examinations and making referrals to dental professionals., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The stability of IFN-γ as a therapeutic protein can play a key role on its anticancer effects. Herein, we explored the thermodynamic parameters and conformational stability of IFN-γ in the presence of calycosin, the main active compound of Radix astragali, by different biophysical and theoretical analysis. Afterwards, the improved anticancer effects of IFN-γ-calycosin interaction relative to IFN-γ alone were assessed on hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line by MTT and caspase assays. ITC data indicated that upon interaction of calycosin with IFN-γ the binding and thermodynamic parameters were as follows: K d  = 1.9 μM, ΔG° = -32.45 kJ/mol, ΔH° = -11.91 kJ/mol, and TΔS° = 20.54 kJ/mol. ANS/synchronous fluorescence, CD and UV-Vis spectroscopy studies indicated that the interaction between calycosin and IFN-γ caused the folding of the IFN-γ backbone in to a more packed structure with enhanced α-helix content and higher melting temperature (Tm) value. The spectroscopic outcomes were then verified by molecular docking and molecular dynamic analysis. It was also shown that after incubation of the IFN-γ samples at 50 °C for 60 min in the presence of calycosin (5 μM), the IFN-γ-calycosin system showed a significant antiproliferative effects against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells through caspase-9/3 activation and this anticancer effect was more pronounced than free IFN-γ. This data may provide useful information about the development of IFN-γ-based therapeutic platforms., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

ATF3 (activating transcription factor 3) is a member of the mammalian activation transcription factor/cAMP-responsive element-binding (CREB) family. It plays a role in inflammation and innate immunity, and suggests that ATF3 is associated with atherosclerosis. In our study, we analyzed datasets of atherosclerosis from the NCBI-GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) database and found that expression levels of ATF3 were lower in macrophages from ruptured atherosclerotic plaques than from stable atherosclerotic plaques. Expression levels of ATF3 correlated with the stability of atherosclerotic plaques. KEGG analysis of different expression genes (DEGs) between ruptured and stable atherosclerotic plaques was performed by Metascape database. The PI3K-AKT pathway may be a potential pathway of the formation of ruptured atherosclerotic plaques. High-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis apoE -/- mice were divided into two groups: a model group and an ATF3 overexpression (OE)-group. Tests on atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic root suggested that absence of ATF3 and increase of macrophages may be risk factors for the formation of ruptured atherosclerotic plaques. We found decreased areas of lesions in aortic roots and branches of aortic arch, as well as increased lesional content of macrophages as well as TUNEL-positive areas. Consistent with these results, we found reduced degradation and incidence of elastic plate cracks accompanied by suppressed MMPs expression and transduction pathway protein PI3K/AKT activation. These data suggest that ATF3 is a signaling molecule that mediates the progression and stability of atherosclerotic plaques. ATF3 could be a potential new biomarker for the prognosis of atherosclerosis and may be a therapeutic target to reduce atherosclerosis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of rosmarinic acid (RosA) on hepatocellular carcinoma cell in vivo and in vitro and to explore its possible mechanism of anti-hepatocarcinoma., Methods: The hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 was treated with different concentrations of RosA (0, 20, 50, 100 μmol/L) to detect cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and invasion.PI3K pathway-specific activator IGF-1 was used to explore whether the mechanism for RosA action relates to PI3K/AKT signal pathway.Nude mice inoculated with SMMC-7721 cells were treated with different doses of RosA (0, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) to detect the tumor formation of cancer cells in vivo., Results: RosA significantly inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells and induced G1 arrest and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. RosA might inhibit cell invasion by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Rescue experiments showed that IGF-1 could reverse the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway by RosA and the effect on proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, invasion and EMT by IGF-1 in SMMC-7721 cells;RosA could inhibit tumor formation of SMMC-7721 cells in vivo., Conclusion: RosA can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cell in vitro and inhibit tumour growth in vivo and the mechanism may relate to inhibiting the activation of PI3K/AKT signal pathway., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)