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Abstract Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are responsible for intestinal homeostasis and are important for the regeneration of damaged intestine. We established an ionizing radiation (IR)-induced intestinal injury model and observed that Gelsolin KO mice had increased radiosensitivity. The deletion of Gelsolin aggravated intestinal damage and reduced the number of ISCs after lethal IR. The intestinal organoid experiments showed that Gelsolin deletion inhibited ISCs function after IR. Notably, RNA sequencing and RT-PCR results showed IL-17 signaling pathway was down-regulated and Th17 cells differentiation was inhibited in Gelsolin KO mice. Moreover, recombinant IL-17 A ameliorated IR-induced intestinal injury and promoted ISCs regeneration. To figure out the role of Gelsolin in Th17 cells differentiation, flow cytometry was used and we found that Gelsolin targets Th17 cells functionality via the p-STAT3/RORγt axis. By establishing the co-culture system, we proved that Th17 cells promoted self-renewal and budding abilities in Gelsolin-deficient organoids. Finally, we found that Gelsolin was protective against DSS-induced colitis and that this protective effect was not specific or limited to the IR induced intestinal injury model. Based on these results, we proved Gelsolin maintained the regeneration of ISCs by sustaining Th17 cells functions via the p-STAT3/RORγt axis. Graphical abstract

The on-orbit radiometric calibration of spaceborne sensors is the foundation of quantitative remote sensing, and the calibration accuracy directly affects the quality of quantitative remote sensing products. The wide swath of the Chinese Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (COCTS) onboard the HY-1C satellite makes it difficult to ignore errors caused by viewing angles during calibration. Thus, this article proposes a cross-calibration method based on the bottom-of-atmosphere (BOA) and top-of-atmosphere (TOA) spectral band adjustment factors (SBAFs). This method cross calibrates the COCTS sensor after correcting viewing geometry and radiometric differences. It is based on the Sentinel-3/ocean and land color instrument (OLCI) sensor. First, time-series data from the OLCI sensor were used to select calibration points in the Dunhuang area. Subsequently, the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) for each corresponding spectral band of the OLCI sensor was constructed point by point. Next, the BOA and TOA SBAFs were calculated using the interpolated continuous spectra obtained from MOD09GA products. After correcting for the BRDF and SBAF, cross calibration between COCTS and OLCI was achieved. The results showed that the BOA SBAF model achieved higher precision calibration coefficients than the TOA SBAF model, with errors in each band below 5.76%. The proposed method can provide technical support for the cross calibration of wide-swath sensors.

In recent years, mixed protein systems composed of animal and plant proteins have gradually attracted the attention of researchers. Numerous studies have shown that mixing animal and plant proteins can improve the processing functional properties of proteins under specific conditions, such as gelling, emulsifying, foaming and film-forming properties. In terms of nutritional functional properties, mixing animal and plant proteins can also achieve better performance on digestion, absorption and amino acid scoring patterns for the nutritional quality assessment compared with single proteins, of which whey-soy ‘dual-protein’, discovered by studying the dose-effect and mechanisms of synergism and interactions of different animal-plant mixed proteins, have been demonstrated significant nutrition quality improvement on hematopoietic reconstruction, immune function, muscle level, lipid metabolism and osteoporosis. The paper reviews the interaction, structural characterization, processing and nutritional properties of animal-plant mixed proteins, and provides an outlook on the future research trend of animal-plant mixed proteins in the food processing field.

To explore the inhibitory effect of total glycosides of Cistanche deserticola (TG) on HepG2 cells and its mechanism. In this paper, different concentrations (0, 3.5, 10.5, 21, 31.5, 42 μg/mL) TG were treated 24 h on HepG2 liver cancer cells, and the viability of HepG2 cells was detected using CCK8 assay. Hoechst 33342/PI double staining method and Annexin V-FITC/PI were used to detect HepG2 cells apoptosis. The phenomenon of cell migration was detected by cell migration assay. Meanwhile, cell cycle progression changes were detected by flow cytometry. And the expression of α-fetoprotein (AFP), β-catenin, Dishevelled (Dsh), GSK-3β were detected by Western blot. The results showed that TG could reduce the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a concentration dependent manner, with only 31.04% cell viability when TG was 42 μg/mL. In addition, TG could damage the cell structure and induce cell apoptosis, and the apoptosis rate could be as high as 32.44% by AV/PI detection. Moreover, TG could also promote cell necrosis, and limit cell migration. There were significant differences between the treated group and the control group (P

Owing to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, the role of emotion recognition has become paramount in human–computer interaction. Traditional approaches often reduce this intricate task to a mere classification problem by relying heavily on perceptual pattern-recognition techniques. However, this simplification overlooks the dynamic and multifaceted nature of human emotions. According to theories in emotion psychology, existing pattern recognition methods primarily capture external emotional expressions—termed “external emotional energy” (EEE)—rather than the nuanced underlying emotions. To address this gap, we introduce the evolutionary mental state transition model (EMSTM). In the initial phase, EMSTM employs standard pattern-recognition algorithms to extract EEE from multi-modal human expressions. Subsequently, it leverages a mental state transition network to model the dynamic transitions between emotional states, thereby predicting real-time emotions with higher fidelity. We validated the efficacy of EMSTM through experiments on 2 multi-label emotion datasets: CMU Multimodal Opinion Sentiment and Emotion Intensity (CMU-MOSEI) and Ren Chinese Emotion Corpus (Ren-CECps). The results indicate a marked improvement over conventional methods. By synergistically combining principles from psychology with computational techniques, EMSTM offers a holistic and accurate framework for real-time emotion tracking, aligning closely with the dynamic mental processes that govern human emotions.

To study the nutritional value and antioxidant activities of Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma extract. The water extraction method was used in this experiment to research the effects of different extraction conditions on the dry extract rate of Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma. Then the response surface analysis method was further used to optimize the process. Moreover, the nutritional components and functional components of the extract were determined, and the antioxidant function and effects on the life span and fecundity of C. elegans were discussed. The results showed that when the material liquid ratio was 1:12 g/mL, the decocting time was 140 min, and the decocting times were 4 times, the dry extract yield of the aqueous extract of Cistanche (AEC) was 65.83%±0.87%. In addition, the nutritional composition and functional components of AEC was detected and found to contain a large amount of nutritional components such as protein (5.22±0.44 g/100 g), fat (0.150±0.06 g/100 g), amino acids (0.640±0.05 g/100 g), etc, and echinacoside (557±4.24 mg/100 g), acteoside (169±7.07 mg/100 g), total sugar (22.1±0.64 g/100 g), total flavonoids (4.13±0.08 g/100 g) and others. Furthermore, the AEC also showed good DPPH scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, and reducing activity, all of which were concentration dependent. Finally, AEC could prolong the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans. Among them, 8 mg/mL AEC had the best effect, and its average life span reached 10.95±2.40 d. Therefore, AEC has good antioxidant capacity, and rich in various nutrients and functional components, which indicates that Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma has the potential to develop functional food antioxidants and provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma in the future.

Liver cancer ranks third globally among causes of cancer-related deaths, posing a significant public health challenge. However, current treatments are inadequate, prompting a growing demand for novel, safe, and effective therapies. Natural products (NPs) have emerged as promising candidates in drug development due to their diverse biological activities, low toxicity, and minimal side effects. This paper begins by reviewing existing treatment methods and drugs for liver cancer. It then summarizes the therapeutic effects of NPs sourced from various origins on liver cancer. Finally, we analyze the potential mechanisms of NPs in treating liver cancer, including inhibition of angiogenesis, migration, and invasion; regulation of the cell cycle; induction of apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis; influence on tumor metabolism; immune regulation; regulation of intestinal function; and regulation of key signaling pathways. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of NPs research in liver cancer treatment, offering a foundation for further development and application in pharmaceuticals and functional foods.

Protein is composed of peptides, essential nutrients for human survival and health, and the easy absorption of peptides further promotes human health. According to the source of the protein, it can be divided into plants, animals, and micro-organisms, which have important physiological effects on the health of the body, especially in enhancing immunity. The most widely used raw materials are animal protein and plant protein, and the protein composition formed by the two in a certain proportion is called “double protein”. In recent years, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation has issued an announcement on the “Implementation Rules for the Technical Evaluation of New Functions and Products of Health Foods (Trial)”, which provides application conditions and listing protection for the research and development of new functions of health foods. At present, some researchers and enterprises have begun to pay attention to the potential of animal and plant proteins to be used in new functions. In this article, the research progress of animal and plant proteins in the new functions of Chinese health food is reviewed in detail, and suggestions for future research on animal and plant proteins are put forward.

Objective: To investigate the effects of silkworm pupa (Bombyx mori) protein (SPP) on cell proliferation, apoptosis and energy metabolism in human colon cancer cells DLD-1. Methods: CCK-8 was used to detect cell proliferation rate after 72 h of cell culture for the control group (normal cultured DLD-1 cells) and SPP dose groups; Annexin-V/PI was applied to observe cell apoptosis; XFe24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer was used to detect cell mitochondrial respiratory function and glycolytic function. Results: Comparing with the control, SPP significantly inhibited the proliferation of DLD-1 cells with all the dosage tested (P < 0.01); flow cytometry showed that SPP significantly promoted apoptosis (P < 0.05). Additionally, SPP could significantly inhibited mitochondrial metabolism and glycolysis of DLD-1 cells and decreased cell energy metabolism in all groups treated with different doses. Conclusion: SPP can cause oxidative damage, promote apoptosis, and reduce mitochondrial respiratory and glycolysis rate in colon cancer DLD-1 cells, which reveals that SPP has the potential to serve as the anti-cancer drugs in the future, but further experimental evidence is needed.

Assessments on the spatial pattern of ecological restoration potential provide insights into the current status of ecosystem health, facilitate the identification of hotspots of ecosystem degradation, and further serves as a link that bridges regional ecological planning with specific restoration efforts. The goal of this study was to reconstruct the ecological restoration pattern, through establishing an ecosystem health assessment model encompassing four elements of vigor, organization, resilience and service of an ecosystem. Siping City, a typical black soil region located in central Jilin Province of Northeast China, was selected as the study area, and ecological protection and restoration units were identified based on temporal changes in ecosystem health levels from 2000 to 2020. Getis-Ord Gi* analysis was adopted to classify the restoration zones and depict the spatial pattern of ecological restoration. From 2000 to 2020, the ecosystem health index of Siping City generally increased from 0.49 to 0.51 due to increases in forestland area and precipitation, but a fraction of suburban areas also experienced decreases. Four different restoration zones were delineated, including the windbreak and sand-fixing zone in the western part, the black soil protection and reclamation zone in the middle part, the Daheishan ecological shelter zone in the central and eastern part, and the water restoration zone in the eastern part, which account for 28.12%, 37.05%, 16.53% and 18.29% of the total area. The protection units covered an area of 1,189.83 km2 and the restoration units covered an area of 2009.83 km2, which could be further classified into 10 types and accounted for 31.24% of the total area. It was suggested that the restoration methods applied to different units should be tailored towards specific restoration objectives. This proposed methodological framework serves as a basis for reconstructing ecological restoration in the black soil region, and a reference for making restoration plans elsewhere.

Cistanche is a tonic Chinese medicine commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, with 2016, CFSA through the alxa desert cistanche safety evaluation, cistanche began to officially enter the food field. At present, the research on cistanche mainly focuses on the extraction, isolation and purification and pharmacological effects, and its pharmacological effects such as neuroprotective effects, immunomodulation, antioxidant anticancer and hepatoprotective liver protection have attracted the attention of researchers. This review mainly reviews the research status, chemical composition and health benefits, analyzes its application prospects in food, and aims to provide certain theoretical support for the safe application of cistanche in functional food.

The droplet size, zeta potential, interface protein adsorption rate, physical stability and microrheological properties of high-pressure-homogenization (HPH)-modified, dual-protein-based whey–soy (whey protein isolate—soy protein isolate) emulsions containing different oil phase concentrations (5%, 10% and 15%; w/w) were compared in this paper. The in vitro digestion characteristics and storage stability of the dual-protein emulsions before and after HPH treatment were also explored. The results show that with an increase in the oil phase concentration, the droplet size and interface protein adsorption rate of the untreated dual-protein emulsions increased, while the absolute value of the zeta potential decreased. When the oil phase concentration was 10% (w/w), HPH treatment could significantly reduce the droplet size of the dual-protein emulsion, increase the interface protein adsorption rate, and improve the elasticity of the emulsion. Compared with other oil phase concentrations, the physical stability of the dual-protein emulsion containing a 10% (w/w) oil phase concentration was the best, so the in vitro digestion characteristics and storage stability of the emulsions were studied. Compared with the control group, the droplet size of the HPH-modified dual-protein emulsion was significantly reduced after gastrointestinal digestion, and the in vitro digestibility and release of free amino groups both significantly increased. The storage stability results show that the HPH-modified dual-protein emulsion showed good stability under different storage methods, and the storage stability of the steam-sterilized dual-protein emulsion stored at room temperature was the best. These results provide a theoretical basis for the development of new nutritional and healthy dual-protein liquid products.

It has been proven that high-pressure homogenization (HPH) could improve the functional properties of proteins by modifying their structure. This study researched the effect of HPH on the structural and functional properties of whey-soy dual-protein (Soy Protein Isolation-Whey Protein Isolation, SPI-WPI). Different protein solution samples were treated with HPH at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 MPa, and the structure changed under different pressures was analyzed by measuring particle size, zeta potential, Fourier infrared spectrum (FTIR), fluorescence spectrum and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that HPH significantly reduced the particle size of SPI-WPI, changed the secondary and tertiary structures and improved the hydrophobic interaction between molecules. In addition, HPH significantly improved the solubility and emulsification of all proteins, and the improvement effect on SPI-WPI was significantly better than SPI and WPI. It was found that SPI-WPI treated with 60 MPa had the best physicochemical properties. Secondly, we researched the effect of HPH by 60 MPa on the emulsion properties of SPI-WPI. In this study, the SPI-WPI had the lowest surface tension compared to a single protein after HPH treatment. The emulsion droplet size was obviously decreased, and the elastic properties and physical stability of SPI-WPI emulsion were significantly enhanced. In conclusion, this study will provide a theoretical basis for the application of HPH in modifying the structure of dual-protein to improve its development and utilization in liquid specialty food.

To study the anti-tumor effect of Cistanche deserticola Y. Ma, HepG2 cells were treated with 0, 3.5, 10.5, 21, 31.5, and 42 μg/ml of total glycosides (TG) from Cistanche deserticola. The HepG2 cell survival rate and 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) were detected using the CCK-8 method, and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by using a DCFH-DA fluorescence probe. Finally, a Seahorse XFe24 energy analyzer (Agilent, United States) was used to detect cell mitochondrial pressure and glycolytic pressure. The results showed that TG could reduce the survival rate of HepG2 cells and that the IC50 level was 35.28 μg/ml. With increasing TG concentration, the level of ROS showed a concentration-dependent upward trend. Energy metabolism showed that each dose group of TG could significantly decline the mitochondrial respiratory and glycolytic functions of HepG2 cells. In conclusion, TG could significantly inhibit the mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis functions of HepG2 cells, increase the level of ROS, and inhibit cell proliferation. Thus, this experiment pointed out that Cistanche deserticola can be used as a source of anti-cancer foods or drugs in the future. However, further studies on its mechanisms and clinical applications are needed.

Granular cell tumor is an infrequent, predominantly benign tumor originating from Schwann cells. Granular cell tumor of the breast (GCTB) can simulate breast malignant carcinoma on the clinical assessment. We herein present a rare case of GCTB which recurred in the contralateral breast. We believe the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings of GCTB have never been described. The high similarity of breast malignant carcinoma makes its differential diagnosis difficult on the clinical and radiological features. In this report, we present the CEUS findings from a rare case of GCTB, explore the possible value of CEUS in differential diagnosis between benign breast lesions and malignant ones, and briefly review the literature.

Zeaxanthin is a natural xanthophyll carotenoid and the main macular pigment that protects the macula from light-initiated oxidative damage, but it has poor stability and low bioavailability. Absorption of this active ingredient into starch granules as a carrier can be used to improve both zeaxanthin stability and controlled release. Optimization using three variables judged important for optimizing the system (reaction temperature of 65 °C, starch concentration of 6%, and reaction time of 2 h) was conducted for incorporation of zeaxanthin into corn starch granules, aiming for high zeaxanthin content (2.47 mg/g) and high encapsulation efficiency (74%). Polarized-light microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the process partially gelatinized corn starch; additionally, it showed the presence of corn starch/zeaxanthin composites, with the zeaxanthin successfully trapped in corn starch granules. The half-life time of zeaxanthin in corn starch/zeaxanthin composites increased to 43 days as compared with that of zeaxanthin alone (13 days). The composites show a rapid increase in zeaxanthin release with in vitro intestinal digestion, which is favorable for possible use in living systems. These findings could have application in designing effective starch-based carriers of this bioactive ingredient with enhanced storage stability and improved intestines-targeted controlled-release delivery.

GaoFen-4 (GF-4) infrared spectrum (IRS) camera has a special spectral band located in the mid-wave infrared spectrum with the wavelength ranging from 3.50 to 4.10 μm. It is very important for forest fire-detection and other quantitative remote sensing applications at a high spatial resolution of 400 m. Due to the similarity of the spectral characteristics, the thermal emissive band 20 (3.660–3.840 μm) and 22 (3.929–3.989 μm) of medium resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS) are taken as the reference bands for the radiometric cross-calibration of the GF-4/IRS camera. The time difference between selected GF-4/IRS and MODIS images at the Qinghai Lake and Se lincuo Lake test sites is less than one hour. After spatial matching, single-band and dual-band spectral matching methods are proposed in this article. Then, the DN value of GF-4 image is linearly fitted to the radiance of the corresponding MODIS image to obtain the radiometric calibration coefficients of GF-4/IRS camera. The validation results show that the cross-calibration coefficients calculated by integrating the measurement of two MODIS bands with the mean value spectral matching approach has the highest radiometric calibration consistency with the official calibration coefficients.

To investigate the effects and mechanisms of repeated freeze-thaw cycles treatment on starch-based foods, structural and physicochemical properties of maize starch granules were investigated under repeated freeze-thaw treatment with 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 times at −20 °C, −40 °C and −80 °C, respectively. The x-ray crystalline pattern of the maize starch was A-type after freeze-thawing process. Meanwhile, the peak, though, final and setback viscosity, pasting temperature, water holding capacity, transparency and hydrolysis rate of samples significantly (P

Cistanche is a medicinal and food homologous substance with a long history of consumption and medicinal use in China. In order to further understand the volatile organic compound differences between different cistanches, this study selected oil cistanche, blood cistanche and cistanche tubulosa in Xinjiang for HS-GC-IMS volatile organic compounds, and established the characteristic fingerprints of different cistanches for organic content and characteristic organic compound analysis. PCA and cluster analysis were used to study the similarity between different cistanches. After qualitative analysis, a total of 32 volatile organic compounds were identified, covering aldehydes (17), ketones (5), furans (1), alcohols (5), lactones (1) and esters (3), and the volatile organic compounds between samples a, b and c could be significantly distinguished, affecting the flavor of cistanche itself. It provides a basic theoretical basis for the study of cistanche flavor.

Headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectroscopy (HS-GC-IMS) was used to detect the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of yak milk powders (YMPs) under ultra-high-pressure sterilization (UHPS) and thermization (TH) methods. The analyses led to the identification of several characteristic of compounds, therefore, exploitation and comparison of the different flavors. A total of 46 peaks were detected, and 17 compounds were identified, including 7 aldehydes, 5 ketones, 3 acids, 1 terpene, and 1 ester. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) and fingerprint similarity analysis based on Euclidean distance compared the YMPs and found that the YMPs had certain differences, which can distinguish the YMPs with different sterilization methods. In conclusion, different sterilization methods possibly affect the flavor of YMPs, and UHPS is bettedslfr than TH. Also, aldehydes were mainly be detected in UHPS groups, whereas the ketones and acids mostly appeared in TH groups. Most importantly, UHPS can retain the original flavor of yak milk to a greater extent.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]

By analyzing the grading status of data centers at home and abroad and the availability of business systems in the data center,business availability grading recommendations,and business system requirements and configuration recommendations for the data center infrastructure were proposed,thus making the data center infrastructure more rational and reducing the cost of data center.

Neutrophils are recruited into the heart at an early stage following a myocardial infarction (MI). These secrete several proteases, one of them being neutrophil elastase (NE), which promotes inflammatory responses in several disease models. It has been shown that there is an increase in NE activity in patients with MI; however, the role of NE in MI remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of NE in the pathogenesis of MI in mice. NE expression peaked on day 1 in the infarcted hearts. In addition, NE deficiency improved survival and cardiac function post-MI, limiting fibrosis in the noninfarcted myocardium. Sivelestat, an NE inhibitor, also improved survival and cardiac function post-MI. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the numbers of heart-infiltrating neutrophils and inflammatory macrophages (CD11b+F4/80+CD206low cells) were significantly lower in NE-deficient mice than in wild-type (WT) mice. At the border zone between intact and necrotic areas, the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive apoptotic cells was lower in NE-deficient mice than in WT mice. Western blot analyses revealed that the expression levels of insulin receptor substrate 1 and phosphorylation of Akt were significantly upregulated in NE-knockout mouse hearts, indicating that NE deficiency might improve cardiac survival by upregulating insulin/Akt signaling post-MI. Thus, NE may enhance myocardial injury by inducing an excessive inflammatory response and suppressing Akt signaling in cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of NE might serve as a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of MI.

Programmed death ligand 2 (PD-L2) is the second ligand of programmed death 1 (PD-1) protein. In autoimmune myocarditis, the protective roles of PD-1 and its first ligand programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) have been well documented; however, the role of PD-L2 remains unknown. In this study, we report that PD-L2 deficiency exacerbates myocardial inflammation in mice with experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). EAM was established in wild-type (WT) and PD-L2-deficient mice by immunization with murine cardiac myosin peptide. We found that PD-L2-deficient mice had more serious inflammatory infiltration in the heart and a significantly higher myocarditis severity score than WT mice. PD-L2-deficient dendritic cells (DCs) enhanced CD4+ T cell proliferation in the presence of T cell receptor and CD28 signaling. These data suggest that PD-L2 on DCs protects against autoreactive CD4+ T cell expansion and severe inflammation in mice with EAM.

Aging and obesity are the most prominent risk factors for onset of atrial fibrillation (AF). Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) is the rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) activity. Nampt and NAD are essential for maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis and modulation of cellular metabolism, and their expression levels decrease with aging and obesity. However, a role for Nampt in AF is unknown. The present study aims to test whether there is a role of Nampt/NAD axis in the pathogenesis of obesity-induced AF. Male C57BL/6J (WT) mice and heterozygous Nampt knockout (NKO) mice were fed with a normal chow diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HFD). Electrophysiological study showed that AF inducibility was significantly increased in WT+HFD, NKO+ND, and NKO+HFD mice compared with WT+ND mice. AF duration was significantly longer in WT+HFD and NKO+ND mice and further prolonged in NKO+HFD mice compared with WT+ND mice and the calcium handling pathway was altered on molecular level. Also, treatment with nicotinamide riboside, a NAD precursor, partially restored the HFD-induced AF perpetuation. Overall, this work demonstrates that partially deletion of Nampt facilitated HFD-induced AF through increased diastolic calcium leaks. The Nampt/NAD axis may be a potent therapeutic target for AF.

Rev-erb α, known as nuclear receptor 1D1 (NR1D1), regulates circadian rhythm, modulates glucose and lipid metabolism, and inflammatory response. However, little is known about the effect of Rev-erb agonist on the progression of myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure. To investigate it, wild-type male mice underwent sham-operation or permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery to create MI model. Rev-erb agonist SR9009 (100 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was intraperitoneally administered. Echocardiography was performed to evaluate cardiac function 1 week after surgery. The gene and protein expression levels in the left ventricles (LVs) were determined with real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Moreover, immune cell infiltration into the LVs was analyzed by flow cytometry. Survival rate and reduced LV function were significantly improved by the treatment with SR9009 after MI. The expression level and plasma concentration of brain natriuretic peptide were significantly lower in MI mice treated with SR9009 (MI+SR) than in MI mice treated with vehicle (MI+V). Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory-related molecules such as Il6, Mcp1, Ly6g, Cd11b, matrix metallopeptidase (Mmp)9, and the protein expression levels of phosphorylated NF-κB p65, phosphorylated ERK, and phosphorylated p38 were also significantly lower in MI+SR than in MI+V. Immunofluorescence intensity for MMP-9 was enhanced in the LVs, but was less so in MI+SR than in MI+V. Furthermore, infiltrations of neutrophils and proinflammatory macrophages in the LVs were dramatically increased in MI+V and were significantly suppressed in MI+SR. Rev-erb agonist SR9009 treatment inhibited post-MI mortality and improved cardiac function through modulating inflammation and remodeling process.

(Hetero)aromatic carboxylic acids and their derivatives attract attention due to their role in the synthesis of several biologically active molecules, active pharmaceutical ingredients, polymers, etc . Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is a prime C1 source for the synthesis of aromatic carboxylic acids because of its nontoxicity, nonflammability, abundance and renewability. Owing to the thermodynamic and chemical inertness of CO 2 , traditional carboxylation to aromatic carboxylic acids with CO 2 is always performed under harsh reaction conditions or using stoichiometric metallic reductants. Visible-light-driven carboxylation with CO 2 provides an environmentally benign, mild, and high-efficiency route for the production of aromatic carboxylic acids. This review comprehensively introduces the visible-light-driven preparation of aromatic carboxylic acids through a visible-light-driven oxidative addition and reductive elimination mechanism, binding of aryl (radical) anions which are produced by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) to CO 2 , binding of carbon dioxide anion radicals (CO 2 ˙ - ) which are formed by PET to aryl compounds, radical coupling between CO 2 ˙ - and aryl radicals, and other mechanisms. Finally, this review provides a summary and the future work direction. This article offers a theoretical guidance for efficient synthesis of aromatic carboxylic acids via photocatalysis.

As a decoration method, coupling a photocatalyst with semiconductor quantum dots has been proven to be an efficient strategy for enhanced photocatalytic performance. Herein, a novel BiOCl nanosheet decorated with Bi 2 O 3 quantum dots (QDs) was first synthesized by a facile one-step in situ chemical deposition method at room temperature. The as-prepared materials were characterized by multiple means of analysis. The Bi 2 O 3 QDs with an average diameter of about 8.0 nm were uniformly embedded on the surface of BiOCl nanosheets. The obtained Bi 2 O 3 QDs/BiOCl exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance on the degradation of the rhodamine B and ciprofloxacin, which could be attributed to the band alignment, the photosensitization effect and the strong coupling between Bi 2 O 3 and BiOCl. In addition, the dye photosensitization effect was demonstrated by the monochromatic photodegradation experiments. The radical trapping experiments and the ESR testing demonstrated the type II charge transfer route of the heterojunction. Finally, a reasonable photocatalytic mechanism based on the relative band positions was discussed to illustrate the photoreaction process. These findings provide a good choice for the design and potential application of BiOCl-based photocatalysts in water remediation., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Two-dimensional vertically aligned Bi 2 O 3 nanosheets over carbon paper (CP) were prepared via an in situ growth approach. Bi 2 O 3 /CP exhibits a robust photocatalytic activity, as well as renewability and flexibility. With Rhodamine B and 2,4-dichlorophenol used as target pollutants, the rate constant of Bi 2 O 3 /CP was 3.72 × 10 -3 min -1 and 6.93 × 10 -3 min -1 under visible-light irradiation for 2 h, respectively. The improved activity was attributed to the synergistic effects of the hierarchical structure of Bi 2 O 3 and the conductive substrate, CP; the former provided efficient catalytic sites for the pollutants and absorbed more of the light scattered among the nanosheets, while the latter is beneficial to the photogenerated electron transfer., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Aryl- and heteroaryl units are present in a wide variety of natural products, pharmaceuticals, and functional materials. The method for reduction of aryl halides with ubiquitous distribution is highly sought after for late-stage construction of various aromatic compounds. The visible-light-driven reduction of aryl halides to aryl radicals by electron transfer provides an efficient, simple, and environmentally friendly method for the construction of aromatic compounds. This review summarizes the recent progress in the generation of aryl radicals by visible-light-driven reduction of aryl halides with metal complexes, organic compounds, semiconductors as catalysts, and alkali-assisted reaction system. The ability and mechanism of reduction of aromatic halides in various visible light induced systems are summarized, intending to illustrate a comprehensive introduction of this research topic to the readers.

Herein, defect intrinsic hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) quantum sheets (QS) and bismuth oxide (Bi 2 O 3 ) QS were prepared from bulk materials by ball milling and solvent stripping, respectively. The h-BN/Bi 2 O 3 heterostructure was fabricated via a facile self-assembly method. The structure and performance of samples were systematically characterized. As expected, the layered h-BN QS is tightly coated on the surface of Bi 2 O 3 QS in a face-to-face stacking structure and interconnected by strong interface interactions. The introduction of h-BN QS can significantly enhance the separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers of h-BN/Bi 2 O 3 . The experimental results show that the photocatalytic activity of h-BN/Bi 2 O 3 is markedly improved. The first-order reaction rate constant of the 3wt%-BN/Bi 2 O 3 sample is 3.2 × 10 -2 min -1 , about 4.5 times that of Bi 2 O 3 QS. By means of the active species capture test, it is found that the main oxidation species are holes (h + ), followed by hydroxyl radicals (˙OH). Based on the surface charge transfer characteristics, the photogenerated carrier transfer and separation efficiency can be improved by coupling h-BN and a Bi 2 O 3 semiconductor to the Schottky heterojunction, and the strong interaction between heterogeneous interfaces also enhances the surface catalytic reaction efficiency, which improves dramatically the photocatalytic performance., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Oxidative stress could be a possible mechanism and a therapeutic target of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the effects of the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition for AF remain to be fully elucidated. We investigated the effects of a novel XO inhibitor febuxostat on AF compared with allopurinol in hypertension rat model. Five-week-old Dahl salt-sensitive rats were fed either low-salt (LS) (0.3% NaCl) or high-salt (HS) (8% NaCl) diet. After 4 weeks of diet, HS diet rats were divided into three groups: orally administered to vehicle (HS-C), febuxostat (5 mg/kg/day) (HS-F), or allopurinol (50 mg/kg/day) (HS-A). After 4 weeks of treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly higher in HS-C than LS, and it was slightly but significantly decreased by treatment with each XO inhibitor. AF duration was significantly prolonged in HS-C compared with LS, and significantly suppressed in both HS-F and HS-A (LS; 5.8 ± 3.5 s, HS-C; 33.9 ± 23.7 s, HS-F; 15.0 ± 14.1 s, HS-A; 20.1 ± 11.9 s: P<0.05). Ca2+ spark frequency was obviously increased in HS-C rats and reduced in the XO inhibitor-treated rats, especially in HS-F group. Western blotting revealed that the atrial expression levels of Met281/282-oxidized Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and Ser2814-phosphorylated ryanodine receptor 2 were significantly increased in HS-C, and those were suppressed in HS-F and HS-A. Decreased expression of gap junction protein connexin 40 in HS-C was partially restored by treatment with each XO inhibitor. In conclusion, XO inhibitor febuxostat, as well as allopurinol, could reduce hypertension-related increase in AF perpetuation by restoring Ca2+ handling and gap junction., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Linking online identities of users among countless heterogeneous network services on the Internet can provide an explicit digital representation of users, which can benefit both research and industry. In recent years, user identity linkage (UIL) through the Internet has become an emerging task with great potential and many challenges. Existing works mainly focus on online social networks that consider inconsistent profiles, content, and networks as features or use sparse location-based data sets to link the online behaviors of a real person. To extend the UIL problem to a general scenario, we try to link the web-browsing behaviors of users, which can help to distinguish specific users from others, such as children or malicious users. More specifically, we propose a Siamese neural network (NN) architecture-based UIL (SAUIL) model that learns and compares the highest-level feature representation of input web-browsing behaviors with deep NNs. Although the number of matching and nonmatching pairs for the UIL problem is highly imbalanced, previous studies have not considered imbalanced UIL data sets. Therefore, we further address the imbalanced learning issue by proposing cost-sensitive SAUIL (C-SAUIL) model, which assumes higher costs for misclassifying the minority class. In the experiments, the proposed model is robust and exhibits a good performance on very large, real-world data sets collected from different regions with distinct characteristics.

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep problems with an estimated prevalence of 10%-15% in the general population. Although adenosine A 2A receptor (A 2A R) agonists strongly induce sleep, their cardiovascular effects preclude their use in treating sleep disorders. Enhancing endogenous A 2A R signaling, however, may be an alternative strategy for treating insomnia, because adenosine levels in the brain accumulate during wakefulness. In the present study, we found that 3,4-difluoro-2-((2-fluoro-4-iodophenyl)amino)benzoic acid, denoted A 2A R positive allosteric modulator (PAM)-1, enhanced adenosine signaling at the A 2A R and induced slow wave sleep (SWS) without affecting body temperature in wild-type male mice after intraperitoneal administration, whereas the SWS-inducing effect of this benzoic acid derivative was abolished in A 2A R KO mice. In contrast to the A 2A R agonist CGS 21680, the A 2A R PAM-1 did not affect blood pressure or heart rate. These findings indicate that enhancing A 2A R signaling promotes SWS without cardiovascular effects. Therefore, small molecules that allosterically modulate A 2A Rs could help people with insomnia to fall asleep., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, we report a novel polyol process to synthesize highly water-dispersible anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (∼5 nm) by the introduction of inorganic oxidizing agent--KIO3. The obtained TiO2 nanoparticles are well dispersible in water at pH≥5.0 and the resulting aqueous dispersion remains stable over months. The superior water-dispersibility of as-formed TiO2 is ascribed to the electrostatic repulsion from carboxylic acid group modified on TiO2 nanoparticles, which is the oxidation product of solvent diethylene glycol (DEG) by KIO3. Based on the characterization results, the formation processes of water-dispersibility TiO2 nanoparticles are proposed. Meanwhile, the synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles are found to be doped by iodine and exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity on degradation of rhodamine-B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation. The further tests demonstrate that the O(2-) is the main active species during photodegradation of RhB., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)