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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that involves multiple systems in the body. Numerous recent studies have revealed bidirectional crosstalk between the brain and bone, but the interaction between bone and brain in AD remains unclear. In this review, we summarize human studies of the association between bone and brain and provide an overview of their interactions and the underlying mechanisms in AD. We review the effects of AD on bone from the aspects of AD pathogenic proteins, AD risk genes, neurohormones, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, brain‐derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), and the autonomic nervous system. Correspondingly, we elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the involvement of bone in the pathogenesis of AD, including bone‐derived hormones, bone marrow‐derived cells, bone‐derived EVs, and inflammation. On the basis of the crosstalk between bone and the brain, we propose potential strategies for the management of AD with the hope of offering novel perspectives on its prevention and treatment. Highlights: The pathogenesis of AD, along with its consequent changes in the brain, may involve disturbing bone homeostasis.Degenerative bone disorders may influence the progression of AD through a series of pathophysiological mechanisms.Therefore, relevant bone intervention strategies may be beneficial for the comprehensive management of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 (ECO2R) is gaining attention as a promising approach to store excess or intermittent electricity generated from renewable energies in the form of valuable chemicals such as CO, HCOOH, CH4, and so on. Selective ECO2R to CH4 is a challenging target because the rate-determining step of CH4 formation, namely CO* protonation, competes with hydrogen evolution reaction and the C–C coupling toward the production of longer-chain chemicals. Herein, a Cu-TiO2 composite catalyst consisting of CuOx clusters or Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs), which are isolated on the TiO2 grain surface, was synthesized using a one-pot solvothermal method and subsequent thermal treatment. The Cu-TiO2 catalyst exhibited high selectivity for CH4, and the ratio of FE for CH4 to total FE for all products in ECO2R reached 70%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to develop an innovative compositive impregnation process for preparing sulfurized powdered activated carbon (PAC) from waste tires. An experimental apparatus, including a pyrolysis [...]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that involves multiple systems in the body. Numerous recent studies have revealed bidirectional crosstalk between the brain and bone, but the interaction between bone and brain in AD remains unclear. In this review, we summarize human studies of the association between bone and brain and provide an overview of their interactions and the underlying mechanisms in AD. We review the effects of AD on bone from the aspects of AD pathogenic proteins, AD risk genes, neurohormones, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, brain-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), and the autonomic nervous system. Correspondingly, we elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the involvement of bone in the pathogenesis of AD, including bone-derived hormones, bone marrow-derived cells, bone-derived EVs, and inflammation. On the basis of the crosstalk between bone and the brain, we propose potential strategies for the management of AD with the hope of offering novel perspectives on its prevention and treatment. HIGHLIGHTS: The pathogenesis of AD, along with its consequent changes in the brain, may involve disturbing bone homeostasis. Degenerative bone disorders may influence the progression of AD through a series of pathophysiological mechanisms. Therefore, relevant bone intervention strategies may be beneficial for the comprehensive management of AD., (© 2024 The Author(s). Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.)

In this study, short-channel SBA-15 with a platelet morphology (p-SBA-15) is used to support Ni to effectively enhance catalytic activity and CH 4 selectivity during CO 2 hydrogenation. The use of p-SBA-15 as a support can result in smaller Ni particle sizes than Ni particles on typical SBA-15 supports because p-SBA-15 possesses a larger surface area and a greater ability to provide metal-support interactions. The Ni/p-SBA-15 materials with tiny Ni particles exhibit enhanced catalytic activity toward CO 2 hydrogenation and CH 4 formation during CO 2 hydrogenation compared to the same Ni loading on a SBA-15 support. The presence of metal-support interaction on the Ni/p-SBA-15 catalyst may increase the possibility of abundance of strongly adsorbing sites for CO and CO 2 , thus resulting in high reaction rates for CO 2 and CO hydrogenation. The reaction kinetics, reaction pathway and active sites were studied and correlated to the high catalytic activity for CO 2 hydrogenation to form CH 4 .

Mechanical properties of cells reflect differences in cellular subpopulations, differentiation potency, and cell behaviors. Previous study has revealed that intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration leads to alterations in cell behavior and differentiation potency. Human nucleus pulposus-derived progenitor cells (NPPCs) are an attractive cell sources for IVD regeneration. However, the relationship between mechanical properties and differentiation potential in different NPPC subpopulations is few known. In this study, mechanical properties of different NPPC subpopulations were measured via atomic force microscopy (AFM) and correlated with differentiation potential of NPPCs. We found that elastic modulus, relaxed modulus, and instantaneous modulus were positively correlated with osteogenic potential of NPPCs. And apparent viscosity was correlated with chondrogenic potential of NPPCs. These results indicated that the mechanical properties were predictive markers for differentiation potential of NPPC subpopulations, and could be used for enrichment based on differentiation potential, which could significantly improve the outcome of IVD regeneration.

The secreted axonal guidance molecular, Semaphorin-3F (SEMA3F), is widely expressed outside the central nervous system and inhibits tumor growth and metastasis. However, the role of SEMA3F expression in the osteosarcoma prognosis has not been elaborated. This study aimed to evaluate SEMA3F expression level in osteosarcoma and assess its prognostic value for patients. SEMA3F protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 112 cases of osteosarcoma. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of SEMA3F. The results showed that the overall survival and metastasis-free survival of patients with negative SEMA3F expression were significantly shorter than patients with positive expression (both P <0.01). Multivariate Cox analysis identified SEMA3F expression as an independent prognostic factor to predict favorable overall survival and metastasis-free survival (both P <0.01). When endogenous SEMA3F expression was knocked down by siRNAs, cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion in osteosarcoma cell lines were obviously promoted. Meanwhile, SEMA3F knockdown decreased E-cadherin expression but increased the expression of N-cadherin and β-Catenin, which indicated that SEMA3F could inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanically, knockdown of SEMA3F inhibited GSK-3β protein expression and promoted the expression of β-Catenin and c-myc proteins. GSK-3β is a key upstream suppressor of β-Catenin and c-myc expression is an indicator of Wnt/β-Catenin activity. Therefore, these results suggest that down-regulated SEMA3F may promote EMT, migration, invasion and metastasis of osteosarcoma via activating Wnt/β-Catenin signaling. In conclusion, SEMA3F is downregulated and associated with prognosis of patients, indicating that SEMA3F may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

Achaetescute-like 2 (ASCL2), a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, plays an important role in the determination of neuronal precursors in the central and peripheral nervous system and involves in tumor progression. However, the role of ASCL2 expression in the osteosarcoma prognosis has not been elaborated. This study aimed to evaluate ASCL2 expression level in osteosarcoma and assess its prognostic value for patients. ASCL2 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 73 cases of osteosarcoma. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of ASCL2. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the overall survival and metastasis-free survival of patients with positive ASCL2 expression were significantly shorter than patients with negative expression (both P<0.01). Multivariate Cox analysis identified ASCL2 expression as an independent prognostic factor to predict poor overall survival and metastasis-free survival (both P<0.01). Overexpression of ASCL2 expression greatly promoted cell proliferation and enhanced migration and invasion in vitro. This study indicates that increased expression of ASCL2 in primary osteosarcoma is a novel biomarker for predicting the development of metastases and poor outcomes of the patients.

Mesocrystals of ZnO were synthesized hydrothermally by using gum arabic as a structure-directing agent. Their hierarchical structure has a unique twin-brush form consisting of vertically aligned nanorods in a single-crystal-like porous form. The formation mechanism of the twin-brush ZnO was investigated by quenching a series of samples at different times and examining them by TEM, SEM, and XRD. The alignment of ZnO crystal units can be modulated by adding simple salts such as KCl to change the units from nanorods to nanoplates. This can be explained by screening the dipolar force of the polar crystal. Local cathodoluminescence of twin-brush ZnO was used to follow the local structure changes., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Objectives: To investigate the development and the health of reproductive organs of male children and juvenile between the Meng and the Han nationality in the Meng nationality area., Methods: Male juvenile(4-18 years old) of the Meng nationality (n = 2,315) and the Han nationality (n = 2,832) were divided into four age groups. Height, weight, length and perimeter of penis, volume of left and right testis and reproductive organs illness were examined., Results: In 13-18 years group, the developmental speed of reproductive organs was faster in Mongolia male juvenile than that in the Han nationality (P < 0.02). After 13 years old, the developmental speed of reproductive organs of male living in town is faster than that in the country (P < 0.05). Illness of male reproductive organs was common such as hernia, varicocle etc., Conclusions: There was difference of developmental status and the prevalence rate of reproductive organs of male children and juvenile between the Meng and the Han nationality.