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Dina I Abu Rabe,1 Mohamad M Al Awak,1 Fan Yang,2 Peter A Okonjo,1 Xiuli Dong,1 Lindsay R Teisl,2 Ping Wang,2 Yongan Tang,3 Nengyu Pan,2 Ya-Ping Sun,2 Liju Yang11Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA; 2Department of Chemistry and Laboratory for Emerging Materials and Technology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; 3Department of Mathematics and Physics, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USABackground: Carbon dots (CDots) have recently been demonstrated their effective visible light-activated antimicrobial activities toward bacteria. This study was to evaluate and understand the roles of the surface functionalities in governing the antimicrobial activity of CDots.Methods: Using the laboratory model bacteria Bacillus subtilis, the photo-activated antimicrobial activities of three groups of CDots with specifically selected different surface functionalization moieties were evaluated and compared. The first group consisting of CDots with surface functionalization by 2,2-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine) (EDA) vs. 3-ethoxypropylamine (EPA), was evaluated to determine the effect of different terminal groups/charges on their photo-activated antibacterial activities. The second group consisting of CDots functionalized with oligomeric polyethylenimine (PEI) and those prepared by the carbonization of PEI – citric acid mixture, was to evaluate the effects of dot surface charges vs. fluorescent quantum yields on their antimicrobial activities. The third group consisting of CDots functionalized with PEI of 1,200 vs. 600 in average molecular weight was evaluated for the effect of molecular weight of surface passivation molecular on their antimicrobial activities.Results: The results indicated the EDA-CDots in the first group was more effective and was attributed to the positive charges from the protonation of the amino groups (–NH2) being more favorable to interactions with bacterial cells. The evaluation of the second group CDots suggested the same surface charge effect dominating the antibacterial performance over the fluorescent quantum yields. The evaluation of the third group CDots functionalized with PEI of 1,200 vs. 600 in average molecular weight, indicated the latter was significantly more effective.Conclusions: The results from this study highlighted the dominant role of surface functionalities in governing CDots’ light activated antimicrobial activity and should have significant implications to the further design and development of CDots as a new class of visible light-activated antibacterial agents.Keywords: carbon dots, antimicrobial, bacteria, photo-activated, surface functionalization

Xiuli Dong,1 Ambrose E Bond,1 Nengyu Pan,2 Montrez Coleman,2 Yongan Tang,3 Ya-Ping Sun,2 Liju Yang1 1Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA; 2Department of Chemistry, Laboratory for Emerging Materials and Technology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA; 3Department of Mathematics and Physics, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA Background: Carbon quantum dots (CDots) have recently been reported as a new class of visible light activated antimicrobial nanomaterials. This study reports the synergistic photoactivated antimicrobial interactions of CDots with photosensitizers on bacterial cells. Methods: The antimicrobial effects of the CDots with surface passivation molecules 2,2'-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine) in combination with photosensitizer methylene blue (MB) or toluidine blue (TB) at various concentrations were evaluated against Escherichia coli cells with and without 1-hour visible light illumination. The broth microdilution checkerboard method and isobologram analysis were used for determining if synergistic effect existed between CDots and MB or TB.Results: The results showed that CDots alone at a concentration of 5 µg/mL did not display antimicrobial effects, 1 µg/mL MB alone only decreased 1.86 log of viable cell numbers, but the combination treatment with 5 µg/mL CDots combined with 1 µg/mL MB completely inhibited bacteria growth, resulted in 6.2 log viable cell number reduction, suggesting synergistic interaction between the two. The antimicrobial effects of CDots/TB combination exhibited similarly synergistic effects on E. coli cells. These synergistic effects between CDots and MB or TB were further confirmed using the checkerboard microdilution methods, where the fractional inhibitory concentration index value (0.5) and the isobologram analyses. The synergistic interactions were also correlated to the increased generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species in E. coli cells upon the combination treatments of CDots/MB or CDots/TB. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the synergistic photoactivated antimicrobial effects of CDots in combination with other photosensitizers. Such synergistic effect may open new strategies for developing highly effective antimicrobial methods. Keywords: carbon quantum dots, photosensitizer, methylene blue, toluidine blue, reactive oxygen species, synergistic antimicrobial effect

Ya-Peng Wang,* Ji-Long An,* Ya-Peng Sun,* Wen-Yuan Ding, Yong Shen, Wei Zhang Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the curative effect between minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) and the posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in obese patients with lumbar disk prolapse.Patients and methods: In this study, 72 patients who underwent lumbar disk prolapse therapy in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between March 2011 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed and were divided into two groups, MIS-TLIF group (n=35) and PLIF group (n=37), according to different surgical procedures. Several clinical parameters were compared between these two groups.Results: Compared with PLIF, MIS-TLIF was associated with longer operative time, less blood loss, less postoperative drainage and shorter postoperative time in bed; moreover, patients in the MIS-TLIF group had lower levels of serum creatine kinase on 1, 3 and 5 postoperative days. At the 3- and 6-month follow-up, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores of low back pain of patients in the MIS-TLIF group were significantly reduced and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were increased, whereas the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) showed no significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion: Obese patients can achieve good efficacy with MIS-TLIF or PLIF treatment, but MIS-TLIF surgery showed longer operative time, fewer traumas and bleeding volume, less incidence of short-term pain, low complication rate and faster postoperative recovery. Keywords: lumbar degenerative diseases, obesity, minimally invasive, spinal fusion, surgical complications

Ya-peng Wang,* Wei Zhang, Jian Zhang, Ya-peng Sun,* Ji-long An, Wen-yuan Ding Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Very few studies have discussed transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (TED) in the treatment of common peroneal nerve paralysis induced by lumbar disk herniation (LDH). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of TED in the treatment of LDH combined with common peroneal nerve paralysis.Materials and methods: The clinical and follow-up data of 32 patients with common peroneal nerve paralysis induced by LDH undergoing TED from March 2011 to April 2014 were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Follow-up was conducted immediately after the surgery, as well as 3, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. The parameters (including muscle strength recovery of the anterior tibial muscle, leg pain visual analog scale score, neurological function Japanese Orthopaedic Association [JOA] score, MacNab scores in the last follow-up, and the intraoperative and postoperative complications) were recorded.Results: Three patients (9.4%) had the anterior tibial muscle strength recovered to ≥ grade 4 immediately after the surgery. The anterior tibial muscle strength of patients recovered to basically stable form in the 6-month postoperative follow-up and that in the last follow-up were as follows: one case of grade 1, one case of grade 2, 28 cases of grade 4, and two cases of grade 5. The visual analog scale scores of leg pain were significantly reduced immediately after the surgery and also on 3, 12, and 24 months compared with preoperative period (all P

Jia-yue Bai, Wei Zhang, Ji-long An, Ya-peng Sun, Wen-yuan Ding, Yong Shen Key Biomechanical Laboratory of Orthopedics, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China Background: The wide use of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) surgery in the treatment of degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine in spinal surgery highlights the gradual decrease in the use of traditional pedicle screw insertion technology. This study aims to analyze the accuracy of the true anteroposterior view pedicle screw insertion technique in MIS-TLIF surgery, compare it with conventional pedicle screw insertion technology, and discuss its clinical application value. Methods: Fifty-two patients undergoing true anteroposterior view (group A) and 87 patients undergoing conventional pedicle screw insertion (group B) were diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation or lumbar spinal stenosis. Time for screw placement, intraoperative irradiation exposure, accuracy rate of pedicle screw insertion, and incidence of neurovascular injury were compared between the two groups. Results: The time for screw placement and intraoperative irradiation exposure was significantly less in group A. Penetration rates of the paries lateralis of vertebral pedicle, medial wall of vertebral pedicle, and anterior vertebral wall were 1.44%, 0%, and 2.40%, respectively, all of which were significantly lower than that in group B. No additional serious complications caused by the placement of screw were observed during the follow-up period in patients in group A, but two patients with medial penetration underwent revision for unbearable radicular pain. Conclusion: The application of true anteroposterior view pedicle screw insertion technique in MIS-TLIF surgery shortens time for screw placement and reduces the intraoperative irradiation exposure along with a higher accuracy rate of screw placement, which makes it a safe, accurate, and efficient technique. Keywords: true AP view, MIS-TLIF, pedicle screw, internal fixation, lumbar disc herniation

Abstract The intrinsically core/shell structured La0.6Sr0.4MnO3nanoparticles with amorphous shells and ferromagnetic cores have been prepared. The magnetic, dielectric and microwave absorption properties are investigated in the frequency range from 1 to 12 GHz. An optimal reflection loss of −41.1 dB is reached at 8.2 GHz with a matching thickness of 2.2 mm, the bandwidth with a reflection loss less than −10 dB is obtained in the 5.5–11.3 GHz range for absorber thicknesses of 1.5–2.5 mm. The excellent microwave absorption properties are a consequence of the better electromagnetic matching due to the existence of the protective amorphous shells, the ferromagnetic cores, as well as the particular core/shell microstructure. As a result, the La0.6Sr0.4MnO3nanoparticles with amorphous shells and ferromagnetic cores may become attractive candidates for the new types of electromagnetic wave absorption materials.

The photovoltaic effect in ferroelectric (FE) semiconductors, i.e., the FPV effect, is attracting increasing attention. However, the microscopic mechanism of the FPV effect is still largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of crystal structure, dielectric, FE, and domain features on the FPV effect in the 0.7BiFe 1- x Cr x O 3 -0.3BaTi 1- x Mn x O 3 (BFC-BTM) (0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.07) system. We observed a coexisting rhombohedral and tetragonal to pseudocubic phase transition for x ≥ 0.05. This structural transition was accompanied by a significant reduction in the lattice distortion and disappearance of macro-sized FE domains. We found a substantial increase and decrease in the degree of the diffuseness of the relaxor FE phase transition and the open-circuit photovoltage V OC , respectively, for x ≥ 0.05, in contrast to the relatively weak variation in the remnant polarization. Our results demonstrate that the FPV effect depends weakly on FE polarization but strongly on the complex submicron domain-related diffused relaxor FE phase transition and crystal structure in BFC-BTM. These results were discussed based on the non-centrosymmetry-related shift current mechanism.

Developing widely used respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines remains a significant challenge, despite the recent authorization of two pre-F vaccines for elderly adults. Previous reports have suggested that even when vaccine-induced immunity generates high titers of potent neutralizing antibodies targeting the pre-F protein, it may not fully inhibit breakthrough of RSV infections. This incomplete inhibition of RSV breakthrough infections can lead to an increased risk of enhanced respiratory disease (ERD) in vaccinated individuals. The reasons why potent neutralizing antibodies cannot fully prevent RSV breakthrough infections are not yet clear. In an attempt to explain this phenomenon, we investigated the effect of potent neutralizing antibodies on the intercellular spread of RSV. Our findings indicated that a specific titer of potent neutralizing antibodies, such as 5C4, could block certain modes of intercellular spread, such as the diffusion of cell-free virions and the delivery of virions through filopodia. However, these antibodies did not fully inhibit the entire process of intercellular spread. Through the use of super-resolution imaging techniques, we observed a novel and efficient spread mode called the transition of viral materials through intercellular nanotubes (TVMIN), independent of virions and insensitive to the presence of antibodies. TVMIN allowed RSV-infected cells to directly transfer viral materials to neighboring cells via intercellular nanotubes that are rich in microfilaments. TVMIN began as early as 5 h post-infection (h.p.i.) and rapidly initiated infection in recipient cells. Our data provided new insights into the intercellular spread of RSV and might help explain the occurrence of breakthrough infections., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Engineering Kondo lattice with tailored functionality is desirable for elucidating the heavy fermion physics. We realize the construction of an artificial Kondo lattice/superconductor heterojunction by growing monolayer VSe 2 on bulk 2H-NbSe 2 with molecular beam epitaxy. Spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy measurements show the emergence of a new charge density wave (CDW) phase with 3 × 3 periodicity on the monolayer VSe 2 . Unexpectedly, a pronounced Kondo resonance appears around the Fermi level, and distributes uniformly over the entire film, evidencing the formation of Kondo lattice. Density functional theory calculations suggest the existence of magnetic interstitial V atoms in VSe 2 /NbSe 2 , which play a key role in forming the CDW phase along with the Kondo lattice observed in VSe 2 . The Kondo origin is verified from both the magnetic field and temperature dependences of the resonance peak, yielding a Kondo temperature of ~ 44 K. Moreover, a superconducting proximity gap opens on monolayer VSe 2 , whose shape deviates from the function of one-band BCS superconductor, but is reproduced by model calculations with heavy electrons participating the pairing condensate. Our work lays the experimental foundation for studying interactions between the heavy fermion liquids and the superconducting condensate., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In our previous study, bile Arisaema was elucidated to have a significant anti-febrile effect, but the pharmacodynamic material basis of this effect remains uncertain. Herein, we found that the soluble polysaccharide fraction from bile Arisaema presents a remarkable antipyretic effect through balancing the gut microbiota and regulating metabolic profiling. Bile Arisaema polysaccharide (BAP) was characterized for its monosaccharide composition with arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose and xylose (0.028:0.072:0.821:0.05:0.029, molar ratios) and amino acid composition with arginine, threonine, alanine, glycine, serine, proline and tyrosine (109.33, 135.78, 7.22, 8.86, 21.07, 4.96, 12.31 μg/mg). A total of 50 peptides were identified from BAP using Ltq-Orbitrap MS/MS. The oral administration of 100 mg/kg BAP significantly increased the antipyretic effect in yeast-induced fever rats by comparing the rectal temperature. Mechanistically, the inflammation and disorders of neurotransmitters caused by fever were improved by treatment with BAP. The western blotting results suggested that BAP could suppress fever-induced inflammation by down-regulating the NF-κB/TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway. We also demonstrated that BAP affects lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism and balances the gut microbiota. In summary, the present study provides a crucial foundation for determining polysaccharide activity in bile Arisaema and further investigating the underlying mechanism of action., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Maintaining intracellular redox balance is essential for the survival, antibody secretion, and mucosal immune homeostasis of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody-secreting cells (ASCs). However, the relationship between mitochondrial metabolic enzymes and the redox balance in ASCs has yet to be comprehensively studied. Our study unveils the pivotal role of mitochondrial enzyme PCK2 in regulating ASCs' redox balance and intestinal homeostasis. We discover that PCK2 loss, whether globally or in B cells, exacerbates dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis due to increased IgA ASC cell death and diminished antibody production. Mechanistically, the absence of PCK2 diverts glutamine into the TCA cycle, leading to heightened TCA flux and excessive mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) production. In addition, PCK2 loss reduces glutamine availability for glutathione (GSH) synthesis, resulting in a decrease of total glutathione level. The elevated mtROS and reduced GSH expose ASCs to overwhelming oxidative stress, culminating in cell apoptosis. Crucially, we found that the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant Mitoquinone (Mito-Q) can mitigate the detrimental effects of PCK2 deficiency in IgA ASCs, thereby alleviating colitis in mice. Our findings highlight PCK2 as a key player in IgA ASC survival and provide a potential new target for colitis treatment., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Chelidonium majus L. ( C. majus) , commonly known as "Bai Qu Cai" in China, belongs to the genus Chelidonium of the Papaveraceae family. It has rich medicinal value, such as alleviating coughs, asthma, spasms and pain. Recent studies have demonstrated that C. majus is abundant in various alkaloids, which are the primary components of C. majus and have a range of pharmacological effects, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor effects. So far, 94 alkaloids have been isolated from C. majus , including benzophenanthridine, protoberberine, aporphine, protopine and other types of alkaloids. This paper aims to review the research progress in phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of C. majus alkaloids, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the application of C. majus in the field of medicinal chemistry and to afford reference for further research and development efforts., 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 Li, Sun, Wang, Wang and Kuang.)

Despite improvements in the early intervention of myocardial infarction (MI) in recent decades, left ventricular aneurysms (LVA) remain a major health concern, particularly in developing nations. The progression of MI can lead to the thinning of the myocardial wall and the formation of a ventricular wall bulge, characteristic of an LVA. Furthermore, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has emerged as the gold standard for LVA diagnosis due to its superior imaging capabilities. Notably, surgical ventricular reconstruction (SVR) is an effective treatment for LVA, aiming to restore the normal volume and structure of the left ventricle, thereby improving cardiac function. However, the criteria for selecting patients for SVR treatment remains a subject of debate. This review focuses on the current understanding of surgical indications, procedures, and prognostic risk factors that influence outcomes in left ventricular reconstruction, highlighting the need for precise patient selection to optimize surgical benefits., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Ferroptosis is a specific form of cell death characterized by excessive accumulation of cellular lipid peroxides. Ferroptosis is closely associated with various diseases, inhibition of which may help alleviate multi-organ injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion and enhance the anti-tumor effect by promoting the immunity of T cells. However, clinical approved drugs targeting ferroptosis process remain rare. In this study, we unexpectedly found that (R)-crizotinib, the first-generation ALK inhibitor, has potent inhibitory activity against ferroptosis across various cell lines. Moreover, its chiral molecule (S)-crizotinib, which was considered to share no common targets with (R)-crizotinib, also suppresses ferroptosis with an efficacy similar to that of (R)-crizotinib. We further demonstrated that both crizotinib enantiomers inhibit ferroptosis independently of their known targets, but through a common mechanism involving the targeting of AGPAT3-mediated synthesis of ether-linked polyunsaturated fatty acids (PE-O-PUFA), which are known to promote lipid-ROS generation and ferroptosis. In line with their activity in cell lines, (R)-crizotinib and (S)-crizotinib effectively mitigate renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice. Furthermore, the two compounds also inhibit lipid-ROS accumulation in CD8 + T cells in draining lymph nodes of B16-F10 subcutaneous xenograft mice, thereby promoting anti-tumor effects. Collectively, our study firstly reports a common activity shared by (R)-crizotinib and (S)-crizotinib in ferroptosis regulation. As a clinically approved drug, (R)-crizotinib has well-established pharmacokinetics and safety, which makes it a promising candidate for repurposing. Given the current lack of FDA-approved ferroptosis inhibitors, our findings suggest therapeutically repurposing (R)-crizotinib as well as its enantiomer (S)-crizotinib for treating ferroptosis-related diseases., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Previous research has demonstrated the existence of the face race lightness (FRL) illusion. It indicates that Black faces tend to appear darker than White faces, even when their luminance values are objectively adjusted to be the same. However, the debate over the exclusive influence of face-race categories on the FRL illusion continues, with the impact of racial groups on the illusion remaining relatively unexplored. To address these gaps, we conducted studies to investigate whether the FRL illusion varies in terms of racial salience and racial groups. We manipulated the racial salience by altering the orientation of the faces. A total of 64 Caucasians (Study 1) and 63 Asians (Study 2) were recruited. Participants were shown pairs of faces in rapid succession and were asked to report which face appeared lighter or darker. In each trial, the two faces belonged to the same race category: Black, Black-White ambiguous, or White. The luminance of the first face remained consistent across trials while the luminance of the second face varied and was adjusted across eight levels (- 20, - 12, - 8, - 4, + 4, + 8, + 12, + 20). Our findings reveal that the FRL illusion is largely dependent on the salience of face-race information. When faces were presented upright, the FRL illusion was prominent; however, it disappeared when faces were inverted. Remarkably, the FRL illusion was observed not only in Caucasians but also in Asians. Therefore, our results suggest that the FRL illusion primarily stems from race salience rather than participants' racial groups., (© 2024. The Psychonomic Society, Inc.)

Polymeric composites with boron nitride nanosheets (BNNs), which are thermally conductive yet electrically insulating, have been pursued for a variety of technological applications, especially those for thermal management in electronic devices and systems. Highlighted in this review are recent advances in the effort to improve in-plane thermal transport performance in polymer/BNNs composites and also the growing research activities aimed at composites of enhanced cross-plane or isotropic thermal conductivity, for which various filler alignment strategies during composite fabrication have been explored. Also highlighted and discussed are some significant challenges and major opportunities for further advances in the development of thermally conductive composite materials and their mechanistic understandings.

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of double beam double tunnel enhanced reconstruction technique in the treatment of knee anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) training injuries., Methods: Twenty-nine cases of ACL injury of knee joint from January 2021 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All the cases were underwent ligament reconstruction surgery. Cases were grouped by surgical technique:there were 14 patients in conventional reconstruction group, including 13 males and 1 female, aged from 22 to 31 years old with an average of (27.07±7.28) years old, autogenous hamstring tendon was used for ligament reconstruction. There were 15 patients in the enhanced reconstruction group, including 13 males and 2 females, aged from 25 to 34 years old with an average of (29.06±4.23) years old, double tunnel ligament reconstruction, the autogenous hamstring muscle was used as the anteromedial bundle, and the posterolateral bundle was replaced by a high-strength line. The difference between knee tibial anterior distance, Lysholm score, International Knee Literature Committee (IKDC) subjective score, Tegner motor level score and visual analog scale (VAS) at 6th and 12th months after the surgery, limb symmetry index (LSI) were recorded at the last follow-up and surgery-related adverse effects during follow-up., Results: All patients were followed up, ranged from 13 to 15 months with an average of (13.7±0.8) months. There were no serious adverse reactions related to surgery during the period. There was no statistical difference between the preoperative general data and the observation index of the two groups ( P >0.05). The difference in tibial anterior distance at 6 and 12 months in the enhanced reconstruction group (1.45±0.62) mm and (1.74±0.78) mm which were lower those that in the conventional reconstruction group (2.42±0.60) mm and (2.51±0.63) mm( P <0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative Lysholm score, Tegner motor level score, IKDC score, VAS, and limb symmetry index at the last follow-up( P >0.05)., Conclusion: The enhanced reconstruction technique can more effectively maintain the stability of the knee joint and has no significant effect on the postoperative knee joint function compared with the traditional ligament reconstruction technique. The short-term curative effect is satisfactory, and it is suitable for the group with high sports demand.

Depression poses a significant threat to global physical and mental health, impacting around 3.8% of the population with a rising incidence. Current treatment options primarily involve medication and psychological support, yet their effectiveness remains limited, contributing to high relapse rates. There is an urgent need for innovative and more efficacious treatment modalities. Stem cell therapy, a promising avenue in regenerative medicine for a spectrum of neurodegenerative conditions, has recently garnered attention for its potential application in depression. While much of this work remains preclinical, it has demonstrated considerable promise. Identified mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of stem cell therapy encompass the stimulation of neurotrophic factors, immune function modulation, and augmented monoamine levels. Nonetheless, these pathways and other undiscovered mechanisms necessitate further investigation. Depression fundamentally manifests as a neurodegenerative disorder. Given stem cell therapy's success in addressing a range of neurodegenerative pathologies, it opens the door to explore its application in depression treatment. This exploration may include repairing damaged nerves directly or indirectly and inhibiting neurotoxicity. Nevertheless, significant challenges must be overcome before stem cell therapies can be applied clinically. Successful resolution of these issues will ultimately determine the feasibility of incorporating stem cell therapies into the clinical landscape. This narrative review provides insights into the progress of research, potential avenues for exploration, and the prevailing challenges in the implementation of stem cell therapy for treatment of depression., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Chemical investigation on the 95% ethanol extract of green walnut husks of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. led to the isolation of two new diarylheptanoid compounds, including Juglanin K ( 1 ) and Myricananin I ( 2 ), together with ten known compounds ( 3-13 ). Their structures were elucidated by extensive analyses of comprehensive spectroscopic methods. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . The results showed that compound 2 had moderate antibacterial activity with the MIC values of 0.313 and 0.156 mg/mL, respectively. compounds 1 , 3 - 7 and 13 showed weakly antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with the MIC values of 0.625-2.5 mg/mL.

Facial features are important sources of information about perceived trustworthiness. Masks and protective clothing diminish the visibility of facial cues by either partially concealing the mouth and nose or covering the entire face. During the pandemic, the use of personal protective equipment affected and redefined who trusts whom in society. This study used the classical investment game of interpersonal trust with Chinese participants to explore the impact of occlusion on interpersonal trust. Faces with moderate initial trustworthiness were occluded by a mask or protective clothing in Experiment 1 and were digitally occluded by a square in Experiment 2, and faces with three levels of initial trustworthiness were occluded by a mask in Experiment 3. Results showed that both undergraduates (Experiment 1a) and non-student adults (Experiment 1b) perceived the faces with protective clothing as more trustworthy than faces wearing standard masks and faces not wearing masks. Faces with the top halves showing were perceived as trustworthy as full faces, while faces with the bottom halves showing were perceived as less trustworthy. The effect of masks is weak and complex. Masks reduced participants' trust in faces with high initial trustworthiness, had no effect on faces with low and moderate initial trustworthiness, and only slightly increased the trust of undergraduates in faces with moderate initial trustworthiness. Our findings indicate that the lack of information caused by occlusion and the social significance associated with occlusion collectively affect people's trust behavior in Chinese society. We believe the findings of this study will be useful in elucidating the effects of personal protective equipment usage on perceptions of trustworthiness., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Planarly aligning 2D platelets is challenging due to their additional orientational freedom compared to 1D materials. This study reports a sequential dual-alignment approach, employing an extrusion-printing-induced shear force and rotating-magnetic-field-induced force couple for platelet planarly alignment in a yield-stress support bath. It is hypothesized that the partial alignment induced by a directional shear force facilitates subsequent axial rotation of the platelets for planar alignment under an external force couple, resulting in a synergistic alignment effect. This sequential dual-alignment approach achieves better planar alignment of 2D modified hexagonal boron nitride (mhBN). Specifically, the thermal conductivity of the 40 wt% mhBN/epoxy composite is significantly higher (692%) than that of unaligned composites, surpassing the cumulative effect of individual methods (only 133%) with a 5 times more synergistic effect. For 30, 40, and 50 wt% mhBN composites, the thermal conductivity values (5.9, 9.5, and 13.8 W m -1 K -1 ) show considerable improvement compared to the previously reported highest values (5.3, 6.6, and 8.6 W m -1 K -1 ). Additionally, a 3D mhBN/epoxy heat sink is printed and evaluated to demonstrate the feasibility of device fabrication. The approach enables the planar alignment of electrically or thermally conducting 2D fillers during 3D fabrication., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Objective: This retrospective cohort study was performed to clarify the association between intubation in the delivery room and the mortality after pulmonary hemorrhage in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) during hospitalization., Methods: The study participants were screened from the VLBWIs admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from 31 July 2019 to 31 July 2022. The newborns who ultimately were included were those infants who survived until pulmonary hemorrhage was diagnosed. These subjects were divided into the intubation-at-birth group ( n = 29) and the non-intubation-at-birth group ( n = 35), retrospectively., Results: Univariate analysis found that the intubation group had a higher mortality and shorter hospital stay than the non-intubation group ( p < 0.05) (for mortality: 25/29 (86.21%) in intubation group versus 14/35 (40.00%) in non-intubation group). By multivariate analysis, the result further showed that intubation in the delivery room was related to shorter survival time and higher risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.341, 95% confidence interval: 1.094-5.009)., Conclusions: Intubation at birth suggested a higher mortality in the VLBWIs when pulmonary hemorrhage occurred in the NICU.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like factors, comprising amphiregulin (AREG), betacellulin (BTC), and epiregulin (EREG), play a critical role in regulating the ovulatory process. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), an essential ovulatory protein, is necessary for maintaining extracellular matrix (ECM) stability during cumulus expansion. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of EGF-like factors, AREG, BTC, and EREG on the expression and production of PTX3 in human granulosa-lutein (hGL) cells and the molecular mechanisms involved. Our results demonstrated that AREG, BTC, and EREG could regulate follicular function by upregulating the expression and increasing the production of PTX3 in both primary (obtained from 20 consenting patients undergoing IVF treatment) and immortalized hGL cells. The upregulation of PTX3 expression was primarily facilitated by the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway, induced by these EGF-like factors. In addition, we found that the upregulation of PTX3 expression triggered by the EGF-like factors was completely reversed by either pretreatment with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, AG1478, or knockdown of EGFR, suggesting that EGFR is crucial for activating the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in hGL cells. Overall, our findings indicate that AREG, BTC, and EREG may modulate human cumulus expansion during the periovulatory stage through the upregulation of PTX3., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The human extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell invasion is an important process during placentation. Although the placenta is normal tissue, the EVT cells exhibit some features common to cancer cells, including high migratory and invasive properties. Snail and Slug are transcription factors that mediate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a crucial event for cancer cell migration and invasion. It has been shown that GDF-11-induced matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) expression is required for EVT cell invasion. Whether GDF-11 can regulate Snail and Slug expression in human EVT cells remains unknown. If it does, the involvement of Snail and Slug in GDF-11-induced MMP2 expression and EVT cell invasion must also be defined. In the present study, using the immortalized human EVT cell line, HTR-8/SVneo, and primary cultures of human EVT cells as experimental models, our results show that GDF-11 upregulates Snail and Slug expression. ALK4 and ALK5 mediate the stimulatory effects of GDF-11 on Snail and Slug expression. In addition, we demonstrate that SMAD2 and SMAD3 are required for the GDF-11-upregulated Snail expression, while only SMAD3 is involved in GDF-11-induced Slug expression. Moreover, our results reveal that Snail mediates GDF-11-induced MMP2 expression and cell invasion but not Slug. This study increases our understanding of the biological function of GDF-11 in human EVT cells and provides a novel mechanism for regulating MMP2 and EVT cell invasion., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Moslae Herba (MH) can be used for both medicine and food and has a long history of medicine. MH has the effects of sweating and relieving the exterior, removing dampness and harmonizing, and is mainly used for colds caused by damp heat in summer. It is called "Xiayue Zhi Mahuang" in China. So far, 123 chemical compounds have been isolated and identified from MH, including flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, phenylpropanoids, and other chemical compounds. Its chemical components have a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic sedation, antipyretic, immune regulation, insecticidal, and other effects. In addition, because of its aromatic odor and health care function, MH also has development and utilization value in food, chemical, and other fields. This paper reviewed the research progress of MH in botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology and provided a possible direction for further research.

Histamine, found abundantly in salt-fermented foods, poses a risk of food poisoning. Natronobeatus ordinarius , a halophilic archaeon isolated from a salt lake, displayed a strong histamine degradation ability. Its histamine oxidase (HOD) gene was identified ( hod Nbs ). This is the first report of an archaeal HOD. The HOD Nbs protein was determined to be a tetramer with a molecular weight of 307 kDa. HOD Nbs displayed optimum activity at 60-65 °C, 1.5-2.0 M NaCl, and pH 6.5. Notably, within the broad NaCl range between 0.5 and 2.5 M, HOD Nbs retained above 50% of its maximum activity. HOD Nbs exhibited good thermal stability, pH stability, and salinity tolerance. HOD Nbs was able to degrade various biogenic amines. The V max of HOD Nbs for histamine was 0.29 μmol/min/mg, and the K m was 0.56 mM. HOD Nbs exhibited high efficiency in histamine removal from fish sauce, namely, 100 μg of HOD Nbs degraded 5.63 mg of histamine (37.9%) in 10 g of fish sauce within 24 h at 50 °C. This study showed that HOD Nbs with excellent enzymatic properties has promising application potentials to degrade histamine in high-salt foods.

Three novel phragmalin-type limonoids, swieteliacates S-U (1-3), were isolated from Swietenia macrophylla leaves, alongside four previously identified limonoids (4-7). The structures, encompassing absolute configurations, were delineated through 1D and 2D NMR analyses, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS), and NMR and ECD calculations. Swieteliacate S (1) is a distinctive cryptate comprising a tricyclo[4.2.1 10,30 .1 1,4 ]decane fragment and an additional five-membered oxygen ring. Compounds 3 and 5 exhibited inhibition rates of 26.08 ± 2.26% and 15.42 ± 3.66%, respectively, on triglyceride (TG) production in Hep G2 cells at 40 μM.

Carbon-semiconductor hybrid quantum dots are classical carbon dots with core carbon nanoparticles doped with a selected nanoscale semiconductor. Specifically, on those with the nanoscale TiO 2 doping, denoted as C TiO2 -Dots, their synthesis and thorough characterization were reported previously. In this work, the C TiO2 -Dots were evaluated for their visible light-activated antibacterial function, with the results showing the effective killing of not only Gram-positive but also the generally more resistant Gram-negative bacteria. The hybrid dots are clearly more potent antibacterial agents than their neat carbon dot counterparts. Mechanistically, the higher antibacterial performance of the C TiO2 -Dots is attributed to their superior photoexcited state properties, which are reflected by the observed much brighter fluorescence emissions. Also considered and discussed is the possibility of additional contributions to the antibacterial activities due to the photosensitization of the nanoscale TiO 2 by its doped core carbon nanoparticles.

To achieve stable operation of an ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) system in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), a real-time impedance matching system needs to be established to respond to antenna load variation during long pulse discharges. A new impedance matching method based on capacitors was proposed in this study. By considering the reflected voltage of the transmission line as the feedback parameter, the real-time impedance-matching system can quickly control the motors based on a programmable logic controller to determine the minimum reflection voltage. A real-time impedance matching system was successfully used on the test platform in the laboratory and on the ICRH system in EAST. A significant result is that we can match the variable impedance within 1 s by suitably adjusting the motor controller to ensure high-power and long-pulse operation of the ICRH system to satisfy the requirements of the EAST experiment., (© 2024 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

Two new acorane-type sesquiterpenoids, harzianes A and B ( 1 and 2 ), together with two known cyclonerodiol-type sesquiterpenoids ( 3 - 4 ) and four known sterols ( 5 - 8 ) were isolated from the endophytic Trichoderma harzianum , associated with the medicinal plant Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Compounds 1 and 2 were identified as a pair of heterotropic isomers by spectroscopic analysis (HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR), and their absolute configurations were determined by ECD calculations. All compounds were tested for anti-inflammatory activity, however, none demonstrated such activity.

Context: Polygonum hydropiper L. (Polygonaceae) (PH) is a traditional Chinese traditional medicine with a pungent flavor and mild drug properties. PH is mainly distributed in the channel tropism in the stomach and large intestine. PH has multiple uses and can be used to treat a variety of diseases for a long time., Objective: This review summarizes the phytochemical and pharmacological activities, and applications of PH from 1980 to 2022. We also provide suggestions for promoting further research and developing additional applications of PH., Methods: The data and information on PH from 1980 to 2022 reviewed in this article were obtained from scientific databases, including Science Direct, PubMed, Science Citation Index, SciFinder Scholar (SciFinder), Springer, American Chemical Society (ACS) Publications, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), etc. Some information was obtained from classic literature on traditional Chinese medicines. The search terms were Polygonum hydropiper , phytochemistry compositions of Polygonum hydropiper , pharmacological activities of Polygonum hydropiper , and applications of Polygonum hydropiper ., Results: The comprehensive analysis of the literature resulted in 324 compounds being isolated, identified, and reported from PH. Regarding traditional uses, the majority of phytochemical and pharmacological studies have indicated the diverse bioactivities of PH extracts, flavonoids, and volatile oil elements, including antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory., Conclusions: PH has a long history of diversified medicinal uses, some of which have been verified in modern pharmacological studies. Further detailed studies are required to establish scientific and reasonable quality evaluation standards and action mechanisms of active constituents from PH.

Previous studies mainly focus on the game analysis of green building development under carbon tax policy, while carbon trading, as one of the important means to promote low-carbon development, is rarely mentioned in promoting the development of the green building market. Based on this, to study the impact of carbon trading policy on the development of the green building market, this study combines prospect theory for carbon trading to build a three-way evolutionary game model of developer-government-consumer. It studies the influencing causes of green building market development under the carbon trading mechanism from the whole perspective. The study shows the existence of a carbon trading policy helps the development of the green building market. In the presence of a carbon trading market, the government's punishment, subsidies, and the setting of carbon prices influence the development of the green building market. In addition, the percentage of carbon emissions bought, the potential benefits, and the selling price also affect the chance of consumers buying green buildings to a greater or lesser extent. This study introduces prospect theory into the developer-government-consumer three-way evolutionary game model, which enriches the research perspective of each subject's behavior in the green building market. It provides theoretical support for developers, governments, and consumers to collaborate to promote the coordination and development of the green building market. It has policy implications for promoting the green and high-quality development of the construction industry., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)