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Abstract Precisely locating the voltage sag sources is significant for improving power quality and clarifying the responsibilities of both power supply and consumption. However, the existing location models are complex, computationally intensive, and influenced by the measurement error and fault type, which have low positioning efficiency and large errors. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for locating voltage sag sources based on power polarity and twin characteristics matching. The method firstly uses the polarity of the sequence sag component disturbance reactive power at the monitoring point to determine the sag line. Secondly, the basic realization method of the twin power system is discussed, and the twin characteristics are defined by combining the positive and negative sequence sag component disturbance reactive power and the twin database is established. Thirdly, the spectral norm and Pearson product‐moment correlation coefficient are used to define the data matching degree, and the precise location model of the sag source is established with the objective function of maximizing the data matching between the twin characteristics of the preset and actual sag. Finally, the Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm is used to solve the location model. The correctness and superiority of the proposed method is verified based on IEEE33 node modelling.

Fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) were applied in a 8-week feeding experiment with juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (initial body weight 8.75±0.05 g), to preliminarily investigate their effects on growth performance and feed utilization and potential influence on intestinal antioxidant status, expressions of protein synthesis gene and microflora. Common carp were fed with 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% FPH (named as FPH-0, FPH-0.5, FPH-1, FPH-1.5, and FPH-2) respectively, substituting 0%, 13.33%, 28.33%, 41.66%, and 55.00% of dietary fish meal. Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups of 25 fish per aquarium. Feeding experimental results revealed that final body weight, weight gain rate and protein efficiency ratio in the FPH-0.5 treatment were significant higher than those in other treatments. The FPH-0.5 treatment had highest crude protein level when compared to the FPH-1.5 and FPH-2 treatments (P

Diploid rainbow trout gonadal development occurs at the expense of stored energy and nutrients, lipid mobilization supplies energy required for this process. However, triploid rainbow trout gonads are not developed, the lipid and fatty acid metabolism might be different. However, which metabolic pathways and key metabolites regulate fatty acid metabolism have not been clarified. To identify the metabolism difference between diploid and triploid rainbow trout, we use the LC-MS technology based metabolomics to detect the metabolites in positive and negative ion mode. As far as it was evaluated, there are 174 metabolites with statistically significant differences, including 13 lipids and lipid-like molecules. Among the different metabolites, linoleic acid (LA), oleic acid (OA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) were related to the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, LA and OA were related to linoleic acid metabolism. The two metabolic pathways related to Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism might be associated with the differences in PUFA contents in diploid and triploid rainbow trout serum. Gene expression results validated that and pointed that the desaturation process maybe more crucial process in the differential metabolic pathways between diploid and triploid rainbow trout. The study provide a theoretical explanation for PUFA metabolism differences between diploid and triploid rainbow trout, identify the crucial metabolites as biomarkers to differentiate the metabolic mechanisms of PUFA metabolism in rainbow trout.

The Amur grayling (Thymallus arcticus grubei Dybowski, 1869), a species of potentially economic and research value, is renowned for its tender meat, exquisite flavor, and high nutritional contents. This study was conducted to investigate the physiological adaptation mechanisms to dietary lipids in Amur grayling fry (with average initial weight 4.64±0.03 g). This study involved a 56-day feeding trial with diets containing varying lipid levels (9.07%, 12.17%, 15.26%, 18.09%, 21.16%, and 24.07%, designated as GL1 through GL6, respectively) to explore the impact of dietary lipids on growth performance, intestinal digestion, liver antioxidative function, and transcriptomic profiles. Results showed that The group receiving 18% dietary lipid exhibited a markedly higher weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate compared to other groups, alongside a reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR), except in comparison to the 15% lipid group. Activities of lipase in pancreatic secretion and amylase in stomach mucosa peaked in the 18% lipid treatment group, indicating enhanced digestive efficiency. The liver of fish in this group also showed increased activities of antioxidative enzymes and higher levels of glutathione and total antioxidative capacity, along with reduced malondialdehyde content compared to the 9% and 24% lipid treatments. Additionally, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were highest in the 18% group. Transcriptomic analysis revealed four significant metabolic pathways affected: Cholesterol metabolism, Fat digestion and absorption, PPAR signaling, and Fatty acid degradation, involving key genes such as Lipase, Lipoprotein lipase, Fatty acid-binding protein, and Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I. These findings suggest that the liver of Amur grayling employs adaptive mechanisms to manage excessive dietary lipids. Quadratic regression analysis determined the optimal dietary lipid levels to be 16.62% and 16.52%, based on WGR and FCR, respectively. The optimal dietary lipid level for juvenile Amur grayling appears to be around 18%, as evidenced by improved growth performance, digestive function, balanced serum lipid profile, and enhanced liver antioxidative capacity. Exceeding this lipid threshold triggers both adaptive and potentially detrimental liver responses.

Abstract To investigate the effect of dietary l‐Alanyl‐l‐glutamine (Ala‐Gln) supplementation on Amur sturgeon, Acipenser schrenckii, 180 healthy fish (initial body weight 21.23 ± 0.17 g) were divided into two groups (30 fish per tank, each treatment in triplicate) and treated with 0.0% (control) and 1.0% Ala‐Gln for 56 days. The growth performance improved significantly with dietary Ala‐Gln supplementation. Transcriptome profiles of dietary Ala‐Gln supplementation in sturgeon were generated using second‐generation Illumina sequencing technology. A total of 2891 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained, including 901, which were upregulated, and 1990, which were downregulated, in the treatment group relative to the control group. These genes are mainly involved in the general function, regulation of replication, recombination and repair, signal transduction mechanisms, amino acids and lipid transport and metabolism, and other biological processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs showed that cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and beta‐alanine metabolism were the top three most significantly enriched pathways out of the 20 highly enriched pathways detected in A. schrenckii. The expression patterns of DEGs were validated by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Our findings provide a comprehensive insight into A. schrenckii genes and pathways with altered expression following dietary Ala‐Gln supplementation.

Use of high-concentrate carbohydrate in fish diets will bring negative influence on the growth and glycometabolism. The current research, with common carp, was designed to investigate the efficiency of alternate feeding between high- and low- carbohydrate based diets in weakening these negative effects. Two control groups were, respectively, fed to the low carbohydrate diets (LC group, 100 g/kg cassava starch) and the high carbohydrate diets (HC group, 400 g/kg cassava starch) for 56 d, meanwhile other groups were subjected to every 1 d, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d alternation between the HC and LC diets, respectively (referred as R1, R7, R14 and R28). All experimental diets were fed to triplicate groups of 30 common carp (initial weight 1.17 ± 0.03 g). All four alternate groups achieved optimal growth and feed efficiency compared to the HC group. The R14 group possessed significantly higher weight growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, specific growth rate, intestinal index and condition factor, and significantly lower feed conversion ratio compared to the HC group. Fish in that group had higher protein content in whole body, higher expressions of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 in hepatopancreas and elevated intestinal activities of trypsin, amylase and alkaline phosphatase. Relative expressions of rapamycin, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase B, Forkhead frame protein 1 A/1B, hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, glucokinase, phosphofructokinase, glucose transporter 2, glucose transporter 4, and sodium glucose cotransporter were also enhanced in the R14 group compared to HC group. Additionally, there was no difference in growth parameters between the LC group and four alternate groups. Alternate feeding between different carbohydrate level diets could enhance the growth, improve the digestive capacity and strengthen the glycometabolism to heighten the utilization ability of fish to high-carbohydrate diets, but this alternate cycle should be within reasonable limits. Briefly, it was concluded that the alternate cycle of 14 d was best.

Background: The mechanisms underlying social dysfunction caused by repeated sevoflurane in early life remain unclear. Whether the gut microbiota–metabolite–brain axis is involved in the mechanism of sevoflurane developmental neurotoxicity still lacks report. Methods: Mice received 3% sevoflurane at postnatal day (PND) 6, 7, and 8 for 2 h per day. Metagenomic sequencing and untargeted metabolomic analysis were applied to investigate the effects of sevoflurane on gut microbiota and metabolism. The animal social behavior and the synaptic development were analyzed during PND 35. Subsequently, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from the control group and bile acid administration were performed to see the expected rescuing effect on socially related behaviors that were impaired by repeated sevoflurane exposure in the mice. Results: In the 3-chamber test, sevoflurane-exposed mice spent less time with stranger mice compared with the control group. The density of both the apical and basal spine decreased in mice exposed to sevoflurane. In addition, repeated sevoflurane exposure led to a notable alteration in the gut microbiota and metabolite synthesis, particularly bile acid. FMT reduced the production of intestinal bile acid and attenuated the effect of sevoflurane exposure on social function and synaptic development. Cholestyramine treatment mimics the protective effects of FMT. Conclusions: The gut microbiota–metabolite–brain axis underlies social dysfunction caused by sevoflurane exposure in early age, and bile acid regulation may be a promising intervention to this impairment.

Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is a species with great potential for aquaculture in Eurasian countries, while feed costs limit the scale of pikeperch farming. Adding carbohydrates to the feed as an energy source is a viable approach to reduce costs and to improve the culture status of pikeperch. In this study, in order to determine the optimal carbohydrate requirement of pikeperch, three tapioca starch (8%, 10%, and 12%) added feeds were produced with isonitrogenous (51%) and isolipidic (11%). For 8 weeks, body weight was 1.20 ± 0.01 g, pikeperch were manually fed the trio of experimental diets until they seemed fully satisfied. The finding revealed that pikeperch can utilize dietary carbohydrate, but excessive dietary carbohydrate will adversely affect the growth performance. The growth and survival rate were decreased in pikeperch in S12 (P

Abstract Statins have been proven to be effective in minimizing the risk of cardiovascular adverse events, however, their effect on BP variability is debatable with respect to their significance and their use as a potential anti‐hypertensive. Using a meta‐analysis approach, the aim of this study was to explore whether certain statins have the potential to lower blood pressure (BP). For the period 2002–2022, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for the studies that examined the effect of statins on blood pressure in normotensive or hypertensive individuals. Randomized controlled clinical trials that investigated this effect were included based on our inclusion criteria. Our primary outcomes were changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The final analysis of the study included 49 RCTs involving 45 173 participants randomized to receive either statins or placebo. Among the two groups, the total weighted mean difference (WMD) for systolic blood pressure (ΔSBP) was –1.42 (95% CI: –2.38, –0.46; p = .004) and diastolic blood pressure (ΔDBP) was 0.82 (95% CI: –1.28, –0.36; p = .0005). Despite various studies suggesting the efficacy of statins in blood pressure lowering to be significant and non‐significant both, we observed a decrease in SBP and DBP both, although the change was not as large and could be considered significant. A large multicenter, multi‐ethnic, large sample pool size, and a long period follow‐up study is still required to assert these claims.

To investigate the ameliorative effects and mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on growth performance, oxidative stress, and lipid deposition in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fed with high-fat diets, fish with an initial weight of 5.29 ± 0.12 g were divided into five experimental groups—including normal-fat diets, high-fat diets, and high-fat diets—supplemented with LBP (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg) for 8 weeks. The results showed that high-fat diets resulted in significant decreases in final body weight, weight gain rate, and specific growth rate of fish, as well as causing a significant decrease in hepatic total antioxidant capacity, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities. These changes were accompanied by a significant decrease in lipase activity and ATP level and a significant increase in malondialdehyde content. The expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes (acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 1, stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1, fat synthase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, fructofuranose bisphosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase) were also markedly elevated by high-fat diets. Supplementation with 0.5–2.0 g/kg LBP in high-fat diets improved the reduced growth performance, increased hepatic total antioxidant enzymes, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, and lowered malondialdehyde level in fish fed with high-fat diets. Additionally, dietary supplementation with LBP significantly downregulated hepatic gene expression levels of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 1, stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1, fat synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, fructofuranose bisphosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase. In conclusion, fish fed with high-fat diets demonstrated impaired growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism, and dietary supplementation with 0.5–2.0 g/kg LBP ameliorated the impairments induced by high-fat diets.

The application of cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) is an effective strategy to moderate the shortage of fish meal (FM) for the aquafeed industry. However, little attention has been paid to the effects of replacing fishmeal with CPC on cyprinid fish. This study used common carp (Cyprinus carpio) as the biological model and assessed the potential of applying CPC as a substitute for fishmeal in the diet of common carp. The proportion of fish meal substituted with CPC in the six diets was 0% (CPC0), 25% (CPC25), 50% (CPC50), 75% (CPC75), and 100% (CPC100). Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of common carp (4.17 ± 0.02 g) for 56 days. Results revealed that the CPC50 group significantly increased the growth indexes via up-regulating the genes of the GH/IGF axis and the TOR pathway. The intestinal digestive ability was also elevated in the CPC50 group via markedly increasing intestinal villus height, protease and lipase activities in the whole intestine, and the amylase activity of the foregut and midgut. The CPC50 group captured significantly higher activities and gene expressions of antioxidant enzymes and lower malonaldehyde contents via evoking the Nrf2/Keap1 signal pathway. The CPC50 group enhance the intestinal mechanical barrier via up-regulating the gene expressions of tight junction proteins and heighten the intestinal biological barrier by increasing the probiotics (Lactococcus) and decreasing the harmful bacteria (Enterococcus). But excessive substitution levels (75% and 100%) would compromise growth performance, intestinal antioxidant capacity, and immune function. The optimum substitution level was estimated to be 46.47%, 47.72%, and 46.43% using broken-line regression analyses based on mass gain rate, protein efficiency ratio, and feed conversion rate. Overall, the fishmeal in common carp feed could be substituted up to 50% by CPC without negative influence on growth, feed utilization, and or intestinal health.

As a heavy metal, copper is toxic to aquatic organisms in water, causing oxidative stress and lipid deposition. However, there is currently no effective dietary strategy to prevent damage caused by copper exposure. Here, copper bioaccumulation, antioxidant enzymes, lipogenic enzymes, lipid metabolism-related gene expression levels and metabolic pathways were synthesized and evaluated in copper-exposed largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) after hydrolysis fish peptides (HFP) pretreatment. The results showed that supplementation with 1% (P

The effectiveness of soybean meal (SBM) substitution with fermented peanut meal (FPM) were appraised in common carp juveniles. A diet containing 30 % SBM was perceived as the control diet, then 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % of SBM was replaced by the FPM (FPM0, FPM25, FPM50, FPM75, FPM100 groups). Each group was fed to three replicate groups of common carp (4.83 ± 0.02 g) for 56 days. Results exhibited that FPM50 group attained the significantly higher mass gain rate and specific growth rate than those of the other groups except for FPM25, higher protein efficiency ratio and lower feed conversion rate than those of the FPM75 and FPM100 groups. The FPM50 group significantly increased the contents of serum total protein and albumin and decreased the content of serum urea nitrogen. The activity of hindgut protease was significantly enhanced in the FPM50 group. Significantly higher and lower intestinal villi height was, respectively, observed in the FPM50 and FPM100 group. The FPM50 group significantly enhanced the gene expression and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the intestine, reversely decreased the content of malonaldehyde. Significant increments in the occludin, myosin light chain kinase and claudin3 gene expressions in the FPM50 group improved the increase of intestinal permeability induced by pro-inflammatory factor related genes interleukin 1β, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α. Staphylococcus and Enterococcus in the intestine abundances were effectively suppressed in the FPM50 group, and Lactococcus became the dominant intestinal bacteria genera. The optimum substitution level was estimated to be 50.93 % and 49.89 % using broken-line regression analyses based on MGR and FCR. Overall, the soybean meal in common carp feed could be substituted up to 50 % by FBM without negative influence on growth, feed utilization and intestinal health.

Background: The regulation of target gene mRNA mediated by microRNA may play an important role in glucose metabolism in fish. Previous research findings of our research group revealed that Momordica charantia saponin (MS) administration in a high-starch diet could improve insulin resistance of common carp through renovating insulin signaling pathways, whose fundamental mechanisms have remained unknown by far. To reveal this potential mechanism, we aimed to investigate the difference in miRNA and mRNA expression profiles between common carp fed with high-starch diets containing MS (HS_MS1 and HS_MS2) and common carp fed with high-starch (HS) diets.Results: Through miRNA deep-sequencing, 10 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs in HC and HS_MS1, including one upregulated and nine downregulated miRNAs, were identified, whereas 10 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs in HC and HS_MS2, including four upregulated and six downregulated miRNAs, were identified. These miRNAs may not only be involved in the regulation of insulin signaling pathways and insulin resistance in common carp but also be the markers for liver insulin resistance in MS therapy for the remission of insulin resistance. This study identified 10 potential known miRNAs, namely, ccr-miR-10b, ccr-miR-122, ccr-miR-143, ccr-miR-146a, ccr-miR-155, ccr-miR-16c, ccr-miR-200a, ccr-miR-29a, ccr-miR-34, and ccr-miR-375, as candidates participating in modulating the liver insulin resistance. According to the biopathway enrichment analysis of the 252 target genes using the KEGG classical biopathway database, the relative expression levels of gsk3bb, pik3r1, and pik3r3b were analyzed using RNA-seq. Compared to the HC group, a significant decrease in the relative expression levels of pik3r1 and pik3r3b was observed in HS_MS1 and HS_MS2 groups (p < 0.05). This study raised a presumption of the presence of ccr-miR-29a targeting pik3r1 or ccr-miR-143 targeting pik3r3 playing likely roles in Momordica charantia saponins remitting the liver insulin resistance.Conclusion: The findings will further deepen the understanding of the carbohydrate metabolism of common carp and provide an important scientific basis for the application of Momordica saponins as functional nutrients to alleviate insulin resistance of fish in fish culture.

Abstract Background Astrocytic glycogen works as an essential energy reserve for surrounding neurons and is reported to accumulate excessively during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Our previous study found that accumulated glycogen mobilization exhibits a neuroprotective effect against I/R damage. In addition, ischemia could transform astrocytes into A1-like (toxic) and A2-like (protective) subtypes. However, the underlying mechanism behind accumulated glycogen mobilization-mediated neuroprotection in cerebral reperfusion injury and its relationship with the astrocytic A1/A2 paradigm is unknown. Methods Astrocytic glycogen phosphorylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in glycogen mobilization, was specifically overexpressed and knocked down in mice and in cultured astrocytes. The I/R injury was imitated using a middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion model in mice and an oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation model in cultured cells. Alterations in A1-like and A2-like astrocytes and the expression of phosphorylated nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were determined by RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Metabolites, including glycogen, NADPH, glutathione and reactive oxygen species (ROS), were analyzed by biochemical analysis. Results Here, we observed that astrocytic glycogen mobilization inhibited A1-like astrocytes and enhanced A2-like astrocytes after reperfusion in an experimental ischemic stroke model in vivo and in vitro. In addition, glycogen mobilization could enhance the production of NADPH and glutathione by the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and reduce ROS levels during reperfusion. NF-κB inhibition and STAT3 activation caused by a decrease in ROS levels were responsible for glycogen mobilization-induced A1-like and A2-like astrocyte transformation after I/R. The astrocytic A1/A2 paradigm is closely correlated with glycogen mobilization-mediated neuroprotection in cerebral reperfusion injury. Conclusions Our data suggest that ROS-mediated NF-κB inhibition and STAT3 activation are the key pathways for glycogen mobilization-induced neuroprotection and provide a promising metabolic target for brain reperfusion injury in ischemic stroke.

Abstract Background Perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is a long-term postoperative complication in elderly surgical patients. The underlying mechanism of PND is unclear, and no effective therapies are currently available. It is believed that neuroinflammation plays an important role in triggering PND. The secreted glycoprotein myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) functions as an activator of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) inflammatory pathway, and α5GABAA receptors (α5GABAARs) are known to play a key role in regulating inflammation-induced cognitive deficits. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate the role of MD2 in PND and determine whether α5GABAARs are involved in the function of MD2. Methods Eighteen-month-old C57BL/6J mice were subjected to laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia to induce PND. The Barnes maze was used to assess spatial reference learning and memory, and the expression of hippocampal MD2 was assayed by western blotting. MD2 expression was downregulated by bilateral injection of AAV-shMD2 into the hippocampus or tail vein injection of the synthetic MD2 degrading peptide Tat-CIRP-CMA (TCM) to evaluate the effect of MD2. Primary cultured neurons from brain tissue block containing cortices and hippocampus were treated with Tat-CIRP-CMA to investigate whether downregulating MD2 expression affected the expression of α5GABAARs. Electrophysiology was employed to measure tonic currents. For α5GABAARs intervention experiments, L-655,708 and L-838,417 were used to inhibit or activate α5GABAARs, respectively. Results Surgery under inhaled isoflurane anesthesia induced cognitive impairments and elevated the expression of MD2 in the hippocampus. Downregulation of MD2 expression by AAV-shMD2 or Tat-CIRP-CMA improved the spatial reference learning and memory in animals subjected to anesthesia and surgery. Furthermore, Tat-CIRP-CMA treatment decreased the expression of membrane α5GABAARs and tonic currents in CA1 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus. Inhibition of α5GABAARs by L-655,708 alleviated cognitive impairments after anesthesia and surgery. More importantly, activation of α5GABAARs by L-838,417 abrogated the protective effects of Tat-CIRP-CMA against anesthesia and surgery-induced spatial reference learning and memory deficits. Conclusions MD2 contributes to the occurrence of PND by regulating α5GABAARs in aged mice, and Tat-CIRP-CMA is a promising neuroprotectant against PND.

High-fat diet is regarded as crucial inducers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic imbalance. In order to investigate the ameliorative potential of resveratrol against the progression of liver injury towards steatohepatitis, common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were distributed into six experimental groups and were fed with a normal-fat diet, a high-fat diet, and supplemented with resveratrol (0.8, 1.6, 2.4, and 3.2 g/kg diet) for 8 weeks. The high-fat diet decreased the antioxidant capacities, as well as causing the inflammatory response and lipid deposition of common carp. Resveratrol induced a marked elevation in the final body weight, weight gain rate, condition factor and significant decrease in the feed conversion ratio. Moreover, dietary resveratrol showed a significant decrease in the alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein levels, which was accompanied by an increase in high-density lipoprotein concentration in serum. A significant elevation in total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and a decreased malondialdehyde content were observed, along with a substantial elevation in antioxidant activities were found. Additionally, fish fed with resveratrol had an up-regulation of hepatic catalase, copper, zinc superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase 1a, and glutathione peroxidase 1b gene expression via Nrf2 signaling pathway. Expectedly, our results also demonstrated that resveratrol regulates hepatic lipid metabolism in fish by inhibiting the expression of hepatic lipogenesis genes (acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase, and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1), fatty acid uptake-related genes of lipoprotein lipase, and β-oxidation-related genes via PPAR-γ signaling pathway. Furthermore, dietary resveratrol reduced inflammation, as evident by down-regulating the interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α expression levels and upregulating the interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β2 expression levels via NF-κB signaling pathway. As a whole, our results demonstrated that resveratrol defensed the impacts against high-fat diet on the serum biochemical, hepatic antioxidants, inflammation, and lipid metabolism.

Momordica charantia saponins (MCS) was supplemented to a high-starch diet to ssess the effect on the growth performance, glucose homeostasis modulating factors concerning the attenuated hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia and insulin resistance. Five iso-nitrogenous (30.48%) and iso-lipidic (5.41%) diets were formulated containing 30% starch (control group, HS), and were supplemented with 100 mg/kg (HS-MCS100), 400 mg/kg (HS-MCS400), 1600 mg/kg (HS-MCS1600) and 6400 mg/kg (HS-MCS6400) MCS on the basis of the HS diet. 450 common carp weighing (6.43 ± 0.02) g were randomly divided into 5 groups, with three replicates in each group and 30 fish in each replicate. Results revealed that dietary MCS effectively enhanced the growth and feed efficiency and significantly attenuated the glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance triggered by the HS diet. Moreover, 1600 mg/kg of MCS administration fulfilled more efficient and significant improvement of weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion rate (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein and lipid deposition in the whole body. Alterations of serum biochemical indices revealed that 1600 mg/kg of MCS administration remarkably suppressed the hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia and elevated the insulin sensitivity. Enzyme activity and gene expression analysis of glycometabolism indicated that 1600 mg/kg of MCS administration could attenuate the hepatopancreas insulin resistance by enhancing glycolysis ability, promoting the glycogen synthesis and inhibiting the gluconeogenesis through activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. On all accounts detail, appropriate MCS administration have potential value in the alleviation of insulin resistance, thereby effectually maintain the glucose homeostasis and giving play to growth promoting effect for common carp fed with a high-carbohydrate diet.

Costs associated with the use of soybean as a food source in aquaculture have imposed constraints on its use in this industry. Thus, research is now focusing on alternative sources of protein for use in aquaculture. Here, we assessed the effect of total replacement of soybean meal (SBM) by Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP), Tenebrio molitor meal (TMM), cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC), and chlorella powder (CHP) in diets for small specimens (initial body weight: 239.72 ± 10.75 g) and large specimens (initial body weight: 638.32 ± 12.64 g) of grass carp. For that purpose, five isonitrogenous (300 g/kg) and isoaliphatic (58 g/kg) diets were formulated with SBM, CAP, TMM, CPC, and CHP as the only dietary protein source. Triplicate groups of fish were fed the experimental diets for 56 days. Results showed that irrespective of protein sources, large specimens of grass carp obtained the significantly reduced weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate, moisture, crude ash contents, drip loss rate, and gene expressions of muscle S6K, MyoD, and Myf-5, and the significantly increased crude protein and crude lipid contents, hardness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, springiness, chewiness and shear force of muscles, and gene expressions of muscle TOR, 4EBP1, MyoG, MRF4, and MSTN-1. Regardless of size, the CHP group possessed markedly higher WGR, protein efficiency ratio, crude protein contents, hardness, adhesiveness, chewiness values, and gene expression levels of muscle TOR, 4EBP1, Myf-5, and MRF4, and significantly lower feed conversion rate, drip loss rate, and gene expressions of muscle S6K and MSTN-1. For small specimens or for large specimens, the essential amino acid contents of the CHP group were highest, and CHP markedly elevated the delicious amino acid and glycine contents in comparison with the SBM. Moreover, the CPC group also realized the function of promoting the growth and improving the flesh quality to a certain degree. However, total replacement of soybean meal by CAP and TMM in grass carp diets restrained the growth and damaged the flesh quality in varying degrees. Overall, comparatively, total replacement of SBM with CHP not only improved growth performance and feed use, but also enhanced the flavor and texture of the fish by improving the amino acid composition and water-holding capacity of muscle, as well as improving muscle growth by positively impacting the expression of genes associated with the regulation of growth and development. Therefore, CHP could be a potential protein source to replace SBM in diets for use in the aquaculture of grass carp.

To investigate the effects of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) supplementation in a low protein (LP) diet on the growth performance, immune response, and intestinal health of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), 600 carp were randomly divided into five dietary groups: a normal protein (NP) diet containing 32% crude protein, an LP diet formulated with 28% crude protein, and LP with AKG at 0.4%, 0.8%, and 1.2% (dry matter). After an 8-week trial period, the results demonstrated that an LP diet led to a decrease in performance, immune response, and intestinal barrier function. Compared with the LP group, the final body weight and weight gain rate in the LP+0.4% AKG group were significantly higher, the feed conversion ratio was significantly decreased with the addition of 0.4% and 0.8% AKG. The supplementation with 0.4% and 0.8% AKG markedly increased the activities of T-SOD and GSH-Px, as well as the expression levels of GPX1a and GPX1b relative to the LP group, whereas the MDA content was significantly decreased in the LP+0.4% AKG group. In addition, the expression levels of tight junctions including claudin-3, claudin-7, ZO-1, and MLCK were significantly up-regulated in the LP+0.4% AKG group, and the relative expression levels of the pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-6α were significantly lower with the addition of 0.4%, 0.8%, and 1.2% AKG. Moreover, the abundance of Proteobacteria in the LP+0.4% AKG group was lower than that in the LP group, and the abundance of Firmicutes and Fusobacteria was higher at the phylum level. The abundance of Citrobacter in the LP+0.4% AKG group was decreased compared to the LP group, while the abundance of Aeromonas was increased at the genus level. In short, the effects of AKG on the intestinal health of the common carp were systematically and comprehensively evaluated from the perspectives of intestinal physical barrier, chemical barrier, biological barrier, and immune barrier. We found that an LP diet supplemented with 0.4% AKG was beneficial to the growth performance and intestinal health of common carp.

Carbonate alkalinity is a major environmental stress factor affecting aquatic feed configuration, which easily causes oxidative stress and hypoimmunity for fish. Hence, the purpose of the study is to assess the potential effect of phosphorus on growth, intestinal oxidation resistance, physical barrier function, and microflora for Songpu mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio Songpu) (initial average weight of 2.95 ± 0.21 g) reared at the high-concentration carbonate alkalinity environment. A two-factor, three-level (2 × 3) design was applied, in which diets with three different phosphorus levels (3.6, 7.0, and 10.5 g/kg dry matter) were randomly assigned to 0 and 15 mmol/L carbonate alkalinity groups with three replicate aquariums. After the 8-week trial, we found that weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and lipase and amylase activities in the intestine significantly (p < 0.05) declined with increasing carbonate alkalinity. Carbonate alkalinity of 15 mmol/L significantly reduced glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities in the intestine (p < 0.05). The relative expressions of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), glutathione peroxidase 1a (GPX1a), Clautin3, Clautin11, and tumor necrosis factor β (TNF-β) in the intestine were markedly downregulated by increasing carbonate alkalinity levels (p < 0.05), whilst the relative expressions of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the intestine were markedly upregulated (p < 0.05). At the 15 mmol/L carbonate alkalinity treatment, Songpu mirror carp suffer from hypoimmunity status with failed digestion, antioxidant, inflammation, and immune response, thereby inducing impaired growth. Additionally, significant increments in the abundance of Proteobacteria and a significant decrease in the abundance of Fusobacteria and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio were caused due to excessively high carbonate alkalinity (15 mmol/L) and excessively low dietary phosphorus supply (3.6 g/kg). Collectively, 7.0 g/kg dietary phosphorus supplementation was effective in promoting intestinal antioxidant enzyme activities and the corresponding gene expression via the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway and in enhancing intestinal immunity by upregulating anti-inflammatory and downregulating pro-inflammatory genes. Appropriate dietary phosphorus supply could promote the formation of beneficial microflora in freshwater, and it has the potential ability to transfer the adverse effect of carbonate alkalinity stress to the structural composition of intestinal microflora. Hence, consideration should be given to suitable phosphorus supply for fish under the chronic carbonate alkalinity stress.

Varying dietary inclusion levels of fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) were applied in a feeding experiment with juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to assess their effects on growth, intestinal antioxidant status, immunity, and microflora. FPH were added in 4 dietary levels: 0 g/kg (control group, FPH-0), 10 g/kg (FPH-10), 30 g/kg (FPH-30), and 50 g/kg (FPH-50) dry matter, respectively substituting 0, 5.3, 16.3, and 27.3% of fish meal with dietary fish meal. Quadruplicate groups of 25 juvenile largemouth bass with initial body weight 9.51 ± 0.03 g were fed during the 56-day feeding experiment. Experimental results showed that fish fed FPH-30 obtained a significantly higher weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and significant feed conversion rate (FCR) compared to the other three groups (P < 0.05). FPH-30 group also promoted protein synthesis and deposition, as evidenced by the higher whole-body crude protein contents, the higher expressions of GH1, IGF-1, TOR, and S6K in the liver, and SLC7A5, SLC7A8, SLC38A2, and SLC15A2 in the intestine than the other three groups. FPH-30 group could also enhance intestinal health status by increasing the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, GSH-Px, and T-AOC activities by upregulating the expressions of SOD, GSH-Px, IL1β, and TNFβ, and by reducing the MDA contents and the expressions of IL15, Caspase 3, Caspase 9, and Caspase 10 than other groups. Compared to the control group, the Actinobacteriota abundance markedly decreased in FPH treatments, while the variation tendency of the phylum Proteobacteria was opposite. The peak value of Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio and the lowest of Bacteroidetes abundance were seen in largemouth bass fed FPH-30 (P < 0.05). Fish in three FPH treatments had lower abundances of opportunistic pathogens Staphylococcus and Plesiomonas than fish in the control group. In conclusion, FPH is a nutritious feed ingredient for juvenile largemouth bass, and can be added to a dietary level of 30 g/kg dry matter replacing fish meal without any negative effect on growth and feed utilization. FPH supplements could also strengthen the intestinal immune mechanisms of largemouth bass to tackle the immunodeficiency produced by fish meal replacement.

The purpose of this study was to show how dietary xylooligosaccharides (XOS) affect growth and intestinal digestive enzyme activity, histology, inflammatory cytokines, barrier function gene expression, and microbiota of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Different diets (G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5) containing graded levels of XOS (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 g/kg) were fed to triplicate groups of 30 fish (initial average weight 20.85 ± 0.48 g) for 56 days. The fish fed 10 g/kg XOS had significantly improved weight gain (P

Astrocytic glycogen plays an important role in brain energy metabolism. However, the contribution of glycogen metabolism to stress-induced depression remains unclear. Chronic social defeat stress was used to induce depression-like behaviors in mice, assessed with behavioral tests. Glycogen concentration in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the expression of key enzymes of the glycogen metabolism were investigated using Western blots, immunofluorescent staining, electron microscopy, and biochemical assays. Stereotaxic surgery and viral-mediated gene transfer were applied to knockdown or overexpress brain-type glycogen phosphorylase (PYGB) in the mPFC. The glycogen content increased in the mPFC after stress. Glycogenolytic dysfunction due to inactivation of PYGB was responsible for glycogen accumulation. Behavioral tests on astrocyte-specific PYGB overexpression mice showed that augmenting astrocytic PYGB reduces susceptibility to depression when compared with stress-susceptible mice. Conversely, PYGB genetic down-regulation in the mPFC was sufficient to induce glycogen accumulation and depression-like behaviors. Furthermore, PYGB overexpression in the mPFC decreases susceptibility to depression, at least partially by rescuing glycogen phosphorylase activity to maintain glycogen metabolism homeostasis during stress. These findings indicate that (1) glycogen accumulation occurs in mice following stress and (2) glycogenolysis reprogramming leads to glycogen accumulation in astrocytes and PYGB contributes to stress-induced depression-like behaviors. Pharmacological tools acting on glycogenolysis might constitute a promising therapy for depression.

Previous studies provide comprehensive evidence of the environmental hazards and intestinal toxicity of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) exposure. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the injury of intestine exposed to MC-LR. Juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were exposed to MC-LR (0 and 10 μg/L) for 15 days. The results suggest that organic anion-transporting polypeptides 3a1, 4a1, 2b1, and 1d1 mediate MC-LR entry into intestinal tissues. Lesion morphological features (vacuolization, deformation and dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum [ER], absence of mitochondrial cristae in mid-intestine), up-regulated mRNA expressions of ER stress (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha kinase 3, endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1, activating transcription factor [ATF] 6, ATF4, DNA damage-inducible transcript 3), iron accumulation, and down-regulated activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH) content were all typical characteristics of ferroptosis in intestinal tissue following MC-LR exposure. GSH levels in intestinal tissue corroborated as the most influential GSH/GPx 4- related metabolic pathway in response to MC-LR exposure. Verrucomicrobiota, Planctomycetes, Bdellovibrionota, Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria were correlated with the ferroptosis-related GSH following MC-LR exposure. These findings provide new perspectives of the ferroptosis mechanism of MC-LR-induced intestinal injury in the common carp.

An 82-day study was conducted to assess the effect of the dietary lipid levels on growth performance, feed utilization, lipid deposition, and hepatopancreas lipometabolism of large-sized common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Six isonitrogenous (300 g/kg protein) pelletized diets with different dietary lipid levels (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 g/kg) were fed in triplicate to fish groups with 75 individuals (with an initial mean weight of 247.00 ± 16.67 g). The results showed that there was a significant increase in weight gain (WG) rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) as dietary lipid levels increased from 30 to 60 g/kg (p < 0.05) and then there was a decline. Feed conversion rate (FCR) was observed to be significantly lower in 60 g/kg lipid treatments (p < 0.05). Muscle crude protein contents were obtained to be significantly higher in 60 and 90 g/kg treatments (p < 0.05). The crude lipid content in the hepatopancreas increased significantly with an increase in dietary lipid levels (p < 0.05). The expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1) in the hepatopancreas was significantly downregulated with an increase in dietary lipid levels while the expression of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 (ACC-1), and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) was upregulated first in 30 and 60 g/kg lipid treatments and then downregulated significantly in other treatments. The results revealed that excess dietary lipid supplements (more than 60 g/kg) would inhibit WG and would aggravate the lipid decomposition in the hepatopancreas. Based on WGR and FCR, the dietary lipid levels of 59.5 and 70.4 g/kg were optimal for growth performance and feed utilization of large-sized common carp.

As an intermediate substance of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and a precursor substance of glutamic acid synthesis, the effect of alpha-ketoglutarate on growth and protein synthesis has been extensively studied. However, its prevention and treatment of pathogenic bacteria and its mechanism have not yet been noticed. To evaluate the effects of alpha-ketoglutarate on intestinal antioxidant capacity and immune response of Songpu mirror carp, a total of 360 fish with an average initial weight of 6.54 ± 0.08 g were fed diets containing alpha-ketoglutarate with 1% for 8 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, the fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila for 2 weeks. The results indicated that alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation significantly increased the survival rate of carp after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila (P < 0.05), and the contents of immune digestion enzymes including lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase and the concentration of complement C4 were markedly enhanced after alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation (P < 0.05). Also, appropriate alpha-ketoglutarate increased the activities of total antioxidant capacity and catalase and prevented the up-regulation in the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) were strikingly increased after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila (P < 0.05), while the TLR4 was strikingly decreased with alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation (P < 0.05). Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of tight junctions including claudin-1, claudin-3, claudin-7, claudin-11 and myosin light chain kinases (MLCK) were upregulated after alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation (P < 0.05). In summary, the appropriate alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation could increase survival rate, strengthen the intestinal enzyme immunosuppressive activities, antioxidant capacities and alleviate the intestinal inflammation, thereby promoting the intestinal immune responses and barrier functions of Songpu mirror carp via activating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and MLCK signaling pathways after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila.

The complex non-centrosymmetric and chiral nature of helical structures endow materials that possess such motifs with unusual properties. However, despite their ubiquity in biological and organic systems, there is a severe lack of inorganic crystals that display helicity in extended lattices, where these unusual properties are expected to be most pronounced. Here, we report a new inorganic helical structure, gallium sulfur iodide (GaSI), within the exfoliable class of III-VI-VII (1:1:1) one-dimensional (1D) van der Waals (vdW) crystals. Through detailed structural analyses, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and density functional theory (DFT), we elucidate the apparent noncrystallographic screw axis and the first example of an atomic scale helical structure bearing a squircular cross-section in GaSI. Crystallizing in the non-centrosymmetric P4̅ space group, we found that GaSI crystals exhibit pronounced second-harmonic generation. From diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, GaSI displays a sizeable bandgap of 3.69 eV, owing tostrong covalent interactions arising from the smaller sulfur atoms within the helix core. These results position GaSI as a promising exfoliable nonlinear optical material across a broad optical window.

PurposeComorbid anxiety and depression in people with epilepsy (PWE) are highly prevalent and contribute to low quality of life (QOL) and may even lead to poor outcomes of epilepsy. Among the various factors that affect these negative emotional comorbidities, possible gender differences remain poorly understood and are often neglected. This research aimed to determine whether there are discrepancies in the incidence and influence factors of anxiety and depression between men and women with epilepsy in a hospital in northwest China.MethodsA total of 158 adult PWE (female: N = 65; 41.1%) completed self-report questionnaires, including the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Chinese version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31) inventory and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI). The comparison between male and female PWE was made by regression analysis.ResultsFor the prevalence of anxiety and depression in PWE, no gender difference was found in this study. However, the moderating factors of psychiatric comorbidities were significantly different between men and women: male PWE with comorbid anxiety were more likely to be affected by sleep quality, while anxiety symptoms in female PWE were closely associated with the frequency of seizures. Education years and QOL social function were significant indicators of depression in male PWE but not in female PWE. The important and common predictor for anxiety and depressive symptoms in PWE was QOL energy/fatigue, with male patients being more affected.ConclusionFor the PWE included in this study, the incidence of comorbid anxiety and depression in PWE was similar for men and women, but the moderating factors affecting comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders differed between genders: male PWE were more likely to be affected by psychosocial factors, while female PWE were more influenced by epilepsy itself. This exploration suggests that gender-specific health care should be considered in epilepsy therapy to improve the psychiatric condition and QOL of PWE, and different treatments should be conducted for male and female PWE to prevent negative emotional comorbidities.

Summary: Astrocytic glycogen is an important energy reserve in the brain and is believed to supply fuel during energy crisis. However, the pattern of glycogen metabolism in ischemic stroke and its potential therapeutic impact on neurological outcomes are still unknown. Here, we found extensive brain glycogen accumulation after reperfusion in ischemic stroke patients and primates. Glycogenolytic dysfunction in astrocytes is responsible for glycogen accumulation, caused by inactivation of the protein kinase A (PKA)-glycogen phosphorylase kinase (PhK)-glycogen phosphorylase (GP) cascade accompanied by the activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β). Genetic or pharmacological augmentation of astrocytic GP could promote astrocyte and neuron survival and improve neurological behaviors. In addition, we found that insulin exerted a neuroprotective effect, at least in part by rescuing the PKA-PhK-GP cascade to maintain homeostasis of glycogen metabolism during reperfusion. Together, our findings suggest a promising intervention for undesirable outcomes in ischemic stroke.

Interfacing organic molecular groups with well-defined inorganic lattices, especially in low dimensions, enables synthetic routes for the rational manipulation of both their local or extended lattice structures and physical properties. While appreciably studied in two-dimensional systems, the influence of surface organic substituents on many known and emergent one-dimensional (1D) and quasi-1D (q-1D) crystals has remained underexplored. Herein, we demonstrate the surface functionalization of bulk and nanoscale Chevrel-like q-1D ionic crystals using In2Mo6Te6, a predicted q-1D Dirac semimetal, as the model phase. Using a series of alkyl ammonium (-NR4+; R = H, methyl, ethyl, butyl, and octyl) substituents with varying chain lengths, we demonstrate the systematic expansion of the intrachain c-axis direction and the contraction of the interchain a/b-axis direction with longer chain substituents. Additionally, we demonstrate the systematic expansion of the intrachain c-axis direction and the contraction of the interchain a/b-axis direction as the alkyl chain substituents become longer using a combination of powder X-ray diffraction and Raman experiments. Beyond the structural modulation that the substituted groups can impose on the lattice, we also found that the substitution of ammonium-based groups on the surface of the nanocrystals resulted in selective suspension in aqueous (NH4+-functionalized) or organic solvents (NOc4+-functionalized), imparted fluorescent character (Rhodamine B-functionalized), and modulated the electrical conductivity of the nanocrystal ensemble. Altogether, our results underscore the potential of organic-inorganic interfacing strategies to tune the structural and physical properties of rediscovered Chevrel-type q-1D ionic solids and open opportunities for the development of surface-addressable building blocks for hybrid electronic and optoelectronic devices at the nanoscale.

The realization of stable monolayers from 2D van der Waals (vdW) solids has fueled the search for exfoliable crystals with even lower dimensionalities. To this end, 1D and quasi-1D (q-1D) vdW crystals comprising weakly bound subnanometer-thick chains have been discovered and demonstrated to exhibit nascent physics in the bulk. Although established micromechanical and liquid-phase exfoliation methods have been applied to access single isolated chains from bulk crystals, interchain vdW interactions with nonequivalent strengths have greatly hindered the ability to achieve uniform single isolated chains. Here, we report that encapsulation of the model q-1D vdW crystal, Sb2Se3, within single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) circumvents the relatively stronger c-axis vdW interactions between the chains and allows for the isolation of single chains with structural integrity. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction studies of the Sb2Se3@CNT heterostructure revealed that the structure of the [Sb4Se6]n chain is preserved, enabling us to systematically probe the size-dependent properties of Sb2Se3 from the bulk down to a single chain. We show that ensembles of the [Sb4Se6]n chains within CNTs display Raman confinement effects and an emergent band-like absorption onset around 600 nm, suggesting a strong blue shift of the near-infrared band gap of Sb2Se3 into the visible range upon encapsulation. First-principles density functional theory calculations further provided qualitative insight into the structures and interactions that could manifest in the Sb2Se3@CNT heterostructure. Spatial visualization of the calculated electron density difference map of the heterostructure indicated a minimal degree of electron donation from the host CNT to the guest [Sb4Se6]n chain. Altogether, this model system demonstrates that 1D and q-1D vdW crystals with strongly anisotropic vdW interactions can be precisely studied by encapsulation within CNTs with suitable diameters, thereby opening opportunities in understanding dimension-dependent properties of a plethora of emergent vdW solids at or approaching the subnanometer regime.

Precision control via molecular structure over adaptive conjugated polymer properties in aqueous environments is critical for realizing their biomedical applications. Here, we unravel the dependence of amphiphilic peptide-polydiacetylene (PDA) conjugate properties on the characteristic steric and hydrophobic contributions within peptide segments that serve as a biomimetic template for diacetylene polymerization in water. We investigated the functional impacts of molecular volume and polarity changes brought by dipeptide substitution domains on the following peptide-PDA material properties at multiple length scales: supramolecular assembly behavior, chain conformation-dependent photophysical properties, cell-material interfacing, and for the first time, bulk electrical properties of their films processed in water. A library of peptide-PDAs with systematically varied sequences show that the contributions of steric effects predominantly influence the electronic structure and resulting trends in photophysical properties, while the interplay between size and hydrophobicity of individual residues becomes more significant for higher-order assemblies affecting bulk properties. This work demonstrates sequence-tunable molecular volume and polarity as synthetic handles to rationally modulate PDA material properties across length scales, providing insights into the programmability of biomimetic conjugated polymers with adaptive functionalities.

Multi-scale organization of molecular and living components is one of the most critical parameters that regulate charge transport in electroactive systems-whether abiotic, biotic, or hybrid interfaces. In this article, an overview of the current state-of-the-art for controlling molecular order, nanoscale assembly, microstructure domains, and macroscale architectures of electroactive organic interfaces used for biomedical applications is provided. Discussed herein are the leading strategies and challenges to date for engineering the multi-scale organization of electroactive organic materials, including biomolecule-based materials, synthetic conjugated molecules, polymers, and their biohybrid analogs. Importantly, this review provides a unique discussion on how the dependence of conduction phenomena on structural organization is observed for electroactive organic materials, as well as for their living counterparts in electrogenic tissues and biotic-abiotic interfaces. Expansion of fabrication capabilities that enable higher resolution and throughput for the engineering of ordered, patterned, and architecture electroactive systems will significantly impact the future of bioelectronic technologies for medical devices, bioinspired harvesting platforms, and in vitro models of electroactive tissues. In summary, this article presents how ordering at multiple scales is important for modulating transport in both the electroactive organic, abiotic, and living components of bioelectronic systems.

BN-embedded anthracenes with chiral 3,7-dimethyloctyl side chains (namely (S,S)- and (R,R)-DPBNA) have been synthesized as novel visible-blind ultraviolet-absorbing chiral materials for ultraviolet circularly polarized light (CPL) detection. Phototransistors with a p–n heterojunction configuration have been fabricated with (S,S)/(R,R)-DPBNA serving as the p-type photoactive layer and an achiral n-type polymer as the electron transport layer. Significant discrimination between left and right CPL has been observed under 365 nm CPL irradiation with an average photocurrent dissymmetry factor of 0.033, highlighting the potential of BN-embedded semiconductors for ultraviolet CPL detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Decongestants are commonly used drugs in clinical practice, and they can relieve nasal congestion caused by factors like influenza, rhinitis, and acute upper respiratory tract infection. Areas covered: In this article, we review the research outcomes about decongestants, which aim to provide beneficial information that can guide the clinical application of decongestants for clinicians. Expert opinion: Although the use of nasal decongestants is increasingly limited, caution rather than prohibition is now advocated. Scientific and accurate use of nasal decongestants can achieve satisfactory clinical effectiveness on nasal congestion, and it is not easy to produce adverse reactions. Patients with severe nasal congestion may use nasal decongestants solely or in combination with nasal corticosteroids or nasal antihistamines to exert a synergistic effect. The concentration, dose, frequency, and time of nasal decongestants determine whether drug-induced rhinitis will occur. Additionally, we recommend patients not to buy nasal sprays with unknown ingredients on the internet or in pharmacy, so as to avoid the risk of rhinitis medicamentosa. For patients with rhinitis medicamentosa, the use of nasal decongestants should be stopped immediately. However, more evidence is still needed to standardize the clinical use of nasal decongestants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]