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• Nervilifordin F (NF) alleviated the severity of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute lung injury. • Nervilifordin F alleviates acute lung injury II/R-induced via inhibiting inflammasome and mTOR pathway. • Nervilifordin F (NF) expected to used as a potential drug for the treatment of acute lung injury. Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening disorder with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Up to now, there are still no effective drugs for its therapies due to the complexity of its etiology and pathogenesis. In this present study, we investigated the protective effect of Nervilifordin F (NF) on ALI induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (II/R) and its related mechanism. Firstly, the ALI model rats were induced through II/R, and treated with NF. Then, the pathological and cytokine level changes in the lung tissue of ALI rats were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The related genes expression level of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and inflammasome were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot and immunohistochemistry. Finally, the NF-protein complexes were predicted by SYBYL-X 2.0. The results indicated that NF can significant reduces the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, and inhibits the expression of inflammasome related genes (such as toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), p65, NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and Caspase 1), thereby reduce inflammation in II/R-induced ALI rats. Moreover, NF can activate the expression of FK506 binding protein 25 (FKBP25) and down-regulate the expression of mTOR and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (p70S6K). In addition, molecular docking results showed that NF can be combined well with p70S6K, TLR4, mTOR and NLRP3, which further verified the inhibitory effect of NF on ALI inflammation. Therefore, the findings indicate that NF can alleviates II/R-induced inflammation of ALI rats by inhibiting inflammasome related genes and mTOR pathway, which expected to use as a potential drug for the treatment of ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A comprehensive approach for identifying drought termination characteristics is proposed. • Natural and human-influenced hydrological drought termination characteristics are identified. • Human activities significantly aggravate the drought termination duration, deficit and rate. • Human activities lead to shifts in drought termination seasonality. Although many previous studies have analysed the impacts of human activities on hydrological drought, studies that analysed these impacts from the perspective of drought termination, a critical re-wetting phase of hydrological drought, are limited. A deeper understanding on how human alter hydrological drought termination phase is essential for improving drought recovery prediction and performance of the drought early warning system. In this study, a comprehensive approach for identifying hydrological drought termination characteristics and quantifying the impact of human activities on drought termination was proposed. This approach, which combines the concept of drought termination (DT), an 'observed–simulated' comparison approach, and the variable threshold level method (TLM v), consists of the following steps: (1) reconstruction of natural streamflow using a hydrological model, (2) identification of hydrological drought termination characteristics using TLM v method and the concept of drought termination, and (3) quantification of human influence by comparison of the hydrological drought termination characteristics of human-influenced (observed) series and those of natural (simulated) series. The Laohahe basin, consists of four catchments (Xiquan, Xiaochengzi, Dianzi, and Taipingzhuang) in northern China, was evaluated using the proposed procedure. The study demonstrated that the proposed approach is efficient in quantifying human influence on hydrological drought termination phase. The results revealed that human activities have significant impacts on the hydrological drought termination phase in the Xiaochengzi, Dianzi, and Taipingzhuang catchments. All the average drought termination duration (DT dur), deficit (DT def), and rate (DT rate) in the human-influenced series of the three catchments (Xiaochengzi, Dianzi, and Taipingzhuang) increased in comparison to those in the natural series, with maximum increases of 230%, 865%, and 35%, respectively. The seasonality of the drought termination phase starts (DT start) and ends (DT end) for the three catchments exhibited obvious shifts due to human influence. The preferred seasons for DT start and DT end were shifted to summer and autumn, respectively. The proposed approach and findings of this study may help to gain a deeper understanding of how human activities alter hydrological drought termination severity (drought termination duration, deficit, and rate) and time (drought termination starts or ends). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient and durable electrocatalysts toward oxygen evolution reaction is vital for energy conversion technologies. Herein, we present a facile one-pot synthesis of defect-rich heterojunction electrocatalysts composed of ultrathin cobalt nickel layered double hydroxides nanosheets with oxygen vacancies (OV), and covering on carbon nanotubes (CNT@NiCo LDH-OV) for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The synthesized CNT@NiCo LDH-OV nanosheets possess a thickness ranges from 0.86 to 2.05 nm. The CNT@NiCo LDH-OV displays outstanding OER performance with an overpotential of 257 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a low Tafel slope for 51 mV dec−1. Moreover, water splitting catalyzed by CNT@NiCo LDH-OV delivers 1.54 V to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that oxygen vacancy and CNT can greatly reduce the band gap of the catalyst, making it has excellent conductivity. Simultaneously, the calculated (ΔG O – ΔG OH) for CNT@NiCo LDH-OV is closer to 1.23 eV, which is more efficient for OER. This work develops a simple strategy to fabricate high catalytic activity composite material rich in oxygen vacancies toward OER. Image 1 • Defect-rich heterojunction electrocatalyst obtained by a facile one-pot strategy. • The catalyst possessed a thickness ranges from 0.86 to 2.05 nm. • The electrocatalyst shows excellent OER activity and stability. • OER activity is due to ultrathin nanosheets, heterojunction and oxygen vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High MCM6 with significant clinical features is found in Southern Chinese Zhuang populations with hepatocellular carcinoma. • MCM6 and its interacting proteins could involve in protein binding, pre-replication complex assemble, and nucleus metabolism. • Abundant binding sites on MCM6 and its target proteins are detected. • Diagnostic values of MCM6 and its interacting proteins are assessed in TCGA and Southern Chinese Zhuang populations. • Combination of MCM6 and TRIM28 is more suitable for hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis in Southern Chinese Zhuang populations. Minichromosome maintenance complex component 6 (MCM6) is involved in tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because its effect on different populations remains unclear, this study investigated the impact of MCM6 on HCC in Southern Chinese Zhuang population. In addition to assessing the global mRNA levels of MCM6 based on The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) and The Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO), associations between MCM6 mRNA levels and clinicopathological features were analyzed. High MCM6 levels were associated with high alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (>20 ng/mL in serum) (P < 0.0001) and advanced clinical stage (III + IV) (P < 0.001). Higher MCM6 was associated with poorer outcomes (P < 0.01) in these databases. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression of MCM6 in the Guangxi Zhuang population was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The results showed that MCM6 levels were up-regulated in the Zhuang population with HCC. Higher MCM6 protein levels were correlated with larger tumor size (>5 cm) (P = 0.038) and advanced clinical stage (III + IV) (p = 0.023). Bioinformatic enrichment analysis of MCM6 and its interacting proteins (CDT1,WEE1,TRIM28 and MKI67) suggested that in addition to being involved in the cell cycle process, these complexes could also be involved in protein binding, pre-replication complex assemble, and nucleus metabolism. Based on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network with module screen, the interactions between MCM6 and its potential interacting proteins were further studied through protein docking with hot spot analysis. Additionally, the results of the algorithms combining the ROC of MCM6 and its interacting proteins showed that combination biomarker analysis has better HCC diagnosis ability than the single MCM6 test. The combination of MCM6 and TRIM28 was more suitable for the Guangxi Zhuang population. Overall, our study suggests that MCM6 plays an important role in the growth of HCC. MCM6 could be an optimal biomarker for diagnosing HCC and a potential molecular target for HCC therapy in the Zhuang population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Flash droughts were identified by focusing on the attenuation rate of soil moisture percentile. • Frequency of flash droughts presented significant regional and seasonal differences. • Meteorological variables play different roles in promoting the rapid drying condition. • A coexisting relationship was found between flash droughts and seasonal droughts. Flash droughts, with rapid onset and strong intensity, have attracted much attention in recent literature due to their devastating socio-agricultural impacts. Based on the microwave remote sensing soil moisture data released by the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative program (ESA CCI SM), flash droughts were identified by focusing on the attenuation rate of weekly soil moisture percentile. On this basis, the spatiotemporal patterns of flash drought frequency, their evolution process combined with meteorological conditions, and the relationship with seasonal droughts were analyzed. Results showed that the frequency of flash drought occurrence over China during 2000–2016 mainly varied between 6% and 20%. Spatially, such events were most likely to occur in the northern and southern region, and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau showed the lowest frequency of occurrence. Influenced by the complex roles of negative anomalies of precipitation and relative humidity, along with positive anomalies of potential evapotranspiration (PET) and temperature, the southwest region suffered three severe drought attacks in summer 2006. In addition, a coexisting relationship was also observed between flash droughts and seasonal droughts. Initiated by the rapid reduction of soil moisture, the northern, northeastern, southern, and southwestern areas were more vulnerable to droughts with duration no more than 12 weeks. In contrast, the southern China were likely to suffer longer periods of droughts (more than 12 weeks) in spring (April to May), while for southwestern regions such type of droughts were mainly concentrated in summer (June and July). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic-inorganic perovskite solar cell materials have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Ag and Au are commonly employed as the counter electrode in such cells. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation were used to investigate the diffusion properties of Ag ions in α-CsPbI 3. Ag ions have the highest diffusion coefficient at temperatures between 318 K and 358 K. Density functional theory calculations were performed to study the effects of Ag diffusion on the band structures, crystal structures and optical absorption spectra of α-CsPbI 3 materials. The results suggest that, Ag ions have diffusion coefficients ranging from 0.6 × 10−6 cm2 × s−1 to 1.1 × 10−6 cm2 × s−1 in α-CsPbI 3 at temperatures between 278 K and 398 K. Ag doping can insert a Ag dopant level in α-CsPbI 3 and reduce the band gap of α-CsPbI 3. Furthermore, increasing the Ag content could reduce the energy gap between the Ag dopant level and the valence band or conduction band. • Treat Ag as a dopant to study the Ag diffusion effect in α-CsPbI3. • Using both DFT and MD simulation to discuss the Ag diffusion effect in α-CsPbI3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foundation pit excavation may disturb the initial stress field and induce the deformation of the surrounding rock mass. Due to the excavation, the originally compact rock mass and lining structure may become loose with adverse impacts on the normal operation of the existing tunnel. A new failure mechanism is constructed on the basis of the deformation characteristics of the rock mass around an existing tunnel induced by an adjacent excavation. Using this failure mechanism, the upper bound solution of the slip surface equation for the rock mass around an existing tunnel is derived in the framework of the upper bound theorem in conjunction with a variational approach. The shape and range of the slip surface are plotted for different parameters. A three-dimensional numerical model is constructed to simulate the deformation of the rock mass around the existing tunnel induced by adjacent excavation. By comparing the analytical results for the slip surface with the failure surface provided by numerical simulation, it is found that the differences between the analytical results and the numerical results are small. This comparison shows that the proposed method is valid for investigating the deformation of the rock mass around the existing tunnel induced by adjacent excavation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inulin increased the intestinal contents of propionic acid, butyric acid and valeric acid in ALD. • Inulin significantly reduced inflammation in ALD by suppressing hepatic M1 Mψ and activating hepatic M2 Mψ. • SCFAs were closely correlated with M1 Mψ and M2 Mψ after inulin treatment in ALD. • SCFAs directly promoted M1 Mψ and inhibit M2 Mψ in co-culture experiment in vitro. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) presents one of the leading causes of cirrhosis worldwide. We have demonstrated that inulin alleviates ALD in mice. However, the exact role of hepatic macrophages in effects of inulin on ALD remains largely unclear. In vivo , mice were divided into 4 groups: pair-fed (PF) group (PF/CON), alcohol-fed (AF) group (AF/CON), PF with inulin (INU) group (PF/INU) and AF with INU group (AF/INU). Each group was fed modified Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet with or without alcohol. In vitro , RAW264.7 cell lines were polarized to M1 macrophage (Mψ) or M2 Mψ subsets with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin-4 (IL-4) stimulation, respectively. The effects of propionate, butyrate and valeric on macrophage M1/M2 were investigated. The contents of propionate, butyrate and valeric were significantly increased in AF/INU group compared with that in the AF/CON group. M1 Mψ, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in AF/INU group were significantly lower than those in AF/CON group. In contrast, M2 Mψ, arginase-1 (Arg-1), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were notably increased in AF/INU group. In vitro , sodium propionate, sodium butyrate and sodium valerate can suppress M1 Mψ and increase M2 Mψ polarization. In ALD, inulin ameliorates the inflammation via SCFAs-inducing suppression of M1 and facilitation of M2 Mψ, which may potentially contribute to the control of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SDG ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice. • SDG decreases the levels of inflammatory cytokines and inhibits the activation of the NLRP1 inflammasome. • SDG inhibits NLRP1 inflammasome activation partly dependent on disrupting the NF-κB. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurrent intestinal inflammatory disease with high risks for colorectal cancer and extremely affect people's health. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), a major component of lignans, exerts anti-inflammatory effects against digestive system diseases through a multi-target mechanism. However, the effect of SDG on IBD is not clear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of SDG on IBD and elucidate the underlying mechanism. The Dextran Sulfate Sodium Salt (DSS)-induced colitis model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW264.7 mouse macrophages cellular inflammation model were established. Morphological and pathological changes in colitis tissue in mice were observed by HE staining. Macrophage infiltration was detected by flow cytometry. The levels of nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 1 (NLRP1) inflammasome complexes, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and inflammatory cytokines were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that SDG significantly attenuated the pathological severity and the number of macrophage infiltration of colitis in mice. Besides, SDG decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α) and inhibited the activation of the NLRP1 inflammasome in DSS-induced colitis mice and RAW264.7 mouse macrophages. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of SDG was partly dependent on the disruption of NF-κB activation. Our results indicated that SDG relieves colitis by inhibiting NLRP1 inflammasome, and partly dependent on the disruption of NF-κB activation. Therefore, SDG may be a potential treatment option for IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic charge transporting materials offer numerous advantages over their organic counterparts, including high charge carrier mobility, stability, simple preparation, and low cost, and have been studied for perovskite optoelectronic devices. However, the majority of these materials strongly quench perovskite luminescence, which is detrimental to the performance of perovskite light-emitting devices. To overcome this and obtain good quality perovskite films, an organic interlayer modified with UV ozone is used. The effects of the UV ozone treatment on the energetics and chemical structures of the organic interlayer are examined. On the basis of this strategy, we fabricate perovskite light-emitting devices that contain a cuprous thiocyanate hole injection layer, which exhibit an improved external quantum efficiency of 10.2% and greater operational stability when compared with the devices that contain a conducting-polymer hole injection layer. Image 1 • Perovskite light-emitting devices with a maximum EQE of 10.2%. • Suppression of perovskite luminescence quenching upon the incorporation of a UV ozone-treated organic interlayer. • Chemical structures and energetics of a UV ozone-treated organic interlayer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present report showed the green synthesis of Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Mulberry leaf extract via an environment friendly approach and investigated to know the probable ameliorative effect via biochemical assessment on retinopathy of rats that are maternally subjected to Al intoxication and diabetes. Mulberry leaf extract biomolecules act as capping and reducing agent for fabrication of AgNPs. Later, the fabricated AgNPs were characterized by using spectroscopic and microscopic instrumental techniques such as HR-TEM, UV–Vis, XRD and FT-IR. EDS, XRD and TEM have confirmed the synthesis of AgNPs. HRTEM results exhibited that the formed AgNPs are polydispersed and spherical in nature with mean particle size of 35 nm. Microscopic observation of retina in Al-intoxicated and diabetic mother rats showed abnormal changes in retinal cell layers. Yet, the retina of rats that are maternally received AgNPs plus diabetes or Al-intoxicated exhibited noticeable amelioration. However, lower ameliorations were found in rat's retina that are maternally undergone for combined exposure. Additionally, biochemical assessment revealed that the application of AgNPs caused the amelioration of the changes in Al concentration and maternal serum glucose. The present study revealed that AgNPs are active against diabetic and Aluminium-persuaded developmental retinopathy. Unlabelled Image • Mulberry extract mediated AgNPs • Effect of AgNPs on developmental diabetic retinopathy • Effect of AgNPs on Al intoxicated diabetic retinopathy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important supplementary material to graphene in the optoelectronics field, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has attracted attention from researchers due to its good light absorption capacity and adjustable bandgap. In this paper, MoS2 layers are respectively grown on SiO2/Si and sapphire substrates by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD). Atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy, and Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy are used to probe the optical properties of MoS2 on SiO2/Si and sapphire substrates systematically. The peak shift between the characteristic A1g and E12g peaks increases, and the I peak of the PL spectrum on the SiO2/Si substrate redshifts slightly when the layer numbers were increased, which can help in obtaining the layer number and peak position of MoS2. Moreover, the difference from monolayer MoS2 on the SiO2/Si substrate is that the B peak of the PL spectrum has a blueshift of 56 meV and the characteristic E12g peak of the Raman spectrum has no blueshift. The 1- and 2-layer MoS2 on a sapphire substrate had a higher PL peak intensity than that of the SiO2/Si substrate. When the laser wavelength is transformed from 532 to 633 nm, the position of I exciton peak has a blueshift of 16 meV, and the PL intensity of monolayer MoS2 on the SiO2/Si substrate increases. The optical properties of MoS2 can be obtained, which is helpful for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted attention from researchers in recent years. Monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is the direct band gap two-dimensional crystal with excellent physical and electrical properties. Monolayer MoS2 can effectively compensate for the lack of band gap of graphene in the field of nano-electronic devices, which is widely used in catalysis, transistors, optoelectronic devices, and integrated circuits. Therefore, it is critical to obtain high-quality, large size monolayer MoS2. The large-area uniform high-quality monolayer MoS2 is successfully grown on an SiO2/Si substrate with oxygen plasma treatment and graphene quantum dot solution by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) in this paper. In addition, the effects of substrate processing conditions, such as oxygen plasma treatment time, power, and dosage of graphene quantum dot solution on growth quality and the area of the monolayer of MoS2, are studied systematically, which would contribute to the preparation of large-area high-quality monolayer MoS2. Analysis and characterization of monolayer MoS2 are carried out by Optical Microscopy, AFM, XPS, Raman, and Photoluminescence Spectroscopy. The results show that monolayer MoS2 is a large-area, uniform, and triangular with a side length of 200 μm, and it is very effective to treat the SiO2/Si substrate by oxygen plasma and graphene quantum dot solution, which would help the fabrication of optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-satellite retrieved soil moisture products released from Europe Space Agency's Climate Change Initiative (ESA CCI) program have been widely used in plenty of fields including drought monitoring. In this study, Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) is applied to match the simulated soil moisture from the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model for filling the missing records of ESA CCI soil moisture (ESA CCI SM). The weekly Standard Soil Moisture Index (SSI) calculated from ESA CCI SM dataset (ESA CCI SSI) is conducted to monitor the agricultural drought over the Yellow River Basin (YRB) during 2000~2012. The performance of ESA CCI SSI is compared with the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), the Standard Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), the self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index based on VIC model (VIC_scPDSI) and the anomaly of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The results show that the interpolated ESA CCI SM is significant (p<0.05) correlated with the observed soil moisture and more than 84% of the girds in the YRB display good correlations with the global reanalysis soil moisture. In terms of drought monitoring (i.e. drought area and drought intensity), ESA CCI SSI presents a similar spatiotemporal pattern with VIC_scPDSI, while exhibits a delayed response to SPI and SPEI significantly. Analysis of the typical drought event in 2002 indicates that ESA CCI SSI could effectively capture the emerge and development process of this event and the drought severity detected by ESA CCI SSI is higher than that of SPI and SPEI. Besides, it is found that spatial characteristics of ESA CCI SSI and the anomaly of NDVI are consistent in some areas of the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition-metal chalcogenides (TMDs) are gaining increased attention from many scientists recently. Monolayer MoS2 is an emerging layered TMD material with many excellent physical and electrical properties. It can be widely used in catalysis, transistors, optoelectronics and integrated circuits. Here, the large-sized monolayer MoS2 is grown on the silicon substrate with a 285-nm-thick oxide layer by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) of sulfurized molybdenum trioxide. This method is simple and it does not require vacuum treatment. In addition, the effects of growth conditions, such as sulfur source, molybdenum source, growth temperature, and argon flow rate on the quality and area of MoS2 are further studied systematically. These analysis results help to master the morphology and optical properties of monolayer MoS2. The high quality, excellent performance, and large-size monolayer MoS2 under the optimal growth condition is characterized by optical microscopy, AFM, XPS, photoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectrum and PL mapping show that the grown MoS2 is a uniform triangular monolayer with a side length of 100 μm, which can pave the way for the applications of photodetectors and transistors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of LAG1 longevity-assurance homologue 2 (LASS2) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Methods: Immunohistochemistry staining was conducted to explore the expression levels of LASS2 in PTC tissues and adjacent normal thyroid tissues and nodular goiter tissues. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were performed to explore the expression levels of LASS2 in three PTC cell lines (TPC-1, K1, BCPAP). An Adv-LASS2-GFP recombinant adenovirus vector was constructed and transduced into BCPAP cells. Then CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis were performed. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of p21, cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, p53 and p-p53. Results: LASS2 was downregulated in PTC tissues compared with adjacent thyroid tissues or nodular goiter tissues. In addition, the expression of LASS2 was found to be associated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. BCPAP cells expressed the lowest LASS2 compared to TPC-1 cells or K1 cells. Overexpression of LASS2 significantly inhibited proliferation, promoted apoptosis and caused G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in BCPAP cells. Furthermore, overexpression of LASS2 significantly increased the expression of p21, inhibited the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4, and increased the expression of p-p53, but did not effect the expression of p53 in BCPAP cells. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that overexpression of LASS2 inhibits PTC cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis and causes G0/G1 cell cycle arrest via a p53-dependent pathway. Thus, LASS2 may serve as a novel biomarker in PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huge efforts have been devoted to develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting human Programmed death-ligand 1 (hPD-L1) for treating various types of human cancers. However, thus far there is no suitable animal model for evaluating the anti-tumor efficacy of such antibodies against hPD-L1. Here we report the generation of a robust and effective system utilizing hPD-L1-expressing mouse tumor cells to study the therapeutic activity and mode of action of anti-human PD-L1 in mice. The model has been validated by using a clinically proven hPD-L1 blocking antibody. The anti-hPD-L1 antibody treatment resulted in potent dose-dependent rejection of the human PD-L1-expressing tumors in mice. Consistent with what have observed in autochthonous mouse tumor models and cancer patients, the hPD-L1 tumor bearing mice treated by anti-hPD-L1 antibody showed rapid activation, proliferation and reinvigoration of the cytolytic effector function of CD8+T cells inside tumor tissues. Moreover, anti-hPD-L1 treatment also led to profound inhibition of Treg expansion and shifting of myeloid cell profiles, showing bona fide induction of multilateral anti-tumor responses by anti-hPD-L1 blockade. Thus, this hPD-L1 mouse model system would facilitate the pre-clinical investigation of therapeutic efficacy and immune modulatory function of various forms of anti-hPD-L1 antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Catalytic Asymmetric Michael Reaction of 5H-Oxazol-4-ones with a,ß-Unsaturated Acyl Imidazoles" is presented.

The article presents chemical equations related to the article "Synthesis of 6, 7-Dihydrodibenzo [b, j] phenanthroline Derivatives by Pfitzinger Condensation of Isatin and Cyclic Diketones" by L. Fang, X. Yang and others, published in the periodical "Heterocycles" in 2014.