Search

Modulating the activation state and degree of macrophages still remains as a challenge for the topographical design of Ti-based implants. In this work, micro/nano-structured coatings were prepared on Ti substrates by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and subsequent hydrothermal (HT) treatment. By varying the HT conditions, plate-like nano-structures with an average length of 80, 440 or 780 nm were obtained on MAO-prepared micro-topographical surfaces. Depending on the dimensional features of nano-plates, the specimens were noted as Micro, Micro/Nano-180, Micro/Nano-440 and Micro/Nano-780, respectively. The in vitro results showed that the activation state and degree of macrophages could be effectively modulated by the micro/nano-structured surfaces with various dimensional features. Compared to the Micro surface, the Micro/Nano-180 surface activated both M1 and M2 phenotype in macrophages, while the Micro/Nano-440 and Micro/Nano-780 surfaces polarized macrophages to their M1 phenotype. The activation degree of M1 macrophages followed the trend: Micro

All-solid-state lithium-metal batteries (ASSLMBs) have received great interest due to their high potential to display both high energy density and safety performance. However, the poor compatibility at the Li/solid electrolyte (SE) interface and penetration of lithium dendrites during cycling strongly impede their successful commercialization. Herein, a thin Ag layer was introduced between Li and Li10GeP2S12 for the in situ formation of a Li-Ag alloy interface, thus tuning the interfacial chemistry and lithium deposition/dissolution behavior. Superior electrochemical properties and improved interfacial stability were achieved by optimizing the Ag thicknesses. The assembled symmetric cell with Li@Ag 1 μm showed a steady voltage evolution up to 1000 h with an areal capacity of 1 mAh cm-2. Moreover, a high reversible capacity of 106.5 mAh g-1 was achieved in an all-solid-state cell after 100 cycles, demonstrating the validity of the Ag layer. This work highlights the importance of the Li/SE interface re-engineering and provides a new strategy for improving the cycle life of ASSLMBs.

Nonprecious transition metals [e.g., cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn)], and nitrogen doped carbon materials are considered to be the most attractive alternatives to precious metal catalysts. Herein, Cobalt decorated nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and calcination. Benefiting from the N-doping, etching of Co nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes and synergistic effect between the components, the as-prepared Co/nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (Co-NCNT) displays a half-wave potential of 0.88 V (vs. RHE), a limiting current density of 5.6 mA cm−2, and electron transfer number of 3.9 in 0.1 M KOH. When applied in metal-air batteries, it delivered maximum power densities of 130.0 mW cm−2, 117.3 mW cm−2 and 58.6 mW cm−2 in alkaline Zn-air, Al-air batteries and neutral Mg-air batteries respectively, outperforming the commercial Pt/C. These demonstrate that the synthesized Co-NCNT is a promising candidate for ORR in metal-air batteries with both alkaline and neutral electrolytes.

The subtropical region in Eastern China, with abundant hydrothermal resources and widely distributed lowland polders, is a traditional agricultural production area. The rice–wheat rotation system is often regarded as a dominant source of agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Under the general trend of global warming, it is of vital significance to explore farmland production methods for the reduction of GHGs. The study was based on a three-year field experiment conducted to investigate the effects of tillage methods (CF, conventional farming; OF, optimized fertilization; OF + N, optimized fertilization + no-tillage; OF + S, optimized fertilization + straw return) on the emissions of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) collected by way of “closed static box-gas chromatography”. The factors needing simultaneously monitored are atmospheric temperature, 5 cm ground temperature, soil redox potential (Eh), etc. Among the total Global warming potential (GWP) processed by CF, OF, OF + N, and OF + S, the GWP produced by CH4 accounted for 86.01%, 88.23%, 86.34%, and 88.96%, respectively; The sequence of the total yields of rice and wheat is: OF > CF > OF + N > OF + S, the GWP is CF > OF + S > OF > OF + N, and that of greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI) is CF > OF + S > OF + N > OF. Comprehensively, tillage methods have great potential to reduce GWP, and OF is considered the optimal tillage method to achieve effective greenhouse gases reduction while ensuring stable and increased production.

Background and aims HSCs and portal fibroblasts (PFs) are the major sources of collagen-producing myofibroblasts during liver fibrosis, depending on different etiologies. However, the mechanisms by which their dynamic gene expression directs the transition from the quiescent to the activated state-as well as their contributions to fibrotic myofibroblasts-remain unclear. Here, we analyze the activation of HSCs and PFs in CCL4 -induced and bile duct ligation-induced fibrosis mouse models, using single-cell RNA sequencing and lineage tracing. Approach and results We demonstrate that HSCs, rather than PFs, undergo dramatic transcriptomic changes, with the sequential activation of inflammatory, migrative, and extracellular matrix-producing programs. The data also reveal that HSCs are the exclusive source of myofibroblasts in CCL4 -treated liver, while PFs are the major source of myofibroblasts in early cholestatic liver fibrosis. Single-cell and lineage-tracing analysis also uncovers differential gene-expression features between HSCs and PFs; for example, nitric oxide receptor soluble guanylate cyclase is exclusively expressed in HSCs, but not in PFs. The soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator Riociguat potently reduced liver fibrosis in CCL4 -treated livers but showed no therapeutic efficacy in bile duct ligation livers. Conclusions This study provides a transcriptional roadmap for the activation of HSCs during liver fibrosis and yields comprehensive evidence that the differential transcriptomic features of HSCs and PFs, along with their relative contributions to liver fibrosis of different etiologies, should be considered in developing effective antifibrotic therapeutic strategies.

Three-dimensional (3D) niobium (Nb) films have been deposited on quartz substrates by changing substrate temperature or film thickness. The relationship of $$\rho$$ and T in metallic film satisfies the Bloch–Gruneisen (B-G) theory with T expanding from 300 K to 10 K. The global superconductivity of Nb film disappeared by increasing the perpendicular magnetic field, because the superconducting state was destroyed by the increased magnetic field. The upper critical magnetic field $$H_{c2}$$ changes with temperature linearly, except for that at temperature near superconducting transition temperature $$T_c$$ . The value of $$H_{c2}$$ (0) obtained by linear fit was as large as 9.07 T in the film of grain size of 26.8 nm. This maximum of $$H_{c2}$$ (0) was found to increase by 3.2 times of bulk Nb value, more than 2.5 times reported earlier. This can be ascribed to the small grain size of the film. A portion of the applied magnetic energy may affect superconductivity due to some magnetic field penetrating into the grains.

With the advances in instrumentation and sampling techniques, there is an explosive growth of data from molecular and cellular samples. The call to extract more information from the large data sets has greatly challenged the conventional chemometrics method. Deep learning, which utilizes very large data sets for finding hidden features therein and for making accurate predictions for a wide range of applications, has been applied in an unbelievable pace in biospectroscopy and biospectral imaging in the recent 3 years. In this Feature, we first introduce the background and basic knowledge of deep learning. We then focus on the emerging applications of deep learning in the data preprocessing, feature detection, and modeling of the biological samples for spectral analysis and spectroscopic imaging. Finally, we highlight the challenges and limitations in deep learning and the outlook for future directions.

The ethanol and water extracts of 20 kinds of mushrooms from Sichuan Province, Southwest of China, were investigated for their antioxidant activity using DPPH assay. The results showed the ethanol extract of Serpula lacrymans, Daldinia concentrica, and Scleroderma verrucosum had well DPPH free radical scavenging activities 91.33%, 79.76% and 62.82%, respectively. Besides, the water extracts of Serpula lacrymans, Armillaria luteo-virens, and Lentinus edodes also possessed pretty high DPPH free radical scavenging activity were 95.59%, 88.76% and 86.93%, respectively. Based on the above comparison, the EC50 and total phenolic content of the ethanol extracts of Serpula lacrymans, Daldinia concentrica, and Scleroderma verrucosum were also measured. Their EC50 and total phenolic content valued of 17.87mg·mL-1, 11.19mg·mL-1 and 35.01mg·mL-1, as well as 0.0769μg·L-1, 0.0673μg·L-1 and 0.0545μg·L-1, respectively. The results showed there was a correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. Besides, the reaction time of the DPPH test affected the free radical scavenging, which reflected the difference of the extract component would impact the test method.

AtPHB2 was cloned from Arabidopsis thaliana and localized to mitochondria. AtPHB2 expression in A. thaliana increased under different stresses, and promotion of seed germination and plant growth was observed in transgenic plants. In terms of physiological indices, the transgenic plants were more resistant to saline-alkali and oxidative stresses than wild-type and mutant plants. The transgenic plants also had the highest K+/Na+ ratio after 24 h of salt treatment and maintained lower H2O2 contents than wild-type and mutant plants under stress. Taken together, these results reveal that AtPHB2 affects plant tolerance against salt stresses and is involved in ROS decrease mechanisms.

To improve the performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) at intermediate temperature, an idea of adding a negative thermal expansion (NTE) oxide into cathode is proposed. The effects of NdMnO3-δ (NM) NTE oxide addition in Ba0.5Sr0.5FeO3-δ (BSF) cathode on the performance of proton-conducting SOFCs (H-SOFCs) are studied. The 30 wt % NM addition can lead to an ideal thermal matching between BSF-NM cathode and BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3-δ (BZCY) electrolyte, and improve the electrochemical performance of H-SOFCs significantly. At 500–750 °C, the peak power density (PPD) of H-SOFCs with BSF-NM cathode is 139–941 mW cm−2, which is apparently higher than that (73–661 mW cm−2) with BSF one. In addition, the relative increment of peak power density (PPD) increases from 42.36% at 750 °C to 90.41% at 500 °C, which is seldom obtained by conventional cathode doping. Comprehensive results of electrochemical impedance spectra, electrical conductivities, and SEM observations show that the apparent improvement of PPDs should be mainly associated with the increased three phase boundary length due to the ideal thermal matching between cathodes and electrolytes. In all, it provides a novel idea to develop intermediate and low temperature SOFCs.

Oleanolic acid (OA) is a natural cosmeceutical compound with various skin beneficial activities including inhibitory effect on hyaluronidase but the anti-hyaluronidase activity and mechanisms of action of its synthetic analogues remain unclear. Herein, a series of OA derivatives were synthesised and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on hyaluronidase. Compared to OA, an induction of fluorinated (6c) and chlorinated (6g) indole moieties led to enhanced anti-hyaluronidase activity (IC50 = 80.3 vs. 9.97 and 9.57 µg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, spectroscopic and computational studies revealed that 6c and 6g can bind to hyaluronidase protein and alter its secondary structure leading to reduced enzyme activity. In addition, OA indole derivatives showed feasible skin permeability in a slightly acidic environment (pH = 6.5) and 6c exerted skin protective effect by reducing cellular reactive oxygen species in human skin keratinocytes. Findings from the current study support that OA indole derivatives are potential cosmeceuticals with anti-hyaluronidase activity., Graphical Abstract Highlights A series of novel oleanolic acid (OA) derivatives are synthesised OA indole derivatives 6a-6g show potent inhibition on hyaluronidase activity 6c and 6g interacts with hyaluronidase protein to reduce enzyme activity 6c and 6g are skin permeable at pH 6.5 and 6c shows antioxidant effect in human skin keratinocytes

A general visible-light-promoted metal-free synthesis of secondary and tertiary thiocarbamates starting from thiosulfonates and N-substituted formamides is developed. By employing rhodamine B as a photocatalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant, a wide scope of thiocarbamates can be obtained through direct thiolation of acyl C–H bonds under irradiation of blue light at room temperature for 12 h.

Myristica fragrans is a traditional herbal medicine and has been shown to alleviate the development of atherosclerosis. However, the anti-atherogenic mechanisms of M. fragrans are still to be addressed. In this study, we explored the effect of M. fragrans on lipid metabolism and inflammation and its mechanisms in THP-1-derived macrophages. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis results showed that M. fragrans promotes cholesterol efflux from THP-1-derived macrophages and reduces intracellular total cholesterol, cholesterol ester, and free cholesterol contents in a dose- and a time-dependent manner. Further study found that liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) antagonist GGPP significantly blocked the upregulation of ABCA1 expression with M. fragrans treatment. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay confirmed that GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) can bind to the LXRα promoter, and inhibition of GATA3 led to the downregulation of LXRα and ATP-binding cassette subfamily A member 1 expression. Furthermore, M. fragrans reduced lipid accumulation, followed by decreasing tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β and increasing IL-10 produced by THP-1-derived macrophages. Therefore, M. fragrans is identified as a valuable therapeutic medicine for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Mitochondria locate close to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and cooperate with ER to encode intracellular calcium signaling for cell processes and functions. However, the calcium coupling between mitochondria and ER (mito-ER) remains elusive due to the difficulty of precise excitation of localized mito-ER calcium coupling with little interference to other organelles. To study the mito-ER calcium coupling dynamics, we report a noninvasive method of photostimulation by femtosecond laser to excite the mito-ER calcium coupling at single-mitochondrion level. We establish a microscopy and photostimulation system to simultaneously stimulate and observe single mitochondrion continuously in real time, by which a long-term mito-ER calcium coupling is observed after a single short flash of femtosecond-laser stimulation to a tubular structure of a target mitochondrion in a pre-selected live cell. Cytosolic calcium is involved in the mito-ER calcium coupling but the mitochondrial sodium calcium exchanger and the mito-ER distance contribute little to it. Single mito-ER calcium coupling exhibits different dynamics from it excited by biochemical drugs globally. This study provides a precise and noninvasive method to excite calcium dynamics at single organelle level for the study of mitochondria and mito-ER calcium coupling.

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are of quite a significance in the field of inorganic‐organic hybrid crystals. Especially, MOFs have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their large specific surface area, desirable electrical conductivity, controllable porosity, tunable geometric structure, and excellent thermal/chemical stability. Some recent studies have shown that carbon materials prepared by MOFs as precursors can retain the privileged structure of MOFs, such as large specific surface area and porous structure and, in contrast, realize in situ doping with heteroatoms (eg, N, S, P, and B). Moreover, by selecting appropriate MOF precursors, the composition and morphology of the carbon products can be easily adjusted. These remarkable structural advantages enable the great potential of MOF‐derived carbon as high‐performance energy materials, which to date have been applied in the fields of energy storage and conversion systems. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in MOF‐derived carbon materials for energy storage applications. We first introduce the compositions, structures, and synthesis methods of MOF‐derived carbon materials, and then discuss their applications and potentials in energy storage systems, including rechargeable lithium/sodium‐ion batteries, lithium‐sulfur batteries, supercapacitors, and so forth, in detail. Finally, we put forward our own perspectives on the future development of MOF‐derived carbon materials.

Oleuropein (OLE) and hydroxytyrosol (HT) are dietary polyphenols with skin beneficial effects but their effects on skin-ageing-related enzymes are not clear. Herein, we evaluated their inhibitory effects on elastase and collagenase. OLE and HT (62.5-1 000 μM) showed moderate anti-elastase and anti-collagenase effects (5.1-26.3%, 5.8-12.2% and 12.6-31.0%, 11.6-31.9% inhibition, respectively). Combinations of OLE and HT (1:1 ratio) exerted synergistic inhibitory effects on elastase, which were supported by their combination index (CI), kinetic assay and computational docking. Moreover, HT (100 μM) reduced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human dermal fibroblast cells by 21.8 and 15.2%, respectively. In addition, combinations of OLE and HT (6.25/6.25-100/100 μM) exerted synergistic cytoprotective effects by reducing ROS levels by 7.6-37.3% with CIs of 0.17-0.44, respectively. The findings from this study support the cosmeceutical activities of OLE and HT but further research is warranted to evaluate their anti-skin-ageing effects using in vivo models.

Fast acquisition of Raman images is essential for accurately characterizing the analytes' information. In this paper, we developed a collaborative low-rank matrix approximation method for fast hyperspectral Raman imaging as well as tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) imaging. This method combines high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) data with the target data to perform collaborative singular value decomposition. The high-quality reference data can impose constraints on factorization, which will force its components to approximate the true signal or noise components. The simulation demonstrated that this method offers state-of-the-art signal extraction performance and, thus, can be used to accelerate data acquisition. Specifically, the results indicate that the CLRMA can largely decrease the root-mean-square error by 20.92-54.12% compared with the baseline method of our previous study. We then applied this method to the fast TERS imaging of a Au/Pd bimetallic surface and significantly decreased the integration time down to 0.1 s/pixel, which is about 10 times faster than that of conventional experiments. High-SNR TERS spectra and clear TERS images that are well consistent with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images can be obtained even under such a weak signal condition. We further applied this method to the fast Raman imaging of HeLa cells and obtained clear Raman images at a short integration time of 2 s/line, which is about 5 times faster than that of conventional experiments. This method offers a promising tool for TERS imaging as well as conventional Raman imaging where fast data acquisition is required.

This study investigates the sintering neck growth behavior of pure titanium powder with different oxygen contents. The growth rate of the sintering neck gradually decreased as the oxygen content increased from 0.06 wt% to 0.50 wt%. At the same time, it was observed that the oxygen in the sintering neck spread to the low oxygen region as the size of the neck increased. A theoretical analysis indicated that surface diffusion is the dominant diffusion mechanism. However, under the hindrance of oxygen in the matrix, both surface diffusion and grain boundary diffusion slow down. Calculating the increase in the self-diffusion activation energy of Ti atoms indicated that oxygen was more resistant to surface diffusion. Predictably, grain boundary diffusion will become the dominant diffusion mechanism in the initial stage of sintering when the oxygen content exceeds 2.628 wt%.

Background/Aims. Sexual differences exist in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and various cardiovascular risk factors are associated with the preservation of endothelial function in premenopausal women. However, it is unclear whether differences in endothelial function and circulating EPCs exist between overweight premenopausal women and age-matched men. Methods. We compared EPC counting and functions in normal-weight and overweight premenopausal women and men, evaluated endothelial function in each group, and detected the expression of the guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH I) pathway. Results. The number of EPCs was lower in the male group than in the female group, regardless of normal-weight or overweight status, and there was no significant difference between the different weight groups among females or males. Endothelial function and EPC migration and proliferation were preserved in overweight premenopausal women compared with overweight men as were nitric oxide (NO) levels in plasma and secreted by EPCs. Endothelial function, the circulating EPC population, and NO levels were not different between normal-weight and overweight premenopausal women. Flow-mediated dilatation was significantly correlated with EPC function, plasma NO levels, and EPC-secreted NO. Conclusions. This investigation provides the first evidence for sex-based differences in EPC activity and endothelial function in overweight middle-aged individuals; these differences are associated with alterations in NO production and may partly occur through downregulation of the GTPCH I pathway. The present results provide new insights into the mechanism underlying the preserved endothelial function in overweight premenopausal women and may uncover a potential therapeutic target for endothelial repair in overweight population.

Hypochlorite (ClO-) is widely used as a disinfectant, whose residue content in water should be strictly controlled due to the potential threat to human health in an inappropriate concentration. Herein, dual-emissive metal-organic frameworks with a UiO-66 prototype structure, PDA/Eu/PDA-UiO-66-NH2(x), were elegantly designed and prepared by a mixed ligand assembly and sequential post-synthesis strategy. Since blue emission is sensitive to ClO-, PDA/Eu/PDA-UiO-66-NH2(40) was selected as a model nanosensor for ratiometric and turn-on sensing of ClO- while red emission acts as a reference signal. Remarkably, PDA/Eu/PDA-UiO-66-NH2(40) shows high efficiency and specificity toward ClO- detection, as verified by a very short response time of 15 s, a wide linear range of 0.1-60 μM, a low detection limit of 0.10 μM, and excellent selectivity toward common competing ions. The recovery experiments show that the recoveries of spiking ClO- in tap water range from 96 to 103%. The rigidification of the coordinated H2N-BDC2- ligands should be responsible for the turn-on fluorescence of PDA/Eu/PDA-UiO-66-NH2(40). This work not only shows a highly efficient and specific fluorescent nanosensor for ClO- detection but also presents the first MOF-based fluorescent probe for turn-on and ratiometric sensing of ClO-.

It is mandatory to decontaminate Cr(VI) species from water streams due to their high toxicity. The photoreduction of hazardous Cr(VI) to nontoxic Cr(III) is a very promising approach to control Cr(VI) pollution. Although some MOFs and their composites have been employed as photocatalysts to reduce toxic Cr(VI), their catalytic activities are always limited by inefficient visible light absorption and inferior Cr(VI) adsorption performances. Herein, cationic Ru-UiO-dmbpy(1) that is decorated with a high density of cationic charges and also embedded with catalytically competent and visible light harvesting moieties (i.e. Ru(bpy)3) was successfully synthesized by a sequential mix-and-match and ionization process. The presence of Ru(bpy)3 moieties makes Ru-UiO-dmbpy(1) an excellent visible-light harvester, extending the absorption edge from 420 nm for pristine UiO-bpy to about 780 nm for Ru-UiO-bpy/Ru-UiO-dmbpy(1). Driven by ion exchange, Ru-UiO-dmbpy(1) shows a large adsorption rate constant (k2) of 1.33 × 10−2 g mg−1 min−1 in the adsorption of Cr2O72−, which is 8.26 times that of pristine UiO-bpy and 6.27 times that of the non-ionization counterpart Ru-UiO-bpy(1) under the same adsorption conditions. The equilibrium Cr2O72− uptake capacity of Ru-UiO-dmbpy(1) reaches 101.8 mg g−1, which is about 1.98 and 1.81 times that of UiO-bpy and Ru-UiO-bpy(1), respectively. With an efficient visible light absorption ability and superior Cr(VI) adsorption performance, Ru-UiO-dmbpy(1) shows a reaction rate constant (k1) of 0.011 min−1 in the photoreduction of Cr(VI) without any sacrificial agents under visible light illumination, which is much larger than those of pristine UiO-bpy (0.003 min−1) and its non-ionization counterpart Ru-UiO-bpy(1) (0.007 min−1) under the same conditions. The result unambiguously demonstrates that the Cr(VI) photoreduction activity could be largely enhanced by photosensitiser introduction and framework ionization. To further evaluate the catalytic performance of Ru-UiO-dmbpy(1), Cr(VI) reduction was also investigated in the presence of various sacrificial agents. Remarkably, a high Cr(VI) photoreduction rate of 6.4 mgCr(VI) gcatalyst−1 min−1 was obtained when benzyl alcohol was used as a sacrificial agent, which is a record value among those reported for MOF-based photocatalysts.

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are considered to be one of the most promising candidates for the next generation of rechargeable batteries due to their high theoretical energy density and low cost. However, the practical application of Li–S batteries is seriously hindered by the dissolution of polysulfide and the intrinsic insulation of sulfur. Herein, we demonstrate a novel strategy to address these two problems by designing and synthesizing a cobalt, nitrogen-codoped hollow carbon sphere (Co, N@CPDA-HCS) with a highly conductive carbon shell to accommodate the sulfur. In this unique material architecture, each component synergistically serves a specific purpose: the highly conductive shell carbon can provide fast electron conduction paths and structural stability; the superfine Co nanoparticles uniformly embedded in the carbon shell can accelerate the conversion kinetics of the polysulfides by strong chemical interaction; moreover, the hollow structure provides a buffer space for the volume change of sulfur during charging and discharging, thus leading to a good cycle stability of sulfur cathodes. Co, N@CPDA-HCS exhibits balanced high electrochemical performance with respect to specific capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability. Specifically, S/Co, N@CPDA-HCS presents a high initial gravimetric capacity of 1365 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1. The discharge capacity of 588 mA h g−1 still remained at the current density of 1 A g−1 after 300 cycles.

CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) is a member of the CXC chemokine family and mainly acts on cell chemotaxis. CXCL12 also elicits a proatherogenic role, but the molecular mechanisms have not been fully defined yet. We aimed to reveal if and how CXCL12 promoted atherosclerosis via regulating lipid metabolism. In vitro, our data showed that CXCL12 could reduce ABCA1 expression, and it mediated cholesterol efflux from THP-1-derived macrophages to apoA-I. Data from the luciferase reporter gene and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that transcription factor 21 (TCF21) stimulated the transcription of ABCA1 via binding to its promoter region, which was repressed by CXCL12. We found that CXCL12 increased the levels of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and the phosphorylation of β-catenin at the Thr120 position. Inactivation of GSK3β or β-catenin increased the expression of TCF21 and ABCA1. Further, knockdown or inhibition of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) blocked the effects of CXCL12 on TCF21 and ABCA1 expression and the phosphorylation of GSK3β and β-catenin. In vivo, the overexpression of CXCL12 in Apoe−/− mice via lentivirus enlarged the atherosclerotic lesion area and increased macrophage infiltration in atherosclerotic plaques. We further found that the overexpression of CXCL12 reduced the efficiency of reverse cholesterol transport and plasma HDL-C levels, decreased ABCA1 expression in the aorta and mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs), and suppressed cholesterol efflux from MPMs to apoA-I in Apoe−/− mice. Collectively, these findings suggest that CXCL12 interacts with CXCR4 and then activates the GSK-3β/β-cateninT120/TCF21 signaling pathway to inhibit ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux from macrophages and aggravate atherosclerosis. Targeting CXCL12 may be a novel and promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

Autotoxins play important roles in problems with peach replanting. Benzoic acid (BA), one of the major autotoxins, is identified in peach root exudates and rhizosphere soil, leading to stunted seedling growth or even death. In this research, we aimed to screen the most efficient BA-degrading strain (BDS) from peach rhizosphere soil and assess its potential as a biodegradation strain that could relieve peach replant stress. In the work, three BDSs (WH-B1, WH-B2 and WH-B3) were isolated and identified as Pseudomonas denitrificans, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and P. putida, respectively. Through bacterial growth and BA degradation tests, the strain WH-B3 was found to show the highest growth rate and the greatest degradation capacity and was selected for soil inoculation. Meanwhile, the phytotoxicity analysis revealed that the BA degradation products of the three BDSs were almost completely nontoxic to seedlings. Moreover, the pot experiments indicated that a high concentration of soil BA (≥ 40 mg kg−1) significantly restrained an increase in peach seedling height, stem diameter, and biomass, while the WH-B3 inoculum distinctly decreased the soil BA content and fully counteracted the BA-mediated inhibition of seedling growth. Furthermore, to investigate the performance of the potent strain under authentic replanted soil (RS) conditions, WH-B3 was inoculated into the RS for peach seedling growth. The results demonstrated that the WH-B3 inoculum degraded approximately 65% of the BA in RS and significantly improved replant-stressed seedling growth. Altogether, the characteristics of P. putida WH-B3 show that it is a potential strain for BA biodegradation and has promise for alleviating problems in peach replanting.

TiN, TiCN, and Ti-diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were coated on 316L stainless steel surfaces by physical vapor deposition. All films exhibited uniform and dense surfaces with good adhesion. The Ti-DLC film demonstrated the lowest surface roughness. TiC and free C were observed in both the TiCN and Ti-DLC films. Among the three films, the TiCN film demonstrated the highest hardness and elastic modulus, followed by the Ti-DLC film and finally the TiN film. Under dry conditions, all films exhibited significantly lower coefficients of friction than stainless steel. The Ti-DLC film showed the lowest coefficient of friction and is thus considered an ideal anti-wear material for orthodontic applications. The friction mechanisms of the three films were also compared. Therefore, this study provides experimental data and a theoretical basis that may guide the production and modification of dental braces.

Aim: To overcome the existing difficulty in distinguishing Fe(III) from Fe(II), rhodamine-containing Fe3+ probes, giving off different fluorescence responses to ferric and ferrous ions, were synthesized. Materials & methods: Color change in Fe3+ recognition, accompanying spirolactam opening–closing, could be used for ‘naked-eye’ detection. Theoretical calculations revealed the possible Fe3+-probe combination mechanism. Results: Apart from the probes’ specific response toward Fe3+, the Fe3+-probe demonstrated highly quantitative relationships in fluorescence titration, instant labeling and dynamic tracking of intracellular Fe3+ in bioimaging. Conclusion: Cytotoxity and bioimaging in living L929 suggested the probes’ future applications as real-time detection methods for Fe3+ in clinical diagnosis. Instant and time-lapse imagings, based on fluorescence-time stability of Fe3+-probe, enables the dynamic labeling and tracking of Fe3+ in living systems.

In this study, the effects of the addition of carbonyl nickel powder on the density, microstructure, and mechanical properties of sintered yttria-stabilized zirconia (3YSZ) were investigated. Sintering at 1300 °C resulted in the optimum comprehensive mechanical properties. The addition of 5 vol% carbonyl Ni increased the fracture toughness and flexural strength from 9.51 MPa m1/2 to 14.5 MPa m1/2 and from 747 MPa to 873 MPa, respectively. The addition of carbonyl nickel showed greater improvement than did the addition of spherical Ni powder. The dendritic morphology improved the interface bonding between the ceramic and the metal, enabling a bridging mechanism of the ductile phase. However, further Ni addition decreased the mechanical properties. X-ray diffraction results showed that the amounts of the monoclinic phase (M) and cubic phase (C) of 3YSZ increased, whereas the amount of the tetragonal phase (T) decreased. The Y segregation near the Ni particles, which was confirmed by an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), caused the phase changes. The segregation of Y occurred during the cooling stage, rather than the holding stage, of sintering. During the cooling stage, the heat mismatch between Ni and ZrO2 resulted in strong elastic strain energy, which promoted Y segregation.

We statistically assessed temporal variations of observed concentrations of eight atmospheric pollutants (SO2, NO, NO2, NOy, O3, CO, NH3, and HNO3) at three urban sites and one rural site in the eastern United States for a ten-year period (4 years for NH3). Diurnal/seasonal patterns of observed mean concentrations and their decade-scale trends under different weather conditions were evaluated. Concentrations of pollutants decreased consistently during the observation period (as long as 1997–2013), although nighttime ozone during winter appears to increase because of reduced NO-O3 titration. This study shows that the decay time of major air pollutant concentrations such as SO2 and NOx can be short as a few hours to one day. We also identified substantial differences between the mean concentrations of pollutants at clear sky and overcast conditions that could introduce biases into satellite observations. Surface concentrations of SO2 and CO are distinctly higher under cloud free than under overcast conditions by ∼30% and ∼20% respectively. NO2 shows a complex pattern, but demonstrates lower daytime concentrations under cloud-free skies. All of these estimates are important for understanding the chemical climatology of these atmospheric pollutants, especially their diurnal/seasonal cycles under different weather conditions. For four-year measurements, NH3 shows a substantial difference, with clear-sky observations roughly a factor of two higher than those under overcast conditions. To track changes in the future, the full daily cycle of atmospheric pollutants monitored by geostationary satellite such as the future TEMPO mission may better capture patterns and trends.

Bacterial infection has become the major problem shared by all countries around the world at present, especially, bacterial biofilm and medical implant-associated infections become even more difficult to eradicate by their robust matrix structure, making them 1000-fold more resistant to conventional antibiotics. Therefore, it appears necessary to carry out a potent antibacterial polymeric coating with excellent antibacterial and antibiofilm performance with low coat as well as good biocompatibility. In this work, we report an innovative strategy to prepare an antibacterial coating on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrate with cationic polyimidazolium salts (PIMS), using epoxy resin as curing agent, combining with surface radical polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and Debus−Radziszewski reaction of formaldehyde, glyoxal, and chitosan. These results of In Vitro antibacterial assay, antibiofilm, hemolytic activity and In Vitro cytotoxicity test showed this antibacterial coating has good antibacterial and antibiofilm performance and biocompatibility.

A catalytic carbonylative ring-opening and functionalization reaction of poorly activated cyclopropanes has been developed. The key achievement of this work is the accomplishment of an unprecedented effective intermolecular trapping of the rhodacyclopentanone intermediate, which is derived from rhodium-mediated carbonylative insertion of poorly activated cyclopropanes, by an external reactant. The success of this development hinges upon the use of a dual directing strategy.

Raman imaging is a promising technique that allows the spatial distribution of different components in the sample to be obtained using the molecular fingerprint information on individual species. However, the imaging speed is the bottleneck for the current Raman imaging methods to monitor the dynamic process of living cells. In this paper, we developed an artificial intelligence assisted fast Raman imaging method over the already fast line scan Raman imaging method. The reduced imaging time is realized by widening the slit and laser beam, and scanning the sample with a large scan step. The imaging quality is improved by a data-driven approach to train a deep convolutional neural network, which statistically learns to transform low-resolution images acquired at a high speed into high-resolution ones that previously were only possible with a low imaging speed. Accompanied with the improvement of the image resolution, the deteriorated spectral resolution as a consequence of a wide slit is also restored, thereby the fidelity of the spectral information is retained. The imaging time can be reduced to within 1 min, which is about five times faster than the state-of-the-art line scan Raman imaging techniques without sacrificing spectral and spatial resolution. We then demonstrated the reliability of the current method using fixed cells. We finally used the method to monitor the dynamic evolution process of living cells. Such an imaging speed opens a door to the label-free observation of cellular events with conventional Raman microscopy.

Mustard gas poses a substantial concern for homeland security, and the development of sensors for facile, rapid, highly sensitive, and selective detection of a mustard gas simulant is much desirabl...

Low density isotropic pyrocarbon (LDIP) of a novel “litchi” hierarchical structure with a high degree of crystallinity and graphitization was prepared by a simple, catalyst-free chemical vapor deposition method. The fabricated LDIP coating surface exhibits highly durable and robust superhydrophobic, self-cleaning, water and corrosive liquids repelling and oil-water separating properties. Moreover, the antifouling/antibacterial properties and biocompatibility of LDIP were investigated. The LDIP coated surface can not only effective prevent protein and bacterial (Gram-negative E. coli) adhesion but also has good biocompatibility. This new type of carbon material has great promise for potential applications in waste water treatment and biomedical fields. Accepted version

Organic fertilizer substitution technology is an effective measure to solve the excessive application of chemical fertilizers in agricultural production. A pot experiment was set up with 5 treatments: no fertilizer (CK) and organic fertilizer substituting 0% (CF), 8% (OF8), 16% (OF16), and 24% (OF24) of chemical N fertilizer to analyze their effects on maize yield, soil organic carbon (SOC) and its fractions, carbon pool management index (CPMI), nutrients and heavy metals to provide a scientific basis for safe fertilizer application to maize. This study found that OF8, OF16, and OF24 all increased the content and proportion of SOC and labile organic C (LOC) fractions, CPMI, most of the middle and trace elements, and heavy metals content and their pollution indices in soil and grain compared to CF. Grain was more vulnerable to pollution compared to soil. There was a strong positive correlation between the content of middle and trace elements, and heavy metal, SOC and its fractions (except LLOC), and organic fertilizer substitution ratio, all with no significant correlation with yield. OF8 and OF16 promoted maize growth with a significant increase yield of 35.65% and 30.28% (P

Xylose fermentation is an essential issue for lignocellulosic ethanol production, which is often inhibited by degradation products generated during biomass pretreatment. In this study, enzymatic hydrolysate of dilute acid pretreated corn stover was fermented using Zymomonas mobilis 8b. With the solid loading of corn stover increased from 5 to 24 wt.%, the xylose consumption volume decreased from 97.0 to 21.5%. The ethanol produced ranged from 7.8 to 28.6 g/L. In order to improve xylose consumption, corn slurry was integrated into the corn stover ethanol process. Integration strategies, glucoamylase dosage, and corn–corn stover mixing ratio were investigated. Results showed that introducing corn slurry into corn stover hydrolysate was an effective way to improve xylose fermentation as well as enhance ethanol titer. Specifically, when liquefied corn slurry was introduced into corn stover hydrolysate at the ratio of 1:1 and total solid loading of 24%, the xylose consumption volume exceeded 88% with the final ethanol titer reached 68.6 g/L. This study indicates that integration of the first- and the second-generation ethanol processes is beneficial to xylose fermentation.

Dysregulation of the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy is essential to Parkinson’s disease. Although important progress has been made in previous researches, the biochemical reagents that induce global and significant mitochondrial damage may still hinder deeper insights into the mechanisms of mitophagy. The origin of PINK1/Parkin pathway activation in mitophagy remains elusive. In this study, we develop an optical method, ultra-precise laser stimulation (UPLaS) that delivers a precise and noninvasive stimulation onto a submicron region in a single mitochondrial tubular structure. UPLaS excites localized mitochondrial Ca2+ (mitoCa2+) oscillations with tiny perturbation to mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) or mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. The UPLaS-induced mitoCa2+ oscillations can directly induce PINK1 accumulation and Parkin recruitment on mitochondria. The Parkin recruitment by UPLaS requires PINK1. Our results provide a precise and noninvasive technology for research on mitophagy, which stimulates target mitochondria with little damage, and reveal mitoCa2+ oscillation directly initiates the PINK1-Parkin pathway for mitophagy without MMP depolarization.

Osteoporosis is a chronic age-related disease. During aging, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) display increased adipogenic, along with decreased osteogenic, differentiation capacity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential of BMSC-derived osteoblasts. Here, we found that the level of CGRP was markedly lower in bone marrow supernatant from aged mice compared with that in young mice. In vitro experiments indicated that CGRP promoted the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs while inhibiting their adipogenic differentiation. Compared with vehicle-treated controls, aged mice treated with CGRP showed a substantial promotion of bone formation and a reduction in fat accumulation in the bone marrow. Similarly, we found that CGRP could significantly enhance bone formation in ovariectomized (OVX) mice in vivo. Together, our results suggested that CGRP may be a key regulator of the age-related switch between osteogenesis and adipogenesis in BMSCs and may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of age-related bone loss.

The disposing of municipal solid waste incineration(MSWI) fly ashes containing dioxins is an intractable problems. Co-sintering is one of the most ideal methods to dispose MSWI fly ash, because it not only degrades the dioxins but also makes it possible to re-utilize MSWI fly ashes. In the present study, MSWI fly ash(FA) and water washed MSWI fly ash(WFA) were added into the sinter raw mixture in a lab-scale sintering pot. Different effects of fly ash and water washed fly ash on emission characteristics of dioxins were studied, and possible pathways to form dioxins were discussed in detail. During co-sintering, at least 88.9%, 99.1% of dioxins brought in by FA, WFA was decomposed, respectively, and re-synthesis with a significant distribution characteristic of dioxins originated from sintering process. In the preheating and dry zone, the recombination and condensation reaction of precursors were the main formation pathways of 2,3,7,8-PCDDs in the sintering process and 2,3,7,8-PCDFs were formed by de novo synthesis. In addition, the resynthesis process was affected by chlorine and calcium brought in by fly ash. Sufficient chlorine boosted the chlorination of reactants while calcium increased the residence time, causing the emission concentration of toxic dioxins and the adding ratio were nonlinearly dependent. Therefore, the maximum proportion of water washed MSWI fly ash that can be added into the sintering process was 0.5 wt.%. Besides, the possible pathways to form dioxins were proposed.

Obesity, which is often caused by adipocyte metabolism dysfunction, is rapidly becoming a serious global health issue. Studies in the literature have shown that camellia oil (Camellia oleifera Abel) exerted potential lipid regulation and other multiple biological activities. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of camellia oil on obese mice induced by a high-fat diet and to explore gut microbiota alterations after camellia oil intervention. The results showed that oral administration of camellia oil dramatically attenuated the fat deposits, serum levels of the total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, the atherosclerosis index, the hepatic steatosis and inflammation in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Meanwhile, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in obese mice was enhanced after the camellia oil treatment. Furthermore, 16S rRNA analysis showed that certain aspects of the gut microbiota, especially the gut microbiota diversity and the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Coriobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus and Anoxybacillus, were significantly increased by camellia oil treatment while the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was decreased. Taken together, our finding suggested that camellia oil was a potential dietary supplement and functional food for ameliorating fat deposits, hyperglycemia and fatty liver, probably by modifying the gut microbiota composition.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the complex and severe complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Icariin (ICA) is a flavonoid extracted from the leaves and stems of Herba epimedii with a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-osteoporosis, anti-fibrosis, anti-aging, anti-inflammation and antioxidation. The purpose of our study was to explore the renal protective effect of ICA on DN in mice and its possible mechanisms. ICR mice were exposed to STZ-induced DN. The kidney organ coefficient of mice was computed. 24 h UP in urine was measured. Serum FBG, Cr and BUN were detected. The content of MDA and the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in renal tissues were tested. HE staining, PAS staining, PASM staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe renal pathological changes. Furthermore, TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, TNF-α and IL-6 of renal tissues were assayed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Our results indicated that ICA observably optimized the renal organ coefficient, reduced the level of 24 h UP in urine, decreased the content of Cr, BUN in serum and MDA in renal tissues, promoted the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in renal tissues, and ameliorated pathological lesions of kidneys noticeably. Besides, ICA inhibited the expressions of TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, TNF-α and IL-6 remarkably in renal tissues. ICA, which might lighten the renal inflammatory response by suppressing the TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway, played a protective role in kidneys of STZ-induced DN mice.

Herein, powder metallurgy gas-solid nitriding was used to prepare a high-nitrogen Ni-free austenitic stainless steel with more than 1.0 wt.% N. Study of the microstructures and corrosion resistances of the as-prepared samples revealed that the corrosion weight loss, size, number of corrosion pits, and corrosion depth decreased as the N content increased from 1.19 to 1.37 wt.%. The self-corrosion current densities of the alloys were determined from their potentiodynamic polarization curves. The changes in the capacitive arc radius as demonstrated by the Nyquist curves were consistent with the conclusions of the immersion corrosion analysis; that is, a high N content leads to a high corrosion resistance.

We demonstrate that our multi-photon stimulation system using ultra-short pulsed laser can modulate molecular signaling system such as changes in [Ca2+]i and ROS in mesenchymal stem cells and the expression of early osteoblastic marker could be activated by solely laser illumination in cells 3 days after induction. This project was supported by Research Grants Council (N_CUHK407/16) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (81661168014).

Carbon addition is effective to promote biodegradation of iron-based implanted materials. However, how to accelerate degradation without compromising the mechanical properties lacks a detailed composition designing strategy. In this study, impurity contents, microstructure evolution, mechanical properties and in vitro corrosion of Fe-35Mn-C alloys are investigated. It is found that (i) the oxygen impurity reduced rapidly and carbides gradually precipitated (C ≥ 0.53 wt.%) with increasing carbon content; (ii) the optimal mechanical properties (σs = 723 MPa, 𝜀 = 30%) were obtained in carbides-free region (C = 0.40 wt.%); (iii) corrosion rate still increased to 6.7 mm/a (3 days) gradually although there were no carbides. Through the calculation of stacking fault energy and EBSD analysis, it is found that the twin-induced plastic deformation (TWIP) mechanism caused by the appearance of {111} twins is the main reason for the substantial increase in strength and elongation. At the same time, accelerating degradation mechanism without carbide precipitates was hypothesized for the first time. It can be seen from the calculation of density functional theory that as the interstitial carbon content increases, the matrix tends to be unstable. Therefore, even if there is no carbide formation, the degradation rate of the matrix can also be increased accordingly. This provides a theoretical basis for carbon content control and design of iron-based degradable vascular stents