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Graphene-based nanomaterials encapsulated with corrosion inhibitors are promising materials for achieving smart coatings with healable properties. However, the low loading contents of inhibitors (10%–20%) and the cumbersome synthesis processes remain as urgent problems for practical applications. Here, we propose a novel strategy for preparing healable coatings with the enhanced loading of inhibitors enabled by ultra-highly exfoliated graphene and mussel-inspired chemistry. Ultra-highly exfoliated graphene (1355 m2/g) was achieved via a unique one-pot method of H2O2/KOH catalytic exfoliation and etching with residual KOH. Polydopamine (PDA), as a green corrosion inhibitor, effectively promoted the adsorption of benzotriazole (BTA) on graphene via facile co-adsorption. The corrosion perception of this smart coating with the dual healable effect of BTA/PDA was triggered by PDA decomposition from corrosion-induced pH variations. Thus, the coating exhibited an increased impedance modulus (3.31 × 1010 Ω cm2) even after 30 days of immersion (three orders of magnitude higher than that of an epoxy coating), owing to the outstanding barrier effect of the ultra-highly exfoliated graphene and high loading content of inhibitors (30%). This study has a great significance for the design of high-loading smart nanomaterials for sustainable smart systems.

The blood-testicular barrier (BTB) is involved in spermatogenesis, protects sperm development, and plays a crucial role in the reproductive process. Tight junctions (TJs) between Sertoli cells (SCs) are the key structure of (BTB), and if its structure is damaged, BTB function is affected. The cellular inflammation caused by Gram-negative bacteria affects the structural integrity of TJs. Melatonin (MT) has anti-inflammatory effects; however, the effect of MT in newborn calf SCs is unknown. Therefore, this experiment studied the protective effect of MT. The results showed that LPS upregulated TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB expressions, in turn, activated the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, produced a large amount of IL-6 and IL-1β, downregulated the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin, and reduced the viability of SCs, which resulted in the inflammatory response of SCs and damage of TJs. The addition of MT decreased TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB expressions, it then inhibited the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, downregulated the expression of IL-6 and IL-1β, upregulated the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin, and increased the cell viability, thereby alleviating the inflammatory response of SCs, and restored the TJs structure. Overall, our results reveal that MT can alleviate LPS-induced in newborn calf SCs Inflammation and TJs injury through TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Developing a practical strategy to fabricate an anti-abrasion and durable superhydrophobic wood surface with ultraviolet (UV) resistance has great practical significance for expanding the application of natural wood. In this study, a robust superhydrophobic layer with a hierarchical micro/nano-roughness structure was modified on the wood surface through in-situ mineralization and polymerization using a simple sol–gel method along with efficient electron beam (EB) curing technology. Hydrophobic agent (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS), and crosslinking monomer (γ-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane, MAPS) form new covalent bonds between TiO2 particle layer and wood substrate after EB radiation, which endows robust superhydrophobicity and remarkable UV resistance on the wood surface. The as-prepared wood exhibited a water contact angle of approximately 165.7° and obvious repellency to many aqua-phase liquids (cola, strongly acidic, alkaline droplets etc.). Furthermore, the hierarchical micro/nano-protrusion structures remained unchanged and micro/nano particles aggregated tightly on the as-prepared wood surface under harsh external environments (sandpaper abrasion and, ultrasonic treatment), confirming the desirable anti-abrasion and mechanically durable performance of the superhydrophobic surface. After the 18-day UV accelerated weathering test, the TiO2 particle layer conspicuously retained the discoloration and maintained its exceptional repellency toward water. The biomimetic superhydrophobic wood with excellent mechanical durability and UV resistance reveals its potential application in the furniture and architecture fields.

Glutathione and 2-aminopyridine are used as carbon sources to prepare carbon dots (CDs) by a one-step hydrothermal reaction. The results show that the average particle diameter of CDs is 8.64 nm with uniform size distribution and the fluorescence quantum yield is 13.62%. We further demonstrate that novel CDs possess highly selective sensing of Fe3+ from 0.2 to 200 μM with a low detection limit (0.194 μM). Meanwhile, the fluorescence of CDs can be repeated many times by the addition of S2−. Moreover, the CDs are used for biological imaging of living cells with well cell penetrability and low toxicity. Furthermore, it is successfully applied for anti-counterfeiting and information encryption. More interestingly, it can be doped with hydrogel and filter paper to prepare solid-phase sensors exhibiting high sensitivity and fast response, demonstrating their tremendous potential for the simple, rapid, and low-cost monitoring of Fe3+ and S2−.

Response of rhizosphere microbial community structure and co-occurrence patterns to liquid organic fertilizer in sunflower cropland was investigated. Moderate and severe saline-alkaline soils were treated with liquid organic fertilizer containing mainly small molecular organic compounds (450 g L–1) at a rate of 4500 L ha–1 year−1 over 2 years. Compared with the untreated soils, organic fertilizer treatment increased soil nutrient concentrations by 13.8–137.1% while reducing soil pH and salinity by 5.6% and 54.7%, respectively. Organic fertilizer treatment also improved sunflower yield, plant number, and plant height by 28.6–67.3%. Following organic fertilizer treatment, fungal α-diversity was increased, and the effects of salinity-alkalinity stress on rhizosphere microbial communities were alleviated. The relative abundances of some halotolerant microbes and phytopathogenic fungi were reduced in organic fertilizer-treated soils, in contrast to increases in the relative abundances of plant growth-promoting microbes and organic matter decomposers, such as Nocardioides, Rhizophagus, and Stachybotrys. Network analysis revealed that severe salinity-alkalinity stress stimulated cooperation among bacteria, while organic fertilizer treatment tended to stimulate the ecosystem functions of fungi with higher proportions of fungi-bacteria and fungi-fungi links. More keystone taxa (e.g., Amycolatopsis, Variovorax, and Gemmatimonas) were positively correlated with soil nutrient concentrations and crop yield-related traits in organic fertilizer-treated soils. Overall, liquid organic fertilizer amendment could attenuate the adverse effects of salinity-alkalinity stress on sunflower yield by improving soil quality and optimizing rhizosphere microbial community structure and co-occurrence patterns.

Pruritus (itch) is a debilitating symptom in liver diseases with cholestasis, which severely affects patients' quality of life. Limited treatment options are available for cholestatic itch, largely due to the incomplete understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Several factors have been proposed as pruritogens for cholestatic itch, such as bile acids, bilirubin, lysophosphatidic acid, and endogenous opioids. Recently, two research groups independently identified Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor X4 (MRGPRX4) as a receptor for bile acids and bilirubin and demonstrated its likely role in cholestatic itch. This discovery not only opens new avenues for understanding the molecular mechanisms in cholestatic itch but provides a promising target for developing novel anti-itch treatments. In this review, we summarize the current theories and knowledge of cholestatic itch, emphasizing MRGPRX4 as a bile acid and bilirubin receptor mediating cholestatic itch in humans. We also discuss some future perspectives in cholestatic itch research.

Serotonin (5-HT) is a phylogenetically conserved monoamine neurotransmitter modulating important processes in the brain. To directly visualize the release of 5-HT, we developed a genetically encoded G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-activation-based 5-HT (GRAB5-HT) sensor with high sensitivity, high selectivity, subsecond kinetics and subcellular resolution. GRAB5-HT detects 5-HT release in multiple physiological and pathological conditions in both flies and mice and provides new insights into the dynamics and mechanisms of 5-HT signaling.

Conventional aromatic compounds tend to exhibit the formation of sandwich-shaped excimers and exciplexes between their excited and ground states at high concentrations or in their aggregated states, causing their fluorescence to weaken or disappear due to the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect. This limits their applications in concentrated solutions or solid materials. Herein, for the first time, ACQ-based pyrene (Py) units are covalently connected to the surface of polyethylene/polypropylene nonwoven fabric (PE/PP NWF) via electron beam preradiation-induced graft polymerization followed by chemical modification. The matrix can be considered a solid solvent and Py units as a solid solute, such that the amount of Py units can be controlled by varying the reaction time. The obtained fluorescent fabric not only exhibits remarkable fluorescence properties with high fluorescence intensity, high quantum yield (>90%), and excellent fluorescence stability after laundering or in harsh chemical environments, but the fluorescence color and intensity, quantum yield, and lifetime can also be regulated by employing the ACQ effect. Additionally, the as-prepared fluorescent fabric can effectively distinguish common monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via a simple fluorescence response test.

Pseudomonas koreensis, a subgroup of the P. fluorescens complex, is a potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium. This study explored the mechanisms of plant growth promotion by P. koreensis and its potential to induce stress tolerance in tomato. Tomato plants in pots were inoculated with P. koreensis GS and cultured for 60 days. RNA sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to detect global transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in tomato leaves. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for quantification of plant hormones. The inoculated plants showed more vigorous growth, with higher leaf chlorophyll content and shoot biomass compared with uninoculated controls. The activities of several defense enzymes (e.g., phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) were enhanced in the leaves of inoculated plants. A total of 737 differentially expressed genes were identified, which were related to plant hormone biosynthesis, MAPK signaling transduction, and polyphenol biosynthesis. The contents of specific metabolites related to plant growth and stress tolerance, including polyphenols (phenylpropanoids) and amino acids (tryptophanand and proline), were increased after inoculation. Plant hormones such as indole-3-acetic acid participated in plant growth promotion by P. koreensis. P. koreensis promoted plant growth and showed potential to induce stress tolerance in tomato by enhancing auxin and polyphenol-related pathways.

Rationale: The β 2 -adrenoceptor (β 2 -AR), a prototypical GPCR (G protein-coupled receptor), couples to both G s and G i proteins. Stimulation of the β 2 -AR is beneficial to humans and animals with heart failure presumably because it activates the downstream G i -PI3K-Akt cell survival pathway. Cardiac β 2 -AR signaling can be regulated by crosstalk or heterodimerization with other GPCRs, but the physiological and pathophysiological significance of this type of regulation has not been sufficiently demonstrated. Objective: Here, we aim to investigate the potential cardioprotective effect of β 2 -adrenergic stimulation with a subtype-selective agonist, (R,R’)-4-methoxy-1-naphthylfenoterol (MNF), and to decipher the underlying mechanism with a particular emphasis on the role of heterodimerization of β 2 -ARs with another GPCR, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors 2B (5-HT 2B Rs). Methods and Results: Using pharmacological, genetic and biophysical protein-protein interaction approaches, we studied the cardioprotective effect of the β 2 -agonist, MNF, and explored the underlying mechanism in both in vivo in mice and cultured rodent cardiomyocytes insulted with doxorubicin, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) or ischemia/reperfusion. In doxorubicin (Dox)-treated mice, MNF reduced mortality and body weight loss, while improving cardiac function and cardiomyocyte viability. MNF also alleviated myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. In cultured rodent cardiomyocytes, MNF inhibited DNA damage and cell death caused by Dox, H 2 O 2 or hypoxia/reoxygenation. Mechanistically, we found that MNF or another β 2 -agonist zinterol markedly promoted heterodimerization of β 2 -ARs with 5-HT 2B Rs. Upregulation of the heterodimerized 5-HT 2B Rs and β 2 -ARs enhanced β 2 -AR-stimulated G i -Akt signaling and cardioprotection while knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of the 5-HT 2B R attenuated β 2 -AR-stimulated G i signaling and cardioprotection. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that the β 2 -AR-stimulated cardioprotective G i signaling depends on the heterodimerization of β 2 -ARs and 5-HT 2B Rs.

Chemical regulation of fluorinated graphene (FG) is of great importance for promoting its practical application but is still challenging due to the complexity of its chemical structure. Here, we demonstrate that the introduction of nitrogen (N) into graphene sheets is a feasible method to regulate the bonding nature and location of C–F bonds in the corresponding FG product. The fluorination reactivity of graphene materials is improved by doping N atoms into graphene sheets, which can even be increased by 2.7 times. Under the same F/C ratio, more covalent C–F bonds existed in fluorinated N-doped graphene than in fluorinated reduced graphene without doped N atoms. Results of DFT calculations, polarized ATR-FTIR, and WAXD confirmed that doped N atoms could significantly enhance the fluorination reactivity of their surrounding C atoms and thus localized C–F bonds around them. The local enrichment of C–F bonds certainly improved the covalent bonding nature; even the F/C ratio is not high enough. Meanwhile, this work provides a method for preparing N, F bifunctional graphene in large quantities, and an ultrahigh-bifunctional graphene with N/C ratio of 0.24 and F/C ratio of 0.56 has been obtained here, which has potential contributions to the industrialization of the preparation of ultrahigh-functional graphene.

We report the first successful covalent modification of fluorographene (FG) based on Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of the C-F bond. The origin of the reaction efficiency of the C-F bond can be linked to the two-dimensional structure of FG and the synergistic effect of a phosphine ligand. This extends the application of the Suzuki reaction of the C-F bond into two-dimensional chemistry.

As an immune-regulator, Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) could effectively modulate the activity of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway, and induce anti-inflammatory response in intestinal. Our research before indicated that toll/interleukin 1 receptor-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-b (TRIF) might be a critical regulator for APS. So, in this experiment, we analyzed the effects of APS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-infected Caco2 cells in the circumstances of TRIF knockout. By using qRT-PCR and flow cytometry method, we analyzed the genes expression at transcriptional and translational level, respectively. The results of genes expression at both transcription and translation level showed that LPS could activate the myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF) pathway downstream from TLR4, and induce the high expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, APS could effectively suppress the LPS induced inflammatory response. While, in the context of TRIF knockout, APS couldn't effectively attenuate the LPS activated MyD88-TRAF6 pathway, as well as the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Above all, we concluded that APS could antagonize the LPS induced inflammatory response by a TRIF-dependent manner.

Summary The interactions between complementary base pairs are crucial to the helical duplex structure of DNA. Although base-base interactions have been widely reported, the study of long-range interactions in the base-pairing processes is still a major challenge in this field. Here, we first study the long-range interactions between the base pairs by atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). The SMFS results of A–T/C–G imply that there are weak long-range interactions between them, which have a range of 15–25 nm. Raman spectroscopy results imply that these weak interactions can be attributed to multiplex hydrogen bond interaction of ordered water structure between A–T/C–G nucleotides. In addition, the theoretical calculations deduce that the ideal structure of these water molecules exhibits a specific helical structure. Our findings might open up a new understanding of biological assembly processes and provide helpful strategies for bio-nanotechnology.

Aim Low-temperature plasma (LTP) has potential applications in cancer therapy. Herein, we explored the molecular mechanisms of proliferation inhibition induced by LTP. Methods LTP was generated by a helium atmospheric-pressure plasma jet and used to treat A549 and H1299 cells. CCK-8 and cell apoptosis assays were performed to evaluate the effects of LTP treatment on A549 and H1299 cells. The qRT-PCR was performed to measure the expression of miR-203a after treating with LTP. CCK-8, colony formation, cell apoptosis assays, and Western blotting were performed to analyse the function of miR-203a in the development of lung cancer. Dual-luciferase assay and Western blotting were used to probe the relationship between miR-203a and BIRC5, and gene silencing using si-BIRC5 was carried out to explore the effect of knocking down BIRC5 on lung cancer cells. Results We found that LTP significantly suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis in A549 and H1299 cells. The miR-203a expression was increased after cells were treated with LTP. The miR-203a expression was downregulated among lung cancer tissue samples, and overexpression of miR-203a suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells. We showed that miR-203a targeted BIRC5. Moreover, silencing of BIRC5 caused proliferation inhibition and induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Conclusion Our study revealed that LTP inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in A549 and H1299 cells through the miR-203a/BIRC5 axis. These findings showed that LTP could potentially be used to treat lung cancer.

Nano-Cu-based materials have many applications in the microelectronics and aerospace industries, which not only maintain the advantages of copper materials, but also make up for the shortage of cop...

The nominal enantiomer of chlorabietol B was regio- and stereoselectively synthesized from (−)-abietic acid in 13 steps. Key features of the synthesis involved an oxidative [3+2] cycloaddition to i...

Micro-cracks generated by hard body scratch are a major cause of strength decrease for silicate glass. The influence of normal scratch load on the cracking patterns and flexural strength of annealed glass (AG) and chemically strengthened glass (CSG) were studied. With the increase of the normal load, the load capacity of scratched AG specimens decreased to about 40 MPa at 20gf immediately. However, the residual strength of CSG decreased to a steady value of 145 MPa as the scratch load increased to 500gf. Then the effect of hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching on the surface morphology and mechanical properties of the 500gf scratched glass were investigated. After 8min (for CSG) and 16 min (for AG) acid treatment, the flexural strength of CSG and AG increased to a considerable value of 900 MPa, which is 3.6 and 5.5 times higher than the flexural strength of undamaged specimens. Microscopic observations show that the blunting and eliminating of median cracks as well as the formation of new surfaces are the main causes of strength enhancement.

Typography-like templates for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chips using a fused deposition modeling (FDM) three-dimensional (3D) printer are presented. This rapid and fast proposed scheme did not require complicated photolithographic fabrication facilities and could deliver resolutions of ~100 μm. Polylactic acid (PLA) was adopted as the material to generate the 3D-printed units, which were then carefully assembled on a glass substrate using a heat-melt-curd strategy. This craft of bonding offers a cost-effective way to design and modify the templates of microfluidic channels, thus reducing the processing time of microfluidic chips. Finally, a flexible microfluidic chip to be employed for cell-based drug screening was developed based on the modularized 3D-printed templates. The lithography-free, typography-like, 3D-printed templates create a modularized fabrication process and promote the prevalence of integrated microfluidic systems with minimal requirements and improved efficiency.

Monoamine neuromodulators such as dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), octopamine, and tyramine are signaling molecules in the nervous system, where they play critical roles in both health and disease. Given the complex spatio-temporal dynamics, similar structural features, and different receptors, studying their dynamics has been limited using conventional methods such as microdialysis and electrochemistry. However, recent advances in optics have facilitated the development of imaging-based detection methods. In this review, we summarize current detecting approaches for specific monoamines, emphasizing their design strategies, detection properties, applications, and limitations. We highlight the genetically encoded GPCR-based sensors for DA and NE, which have a high signal-to-noise ratio and selectivity, and can be used in vivo in different species. Finally, we discuss the potential for using this approach to generate new neuromodulator sensors with non-overlapping spectra, which will ultimately pave the way for studying the interplay between various neuromodulators and neurotransmitters.

Here, we report a novel fluorescence method for the highly selective and sensitive detection of RNase H by combining the use of a dual-pyrene-labeled DNA/RNA duplex with supramolecular inclusion-enhanced fluorescence. Initially, the probe is in the “off” state due to the rigidness of the double-stranded duplex, which separates the two pyrene units. In the presence of RNase H, the RNA strand of the DNA/RNA duplex will be hydrolyzed, and the DNA strand transforms into a hairpin structure, bringing close the two pyrene units which in turn enter the hydrophobic cavity of a γ-cyclodextrin. As a result, the pyrene excimer emission is greatly enhanced, thereby realizing the detection of RNase H activity. Under optimal conditions, RNase H detection can be achieved in the range from 0.08 to 4 U/mL, with a detection limit of 0.02 U/mL.

Two seemingly unrelated questions have long motivated studies in neuroscience: How are endocannabinoids, among the most powerful modulators of synaptic transmission, released from neurons? What are the physiological functions of synucleins, key contributors to Parkinson’s Disease? Here, we report an unexpected convergence of these two questions: Endocannabinoids are released via vesicular exocytosis from postsynaptic neurons by a synuclein-dependent mechanism. Specifically, we find that deletion of all synucleins selectively blocks all endocannabinoid-dependent synaptic plasticity; this block is reversed by postsynaptic expression of wildtype but not of mutant α-synuclein. Loading postsynaptic neurons with endocannabinoids via patch-pipette dialysis suppressed presynaptic neurotransmitter release in wildtype but not in synuclein-deficient neurons, suggesting that the synuclein deletion blocks endocannabinoid release. Direct optical monitoring of endocannabinoid release confirmed the requirement of synucleins. Given the role of synucleins in vesicular exocytosis, the requirement for synucleins in endocannabinoid release indicates that endocannabinoids are secreted via exocytosis. Consistent with this hypothesis, postsynaptic expression of tetanus-toxin light chain, which cleaves synaptobrevin SNAREs, also blocked endocannabinoid-dependent plasticity and release. The unexpected finding that endocannabinoids are released via synuclein-dependent exocytosis assigns a function to synucleins and resolves a longstanding puzzle of how neurons release endocannabinoids to induce synaptic plasticity.

Soil-dissolved organic matter (DOM) drives the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles in agroecosystems. Despite many studies on DOM dynamics, hardly any attention has been directed toward DOM quality, particularly DOM composition. The aim of this study was to elucidate how C and N management practices alter soil water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) in a loess soil agroecosystem. Field experiments were conducted with a winter wheat monoculture. Three N fertilization rates (0, 120, and 240 kg ha−1 year−1) were applied for 17 years (2002–2019), combined with five C practices (zero, low, and high rates of sheep manure or wheat straw) for three years (2016–2019). The results reveal that soil organic carbon (SOC) and water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC) concentrations in the topsoil (0–20 cm) were increased by organic amendments considerably but were not affected by N fertilization. The fluorescence excitation–emission matrix spectra (EEM) of WEOM were resolved to two humic-like components (C1 and C2) and two soluble microbial byproduct-like components (C3 and C4). The proportions of C1 and C2 were increased, while the proportion of C3 was decreased by both C and N management practices. In conclusion, organic amendments increased both WEOM quality and its proportion of humic-like components, whereas N fertilization increased the proportion of humic-like components without variations of WEOM quality in the topsoil of loess soil.

SummaryChemical synapses between axons and dendrites mediate much of the brain’s intercellular communication. Here we describe a new kind of synapse – the axo-ciliary synapse - between axons and primary cilia. By employing enhanced focused ion beam – scanning electron microscopy on samples with optimally preserved ultrastructure, we discovered synapses between the serotonergic axons arising from the brainstem, and the primary cilia of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Functionally, these cilia are enriched in a ciliary-restricted serotonin receptor, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 6 (HTR6), whose mutation is associated with learning and memory defects. Using a newly developed cilia-targeted serotonin sensor, we show that optogenetic stimulation of serotonergic axons results in serotonin release onto cilia. Ciliary HTR6 stimulation activates a non-canonical Gαq/11-RhoA pathway. Ablation of this pathway results in nuclear actin and chromatin accessibility changes in CA1 pyramidal neurons. Axo-ciliary synapses serve as a distinct mechanism for neuromodulators to program neuron transcription through privileged access to the nuclear compartment.

Dopamine serves an important role in supporting both locomotor control and higher brain functions such as motivation and learning. Dopaminergic dysfunction is implicated in an equally multidimensional spectrum of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Extracellular dopamine levels are known to be tightly controlled by presynaptic dopamine transporters (DAT), which is also a main target of psychostimulants. Still, detailed data on dopamine dynamics in space and time is needed to fully understand how dopamine signals are encoded and translated into cellular and behavioral responses, and to uncover the pathological effects of dopamine-related diseases. The recently developed genetically encoded fluorescent dopamine sensors enable unprecedented monitoring of dopamine dynamics and have changed the field of in vivo dopamine recording. However, the potential of these sensors to be used for in vitro and ex vivo assays remains unexplored. Here, we demonstrate a generalizable blueprint for making “sniffer” dopamine cells for multimodal detection of dopamine in vitro and ex vivo. We generated sniffer cell lines with inducible expression of six different dopamine sensors and performed a head-to-head comparison of sensor properties to guide users in sensor selection. In proof-of-principle experiments, we show how the sniffer cells can be applied to measure release of endogenous dopamine from cultured neurons and striatal slices, and for determining total dopamine content in striatal tissue. Furthermore, we use the sniffer cells to quantify DAT-mediated dopamine uptake, and AMPH-induced and constitutive dopamine efflux as a radiotracer free, high-throughput alternative to electrochemical- and radiotracer-based assays. Importantly, the sniffer cells framework can readily be applied to other transmitter systems for which the list of genetically encoded fluorescent sensors is rapidly growing.

Vesicular neurotransmitter transporters (VNTs) mediate the selective uptake and enrichment of small-molecule neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles (SVs) and are therefore a major determinant of the synaptic output of specific neurons. To identify novel VNTs expressed on SVs (thus identifying new neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators), we conducted localization profiling of 361 solute carrier (SLC) transporters tagging with a fluorescent protein in neurons, which revealed 40 possible candidates through comparison with a known SV marker. We parallelly performed proteomics analysis of immunoisolated SVs and identified seven transporters in overlap. Ultrastructural analysis further supported that one of the transporters, SLC35D3, localized to SVs. Finally, by combining metabolite profiling with a radiolabeled substrate transport assay, we identified UDP-glucose as the principal substrate for SLC35D3. These results provide new insights into the functional role of SLC transporters in neurotransmission and improve our understanding of the molecular diversity of chemical transmitters.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in soil pose a grave threat to human health. Combining various approaches to reduce Cd accumulation in crops is an active area of research to remediate farmlands with medium-high levels of Cd contamination. The Mercapto-functionalized palygorskite (PGS-SH) and zinc (Zn) application alone or in combination was investigated to explore reduction of Cd uptake in B. chinensis L and transformation of Cd in soil. The sole application of Zn or PGS-SH increased the biomass of B. chinensis L. and decreased the concentration of Cd in plants, but more improvements were observed from the combined application of Zn and PGS-SH. Low concentration of exogenous Zn (50 mg/kg) significantly increased the soil respiration rate (SRR) and the soil dehydrogenase activity (sDHA), while promoted B. chinensis L. growth while inhibiting Cd uptake. However, excessive exogenous Zn (≥ 200 mg/kg) significantly inhibited B. chinensis L. growth and soil microbial activity. The combined application of PGS-SH and Zn had the highest sDHA (145.59%) and lowest transport factor (TF) (27.59%) compared with the CK. The combination of PGS-SH and Zn fertilizer is a safe and effective means for remediating Cd-contaminated soil and restoring microbial activity.

Cold metal transfer welding/brazing of AA5754 aluminum alloy and Q235 low carbon steel was performed in a lap joint configuration using an AlSi12 filler wire. The effect of heat input on intermetallic compounds (IMC) formations and mechanical properties has been investigated. At a low heat input of 157 J/mm, a layer of IMC, with a composition of Al7.2Fe1.8Si was generated at the fusion zone/steel interface. Low interfacial energy and good interfacial bonding between fusion zone and Al7.2Fe1.8Si led increased joint strength. An additional Fe(Al,Si)3 IMC formed at the interface in conjunction to Al7.2Fe1.8Si at a high heat input of 201 J/mm. The joint strength was significantly decreased and attributed to a high interfacial energy and poor interfacial bonding between Al7.2Fe1.8Si and Fe(Al,Si)3. The results showed that the interfacial energy at interphase boundaries had remarkable effect on the joint strength.

EGR1 regulates the expression of its downstream target genes and may exert different biological effects in different tumours. We found that the expression of EGR1 was increased in gastric cancer (GC), and silencing the expression of EGR1 promoted the apoptosis of GC cells. Moreover, overexpression of EGR1 repressed the apoptosis of GC cells. Bioinformatics analysis showed that EGR1 had binding sites at the upstream promoter region of miR‐195; ChIP assays were applied to determine EGR1 occupancy of the miR‐195 promoter. The RT‐PCR results showed that EGR1 suppressed the expression of miR‐195. The mechanism by which EGR1 acts as a transcriptional repressor is still unclear. Bioinformatics analysis showed that EGR1 may interact with DNMT3L. We confirmed that EGR1 and DNMT3L formed a complex, and EGR1 was an important player in the transcriptional control of miR‐195. Overexpression of miR‐195 inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in GC cells. We found a well‐matched miR‐195 binding site at the AKT3 3′‐UTR. Double luciferase reporter assays showed that AKT3 was a target of miR‐195, and silencing AKT3 repressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Our results indicated EGR1 may interact with DNMT3L to inhibit the miR‐195‐AKT3 axis and regulate the GC cell apoptosis.

Miscible thermosetting/thermoplastic aromatic polyimide foam is prepared by in situ simultaneous orthogonal polymerizations, where the linear polyimide (PI) is formed by condensation polymerization from polyester ammonium salt (PEAS) and the cross-linked bismaleimide (BMI) is synthesized through addition polymerization from 4,4′-bismaleimide diphenylmethane (BDM). A unique pleated cellular structure is formed after the polyblend foam is cured at high temperature; here, 2D FT-IR correlation analysis is employed to detect the detailed chemical reactions during the thermal foaming progress. The simultaneous orthogonal polymerization is confirmed, and the cross-linking reaction of BDM is found to be divided into two stages. The pleated structure formed in the second stage significantly improves the thermal insulation property of the polyblend foam—the effective thermal conductivity decreases from 427.5 to 77.5 mW·m–1·K–1 at 300 °C with 15 wt % BMI. Meanwhile, the polyblend is miscible and foams only have one ...

The CuO-Al2O3 composite powders were synthesized by chemical coprecipitation method, then, after sintering in tube furnace of 400 °C for 1 h at atmosphere of hydrogen and nitrogen, the comp...

The effects of atmosphere conditions on microstructural and mechanical properties of stainless steel 17-4PH components fabricated by laser direct manufacturing (LDM) were investigated through measurements on phase constitution, porosity, tensile strength, fracture morphology, hardness and evolution of substrate temperature. Results showed that the samples produced in air atmosphere condition possessed higher tensile strength and hardness for both as-deposited and heat-treated states than that in Ar chamber condition, due to dispersion strengthening effect of amorphous oxide particles and nitrogen solution strengthening as a result of higher content of oxygen and nitrogen. The temperature of substrate heat accumulation was higher in Ar chamber condition, leading to dramatically lower porosity and more reverse austenite, which also contributed to the lower strength and hardness.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) is a transcriptional coactivator that has been characterized as master regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis. It has been reported that aberrant regulation of PGC-1α is involved in a variety of human cancers. However, whether PGC-1α is involved in the regulation of tumor growth and metastasis in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. In the present study, we found that the expression of PGC-1α was upregulated in GC tissues and GC cell lines. Inhibition of PGC-1α inhibited cell viability, migration, and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis of GC cells. Furthermore, inhibition of PGC-1α downregulated the SNAI1 expression, whereas upregulated microRNA (miR)-128b expression. The expression of SNAI1 was upregulated and the expression of miR-128b was downregulated in GC tissues. We further found that there was a positive correlation between PGC-1α and SNAI1 expression, and a negative correlation between PGC-1α and miR-128b expression or between SNAI1 and miR-128b expression in GC tissues. Moreover, PGC-1α inhibition-induced increased miR-128b expression, and PGC-1α overexpression-induced decreased miR-128b expression were both markedly suppressed by SNAI1 overexpression. In addition, SNAI1 overexpression or miR-128b inhibition partly reversed the effects of PGC-1α inhibition in GC cells. Furthermore, inhibition of PGC-1α suppressed the tumor growth in a nude mouse model, which may be related with the dysregulation of SNAI1 and miR-128b. In conclusion, these data indicate that the PGC-1α/SNAI1/miR-128b axis plays a vital role in GC via regulating cell viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis.

Three benzenedithiolate-bridged diiron hexacarbonyl complexes (2, 3 and 4) with different functional groups were designed and synthesized. In addition, a well-defined benzenedithiolate-bridged complex without any functional groups, 5, was employed for comparison. Electrochemical investigations using five different acids showed that the first reduction potential of the complexes shifted positively in acidic media. This potential shift is attributed to a PCET (Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer) reaction and depends on the acid strength. When an acid is too weak (pKa ≥ 24 in this case), no potential shift is observed. Moreover, increasing the acid strength does not lead always to a linear trend in the potential shift for all of the complexes due to kinetic resistance during proton transfer for some of the complexes. The presence of a pendant basic group (2) can ease such kinetic resistance, and the linear trend holds valid up to pKa 1.8, whereas for the rest of the complexes (3-5), which do not bear an internal basic group, the correlation between the potential shift and the acid strength levels off after a certain pKa value (12). Alternatively, when the acid is strong enough to provide sufficient proton, further increases in the acid strength do not improve the potential shift and the kinetic resistance for a proton to cross the solvated layer becomes dominant.

Nanocrystalline Ce13Fe81B6 alloy powder was synthesized by mechanically driven disproportionation-recombination processing. The microstructure transformation of the alloy during different processing stages was characterized by XRD and TEM. The magnetic properties of the nanocrystalline powder were measured by VSM. The results showed that the Ce2Fe14B matrix phase of the Ce13Fe81B6 alloy was disproportionated into the nanostructured CeH2.51, α-Fe, and Fe2B phases by ball milling in hydrogen for 20 h, and that these nanostructured phases could be desorbed and recombined to nanocrystalline Ce2Fe14B phase again by subsequent vacuum annealing, with the remanence, coercivity, and maximum energy product of the as-synthesized alloy powders achieving 8.1 kGs, 6.02 kOe, and 8.51 MGOe, respectively.

Heteroatom-doping reactions are essential to achieve advanced graphene-based materials for energy and biological areas. Unfortunately, considerably less is known regarding the detailed reaction pathways up to now. Here, we focus on investigating the nitrogen (N) doping process of fluorinated graphene (FG) under the assistance of defluorination based on modified in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was demonstrated FG possesses a higher and more effective reactivity with ammonia in comparison with other graphene derivatives, which enable N-doping to proceed efficiently with assistance of defluorination even at a lower temperature (16.8 at. % of N at 300 °C and 19.9 at. % of N at 400 °C). Combining with Density functional theory, it was proved that, at the initial reaction step of N-doping, ammonia molecule attacked and substituted the C–F of FG by the new C-NH2. Sequentially, amino group was cyclized to the three-membered ring of ethylenimine. More importantly, the dissociation and migration...

CsPbBr3 nanoparticles uniformly distributed on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to form CsPbBr3/rGO nanocomposites are synthesized by a facile method. Their corresponding optical and X-ray photon response are investigated. UV–visible absorption spectra and photoluminescence measurements confirm that loading CsPbBr3 nanoparticles with an even distribution onto rGO surface can enhance the absorption and photon-generated carrier transportation. Thus, a significant enhancement in optical and X-ray photon response is demonstrated in CsPbBr3/rGO nanocomposites as compared with pure CsPbBr3 nanoparticles. Clear conductive switching phenomenon with a state conversion between “on” and “off” is also observed under the intermittent x-ray exposure. These results may provide a new potential application of CsPbBr3/rGO nanocomposites for X-ray photon detection.

Nitrogen-doped porous graphitized carbon (N-F-PREGO) were synthesized by doping the fluorinated porous graphitized carbon with ammonia gas at reaction temperatures of 400–850 °C. In N-F-PREGO synthesized at 400 °C, nitrogen atoms were introduced into the porous graphene framework at a concentration of 7.9 at.%. Among which, the concentrations of the pyridinic-, pyrrolic-, and graphitic-type nitrogen species were 5.14, 1.78, and 0.99 at.%, respectively, and their percentages with respect to the total nitrogen species were 65.0, 22.5, and 12.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, the original specific surface area of 2022 m2/g and abundant meso- and microporous were well-preserved after doping process. Herein, the specific capacitance of the nitrogen-doped PREGOs was improved from 103 F/g to 294.2 F/g at a current density of 1.0 A/g. At 10 A/g, the specific capacitance was reserved at 272.5 F/g, and well retained even after 10,000 cycles at 5 A/g.