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Hong Zou,1,2 Li Li,1 Ines Garcia Carcedo,1 Zhi Ping Xu,1 Michael Monteiro,1 Wenyi Gu1 1Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; 2Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezhi University, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China Abstract: Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, with drug resistance and metastasis being the major challenges to effective treatments. To overcome this, combination therapy with different chemotherapeutics is a common practice. In this study, we demonstrated that paclitaxel (PTX) together with BEZ235 exhibited a synergetic inhibition effect on colon cancer cell growth. Furthermore, nanoemulsion (NE)-loaded PTX and BEZ235 were more effective than the free drug, and a combination treatment of both NE drugs increased the efficiency of the treatments. BEZ235 pretreatment before adding PTX sensitized the cancer cells further, suggesting a synergistic inhibition effect through the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. The 50% inhibitory concentrations for BEZ235 were 127.1 nM and 145.0 nM and for PTX 9.7 nM and 9.5 nM for HCT-116 and HT-29 cells, respectively. When loaded with NE the 50% inhibitory concentrations for BEZ235 decreased to 52.6 nM and 55.6 nM and for PTX to 1.9 nM and 2.3 nM for HCT-116 and HT-29 cells, respectively. Combination treatment with 10 nM NE-BEZ235 and 0.6 nM and 1.78 nM NE-PTX could kill 50% of HCT-116 and HT-29, respectively. The cell death caused by the treatment was through apoptotic cell death, which coincided with decreased expression of anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2. Our data indicate that the combination therapy of PTX with the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin dual inhibitor BEZ235 using NE delivery may hold promise for a more effective approach for colon cancer treatment. Keywords: combination therapy, signal pathway inhibitor, chemotherapy, nanomedicine

Jiezhong Chen,1,2 Renfu Shao,3 Li Li,4 Zhi Ping Xu,4 Wenyi Gu4 1School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 2Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, 3GeneCology Research Centre, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, 4Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia Abstract: Colon cancer is the third most common cancer and the third largest cause of cancer-related death. Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the front-line chemotherapeutic agent for colon cancer. However, its response rate is less than 60%, even in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. The side effects of 5-FU also limit its application. Nanoparticles have been used to deliver 5-FU, to increase its effectiveness and reduce side effects. Another common approach for colon cancer treatment is targeted therapy against the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. A recently-invented inhibitor of this pathway, BEZ-235, has been tested in several clinical trials and has shown effectiveness and low side effects. Thus, it is a very promising drug for colon cancer treatment. The combination of these two drugs, especially nanoparticle-packed 5-FU and BEZ-235, has not been studied. In the present study, we demonstrated that nanoparticles of layered double hydroxide (LDH) loaded with 5-FU were more effective than a free drug at inhibiting colon cancer cell growth, and that a combination treatment with BEZ-235 further increased the sensitivity of colon cancer cells to the treatment of LDH-packed 5-FU (LDH-5-FU). BEZ-235 alone can decrease colon cancer HCT-116 cell viability to 46% of the control, and the addition of LDH-5-FU produced a greater effect, reducing cell survival to 8% of the control. Our data indicate that the combination therapy of nanodelivered 5-FU with a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, BEZ-235, may promise a more effective approach for colon cancer treatment. Keywords: layered double hydroxide (LDH), BEZ-235, 5-FU, colon cancer HCT-116 cells, cell death, apoptosis, PI3K/Akt/mTOR

Fengping Liu,1 Hongxing Cai,1 Qichun Tang,2 Yeqing Zou,1 Hui Wang,1 Zhiping Xu,1 Zhiming Wei,1 Wei Wang,1 JiaJia Cui1 1Yancheng Medical College, 2No 1 Yancheng Hospital, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China Background: Breathing programs have been reported to have positive effects in alleviating symptoms and optimizing pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, patients with stable disease may drop out of such programs if they are not modified to the individual's exercise tolerance level, or if they are not easy to perform in the home. Little is known about the effectiveness of web-based home breathing programs for dyspnea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an online breathing program which included an animated diagram and video-guided instruction on pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life in patients with COPD. Methods: Sixty patients with stable COPD were randomized 1:1 to an experimental group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). Subjects in the experimental group trained for four months using an online program which included an animated diagram and video-guided instruction while the control group received conventional patient education on discharge from hospital. Forced expiratory volume, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (%), peak expiratory volume, six-minute walking distance test, and responses to the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Patients in the two groups were well matched for demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline. All outcome measures showed significant improvement in the experimental group but not in the control group. Conclusion: The online training program resulted in improved pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and health status. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that patients with stable COPD be trained with such programs. Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rehabilitation, adherence, family, nursing intervention, computerized programs

The loading capacity of dsRNA by nanocarriers is a key parameter in the process of RNAi commercialisation. In this research, a sustainable, simple, and cheap method was developed to determine the dsRNA loading capacity by popular cationic nanocarriers. In this method, the fluorescence emission of the cationic nanocarrier + (dsRNA-DAPI) shows blue shift in comparison to that of dsRNA-DAPI. When dsRNA-DAPI is completely loaded by cationic nanocarriers, the fluorescence peak coincides with the emission wavelength of DNA-DAPI. The samples of nanocarrier + (dsRNA-DAPI) are simply tested in a fluorometer with no damage to the samples. The reported method is simpler, cheaper, and more sustainable than gel electrophoresis and HPLC, and will fulfill the industry need for reliable and quick quality administration/control in the production process.

Anthropometric indexes play a crucial role in identifying obesity. However, as an internationally commonly used indicator of obesity diagnosis, BMI has limitations in distinguishing lean body mass from fat mass. The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI), a novel anthropometric index, assesses adiposity through standardized waist circumference for weight, which presents an excellent capacity to predict the morbidity and mortality risks of various diseases. However, research on WWI is still in the exploratory stage, and there is a lack of unified standards for using this indicator to determine obesity. In addition, its potential application in children and adolescents also urgently needs to be explored. Therefore, this article comprehensively summarizes and compares the distinctive characteristics between WWI and other obesity-related anthropometric indexes. Bibliometric methods are used to analyze the hotspots and trends of WWI-related research, and we focus on discussing the value of WWI in predicting adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver and kidney diseases. We aim to promote the application of WWI in a broader field and fully demonstrate its important public health significance and broad application prospects.

Background: Cold is an important environmental limiting factor affecting plant yield and quality. Capsicum (chili pepper), a tropical and subtropical vegetable crop, is extremely sensitive to cold. Although H 2 S is an important signaling regulator in the responses of plant growth and development to abiotic stress, few studies have examined its effects on cold-sensitive capsicum varieties. Through biotechnology methods to enhance the cold resistance of peppers, to provide some reference for pepper breeding, investigated molecular regulation by H 2 S of responses to cold stress in cold-sensitive capsicum plants, via physiological and transcriptomic analyses., Results: In capsicum seedlings, exogenous H 2 S enhanced relative electrical conductivity (REC) and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) under cold stress, maintained membrane integrity, increased the activity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, balanced reactive oxygen species levels (O 2 ·- and H 2 O 2 ), and improved photosynthesis, mitigating the damage caused by cold. In addition, 416 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in the response to cold stress after H 2 S treatment. These DEGs were mainly enriched in the ascorbate-glutathione and starch-sucrose metabolic pathways and plant hormone signal-transduction pathways. Exogenous H 2 S altered the expression of key enzyme-encoding genes such as GST, APX, and MDHAR in the ascorbate-glutathione metabolism pathway, as well as that of regulatory genes for stimulatory hormones (auxin, cytokinins, and gibberellins) and inhibitory hormones (including jasmonate and salicylic acid) in the plant hormone signal-transduction pathway, helping to maintain the energy supply and intracellular metabolic stability under cold stress., Conclusions: These findings reveal that exogenous H 2 S improves cold tolerance in cold-sensitive capsicum plants, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying its responses to cold stress. This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring and improving cold tolerance in capsicum plants., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Using 7.33  fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} collision data collected by the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies in the range of sqrt[s]=4.128-4.226  GeV, we search for the rare decays D_{s}^{+}→h^{+}(h^{0})e^{+}e^{-}, where h represents a kaon or pion. By requiring the e^{+}e^{-} invariant mass to be consistent with a ϕ(1020), 0.98

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening severe inflammatory reaction caused by the host's dysregulated response to infection. Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) has been confirmed to occur in 50 % of patients with septic shock. Currently, the pathophysiological mechanism of SIMD is complex, and there is no targeted treatment. Elabela is another endogenous ligand of Aplnr (APJ). The protective effect of APJ on the heart has been proven. Elabela (Ela) has been shown to have a variety of cardiovascular protective effects. However, there are no studies demonstrating the protective effect of Ela-APJ axis on SIMD., Materials and Methods: In vivo, C57BL/J mice were injected subcutaneously with 1 mg/kg/d Ela for 2 weeks, and in vitro, AC16 cells were treated with 1 μM Ela for 24 h. A 7-0 thread was used to ligate the distal end of the cecum, followed by puncture with a 20-gauge needle. Once a small amount of fluid leaks out, release the cecum back into the abdominal cavity. We measured the survival rates of the mice, performed ultrasound on their hearts, and evaluated the effects of the treatments. The serum and cell supernatant were extracted to detect myocardial injury markers and pyroptosis-related indicators. Western blotting was used to detect autophagy and pyroptosis-related protein. Molecular docking and other experiments were also used to detect changes in related proteins., Results: In vivo, Ela significantly improved the survival rate of septic mice, improved cardiac function, and reduced the production of myocardial injury markers, oxidative stress and pyroptosis. In vitro, Ela unblocked autophagy flow by affecting TFEB transcription. Autophagy reduces inflammation and oxidative stress by selectively degrading inflammatory bodies and ultimately alleviates pyroptosis., Conclusion: We had demonstrated for the first time that in sepsis, Ela promoted the degradation of inflammasomes, reduced oxidative stress, and inhibited the occurrence of pyroptosis by unblocking autophagy flow., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Various techniques have been described for reconstructing the skin of the penile shaft; however, no universally accepted standard exists for correcting buried penis in adults. We aimed to describe a new technique for correcting an adult-acquired buried penis through a diamond-shaped incision at the penopubic junction. We retrospectively analyzed data from patients treated with our technique between March 2019 and June 2023 in the Department of Andrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (Nanjing, China). Forty-two adult males with buried penises, with a mean (±standard deviation [s.d.]) age of 26.6 (±6.6) years, underwent surgery. All patients were obese, with an average (±s.d.) body mass index of 35.56 (±3.23) kg m-2. In addition to phalloplasty, 32 patients concurrently underwent circumcision, and 28 underwent suprapubic liposuction. The mean (±s.d.) duration of the operation was 98.02 (±13.28) min. The mean (±s.d.) duration of follow-up was 6.71 (±3.43) months. The length in the flaccid unstretched state postoperatively was significantly greater than that preoperatively (mean ± s.d: 5.55±1.19 cm vs 1.94±0.59 cm, P < 0.01). Only minor complications, such as wound disruption (7.1%) and infection (4.8%), were observed. The mean (±s.d.) score of patient satisfaction was 4.02 (±0.84) on a scale of 5. This technique provides excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes with a minimal risk of complications. However, additional clinical studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of this procedure., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: ©The Author(s)(2024).)

Immuno-stimulative effect of chemotherapy (ISECT) is recognized as a potential alternative to conventional immunotherapies, however, the clinical application is constrained by its inefficiency. Metronomic chemotherapy, though designed to overcome these limitations, offers inconsistent results, with effectiveness varying based on cancer types, stages, and patient-specific factors. In parallel, a wealth of preclinical nanomaterials holds considerable promise for ISECT improvement by modulating the cancer-immunity cycle. In the area of biomedical nanomaterials, current literature reviews mainly concentrate on a specific category of nanomaterials and nanotechnological perspectives, while two essential issues are still lacking, i.e., a comprehensive analysis addressing the causes for ISECT inefficiency and a thorough summary elaborating the nanomaterials for ISECT improvement. This review thus aims to fill these gaps and catalyze further development in this field. For the first time, this review comprehensively discusses the causes of ISECT inefficiency. It then meticulously categorizes six types of nanomaterials for improving ISECT. Subsequently, practical strategies are further proposed for addressing inefficient ISECT, along with a detailed discussion on exemplary nanomedicines. Finally, this review provides insights into the challenges and perspectives for improving chemo-immunotherapy by innovations in nanomaterials., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background: Flystrike, primarily caused by Lucilia cuprina, is a major health and welfare issue for sheep wool industries. Current chemical-based controls can have limited effectiveness due to the emergence of resistance in the parasite. RNA interference (RNAi), which uses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as a trigger molecule, has been successfully investigated for the development of innovative pest control strategies. Although RNAi offers great potential, the efficient identification, selection of target genes and delivery of dsRNA represent challenges to be overcome for the successful application of RNAi for control of L. cuprina., Results: A primary L. cuprina (blowfly) embryo cell line (BFEC) was established and confirmed as being derived from L. cuprina eggs by PCR and amplicon sequencing. The BFECs were successfully transfected with plasmids and messenger RNA (mRNA) expressing fluorescent reporter proteins and dsRNA using lipid-based transfection reagents. The transfection of dsRNA into BEFC in this study suggested decreased mRNA levels of target gene expression, which suggested RNAi-mediated knockdown. Three of the dsRNAs identified in this study resulted in reductions of in target gene mRNA levels in BFEC and loss of biological fitness by L. cuprina larvae in a feeding bioassay., Conclusion: This study confirms that the novel BFEC cell line can be used to improve the efficacy of dsRNA-mediated screening to accelerate the identification of potential target genes in the development of RNAi mediated control approaches for L. cuprina. The research models established in this study are encouraging with respect to the use of RNAi as a blowfly control method, however further improvement and validation are required for field applicationsnot prefect, and could be ongoing developing. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Oral insulin (INS) is predicted to have the most therapeutic advantages in treating diabetes to repress hepatic glucose production through its potential to mimic the endogenous insulin pathway. Many oral insulin delivery systems have been investigated. Layered double hydroxide (LDH) as an inorganic material has been widely used in drug delivery thanks to its appealing features such as good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and excellent loading capability. However, when used in oral drug delivery, the effectiveness of LDH is limited due to the acidic degradation in the stomach. In this study, to overcome these challenges, chitosan (Chi) and alginate (Alg) dual-coated LDH nanocomposites with the loading of insulin (Alg-Chi-LDH@INS) were developed by the layered-by-layered method for oral insulin delivery with dynamic size of ~ 350.8 nm, negative charge of ~  - 13.0 mV, and dispersity index 0.228. The insulin release profile was evaluated by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The drug release profiles evidenced that alginate and chitosan coating partially protect insulin release from a burst release in acidic conditions. The analysis using flow cytometry showed that chitosan coating significantly enhanced the uptake of LDH@INS by Caco-2 cells compared to unmodified LDH and free insulin. Further in the in vivo study in streptozocin-induced diabetic mice, a significant hypoglycemic effect was maintained following oral administration with great biocompatibility (~ 50% blood glucose level reduction at 4 h). This research has thus provided a potential nanocomposite system for oral delivery of insulin., (© 2024. Crown.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Thesium chinense Turcz., a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, displays good therapeutic efficiency against respiratory diseases (e.g. pneumonia, pharyngitis) in clinical applications, however, its effects on COPD and the mechanism of action are still unclear., Aim of the Study: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of Thesium chinense Turcz. (TCEA) on COPD and reveal the underlying mechanism., Materials and Methods: A cigarette smoke (CS)-induced mouse COPD model was established, and the efficacy of TCEA was evaluated using peripheral blood testing, HE and Masson staining, qRT-PCR and ELISA assays. TCEA was analyzed for chemical composition by LC-MS/MS and HPLC. Prediction of major signaling pathways and potential targets was performed by network pharmacology. The molecular mechanism of TCEA was explored by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, and ubiquitination assay. Finally, potential active small molecules in TCEA were identified by molecular virtual screening., Results: TCEA treatment significantly inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors and attenuated pathological emphysema. The main chemical constituents of TCEA were identified as flavonoids by UPLC-MS/MS. Network pharmacology analysis enriched the Nrf2 signaling pathway closely related to oxidative stress. Our results suggested that TCEA inhibited ferroptosis by activating Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis and inhibiting lipid metabolism-related proteins, ACSL4, ALOX5 and COX2 in vivo and in vitro. Noteworthily, the beneficial impact of TCEA on regulation of SLC7A11 and GPX4 vanished after silencing Nrf2. Moreover, Nrf2 ubiquitination was inhibited by TCEA treatment. Finally, several flavonoids modulating Nrf2 were identified by molecular virtual screening., Conclusions: TCEA significantly alleviated COPD progression by inhibiting ferroptosis primarily through activation of Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling. Flavonoids are the main active components that exert their effects. These findings shed light on the mechanism of action of TCEA and its potential active components, providing a feasible approach for the treatment of COPD., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Using data samples collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider at center-of-mass energies ranging from 3.80 to 4.95 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20  fb^{-1}, a measurement of Born cross sections for the e^{+}e^{-}→D^{0}D[over ¯]^{0} and D^{+}D^{-} processes is presented with unprecedented precision. Many clear peaks in the line shape of e^{+}e^{-}→D^{0}D[over ¯]^{0} and D^{+}D^{-} around the mass range of G(3900), ψ(4040), ψ(4160), Y(4260), and ψ(4415), etc., are foreseen. These results offer crucial experimental insights into the nature of hadron production in the open-charm region.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a persistent inflammatory condition affecting the bowels. Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD) has been widely used in the therapy of gastrointestinal diseases. We investigated the protective impacts and mechanism of GQD against UC. To establish the UC model, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was utilized. The disease activity index (DAI), colon length and colonic pathology were assessed to examine the impacts of GQD on UC. The level of pan-lysine lactylation (Pan kla) and specific sites were detected using western blot. Then, the inflammatory factors and the oxidative stress parameters were measured via the corresponding kits, respectively. Our findings demonstrated that GQD suppressed the lactate generation and LDH activity. The western blot revealed that GQD inhibited the expression of Pan kla and specific sites of H3K18la, H3K23la, H4K8la, and H4K12la. Furthermore, the suppressive effects on inflammation and oxidative stress caused by GQD were counteracted upon the exogenous lactate. GQD suppressed the phenotypic differentiation of M1 macrophages by reducing the expression of M1 markers, which was also reversed by exogenous lactate. In conclusion, GQD effectively suppressed UC progression through histone lactylation. Our results broadened the theoretical basis for the clinical use of GQD., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and advancing interstitial lung disease, and there is an urgent need for novel agents for its therapy. Physalis Calyx seu Fructus (PCF) has been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine to treat respiratory disorders with a long history, however, the therapeutic effect and mechanism of PCF against pulmonary fibrosis are still unclear., Purpose: To assess therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanism of 75 % ethanol extract of PCF (PCF-EtOH) against pulmonary fibrosis, as well as to discover active constituents in PCF., Methods: A bleomycin-stimulated mice model was established to assess potential therapy of PCF-EtOH against pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. A lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory model in RAW 264.7 cells and a transforming growth factor β1-induced fibrosis model in MRC-5 cells were established to assess potential therapy and mechanisms of purified constituents in PCF-EtOH. UPLC-MS/MS analysis was adopted to ascertain the constituents of PCF-EtOH. Network pharmacology was employed to forecast targets of PCF against pulmonary fibrosis., Results: PCF-EtOH ameliorated bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis through repressing inflammatory response and extracellular matrix deposition. Meanwhile, PCF-EtOH inhibited Wnt/β-catenin pathway through decreasing β-catenin nuclear accumulation and promoting phosphorylation. Furthermore, withanolides and flavonoids were presumed to be main active compounds of PCF against pulmonary fibrosis based on the network pharmacology. Importantly, we found an extensive presence of withanolides in PCF-EtOH. Physapubescin, a typical withanolide in PCF-EtOH, inhibited the inflammatory response, extracellular matrix deposition, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Notably, physapubescin demonstrated a more potent antifibrotic effect than pirfenidone, a clinically approved antifibrotic drug, in the tested model., Conclusion: Withanolides and flavonoids are responsible for the inhibitory effect of PCF-EtOH against pulmonary fibrosis. Withanolides may represent a class of promising therapeutic agents against pulmonary fibrosis, and an in-depth exploration is warranted to validate this proposition., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There are no conflicts of interest associated with this publication., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Three new compounds 1-glyceryl 9( β ), 10( α ), 11( β )-trihydroxy-12( Z )-octadecenoate, 2' S -20- O - p -hydroxyphenylpropionyloxy-20-hyd-roxyarachidic acid glycerol ester ( 2 ), 3- O - α -l-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)- β -d-glucopyranoside of ethyl (3 S )-hydroxybutanoate ( 3 ), as well as a new natural product ( 4 ) were isolated from the fruits of Solanum virginianum L. The structures of 26 compounds were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, NMR calculation, chemical methods, and comparisons of spectroscopic data. Compounds 2 and 16 exhibited good anti-inflammatory activity in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 inflammatory model with IC 50 values of 16.75 ± 1.54 and 22.43 ± 2.01  μ M, respectively.

Using data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring, the cross section of the inclusive process e^{+}e^{-}→η+X, normalized by the total cross section of e^{+}e^{-}→hadrons, is measured at eight center-of-mass energy points from 2.0000 to 3.6710 GeV. These are the first measurements with momentum dependence in this energy region. Our measurement shows a significant discrepancy compared to the existing fragmentation functions. To address this discrepancy, a new QCD analysis is performed at the next-to-next-to-leading order with hadron mass corrections and higher twist effects, which can explain both the established high-energy data and our measurements reasonably well.

The potential application of stimuli-responsive hybrid copper halides in information storage and switch devices has generated significant interest. However, their transformation mechanism needs to be further studied deeply. Herein, two zero-dimensional (0D) organic-inorganic hybrids, namely, (TBA)CuBr 2 ( 1 ) with linear [CuBr 2 ] - units and (TBA) 2 Cu 4 Br 6 ( 2 ) with [Cu 4 Br 6 ] 2- clusters (TBA + = (C 4 H 9 ) 4 N + ), are synthesized using simple solvent evaporation approaches. Interestingly, upon exposure to distinct protic solvents, such as methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, or hot water, 1 undergoes a transformation into 2 with varying degrees of transition, accompanied by a change in luminescence color from cyan to orange (or mixed color) under high-energy emission (e.g., 254 nm) excitation. Hot water can trigger 1 to completely transform into 2 because of its large contact angle difference in the solvents. Furthermore, 2 can be converted back to 1 through a simple solid-state mechanochemical reaction. Additionally, the structure of 2 remains unchanged even after immersion in 80 °C H 2 O for 168 h due to the dense organic framework. This study provides valuable insights for exploring reversible structural transformation materials in the 0D metal halide system.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ding-Chuan-Tang (Abbreviated as DCT) is frequently prescribed for treatment of respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is characterized by coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the potential mechanism of DCT has not been investigated., Aim of Study: The aim of the study is to explore the efficiency of DCT in the treatment of COPD in vivo and in vitro, and to illustrate the possible mechanism against COPD., Methods: COPD model was induced by exposure of mice to cigarette smoke (CS) for 16 weeks. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence assay, Western blot, etc., were used to explore the efficiency and mechanisms of DCT. Network pharmacology analysis, including Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, etc., was performed to explore the potential targets in the treatment of DCT on COPD., Results: DCT significantly alleviated pulmonary pathological changes in mouse COPD model, and inhibited inflammatory response induced by CS and LPS in vivo and in vitro. Network pharmacology analysis suggested that DCT alleviated COPD via inhibiting inflammation by regulating PI3K-AKT pathway. In cell-based models, DCT suppressed the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT, which further regulated its downstream targets Nrf2 and NF-κB, and inhibited inflammatory response., Conclusions: DCT effectively attenuated COPD in the mouse model induced by CS. The therapeutic mechanism of DCT against COPD was closely associated with the regulation of PI3K-AKT pathway and its downstream transcription factors, Nrf2 and NF-κB., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there are no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Using (10.087±0.044)×10^{9} J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII storage ring, the processes Λp→Λp and Λ[over ¯]p→Λ[over ¯]p are studied, where the Λ/Λ[over ¯] baryons are produced in the process J/ψ→ΛΛ[over ¯] and the protons are the hydrogen nuclei in the cooling oil of the beam pipe. Clear signals are observed for the two reactions. The cross sections in -0.9≤cosθ&#95;{Λ/Λ[over ¯]}≤0.9 are measured to be σ(Λp→Λp)=(12.2±1.6&#95;{stat}±1.1&#95;{syst}) and σ(Λ[over ¯]p→Λ[over ¯]p)=(17.5±2.1&#95;{stat}±1.6&#95;{syst})  mb at the Λ/Λ[over ¯] momentum of 1.074  GeV/c within a range of ±0.017  GeV/c, where the θ&#95;{Λ/Λ[over ¯]} are the scattering angles of the Λ/Λ[over ¯] in the Λp/Λ[over ¯]p rest frames. Furthermore, the differential cross sections of the two reactions are also measured, where there is a slight tendency of forward scattering for Λp→Λp, and a strong forward peak for Λ[over ¯]p→Λ[over ¯]p. We present an approach to extract the total elastic cross sections by extrapolation. The study of Λ[over ¯]p→Λ[over ¯]p represents the first study of antihyperon-nucleon scattering, and these new measurements will serve as important inputs for the theoretical understanding of the (anti)hyperon-nucleon interaction.

Armed with quantum correlations, quantum sensors in a network have shown the potential to outclass their classical counterparts in distributed sensing tasks such as clock synchronization and reference frame alignment. On the other hand, this analysis was done for simple and idealized networks, whereas the correlation shared within a practical quantum network, captured by the notion of network states, is much more complex. Here, we prove a general bound that limits the performance of using quantum network states to estimate a global parameter, establishing the necessity of genuine multipartite entanglement for achieving a quantum advantage. The bound can also serve as an entanglement witness in networks and can be generalized to states generated by shallow circuits. Moreover, while our bound prohibits local network states from achieving the Heisenberg limit, we design a probabilistic protocol that, once successful, attains this ultimate limit of quantum metrology and preserves the privacy of involved parties. Our work establishes both the limitation and the possibility of quantum metrology within quantum networks.

Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: Zhou L, None; Hu B, None; Xu ZP, None.

We report the measurement of the inclusive cross sections for e^{+}e^{-}→nOCH (where nOCH denotes non-open charm hadrons) with improved precision at center-of-mass (c.m.) energies from 3.645 to 3.871 GeV. We observe three resonances: R(3760), R(3780), and R(3810) with significances of 8.1σ, 13.7σ, and 8.8σ, respectively. The R(3810) state is observed for the first time, while the R(3760) and R(3780) states are observed for the first time in the nOCH cross sections. Two sets of resonance parameters describe the energy-dependent line shape of the cross sections well. In set I [set II], the R(3810) state has mass (3805.7±1.1±2.7) [(3805.7±1.1±2.7)]  MeV/c^{2}, total width (11.6±2.9±1.9) [(11.5±2.8±1.9)]  MeV, and an electronic width multiplied by the nOCH decay branching fraction of (10.9±3.8±2.5) [(11.0±3.4±2.5)]  eV. In addition, we measure the branching fractions B[R(3760)→nOCH]=(25.2±16.1±30.4)%[(6.4±4.8±7.7)%] and B[R(3780)→nOCH]=(12.3±6.6±8.3)%[(10.4±4.8±7.0)%] for the first time. The R(3760) state can be interpreted as an open-charm (OC) molecular state, but containing a simple four-quark state component. The R(3810) state can be interpreted as a hadrocharmonium state.

Background: Thesium chinense Turcz. (Named as Bai Rui Cao in Chinese) and its preparations (e.g., Bairui Granules) have been used to treat inflammatory diseases, such as acute mastitis, lobar pneumonia, tonsillitis, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and upper respiratory tract infection. However, the material basis, pharmacological efficiency, and safety have not been illustrated., Methods: Anti-inflammatory activity-guided isolation of constituents has been performed using multiple column chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and ECD calculations. The inhibitory effects on lung inflammation and safety of the crude ethanol extract (CE), Bairui Granules (BG), and the purified active constituents were evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated acute lung inflammation (ALI) mice model or normal mice., Results: Seven new compounds (1-7) and fifty-six known compounds (8-63) were isolated from T. chinense, and fifty-four were reported from this plant for the first time. The new flavonoid glycosides 1-2, new fatty acids 4-5, new alkaloid 7 as well as the known constituents including flavonoid aglycones 8-11, lignans 46-54, alkaloids 34 and 45, coumarins 57, phenylpropionic acids 27, and simple aromatic compounds 39, 44 and 58 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that anti-inflammation of T. chinense was attributed to flavonoids and alkaloids by regulating inflammation-related proteins (e.g., TNF, NF-κB, TGF-β). Furthermore, constituents of T. chinense including kaempferol-3-O-glucorhamnoside (KN, also named as Bairuisu I, 19), astragalin (AG, Bairuisu II, 12), and kaempferol (KF, Bairuisu III, 8), as well as CE and BG could alleviate lung inflammation caused by LPS in mice by preventing neutrophils infiltration and the expression of the genes for pro-inflammatory cytokines NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and COX-2. After a 28-day subacute toxicity test, BG at doses of 4.875 g/kg and 9.750 g/kg (equivalent to onefold and twofold the clinically recommended dose) and CE at a dose of 11.138 g/kg (equivalent to fourfold the clinical dose of BG) were found to be safe and non-toxic., Conclusions: The discovery of sixty-three constituents comprehensively illustrated the material basis of T. chinense. T. chinense and Bairui Granules could alleviate lung inflammation by regulating inflammation-related proteins and no toxicity was observed under the twofold of clinically used doses., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Based on (10087±44)×10^{6}  J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector, a partial wave analysis of the decay J/ψ→γK&#95;{S}^{0}K&#95;{S}^{0}η^{'} is performed. The mass and width of the X(2370) are measured to be 2395±11(stat)&#95;{-94}^{+26}(syst)  MeV/c^{2} and 188&#95;{-17}^{+18}(stat)&#95;{-33}^{+124}(syst)  MeV, respectively. The corresponding product branching fraction is B[J/ψ→γX(2370)]×B[X(2370)→f&#95;{0}(980)η^{'}]×B[f&#95;{0}(980)→K&#95;{S}^{0}K&#95;{S}^{0}]=(1.31±0.22(stat)&#95;{-0.84}^{+2.85}(syst))×10^{-5}. The statistical significance of the X(2370) is greater than 11.7σ and the spin parity is determined to be 0^{-+} for the first time. The measured mass and spin parity of the X(2370) are consistent with the predictions of the lightest pseudoscalar glueball.