Yinchenhao decoction attenuates obstructive jaundice-induced liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis by suppressing protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase-induced pathway

BACKGROUND Chronic biliary obstruction results in ischemia and hypoxia of hepatocytes,and leads to apoptosis.Apoptosis is very important in regulating the homeostasis of the hepatobiliary system.Endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress is one of the signaling pathways that induce apoptosis.Moreover,the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)-induced apoptotic pathway is the main way;but its role in liver injury remains unclear.Yinchenhao decoction(YCHD)is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that alleviates liver injury and apoptosis,yet its mechanism is unknown.We undertook this study to investigate the effects of YCHD on the expression of ER stress proteins and hepatocyte apoptosis in rats with obstructive jaundice(OJ).AIM To investigate whether YCHD can attenuate OJ-induced liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis by inhibiting the PERK-CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein(CHOP)-growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 34(GADD34)pathway and B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 related X protein(Bax)/B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2(Bcl-2)ratio.METHODS For in vivo experiments,30 rats were divided into three groups:control group,OJ model group,and YCHD-treated group.Blood was collected to detect the indicators of liver function,and liver tissues were used for histological analysis.For in vitro experiments,30 rats were divided into three groups:G1,G2,and G3.The rats in group G1 had their bile duct exposed without ligation,the rats in group G2 underwent total bile duct ligation,and the rats in group G3 were given a gavage of YCHD.According to the serum pharmacology,serum was extracted and centrifuged from the rat blood to cultivate the BRL-3A cells.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end-labelling(TUNEL)assay was used to detect BRL-3A hepatocyte apoptosis.Alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST)levels in the medium were detected.Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)analyses were used to detect protein and gene expression levels of PERK,CHOP,GADD34,Bax,and Bcl-2 in the liver tissues and BRL-3A cells.RESULTS Biochemical assays and haematoxylin and eosin staining suggested severe liver function injury and liver tissue structure damage in the OJ model group.The TUNEL assay showed that massive BRL-3A rat hepatocyte apoptosis was induced by OJ.Elevated ALT and AST levels in the medium also demonstrated that hepatocytes could be destroyed by OJ.Western blot or qRT-PCR analyses showed that the protein and mRNA expression levels of PERK,CHOP,and GADD34 were significantly increased both in the rat liver tissue and BRL-3A rat hepatocytes by OJ.The Bax and Bcl-2 levels were increased,and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was also increased.When YCHD was used,the PERK,CHOP,GADD34,and Bax levels quickly decreased,while the Bcl-2 levels increased,and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio decreased.CONCLUSION OJ-induced liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis are associated with the activation of the PERK-CHOP-GADD34 pathway and increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.YCHD can attenuate these changes.

Engineering Strategies for Suppressing the Shuttle Effect in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur(Li–S)batteries are supposed to be one of the most potential next-generation batteries owing to their high theoretical capacity and low cost.Nevertheless,the shuttle effect of firm multi-step two-electron reaction between sulfur and lithium in liquid electrolyte makes the capacity much smaller than the theoretical value.Many methods were proposed for inhibiting the shuttle effect of polysulfide,improving corresponding redox kinetics and enhancing the integral performance of Li–S batteries.Here,we will comprehensively and systematically summarize the strategies for inhibiting the shuttle effect from all components of Li–S batteries.First,the electrochemical principles/mechanism and origin of the shuttle effect are described in detail.Moreover,the efficient strategies,including boosting the sulfur conversion rate of sulfur,confining sulfur or lithium polysulfides(LPS)within cathode host,confining LPS in the shield layer,and preventing LPS from contacting the anode,will be discussed to suppress the shuttle effect.Then,recent advances in inhibition of shuttle effect in cathode,electrolyte,separator,and anode with the aforementioned strategies have been summarized to direct the further design of efficient materials for Li–S batteries.Finally,we present prospects for inhibition of the LPS shuttle and potential development directions in Li–S batteries.

Age-related alveolar bone maladaptation in adult orthodontics:finding new ways out

Compared with teenage patients,adult patients generally show a slower rate of tooth movement and more pronounced alveolar bone loss during orthodontic treatment,indicating the maladaptation of alveolar bone homeostasis under orthodontic force.However,this phenomenon is not well-elucidated to date,leading to increased treatment difficulties and unsatisfactory treatment outcomes in adult orthodontics.Aiming to provide a comprehensive knowledge and further inspire insightful understanding towards this issue,this review summarizes the current evidence and underlying mechanisms.The age-related abatements in mechanosensing and mechanotransduction in adult cells and periodontal tissue may contribute to retarded and unbalanced bone metabolism,thus hindering alveolar bone reconstruction during orthodontic treatment.To this end,periodontal surgery,physical and chemical cues are being developed to reactivate or rejuvenate the aging periodontium and restore the dynamic equilibrium of orthodontic-mediated alveolar bone metabolism.We anticipate that this review will present a general overview of the role that aging plays in orthodontic alveolar bone metabolism and shed new light on the prospective ways out of the impasse.

Machine learning identifies the risk of complications after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy is widely used,and perioperative complications have become a highly concerned issue.AIM To develop a predictive model for complications in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer to better predict the likelihood of complications in gastric cancer patients within 30 days after surgery,guide perioperative treatment strategies for gastric cancer patients,and prevent serious complications.METHODS In total,998 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer at 16 Chinese medical centers were included in the training group for the complication model,and 398 patients were included in the validation group.The clinicopathological data and 30-d postoperative complications of gastric cancer patients were collected.Three machine learning methods,lasso regression,random forest,and artificial neural networks,were used to construct postoperative complication prediction models for laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and laparoscopic total gastrectomy,and their prediction efficacy and accuracy were evaluated.RESULTS The constructed complication model,particularly the random forest model,could better predict serious complications in gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.It exhibited stable performance in external validation and is worthy of further promotion in more centers.CONCLUSION Using the risk factors identified in multicenter datasets,highly sensitive risk prediction models for complications following laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were established.We hope to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of preoperative and postoperative decision-making by using these models.

β-Receptor blocker enhances the anabolic effect of PTH after osteoporotic fracture

The autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating bone metabolism,with sympathetic activation stimulating bone resorption and inhibiting bone formation.We found that fractures lead to increased sympathetic tone,enhanced osteoclast resorption,decreased osteoblast formation,and thus hastened systemic bone loss in ovariectomized(OVX)mice.However,the combined administration of parathyroid hormone(PTH)and theβ-receptor blocker propranolol dramatically promoted systemic bone formation and osteoporotic fracture healing in OVX mice.The effect of this treatment is superior to that of treatment with PTH or propranolol alone.In vitro,the sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine(NE)suppressed PTH-induced osteoblast differentiation and mineralization,which was rescued by propranolol.Moreover,NE decreased the PTH-induced expression of Runx2 but enhanced the expression of Rankl and the effect of PTH-stimulated osteoblasts on osteoclastic differentiation,whereas these effects were reversed by propranolol.Furthermore,PTH increased the expression of the circadian clock gene Bmal1,which was inhibited by NE-βAR signaling.Bmal1 knockdown blocked the rescue effect of propranolol on the NE-induced decrease in PTHstimulated osteoblast differentiation.Taken together,these results suggest that propranolol enhances the anabolic effect of PTH in preventing systemic bone loss following osteoporotic fracture by blocking the negative effects of sympathetic signaling on PTH anabolism.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to portal hypertension in a patient with primary myelofibrosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a common medical emergency that has a 10%hospital mortality rate.According to the etiology,this disease can be divided into acute varicose veins and nonvaricose veins.Bleeding from esophageal varices is a life-threatening complication of portal hypertension.Portal hypertension is a clinical syndrome defined as a portal venous pressure that exceeds 10 mmHg.Cirrhosis is the most common cause of portal hypertension,and thrombosis of the portal system not associated with liver cirrhosis is the second most common cause of portal hypertension in the Western world.Primary myeloproliferative disorders are the main cause of portal venous thrombosis,and somatic mutations in the Janus kinase 2 gene(JAK2 V617F)can be found in approximately 90% of polycythemia vera,50% of essential thrombocyrosis and 50% of primary myelofibrosis.CASE SUMMARY We present a rare case of primary myelofibrosis with gastrointestinal bleeding as the primary manifestation that presented as portal-superior-splenic mesenteric vein thrombosis.Peripheral blood tests revealed the presence of the JAK2 V617F mutation.Bone marrow biopsy ultimately confirmed the diagnosis of myelofibrosis(MF-2 grade).CONCLUSION In patients with acute esophageal variceal bleeding due to portal hypertension and vein thrombosis without cirrhosis,the possibility of myeloproliferative neoplasms should be considered,and the JAK2 mutation test should be performed.

Design,synthesis,and insecticidal activity of novel terpenoid ester compounds containing bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane against Aphis gossypii Glover

To discover novel and efficient compounds against Aphis gossypii Glover,a series of novel terpene ester derivatives containing the structure of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane were designed and synthesized using tschimganin as the lead compound.Bioactivity assays showed that most tschimganin analogs exhibited moderate to outstanding insecticidal activity against A.gossypii.In particular,compound 56(LC_(50)=0.28μg mL^(-1)),identified as(1S,2S,4R)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl nicotinate,exhibited the best activity,which was significantly superior to that of imidacloprid(LC_(50)=0.54μg mL^(-1))and sulfoxaflor(LC_(50)=0.70μg mL^(-1)).The precise and dependable 3D-QSAR model suggests a promising direction for further design of more active tschimganin-based insecticides.Metabolomics showed that compound 56 disrupted detoxification,amino acid biosynthesis,and energy metabolism and may affect the central nervous system of A.gossypii.The results of this study indicated that tschimganin analogs are a potential new class of green insecticides that can be used for the integrated management of A.gossypii.

Cinobufotalin prevents bone loss induced by ovariectomy in mice through the BMPs/SMAD and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways

Background:Osteoporosis is a chronic bone disease characterized by bone loss and decreased bone strength.However,current anti-resorptive drugs carry a risk of various complications.The deep learning-based efficacy prediction system(DLEPS)is a forecasting tool that can effectively compete in drug screening and prediction based on gene expression changes.This study aimed to explore the protective effect and potential mechanisms of cinobufotalin(CB),a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),on bone loss.Methods:DLEPS was employed for screening anti-osteoporotic agents according to gene profile changes in primary osteoporosis.Micro-CT,histological and morphological analysis were applied for the bone protective detection of CB,and the osteogenic differentiation/function in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(hBMMSCs)were also investigated.The underlying mechanism was verified using qRT-PCR,Western blot(WB),immunofluorescence(IF),etc.Results:A safe concentration(0.25mg/kg in vivo,0.05μM in vitro)of CB could effectively preserve bone mass in estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss and promote osteogenic differentiation/function of hBMMSCs.Both BMPs/SMAD and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways participated in CB-induced osteogenic differentiation,further regulating the expression of osteogenesis-associated factors,and ultimately promoting osteogenesis.Conclusion:Our study demonstrated that CB could significantly reverse estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss,further promoting osteogenic differentiation/function of hBMMSCs,with BMPs/SMAD and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways involved.

Characterization and Analysis of Inconel 718 Alloy Ground at Different Speeds

Inconel 718(IN718)alloy is widely applied to fabricate high temperature resistant or corrosion resistant parts due to its excellent mechanical performance.However,the machining of IN718 alloy is difficult as it may cause serious tool wear and poor surface quality(SQ)of the workpiece.In this work,grinding experiments on IN718 alloy at different speeds were conducted by using a CBN grinding wheel.The relationship between grinding speed,SQ and subsurface damage(SSD)was well studied.With increasing grinding speed,surface roughness decreased,and SQ was greatly improved.Meanwhile,the microhardness of the grinding surface declined as the grinding speed increased.The SSD depth was almost unchanged when the grinding speed was lower than 15 m/s,then it decreased with higher grinding speeds.It was attributed to the mechanical-thermal synergistic effect in the grinding process.The results indicated that increasing grinding speed can effectively improve the SQ and reduce the SSD of IN718 alloy.The conclusion in the work may also provide insight into processing other hard-to-machining materials.

A new interacting capillary bundle model on the multiphase flow in micropores of tight rocks

Surfactants are widely used in the fracturing fluid to enhance the imbibition and thus the oil recovery rate. However, current numerical models cannot capture the physics behind capillary imbibition during the wettability alteration by surfactants. Although the interacting capillary bundle(ICB) model shows potential in characterizing imbibition rates in different pores during wettability alteration, the existing ICB models neglect the influence of wettability and viscosity ratio on the imbibition behavior, making it difficult to accurately describe the oil-water imbibition behavior within the porous media. In this work,a new ICB mathematical model is established by introducing pressure balance without assuming the position of the leading front to comprehensively describe the imbibition behavior in a porous medium under different conditions, including gas-liquid spontaneous imbibition and oil-water imbibition.When the pore size distribution of a tight rock is known, this new model can predict the changes of water saturation during the displacement process in the tight rock, and also determine the imbibition rate in pores of different sizes. The water saturation profiles obtained from the new model are validated against the waterflooding simulation results from the CMG, while the imbibition rates calculated by the model are validated against the experimental observations of gas-liquid spontaneous imbibition. The good match above indicates the newly proposed model can show the water saturation profile at a macroscopic scale while capture the underlying physics of the multiphase flow in a porous medium at a microscopic scale. Simulation results obtained from this model indicate that both wettability and viscosity ratio can affect the sequence of fluid imbibition into pores of different sizes during the multiphase flow, where less-viscous wetting fluid is preferentially imbibed into larger pores while more-viscous wetting fluid tends to be imbibed into smaller pores. Furthermore, this model provides an avenue to calculate the imbibition rate in pores of different sizes during wettability alteration and capture the non-Darcy effect in micro-and nano-scale pores.

Magmatic-tectonic response of the South China Craton to the Paleo-Pacific subduction during the Triassic:a new viewpoint based on Well NK-1

The Nansha Block(NB)is one of the blocks separated from the southern margin of the South China Craton(SCC)by the western Pacific subduction,which contains rich information of geodynamic and tectonic transformation.To reveal the essence of western Paleo-Pacific subduction during the Triassic period,Well NK-1 in this block was selected for petrographic study,and published research data from other cooperative teams were compared.A double-cycle pattern of basic to neutral magmatic volcanism was established,and 36 lithological rhythmic layers and representative cryptoexplosive breccia facies and welded tuff bands were identified.Combined with a reanalysis of published geochronological data,geochemical elements,and isotope geochemistry,we found that the rock assemblages could be divided into an intermediate-acid dacite(DA)series(SiO_(2)>65%)and basaltic(BA)series(Co<40μg/g),which was formed during the early Late Triassic((218.6±3.2)–(217.9±3.5)Ma).BA exhibits obvious calc-alkaline island-arc magmatic properties:(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_i ratio ranging 0.70377–0.71118(average:0.70645),^(147)Sm/^(144)Nd ratio ranging 0.119–0.193(average:0.168),and chondrite-normalized rare earth element(REE)curves being flat,while DA exhibits remarkable characteristics of subducted island-arc andesitic magma:(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_i ratio(0.70939–0.71129;average:0.71035),εNd(t)value(-6.2–-4.8;average:-5.6)andε_(Hf)(t)value(-2.9–-1.7,average:-2.2)show obvious crust-mantle mixing characteristics.BA and DA reveal typical characteristics of island-arc magma systems and typeⅡenriched mantle(EM-Ⅱ)magma.BA magma was likely resulted from the process whereby the continental crust frontal accretionary wedge was driven by the Paleo-Pacific slab subduction into the deep and began to melt,resulting in a large amount of melt(fluid)joined the asthenosphere on the side of the continental margin.In contrast,DA magma was likely resulted from the process whereby the plate front was forced to bend with increasing subduction distance,which triggered the upwelling of the asthenosphere near the continent and subsequently led to the partial melting of the lithospheric mantle and lower crust due to continuous underplating.The lithospheric thinning environment in the study area at the end of Triassic created suitable conditions for the separation between the NB and SCC,which provided an opportunity for the formation of the early intracontinental rift during the later expansion of the South China Sea(SCS).

Enhancing metformin-induced tumor metabolism destruction by glucose oxidase for triple-combination therapy

Despite decades of laboratory and clinical trials,breast cancer remains the main cause of cancer-related disease burden in women.Considering the metabolism destruction effect of metformin(Met)and cancer cell starvation induced by glucose oxidase(GOx),after their efficient delivery to tumor sites,GOx and Met may consume a large amount of glucose and produce sufficient hydrogen peroxide in situ.Herein,a pH-responsive epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG)-conjugated low-molecular-weight chitosan(LC-EGCG,LE)nanoparticle(Met–GOx/Fe@LE NPs)was constructed.The coordination between iron ions(Fe3+)and EGCG in this nanoplatform can enhance the efficacy of chemodynamic therapy via the Fenton reaction.Met–GOx/Fe@LE NPs allow GOx to retain its enzymatic activity while simultaneously improving its stability.Moreover,this pH-responsive nanoplatform presents controllable drug release behavior.An in vivo biodistribution study showed that the intracranial accumulation of GOx delivered by this nanoplatform was 3.6-fold higher than that of the free drug.The in vivo anticancer results indicated that this metabolism destruction/starvation/chemodynamic triple-combination therapy could induce increased apoptosis/death of tumor cells and reduce their proliferation.This triple-combination therapy approach is promising for efficient and targeted cancer treatment.

Polydatin ameliorates hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury by modulating macrophage polarization

Background:Polydatin,a glucoside of resveratrol,has shown protective effects against various diseases.However,little is known about its effect on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)injury.This study aimed to elucidate whether polydatin protects liver against I/R-induced injury and to explore the underlying mechanism.Methods:After gavage feeding polydatin once daily for a week,mice underwent a partial hepatic I/R procedure.Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase(AST),hematoxylin-eosin(H&E)and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL)staining were used to evaluate liver injury.The severity related to the inflammatory response and reactive oxygen species(ROS)production was also investigated.Furthermore,immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to detect macrophage polarization and the NF-κB signaling pathway in macrophages.Results:Compared with the I/R group,polydatin pretreatment significantly attenuated I/R-induced liver damage and apoptosis.The oxidative stress marker(dihydroethidium fluorescence,malondialdehyde,superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase)and I/R related inflammatory cytokines(interleukin1β,interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α)were significantly suppressed after polydatin treatment.In addition,the result of immunofluorescence indicated that polydatin reduced the polarization of macrophages toward M1 macrophages both in vivo and in vitro.Western blotting showed that polydatin inhibited the pro-inflammatory function of RAW264.7 via down-regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.Conclusions:Polydatin protects the liver from I/R injury by remodeling macrophage polarization via NFκB signaling.

Temperature prediction model in multiphase flow considering phase transition in the drilling operations

The study considers gas compression properties,gas slippage,back pressure(BP),phase transition(PT),well depth,and differences in gas-liquid physical properties.A new temperature model for multiphase flow is proposed by considering phase transition in the drilling process.The mathematical model of multiphase flow is solved using the finite difference method with annulus mesh division for grid nodes,and a module for multiphase flow calculation and analysis is developed.Numerical results indicate that the temperature varies along the annulus with the variation of gas influx at the bottom of the well.During the process of controlled pressure drilling,as gas slips along the annulus to the wellhead,its volume continuously expands,leading to an increase in the gas content within the annulus,and consequently,an increase in the pressure drop caused by gas slippage.The temperature increases with the increase in BP and decreases in gas influx rate and wellbore diameter.During gas influx,the thermal conductivity coefficient for the gas-drilling mud two phases is significantly weakened,resulting in a considerable change in temperature along the annulus.In the context of MPD,the method of slightly changing the temperature along the annulus by controlling the back pressure is feasible.

Surface engineering of P2-type cathode material targeting long-cycling and high-rate sodium-ion batteries

The widespread interest in layered P2-type Mn-based cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)stems from their cost-effectiveness and abundant resources.However,the inferior cycle stability and mediocre rate performance impede their further development in practical applications.Herein,we devised a wet chemical precipitation method to deposit an amorphous aluminum phosphate(AlPO_(4),denoted as AP)protective layer onto the surface of P2-type Na_(0.55)Ni_(0.1)Co_(0.7)Mn_(0.8)O_(2)(NCM@AP).The resulting NCM@5AP electrode,with a 5 wt%coating,exhibits extended cycle life(capacity retention of78.4%after 200 cycles at 100 mA g^(-1))and superior rate performance(98 mA h g^(-1)at 500 mA g^(-1))compared to pristine NCM.Moreover,our investigation provides comprehensive insights into the phase stability and active Na^(+)ion kinetics in the NCM@5AP composite electrode,shedding light on the underlying mechanisms responsible for the enhanced performance observed in the coated electrode.

Transcriptome profiling of indole-3-butyric acid-induced adventitious root formation in softwood cuttings of walnut

Inducing adventitious root(AR)formation in mature walnut species(Juglans L.)is challenging.However,the AR formation of mature trees can be improved by rejuvenation.In rejuvenated cuttings,exogenous indole-3-butyric acid(IBA)is essential for AR formation,and the underlying mechanism is still not well understood.Therefore,we utilized transcriptome sequencing to investigate the mechanism of IBA-induced AR formation.Our results revealed that,in comparison to the control group,IBA treatment(9 mmol·L^(-1))significantly increased the endogenous indole-3-acetic acid(IAA)content,leading to an enhanced rooting rate.We performed RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between the IBA-treated and control(CK)groups at 1,2,3,and 5 days after cutting(DAC).The results showed that,compared to the control cuttings,there were 1539,889,785,and 984 up-regulated genes and 2791,2936,3017,and 1752 down-regulated genes,at 1,2,3,and 5 DAC,respectively.Analysis of RNA-seq data revealed that G-type ATP-binding cassette 36/37(ABCG36/37)and ATP-binding cassette subfamily D 1(ABCD1),associated with IBA transport,were down-regulated in the rejuvenation cuttings.In contrast,PIN-FORMED(PIN)and PINOID(PID),associated with auxin efflux,were up-regulated.We identified 49 auxin/indole-3-acetic acid(AUX/IAA)-encoding genes,including IAA1,IAA3,IAA5,IAA6,IAA8,IAA11,IAA12,IAA19,and IAA20,which were up-regulated at 1-5 DAC in the rejuvenated cuttings.This study highlights that the overexpression of JrWOX5/11 in poplar significantly enhance AR growth,as evidenced by increased root length,surface area,volume,and quantity.Moreover,the co-expression network analysis involving JrWOX11 and JrWOX5 in walnut cuttings elucidates complex genetic interactions,underscoring their pivotal role in the formation of AR.Our data supported the following molecular mechanism of IBA-induced adventitious root formation.Firstly,IBA is converted to free IAA in peroxisomes.Then,the highly concentrated IAA in the procambium and parenchyma cells induces WUSCHEL-related homeobox 11(WOX11)expression at two days.Finally,WOX11 acts redundantly to up-regulate WOX5,initiating the development of root primordia cells.

Flavonoid extracts from chrysanthemum with appropriate anthocyanins turn blue when exposed to iron ions

Although some species that accumulate only cyanidin(Cy)in nature can produce blue flowers through iron ions,there has been no evidence of blue chrysanthemums being generated in this manner.This study revealed that flavonoid extracts from the ray florets of the chrysanthemum cultivar‘Wandai Fengguang’turned blue when exposed to Fe^(3+).Samples that could turn blue were labeled as CB(Cy-determined blue flowers),while samples that did not turn blue were labeled as CN(Cy-determined non-blue flowers).After a series of experiments,a stable screening system was established using flavonoid extracts containing NaAc buffer at pH 5.5 and a total anthocyanin concentration(TAC)of 30 μmol·L^(-1),and the addition of Fe^(3+)from 0 to 0.25 μmol·L^(-1)allowed for the selection of five CB samples from 39 chrysanthemum cultivars.All five CB samples exhibited flower color phenotypes that belonged to Cluster-I with redness(a*)values ranging from 29.03 to 45.99,yellowness(b*)values from-11.31 to 3.77,and brightness(L*)values from 29.07 to 45.99.Additionally,the ratio of TAC to total luteolin concentration(TLC)was found to be a critical factor for distinguishing between CB and CN samples.To realize the desired blue hue in the flavonoid extracts with the participation of Fe^(3+),a TAC to TLC ratio of 2.25 and above is required.Moreover,the protoplasts and ray florets of CB samples that turned blue with the involvement of Fe^(2+)showed great potential for cultivating blue chrysanthemums through ferric-anthocyanin chelate.Overall,this study reveals that blue flowers can be cultivated through the increase in the iron ion concentration,combined with the accumulation of Cy.

Wrinkled and Fibrous Conductive Bandages with Tunable Mechanoelectrical Response Toward Wearable Strain Sensors

Wearable strain sensors(WSSs)have found widespread applications,where the key is to optimize their sensing and wearing performances.However,the intricate material designs for developing WSSs often rely on costly reagents and/or complex pro-cesses,which bring barriers to their large-scale production and use.Herein,a facile and affordable(material cost of<$0.002/cm2)method is presented for fabricating conductive bandage(CB)-based WSSs by electrospraying a carbon nanotube(CNT)layer on commercial self-adhesive bandages with excellent biosafety,stretchability,mechanical compliance,breathability and cost effectiveness.The wrinkled and fibrous structures of self-adhesive bandages were rationally leverage to control the geometry of CNT layer,thereby ensuring tunable mechanoelectrical sensitivities(gauge factors of 2~850)of CBs.Moreover,a strain-sensing mechanism directly mediated by the highly wrinkled microstructure is unveiled,which can work in synergy with a training-loosened-fibrous microstructure.The excellent performance of CBs for monitoring full-range strain signals in human bodies was further demonstrated.CBs would possess great potential for being developed into WSSs because of their outstanding cost-performance ratio.

Progress of Lyman-alpha-based beam emission spectroscopy(Ly BES)diagnostic on the HL-2A tokamak

An edge Lyman-alpha-based beam emission spectroscopy(LyBES)diagnostic,using a heating NBI(neutral beam injection)system,is currently under development on the HL-2A tokamak.The 20-channel edge LyBES,which is intended to measure the density fluctuation in plasma edge(from R=1960 mm to R=2026 mm)with an improved spatial resolution of 3.3 mm,is a complement to the existing conventional beam emission spectroscopy(BES)diagnostic.In this article,we introduce the progress of LyBES diagnostic,including the collection optics,the monochromator,and the detector system.The reflectance of the collection mirrors is measured to be~82%at 122 nm,and the aberration geometrical radius of the collection optics is tested to be~150μm in the aimed area.The linear dispersion of the LyBES monochromator is designed to be~0.09 nm mm^(-1).The bandwidth of the detector system with the 5×10^(7)V A^(-1)preamplifier gain is measured to be~280 kHz,and the peak-to-peak noise of the detector system is tested to be~16 mV.The finalized design,components development and testing of the LyBES diagnostic have been completed at present,and an overall performance of the LyBES diagnostic is to be confirmed in the next HL-2A campaign.

IKIP downregulates THBS1/FAK signaling to suppress migration and invasion by glioblastoma cells

Background:Inhibitor of NF-κB kinase-interacting protein(IKIP)is known to promote proliferation of glioblastoma(GBM)cells,but how it affects migration and invasion by those cells is unclear.Methods:We compared levels of IKIP between glioma tissues and normal brain tissue in clinical samples and public databases.We examined the effects of IKIP overexpression and knockdown on the migration and invasion of GBM using transwell and wound healing assays,and we compared the transcriptomes under these different conditions to identify the molecular mechanisms involved.Results:Based on data from our clinical samples and from public databases,IKIP was overexpressed in GBM tumors,and its expression level correlated inversely with survival.IKIP overexpression in GBM cells inhibited migration and invasion in transwell and wound healing assays,whereas IKIP knockdown exerted the opposite effects.IKIP overexpression in GBM cells that were injected into mouse brain promoted tumor growth but inhibited tumor invasion of surrounding tissue.The effects of IKIP were associated with downregulation of THBS1 mRNA and concomitant inhibition of THBS1/FAK signaling.Conclusions:IKIP inhibits THBS1/FAK signaling to suppress migration and invasion of GBM cells.