Core fucosylation and its roles in gastrointestinal glycoimmunology

Glycosylation is a common post-translational modification in eukaryotic cells.It is involved in the production of many biologically active glycoproteins and the regulation of protein structure and function.Core fucosylation plays a vital role in the immune response.Most immune system molecules are core fucosylated glycoproteins such as complements,cluster differentiation antigens,immunoglobulins,cytokines,major histocompatibility complex molecules,adhesion molecules,and immune molecule synthesis-related transcription factors.These core fucosylated glycoproteins play important roles in antigen recognition and clearance,cell adhesion,lymphocyte activation,apoptosis,signal transduction,and endocytosis.Core fucosylation is dominated by fucosyltransferase 8(Fut8),which catalyzes the addition ofα-1,6-fucose to the innermost GlcNAc residue of N-glycans.Fut8 is involved in humoral,cellular,and mucosal immunity.Tumor immunology is associated with aberrant core fucosylation.Here,we summarize the roles and potential modulatory mechanisms of Fut8 in various immune processes of the gastrointestinal system.

Study of plasma parameters of coaxial plasma source using triple Langmuir probe and Faraday cup diagnostics

Coaxial plasma guns are a type of plasma source that produces plasma which propagates radially and axially controlled by the shape of the ground electrode, which has attracted much interest in several applications. In this work, a 120° opening angle of CPG nozzle is used as a plasma gun configuration that operates at the energy of 150 J. The ionization of polyethylene insulator between the electrodes of the gun produces a cloud of hydrogen and carbon plasma.The triple Langmuir probe and Faraday cup are used to measure plasma density and plasma temperature. These methods are used to measure the on-axis and off-axis plasma divergence of the coaxial plasma gun. The peak values of ion densities measured at a distance of 25 mm on-axis from the plasma gun are(1.6±0.5)×10^(19)m^(-3)and(2.8±0.6)×10^(19)m^(-3)for hydrogen and carbon plasma respectively and the peak temperature is 3.02±0.5 eV. The mean propagation velocity of plasma is calculated using the transit times of plasma at different distances from the plasma gun and is found to be 4.54±0.25 cm/μs and 1.81±0.18 cm/μs for hydrogen and carbon plasma respectively. The Debye radius is obtained from the measured experimental data that satisfies the thin sheath approximation. The shot-to-shot stability of plasma parameters facilitates the use of plasma guns in laboratory experiments. These types of plasma sources can be used in many applications like plasma opening switches, plasma devices, and as plasma sources.

Final results of the first phase of the PROTO-SPHERA experiment: obtainment of the full current stable screw pinch and first evidences of the jet + torus combined plasma configuration

In astrophysics, the boundary conditions for plasma phenomena are provided by nature and the astronomer faces the problem of understanding them from a variety of observations [Hester J J et al 1996 Astrophys. J. 456 225], on the other hand, in laboratory plasma experiments the electromagnetic boundary conditions become a major problem in the set-up of the machine that produces the plasma, an issue that has to be investigated step by step and to be modified and adapted with great patience, in particular in the case of an innovative plasma confinement experiment. The PROTO-SPHERA machine [Alladio F et al 2006 Nucl. Fusion 46 S613] is a magnetic confinement experiment, that emulates in the laboratory the jet + torus plasma configurations often observed in astrophysics: an inner magnetized jet of plasma centered on the(approximate) axis of symmetry and surrounded by a magnetized plasma torus orthogonal to this jet. The PROTO-SPHERA plasma is simply connected, i.e., no metal current conducting rod is linked to the plasma torus, while instead it is the inner magnetized plasma jet(in the following always called the plasma centerpost) that is linked to the torus. It is mandatory that no spurious plasma current path modifies the optimal shape of the plasma centerpost. Moreover, as the plasma torus is produced and sustained, in absence of any applied inductive electric field, by the inner plasma centerpost through magnetic reconnections [Taylor J B and Turner M F 1989 Nucl.Fusion 29 219], it is required as well that spurious current paths do not surround the torus on its outboard, in order not to lower the efficiency of the magnetic reconnections that maintain the plasma torus at the expense of the plasma centerpost. Boundary conditions have been corrected,up to the point that the first sustainment in steady state has been achieved for the combined plasma.

Immunological disturbance effect of exogenous histamine towards key immune cells

Histamine in food has attracted widespread attention due to the potential toxicity and associated health risk.However,its influences on immunological components,especially the function of key immune cells,are still poorly known.In this work,we explored the effects of exogenous histamine on the function of key immune cells such as intestinal epithelial cells,dendritic cells,and T cells.The results showed that histamine could affect the expression of allergy-related genes in CMT93 cells at a high dose of histamine.Moreover,it’s found that histamine could cause an imbalance in the levels of relevant immune factors secreted by dendritic cells and T cells,especially those related to allergy.At the same time,the proportion of MHC class IIpositive dendritic cells and the proportion of T helper 2(Th2)cells in CD4^(+)T cells increased after histamine stimulation.We concluded that the presence of a certain level of histamine in food may affect the expression of allergy-related cytokines,disrupt the balance of the immune homeostasis,and potentially lead to adverse immune reactions.This work demonstrated the importance of including the estimation of histamine’s immune safety in aquatic products rather than merely considering the potential risk of food poisoning.

A research on the effect of plasma spectrum collection device on LIBS spectral intensity

Only a small amount of spectral information is collected because the collection solid angle of the optical fiber probe and lens is very limited when collecting spectral information.To overcome this limitation,this study presents a novel method for acquiring plasma spectral information from various spatial directions.A parabolic-shaped plasma spectral collection device(PSCD)is employed to effectively collect more spectral information into the spectrometer,thereby enhancing the overall spectral intensity.The research objects in this study were soil samples containing different concentrations of heavy metals Pb,Cr,and Cd.The results indicate that the PSCD significantly enhances the spectral signal,with an enhancement rate of up to 45%.Moreover,the signal-to-noise ratio also increases by as much as 36%.Simultaneously,when compared to the absence of a device,it is found that there is no significant variation in plasma temperature when the PSCD is utilized.This observation eliminates the impact of the spatial effect caused by the PSCD on the spectral intensity.Consequently,a concentrationspectral intensity relationship curve is established under the PSCD.The results revealed that the linear fitting R^(2)for Pb,Cr,and Cd increased by 0.011,0.001,and 0.054,respectively.Additionally,the limit of detection(LOD)decreased by 0.361 ppm,0.901 ppm,and 0.602 ppm,respectively.These findings indicate that the spectral enhancement rate elevates with the increase in heavy metal concentration.Hence,the PSCD can effectively enhance the spectral intensity and reduce the detection limit of heavy metals in soil.

Wave field structure and power coupling features of blue-core helicon plasma driven by various antenna geometries and frequencies

This paper deals with wave propagation and power coupling in blue-core helicon plasma driven by various antennas and frequencies.It is found that compared to non-blue-core mode,for blue-core mode,the wave can propagate in the core region,and it decays sharply outside the core.The power absorption is lower and steeper in radius for blue-core mode.Regarding the effects of antenna geometry for blue-core mode,it shows that half helix antenna yields the strongest wave field and power absorption,while loop antenna yields the lowest.Moreover,near axis,for antennas with m=+1,the wave field increases with axial distance.In the core region,the wave number approaches to a saturation value at much lower frequency for non-blue-core mode compared to blue-core mode.The total loading resistance is much lower for blue-core mode.These findings are valuable to understanding the physics of blue-core helicon discharge and optimizing the experimental performance of blue-core helicon plasma sources for applications such as space propulsion and material treatment.

Plasma density enhancement in radio-frequency hollow electrode discharge

The plasma density enhancement outside hollow electrodes in capacitively coupled radio-frequency(RF) discharges is investigated by a two-dimensional(2D) particle-in-cell/Monte-Carlo collision(PIC/MCC) model. Results show that plasma exists inside the cavity when the sheath inside the hollow electrode hole is fully collapsed, which is an essential condition for the plasma density enhancement outside hollow electrodes. In addition, the existence of the electron density peak at the orifice is generated via the hollow cathode effect(HCE), which plays an important role in the density enhancement. It is also found that the radial width of bulk plasma at the orifice affects the magnitude of the density enhancement, and narrow radial plasma bulk width at the orifice is not beneficial to obtain high-density plasma outside hollow electrodes.Higher electron density at the orifice, combined with larger radial plasma bulk width at the orifice,causes higher electron density outside hollow electrodes. The results also imply that the HCE strength inside the cavity cannot be determined by the magnitude of the electron density outside hollow electrodes.

Genetically Predicted Plasma Levels of Amino Acids and Endometriosis:A Mendelian Randomization Study

Endometriosis(EMS)is one of the most common disorders among women of reproductive age and affects approximately 6%–10%of the world total population^([1]).Women with EMS often experience symptoms such as dysmenorrhea,infertility,or difficulties in conceiving.Recent studies focusing on amino acids(AAs)metabolism have shed light on the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of EMS^([2]).

Characterization of distinct microbiota associated with androgenetic alopecia patients treated and untreated with platelet-rich plasma(PRP)

Background:Androgenic alopecia(AGA)is the most common type of hair loss in men,and there are many studies on the treatment of hair loss by platelet-rich plasma(PRP).The human scalp contains a huge microbiome,but its role in the process of hair loss remains unclear,and the relationship between PRP and the microbiome needs further study.Therefore,the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of PRP treatment on scalp microbiota composition.Methods:We performed PRP treatment on 14 patients with AGA,observed their clinical efficacy,and collected scalp swab samples before and after treatment.The scalp microflora of AGA patients before and after treatment was characterized by amplifying the V3-V4 region of the 16 s RNA gene and sequencing for bacterial identification.Results:The results showed that PRP was effective in the treatment of AGA patients,and the hair growth increased significantly.The results of relative abundance analysis of microbiota showed that after treatment,g_Cutibacterium increased and g_Staphylococcus decreased,which played a stable role in scalp microbiota.In addition,g_Lawsonella decreased,indicating that the scalp oil production decreased after treatment.Conclusions:The findings suggest that PRP may play a role in treating AGA through scalp microbiome rebalancing.

Numerical studies for plasmas of a linear plasma device HIT-PSI with geometry modified SOLPS-ITER

The HIT-PSI is a linear plasma device built for physically simulating the high heat flux environment of future reactor divertors to test/develop advanced target plate materials.In this study,the geometry-modified SOLPS-ITER program is employed to examine the effects of the magnetic field strength and neutral pressure in the device on the heat flux experienced by the target plate of the HIT-PSI device.The findings of the numerical simulation indicate a positive correlation between the magnetic field strength and the heat flux density.Conversely,there is a negative correlation observed between the heat flux density and the neutral pressure.When the magnetic field strength at the axis exceeds 1 tesla and the neutral pressure falls below 10 Pa,the HIT-PSI has the capability to attain a heat flux of 10 MW·m-2 at the target plate.The simulation results offer a valuable point of reference for subsequent experiments at HIT-PSI.

Overview of the immunological mechanisms in hepatitis B virus reactivation:Implications for disease progression and management strategies

Hepatitis B virus(HBV)reactivation is a clinically significant challenge in disease management.This review explores the immunological mechanisms underlying HBV reactivation,emphasizing disease progression and management.It delves into host immune responses and reactivation’s delicate balance,spanning innate and adaptive immunity.Viral factors’disruption of this balance,as are interac-tions between viral antigens,immune cells,cytokine networks,and immune checkpoint pathways,are examined.Notably,the roles of T cells,natural killer cells,and antigen-presenting cells are discussed,highlighting their influence on disease progression.HBV reactivation’s impact on disease severity,hepatic flares,liver fibrosis progression,and hepatocellular carcinoma is detailed.Management strategies,including anti-viral and immunomodulatory approaches,are critically analyzed.The role of prophylactic anti-viral therapy during immunosuppressive treatments is explored alongside novel immunotherapeutic interventions to restore immune control and prevent reactivation.In conclusion,this compre-hensive review furnishes a holistic view of the immunological mechanisms that propel HBV reactivation.With a dedicated focus on understanding its implic-ations for disease progression and the prospects of efficient management stra-tegies,this article contributes significantly to the knowledge base.The more profound insights into the intricate interactions between viral elements and the immune system will inform evidence-based approaches,ultimately enhancing disease management and elevating patient outcomes.The dynamic landscape of management strategies is critically scrutinized,spanning anti-viral and immunomodulatory approaches.The role of prophylactic anti-viral therapy in preventing reactivation during immunosuppressive treatments and the potential of innovative immunotherapeutic interventions to restore immune control and proactively deter reactivation.

Fast synthesis of gold nanoparticles by cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet in the presence of Au+ions and a capping agent

Homogeneous gold nanoparticles were synthesized under atmospheric pressure using a nonthermal helium plasma jet in a single-step process.A current power supply was used to generate the plasma discharge rich in diverse reactive species.These species induce rapid chemical reactions responsible for the reduction of the gold salts upon contact with the liquid solution.In this study,spherical and monodispersed gold nanoparticles were obtained within 5 min of plasma exposure using a solution containing gold(Ⅲ)chloride hydrate(HAuCl_(4))as a precursor and polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)as a capping agent to inhibit agglomerations.The formation of these metal nanoparticles was initially perceptible through a visible change in the sample's color,transitioning from light yellow to a red/pink color.This was subsequently corroborated by UVvis spectroscopy,which revealed an optical absorption in the 520-550 nm range for Au NPs,corresponding to the surface plasmon resonance(SPR)band.An investigation into the impact of various parameters,including plasma discharge duration,precursor and capping agent concentrations,was carried out to optimize conditions for the formation of well-separated,spherical gold nanoparticles.Dynamic light scattering(DLS)was used to measure the size of these nanoparticles,transmission electron microscopy(TEM)was used to observe their morphology and X-ray diffraction(XRD)was also employed to determine their crystallographic structure.The results confirm that homogeneous spherical gold nanoparticles with an average diameter of 13 nm can be easily synthesized through a rapid,straightforward,and environmentally friendly approach utilizing a helium atmospheric pressure plasma.

Airfoil friction drag reduction based on grid-type and super-dense array plasma actuators

To improve the cruise flight performance of aircraft, two new configurations of plasma actuators(grid-type and super-dense array) were investigated to reduce the turbulent skin friction drag of a low-speed airfoil. The induced jet characteristics of the two actuators in quiescent air were diagnosed with high-speed particle image velocimetry(PIV), and their drag reduction efficiencies were examined under different operating conditions in a wind tunnel. The results showed that the grid-type plasma actuator was capable of producing a wall-normal jet array(peak magnitude: 1.07 m/s) similar to that generated in a micro-blowing technique, while the superdense array plasma actuator created a wavy wall-parallel jet(magnitude: 0.94 m/s) due to the discrete spanwise electrostatic forces. Under a comparable electrical power consumption level,the super-dense array plasma actuator array significantly outperformed the grid-type configuration,reducing the total airfoil friction drag by approximately 22% at a free-stream velocity of 20 m/s.The magnitude of drag reduction was proportional to the dimensionless jet velocity ratio(r), and a threshold r = 0.014 existed under which little impact on airfoil drag could be discerned.

Exercised blood plasma promotes hippocampal neurogenesis in the Alzheimer's disease rat brain

Background:Exercise training promotes brain plasticity and is associated with protection against cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease(AD).These beneficial effects may be partly mediated by blood-borne factors.Here we used an in vitro model of AD to investigate effects of blood plasma from exercise-trained donors on neuronal viability,and an in vivo rat model of AD to test whether such plasma impacts cognitive function,amyloid pathology,and neurogenesis.Methods:Mouse hippocampal neuronal cells were exposed to AD-like stress using amyloid-βand treated with plasma collected from human male donors 3 h after a single bout of high-intensity exercise.For in vivo studies,blood was collected from exercise-trained young male Wistar rats(high-intensity intervals 5 days/week for 6 weeks).Transgenic AD rats(McGill-R-Thyl-APP)were inj ected 5 times/fortnight for 6 weeks at2 months or 5 months of age with either(a)plasma from the exercise-trained rats,(b)plasma from sedentary rats,or(c)saline.Cognitive function,amyloid plaque pathology,and neurogenesis were assessed.The plasma used for the treatment was analyzed for 23 cytokines.Results:Plasma from exercised donors enhanced cell viability by 44.1%(p=0.032)and reduced atrophy by 50.0%(p<0.001)in amyloid-β-treated cells.In vivo exercised plasma treatment did not alter cognitive function or amyloid plaque pathology but did increase hippocampal neurogenesis by~3 fold,regardless of pathological stage,when compared to saline-treated rats.Concentrations of 7 cytokines were significantly reduced in exercised plasma compared to sedentary plasma.Conclusion:Our proof-of-concept study demonstrates that plasma from exercise-trained donors can protect neuronal cells in culture and promote adult hippocampal neurogenesis in the AD rat brain.This effect may be partly due to reduced pro-inflammatory signaling molecules in exercised plasma.

Reveal the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanism of an edible medicinal plant Rhodiola crenulate in DSS-induced colitis through plasma pharmacochemistry and metabolomics

Rhodiola crenulate is the edible medicinal herbal medicine widely used for altitude sickness in China.Interestingly,our previous work has found that R.crenulate extract(RCE)could significantly improve the pathology associated with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.Thus,the current research aims to reveal the pharmacodynamic material basis of RCE,as well as its mechanism against colitis.The chemical characterization of RCE was performed by UHPLC-HR-MS,through which a total of 88 constituents were identified.Meanwhile,our results also found 29 constituents absorbed into blood and 8 metabolized absorbable compounds.The decreased flavonoids prototype and the elevated sulfated products of phenols were observed under pathophysiological conditions of colitis.The metabolomics study revealed that colitis caused the alternation of fatty acid metabolism,steroid hormone biosynthesis and bile acid metabolism.Correspondingly,RCE could prevent colitis by improving fatty acid metabolism and secondary bile acid metabolism.

Comparative analysis of single-crater parameters in ultrasonic-assisted and unassisted micro-EDM of Ti6Al4V using discharge plasma imaging

Ultrasonic-assisted micro-electro-discharge machining(EDM)has the potential to enhance processing responses such as material removal rate(MRR)and surface finish.To understand the reasons for this enhancement,the physical mechanisms responsible for the individual discharges and the craters that they form need to be explored.This work examines features of craters formed by single discharges at various parameter values in both conventional and ultrasonic-assistedEDM of Ti6Al4V.High-speed imaging of the plasma channel is performed,and data on the individual discharges are captured in real-time.A 2D axisymmetric model using finite element software is established to model crater formation.On the basis of simulation and experimental results,a comparative study is then carried out to examine the effects of ultrasonic vibrational assistance on crater geometry.For every set ofEDM parameters,the crater diameter and depth from a single discharge are found to be higher in ultrasonic-assistedEDM than in conventionalEDM.The improved crater geometry and the reduced bulge formation at the crater edges are attributed to the increased melt pool velocity and temperature predicted by the model.

Plasma potential measurements using an emissive probe made of oxide cathode

A novel emissive probe consisting of an oxide cathode coating is developed to achieve a low operating temperature and long service life.The properties of the novel emissive probe are investigated in detail,in comparison with a traditional tungsten emissive probe,including the operating temperature,the electron emission capability and the plasma potential measurement.Studies of the operating temperature and electron emission capability show that the tungsten emissive probe usually works at a temperature of 1800 K-2200 K while the oxide cathode emissive probe can function at about 1200 K-1400 K.In addition,plasma potential measurements using the oxide cathode emissive probe with different techniques have been accomplished in microwave electron cyclotron resonance plasmas with different discharge powers.It is found that a reliable plasma potential can be obtained using the improved inflection point method and the hot probe with zero emission limit method,while the floating point method is invalid for the oxide cathode emissive probe.

Laser-induced plasma formation in water with up to 400 mJ double-pulse LIBS

Double-pulse LIBS is a promising technique for deep-sea applications.LIBS measurements in shallow water with up to 400 mJ each pulse were done to select laser parameters which promote optimized spectral line emission from plasma even at elevated pressures,where line broadening until loss of most of the spectral information can occur.Optical emission spectroscopy,using a Czerny-Turner spectrometer,has been applied to investigate the dependence of the emitted radiation on laser parameters and hydrostatic pressure.It has been found,that higher laser pulse energies,especially with short pulse delay as required in high water pressure,can also have an adverse effect on the measured spectrum.

Effect of ion stress on properties of magnetized plasma sheath

In the plasma sheath, there is a significant gradient in ion velocity, resulting in strong stress on ions treated as a fluid. This aspect has often been neglected in previous sheath studies. This study is based on the Braginskii plasma transport theory and establishes a 1D3V sheath fluid model that takes into account the ion stress effect. Under the assumption that ions undergo both electric and diamagnetic drift in the presheath region, self-consistent boundary conditions,including the ion Bohm velocity, are derived based on the property of the Sagdeev pseudopotential.Furthermore, assuming that the electron velocity at the wall follows a truncated Maxwell distribution, the wall floating potential is calculated, leading to a more accurate sheath thickness estimation. The results show that ion stress significantly reduces the sheath thickness, enhances ion Bohm velocity, wall floating potential, and ion flux at the wall. It hinders the acceleration of ions within the sheath, leading to notable alterations in the particle density profiles within the sheath. Further research indicates that in ion stress, bulk viscous stress has the greatest impact on sheath properties.

Spark Plasma Sintering of Mg-based Alloys:Microstructure,Mechanical Properties,Corrosion Behavior,and Tribological Performance

Within the past ten years,spark plasma sintering(SPS)has become an increasingly popular process for Mg manufacturing.In the SPS process,interparticle diffusion of compressed particles is rapidly achieved due to the concept of Joule heating.Compared to traditional and additive manufacturing(AM)techniques,SPS gives unique control of the structural and microstructural features of Mg components.By doing so,their mechanical,tribological,and corrosion properties can be tailored.Although great advancements in this field have been made,these pieces of knowledge are scattered and have not been contextualized into a single work.The motivation of this work is to address this scientific gap and to provide a groundwork for understanding the basics of SPS manufacturing for Mg.To do so,the existing body of SPS Mg literature was first surveyed,with a focus on their structural formation and degradation mechanisms.It was found that successful Mg SPS fabrication highly depended on the processing temperature,particle size,and particle crystallinity.The addition of metal and ceramic composites also affected their microstructural features due to the Zener pinning effect.In degradative environments,their performance depends on their structural features and whether they have secondary phased composites.In industrial applications,SPS'd Mg was found to have great potential in biomedical,hydrogen storage,battery,automotive,and recycling sectors.The prospects to advance the field include using Mg as a doping agent for crystallite size refinement and using bulk metallic Mg-based glass powders for amorphous SPS components.Despite these findings,the interactions of multi-composites on the processing-structure-property relationships of SPS Mg is not well understood.In total,this work will provide a useful direction in the SPS field and serve as a milestone for future Mg-based SPS manufacturing.