Strain to shine: stretching-induced three-dimensional symmetries in nanoparticle-assembled photonic crystals.

Stretching elastic materials containing nanoparticle lattices is common in research and industrial settings, yet our knowledge of the deformation process remains limited. Understanding how such lattices reconfigure is critically important, as changes in microstructure lead to significant alterations in their performance. This understanding has been extremely difficult to achieve due to a lack of fundamental rules governing the rearrangements. Our study elucidates the physical processes and underlying mechanisms of three-dimensional lattice transformations in a polymeric photonic crystal from 0% to over 200% strain during uniaxial stretching. Corroborated by comprehensive experimental characterizations, we present analytical models that precisely predict both the three-dimensional lattice structures and the macroscale deformations throughout the stretching process. These models reveal how the nanoparticle lattice and matrix polymer jointly determine the resultant structures, which breaks the original structural symmetry and profoundly changes the dispersion of photonic bandgaps. Stretching induces shifting of the main pseudogap structure out from the 1st Brillouin zone and the merging of different symmetry points. Evolutions of multiple photonic bandgaps reveal potential optical singularities shifting with strain. This work sets a new benchmark for the reconfiguration of soft material structures and may lay the groundwork for the study of stretchable three-dimensional topological photonic crystals.

Prediction of Optical Properties in Particulate Media Using Double Optimization of Dependent Scattering and Particle Distribution.

The prediction of optical properties dominated by light scattering in particulate media composed of high-concentration and polydisperse particles is greatly important in various optical applications. However, the accuracy and efficiency of light propagation simulations are still limited by the huge computational burden and complex interactions between dense and polydisperse particles. Here, we proposed a new optimization strategy that can effectively and accurately predict optical properties based on Monte Carlo simulation with particle size and dependent scattering corrections. Both the scattering parameters of particles and the experimental reflectance spectrum are fully examined for verification. Furthermore, using the weighted solar reflectance of particulate media as a representative optical property, both numerical simulations and experiments confirm the superiority and universality of the proposed optimization approach in a variety of materials systems. Moreover, our work can guide the design of particulate media with specific optical features insightfully and will be applicable in many fields involving multiparticle scattering.

Glutamine alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-induced corneal epithelial inflammation and oxidative stress in dogs.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common pathogenic bacteria in canine ophthalmology. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component in the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria, is released following bacterial lysis and causes pathology and inflammation of the cornea. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial keratitis, and the reuse of antibiotics can easily cause bacterial resistance. Research has shown that glutamine (GLN) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant biological functions. Herein, we explored the effects and underlying mechanisms of GLN and established an LPS-induced cornea inflammation model. Treatment groups comprised: control check (CK), LPS, LPS + GLN, and Sham groups. Topical GLN treatment alleviated corneal opacity, reduced corneal injury, and accelerated corneal wound healing. Furthermore, GLN treatment altered the uniform distribution of corneal epithelial cells and transformed the healing approach of these cells in the corneal wound from crawling to filling. The expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), IL-6, TNF-α, and p-p65 and the activity of myeloperoxidase and superoxide dismutase decreased while the content of malondialdehyde increased in the LPS + GLN group compared with those in the LPS group. Thus, our study suggests that LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress may be suppressed via the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway by GLN and that GLN could be used as an adjunct therapy to reduce antibiotic use.

AMPK-endoplasmic reticulum stress axis contributes to lipopolysaccharide-caused mitochondrial dysfunction by regulating mitochondria-associated membrane function in bovine hepatocytes.

Mitochondrial homeostasis is closely associated with cellular homeostasis process, whereas mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to apoptosis and mitophagy. Hence, analyzing the mechanism of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-caused mitochondrial damage is necessary to understand how cellular homeostasis is maintained in bovine hepatocytes. Mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM), a connection between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, is important to control mitochondrial function. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of the LPS-caused mitochondrial dysfunction, hepatocytes isolated from dairy cows at ∼160 d in milk (DIM) were pretreated with the specific inhibitors of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), ER stress, RNA-activated protein kinase-like ER kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and autophagy followed by a 12 I1/4g/mL LPS treatment. The results showed that inhibiting ER stress with 4-phenylbutyric acid decreased the levels of autophagy and mitochondrial damage with AMPK inactivation in LPS-treated hepatocytes. The AMPK inhibitor compound C pretreatment alleviated LPS-induced ER stress, autophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction by regulating the expression of MAM-related genes, such as mitofusin 2 (MFN2), PERK, and IRE1α. Moreover, inhibiting PERK and IRE1α mitigated autophagy and mitochondrial dynamic disruption by regulating the MAM function. Additionally, blocking c-Jun N-terminal kinase, the downstream sensor of IRE1α, could reduce the levels of autophagy and apoptosis and restore the balance of mitochondrial fusion and fission by modulating the B cell leukemia 2 (BCL-2)/BCL-2 interacting protein 1 (BECLIN1) complex in the LPS-treated bovine hepatocytes. Furthermore, autophagy blockage with chloroquine could intervene in LPS-caused apoptosis to restore mitochondrial function. Collectively, these findings suggest that the AMPK-ER stress axis is involved in the LPS-caused mitochondrial dysfunction by mediating the MAM activity in bovine hepatocytes.

Forkhead box protein A2 alleviates toll-like receptor 4-mediated inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, and apoptosis induced by lipopolysaccharide in bovine hepatocytes.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an important stimulus of inflammation via binding to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), but the role of TLR4 in LPS-induced cellular homeostasis disruption indicated by the increased level of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, autophagy, and apoptosis is unknown in the liver of dairy cows. Previous studies show that forkhead box protein A2 (FOXA2) is an important transcriptional factor to maintain cellular metabolic homeostasis, but the mechanisms by which FOXA2 mediates cellular homeostasis disruption in response to LPS remains unclear. To achieve the aims, hepatocytes separated from dairy cows at ∼160 d in milk were pretreated with a specific TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242 for 12 h, followed by LPS treatment for another 12 h to investigate the role of TLR4 in LPS-induced disruption of cellular homeostasis. The results indicated that LPS-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-mediated inflammatory cascades, ER stress, autophagy, and apoptosis via activating TLR4 and downregulating FOXA2 expression in bovine hepatocytes. The application of TLR4 inhibitor alleviated LPS-induced inflammation through inactivating NF-κB proinflammatory pathway, restored cell homeostasis by decreasing the level of ER stress, autophagy, and apoptosis, and upregulated FOXA2 expression. Furthermore, we also elevated FOXA2 expression with an overexpression plasmid to clarify its molecular role in response to LPS challenge. FOXA2 overexpression reduced LPS-caused inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway. Also, FOXA2 could alleviate ER stress to block unfolded protein response and suppress autophagic flux. In addition, FOXA2 enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential via reducing pro-apoptotic protein BAX, CASPASE3, and Cleaved CASPASE3 expression and elevating anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 expression to mitigate LPS-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggested that FOXA2 is a mediator to alleviate TLR4-controlled inflammation, ER stress, autophagy, and apoptosis in LPS-treated bovine hepatocytes, it could serve as a potential target to intervene cell homeostasis disruption caused by LPS in the liver of dairy cows.

Spatial Effect of Ecological Environmental Factors on Mumps in China during 2014-2018.

(1) Background: although mumps vaccines have been introduced in most countries around the world in recent years, mumps outbreaks have occurred in countries with high vaccination rates. At present, China remains the focus of the global fight against mumps. This study aims to observe the epidemic characteristics and spatial clustering patterns of mumps and to investigate the potential factors affecting the disease incidence, which could provide novel ideas and avenues for future research as well as the prevention and control of mumps. (2) Methods: we used ArcGIS software to visualize the spatial distribution and variation of mumps. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was applied to detect the spatial dependence and clustering patterns of the incidence. We applied the Spatial Durbin Panel Model (SDPM) to explore the spatial associations of ecological environmental factors with mumps. (3) Results: overall, the incidence rate showed a significant upward trend from 2014 to 2018, with the highest number of cases in the 10-15-year age group and from May to June. Geographically, the high incidence clusters were concentrated in southern regions, including Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, Guizhou, Guangdong, and Guangxi. This study also found that mumps has a positive spatial spillover effect in the study area. The average temperature and GDP of the local and adjacent areas have a significant impact on mumps. The increase in PM2.5 contributes to the rise in the incidence of mumps in this region. (4) Conclusions: these results can offer some novel ideas for policymakers and researchers. Local meteorological conditions and economic levels can extend to surrounding areas to affect the occurrence of mumps, so regional cooperation becomes particularly important. We recommend investment of public health funds in areas with a high incidence of mumps and developing economies to reduce and control the incidence of mumps.

Predictive value of HMGB1 for atrial fibrillation recurrence after cryoballoon ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients.

BACKGROUND: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is recommended for patients with symptomatic drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF). However, substantial atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence is common during follow-up. Searching for a potential biomarker representing both myocardial injury and inflammation to identify patients at high risk of AF recurrence after CBA is very meaningful for postoperative management of AF patients. HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein released from the left atrium to predict AF recurrence in pAF patients after CBA at 1-year follow-up. METHODS: We included 72 pAF patients who underwent CBA. To determine the expression levels of HMGB1, left atrial blood samples were collected from the patients before CBA and after the procedure through the transseptal sheath. Patients were followed up for AF recurrence for 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients of the 72 experienced AF recurrence. The level of postoperative HMGB1 (HMGB1post) was higher in the AF recurrence group than in the AF non recurrence group (p = .03). However, no differences were noted in the levels of other biomarkers such as preoperative high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), postoperativehs-CRP, and preoperative HMGB1 between the two groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that a higher level of serum HMGB1post was associated with AF recurrence (odds ratio: 5.29 [1.17-23.92], p = .04). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that HMGB1post had a moderate predictive power for AF recurrence (area under the curve: 0.68; sensitivity: 72%; and specificity: 68%). The 1-year AF-free survival was significantly lower in patients with a high HMGB1post level than in those with a low HMGB1post level (hazard ratio: 3.81 [1.49-9.75], p = .005). CONCLUSION: In pAF patients who under went CBA, the level of HMGB1 after CBA was associated with AF recurrence and demonstrated a moderate predictive power. Thus, we offer a potential biomarker to identify pAF patients at high risk of AF recurrence.

Protective Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Respiratory Inflammation and Oxidative Stress.

As the leading cause of bovine respiratory disease (BRD), bacterial pneumonia can result in tremendous losses in the herd farming industry worldwide. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an acetylated precursor of the amino acid L-cysteine, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. To explore the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of NAC in ALI, we investigated its role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bovine embryo tracheal cells (EBTr) and mouse lung injury models. We found that NAC pretreatment attenuated LPS-induced inflammation in EBTr and mouse models. Moreover, LPS suppressed the expression of oxidative-related factors in EBTr and promoted gene expression and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Conversely, the pretreatment of NAC alleviated the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and decreased their mRNA levels, maintaining stable levels of antioxidative gene expression. In vivo, NAC helped LPS-induced inflammatory responses and lung injury in ALI mice. The relative protein concentration, total cells, and percentage of neutrophils in BALF; the level of secretion of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-1ß; MPO activity; lung injury score; and the expression level of inflammatory-related genes were decreased significantly in the NAC group compared with the LPS group. NAC also ameliorated LPS-induced mRNA level changes in antioxidative genes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that NAC affects the inflammatory and oxidative response, alleviating LPS-induced EBTr inflammation and mouse lung injury, which offers a natural therapeutic strategy for BRD.

Spatial analysis and influencing factors of pulmonary tuberculosis among students in Nanning, during 2012-2018.

BACKGROUND: Economically underdeveloped areas in western China are hotspots of tuberculosis, especially among students. However, the related spatial and temporal patterns and influencing factors are still unclear and there are few studies to analyze the causes of pulmonary tuberculosis in students from the perspective of space. METHODS: We collected data regarding the reported incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among students at township level in Nanning, from 2012 to 2018. The reported incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis among students in Nanning was analyzed using spatial autocorrelation and spatial scan statistical analysis to depict hotspots of PTB incidence and spatial and temporal clustering. Spatial panel data of the reported incidence rates and influencing factors at district and county levels in Nanning were collected from 2015 to 2018. Then, we analyzed the spatial effects of incidence and influencing factors using the spatial Durbin model to explore the mechanism of each influencing factor in areas with high disease prevalence under spatial effects. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2018, 1609 cases of PTB were reported among students in Nanning, with an average annual reported incidence rate of 14.84/100,000. Through the Joinpoint regression model, We observed a steady trend in the percentage of cases reported each year (P>0.05). There was spatial autocorrelation between the annual reported incidence and the seven-years average reported incidence from 2012 to 2018. The high-incidence area was distributed in the junction of six urban areas and spread to the periphery, with the junction at the center. The population of college students, per capita financial expenditure on health, per capita gross domestic product, and the number of health technicians per 1,000 population were all influencing factors in the reported incidence of PTB among students. CONCLUSION: We identified spatial clustering of the reported incidence of PTB among students in Nanning, mainly located in the urban center and its surrounding areas. The clustering gradually decreased from the urban center to the surrounding areas. Spatial effects influenced the reported incidence of PTB. The population density of college students, per capita health financial expenditure, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, and the number of health technicians per 1,000 were all influencing factors in the reported incidence of PTB among students.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants using carbon nanotube mediated CuO and Bi2WO6 sandwich flaky structures.

CuO/CNT/Bi2WO6 composites were synthesized with a solvothermal and impregnation-calcination method. This material combines the advantages of CuO, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Bi2WO6. The photocatalytic activity of the catalyst was evaluated by degrading phenolic organic pollutants such as p-nitrophenol and phenol under visible light. Compared with pure Bi2WO6, the photocatalytic activity of CuO/CNT/Bi2WO6 composites is significantly increased by a factor of 3.52. The main reason for the increased activity is that the doped CNTs and CuO promote the separation of photogenerated hole and electron pairs. In addition, the coupling of π-π electrons on the CNT surface with the pollutants promotes the adsorption of the pollutants on the photocatalyst surface. The degradation rate of pure photocatalytic degradation of phenol can reach 60%. Under the synergistic effect of H2O2, the degradation rate of phenol can reach 94%, which is 1.56 times higher than that of pure photocatalysis. The UV-vis absorption spectrum shows that CuO/CNT/Bi2WO6 has stronger light absorption ability in both visible and ultraviolet light regions. The trapping experiments of active species show that h + and • OH are the main active substances for photocatalytic degradation of phenol. This paper proposes a Z scheme mechanism to improve the photocatalytic performance.