Vibrational non-Boltzmann effects on the dissociation rate of oxygen.

Both the internal energy nonequilibrium and the NB effects of the vibrational state distribution influence the calculation of the dissociation rate coefficient. The state-to-state (STS) method gives the exact dissociation rate coefficients under the influence of two nonequilibrium effects, while the single group linear maximum-entropy (SGLM) model only considers the internal energy nonequilibrium effects. Therefore, the ratio ζ of the dissociation rate coefficient calculated by the STS method and the SGLM model is used in this paper to describe the NB effects on the dissociation rate coefficient. The zero-dimensional (0D) heating adiabatic thermochemical nonequilibrium process of oxygen was simulated by the STS method with a post-surge temperature of 7000-11 000 K. The variation regularity of the NB effects in the relaxation process were investigated using ζ, and it was found that the NB effects were mainly affected by temperature. And then the relaxation process after the normal shock with the same post-surge temperature of 7000-11 000 K was simulated. The NB effects in the two non-equilibrium processes were compared, and it was found that although there is a conversion between internal energy and fluid kinetic energy in the latter, the NB effects in both processes have similar change rules with similar temperature change rules. If the specific internal energy is the same, the NB effects in both processes are also quantitatively consistent. This finding provides a basis for the improvement of the nonequilibrium model considering the NB effects.

A Review on Wine Flavour Profiles Altered by Bottle Aging.

The wine flavour profile directly determines the overall quality of wine and changes significantly during bottle aging. Understanding the mechanism of flavour evolution during wine bottle aging is important for controlling wine quality through cellar management. This literature review summarises the changes in volatile compounds and non-volatile compounds that occur during wine bottle aging, discusses chemical reaction mechanisms, and outlines the factors that may affect this evolution. This review aims to provide a deeper understanding of bottle aging management and to identify the current literature gaps for future research.

ß-Asarone improves learning and memory in Aß1-42-induced Alzheimer's disease rats by regulating PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by the extracellular accumulation of ß-amyloid (Aß). Many studies have shown a close relationship between autophagy and the formation of Aß. As AD develops and progresses, mitophagy diminishes insoluble Aß, and mitochondrial dysfunction seems to be a determining factor in the pathogenesis of AD. In our previous study, we showed that ß-asarone pharmacological effects in APP/PS1 transgenic mice, reducing Aß expression. However, the specific mechanism of this effect remains unclear. In this study, AD model rats induced by intracerebroventricular injection of Aß1-42 were randomly divided into nine groups, and medical intervention was applied to the animals for 30 days. Subsequently, spatial learning and memory were evaluated by the water maze test. Bcl-2 levels in the hippocampus were determined by western blotting (WB). The protein expression of Aß1-42, Beclin-1, p62, PINK1, and Parkin was assessed by WB and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The data showed that after ß-asarone treatment, the learning and memory of the AD rats were clearly improved compared with those of the model group. Moreover, ß-asarone decreased Aß1-42, Bcl-2, and p62 levels but increased Beclin-1 levels compared with those in the model group. In addition, we treated a group of rats with CsA to inhibit mitophagy. ß-Asarone increased PINK1 and Parkin expression compared with that in the model group. The results showed that ß-asarone can improve the learning and memory of rats with Aß1-42-induced AD by effectively promoting PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Taken together, these results suggest that ß-asarone may have the capacity to become a pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of AD in the future.

Signal-Enhanced Detection of Multiplexed Cardiac Biomarkers by a Paper-Based Fluorogenic Immunodevice Integrated with Zinc Oxide Nanowires.

Using a single test to comprehensively evaluate multiple cardiac biomarkers for early diagnosis and prevention of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has faced enormous challenges. Here, we have developed paper-based fluorogenic immunodevices for multiplexed detection of three cardiac biomarkers, namely, human heart-type fatty acid binding protein (FABP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and myoglobin, simultaneously. The detection is based on a strategy using zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) to enhance fluorescence signals (∼5-fold compared to that on pure paper). The immunodevices showed high sensitivity and selectivity for FABP, cTnI, and myoglobin with detection limits of 1.36 ng/mL, 1.00 ng/mL, and 2.38 ng/mL, respectively. Additionally, the paper-based immunoassay was rapid (∼5 min to complete the test) and portable (using a homemade chamber with a smartphone and an ultraviolet lamp). The developed devices integrated with ZnO NWs enable quantitative, sensitive, and simultaneous detection of multiple cardiac biomarkers in point-of-care settings, which provides a useful approach for monitoring AMI diseases and may be extended to other medical diagnostics and environmental assessments.

A transparent paper-based platform for multiplexed bioassays by wavelength-dependent absorbance/transmittance.

This communication describes the rational design of a transparent paper-based chemosensing platform for multi-target detection by wavelength-dependent absorbance/transmittance. The platform was successfully applied in the examination of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and cholesterol in serum with a low detection limit of 0.1 µM and 0.1 mM, respectively. With low cost and high sensitivity, the paper-based platform shows great promise for multiplexed bioassays.

YTHDF3 gene polymorphisms increase Wilms tumor risk in Chinese girls.

Wilms tumor is a prevalent pediatric tumor influenced by various genetic factors. m6A modification is a common nucleotide modification that plays a role in a variety of cancers. As a "reader", YTHDF3 is essential for recognizing m6A modifications. However, the association between YTHDF3 gene polymorphisms and Wilms tumor susceptibility has not been previously reported. A five-center case‒control study including 414 patients and 1199 controls was conducted to explore the relationship between YTHDF3 gene polymorphisms and Wilms tumor susceptibility. The samples were genotyped via TaqMan real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized as indicators to assess their correlation. The YTHDF3 rs2241753 AA genotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of Wilms tumor in females (adjusted OR=1.74, 95% CI=1.05-2.88, P=0.033). The risk of Wilms tumor was also notably elevated in female children with 1-3 risk genotypes (adjusted OR=1.47, 95% CI=1.04-2.07, P=0.028). The YTHDF3 rs2241753 AA genotype and the presence of 1-3 risk genotypes were significantly associated with increased Wilms tumor risk in female children.

Kunduan Yimu Decoction affected Th17/Treg balance through microRNA-124 to improve rheumatoid arthritis pathology.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition characterized by inflammation and the deterioration of joints. Current treatments often have side effects, highlighting the need for safer options. This study investigates the therapeutic effects of Kunduan Yimu Decoction (KDYMD) on RA, focusing on the role of miR-124 in regulating Th17/Treg differentiation. METHODS: PBMCs from RA patients were analyzed before and after KDYMD treatment. RT-qPCR was used to measure the miR-124 expressions. Flow cytometry was used to assess the ratios of Th17 to Treg cells. ELISA was used to quantify the cytokine concentrations. The effects of KDYMD on JAK2/STAT3 signaling were evaluated by western blot analysis. A CIA mouse model was used to validate the in vivo effects of KDYMD. RESULTS: MiR-124 expression was significantly upregulated in PBMCs of RA patients after KDYMD treatment. This upregulation was associated with increased Tip60 and Foxp3 expression and decreased RORγt expression. In the cytokine analysis, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17A were decreased, and IL-10 and TGF- were increased after treatment. Flow cytometry showed a restoration of the Th17/Treg balance, with a decrease in Th17 and an increase in Treg cells. In vivo, KDYMD treatment ameliorated ankle swelling and arthritis index in CIA mice, comparable to methotrexate (MTX). In addition, KDYMD modulated JAK2/STAT3 signaling and enhanced anti-inflammatory responses. CONCLUSIONS: KDYMD exerts significant anti-inflammatory effects in RA by upregulating miR-124, which in turn regulates Th17/Treg differentiation and modulates JAK2/STAT3 signaling. A novel mechanism involving miR-124 and immune cell balance suggests KDYMD could be a promising therapeutic agent for RA.

N6-methyladenosine modification of circMARK2 enhances cytoplasmic export and stabilizes LIN28B, contributing to the progression of Wilms tumor.

BACKGROUND: The potential involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in the progression of Wilms tumor (WT) has not been fully elucidated. This study investigates the regulatory mechanisms and clinical significance of m6A-modified circMARK2 and its role in WT progression. METHODS: We identified dysregulated circRNAs through deep sequencing and validated their expression by qRT-PCR in WT tissues. The biological functions of circMARK2 were assessed using clone formation, transwell migration, and orthotopic animal models. To dissect the underlying mechanisms, we employed RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down, dual-luciferase reporter assays, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: CircMARK2, upregulated in WT tissues, was found to be m6A-modified and promoted cytoplasmic export. It facilitated WT progression by stabilizing LIN28B mRNA through the circMARK2/IGF2BP2 interaction. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that circMARK2 enhances the malignant behavior of WT cells. Clinically, higher circMARK2 levels in tumor tissues of WT patients were linked to increased tumor aggressiveness and reduced survival rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides the first comprehensive evidence that m6A-modified circMARK2 contributes to WT progression by enhancing LIN28B mRNA stability, promoting cellular aggressiveness. CircMARK2 emerges as a potential biomarker for prognosis and a promising target for therapeutic intervention in WT, underscoring the clinical relevance of m6A modification in pediatric renal cancer.

Implementation of micelle-enabled C(sp2)-C(sp3) cross-electrophile coupling in pharmaceutical synthesis.

A sustainable C(sp2)-C(sp3) cross-electrophile coupling was developed between readily available 5-bromophthalide and 1-benzyl-4-iodopiperidine under micellar conditions, leading to a key intermediate of one of our development compounds. Copper was found to play a crucial role as a co-catalyst in this dual catalysis system. The chemistry and process were successfully demonstrated in a kilo scale to deliver sufficient drug substance to the clinical campaigns. This is the first reported scale-up of such a challenging cross-electrophilic coupling that uses an aqueous medium, and not undesirable reprotoxic polar aprotic solvents (e.g. DMF, DMAc, and NMP).

Clinical Microfluidic Chip Platform for the Isolation of Versatile Circulating Tumor Cells.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are significant in cancer prognosis, diagnosis, and anti-cancer therapy. CTC enumeration is vital in determining patient disease since CTCs are rare and heterogeneous. CTCs are detached from the primary tumor, enter the blood circulation system, and potentially grow at distant sites, thus metastasizing the tumor. Since CTCs carry similar information to the primary tumor, CTC isolation and subsequent characterization can be critical in monitoring and diagnosing cancer. The enumeration, affinity modification, and clinical immunofluorescence staining of rare CTCs are powerful methods for CTC isolation because they provide the necessary elements with high sensitivity. Microfluidic chips offer a liquid biopsy method that is free of any pain for the patients. In this work, we present a list of protocols for clinical microfluidic chips, a versatile CTC isolating platform, that incorporate a set of functionalities and services required for CTC separation, analysis, and early diagnosis, thus facilitating biomolecular analysis and cancer treatment. The program includes rare tumor cell counting, clinical patient blood preprocessing, which includes red blood cell lysis, and the isolation and recognition of CTCs in situ on microfluidic chips. The program allows the precise enumeration of tumor cells or CTCs. Additionally, the program includes a tool that incorporates CTC isolation with versatile microfluidic chips and immunofluorescence identification in situ on the chips, followed by biomolecular analysis.

miR-100 rs1834306 a > G polymorphism decreases neuroblastoma risk in Chinese children.

BACKGROUND: Neuroblastoma is a common malignant tumor stemming from the sympathetic nervous system in children, which is often life-threatening. The genetics of neuroblastoma remains unclear. Studies have shown that miRNAs participate in the regulation of a broad spectrum of biological pathways. The abnormity in the miRNA is associated with the risk of various cancers, including neuroblastoma. However, research on the relationship of miRNA polymorphisms with neuroblastoma susceptibility is still in the initial stage. METHODS: In this research, a retrospective case-control study was conducted to explore whether miR-100 rs1834306 A > G polymorphism is associated with neuroblastoma susceptibility. We enrolled 402 cases and 473 controls for the study. The logistic regression analysis was adopted to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between miR-100 rs1834306 A > G and neuroblastoma risk. RESULTS: Our results elucidated that the miR-100 rs1834306 A > G polymorphism was associated with the decreased risk of neuroblastoma (AG versus AA: adjusted OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.53-0.98, and P = 0.038). The subsequent stratified analysis further found that rs1834306 AG/GG genotype reduced the risk of neuroblastoma in the subgroup with tumors of the mediastinum origin (adjusted OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.41-0.95, and P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, miR-100 rs1834306 A > G polymorphism was shown to associate with decreased neuroblastoma risk in Chinese children, especially for neuroblastoma of mediastinum origin. This conclusion needs to be verified in additional large-size case-control studies.

Relationship between sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and muscle atrophy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: This study aims to assess the association between sodium-glucose cotransporter type-2 inhibitor (SGLT-2i) treatment and muscle atrophy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: We searched six databases from 1 January 2012 to 1 May 2023, without language restrictions. The primary outcome was muscle. Secondary outcomes were weight loss, weakness, malaise, or fatigue. Subgroup analyses were performed according to different definitions of muscle, treatment duration, and measurement methods. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane tool. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool. Results: Nineteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1,482 participants were included. Compared with the control group, a meta-analysis showed that T2DM participants in the group treated with SGLT-2i demonstrated statistically significant reductions in lean body mass of 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI), -1.05 to -0.27; p = 0.0009) and skeletal muscle mass of 0.35 (95% CI, -0.66 to -0.04; p = 0.03). No deaths or serious adverse events were reported. The quality of evidence in the included trials was low. Conclusions: SGLT-2i may lead to a reduction in muscle strength in the treatment of T2DM compared to the control group. However, there is still a lack of high-quality evidence to evaluate muscle atrophy caused by SGLT-2i. Systematic review registration: https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-12-0061/, identifier 2022120061.

Transcriptomic Study on the Lungs of Broilers with Ascites Syndrome.

Although broiler ascites syndrome (AS) has been extensively studied, its pathogenesis remains unclear. The lack of cardiopulmonary function in broilers causes relative hypoxia in the body; hence, the lung is the main target organ of AS. However, the transcriptome of AS lung tissue in broilers has not been studied. In this study, an AS model was successfully constructed, and lung tissues of three AS broilers and three healthy broilers were obtained for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and pathological observation. The results showed that 614 genes were up-regulated and 828 genes were down-regulated in the AS group compared with the normal group. Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation revealed the following up-regulated genes: FABP4, APLN, EIF2AK4, HMOX1, MMP9, THBS1, TLR4, BCL2; and down-regulated genes: APELA, FGF7, WNT5A, CDK6, IL7, IL7R, APLNR. These genes have attracted much attention in cardiovascular diseases such as pulmonary hypertension. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that multiple metabolic processes were enriched, indicating abnormal lung metabolism of AS in broilers. These findings elucidate the potential genes and signal pathways in the lungs of broilers with AS and provide a potential target for studying the pathogenesis and preventing AS.

Underlying mechanism of Qiling Jiaogulan Powder in the treatment of broiler ascites syndrome.

Broiler ascites syndrome (AS), is a nutritional and metabolic disease that occurs in fast-growing commercial broiler chickens. AS can cause poor growth and a significant increase in the rate of broiler deaths, which has resulted in serious economic losses to the poultry industry. The classic traditional Chinese medicine Qiling Jiaogulan Powder (QLJP) has been demonstrated to have a certain therapeutic effect on broiler AS. However, its pharmacological mechanism remains to be elucidated. This study was performed to investigate the multitarget action mechanism of QLJP in the treatment of broiler AS based on network pharmacology analysis using a broiler AS model. First, all chemical components and targets of QLJP were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Targets related to broiler AS were further obtained through the GeneCards database and the NCBI Gene sub-database. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Then, enrichment analyses were performed to predict the potential mechanisms of QLJP in the treatment of broiler AS. Finally, the treatment effect of QLJP on AS was verified in a broiler AS model. Network pharmacology analysis generated 49 active ingredients and 167 core targets of QLJP, and a QLJP-single drug-target-disease network was successfully constructed. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that the core targets have played major roles in the Cell cycle, FOXO signaling pathways, etc. We demonstrated that QLJP improved clinical and organ damage symptoms and significantly reduced the ascites heart index in broilers with AS induced by administration of high-energy, high-protein diets and high-sodium drinking water in a low-temperature environment. QLJP may regulate lung oxidative stress, the cell cycle and apoptosis by activating the FOXO3a signaling pathway to interfere with the occurrence and development of AS in broilers. QLJP administration may be a good clinical strategy for the prevention and treatment of broiler AS.

Accelerating Effects of Flow Behavior Index n on Breakup Dynamics for Droplet Evolution in Non-Newtonian Fluids.

This paper studied the evolution of NaAlg solution micro-droplet in a coaxial microchannel. The Bird-Carreau model was used to characterize the flow properties of NaAlg solution. As the mass fraction decreased, the flow behavior index n also decreased, indicating that the NaAlg solution was increasingly shear-thinning. There were three stages during the micro-droplet evolution, which were the growth stage, the squeezing stage, and the pinch-off stage. This paper led the flow behavior index n to estimate the effects of rheological property on the breakup dynamics of micro-droplet. We proposed two new prediction models of the minimum neck width wm which were affected by |n| in the squeezing and pinch-off stages for the non-Newtonian fluids. In addition, this paper indicated the rate ratio Qd/Qc was another factor on the wm model in the squeezing stage and the H(λ) of Stokes mechanism was a function governed by |n|2 in the pinch-off stage.

Analysis of P wave induced second-order harmonic field at solid-fluid interface with potential matrix algorithm.

Based on the second-order harmonic potential theory, the characteristics of the second-order harmonic field generated at the solid-liquid interface induced by P wave incidence are analyzed. A planar model of the solid-liquid interface is established to study the variation of the second-order displacement field versus the incident angles. The homogeneous solution coefficient matrix, refraction and reflection coefficient matrix are introduced. According to the boundary conditions and Lagrange's various parameters method, the second-order displacement field is obtained, and its dependence on the solid-liquid interface is investigated. The different effects of boundary on the tangential displacement and normal displacement are demonstrated. Numerical simulation shows that the complete solution varies slightly at the incident angle, and the tangential displacement and the normal displacement change sharply at a mutation angle θω due to the boundary effect.

Fish Gelatin Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Harvesting Biomechanical Energy and Self-Powered Sensing of Human Physiological Signals.

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been proven effective in converting biomechanical energy into electrical energy, which is expected to be a new energy supply device for wearable electronics and can be utilized as a self-powered sensor. In this work, we have developed a flexible, eco-friendly, and multifunctional fish gelatin based triboelectric nanogenerator (FG-TENG) composed of fish gelatin (FG) film and poly(tetrafluoroethylene)/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PTFE/PDMS) composite film. The open-circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current (Isc), and output power density of this FG-TENG could reach up to 130 V, 0.35 µA, and 45.8 µW cm-2, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of TENGs based on other commonly used positive friction materials such as aluminum foil, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and print paper. The superior performance of the FG-TENG is attributed to the strong electron-donating ability of the FG during the triboelectric process. The generated electric energy was high enough to light up 50 commercial light-emitting diodes (LEDs) directly. Importantly, owing to the high stability and excellent sensitivity of the FG-TENG, it has been used as a self-powered sensor for real-time monitoring of the human physiological signals such as finger touch, joint movement, and respiration. Furthermore, to expand the usages in real-life applications, a foldable FG-TENG was fabricated by adopting the Miura folding to monitor human movements in real time. This work provides an economical, simple, and environmental-friendly approach to fabricate a biomechanical energy harvester, which has a great potential in powering next-generation wearable electronics and monitoring human physiological signals.

Paper-based fluorescent immunoassay for highly sensitive and selective detection of norfloxacin in milk at picogram level.

Norfloxacin (NOR) in milk may influence mammalian cell replication and bring about a decrease in the efficiency for treating infection in humans. However, current techniques for detecting NOR usually require expensive instruments and trained personnel. In this work, we have developed a low-cost and simple method via paper-based fluorescent immunoassay for highly sensitive and selective detection of NOR in milk at picogram level. The NOR monoclonal antibody labeled with quantum dots is used as a detection probe to recognize the corresponding NOR, which can quantitatively detect NOR on paper-based devices. The detection limits in aqueous solution and milk are 1 pg/mL and 10 pg/mL, respectively. The developed paper-based method provides a cheap, sensitive, eco-friendly, and rapid approach for quantitative detection of trace NOR in milk, which may find wide applications in food safety inspection. Noteworthy, the method is especially suitable for applications at resource-limited and on-site settings.

Development of a biomimetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on molecularly imprinted polymers on paper for the detection of carbaryl.

A biomimetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BELISA) which was based on molecularly imprinted polymers on paper (MIPs-paper) with specific recognition was developed. As a detector, the surface of paper was modified with γ-MAPS by hydrolytic action and anchored the MIP layer on γ-MAPS modified-paper by copolymerization to construct the artificial antibody Through a series of experimentation and verification, we successful got the MIPs-paper and established BELISA for the detection of carbaryl. The development of MIPs-paper based on BELISA was applied to detect carbaryl in real samples and validated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on anti-carbaryl biological antibody. The results of these two methods (BELISA and ELISA) were well correlated (R2=0.944). The established method of MIPs-paper BELISA exhibits the advantages of low cost, higher stability and being re-generable, which can be applied as a convenient tool for the fast and efficient detection of carbaryl.

ß-asarone induces cell apoptosis, inhibits cell proliferation and decreases migration and invasion of glioma cells.

Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor Despite the availability of adjuvant therapies, malignant glioma grows fast and metastasizes via cerebrospinal fluid after tumorectomy or cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement, and the prognosis for patients with glioma remains poor. Our previous study demonstrated that ß-asarone has anti-tumor effects on several kinds of cancer cells, especially for glioma cells. In this study, human glioma U251 cells and rat glioma C6 cells were treated with different concentrations of ß-asarone. Cultured them for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and evaluated the IC50 with the results of Counting Kit-8 assay. Then, cell apoptosis and cell DNA cycles were evaluated with flow cytometry. Apoptosis related mRNA and protein were analyzed In addition, cell migration and invasion were also detected with wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. What is more, glioma specific proteins: GFAP, NRP-1 and NSE an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The corresponding CCK-8 results showed that ß-asarone altered cell morphology and inhibited cell proliferation. ß-asarone can also induced cell apoptosis, decreased the expression of BCL-2 mRNA and blocked the DNA cycle at the G0/G1 phase for all the two cells. In addition, ß-asarone inhibited cell migration and invasion by reducing the expression of GFAP, NRP-1 and NSE. Co-administration with TMZ showed a more pronounced effect. In summary, ß-asarone induces cell death and inhibits cell migration and invasion in Glioma U251 and C6 cells.