Comparative Analysis of Chloroplast Genome of Meconopsis (Papaveraceae) Provides Insights into Their Genomic Evolution and Adaptation to High Elevation.

The Meconopsis species are widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Himalayas, and Hengduan Mountains in China, and have high medicinal and ornamental value. The high diversity of plant morphology in this genus poses significant challenges for species identification, given their propensity for highland dwelling, which makes it a question worth exploring how they cope with the harsh surroundings. In this study, we recently generated chloroplast (cp) genomes of two Meconopsis species, Meconopsis paniculata (M. paniculata) and M. pinnatifolia, and compared them with those of ten Meconopsis cp genomes to comprehend cp genomic features, their phylogenetic relationships, and what part they might play in plateau adaptation. These cp genomes shared a great deal of similarities in terms of genome size, structure, gene content, GC content, and codon usage patterns. The cp genomes were between 151,864 bp and 154,997 bp in length, and contain 133 predictive genes. Through sequence divergence analysis, we identified three highly variable regions (trnD-psbD, ccsA-ndhD, and ycf1 genes), which could be used as potential markers or DNA barcodes for phylogenetic analysis. Between 22 and 38 SSRs and some long repeat sequences were identified from 12 Meconopsis species. Our phylogenetic analysis confirmed that 12 species of Meconopsis clustered into a monophyletic clade in Papaveraceae, which corroborated their intrageneric relationships. The results indicated that M. pinnatifolia and M. paniculata are sister species in the phylogenetic tree. In addition, the atpA and ycf2 genes were positively selected in high-altitude species. The functions of these two genes might be involved in adaptation to the extreme environment in the cold and low CO2 concentration conditions at the plateau.

Genetic diversity and gene expression diversity shape the adaptive pattern of the aquatic plant Batrachium bungei along an altitudinal gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

It is an intriguing issue of evolutionary biology how genetic diversity and gene expression diversity shape the adaptive patterns. Comparative transcriptomic studies of wild populations in extreme environments provide critical insights into the relative contribution of genetic and expressive components. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity and gene expression diversity of 20 populations of the aquatic plant Batrachium bungei along elevations ranging from 2690 to 4896 m on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau (QTP). Based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and gene expression data from 100 individuals of B. bungei, we found that variation in genetic sequence was more sensitive to detect weak differentiation than gene expression. Using 292,613 high-quality SNPs, we documented a significant phylogeographical structure, a low within-population genetic diversity, and a high inter-population genetic differentiation in B. bungei populations. Analysis of relationship between geographic distance, genetic distance, and gene expression similarity showed that geographic isolation shaped gene flow patterns but not gene expression patterns. We observed a negative relationship between genetic diversity and gene expression diversity within and among B. bungei populations, and we demonstrated that as environmental conditions worsen with increasing altitude, genetic diversity played an increased role in maintaining the stability of populations, while the corresponding role of gene expression diversity decreased. These results suggested that genetic diversity and gene expression diversity might act as a complementary mechanism contributing to the long-term survival of B. bungei in extreme environments.

Comparative analysis of the organelle genomes of three Rhodiola species provide insights into their structural dynamics and sequence divergences.

BACKGROUND: Plant organelle genomes are a valuable resource for evolutionary biology research, yet their genome architectures, evolutionary patterns and environmental adaptations are poorly understood in many lineages. Rhodiola species is a type of flora mainly distributed in highland habitats, with high medicinal value. Here, we assembled the organelle genomes of three Rhodiola species (R. wallichiana, R. crenulata and R. sacra) collected from the Qinghai-Tibet plateau (QTP), and compared their genome structure, gene content, structural rearrangements, sequence transfer and sequence evolution rates. RESULTS: The results demonstrated the contrasting evolutionary pattern between plastomes and mitogenomes in three Rhodiola species, with the former possessing more conserved genome structure but faster evolutionary rates of sequence, while the latter exhibiting structural diversity but slower rates of sequence evolution. Some lineage-specific features were observed in Rhodiola mitogenomes, including chromosome fission, gene loss and structural rearrangement. Repeat element analysis shows that the repeats occurring between the two chromosomes may mediate the formation of multichromosomal structure in the mitogenomes of Rhodiola, and this multichromosomal structure may have recently formed. The identification of homologous sequences between plastomes and mitogenomes reveals several unidirectional protein-coding gene transfer events from chloroplasts to mitochondria. Moreover, we found that their organelle genomes contained multiple fragments of nuclear transposable elements (TEs) and exhibited different preferences for TEs insertion type. Genome-wide scans of positive selection identified one gene matR from the mitogenome. Since the matR is crucial for plant growth and development, as well as for respiration and stress responses, our findings suggest that matR may participate in the adaptive response of Rhodiola species to environmental stress of QTP. CONCLUSION: The study analyzed the organelle genomes of three Rhodiola species and demonstrated the contrasting evolutionary pattern between plastomes and mitogenomes. Signals of positive selection were detected in the matR gene of Rhodiola mitogenomes, suggesting the potential role of this gene in Rhodiola adaptation to QTP. Together, the study is expected to enrich the genomic resources and provide valuable insights into the structural dynamics and sequence divergences of Rhodiola species.

Rapid shifts in thermal reaction norms and tolerance of brooded coral larvae following parental heat acclimation.

Thermal priming of reef corals can enhance their heat tolerance; however, the legacy effects of heat stress during parental brooding on larval resilience remain understudied. This study investigated whether preconditioning adult coral Pocillopora damicornis to high temperatures (29°C and 32°C) could better prepare their larvae for heat stress. Results showed that heat-acclimated adults brooded larvae with reduced symbiont density and shifted thermal performance curves. Reciprocal transplant experiments demonstrated higher bleaching resistance and better photosynthetic and autotrophic performance in heat-exposed larvae from acclimated adults compared to unacclimated adults. RNA-seq revealed strong cellular stress responses in larvae from heat-acclimated adults that could have been effective in rescuing host cells from stress, as evidenced by the widespread upregulation of genes involved in cell cycle and mitosis. For symbionts, a molecular coordination between light harvesting, photoprotection and carbon fixation was detected in larvae from heat-acclimated adults, which may help optimize photosynthetic activity and yield under high temperature. Furthermore, heat acclimation led to opposing regulations of symbiont catabolic and anabolic pathways and favoured nutrient translocation to the host and thus a functional symbiosis. Notwithstanding, the improved heat tolerance was paralleled by reduced light-enhanced dark respiration, indicating metabolic depression for energy saving. Our findings suggest that adult heat acclimation can rapidly shift thermal tolerance of brooded coral larvae and provide integrated physiological and molecular evidence for this adaptive plasticity, which could increase climate resilience. However, the metabolic depression may be maladaptive for long-term organismal performance, highlighting the importance of curbing carbon emissions to better protect corals.

Population transcriptomics uncover the relative roles of positive selection and differential expression in Batrachium bungei adaptation to the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

KEY MESSAGE: Positive selection genes are related to metabolism, while differentially expressed genes are related to photosynthesis, suggesting that genetic adaptation and expression regulation may play independent roles in different gene classes. Genome-wide investigation of the molecular mechanisms for high-altitude adaptation is an intriguing topic in evolutionary biology. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) with its extremely variable environments is an ideal site for studying high-altitude adaptation. Here, we used transcriptome data of 100 individuals from 20 populations collected from various altitudes on the QTP to investigate the adaptive mechanisms of the aquatic plant Batrachium bungei at both the genetic and transcriptional level. To explore genes and biological pathways that may contribute to QTP adaptation, we employed a two-step approach, in which we identified positively selected genes and differentially expressed genes using the landscape genomic and differential expression approaches. The positive selection analysis showed that genes involved in metabolic regulation played a crucial role in B. bungei adaptation to the extreme environments of the QTP, especially intense ultraviolet radiation. Altitude-based differential expression analysis suggested that B. bungei could increase the rate of energy dissipation or reduce the efficiency of light energy absorption by down regulating the expression of photosynthesis-related genes to adapt to the strong ultraviolet radiation. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified ribosomal genes as hubs of altitude adaptation in B. bungei. Only a small part of genes (about 10%) overlapped between positively selected genes and differentially expressed genes in B. bungei, suggesting that genetic adaptation and gene expression regulation might play relatively independent roles in different categories of functional genes. Taken together, this study enriches our understanding of the high-altitude adaptation mechanism of B. bungei on the QTP.

Sirt6 enhances macrophage lipophagy and improves lipid metabolism disorder by regulating the Wnt1/ß-catenin pathway in atherosclerosis.

Lipid metabolism disorders are considerably involved in the pathology of atherosclerosis; nevertheless, the fundamental mechanism is still largely unclear. This research sought to examine the function of lipophagy in lipid metabolism disorder-induced atherosclerosis and its fundamental mechanisms. Previously, Sirt6 has been reported to stimulate plaque stability by promoting macrophage autophagy. However, its role in macrophage lipophagy and its relationship with Wnt1 remains to be established. In this study, ApoE-/-: Sirt6-/- and ApoE-/-: Sirt6Tg mice were used and lipid droplets were analysed via transmission electron microscopy and Bodipy 493/503 staining in vitro. Atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/-: Sirt6-/- mice showed greater necrotic cores and lower stability score. Reconstitution of Sirt6 in atherosclerotic mice improved lipid metabolism disorder and prevented the progression of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, macrophages with Ac-LDL intervention showed more lipid droplets and increased expression of adipophilin and PLIN2. Reconstitution of Sirt6 recruited using SNF2H suppressed Wnt1 expression and improved lipid metabolism disorder by promoting lipophagy. In addition, downregulation of Sirt6 expression in Ac-LDL-treated macrophages inhibited lipid droplet degradation and stimulated foam cell formation. Innovative discoveries in the research revealed that atherosclerosis is caused by lipid metabolism disorders due to downregulated Sirt6 expression. Thus, modulating Sirt6's function in lipid metabolism might be a useful therapeutic approach for treating atherosclerosis.

Optimisation of the Extraction Process of Naringin and Its Effect on Reducing Blood Lipid Levels In Vitro.

The naringin extraction process was optimised using response surface methodology (RSM). A central component design was adopted, which included four parameters: extraction temperature (X1), material-liquid ratio (X2), extraction time (X3), and ultrasonic frequency (X4) of 74.79 °C, 1.58 h, 1:56.51 g/mL, and 28.05 KHz, respectively. Based on these optimal extraction conditions, naringin was tested to verify the model's accuracy. Naringin yield was 36.2502 mg/g, which was equivalent to the predicted yield of 36.0124 mg/g. DM101 macroporous adsorption resin was used to purify naringin. The effects of loading concentration, loading flow rate, and sample pH on the adsorption rate of naringin and the effect of ethanol concentration on the desorption rate of naringin were investigated. The optimum conditions for naringin purification using macroporous resins were determined. The optimal loading concentration, sample solution pH, and loading flow rate were 0.075 mg/mL, 3.5, and 1.5 mL/min, respectively. Three parallel tests were conducted under these conditions, and the average naringin yield was 77.5643%. Naringin's structure was identified using infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. In vitro determination of the lipid-lowering activity of naringin was also conducted. These results showed that naringin has potential applications as a functional food for lowering blood lipid levels.

Effects of heterospecific pollen on stigma behavior in Campsis radicans: Causes and consequences.

PREMISE: Pollinator sharing of co-flowering plants may result in interspecific pollen receipt with a fitness cost. However, the underlying factors that determine the effects of heterospecific pollen (HP) are not fully understood. Moreover, the cost of stigma closure induced by HP may be more severe for plants with special touch-sensitive stigmas than for plants with non-touch-sensitive stigmas. Very few studies have assessed HP effects on stigma behavior. METHODS: We conducted hand-pollination experiments with 10 HP donors to estimate HP effects on stigma behavior and stigmatic pollen germination in Campsis radicans (Bignoniaceae) at low and high pollen loads. We assessed the role of phylogenetic distance between donor and recipient, pollen size, and pollen aperture number in mediating HP effects. Additionally, we observed pollen tube growth to determine the conspecific pollen-tube-growth advantage. RESULTS: Stigma behavior differed significantly with HP of different species. Pollen load increased, while pollen size decreased, the percentage of permanent closure and stigmatic germination of HP. Stigmatic HP germination increased with increasing aperture number. However, HP effects did not depend on phylogenetic distance. In addition, conspecific pollen had a pollen-tube-growth advantage over HP. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide a good basis for understanding the stigma-pollen recognition process of plant taxa with touch-sensitive stigmas. We concluded that certain flowering traits drive the HP effects on the post-pollination period. To better understand the impact of pollinator sharing and interspecific pollen transfer on plant evolution, we highlight the importance of evaluating more factors that determine HP effects at the community level.

TRIP13 knockdown inhibits the proliferation, migration, invasion, and promotes apoptosis by suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in U2OS cells.

BACKGROUND: Although osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone tumor, the biological mechanism underlying its incidence and improvement remains unclear. This study investigated early diagnosis and treatment objectives using bioinformatics strategies and performed experimental verification. METHODS AND RESULTS: The top 10 OS hub genes-CCNA2, CCNB1, AURKA, TRIP13, RFC4, DLGAP5, NDC80, CDC20, CDK1, and KIF20A-were screened using bioinformatics methods. TRIP13 was chosen for validation after reviewing literature. TRIP13 was shown to be substantially expressed in OS tissues and cells, according to Western blotting (WB) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction data. Subsequently, TRIP13 knockdown enhanced apoptosis and decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion in U2OS cells, as validated by the cell counting kit-8 test, Hoechst 33,258 staining, wound healing assay, and WB. In addition, the levels of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT in U2OS cells markedly decreased after TRIP13 knockdown. Culturing U2OS cells, in which TRIP13 expression was downregulated, in a medium supplemented with a PI3K/AKT inhibitor further reduced their proliferation, migration, and invasion and increased their apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: TRIP13 knockdown reduced U2OS cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via a possible mechanism involving the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Hierarchical Structures in Macromolecule-Assembled Synthetic Cells.

Various models of synthetic cells have been developed as researchers have sought to explore the origins of life. Based on the fact that structural complexity is the foundation of higher-order functions, this review focuses on hierarchical structures in synthetic cell models that are inspired by living systems, in which macromolecules are the dominant participants. The underlying advantages and functions provided by biomimetic higher-order structures are discussed from four perspectives, including hierarchical structures in membranes, in the composite construction of membrane-coated artificial cytoplasm, in organelle-like subcellular compartments, as well as in synthetic cell-cell assembled synthetic tissues. In parallel, various feasible driving forces and approaches for the fabrication of such higher-order structures are showcased. Furthermore, both the implemented and potential applications of biomimetic systems, bottom-up biosynthesis, biomedical tissue engineering, and disease therapy are highlighted. This thriving field is gradually narrowing the gap between fundamental research and applied science.

Extraction of Naringin from Pomelo and Its Therapeutic Potentials against Hyperlipidemia.

Pomelo peel is a natural plant product with numerous pharmacological effects and is used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, we extracted naringin from pomelo peel and aimed to decipher its therapeutic potential against hyperlipidemia. We used ultrasonic-assisted extraction to obtain naringin prior to identifying its structure, to evaluate its ability in binding sodium glycine cholate and sodium bovine cholate in vitro by simulating the gastrointestinal environment, so as to evaluate its blood lipid-lowering activity. The hyperlipidemia mouse model was established. Following the intragastric administration of naringin for 5 weeks, we measured the weight change, organ index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), serum total cholesterol (TC), serum triglycerides (TG), liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level, malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level of mice in the normal control and high-fat diet groups in addition to the high-, medium-, and low-dose naringin groups. The pathological changes in the liver were observed under a light microscope. The total RNA of the liver was extracted, and the mRNA expression level of lipid metabolism-related factors in mouse liver was detected via a fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Naringin significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the body weight, organ index, serum TG, LDL-C, and TC levels of hyperlipidemic mice, but increased the serum HDL-C levels (p < 0.01). Furthermore, naringin increased GSH Px and SOD activity (p < 0.01), while decreasing MDA, ALT, and AST levels, as well as the liver index (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the brain, heart, spleen, kidney, and other indicators (p > 0.05). A histopathological analysis of mouse liver showed that naringin could alleviate the degenerative damage of fatty liver cells in hyperlipidemic mice. Naringin could significantly (p < 0.01) reduce the expression of FAS and SREBP-1c mRNA, and simultaneously increase PPARα mRNA expression. This study shows that naringin has the strong effect of lowering lipids and protecting the liver in hyperlipidemic mice. Our findings underscore the anti-hyperlipidemia potential of naringin and increase the scientific understanding of its anti-hyperlipidemia effects, that may lead to its potential application as a dietary strategy for hyperlipidemia management in the future.

Transcriptome and complete chloroplast genome of Glycyrrhiza inflata and comparative analyses with the other two licorice species.

In this study, we characterized the transcriptome and chloroplast genome of Glycyrrhiza inflata and performed comparative analyses with G. uralensis and G. glabra. 60,541unigenes were obtained from the transcriptome of G. inflata. The results of function annotation revealed a similar distribution of functional categories among three licorice species. By comparing chloroplast genomes of licorice species, it was demonstrated that the structure and the length of genome as well as gene content and gene order were highly similar. The phylogenetic tree, constructed with the mixed data of transcriptome and chloroplast genome, elucidated that G. inflata and G. glabra had a closer relationship than G. uralensis. Six regions were suggested as potential markers for the identification of three licorice species. In each licorice species, two unigenes were homologous to reference flavonol synthase. For G. inflata, 48 and 21 RNA editing sites were detected by PREP-Cp program and RNA-Seq data mapping, respectively.

Extracting Fractional Vegetation Cover from Digital Photographs: A Comparison of In Situ, SamplePoint, and Image Classification Methods.

Fractional vegetation cover is a key indicator of rangeland health. However, survey techniques such as line-point intercept transect, pin frame quadrats, and visual cover estimates can be time-consuming and are prone to subjective variations. For this reason, most studies only focus on overall vegetation cover, ignoring variation in live and dead fractions. In the arid regions of the Canadian prairies, grass cover is typically a mixture of green and senescent plant material, and it is essential to monitor both green and senescent vegetation fractional cover. In this study, we designed and built a camera stand to acquire the close-range photographs of rangeland fractional vegetation cover. Photographs were processed by four approaches: SamplePoint software, object-based image analysis (OBIA), unsupervised and supervised classifications to estimate the fractional cover of green vegetation, senescent vegetation, and background substrate. These estimates were compared to in situ surveys. Our results showed that the SamplePoint software is an effective alternative to field measurements, while the unsupervised classification lacked accuracy and consistency. The Object-based image classification performed better than other image classification methods. Overall, SamplePoint and OBIA produced mean values equivalent to those produced by in situ assessment. These findings suggest an unbiased, consistent, and expedient alternative to in situ grassland vegetation fractional cover estimation, which provides a permanent image record.

Transcriptome profiling of yellow leafy head development during the heading stage in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis).

The yellow leafy head of Brassica rapa is known to be tasty and nutritional. Therefore, the heading stage of leaf development is critical to realize high yield and economic benefits. A widely planted commercial cultivar of B. rapa ('Qiubao', deep yellow leafy head) was used to conduct transcriptome analysis. The results showed that the yellowing of the inner leaf was likely induced by the predominant ß-carotene biosynthesis pathway due to the upregulated gene geranylgeranyl diphosphate and phytoene synthase, and the downregulated gene CrtL-e, NCED4 and DWARF-27. Some genes related to chlorophyll synthesis were also found to be downregulated, such as nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase and protochlorophyllide reductase A. Transcript profiling also revealed strong changes in expression levels of hormonal genes related to auxin, cytokinin, ethylene, abscisic acid, gibberellin and brassinosteroids, suggesting the crucial role that hormones play in heading stage. Examination of carbohydrate and sucrose metabolism pathways revealed that sucrose biosynthesis is probably regulated by 6-phosphofructokinase and sucrose synthase 1 (SUS1/SuSy1) branch, instead of the sucrose-phosphate synthase branch. Several cold-response genes were induced in the late-heading stage, but the results suggest that the common C-repeat binding factor responsive pathway may not be involved in cold adaption. We also identified a series of upregulated transcription factors-AP2/ERF, MYB, bHLH, NAC and WRKY were found to be predominant. The transcripts analysis provides a preliminary genetic resource to unravel key genes and molecular mechanisms responsible for leafy head development in B. rapa, therefore, improving leafy head quality and yield through genetic means in future.

Cadmium stimulates mouse skin fibroblast apoptosis by affecting intracellular homeostasis.

CONTEXT: Cadmium (Cd2+) is an important industrial and environmental pollutant and has been shown to induce apoptosis in a variety of cell types and tissues. OBJECTIVE: To assess the specific effects of low-dose Cd2+ on the skin. This organ is easily exposed to Cd2+, but how it damages cells is not fully understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mouse skin fibroblasts were treated with low doses of Cd2+ (0.4, 0.8 or 1.6 µM) for 12-48 h, and we observed cell morphological alterations, measured DNA damage and quantified cell viability changes. RESULTS: Cd2+-treated fibroblasts exhibited morphological changes and evidence of DNA damage, as well as higher numbers of apoptotic and necrotic cells. There were increased caspase -3, -8 and -9 activities when fibroblasts were treated with 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 µM CdCl2 for 24 h. Higher intracellular calcium (Ca2+) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and enhanced efflux of extracellular Ca2+ and potassium (K+). The mitochondrial membrane potential was lowered in treated cells, and the cell cycle arrested in the G0/G1 phase. Bax and Fas gene expression increased and Bcl-2 gene expression decreased. DISCUSSION: The results demonstrate that Cd2+ exerts typical apoptotic effects in mouse skin fibroblasts. It strongly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose- and duration-dependent manner. Ca2+ homeostasis was disturbed by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase-mediated apoptosis. CONCLUSION: K+ efflux and Bax, Bcl-2 and Fas gene expression regulation play important roles in Cd2+-induced dysfunction by disrupting intracellular homeostasis in mouse skin fibroblasts.

Hourly photosynthetically active radiation estimation in Midwestern United States from artificial neural networks and conventional regressions models.

The relationship between hourly photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and the global solar radiation (R s ) was analyzed from data gathered over 3 years at Bondville, IL, and Sioux Falls, SD, Midwestern USA. These data were used to determine temporal variability of the PAR fraction and its dependence on different sky conditions, which were defined by the clearness index. Meanwhile, models based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) were established for predicting hourly PAR. The performance of the proposed models was compared with four existing conventional regression models in terms of the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE), the coefficient of determination (r (2)), the mean percentage error (MPE), and the relative standard error (RSE). From the overall analysis, it shows that the ANN model can predict PAR accurately, especially for overcast sky and clear sky conditions. Meanwhile, the parameters related to water vapor do not improve the prediction result significantly.

Red Blood Cell Membrane as a Biomimetic Nanocoating for Prolonged Circulation Time and Reduced Accelerated Blood Clearance.

For decades, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has been widely incorporated into nanoparticles for evading immune clearance and improving the systematic circulation time. However, recent studies have reported a phenomenon known as "accelerated blood clearance (ABC)" where a second dose of PEGylated nanomaterials is rapidly cleared when given several days after the first dose. Herein, we demonstrate that natural red blood cell (RBC) membrane is a superior alternative to PEG. Biomimetic RBC membrane-coated Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4) @RBC NPs) rely on CD47, which is a "don't eat me" marker on the RBC surface, to escape immune clearance through interactions with the signal regulatory protein-alpha (SIRP-α) receptor. Fe(3)O(4) @RBC NPs exhibit extended circulation time and show little change between the first and second doses, with no ABC suffered. In addition, the administration of Fe(3)O(4) @RBC NPs does not elicit immune responses on neither the cellular level (myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)) nor the humoral level (immunoglobulin M and G (IgM and IgG)). Finally, the in vivo toxicity of these cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles is systematically investigated by blood biochemistry, hematology testing, and histology analysis. These findings are significant advancements toward solving the long-existing clinical challenges of developing biomaterials that are able to resist both immune response and rapid clearance.

Quantifying biased response of axon to chemical gradient steepness in a microfluidic device.

Axons are very sensitive to molecular gradients and can discriminate extremely small differences in gradient steepness. Microfluidic devices capable of generating chemical gradients and adjusting their steepness could be used to quantify the sensitivity of axonal response. Here, we present a versatile and robust microfluidic device that can generate substrate-bound molecular gradients with evenly varying steepness on a single chip to precisely quantify axonal response. In this device, two solutions are perfused into a central channel via two inlets while partially flowing into two peripheral channels through interconnecting grooves, which gradually decrease the fluid velocity along the central channel. Molecular gradients with evenly and gradually decreased steepness can therefore be generated with a high resolution that is less than 0.05%/mm. In addition, the overall distribution range and resolution of the gradient steepness can be highly and flexibly controlled by adjusting various parameters of the device. Using this device, we quantified the hippocampal axonal response to substrate-bound laminin and ephrin-A5 gradients with varying steepnesses. Our results provided more detailed information on how and to what extent different steepnesses guide hippocampal neuron development during the initial outgrowth. Furthermore, our results show that axons can sensitively respond to very shallow laminin and ephrin-A5 gradients, which could effectively initiate biased differentiation of hippocampal neurons in the steepness range investigated in this study.

The expression of Cox-2, NF-κB, and VEGF in ectopic endometrial tissues within fallopian tubes suggests different etiologies.

The ectopic endometrial tissues lining the lumen of the fallopian tubes are currently defined as either "endometrial colonization" or "endometriosis" on the basis of their location within or beyond the isthmic portion of the fallopian tubes. The underlying etiology is unclear. The goal of this study was to define the fallopian endometrial lesions pathogenetically rather than anatomically. We investigated 39 cases of the ectopic endometrial tissues within the fallopian tubes, most of which exceeded the isthmus. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of Cox-2, NF-κB, and VEGF, which are specifically expressed by classic endometriosis. Other clinicopathologic parameters were also recorded. The results indicated that the lesions that were confined to the mucosa might differ from those observed in the muscular or serosal layers, which showed significantly less surrounding inflammatory reaction and less concurrent salpingitis and other endometriotic lesions. The expression of Cox-2, NF-κB, and VEGF of the ectopic endometrial stromal cells tended to increase in the progression from the inner to the outer part of the tubes with significance. The expression of NF-κB and VEGF correlates with the microscopic findings of inflammation. Sterilization by tubal ligation exhibited a unique pattern of distribution. Except in those patients with tubal ligation, considering the different expression patterns observed in the tubal ectopic endometrial lesions, the mucosal type should be diagnosed as "endometrial colonization" wherever the lesion occurs. The others should be diagnosed as "endometriosis" to reveal the etiology identical to typical endometriotic lesions.

Effects of elevated temperature and copper exposure on the physiological state of the coral Galaxea fascicularis.

The co-occurrence of elevated seawater temperature and local stressors (heavy metal contamination) affects the ecophysiology of phototrophic species, and represents a risk to the environmental quality of coral reefs. Therefore, we investigated the effects of both Cu alone and Cu in combination with elevated temperature (ET) on the physiology of the coral Galaxea fascicularis, and measured the parameters related to the photo-physiology and oxidative state. G.fascicularis is one of the dominant coral species in the South China Sea which exhibits strong adaptability to environmental stress. We exposed the common coral species G.fascicularis to a series of environmentally relevant concentrations of Cu at 29 °C (normal temperature, NT) and 32 °C (elevated temperature, ET) for 96 h. Single polyps were used in the experiments, which reduced individual variability when compared to the coral colonies. The results suggested that: i) Cu or ET had significant negative effects on the actual operating ability of photosystem Ⅱ (PSII), but not on the maximal chlorophyll fluorescence in darkness (Fv/Fm). ii) Symbiodiniaceae density was significantly reduced by high Cu concentrations, for Cu-NT and Cu-ET, a high concentration of Cu (40 µg/L) significantly impacted Symbiodiniaceae density, causing a 75.4% and 81.0% decrease, respectively. iii) the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in coral tissues increased significantly under Cu-ET. iv) a certain range of copper concentration (25-30 µg/L) increased the pigment content of the Symbiodiniacea. Our results indicated that the combined stressors of Cu and ET made the coral tissue sloughed, caused the coral tissue damaged by lipid oxidation, reduced the photosynthetic capacity of the Symbiodiniacea, and led to the excretion of Symbiodiniacea.