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Silica is regarded as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high theoretical capacity. However, large volume variation and poor electrical conductivity are limiting factors for the development of SiO2 anode materials. To solve this problem, combining SiO2 with a conductive phase and designing hollow porous structures are effective ways. In this work, The Co(II)-EDTA chelate on the surface of diatom biosilica (DBS) frustules and obtained DBS@C-Co composites decorated with Co nanoparticles by calcination without a reducing atmosphere is first precipitated. The unique three-dimensional structure of diatom frustules provides enough space for the volume change of silica during lithiation/delithiation. Co nanoparticles effectively improve the electrical conductivity and electrochemical activity of silica. Through the synergistic effect of the hollow porous structure, carbon layer and Co nanoparticles, the DBS@C-Co-60 composite delivers a high reversible capacity of >620 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1 after 270 cycles. This study provides a new method for the synthesis of metal/silica composites and an opportunity for the development of natural resources as advanced active materials for LIBs.
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Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are active soft matter-based materials with strong stimulus responsiveness and reversible, large-shape morphing capabilities. LCEs have demonstrated broad and growing applications in soft robotics, wearable devices, artificial muscles, and optical machines. The actuation intelligence and advanced functionality of LCEs depend on the smartness and properties of structures. In this review, we discuss recent advances in structure-induced intelligence of LCEs, specifically the integration of structural properties with the alignment and processing of LCEs. The structural design principles for three categories consisting of common structures (film, fiber, and tubule), smart structures (origami, kirigami, mechanical metamaterial, topology, and topography), and complex structures (monolithic and integrated) are presented. Various alignment controls of LCEs, including mechanical, surface, field-assisted, and shear alignment, are capable of inducing structural properties. The coupling and collaboration mechanisms of the LCE structures and the generated functions are discussed. The review concludes with perspectives on current challenges and emerging opportunities.
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Cristales Líquidos , Robótica , Dispositivos Electrónicos Vestibles , Elastómeros , InteligenciaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Prospective cohorts are inconsistent regarding the association between dietary calcium intake and the risk of stroke. The aim was to perform a meta-analysis to determine whether an association exists between them in cohort studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases that published before December 2022. Prospective cohort studies that provided relative risk (RR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association were included. Study-specific risk estimates were combined by using a random effects model. Eighteen prospective studies, including 19,557 stroke cases among 882,181 participants, were pooled in the meta-analysis. We observed a nonlinear association between calcium intake and risk of stroke (Pnonlinearity < 0.003). Compared with the lowest value of zero assumed as the reference, the RRs (95% CI) of stroke across levels of calcium intake were 0.95 (0.92, 0.98) for 200 mg/day, 0.94 (0.90, 0.98) for 300 mg/day, 0.95 (0.90, 0.99) for 500 mg/day, 0.98 (0.93, 1.03) for 700 mg/day, and 1.04 (0.97, 1.11) for 1000 mg/day. The stratified analyses by geographic region showed nonlinear associations and indicated that the protective effect was observed in Asian countries (Pnonlinearity = 0.001) but not in non-Asian regions (Pnonlinearity = 0.047). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that dietary calcium intake might play an effective role in the prevention of stroke, especially in Asian countries. Future research among Asia population should attempt to establish whether this association is causal. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022357710.
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Calcio de la Dieta , Accidente Cerebrovascular , Humanos , Estudios Prospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Calcio de la Dieta/efectos adversos , Calcio , Estudios de Cohortes , Accidente Cerebrovascular/diagnóstico , Accidente Cerebrovascular/epidemiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/prevención & controlRESUMEN
Point cloud registration is the basis of real-time environment perception for robots using 3D LiDAR and is also the key to robust simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) for robots. Because LiDAR point clouds are characterized by local sparseness and motion distortion, the point cloud features of coal mine roadway environments show a weak texture and degradation. Therefore, for these environments, the traditional point cloud registration method to register directly will lead to problems, such as a decline in registration accuracy, z-axis drift, and map ghosting. To solve the above problems, we propose a point cloud registration method based on IMU preintegration with the sensor characteristics of LiDAR and IMU. The system framework of this method mainly consists of four modules: IMU preintegration, point cloud preprocessing, point cloud frame matching and point cloud registration. First, IMU sensor data are introduced, and IMU linear interpolation is used to correct the motion distortion in LiDAR scanning, and the IMU preintegration error function is constructed. Second, the point cloud segmentation is performed using the ground segmentation method of RANSAC to provide additional ground constraints for the z-axis displacement and to remove the unstable flawed points from the point cloud. On this basis, the LiDAR point cloud registration error function is constructed by extracting the feature corner points and feature plane points. Finally, the Gaussian Newton solution is used to optimize the constraint relationship between the LiDAR odometry frames to minimize the error function, complete the LiDAR point cloud registration and better estimate the position and pose of the mobile robot. The experimental results show that compared with the traditional point cloud registration method, the proposed method has a higher point cloud registration accuracy, success rate and computational efficiency. The LiDAR odometry constructed using this method can better reflect the authenticity of the robot trajectory and has higher trajectory accuracy and smaller absolute position and pose error.
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To provide carbon steel a long-term corrosion protection effect in NaCl solutions with different pH values, based on poly-acrylamide (PAM) and oleate imidazoline (OIM), a solid corrosion inhibitor with the properties of pH-controlled release was synthesized. SEM, FTIR and TGA results indicated that the OIM inhibitors were successfully loaded into PAM hydrogel with a high OIM encapsulation content (39.64 wt.%). The OIM release behavior from the hydrogel structure has two stages, quick release and sustained release. The pH of solutions could affect the initial release kinetics of OIM inhibitors and the diffusion path in the hydrogel structure. Weight loss measurement of L80 steel in different pH solutions with OIM@PAM proved the inhibitor responsive release mechanism and anticorrosion performance. The inhibition efficiency of OIM@PAM can maintain over 80% after long-term immersion in a harsh corrosive environment (pH 3), which is much higher than the inhibition efficiency of OIM@PAM in a moderate corrosive solution.
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Multimodal self-sustainable autonomous locomotions integrated into one individual system, are high-level intelligent behavioral characteristics of living organisms and are the scientific hotspot of bionic soft actuators. Here, we report a light-fueled soft actuator with multimodal self-sustainable movements based on a Seifert ribbon bounded by a Hopf link. The Seifert ribbon actuator can self-sense the illumination area adjustment, and the actuation component becomes either a discontinuous strip-like structure or a continuous toroidal structure, which can realize adaptive switches between self-sustained oscillatory and rotary motions. The two motion modes are applied to the self-oscillatory piezoelectric generation and self-rotational work multiplication of cargo transport, respectively. The unique smartness of Seifert surface topology advances the level of actuation intelligence with broad implications for the adaptability, multifunctionality, and autonomy of soft robots.
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Cristales Líquidos , Locomoción , Citoesqueleto , Elastómeros , Movimiento (Física)RESUMEN
Oxidative dissolution of stibnite (Sb2S3), one of the most prevalent geochemical processes for antimony (Sb) release, can be promoted by Sb-oxidizing microbes, which were studied under alkaline and neutral conditions but rarely under acidic conditions. This work is dedicated to unraveling the enhancement mechanism of stibnite dissolution by typical acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans under extremely acidic conditions. The results of solution behavior showed that the dissolution of Sb2S3 was significantly enhanced by A. ferrooxidans, with lower pH and higher redox potential values and higher [Sb(III)] and [Sb(V)] than the sterile control. The surface morphology results showed that the cells adsorbed onto the mineral surface and formed biofilms. Much more filamentous secondary minerals were formed for the case with A. ferrooxidans. Further mineral phase compositions and Sb/S speciation transformation analyses showed that more secondary products Sb2O3/SbO2-, Sb2O5/SbO3-, SO42-, as well as intermediates, such as S0, S2O32- were formed for the biotic case, indicating that the dissolution of Sb2S3 and the Sb/S speciation transformation was promoted by A. ferrooxidans. These results were further clarified by the comparative transcriptome analysis. This work demonstrated that through the interaction with Sb2S3, A. ferrooxidans promotes S/Sb oxidation, so as to enhance S/Sb transformation and thus the dissolution of Sb2S3.
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Acidithiobacillus , Antimonio/química , Minerales/química , Oxidación-Reducción , SolubilidadRESUMEN
The development of controllable artificial light-harvesting systems based on liquid crystal (LC) materials, i.e., anisotropic fluids, remains a challenge. Herein, an annulene-based discotic LC compound 6 with a saddle-shaped cyclooctatetrathiophene core has been synthesized to construct a tunable light-harvesting platform. The LC material shows a typical aggregation-induced emission, which can act as a suitable light-harvesting donor. By loading Nile red (NiR) as an acceptor, an artificial light-harvesting system is achieved. Relying on the thermal-responsive self-assembling ability of 6 with variable molecular order, the efficiency of such 6-NiR system can be controlled by temperature. This light-harvesting system works sensitively at a high donor/acceptor ratio as 1000 : 1, and exhibits a high antenna effect (39.1) at a 100 : 1 donor/acceptor ratio. This thermochromic artificial light-harvesting LC system could find potential applications in smart devices employing soft materials.
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Arsenic often coexists with metal sulfide minerals and occurs in different speciation and different toxicity in responding to Fe/S biooxidation. The differential inhibitive effects and fates of As(III) and As(V) during biooxidations of elemental sulfur (S0), ferrous ions (Fe2+) and pyrite (FeS2) by Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans were studied. The results revealed that the arsenic species hardly changed for the biooxidation of S0, but dramatically changed for the biooxidation of Fe2+ and FeS2. Different transformation degree between As(III) and As(V) occurred for biooxidation of FeS2 in the presence of arsenic, where about 72% of As(III) was transformed to As(V) for the group with As(III) added, and 16% of As(V) was transformed to As(III) for that with As(V) added. Both formation and dissolution of amorphous ferric arsenate occurred during biooxidation of FeS2 with the addition of As(III) or As(V) and for the group grown on Fe2+ with added As(V), which were controlled by the changes of Fe/As molar ratio and pH value in the solution. Jarosite was detected for the group grown on Fe2+ and could adsorb As(III) and As(V). The inhibitive effects of As(V) were higher than As(III) when the strain grew on FeS2, which was contrary to those when the strain grew on S0 and Fe2+. The above results signify that the fates and inhibitive effects of arsenic are much related to each other, and such a relationship is significantly affected by the utilization of Fe/S energy substrates by the sulfur- and ferrous-oxidizing microorganisms.
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Arsénico , Clostridiales , Compuestos Férricos , Minerales , Oxidación-Reducción , AzufreRESUMEN
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes and the main cause of end-stage nephropathy (ESRD). Inflammation and fibrosis play key roles in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. By using in vivo and in vitro DN models, our laboratory has identified the protective role of carnosine (CAR) on renal tubules. Our results showed that carnosine restored the onset and clinical symptoms as well as renal tubular injury in DN. Furthermore, carnosine decreased kidney inflammation and fibrosis in DN mice. These results were consistent with high glucose (HG)-treated mice tubular epithelial cells (MTECs). Using web-prediction algorithms, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and molecular docking, we identified glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) as a carnosine target. Importantly, we found that GNMT, a multiple functional protein that regulates the cellular pool of methyl groups by controlling the ratio of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), was down-regulated significantly in the serum of Type 1 DM patients and renal tissues of DN mice. Moreover, using cultured TECs, we confirmed that the increased GNMT expression by transient transfection mimicked the protective role of carnosine in reducing inflammation and fibrosis. Conversely, the inhibition of GNMT expression abolished the protective effects of carnosine. In conclusion, carnosine might serve as a promising therapeutic agent for DN and GNMT might be a potential therapeutic target for DN.
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Carnosina/uso terapéutico , Nefropatías Diabéticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Nefropatías Diabéticas/enzimología , Glicina N-Metiltransferasa/metabolismo , Inflamación/enzimología , Riñón/enzimología , Riñón/patología , Adulto , Animales , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Carnosina/química , Carnosina/farmacología , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Citoprotección/efectos de los fármacos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/tratamiento farmacológico , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/patología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Regulación hacia Abajo/efectos de los fármacos , Células Epiteliales/efectos de los fármacos , Células Epiteliales/patología , Células Epiteliales/ultraestructura , Matriz Extracelular/efectos de los fármacos , Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Femenino , Fibrosis , Glucosa/toxicidad , Humanos , Inflamación/patología , Riñón/efectos de los fármacos , Masculino , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Persona de Mediana Edad , Terapia Molecular Dirigida , EstreptozocinaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) Z38 has been shown to promote cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in breast cancer. However, expression pattern and prognostic value of lncRNA Z38 in breast cancer patients remain elusive. METHODS: The expression levels of SPRY4-IT1 in 110 self-paired specimens of breast cancer and adjacent normal breast tissues were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and its correlation with overall survival of patients with breast cancer was further statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with normal breast tissues, Z38 was upregulated in breast cancer tissues. Furthermore, of 110 breast cancer patients, high Z38 expression was significantly associated with tumor-node-metastasis stage and lymph node metastasis. Further analysis using the Cox regression model revealed that Z38 expression was an independent prognostic factor of overall survival in patients with breast cancer (hazard ratio=4.74, 95% confidence interval 2.41-9.32). The nomogram presents a good prediction of the probability of overall survival of breast cancer patients (c-index: 0.792), and its predictive efficiency was further confirmed by the calibration curve. CONCLUSION: Our data highlighted the potential of lncRNA Z38 as novel candidate biomarker to identify patients with breast cancer at high risk of tumor death.
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Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/diagnóstico , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , ARN Largo no Codificante/genética , Anciano , Biomarcadores de Tumor/análisis , Estudios de Cohortes , Femenino , Humanos , Estimación de Kaplan-Meier , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la PolimerasaRESUMEN
The corrosion inhibition performance of pyridine derivatives (4-methylpyridine and its quaternary ammonium salts) and sulfur-containing compounds (thiourea and mercaptoethanol) with different molar ratios on carbon steel in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was investigated by weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The synergistic corrosion inhibition mechanism of mixed inhibitors was elucidated by the theoretical calculation and simulation. The molecules of pyridine derivative compounds with a larger volume has priority to adsorb on the metal surface, while the molecules of sulfur-containing compounds with a smaller volume fill in vacancies. A dense adsorption film would be formed when 4-PQ and sulfur-containing compounds are added at a proper mole ratio.
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Dióxido de Carbono/química , Mercaptoetanol/química , Picolinas/química , Cloruro de Sodio/química , Acero/química , Tiourea/química , Corrosión , Compuestos de Amonio Cuaternario/química , SolucionesRESUMEN
While indirect model has been widely accepted in bioleaching, but the evidence of cell surface iron speciation has not been reported. In the present work the iron speciation on the cell surfaces of four typically acidophilic iron-oxidizing microorganism (mesophilic Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270, moderately thermophilic Leptospirillum ferriphilum YSK and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans St, and extremely thermophilic Acidianus manzaensis YN25) grown on different energy substrates (chalcopyrite, pyrite, ferrous sulfate and elemental sulfur (S(0))) were studied in situ firstly by using synchrotron-based micro- X-ray fluorescence analysis and X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. Results showed that the cells grown on iron-containing substrates had apparently higher surface iron content than the cells grown on S(0). Both ferrous iron and ferric iron were detected on the cell surface of all tested AIOMs, and the Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratios of the same microorganism were affected by different energy substrates. The iron distribution and bonding state of single cell of A. manzaensis were then studied in situ by scanning transmission soft X-ray microscopy based on dual-energy contrast analysis and stack analysis. Results showed that the iron species distributed evenly on the cell surface and bonded with amino, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups.
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Acidianus/metabolismo , Acidithiobacillus/metabolismo , Metabolismo Energético , Hierro/metabolismo , Cobre/metabolismo , Compuestos Ferrosos/metabolismo , Sulfuros/metabolismo , Propiedades de Superficie , Espectroscopía de Absorción de Rayos XRESUMEN
This study investigated the saccharification of orange peel wastes with crude enzymes from Aspergillus japonicus PJ01. Pretreated orange peel powder was hydrolyzed by submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) crude enzymes, the results showed that 4 % (w/v) of solid loading, undiluted crude enzymes, and 45 °C were suitable saccharification conditions. The hydrolysis kinetics showed that the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant [Formula: see text] and maximal reaction rate [Formula: see text] were 73.32 g/L and 0.118 g/(L min) for SmF enzyme, and 41.45 g/L and 0.116 g/(L min) for SSF enzyme, respectively. After 48 h of hydrolysis, the saccharification yields were 58.5 and 78.7 %, the reducing sugar concentrations were 14.9 and 20.1 mg/mL by SmF and SSF enzymes. Material balance showed that the SmF enzymatic hydrolysate was enriched galacturonic acid > arabinose > galactose > xylose, and the SSF enzymatic hydrolysate was enriched galacturonic acid > xylose > galactose > arabinose.
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Aspergillus/enzimología , Citrus sinensis/química , Frutas/química , Proteínas Fúngicas/química , Residuos SólidosRESUMEN
The two-dimensional photonic crystal (Ni mesh with square lattice of 10 µm) was prepared and Ni film was thickened to 3 µm by electroplating. Its optical properties and its influence on the infrared absorption of sodium nitrate were investigated. The results show that there is a transmission peak centered at 1 450 cm-1 under normal incidence, and the peak covered the frequencies ranging from 1 300 to 1 500 cm-1, the antisymmetric stretching vibration of nitrate. Moreover, the change of absorption intensities of nitrate's antisymmetric stretching vibration is essentially consisting with the transmittance of photonic crystal. It indicates that the absorption intensity of sodium nitrate is improved by the modulated infrared light.
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Bio-oxidation of elemental sulfur (S(0)) is very important in bioleaching and sulfur cycle. S(0) was proposed to be first activated by reacting with reactive thiol groups (-SH) of outer membrane proteins, forming -S n H (n ≥ 2) complexes. The differential expression of -SH of moderately thermophilic Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans and extremely thermophilic Acidianus manzaensis grown on Fe(2+) and S(0) was investigated by synchrotron radiation-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) imaging and micro-beam X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) mapping. The STXM imaging and µ-XRF mapping of extracellular -SH were based on the analysis of Ca(2+) bound on the cell. By comparing Ca(2+) of the cells with and without labeling by Ca(2+), the distribution and content of thiol groups were obtained. The results showed that, for both S. thermosulfidooxidans and A. manzaensis, the expression of extracellular -SH of S(0)-grown cells was higher than that of Fe(2+)-grown cells. Statistical analysis indicated that the expression of extracellular -SH for S. thermosulfidooxidans and A. manzaensis grown on S(0) was 2.37 times and 2.14 times, respectively, to that on Fe(2+). These results evidently demonstrate that the extracellular thiol groups are most probably involved in elemental sulfur activation and oxidation of the acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms.
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Hierro/metabolismo , Compuestos de Sulfhidrilo/metabolismo , Sulfolobaceae/metabolismo , Azufre/metabolismo , Acidianus/metabolismo , Oxidación-Reducción , Microtomografía por Rayos XRESUMEN
Submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) of Aspergillus japonicus PJ01 for multi-enzyme complexes (MEC) production were comparatively studied. The results showed that orange peel and wheat bran were the best substrates for MEC production in SmF and SSF, respectively. After 72 h of cultivation under SmF, the maximal pectinase, CMCase, and xylanase activities reached 2610, 85, and 335 U/gds (units/gram dry substrate), respectively; while after 72 h of cultivation under SSF, these three enzymes' activities reached 966, 58, and 1004 U/gds, respectively. Effects of ultrasound on extraction of crude enzymes from SSF medium were determined, the maximal activities of pectinase, CMCase, and xylanase increased to 1.20, 1.48, and 1.30-fold, respectively. Apparent different mycelia growths of SSF and SmF were observed by scanning electron microscopy; and different isoforms of the crude enzyme extracts from SSF and SmF were presented by zymogram analysis.
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Aspergillus/enzimología , Productos Agrícolas/microbiología , Residuos Industriales/prevención & control , Complejos Multienzimáticos/biosíntesis , Sonicación/métodos , Aspergillus/crecimiento & desarrollo , Aspergillus/efectos de la radiación , Productos Agrícolas/efectos de la radiación , Fermentación/fisiología , Complejos Multienzimáticos/efectos de la radiaciónRESUMEN
AIMS: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major catechin found in green tea, displays a variety of pharmacological properties and recently received attention as a prospective dietary intervention in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that EGCG was able to inhibit tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of EGCG on TNF-α-induced expression of MCP-1 was measured using ELISA and RT-qPCR. The effect of EGCG on TNF-α-induced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation was investigated by western blot and luciferase assays. Monocyte adhesion assay was detected by microscope. RESULTS: EGCG significantly suppressed the TNF-α-induced protein and mRNA expression of MCP-1. Investigation of the mechanism suggested that EGCG suppressed the TNF-α-mediated NF-κB activation. In addition, the 67-kD laminin receptor (67LR) was involved in EGCG-mediated suppression of MCP-1 generation. Furthermore, EGCG potently inhibited monocyte adhesion to activated HUVECs. CONCLUSION: EGCG suppresses TNF-α-induced MCP-1 expression in HUVECs. This effect was mediated by 67LR and was via the inhibition of NF-κB activation. Our results demonstrated that EGCG might be a possible medicine for CVD prevention and treatment.
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Catequina/análogos & derivados , Quimiocina CCL2/biosíntesis , Células Endoteliales de la Vena Umbilical Humana/efectos de los fármacos , Células Endoteliales de la Vena Umbilical Humana/metabolismo , Té/química , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/antagonistas & inhibidores , Catequina/farmacología , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Quimiocina CCL2/genética , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Humanos , ARN Mensajero/biosíntesis , ARN Mensajero/genética , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Self-sustainable autonomous locomotion is a non-equilibrium phenomenon and an advanced intelligence of soft-bodied organisms that exhibit the abilities of perception, feedback, decision-making, and self-sustainment. However, artificial self-sustaining architectures are often derived from algorithms and onboard modules of soft robots, resulting in complex fabrication, limited mobility, and low sensitivity. Self-sustainable autonomous soft actuators have emerged as naturally evolving systems that do not require human intervention. With shape-morphing materials integrating in their structural design, soft actuators can direct autonomous responses to complex environmental changes and achieve robust self-sustaining motions under sustained stimulation. This perspective article discusses the recent advances in self-sustainable autonomous soft actuators. Specifically, shape-morphing materials, motion characteristics, built-in negative feedback loops, and constant stimulus response patterns used in autonomous systems are summarized. Artificial self-sustaining autonomous concepts, modes, and deformation-induced functional applications of soft actuators are described. The current challenges and future opportunities for self-sustainable actuation systems are also discussed.
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Brevilin A possesses inhibitory effects on the development of prostate cancer (PCa); however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present work aims to analyze how Brevilin A regulates PCa cell malignancy. RNA expression of paired box 5 (PAX5) and SRY-box transcription factor 4 (SOX4) was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression of PAX5, SOX4, and nuclear proliferation marker (Ki67) was detected by western blotting or immunohistochemistry assay. The viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and migratory and invasive abilities of PCa cells were investigated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry, and transwell assays, respectively. The association between PAX5 and SOX4 was identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Xenograft mouse model assay was used to reveal the effect of Brevilin A on tumor tumorigenesis in vivo. PAX5 and SOX4 expression were upregulated in PCa tissues and cells relative to normal prostate tissues and human prostate epithelial cells. Brevilin A treatment inhibited PAX5 protein expression in PCa cells. Additionally, Brevilin A inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion and induced apoptosis of PCa cells, whereas these effects were attenuated after PAX5 overexpression. SOX4 was transcriptionally activated by PAX5, and its introduction partially relieved the inhibitory effects of PAX5 knockdown on PCa cell malignancy. Moreover, Brevilin A delayed tumor formation in vivo. Brevilin A inhibited PCa progression by regulating SOX4 expression in a PAX5-dependent manner, providing a promising anti-tumor drug for PCa.