Preparation of CoFe@C composite modified electrode for neohesperidin dihydrochalcone sensing and its application in Chinese medicine.

CoFe@C was first prepared by calcining the precursor of CoFe-metal-organic framework-74 (CoFe-MOF-74), then an electrochemical sensor for the determination of neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (NHDC) was constructed, which was stemmed from the novel CoFe@C/Nafion composite film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The CoFe@C/Nafion composite was verified by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to evaluate its electrical properties as a modified material for an electrochemical sensor. Compared with CoFe-MOF-74 precursor modified electrode, CoFe@C/Nafion electrode exhibited a great synergic catalytic effect and extremely increased the oxidation peak signal of NHDC. The effects of various experimental conditions on the oxidation of NHDC were investigated and the calibration plot was tested. The results bespoken that CoFe@C/Nafion GCE has good reproducibility and anti-interference under the optimal experimental conditions. In addition, the differential pulse current response of NHDC was linear with its concentration within the range 0.08 ~ 20 µmol/L, and the linear regression coefficient was 0.9957. The detection limit was as low as 14.2 nmol/L (S/N = 3). In order to further verify the feasibility of the method, it was successfully used to determine the content of NHDC in Chinese medicine, with a satisfactory result, good in accordance with that of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Supramolecular artificial Nano-AUTACs enable tumor-specific metabolism protein degradation for synergistic immunotherapy.

Autophagy-targeting chimera (AUTAC) has emerged as a powerful modality that can selectively degrade tumor-related pathogenic proteins, but its low bioavailability and nonspecific distribution significantly restrict their therapeutic efficacy. Inspired by the guanine structure of AUTAC molecules, we here report supramolecular artificial Nano-AUTACs (GM NPs) engineered by AUTAC molecule GN [an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) degrader] and nucleoside analog methotrexate (MTX) through supramolecular interactions for tumor-specific protein degradation. Their nanostructures allow for precise localization and delivery into cancer cells, where the intracellular acidic environment can disrupt the supramolecular interactions to release MTX for eradicating tumor cells, modulating tumor-associated macrophages, activating dendritic cells, and inducing autophagy. Specifically, the induced autophagy facilitates the released GN for degrading immunosuppressive IDO to further enhance effector T cell activity and inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. This study offers a unique strategy for building a nanoplatform to advance the field of AUTAC in tumor immunotherapy.

Titanium Dioxide and Calcium Sulfate Whiskers Are Used for the Preparation of High Performance Polypropylene and Reduce White Pollution.

The anti-aging agent TiO2-polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and the mechanical strengthening agent CSW-PAN were prepared by radical polymerization using rutile nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) and anhydrous calcium sulfate whisker (CSW) as raw materials. The structures of TiO2-PAN and CSW-PAN were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Simultaneously, the mechanical properties, aging properties, and thermal stability of TiO2-PAN/CSW-PAN/polypropylene (PP) composites were studied, and the results showed that the surfaces of nano-titanium dioxide and calcium sulfate whiskers were successfully grafted with acrylonitrile. Owing to the introduction of new elements, such as acrylonitrile, nano-titanium dioxide and calcium sulfate whiskers have anti-aging properties. In comparison of the impact strength and tensile strength of TiO2-PAN/PP and TiO2-PAN/CSW-PAN/PP before aging, it can be proven that adding CSW-PAN can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of TiO2-PAN/CSW-PAN/PP. After 1000 h of aging, the tensile strength of the ternary composite TiO2-PAN/CSW-PAN/PP was 19.88 MPa when the addition amount of TiO2-PAN and CSW-PAN was 3%. Moreover, the impact strength of the ternary composite material TiO2-PAN/CSW-PAN/PP after 1000 h of aging is even better than that of non-aging pure PP materials, proving that the service life of improved PP products is extended, unnecessary waste and environmental pollution can be relieved, and the needs of specific engineering fields can be met.

Metal coordination nanotheranostics mediated by nucleoside metabolic inhibitors potentiate STING pathway activation for cancer metalloimmunotherapy.

Activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway is an effective way to initiate an immune response against tumors, and the research on agonists targeting STING has become a new hotspot in the development of antitumor drugs. However, as a novel STING agonist, the limited bioavailability and activation routes of manganese ions (Mn2+) significantly hinder its antitumor effects. To address these challenges, we have designed a metal-coordinated nucleoside metabolic inhibitor (gemcitabine, Gem)-induced metal nanotheranostic (MGP) with PEGylation. This formulation synergistically enhanced the immune response against cancer cells by sensitizing the cGAS-STING pathway and promoting immunogenic cell death (ICD). Modified with PEG derivatives, MGP was efficiently delivered to the tumor site and was internalized by cancer cells. Upon internalization, the release of Mn2+ triggered the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, while the release of Gem induced DNA damage. On the one hand, the damaged DNA caused by Gem leaked into the cytoplasm, synergistically amplified Mn2+-induced activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, and induced the production of the tumor cytotoxic factor IFN-ß. On the other hand, Mn2+-mediated chemodynamic therapy (CDT) exhibited an ICD effect, which further synergized with the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway to promote dendritic cells (DCs) maturation and antigen-specific T cells infiltration. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that MGP nanotheranostics could elicit a robust antitumor effect, especially when combined with anti-PD-1. This study provided a new paradigm for intensifying immune activation by constructing metal coordination nanotheranostics.

CD226 promotes renal fibrosis by regulating macrophage activation and migration.

It has been found that CD226 plays an important role in regulating macrophage function, but its expression and function in macrophages during renal fibrogenesis have not been studied. Our data demonstrated that CD226 expression in macrophages was obviously upregulated in the unilateral ureteral obstruction model, while CD226 deficiency attenuated collagen deposition in renal interstitium along with fewer M1 within renal cortex and renal medulla and a lower level of proinflammatory factors compared to that of control littermates. Further studies demonstrated that Cd226-/- bone marrow-derived macrophages transferring could significantly reduce the tubular injury, collagen deposition, and proinflammatory cytokine secretion compared with that of Cd226+/+ bone marrow-derived macrophages transferring in the unilateral ureteral obstruction model. Mechanistic investigations revealed that CD226 promoted proinflammatory M1 macrophage accumulation in the kidney via suppressing KLF4 expression in macrophages. Therefore, our results uncovered a pathogenic role of CD226 during the development of chronic kidney disease by promoting monocyte infiltration from peripheral blood into the kidney and enhancing macrophage activation toward the inflammatory phenotype by suppressing KLF4 expression.

Aberrant NK cell profile in gestational diabetes mellitus with fetal growth restriction.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a gestational disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, that can lead to dysfunction of diverse cells in the body, especially the immune cells. It has been reported that immune cells, specifically natural killer (NK) cells, play a crucial role in normal pregnancy. However, it remains unknown how hyperglycemia affects NK cell dysfunction thus participates in the development of GDM. In this experiment, GDM mice were induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) after pregnancy and it has been found that the intrauterine growth restriction occurred in mice with STZ-induced GDM, accompanied by the changed proportion and function of NK cells. The percentage of cytotoxic CD27-CD11b+ NK cells was significantly increased, while the proportion of nourished CD27-CD11b- NK cells was significantly reduced in the decidua of GDM mice. Likewise, the same trend appeared in the peripheral blood NK cell subsets of GDM patients. What's more, after intrauterine reinfusion of NK cells to GDM mice, the fetal growth restriction was alleviated and the proportion of NK cells was restored. Our findings provide a theoretical and experimental basis for further exploring the pathogenesis of GDM.

Preparation of high-performance anti-aging polypropylene by modified nano-TiO2 and calcium sulfate whisker grafted acrylonitrile composite PP.

By employing the radical polymerization method, acrylonitrile (AN) was grafted on the surface of nano titanium dioxide (TiO2), and the calcium sulfate whisker (CSW) was modified using the coupling agent KH570 to provide ultraviolet (UV)-absorption capacity. The prepared TiO2-PAN and CSW-PAN materials can improve the anti-aging performance and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) and meet the application requirements of high-performance polypropylene. Further, the obtained PP composites show prolonged service life and application scope, which can effectively reduce white waste and avoid both resource waste and environmental pollution.

Challenges Coexist with Opportunities: Spatial Heterogeneity Expression of PD-L1 in Cancer Therapy.

Cancer immunotherapy using anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibodies has been used in various clinical applications and achieved certain results. However, such limitations as autoimmunity, tumor hyperprogression, and overall low patient response rate impede its further clinical application. Mounting evidence has revealed that PD-L1 is not only present in tumor cell membrane but also in cytoplasm, exosome, or even nucleus. Among these, the dynamic and spatial heterogeneous expression of PD-L1 in tumors is mainly responsible for the unsatisfactory efficacy of PD-L1 antibodies. Hence, numerous studies focus on inhibiting or degrading PD-L1 to improve immune response, while a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying spatial heterogeneity of PD-L1 can fundamentally transform the current status of PD-L1 antibodies in clinical development. Herein, the concept of spatial heterogeneous expression of PD-L1 is creatively introduced, encompassing the structure and biological functions of various kinds of PD-L1 (including mPD-L1, cPD-L1, nPD-L1, and exoPD-L1). Then an in-depth analysis of the regulatory mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets of PD-L1 is provided, seeking to offer a solid basis for future investigation. Moreover, the current status of agents is summarized, especially small molecular modulators development directed at these new targets, offering a novel perspective on potential PD-L1 therapeutics strategies.

N-Octadecane Encapsulated by Assembled BN/GO Aerogels for Highly Improved Thermal Conductivity and Energy Storage Capacity.

The rapid development of industry has emphasized the importance of phase change materials (PCMs) with a high latent-heat storage capacity and good thermal stability in promoting sustainable energy solutions. However, the inherent low thermal conductivity and poor thermal-cycling stability of PCMs limit their application. In this study, we constructed three-dimensional (3D) hybrid graphene aerogels (GBA) based on synergistic assembly and cross-linking between GO and modified hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). Highly thermally conductive GBA was utilized as the supporting optimal matrix for encapsulating OD, and further implied that composite matrix n-octadecane (OD)/GBA composite PCMs were further prepared by encapsulating OD within the GBA structure. Due to the highly thermally conductive network of GBA, the latent heat of the composite PCMs improved to 208.3 J/g, with negligible changes after 100 thermal cycles. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the composite PCMs was significantly enhanced to 1.444 W/(m·k), increasing by 738% compared to OD. These results sufficiently confirmed that the novel GBA with a well-defined porous structure served as PCMs with excellent comprehensive performance offer great potential for thermal energy storage applications.

CD226 deficiency attenuates cardiac early pathological remodeling and dysfunction via decreasing inflammatory macrophage proportion and macrophage glycolysis in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the main complications in type I diabetic patients. Activated macrophage is critical for directing the process of inflammation during the development of DCM. The present study focused on the roles of CD226 on macrophage function during the DCM progression. It has been found that the number of cardiac macrophages in the hearts of streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mice was significantly increased compared with that in non-diabetes mice, and the expression level of CD226 on cardiac macrophages in STZ-induced diabetes mice was higher than that in non-diabetes mice. CD226 deficiency attenuated the diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction and decreased the proportion of CD86+ F4/80+ macrophages in the diabetic hearts. Notably, adoptive transfer of Cd226-/- - bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) alleviated diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction, which may be due to the attenuated migration capacity of Cd226-/- -BMDM under high glucose stimulation. Furthermore, CD226 deficiency decreased the macrophage glycolysis accompanying by the downregulated hexokinase 2 (HK2) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A) expression. Taken together, these findings revealed the pathogenic roles of CD226 played in the process of DCM and provided a basis for the treatment of DCM.

Biosynthesis and physicochemical properties of low molecular weight gellan produced by a high-yield mutant of Sphingomonas paucimobilis ATCC 31461.

Gellan gum (GG) is used in many industries. Here, we obtained a low molecular weight GG (L-GG) directly produced by M155, the high-yield mutant strain of Sphingomonas paucimobilis ATCC 31461, which was selected using UV-ARTP combined mutagenesis. The molecular weight of L-GG was 44.6 % lesser than that of the initial GG (I-GG), and the GG yield increased by 24 %. The monosaccharide composition and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopic patterns of L-GG were similar to those of I-GG, which indicated that the decrease in the molecular weight of L-GG was probably because of reduction in the degree of polymerization. In addition, microstructural analysis revealed that the surface of L-GG was rougher, with smaller pores and tighter network, than that of I-GG. L-GG showed low hardness, gumminess, and chewiness, which are indicative of better taste. The results of rheological analysis revealed that the L-GG solution is a typical non-Newtonian fluid with low viscoelasticity, which exhibited stable dynamic viscoelasticity within 20-65 °C. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of direct biosynthesis of low molecular weight GG during fermentation, which will reduce the manufacturing costs. Our observations provide a reference for precise and expanded applications of GG.

dl-THP recovered the decreased NKp44 expression level on CD56dim CD16+ natural killer cells partially in choriocarcinoma microenvironment.

Natural killer cell-based immunotherapy has become a leading-edge tool against cancer, but still faces a variety of challenges, such as phenotype shift and dysfunction of NK cells in tumor microenvironment. Thus, finding potent agents that could inhibit the phenotype shift and incapacity of NK cells in the tumor microenvironment is essential for improving antitumor effects. dl-tetrahydropalmatine (dl-THP), one of the active alkaloids of Chinese herb Corydalis Rhizoma, has been proven to possess antitumor activity. However, whether dl-THP acts on NK cells to enhance antitumor activity remains unknown. In this study, we found that the proportion of blood CD56dimCD16+ NK cells was decreased while the proportion of CD56brightCD16- NK cells was increased when the cells were cultured in conditional medium (CM, medium from the human choriocarcinoma cell lines JEG-3). dl-THP could alter the varied proportion of CD56dimCD16+ NK cells and CD56brightCD16- NK cells in CM respectively. Importantly, the expression level of NKp44 on CD56dimCD16+ NK cells was dramatically reduced when the cells were cultured in CM, which could also be reversed by dl-THP. Furthermore, dl-THP increased the decreased NK-cell cytotoxicity when cells were cultured in CM. In summary, our study demonstrated that dl-THP could recover the decreased NKp44 expression level on CD56dimCD16+ NK cells and restore the cytotoxicity of NK cells in tumor microenvironment.

Rosmarinic Acid-Crosslinked Supramolecular Nanoassembly with Self-Regulated Photodynamic and Anti-Metastasis Properties for Synergistic Photoimmunotherapy.

A primary concern about photodynamic therapy (PDT) is its inability to regulate the generation levels of reactive oxidative species (ROS) based on the complex microenvironment, resulting in the impairment toward normal tissues and immunosuppression. Besides, tumor metastasis also compromises PDT's efficacy and drives mortality. However, it is very challenging to achieve such two goals within one nanosystem. Here, the nanoassembly (CPR) with self-regulated photodynamic and antimetastasis properties comprises three parts: chlorin e6-conjugated ß-cyclodextrin (CD-Ce6) acts as the main PDT agent and ferrocene (Fc)-terminated phenylboronic acid-containing conjugates entering into the cavity of CD-Ce6, as well as rosmarinic acid (RA)-boronic acid crosslinked shell. Compared with non-crosslinked counterpart, CPR displays better stability and enhanced tumor accumulation. Under laser irradiation, CPR generates plenty of ROS to damage tumor cells and induce immunogenic cell death. Mildly acidic TME partly cleaves the crosslinkers to dissociate antioxidant RAs from micelles, which together with Fc in CPR scavenge PDT-induced ROS in the TME. By contrast, under acidic lysosomal conditions, Fc catalyzes abundant H2 O2 in tumor cells to produce highly cytotoxic •OH, while RA continuously reduces ferroptosis-generated Fc+ into Fc, both to augment the PDT efficacy in tumor cells. CPR also remarkably hinders the epithelial-mesenchymal transition to prevent the lung metastasis.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel DOPO-Based Flame Retardant Intermediate and Its Flame Retardancy as a Polystyrene Intrinsic Flame Retardant.

The research on intrinsic flame retardant has become a hot topic in the field of flame retardant. The synthesis of reactive flame-retardant monomer is one of the effective methods to obtain an intrinsic flame retardant. In addition, in view of the small molecular flame retardant easily migrates from the polymer during the use process, which leads to the gradual reduction of the flame retardant effect and even the gradual loss of flame retardant performance, and the advantages of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technology in polymer structure design and function customization, we first synthesized reactive flame retardant monomer 6-(hydroxymethyl)dibenzo[c,e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 6-oxide (FAA-DOPO), then synthesized polystyrene bromine (PS148-Br) macromolecular initiator by ATRP technology, and finally obtained block copolymer polystyrene-b-poly{6-(hydroxymethyl)dibenzo[c,e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 6-oxide} (PS-b-PFAA-DOPO) by the polymerization of FAA-DOPO initiated by macromolecular initiator PS148-Br by ATRP technology. The chemical structure of FAA-DOPO was characterized by 1D and 2D NMR (1H, 13C, DEPT 135, HSQC, COSY, NOE, and HMBC) spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The chemical structure and molecular weight of PS-b-PFAA-DOPO were characterized by FTIR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal and flame-retardant properties of PS-b-PFAA-DOPO were characterized by thermogravimetry analysis (TG), UL-94, limiting oxygen index (LOI), and microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC). It was found that FAA-DOPO could be used as a monomer for polymerization, although FAA-DOPO had a large steric hindrance from the chemical structure of FAA-DOPO, the UL-94 grade of PS-b-PFAA-DOPO reached the V-0 grade, and the LOI increased by 59.12% compared with PS148-Br.

Research on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Nylon6/Basalt Fiber/High-Density Polyethylene Composites.

As a representative polyolefin, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has become one of the most commonly used commercial plastics with a wide range of applications in the world. However, its applications are limited due to poor mechanical properties. Hence, it is indispensable to develop composites with improved mechanical properties to overcome this disadvantage. In our work, basalt fiber (BF) and polyamide 6 (PA6)-reinforced HDPE composites were prepared. The effects of adding fiber, organic filler, and polar component maleic anhydride (MAH) on the microstructural characteristics of composites were investigated. Microstructural characterization evidenced that the binary-dispersed phase (PA6/BF) possesses a core-shell structure in which the component PA6 encapsulates the component BF, and the extent of encapsulation declines with the increase of MAH addition. It has been confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation that the microstructure is related to the interfacial tension of components. The effects of multicomponents on the crystallization behavior of composites were studied. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis exhibited a significant change in the HDPE microstructure. Results showed that, as nucleating agents, PA6 and BF improve the crystallization rate in the cooling process. Furthermore, the rheological behavior of multicomponent composites was studied. With the increase of MAH, a clear improvement of complex viscosity and storage modulus was observed, of which the mechanism has been discussed in detail. The relationship between microstructure and heat resistance of composites was studied by a thermal deformation test under static fore. It is confirmed that the thermally conductive fiber BF and other components can form a thermally conductive network and channels, thus improving the heat resistance. It can become a composite material, which is suitable for special environments.

Synthesis of High-Molecular-Weight Bifunctional Additives with both Flame Retardant Properties and Antistatic Properties via ATRP.

Polystyrene (PS) is widely used in our daily life, but it is flammable and produces a large number of toxic gases and high-temperature flue gases in the combustion process, which limit its application. Improving the flame retardancy of PS has become an urgent problem to be solved. In addition, in view of the disadvantage that small-molecule flame retardants can easily migrate from polymers during use, which leads to the gradual reduction of the flame retardant effect or even loss of flame retardant performance, and the outstanding advantages of ATRP technology in polymer structure design and function customization, we used ATRP technology to synthesize the high-molecular-weight bifunctional additive PFAA-DOPO-b-PDEAEMA, which has flame retardant properties and antistatic properties. The chemical structure and molecular weight of PFAA-DOPO-b-PDEAEMA were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, GPC, and XPS. When the addition of PFAA-DOPO-b-PDEAEMA was 15 wt %, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of polystyrene composites was 28.4%, which was 53.51% higher than that of pure polystyrene, the peak of the heat release rate (pHRR) was 37.61% lower than that of pure polystyrene, UL-94 reached V-0 grade, and the flame retardant index (FRI) was 2.98. In addition, when the PFAA-DOPO-b-PDEEMA content is 15 wt %, the surface resistivity and volume resistivity of polystyrene composites are 2 orders of magnitude lower than those of polystyrene. This research work provides a reference for the design of bifunctional and even multifunctional polymers.

Rapid Screening of High-Yield Gellan Gum Mutants of Sphingomonas paucimobilis ATCC 31461 by Combining Atmospheric and Room Temperature Plasma Mutation with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Monitoring.

In this study, an efficient mutagenesis and rapid screening method of high-yield gellan gum mutant by atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) treatment combined with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) was proposed. A NIRS model for the on-line detection of gellan gum yield was constructed by joint interval partial least squares (siPLS) regression on the basis of chemical determination and NIRS acquisition of gellan gum yield. Five genetically stable mutant strains were screened using the on-line NIRS detection of gellan gum yield in the fermentation from approximately 600 mutant strains induced by ARTP. Remarkably, compared with the original strain, the gellan gum yield of mutant strain 519 was 9.427 g/L (increased by 133.5%) under the optimal fermentation conditions, which was determined by single-factor and response surface optimization. Therefore, the method of ARTP mutation combined with the NIRS model can be used to screen high-yield mutant strains of gellan gum and other high-yield polysaccharide strains.

Characterization of exosomes derived from IPEC-J2 treated with probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SC06 and its regulation of macrophage functions.

Probiotics can maintain or improve health by modulating the response of immune cells in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the mechanisms by which probiotics promote macrophage (Mφ) activity are poorly understood. Here, we evaluated exosomes derived from intestinal epithelial cells treated with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SC06 (Ba) and investigated the regulation of Mφ phagocytosis, apoptosis, and polarization. We isolated two exosomes from intestinal porcine epithelial cell lines (IPEC-J2) with or without Ba-treatment, named Ba-Exo and Exo, respectively. They had typical sizes and a cup-shaped morphology, and their surfaces presented typical exosomes-associated proteins, including CD63, ALIX, and TSG101. Ba-Exo and Exo could entrer Mφ (3D4/21 cells) effectively. Moreover, an in vitro phagocytosis assay demonstrated that Ba-Exo can promote phagocytosis of Mφ. Similar to Exo, Ba-Exo had no effect on Mφ apoptosis. Furthermore, Ba-Exo significantly increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), declined the expression of arginase 1 (Arg1) in Mφ, and stimulated Mφ polarization to M1. To explore the differences in the regulation of Mφ polarization between Ba-Exo and Exo, we performed reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of the small RNAs and found that miR-222 increased in the Ba-Exo group compared to that in the Exo group. These results provide a new perspective on the relationship between probiotics and intestinal immunity.

Gut microbiota-mitochondrial inter-talk in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The increasing prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is a progressive disease, has exerted huge a healthcare burden worldwide. New investigations have suggested that the gut microbiota closely participates in the progression of NAFLD through the gut-liver axis or gut-brain-liver axis. The composition of the microbiota can be altered by multiple factors, primarily dietary style, nutritional supplements, or exercise. Recent evidence has revealed that gut microbiota is involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in the liver by regulating crucial transcription factors, enzymes, or genes. Moreover, microbiota metabolites can also affect mitochondrial oxidative stress function and swallow formation, subsequently controlling the inflammatory response and regulating the levels of inflammatory cytokines, which are the predominant regulators of NAFLD. This review focuses on the changes in the composition of the gut microbiota and metabolites as well as the cross-talk between gut microbiota and mitochondrial function. We thus aim to comprehensively explore the potential mechanisms of gut microbiota in NAFLD and potential therapeutic strategies targeting NAFLD management.

Optimal High-order Tensor SVD via Tensor-Train Orthogonal Iteration.

This paper studies a general framework for high-order tensor SVD. We propose a new computationally efficient algorithm, tensor-train orthogonal iteration (TTOI), that aims to estimate the low tensor-train rank structure from the noisy high-order tensor observation. The proposed TTOI consists of initialization via TT-SVD [1] and new iterative backward/forward updates. We develop the general upper bound on estimation error for TTOI with the support of several new representation lemmas on tensor matricizations. By developing a matching information-theoretic lower bound, we also prove that TTOI achieves the minimax optimality under the spiked tensor model. The merits of the proposed TTOI are illustrated through applications to estimation and dimension reduction of high-order Markov processes, numerical studies, and a real data example on New York City taxi travel records. The software of the proposed algorithm is available online (https://github.com/Lili-Zheng-stat/TTOI).