Ginsenosides Inhibit the Proliferation of Lung Cancer Cells and Suppress the Rate of Metastasis by Modulating EGFR/VEGF Signaling Pathways.

Ginsenosides Rg3 and Rg5 obtained from Panax (ginseng) have shown significant anticancer activity via the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This study evaluated the anticancer and antimetastatic effects of a combination of Rg3 and Rg5 on lung cancer cells. A combination of Rg3 and Rg5 was treated for lung cancer cell line A549 and human lung tumor xenograft mouse model, and anti-metastatic effects on Matrigel plug implantation in mice. The combination of Rg3 and Rg5 showed potent antiproliferative effects on A549 cells with IC50 values of 44.6 and 36.0 µM for Rg3 and Rg5 respectively. The combination of Rg3 and Rg5 (30 µM each) showed 48% cell viability as compared to Rg3 (72% viability) and Rg5 (64% viability) at 30 µM concentrations. The combination of Rg3 and Rg5 induced apoptosis in A549 cells characterized by activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP, as well as suppression of the autophagic marker LC3A/B. The antitumoral potentials of the combination of Rg3 and Rg5 were ascertained in a lung tumor xenograft mouse model with high efficacy as compared to individual ginsenosides. The metastasislimiting properties of the combination of Rg3 and Rg5 were assessed in Matrigel plug implantation in mice which showed the potent efficacy of the combination as compared to individual ginsenoside. Mechanistically, the combination of Rg3 and Rg5 inhibited the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and EGFR/VEGF signaling pathways in lung cancer cells. Results suggest that the combination of Rg3 and Rg5 suppressed the tumor cell proliferation in lung cancer cells and limited the rate of metastasis which further suggest that the combination has a significant effect as compared to the administration of single ginsenoside.

Nonlinear edge enhancement imaging based on Laguerre-Gaussian superimposed vortex filters.

Nonlinear reconstruction, which is based on the principle of cross correlation, is a commonly employed reconstruction technique in incoherent correlated digital holography systems. However, the modulation of phase masks in these systems is suppressed during the reconstruction process, resulting in an inability to express the characteristics of the phase masks. Consequently, achieving edge enhancement within these systems is constrained. We propose a nonlinear reconstruction method utilizing Laguerre-Gaussian superimposed vortex filters, which modulates the spectrum of the target during the reconstruction process. Experimental results demonstrate that this method performs well in reconstructing image edges for various phase-masked incoherent imaging systems and effectively suppresses noise. Additionally, this method enables directional edge enhancement.

Focusing through scattering media by a single polarization transmission matrix with binary polarization modulation.

Wavefront distortion induced by scattering media seriously affects optical focusing. Wavefront shaping based on a transmission matrix (TM) is useful in controlling light propagation in highly scattering media. Traditional TM generally studies amplitude and phase, but the stochastic nature of the light propagation in the scattering medium also affects its polarization. Based on the binary polarization modulation, we propose a single polarization transmission matrix (SPTM) and achieve single-spot focusing through scattering media. We anticipate that the SPTM will be widely used in wavefront shaping.

Photocatalytic Applications of ReS2-Based Heterostructures.

ReS2-based heterostructures, which involve the coupling of a narrow band-gap semiconductor ReS2 with other wide band-gap semiconductors, have shown promising performance in energy conversion and environmental pollution protection in recent years. This review focuses on the preparation methods, encompassing hydrothermal, chemical vapor deposition, and exfoliation techniques, as well as achievements in correlated applications of ReS2-based heterostructures, including type-I, type-II heterostructures, and Z-scheme heterostructures for hydrogen evolution, reduction of CO2, and degradation of pollutants. We believe that this review provides an overview of the most recent advances to guide further research and development of ReS2-based heterostructures for photocatalysis.

Mimicking Photosynthesis: A Natural Z-Scheme Photocatalyst Constructed from Red Mud Bauxite Waste for Overall Water Splitting.

All-solid-state Z-Scheme photocatalysts have attracted significant attention due to their great potential for solar fuel production. However, delicately coupling two individual semiconductors with a charge shuttle by a material strategy remains a challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a new protocol of natural Z-Scheme heterostructures by strategically engineering the component and interfacial structure of red mud bauxite waste. Advanced characterizations elucidated that the hydrogen-induced formation of metallic Fe enabled the effective Z-Scheme electron transfer from γ-Fe2 O3 to TiO2 , leading to the significantly boosted spatial separation of photo-generated carriers for overall water splitting. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first Z-Scheme heterojunction based on natural minerals for solar fuel production. Thus our work provides a new avenue toward the utilization of natural minerals for advanced catalysis applications.

TiO2/CsPbBr3 S-scheme heterojunctions with highly improved CO2 photoreduction activity through facet-induced Fermi level modulation.

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction is a promising method to resolve the energy shortage problem. Developing photocatalysts with strong redox capabilities is urgently needed to achieve high photocatalytic activity. Herein, we synthesized TiO2/CsPbBr3 S-scheme heterojunctions with modulated internal electric field by facet engineering of TiO2 to control charge transfer for improved photocatalytic activity. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that there is a wider Fermi level difference between TiO2-(101) and CsPbBr3 than that between TiO2-(001) and CsPbBr3, which will induce more obvious band bending. Subsequently, more efficient spatial separation will occur around the interface. Thus, TiO2-(101)/CsPbBr3 heterostructures effectively reduce CO2 into CO with the selectivity of 90.2 % and reduction rate of 12.5 µmol h-1, 15.6 and 5.6 times improvement than that of 101-TiO2 and TiO2-(001)/CsPbBr3, respectively. This report proposes a feasible idea of employing facet engineering to take the advantage of S-scheme heterojunction.

Facilitating Molecular Activation and Proton Feeding by Dual Active Sites on Polymeric Carbon Nitride for Efficient CO2 Photoreduction.

Photoreduction of CO2 provides an appealing way to alleviate the energy crisis and manage the global carbon balance but is limited by the high activation energy and the rate-limiting proton transfer. We now develop a dual-site strategy for high-efficiency CO2 conversion through polarizing CO2 molecules at pyridine N vacancies and accelerating the intermediate protonation by protonated pyridine N adjacent to nitrogen vacancies on polymeric carbon nitride. Our photocatalysts with atomic-level engineered active sites manifest a high CO production rate of 1835 µmol g-1 h-1 , 183 times higher than the pristine bulk carbon nitride. Theoretical prediction and experimental studies confirm that such excellent performance is attributed to the synergistic effect between vacant and protonated pyridine N in decreasing the formation energy of the key *COOH intermediates and the efficient electron transfer relay facilitated by the defect-induced shallow trap state and homogeneous charge mediators.

Research on the Application of Synthetic Polymer Materials in Contemporary Public Art.

Synthetic polymer materials are widely used in contemporary public art creation. This review summarizes the application methods and current situation of synthetic polymer materials in public art, analyzes the reasons behind them and points out the deficiencies in this research field. Finally, the development trend of the interaction between synthetic polymer materials and public art is put forward.

Recording point spread functions by wavefront modulation for interferenceless coded aperture correlation holography.

Coded aperture correlation holography (COACH) needs the point spread function (PSF) for image reconstruction. Utilizing a pinhole to generate a point light source is the most frequently adopted method for measuring PSF, which, however, has significant issues to resolve. One of the problems is that the resolution of the reconstructed result is limited by the cutoff frequency of the pinhole. The other is that the far-field PSF is undetectable because the amount of light illuminance decreases with the distance. In this work, we present a method for recording the PSF based on wavefront modulation. By modulating a plane wave with both the carrier spherical wave and the coded phase mask, we obtain a virtual point spread function (VPSF) that is used for image reconstruction. It is shown that the resolution of reconstructed results is not limited by the pinhole. We experimentally demonstrate high-resolution reconstruction by the VPSF.

Factors affecting cadmium accumulation in the soil profiles in an urban agricultural area.

Soil Cd pollution is a serious environmental issue associated with human activities. However, the factors determining exogenous Cd dynamics in the soil profile in a complex environment are not well understood. Based on regional observations from 169 soil profiles across the Chengdu Plain, this study explored the key factors controlling Cd accumulation in the soil profile under actual field conditions. Results showed that total soil Cd contents decreased from 0.377 to 0.196 mg kg-1 with increasing soil depth. The effects of phosphate fertilizer rates, road density and precipitation on the difference in total soil Cd content were only observed in topsoil, while agricultural land-use type and topography had no impact. In contrast, significant differences in the total soil Cd content among different parent material types were found in the 0-20, 40-60 and 60-100 cm soil depths. One sample t-tests showed that significant Cd accumulation occurred in the whole soil profile in soils formed from Q4 (Quaternary Holocene) grey alluvium, while soils formed from Q3 (Quaternary Pleistocene) old alluvium and Q4 grey-brown alluvium showed significant Cd accumulation only in the 0-40 cm soil layers. In the topsoil, acid soluble Cd accounted for the largest proportion of the total Cd in soils formed from Q4 grey alluvium, reducible Cd was the main fraction in soils formed from Q4 grey-brown alluvium, while reducible Cd and residual Cd contributed the largest proportion of the total soil Cd in soils formed from Q3 old alluvium. The above results indicated that parent material was the decisive factor determining the magnitudes and depths of exogenous Cd accumulation in the soil profile due to its impacts on the Cd fraction distributions. These findings suggested that the parent material-induced Cd fraction distributions and accumulation should be considered for effectively exploring targeted remediation strategies for Cd pollution.

Game Analysis on Epidemic Prevention and Resuming Production: Based on China's Experience With COVID-19.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, it became urgent to deal with the relationship between the prevention and control of the epidemic and the resumption of work and production. The purpose of this study is to observe and describe which approach seemed more important for the Chinese government and people, and how this trend evolved through time. To this end, a game model of resuming production and preventing the epidemic is constructed, using the evolutionary stable strategy (ESS). By combing China's measures on epidemic prevention and resuming production during critical periods of epidemic outbreak, it is clarified that the present stage is considered a period of equal emphasis on both epidemic prevention and resuming production. Based on the dynamic between these two strategies and further theoretical research, present policies should equally focus on both preventive and controlling measures as well as on the socioeconomic development for most countries in the world.

Hierarchically Assembling CoFe Prussian Blue Analogue Nanocubes on CoP Nanosheets as Highly Efficient Electrocatalysts for Overall Water Splitting.

Efficient and durable electrocatalysts are highly desirable for overall water splitting. Herein, a facile strategy is demonstrated to rationally construct CoFe Prussian blue analogues (PBA)@CoP cube-on-sheet hierarchical structure by etching reaction with intermediated CoO to form PBA nanocubes. Benefitting from the heterostructured engineering, the as-synthesized CoFe PBA@CoP presents remarkable electrocatalytic performance in 1.0 m KOH, only requiring overpotentials of 100 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 171 mV for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to reach the 10 mA cm-2 current density with good stability. Extraordinarily enhanced electrocatalytic performance is ascribed to not only the rapid charge transfer of active species, but also the synergistic effect between each component to achieve tuned electronic structure and abundant electrocatalytic active sites. Especially, the assembled two-electrode cell using CoFe PBA@CoP as both cathode and anode delivers the current densities of 10 mA cm-2 at a relatively low cell voltage of 1.542 V, outperforming most of low-cost bifunctional electrocatalysts reported to date. The controllable and versatile strategy will open up an avenue to prepare hybrid films for advanced electrochemical energy storage and conversion.

Efficient compressive holographic reconstruction based on hologram segmentation.

Compressive holography can successfully reconstruct a three-dimensional layered object from a two-dimensional hologram. However, the extremely time-consuming reconstruction limits its range of applications. We propose a dimension reduction of measurement matrix (DRMM) method to accelerate compressive holographic reconstruction. The calculation time is substantially reduced while the reconstruction quality is improved by DRMM, which is implemented by a hologram segmentation approach and a parallel computing technique. Holograms of specific target objects are segmented from the hologram of a three-dimensional layered object, and the reconstruction can be implemented in parallel using multicore processors. We present both simulation and experimental results to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Construction, Investigation and Application of TEV Protease Variants with Improved Oxidative Stability.

Tobacco etch virus protease (TEVp) is a useful tool for removing fusion tags, but wild-type TEVp is less stable under oxidized redox state. In this work, we introduced and combined C19S, C110S and C130S into TEVp variants containing T17S, L56V, N68D, I77V and S135G to improve protein solubility, and S219V to inhibit self-proteolysis. The solubility and cleavage activity of the constructed variants in Escherichia coli strains including BL21(DE3), BL21(DE3)pLys, Rossetta(DE3) and Origami(DE3) under the same induction conditions were analyzed and compared. The desirable soluble amounts, activity, and oxidative stability were identified to be reluctantly favored in the TEVp. Unlike C19S, C110S and C130S hardly impacted on decreasing protein solubility in the BL21(DE3), but they contributed to improved tolerance to the oxidative redox state in vivo and in vitro. After two fusion proteins were cleaved by purified TEVp protein containing double mutations under the oxidized redox state, the refolded disulfide-rich bovine enterokinase catalytic domain or maize peroxidase with enhanced yields were released from the regenerated amorphous cellulose via affinity absorption of the cellulose-binding module as the affinity tag.

Combination of the mutations for improving activity of TEV protease in inclusion bodies.

Tobacco etch virus protease (TEVp) is an enzymatic reagent to remove fusion tag, but additional purification steps are required for removing the TEVp after cleavage reaction is finished. Use of carrier-free and dependent TEVp immobilizates can eliminate protease contamination. In this work, we identified that, among the four constructed missense variants, the insoluble variant with the highest activity was correspondent with the soluble one tested formerly. The activities of the insoluble 15 codon variants were assayed and the variant with highest activity was selected. The K45F and/or E106G mutations have been reported on slightly improving protein stability of the wild-type TEVp, but only E106G mutation enhanced soluble production and activity of the selected TEVp variant, and it increased soluble amounts of two codon variants with the impaired folding. The decreased activity and use efficiency of the optimized TEVp variant in inclusion bodies was balanced by the determined high level production, lower leaking amounts of the protein, the enhanced resistance to the limited proteolysis mediated by protease K and trypsin, and the increased inhibition of auto-cleavage, as comparison to those of the immobilized soluble one. Thus, the TEVp construct is a potential alternate for simplifying protein purification protocols after tag-removal.

Oxygen Vacancy-Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting of WO3/NiFe-Layered Double Hydroxide Photoanodes.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting serves as one of the promising approaches for producing clean and renewable energy, and their solar-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency depends on the interfacial charge separation and carrier mobility. Herein, we report an effective strategy to promote the PEC performance by fabricating a WO3 photoanode rich in oxygen vacancies (Ov) modified by NiFe-based layered double hydroxide (LDH). When WO3-Ov/NiFe-LDH is used as a photoanode, the maximum photocurrent density at 1.8 V versus RHE has been significantly enhanced to 2.58 mA·cm-2, which is 4.3 times higher than that of WO3. In addition, analogues were studied in controlled experiments without Ov, which further demonstrated that the synergistic effect of NiFe-LDH and Ov resulted in increased carrier concentration and driving force. According to electrical impedance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Mott-Schottky analysis, the built-in electronic field in WO3 homojunction, along with the accelerated hole capture by the NiFe-LDH cocatalyst contributes to the improved charge separation and transport in the WO3-Ov/NiFe-LDH electrode. This work proposes an efficient and valuable strategy for designing the structure of WO3-based photoelectrodes.

Correlation between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome and the prognosis of treatment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the prognosis of treatment. METHODS: A total of127 IBS patients (IBS group) were selected, and based on the results of the methane/hydrogen breath test, they were divided into SIBO-positive group (subdivided into the antibiotic group, microecological group, and placebo group according to difference in treatment methods) and the SIBO-negative group. The incidence of SIBO and inflammatory factors in different populations were compared. Moreover, differences in the negative conversion rate of intestinal bacterial overgrowth, symptom improvement, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-10 levels in the antibiotic group, microecological group, and placebo group before and after treatment were compared. RESULTS: The IL-1ß level of the IBS group was higher than that of the control group, but the level of IL-10 was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The level of IL-1ß in the SIBO-positive group was higher than that in the SIBO-negative group, while IL-10 level was lower in the SIBO-positive group compared with the SIBO-negative group (P<0.05). Symptom scores after treatment in the antibiotic group and the microecological group were lower than those in the same groups before treatment and those in the placebo group after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, the level of IL-1ß in the antibiotic group and the microecological group decreased, whereas the level of IL-10 increased (P<0.05). Furthermore, the total clinical effective rate and negative conversion rate of the antibiotic group and the microecological group were higher than those of the placebo group (P<0.05); however, the comparison of symptom scores, inflammatory factors, and total clinical effective rate before and after treatment in the placebo group was not statistically significant (P<0.05). The symptom score after treatment in the negative conversion group was lower than that in the non-negative conversion group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SIBO plays an important role in the occurrence of IBS. Antibiotics and microecological agents can be used to correct SIBO in clinical practice to improve the symptoms of IBS patients and peripheral blood inflammatory factors.

MiR-1-3p Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation and Metastasis by Inhibiting YWHAZ-Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is regarded as one of the most common malignancies in the world. MiR-1-3p was reported to be a tumor suppressor in CRC. However, the mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. METHODS: To identify CRC-associated miRNA, microarray data set GSE30454 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO), and miR-1-3p was screened out as a candidate. The expression of miR-1-3p was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in CRC cell lines and tissues. CCK-8 assay and transwell invasion assay were performed to determine CRC cell line proliferation and invasion, respectively. The levels of YWHAZ and EMT-associated proteins were detected using western blotting. RESULTS: Bioinformatic analysis showed that miR-1-3p was downregulated in CRC tissues, which is verified by our experimental validation. The overexpression of miR-1-3p significantly suppressed CRC cell proliferation and invasion. Further studies showed that YWHAZ was a direct target of miR-1-3p and mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) modulated by miR-1-3p. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that miR-1-3p suppresses colorectal cancer cell proliferation and metastasis through regulating YWHAZ-mediated EMT, which may support a novel therapeutic strategy for CRC patients.

The Effectiveness of a Self-Efficacy-Focused Structured Education Program (SSEP) in Improving Metabolic Control and Psychological Outcomes of Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A 12-Month Follow-Up of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The 12-month follow-up effect of the self-efficacy-focused structured education program (SSEP) requires in-depth confirmation. This study aims to verify whether the benefits of SSEP can be maintained in 12 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter randomized controlled trial with 12-month follow-up conducted among 265 type 2 diabetes patients not on insulin from 4 hospitals in mainland China. The intervention group (n = 133) was administrated with SSEP, and the control group (n = 132) received the routine education. The indicators of metabolic and psychosocial aspects of the patients were assessed at baseline and 12 months. RESULTS: As opposed to the control group, the primary outcomes of HbA1c in the intervention group were improved obviously in the 12th month during the 12-month follow-up (-1.13%, P < 0.001). The secondary outcomes (ie, waist circumference, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, diabetes self-efficacy, diabetes self-management behaviors, diabetes knowledge and diabetes distress) were improved significantly in the intervention group as compared with the control group in the 12th month during the 12-month follow-up (-3.14 cm, P = 0.001; -0.30 mmol/L, P = 0.032; -0.25 mmol/L, P = 0.008; 0.87, P < 0.001; 10.67, P < 0.001; 3.42, P < 0.001; -4.97, P < 0.001). The non-significant difference in the secondary outcomes (ie, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) was identified between the two groups in the 12th month during the 12-month follow-up (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The SSEP provided sustainable benefits in outcomes of HbA1c, waist circumference, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, diabetes knowledge, diabetes distress, diabetes self-efficacy and diabetes self-management behaviors for type 2 diabetes patients not on insulin in the 12th month during the 12-month follow-up. Thus, it will be an effective education model capable of being generalized nationwide, and it can be referenced for the nations and regions under consistent conditions. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17011007).

Fucoidan attenuates hyperoxia-induced lung injury in newborn rats by mediating lung fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Hyperoxia-induced lung injury is one of the most common and frequent diseases in premature infants and may develop into bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Fucoidan, extracted from brown seaweed and brown algae, has anti-apoptosis, antioxidative and anti-fibrosis effects. This study aimed to explore whether fucoidan could alleviate hyperoxia-induced lung injury in newborn rats. METHODS: Lung wet-weight/dry-weight (W/D) ratio, total protein (TP) content, total cell counts, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are used to evaluate lung injury. Masson staining is used to evaluate lung fibrotic. Tunnel assay and Hoechst 33258 assay were used to evaluate apoptosis. The levels of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) were measured using ELISA to assess oxidative stress. Western blot assay was used to detect apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-1, Bax, and myofibroblast proteins α-SMA. RESULTS: The data indicating fucoidan treatment remarkably reduces the lung W/D ratio and TP content, total cell counts, and LDH levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Also, fucoidan treatment significantly inhibited cell apoptosis with the elevated expression of Bcl-2/Bax in cultured lung fibroblasts. Moreover, treatment with fucoidan suppressed the levels of MDA significantly and elevated the level of SOD and GSH, showing that oxidative stress was restrained by fucoidan. Furthermore, the decreased expression levels of α-SMA and collagen I was detected in fibroblast treated with fucoidan. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest fucoidan may protect the lung from hyperoxia via suppressing cell apoptosis, mitigating oxidative stress, and inhibiting lung fibroblasts from differentiating into myofibroblasts.