Adsorption Behavior of Dissolved Gas Molecules in Transformer Oil on Rh Modified GeSe Monolayer.

Dissolved gas analysis in transformer oil is useful for detecting early transformer failures. The research on gas sensors for monitoring dissolved gas in transformer oil has attracted wide attention from academia and industry. In this study, Rh-doped GeSe monolayers were used as gas sensing materials based on the density functional theory (DFT). The potential of the Rh-GeSe monolayer as a gas sensor was evaluated by calculating the geometric structure, adsorption distance (dsub/gas), binding energy (Eb), adsorption energy (Eads), transfer charge (ΔQ), the density of states (DOS), band structure, electron localization function (ELF), charge difference density (CDD), and sensitivity (S) of Rh-GeSe monolayer with eight gas molecules (SO2, C2H2, NO2, H2, CH4, CO2, H2S, and CO). The results show that the Rh-GeSe monolayer has a prominent response to SO2, C2H2, and NO2 gas molecules and has great potential to become an excellent gas sensor. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of Rh-GeSe monolayer in the field of gas sensing and provides a new way for the development of other gas sensors.

Targeting miR-146b-5p to Regulate KDM6B Expression Aggravates Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

miR-146b-5p has been studied to be highly expressed in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but whether it is involved in regulating the process of BPD in premature infants remains unclear. This study was to explore miR-146b-5p in premature BPD and reveal its molecular mechanism. BPD mouse model and high-oxygen MLE-12 cell model were established. HE staining, TUNEL staining, and IF staining were conducted to evaluate the pathological injury and protein expression in mouse lung tissue. LDH assay, MMT assay, and flow cytometry were achieved to evaluate cytotoxicity, cell viability, and apoptosis. ELISA and immunoblotting were performed to evaluate inflammatory cytokines and Wnt pathway proteins in lung tissues and cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were needed to examine the targeting relationship between miR-146b-5p and KDM6B. miR-146b-5p was abundantly expressed in BPD and KDM6B was lowly expressed. miR-146b-5p knockdown improved hyperoxia-induced lung epithelial cell inflammation and apoptosis in both models. miR-146b-6p upregulation or KDM6B downregulation aggravated hyperoxia-induced inflammation and apoptosis of lung epithelial cells. This effect of overexpressing miR-146b-5p was rescued by forcing KDM6B. MiR-146b-5p activated Wnt signaling by regulating KDM6B. miR-146b-5p activates the Wnt pathway through targeted regulation of KDM6B, thereby aggravating hyperoxia-induced inflammation and apoptosis of lung epithelial cells.

Silver nanoparticles combat Salmonella Typhimurium: Suppressing intracellular infection and activating dendritic cells.

Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) can hide inside cells, avoid antibiotic therapy and being killed by host's immune system to cause persistent infection in humans and animals. Metal nanoparticles are regarded as an alternative to overcome the above limitations, silver nanoparticles especially have been applied in combating drug-resistant bacteria. However, the therapeutic effects of silver nanoparticles against intracellular infection and their impacts on host immunity remain an area of further investigation. In this work, we synthesized Ganoderma extract-capped silver nanoparticles (Ag@Ge) and explored the therapeutic potential and immune adjuvant effects of Ag@Ge against intracellular ST. Firstly, Ag@Ge had a small particle size of 35.52±7.46 nm, good stability, and biocompatibility. Then, Ag@Ge effectively entered RAW 264.7 cells, suppressed intracellular ST infection. Furthermore, Ag@Ge activated mouse dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro, evidenced by increased phenotypic markers (CD80/CD86/CD40/major compatibility complex II (MHCII)) expression and cytokine and chemokine (interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL-2), and chemokine (C-C motif) receptor-7 (CCR-7)) transcription. More notably, the combination of Ag@Ge with inactivated ST recruited intestinal DCs to mitigate ST infection in mice, evidenced by decreased body weight loss and bacterial loads in the tissues (liver, jejunum, and colon), and improved platelets count. The above findings indicate that Ag@Ge has the potential as an alternative nano-antibiotic against intracellular ST infection.

As-Doped h-BN Monolayer: A High Sensitivity and Short Recovery Time SF6 Decomposition Gas Sensor.

SF6 is a common insulating medium of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). However, it is inevitable that SF6 will be decomposed due to partial discharge (PD) in GIS, which will cause hidden dangers to the safe and stable operation of equipment. Based on the DFT method, the two-dimensional nano-composite As-doped h-BN (As-BN) monolayer was proposed. By modeling and calculating, the ability of an As-BN monolayer as a specific sensor for SO2F2 (compared with an H2O adsorption system and CO2 adsorption system) was evaluated by parameters such as the binding energy (Eb), adsorption energy (Eads), transfer charge (ΔQ), geometric structure parameters, the total density of states (TDOS), band structure, charge difference density (CDD), electron localization function (ELF), sensitivity (S), and recovery time (τ). The results showed that an As-BN monolayer showed strong adsorption specificity, high sensitivity, and short recovery time for SO2F2 gas molecules. Therefore, the As-BN monolayer sensor has great application potential in the detection of SF6 decomposition gases.

Hydroxytyrosol and Oleuropein Inhibit Migration and Invasion of MDA-MB-231 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell via Induction of Autophagy.

BACKGROUND: Breast Cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. As such, novel chemotherapeutic agents are urgently needed, especially for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Hydroxytyrosol (HT) and Oleuropein (OL) are rich in olive oil, which is associated with a low occurrence of BC. However, the effects and mechanisms of action of HT and OL in BC cells are still unclear. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor effect of HT and OL in TNBC. METHODS: TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with HT and OL in combination with Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), rapamycin (Rapa, an inducer of autophagy) or 3-methyladenine (3-MA, an inhibitor of autophagy). Cell viability, migration, invasion, and autophagy signaling were analyzed by scratch assays, transwell migration assays, and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Treatment with HT or OL reduced MDA-MB-231 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. MDAMB- 231 cells were more sensitive to HT treatment than OL treatment. Rapa treatment could significantly block HGF-induced MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasion, suggesting that inhibition of autophagy could promote migration and invasion. Moreover, HT or OL treatment significantly suppressed HGF or 3-MA induced cell migration and invasion by reversing LC3-II/LC3-I and Beclin-1 downregulation and reversing p62 upregulation. CONCLUSION: These data indicated that HT and OL may inhibit migration and invasion of TNBC cells by activating autophagy. These findings provide potential therapeutic strategies that target autophagy to limit the pathogenesis and progression of BC.