Massively Enhanced Charge Selectivity, Ion Transport, and Osmotic Energy Conversion by Antiswelling Nanoconfined Hydrogels.

Developing a nanofluidic membrane with simultaneously enhanced ion selectivity and permeability for high-performance osmotic energy conversion has largely been unexplored. Here, we tackle this issue by the confinement of highly space-charged hydrogels within an orderedly aligned nanochannel array membrane. The nanoconfinement effect endows the hydrogel-based membrane with excellent antiswelling property. Furthermore, experimental and simulation results demonstrate that such a nanoconfined hydrogel membrane exhibits massively enhanced cation selectivity and ion transport properties. Consequently, an amazingly high power density up to ∼52.1 W/m2 with an unprecedented energy conversion efficiency of 37.5% can be reached by mixing simulated salt-lake water (5 M NaCl) and river water (0.01 M NaCl). Both efficiency indexes surpass those of most of the state-of-the-art nanofluidic membranes. This work offers insights into the design of highly ion-selective membranes to achieve ultrafast ion transport and high-performance osmotic energy harvesting.

Exendin-4 protects murine pancreatic ß-cells from free fatty acid-induced apoptosis through PI-3K signaling.

INTRODUCTION: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone secreted by the L-cells of the distal intestine that has proliferative and anti-apoptotic actions on the ß-cell. METHODS: In this study, exendin-4, a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist, was studied as a novel agent to suppress apoptosis in pancreatic ß-cells and to protect against free fatty acid (FFA)-induced cytotoxicity. RESULTS: Exendin-4 significantly reduced the percentage of cells that underwent apoptosis when ß-cells were exposed to FFA. Exendin-4 increased the levels of P-Akt and Bcl-2 proteins in FFA-induced ß-cells, and this effect was blocked by Wortmannin. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that phosphoinositide-3 kinase signaling is involved in the modulation of ß-cell apoptosis which is induced by exendin-4. Taken together, our findings provide a new mechanism for the modulation of exendin-4 in the pathological processes underlying FFA-induced diabetes mellitus.

Clinical performance of nucleotide MALDI-TOF-MS in the rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and drug resistance.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application value of nucleotide matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) technology in the rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and its drug resistance. METHODS: From February 2021 to January 2022, respiratory specimens from 214 suspected PTB patients at the First Hospital of Quanzhou were collected. Nucleotide MALDI-TOF-MS and BACTEC MGIT 960 culture methods were used for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and drug resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs. RESULTS: Compared with culture method, nucleotide MALDI-TOF-MS technology had a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 92.2%, 74.1%, and 82.7%, respectively, for the detection of MTB in respiratory specimens. With clinical diagnosis as the reference standard, the sensitivity and accuracy of nucleotide MALDI-TOF-MS were 82.5% and 86.0%, respectively, which were higher than those of the culture method (69.2% and 78.0%, respectively). The specificity of nucleotide MALDI-TOF-MS was 93.0%, which was slightly lower than that of culture method (95.8%). As for drug resistance, the results of nucleotide MALDI-TOF-MS exhibited good consistence with culture methods for rifampin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and streptomycin. CONCLUSION: Nucleotide MALDI-TOF-MS detection has a good clinical performance for rapid detection of MTB and drug sensitivity to rifampin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and streptomycin directly on respiratory specimens.

Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Exacerbated Symptoms of Schizophrenia following Therapy with Amisulpride: A Pilot Study.

Evidence is mounting that the gut microbiome is related to the underlying pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, effects of amisulpride on gut microbiota are poorly defined. This study was aimed at analyzing cytokines and fecal microbiota in patients with exacerbated symptoms of schizophrenia treated with amisulpride during four weeks of their hospital stay. In the present study, feces collected from patients with schizophrenia were analyzed using 16S rRNA pyrosequencing and bioinformatic analyses to ascertain gut microbiome composition and fasting peripheral blood cytokines. We found that patients undergoing treatment of schizophrenia with amisulpride had distinct changes in gut microbial composition at the genus level, increased levels of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (Dorea and Butyricicoccus), and reduced levels of pathogenic bacteria (Actinomyces and Porphyromonas), but the level of Desulfovibrio was still high. We also found a significant downregulation of butanoate metabolism based on functional analysis of the microbiome. After treatment, elevated levels of interleukin- (IL-) 4 and decreased levels of IL-6 were found. Our findings extend prior work and suggest a possible pharmacological mechanism of amisulpride treatment for schizophrenia, which acts via mediation of the gut microbiome.

Flexible 5-in-1 Microsensor Embedded in the Proton Battery for Real-Time Microscopic Diagnosis.

The proton battery possesses water electrolysis, proton storage and discharging functions simultaneously, and it can be manufactured without expensive metals. Use the principle of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis for charging, store it in the activated carbon on the hydrogen side and use the principle of proton exchange membrane fuel cell for discharge when needed. According to the latest literature, it is difficult to obtain the exact important physical parameters inside the proton battery (e.g., voltage, current, temperature, humidity and flow), and the important physical parameters are correlated with each other, which have critical influence on the performance, lifetime and health status of the proton battery. At present, the condition of the proton battery is judged indirectly only by external measurement, the actual situation inside the proton battery cannot be obtained accurately and instantly. Therefore, this study uses micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology to develop a flexible 5-in-1 microsensor, which is embedded in the proton battery to obtain five important physical parameters instantly, so that the condition inside the proton battery can be mastered more precisely, so as to prolong the battery life and enhance the proton battery performance.

Flexible 6-in-1 Microsensor for Real-Time Microscopic Monitoring of Proton Battery.

According to the comparison between a proton battery and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the PEMFC requires oxygen and hydrogen for generating electricity, so a hydrogen tank is required, leading to larger volume of PEMFC. The proton battery can store hydrogen in the carbon layer, combined with the oxygen in the air to form water to generate electricity; thus, the battery cost and the space for a hydrogen tank can be reduced a lot, and it is used more extensively. As the proton battery is a new research area, multiple important physical quantities inside the proton battery should be further understood and monitored so as to enhance the performance of battery. The proton battery has the potential for practical applications, as well as water electrolysis, proton storage and discharge functions, and it can be produced without expensive metals. Therefore, in this study, we use micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology to develop a diagnostic tool for the proton battery based on the developed microhydrogen sensor, integrated with the voltage, current, temperature, humidity and flow microsensors developed by this laboratory to complete a flexible integrated 6-in-1 microsensor, which is embedded in the proton battery to measure internal important physical parameters simultaneously so that the reaction condition in the proton battery can be mastered more accurately. In addition, the interaction of physical quantities of the proton battery are discussed so as to enhance the proton battery's performance.

Low-Temperature Flexible Micro Hydrogen Sensor Embedded in a Proton Battery for Real-Time Microscopic Diagnosis.

The proton battery is a very novel emerging research area with practicability. The proton battery has charging and discharging functions. It not only electrolyzes water: the electrolyzed protons can be stored but also released, which are combined with oxygen to generate electricity, and the hydrogen is not required; the hydrogen ions will be released from the battery. According to the latest document, the multiple important physical parameters (e.g., hydrogen, voltage, current, temperature, humidity, and flow) inside the proton battery are unlikely to be obtained accurately and the multiple important physical parameters mutually influence the data; they have critical effects on the performance, life, and health status of the proton battery. At present, the proton battery is measured only from the outside to indirectly diagnose the health status of battery; the actual situation inside the proton battery cannot be obtained instantly and accurately. This study uses micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology to develop a low-temperature micro hydrogen sensor, which is used for monitoring the internal condition of the proton battery and judging whether or not there is hydrogen leakage, so as to enhance the safety.

Growth-Dynamic-Controllable Rapid Crystallization Boosts the Perovskite Photovoltaics' Robust Preparation: From Blade Coating to Painting.

Perovskite-based solar cells have been developed intensively in recent years because of their attractive applications in next-generation photovoltaics with low cost and high efficiency. However, the fabrication processes need to be further improved to meet the requirements in actual industrial production with reliable process and scalable fabrication. Here, coordinated thermal/solvent engineering-enhanced rapid crystallization strategy is reported to realize the fast and robust preparation of perovskite films. The modified solution-based coating method enables the precursor solutions to rapidly form highly crystalline perovskite films with large crystal domains through effectively controlled growth dynamics, including the nucleation and lateral growth processes. Benefitted from specific crystallization mechanisms, high-quality perovskite films with efficient photovoltaic performance in corresponding devices were readily produced either using the blade-coating or even the painting method: an average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.32% was obtained when using the blade-coating method and up to 16.01% average PCE was realized by the direct painting process. Most importantly, this one-step painting method is demonstrated to be fairly reliable with high repeatability, showing a promising future for the scalable and rapid production of perovskite film with controllable film uniformity and thickness.

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid inhibits TNF-α-induced lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via the IRE-JNK-perilipin-A signaling pathway.

The present study investigated the effects of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) on the lipolytic action of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Following treatment with TNF­α, cell viability was determined by MTT assay to select the optimum concentration and duration of TNF­α treatment in 3T3­L1 adipocytes. Intracellular lipid droplet dispersion and glycerin content in culture media were determined to evaluate the effect of TUDCA on TNF­α­induced lipolysis in 3T3­L1 adipocytes. Western blotting was performed to detect protein expression levels of perilipin­A and protein markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress: Immunoglobulin­binding protein (BiP), inositol­requiring enzyme (IRE), c­Jun N­terminal kinase (JNK), phosphorylated (p)­IRE and p­JNK. Following treatment with 50 ng/ml TNF­α for 24 h, glycerin content increased significantly and lipid droplets were dispersed. Glycerin content was reduced significantly and dispersal of lipid droplets reduced following pretreatment of 3T3­L1 adipocytes with 1 mmol/l TUDCA. TNF­α additionally activated the expression of BiP, p­IRE and p­JNK in a time­dependent manner; following pretreatment of 3T3­L1 adipocytes with 1 mmol/l TUDCA, the expression levels of these three proteins decreased. Therefore, TUDCA may inhibit TNF-α-induced lipolysis in 3T3­L1 adipocytes and reduce production of free fatty acids. Its underlying molecular mechanisms are potentially associated with the inhibition of activation of the IRE­JNK signaling pathway, which influences perilipin-A expression levels.

[Effect of rosiglitazone on insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of rosiglitazone on insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Rosiglitazone was given 4 mg daily to 30 patients with PCOS for 12 weeks. Before and after treatment, body mass index (BMI), plasma glucose, insulin, levels insulin resistance index (HOMA IR), blood lipid spectrum, leptin, neuropeptide Y, and sex hormone concentrations and ovulation rate were determined and compared. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of treatment, basal insulin level decreased from (18 +/- 8) to (12 +/- 7) mIU/L (P < 0.01), HOMA IR decreased from 4.3 +/- 1.2 to 2.6 +/- 0.7 (P < 0.01). Luteinizing hormone, free testosterone and androstenedione levels decreased [(15.4 +/- 4.4) versus (7.9 +/- 2.1) U/L, (12.5 +/- 1.9) versus (8.9 +/- 1.4) pmol/L, (9.8 +/- 1.7) versus (7.4 +/- 1.2) nmol/L respectively, P < 0.01]; Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level also decreased [(8.7 +/- 3.5) versus (6.9 +/- 2.1) micromol/L, P < 0.05]; Sex hormone binding globulin level increased [(39 +/- 3) versus (58 +/- 5) nmol/L, P < 0.01]. Plasma leptin level was decreased [(18 +/- 4) versus (13 +/- 3) microg/L, P < 0.01]. Ovulation rate increased to 50%. CONCLUSION: Rosiglitazone might decrease plasma leptin level and improve insulin sensitivity, which led to alleviation of hyperandrogenism and resumption of ovulation and menses in patients with PCOS.