All-Scale Hierarchical Structuring, Optimized Carrier Concentration, and Band Manipulation Lead to Ultra-High Thermoelectric Performance in Eco-Friendly MnTe.

MnTe emerges as an enormous potential for medium-temperature thermoelectric applications due to its lead-free nature, high content of Mn in the earth's crust, and superior mechanical properties. Here, it is demonstrate that multiple valence band convergence can be realized through Pb and Ag incorporations, producing large Seebeck coefficient. Furthermore, the carrier concentration can be obviously enhance by Pb and Ag codoping, contributing to significant enhancement of power factor. Moreover, microstructural characterizations reveal that PbTe nanorods can be introduced into MnTe matrix by alloying Pb. This can modify the microstructure into all-scale hierarchical architectures (including PbTe nanorods, enhances point-defect scattering, dense dislocations and stacking faults), strongly lowering lattice thermal conductivity to a record low value of 0.376 W m-1 K-1 in MnTe system. As a result, an ultra-high ZT of 1.5 can be achieved in MnTe thermoelectric through all-scale hierarchical structuring, optimized carrier concentration, and valence band convergence, outperforming most of MnTe-based thermoelectric materials.

CdSe Quantum Dots Enable High Thermoelectric Performance in Solution-Processed Polycrystalline SnSe.

Here, a high peak ZT of ≈2.0 is reported in solution-processed polycrystalline Ge and Cd codoped SnSe. Microstructural characterization reveals that CdSe quantum dots are successfully introduced by solution process method. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy evinces that CdSe quantum dots enhance the density of states in the electronic structure of SnSe, which leads to a large Seebeck coefficient. It is found that Ge and Cd codoping simultaneously optimizes carrier concentration and improves electrical conductivity. The enhanced Seebeck coefficient and optimization of carrier concentration lead to marked increase in power factor. CdSe quantum dots combined with strong lattice strain give rise to strong phonon scattering, leading to an ultralow lattice thermal conductivity. Consequently, high thermoelectric performance is realized in solution-processed polycrystalline SnSe by designing quantum dot structures and introducing lattice strain. This work provides a new route for designing prospective thermoelectric materials by microstructural manipulation in solution chemistry.

VEGF and EGFR signaling pathways are involved in the baicalein attenuation of OVA-induced airway inflammation and airway remodeling in mice.

BACKGROUND: Although Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used for treating asthma for centuries, the understanding of its mechanism of action is still limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the possible therapeutic effects, and underlying mechanism of baicalein in the treatment of asthma. METHODS: Freely availabled atabases (e.g. OMIM, TTD, Genecards, BATMAN-TCM, STITCH 5.0, SEA, SwissTargetPrediction) and software (e.g. Ligplot 2.2.5 and PyMoL) were used for disease drug target prediction and molecular docking by network pharmacology. The efficacy and mechanism of action of baicalein in the treatment of asthma were validated using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model and molecular biology techniques. RESULTS: A total of 1655 asthma-related genes and 161 baicalein-related targets were identified from public databases. Utilizing common databases and software for network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis, seven potential target proteins for the therapeutic effects of baicalein on asthma were selected, including v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (SRC), mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), and MAPK1. In vivo, baicalein treatment via intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 50 mg/kg significantly reduced airway inflammation, collagen deposition, smooth muscle thickness, lung interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 levels, peripheral blood immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels, as well as the count and ratio of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in an OVA-induced asthma mouse model. Further validation by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting analysis revealed that the VEGF and EGFR signaling pathways involving VEGFA, MAPK1, MAPK3, and EGFR were inhibited by baicalein in the asthma mouse model. CONCLUSION: Baicalein attenuates airway inflammation and airway remodeling through inhibition of VEGF and EGFR signaling pathways in an OVA-induced asthma mouse model. This will provide a new basis for the development of baicalein as a treatment for asthma and highlights the potential of network pharmacology and molecular docking in drug discovery and development.

Achieving High Isotropic Figure of Merit in Cd and in Codoped Polycrystalline SnSe.

Here, we combined Cd and In codoping with a simple hydrothermal synthesis method to prepare SnSe powders composed of nanorod-like flowers. After spark plasma sintering, its internal grains inherited well the morphological features of the precursor, and the multiscale microstructure included nanorod-shaped grains, high-density dislocations, and stacking faults, as well as abundant nanoprecipitates, resulting in an ultralow thermal conductivity of 0.15 W m-1 K-1 for the synthesized material. At the same time, Cd and In synergistically regulated the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of SnSe, leading to an enhanced power factor. Among them, Sn0.94Cd0.03In0.03Se achieved a peak ZT of 1.50 parallel to the pressing direction, representing an 87.5% improvement compared with pure SnSe. Notably, the material possesses isotropic ZT values parallel and perpendicular to the pressing direction, overcoming the characteristic anisotropy in thermal performance observed in previous polycrystalline SnSe-based materials. Our results provide a new strategy for optimizing the performance of thermoelectric materials through structural engineering.

Identification and validation of roles of lysyl oxidases in the predictions of prognosis, chemotherapy and immunotherapy in glioma.

Background: Previous investigations have illustrated that lysyl oxidase family enzymes (LOXs) are contributing factors for tumor progression and remodeling immunomicroenvironment. However, it is scarce regarding comprehensive analysis of LOXs in the predictions of prognosis, chemotherapy and immunotherapy in glioma, the highly invasive brain tumor. Our present work aimed to explore the prognostic value, chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity and immunotherapy according to distinct LOXs expressions in glioma through bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification. Methods: We collected gene expression data and clinical characteristics from the public databases including Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA)-325, CGGA-693, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), IMvigor210 and Van Allen 2015 cohorts. The correlations between the clinicopathological factors and differential LOXs expressions were analyzed. The ROC curve and Kaplan-Meier analysis were conducted to evaluate the prediction ability of prognosis. Chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity via distinct LOXs expression levels was predicted using the pRRophetic package. Immune score, immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint expression levels were also analyzed through diverse algorithms in R software. Finally, mRNA and protein expressions of LOXs were validated in glioma cells (T98G and A172) by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively. Results: Our results demonstrated that high levels of LOXs expressions were positively associated with glioma grades, older age and MGMT unmethylated status while elevations of LOXs were negatively correlated with IDH mutation or 1p/19q co-deletion. Furthermore, the glioma patients with low levels of LOXs also exhibited better prognosis. Also, differential LOXs expressions were associated with at least 12 chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity. Besides, it was also found that glioma patients with high LOXs expressions showed higher enrichment scores for immune cell infiltration and increased levels of immune checkpoints, suggesting the critical role of distinct LOXs expression levels for glioma immunotherapy. The predictive roles of LOXs expression in tumor immunotherapy were also validated in two immunotherapy cohorts including IMvigor 210 and Van Allen 2015. Experimental results revealed that expressions of LOX, LOXL1, LOXL2, and LOXL3 were higher in glioma cell lines at mRNA and protein levels. Conclusion: Our findings altogether indicate that LOXs have potent predictive value for prognosis, chemotherapy and immunotherapy in glioma patients.

Ferroptosis-related gene signature predicts prognosis and immunotherapy in glioma.

AIMS: Glioma is a highly invasive brain tumor, which makes prognosis challenging and renders patients resistant to various treatments. Induction of cell death is promising in cancer therapy. Ferroptosis, a recently discovered regulated cell death, can be induced for killing glioma cells. However, the prognostic prediction of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in glioma remains elusive. METHODS: The mRNA expression profiles and gene variation and corresponding clinical data of glioma patients and NON-TUMOR control were downloaded from public databases. Risk score based on a FRGs signature was constructed in REMBRANDT cohort and validated in other datasets including CGGA-693, CGGA-325, and TCGA. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the majority of FRGs was differentially expressed among GBM, LGG, and NON-TUMOR groups (96.6%). Furthermore, the glioma patients with low-risk score exhibited a more satisfactory clinical outcome. The better prognosis was also validated in the glioma patients with low-risk score no matter to which grade they were affiliated. Functional analysis revealed that the high-risk score group was positively correlated with the enrichment scores for immune checkpoint blockade-related positive signatures, indicating the critical role of glioma immunotherapy via risk score. CONCLUSION: A novel FRGs-related risk score can predict prognosis and immunotherapy in glioma patients.

The mutual interplay of redox signaling and connexins.

Connexins (Cxs) are ubiquitous transmembrane proteins that possess both channel function (e.g., formations of gap junction and hemichannel) and non-channel properties (e.g., gene transcription and protein-protein interaction). Several factors have been identified to play a role in the regulation of Cxs, which include those acting intracellularly, as redox potential, pH, intramolecular interactions, and post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation, S-nitrosylation) as well as those acting extracellularly, such as Ca2+ and Mg2+. The relationship between redox signaling and Cxs attracts considerable attention in recent years. There is ample evidence showing that redox signaling molecules (e.g., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO)) affect Cxs-based channel function while the opening of Cx channels also triggers the transfer of various redox-related metabolites (e.g., reactive oxygen species, glutathione, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and NO). On the basis of these evidences, we propose the existence of redox-Cxs crosstalk. In this review, we briefly discuss the interaction between redox signaling and Cxs and the implications of the intersection in disease pathology and future therapeutic interventions.

Dietary nutrition for neurological disease therapy: Current status and future directions.

Adequate food intake and relative abundance of dietary nutrients have undisputed effects on the brain function. There is now substantial evidence that dietary nutrition aids in the prevention and remediation of neurologic symptoms in diverse pathological conditions. The newly described influences of dietary factors on the alterations of mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic modification and neuroinflammation are important mechanisms that are responsible for the action of nutrients on the brain health. In this review, we discuss the state of evidence supporting that distinct dietary interventions including dietary supplement and dietary restriction have the ability to tackle neurological disorders using Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis as examples. Additionally, it is also highlighting that diverse potential mechanisms such as metabolic control, epigenetic modification, neuroinflammation and gut-brain axis are of utmost importance for nutrient supply to the risk of neurologic condition and therapeutic response. Finally, we also highlight the novel concept that dietary nutrient intervention reshapes metabolism-epigenetics-immunity cycle to remediate brain dysfunction. Targeting metabolism-epigenetics-immunity network will delineate a new blueprint for combating neurological weaknesses.

Antioxidants Targeting Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress: Promising Neuroprotectants for Epilepsy.

Mitochondria are major sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the cell and are especially vulnerable to oxidative stress. Oxidative damage to mitochondria results in disrupted mitochondrial function and cell death signaling, finally triggering diverse pathologies such as epilepsy, a common neurological disease characterized with aberrant electrical brain activity. Antioxidants are considered as promising neuroprotective strategies for epileptic condition via combating the deleterious effects of excessive ROS production in mitochondria. In this review, we provide a brief discussion of the role of mitochondrial oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of epilepsy and evidences that support neuroprotective roles of antioxidants targeting mitochondrial oxidative stress including mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, thiols, and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activators in epilepsy. We point out these antioxidative compounds as effectively protective approaches for improving prognosis. In addition, we specially propose that these antioxidants exert neuroprotection against epileptic impairment possibly by modulating cell death interactions, notably autophagy-apoptosis, and autophagy-ferroptosis crosstalk.