Artificial Retina Based on Organic Heterojunction Transistors for Mobile Recognition.

The flicker frequency of incident light constitutes a critical determinant in biology. Nevertheless, the exploration of methods to simulate external light stimuli with varying frequencies and develop artificial retinal neurons capable of responsive behavior remains an open question. This study presents an artificial neuron comprising organic phototransistors. The triggering properties of neurons are modulated by optical input, enabling them to execute rudimentary synaptic functions, emulating the biological characteristics of retinal neurons. The artificial retinal neuron exhibits varying responses to incoming light frequencies, allowing it to replicate the persistent visual behavior of the human eye and facilitating image discrimination. Additionally, through seamless integration with circuitry, it can execute motion recognition on a machine cart, preventing collisions with high-speed obstacles. The artificial retinal neuron offers a cost-effective and energy-efficient route for future mobile robot processors.

A guanosine/konjac glucomannan supramolecular hydrogel with antioxidant, antibacterial and immunoregulatory properties for cutaneous wound treatment.

Developing naturally-derived wound dressing materials with intrinsic therapeutic effects is desirable for the clinical applications. Recently, guanosine-based supramolecular G-quadruplex (G4) hydrogel exhibited great potential in preparing biological materials due to its simple fabrication method and responsive gel networks. However, the weak mechanical properties and the consequent burst release of bioactive molecules restrict its clinical applications. Herein, we found that konjac glucomannan (KGM) with immunoregulatory effect did not affect the self-assembly of G-quadruplexes and thus effectively enhancing the mechanical properties of G4 hydrogel. Aloin, as a model drug, was in situ loaded into gel networks, finally obtaining the G4/Aloin-KGM hydrogel. This hydrogel exhibited porous morphology, swelling ability and hemostatic capability. Boronate bonds in G4 networks and aloin collectively endowed the hydrogel with excellent antioxidant performance. Meanwhile, aloin also provided outstanding in vitro and in vivo bactericidal ability. The wounds treated with this biocompatible hydrogel demonstrated faster regeneration of epithelial and dermal tissues, and the whole wound healing stages were accelerated by promoting collagen deposition, facilitating macrophage polarization towards M2 phenotype, down-regulating the expression level of IL-6, and up-regulating the expression level of IL-10, CD31 and α-SMA.

Optically Readable Organic Electrochemical Synaptic Transistors for Neuromorphic Photonic Image Processing.

Optically readable organic synaptic devices have great potential in both artificial intelligence and photonic neuromorphic computing. Herein, a novel optically readable organic electrochemical synaptic transistor (OR-OEST) strategy is first proposed. The electrochemical doping mechanism of the device was systematically investigated, and the basic biological synaptic behaviors that can be read by optical means are successfully achieved. Furthermore, the flexible OR-OESTs are capable of electrically switching the transparency of semiconductor channel materials in a nonvolatile manner, and thus the multilevel memory can be achieved through optical readout. Finally, the OR-OESTs are developed for the preprocessing of photonic images, such as contrast enhancement and denoising, and feeding the processed images into an artificial neural network, achieving a recognition rate of over 90%. Overall, this work provides a new strategy for the implementation of photonic neuromorphic systems.

Mimic enzymatic preparation of conductive supramolecular-polymeric hydrogels with antibacterial and antioxidant properties for accelerating wound healing.

Supramolecular-polymeric hydrogels by combining low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) with polymers have attracted great attention due to their unique double networks. Polymers are generally introduced into an LMWG matrix, thus enhancing the mechanical performance and broadening of the application fields of supramolecular hydrogels. Herein, a series of supramolecular-polymer hydrogels with inherent multiple properties were fabricated as wound dressings. An enzyme-like supramolecular H/G4 hydrogel co-assembled by hemin and guanosine-quartet motifs was successively integrated with hyaluronic acid (HA) and polyaniline (PANI), yielding a supramolecular-polymeric composite hydrogel (namely H/G4-HA(Cu)/PANI). The introduction of Cu2+-crosslinked hydrazide-grafted HA polymeric networks not only enhanced the viscoelasticity of the H/G4 supramolecular hydrogel but also endowed composite hydrogels with bioactive properties as wound healing dressings. The enzyme-like nanofibril H/G4 hydrogel could catalyse the oxidative polymerization of aniline, thus introducing PANI into gel networks. The porous H/G4-HA(Cu)/PANI exhibited a certain degree of swelling ratio under physiological conditions. H/G4-HA(Cu)/PANI also showed degradability, conductivity and appropriate mechanical properties. Through a full-thickness skin defect model of mice, this haemostatic, antioxidant, antibacterial and drug-free H/G4-HA(Cu)/PANI could accelerate wound healing processes by promoting wound closure, collagen deposition and upregulation of the CD31 expression level, which indicates that H/G4-HA(Cu)/PANI could be a promising wound dressing material.

Cap-independent translation of GPLD1 enhances markers of brain health in long-lived mutant and drug-treated mice.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D1 (GPLD1) hydrolyzes inositol phosphate linkages in proteins anchored to the cell membrane. Mice overexpressing GPLD1 show enhanced neurogenesis and cognition. Snell dwarf (DW) and growth hormone receptor knockout (GKO) mice show delays in age-dependent cognitive decline. We hypothesized that augmented GPLD1 might contribute to retained cognitive function in these mice. We report that DW and GKO show higher GPLD1 levels in the liver and plasma. These mice also have elevated levels of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and of doublecortin (DCX), suggesting a mechanism for maintenance of cognitive function at older ages. GPLD1 was not increased in the hippocampus of DW or GKO mice, suggesting that plasma GPLD1 increases elevated these brain proteins. Alteration of the liver and plasma GPLD1 was unaltered in mice with liver-specific GHR deletion, suggesting that the GH effect was not intrinsic to the liver. GPLD1 was also induced by caloric restriction and by each of four drugs that extend lifespan. The proteome of DW and GKO mice is molded by selective translation of mRNAs, involving cap-independent translation (CIT) of mRNAs marked by N6 methyladenosine. Because GPLD1 protein increases were independent of the mRNA level, we tested the idea that GPLD1 might be regulated by CIT. 4EGI-1, which enhances CIT, increased GPLD1 protein without changes in GPLD1 mRNA in cultured fibroblasts and mice. Furthermore, transgenic overexpression of YTHDF1, which promotes CIT by reading m6A signals, also led to increased GPLD1 protein, showing that elevation of GPLD1 reflects selective mRNA translation.

Research on the insurance of swimming crab temperature and salinity index insurance based on Copula function.

Under climate change, the sea surface temperature and salinity change greatly, which poses a considerable threat to sustainable food security. Sea surface temperature and salinity (SST/SSS) are selected to examine the annual output of swimming crab in 24 cities along the eastern China. The Copula-based function was used to construct the probability distribution model of the swimming crab yield with SST and SSS. The pure premium rate of the swimming crab production in these 24 cities are also examined. The results show that 1) There is significant positive correlations between the yield of swimming crab with temperature and salinity over the study area. The only exception is that the correlation between yield of swimming crab and salinity is not significant in the south of study area. 2) The span of the pure insurance premium rate of swimming crab in 24 cities increases rapidly with the increase of the protection level, the maximum span up to 2.04%, and the minimum span is only 1.6%. 3) The distribution of the swimming crab insurance premium rate is various in space. The insurance premium rate of 8 cities in the south of Taizhou is low with the highest premium rate at 5.6%. The insurance premium rate of 16 cities in north of Taizhou is relatively high with the rate between 6%-22%. The research can provide a theoretical basis for the pricing of insurance products for swimming crab in 24 cities in the typical aquaculture areas in eastern China.

Lactobacillus plantarum-derived extracellular vesicles protect against ischemic brain injury via the microRNA-101a-3p/c-Fos/TGF-ß axis.

Currently, the reported source of extracellular vesicles (EVs) for the treatment of ischemic stroke（IS）is limited to mammals. Moreover, these EVs are restricted to clinical translation by the high cost of cell culture. In this respect, Lactobacillus plantarum culture is advantaged by low cost and high yield. However, it is poorly understood whether Lactobacillus plantarum-derived EVs (LEVs) are applicable for the treatment of IS. Here, our results demonstrated that LEVs reduced apoptosis in ischemic neuron both in vivo and in vitro. As revealed by high-throughput sequencing, miR-101a-3p expression was significantly elevated by LEV treatment in OGD/R-induced neurons, as confirmed in the tMCAO mice treated with LEVs. Mechanistically, c-Fos was directly targeted by miR-101a-3p. In addition, c-Fos determined ischemia-induced neuron apoptosis in vivo and in vitro through the TGF-ß1 pathway, miR-101a-3p inhibition aggravated ischemia-induced neuron apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, and miR-101a-3p overexpression produced the opposite results. Hsa-miR-101-3p was downregulated in the plasma of patients with IS but upregulated in the patients with neurological recovery after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis. In conclusion, Our results demonstrated for the first time that LEVs might inhibit neuron apoptosis via the miR-101a-3p/c-Fos/TGF-ß axis, and has-miR-101-3p is a potential marker of neurological recovery in IS patients.

Artificial Vision Adaption Mimicked by an Optoelectrical In2O3 Transistor Array.

Simulation of biological visual perception has gained considerable attention. In this paper, an optoelectrical In2O3 transistor array with a negative photoconductivity behavior is designed using a side-gate structure and a screen-printed ion-gel as the gate insulator. This paper is the first to observe a negative photoconductivity in electrolyte-gated oxide devices. Furthermore, an artificial visual perception system capable of self-adapting to environmental lightness is mimicked using the proposed device array. The transistor device array shows a self-adaptive behavior of light under different levels of light intensity, successfully demonstrating the visual adaption with an adjustable threshold range to the external environment. This study provides a new way to create an environmentally adaptive artificial visual perception system and has far-reaching significance for the future of neuromorphic electronics.

Regulation of mTOR complexes in long-lived growth hormone receptor knockout and Snell dwarf mice.

Downregulation of mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) can extend lifespan in multiple species, including mice. Growth hormone receptor knockout mice (GHRKO) and Snell dwarf mice have 40% or greater lifespan increase, and have lower mTORC1 function, which might reflect alteration in mTORC1 components or alteration of upstream proteins that modulate mTOR activity. Here we report reduction of mTORC components DEPTOR and PRAS40 in liver of these long-lived mice; these changes are opposite in direction to those that would be expected to lead to lower mTORC1 function. In contrast, levels of the upstream regulators TSC1 and TSC2 are elevated in GHRKO and Snell liver, kidney and skeletal muscle, and the ratio of phosphorylated TSC2 to total TSC2 is lower in the tissues of the long-lived mutant mice. In addition, knocking down TSC2 in GHRKO fibroblasts reversed the effects of the GHRKO mutation on mTORC1 function. Thus increased amounts of unphosphorylated, active, inhibitory TSC may contribute to lower mTORC1 function in these mice.

miR-155-5p in Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cells Promotes Autophagy and Inflammation to Aggravate Ischemic Brain Injury in Mice.

Ischemic stroke is a common disease of the central nervous system, and ischemic brain injury (IBI) is its main manifestation. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been strongly related to the diagnosis and treatment of IBI. However, the underlying mechanism of their effects remains enigmatic. In the present study, we aimed to study how miR-155-5p plays a role in choroid plexus epithelial (CPE) cell-derived EVs in IBI pathology. We found that miR-155-5p expression was enriched in CPE cell-derived EVs, which were subsequently internalized by neurons, enabling the delivery of miR-155-5p into neurons. An inducible oxygen and glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) cell model was developed to mimic ischemic neuronal injury in vitro. miR-155-5p overexpression led to reduced neuron viability, promoted apoptosis, elevated autophagic proteins' expression, and activated NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3- (NLRP3-) related inflammasomes, thereby aggravating OGD-induced neuronal injury. A dual-luciferase reporter assay exhibited that miR-155-5p could inhibit the Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) expression, a mechanism critical for miR-155-5p-mediated neuronal injury. Furthermore, a mouse IBI model was developed using the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) method. Animal experiments verified that miR-155p delivery via CPE cell-derived EVs aggravated IBI by suppressing Rheb expression. In conclusion, miR-155-5p in CPE-derived EVs can aggravate IBI pathology by suppressing Rheb expression and promoting NLRP3-mediated inflammasomes, suggesting its role as a potential therapeutic target in IBI.

Microstructure and properties evolution of Mg-2Y-0.6Nd-0.6Zr alloy rolled at room and liquid nitrogen temperature.

The microstructure evolution, texture, mechanical behavior and twin deformation of the ECAPed Mg-2Y-0.6Nd-0.6Zr alloy at room and liquid nitrogen temperature were investigated by rolling samples. The ECAP processed material appeared the texture of 45° to the extrusion direction and its yield strength reached 93.6 MPa. The results showed that cryorolling encourages twinning in Mg-2Y-0.6Nd-0.6Zr alloy, enhancing the tensile strength and texture. Activation of {10-12} twinning during rolling was found to be more pronounced in the cryorolled samples than in the cold rolled samples owing to a lower temperature. As a result, the cryorolled samples had more twins than and cold rolled ones, the proportion of twin areas of room temperature rolling and ultra-low temperature rolling were: 2.45% and 4.23%.

Disrupting phosphorylation of Tyr-1070 at GluN2B selectively produces resilience to depression-like behaviors.

Drugs targeting N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) have been approved to treat major depressive disorder (MDD); however, the presence of undesirable psychotomimetic and cognitive side effects may limit their utility. In this study, we show that the phosphorylation levels of the GluN2B subunit at tyrosine (Y) 1070 increase in mice after both acute and chronic restraint stress (CRS) exposure. Preventing GluN2B-Y1070 phosphorylation via Y1070F mutation knockin produces effects similar to those of antidepressants but does not affect cognitive or anxiety-related behaviors in subject mice. Mechanistically, the Y1070F mutation selectively reduces non-synaptic NMDAR currents and increases the number of excitatory synapses in the layer 5 pyramidal neurons of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) but not in the hippocampus. Altogether, our study identifies phosphorylation levels of GluN2B-Y1070 in the mPFC as a dynamic, master switch guarding depressive behaviors, suggesting that disrupting the Y1070 phosphorylation of GluN2B subunit has the potential for developing new antidepressants.

A Smart Patch with On-Demand Detachable Adhesion for Bioelectronics.

A smart ionic skin patch with on-demand detachable adhesion has been developed as human-machine interface for physiological signal monitoring. In spite of the multifunctions demonstrated by existing ionic skin, it is still difficult to distinguish different signals simultaneously. Moreover, the secondary damages to the tissues are often overlooked when the adhesive materials are removing from the wound. Herein, a multifunctional biomimetic hydrogel with temperature, mechanical, electrical, and pH response is developed. This hydrogel is designed by in situ polymerizing of hydrophilic anion monomers in a natural cationic polysaccharide to construct multifunctional biomimetic ionic channel. Due to the reversible physical cross-linked network and thermosensitivity, the mechanical properties, adhesion, and visual effect of the hydrogel can be tuned by changing hydrogen bonding density via phase transition, thus making it an excellent biosafe material for wearable device. The hydrogel is utilized as skin patch intended for monitoring physiological signals stimulated by physical and chemical changes involving pressure, temperature, pH value, and electrocardiograph. Especially, this ionic skin patch can recognize temperature change signals precisely either in broad or extremely narrow temperature range. This smart skin patch can even recognize the pressure and temperature signals in real time and differentiate the signals simultaneously.

The Effect of ECAP Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of a Rolled Rare Earth Magnesium Alloy.

Deformation of an as-rolled rare earth Mg-2Y-0.6Nd-0.6Zr alloy, at different temperatures, was carried out along the BC (90° anticlockwise rotation of the samples after each ECAP pass) route by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). The effects of the deformation temperature and the predeformation on the microstructure of the magnesium alloy were determined by the microstructure examination. The slip systems and texture change of the Mg-2Y-0.6Nd-0.6Zr alloy were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), after equal channel angular deformation. The results showed that after seven passes of rolling, the grain size in the Mg-2Y-0.6Nd-0.6Zr alloy was refined to approximately 22 µm and the slip occurred mainly by a cylindrical slip and a pyramidal slip. After one pass of ECAP at 340 °C, the internal average grain size was significantly reduced to 11 µm, the cylindrical diffraction intensity clearly weakened, and the pyramidal diffraction intensity increased. EBSD pole figure analysis revealed that the base texture of the rolled Mg-2Y-0.6Nd-0.6Zr alloy weakened from 24.31 to 11.34 after ECAP. The mechanical properties indicated that the tensile strength and elongation of the rolled Mg-2Y-0.6Nd-0.6Zr alloy reached maximum values, when the deformation temperature was 340 °C.

SAT: Free Software for the Semi-Automated Analysis of Rodent Brain Sections With 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride Staining.

Ischemic stroke places an increasing burden on individuals, families, and societies around the world. However, effective therapies or drugs for ischemic stroke are lacking. Therefore, animal models mimicking ischemic stroke in humans are of great value for preclinical experiments. middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice or rats and subsequent 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining of brain sections are common methods in the study of experimental animal ischemic stroke. In this study, we present and assess the utility of the semi-automated analysis of the TTC staining (SAT) software program, a novel, small, user-friendly, and free software program, in the quantification of the infarct size in rodent brain sections, with TTC staining, by analyzing images captured by cell phones or scan systems. We performed MCAO and TTC staining in adult mice. We then utilized the SAT software and Image J to analyze the infarct size in the brain sections with TTC staining and compared the findings of the two analysis methods. We found that the data on infarct size from SAT and from Image J were comparable, suggesting that the SAT software could be an alternative option to Image J in the evaluation of ischemic stroke.

Evolutionary, interaction and expression analysis of floral meristem identity genes in inflorescence induction of the second crop in two-crop-a-year grape culture system.

The fruitfulness of grapevines (Vitis viniferaL.) is determined to a large extent by the differentiation of uncommitted meristems, especially in the second-crop production of some varieties, where the intermediate of inflorescence and tendril accounts for a significant proportion in two-crop-a-year grape culture system. The differentiation of uncommitted lateral meristem was reported to be regulated by a network, whose backbone was composed of several floral meristem identity genes. In the present study, the phylogenetics of grape floral meristem identity genes with their orthologues in other species, and their conserved domain and interaction networks were analysed. In addition, the effects of chlormequat chloride and pinching treatments on the expression profiles of floral meristem identity genes and content of gibberellic acid (GAs) and zeatin riboside (ZR), as well as the ratio of ZR/GAs in buds that were used to produce the second crop, and the ratio of inflorescence induction of the second crop were studied in 'Summer Black'. The present results showed that floral meristem identity genes of grape and their orthologues in one or more among Malus domastic, Citrus sinensis, heobroma cacaoT, Nicotiana tabacum, Solanum lycopersicum and Glycine hirsutum, probably originated from a common ancestor. Interaction networks of six grape-floral meristem identity genes indicated that the inflorescence induction and floral development were regulated by one more complex network, and expression profiles of genes that involved in this network could be affected by each other. Expression profiles of eight floral meristem identity genes were affected by chlormequat chloride and pinching treatments, and higher expression levels of FT, TFL1A and TFL1B, as well as lower expression levels of LFY from 3 days before full bloom to 11 days after full bloom were thought to play important roles in promoting the formation of inflorescence primordial of the second crop, and higher expression levels of CAL A, SOC1 and TFL1A at 18 days after full bloom (DAF) could promote the development of inflorescence primordial. In addition, lower ratio of ZR/GAs at 3 days before full bloom and 4 days after full bloom could promote the formation of uncommitted lateral meristems in chlormequat chloride and pinching-treated plants, and higher ratio at 11 days after full bloom was the main reason for the formation of more inflorescences after chlormequat chloride treatment.

Huntingtin-Interacting Protein 1-Related Protein Plays a Critical Role in Dendritic Development and Excitatory Synapse Formation in Hippocampal Neurons.

Huntingtin-interacting protein 1-related (HIP1R) protein is considered to be an endocytic adaptor protein like the other two members of the Sla2 family, Sla2p and HIP1. They all contain homology domains responsible for the binding of clathrin, inositol lipids and F-actin. Previous studies have revealed that HIP1R is highly expressed in different regions of the mouse brain and localizes at synaptic structures. However, the function of HIP1R in the nervous system remains unknown. In this study, we investigated HIP1R function in cultured rat hippocampal neurons using an shRNA knockdown approach. We found that, after HIP1R knockdown, the dynamics and density of dendritic filopodia, and dendritic branching and complexity were significantly reduced in developing neurons, as well as the densities of dendritic spines and PSD95 clusters in mature neurons. Moreover, HIP1R deficiency led to significantly reduced expression of the ionotropic glutamate receptor GluA1, GluN2A and GluN2B subunits, but not the GABAA receptor α1 subunit. Similarly, HIP1R knockdown reduced the amplitude and frequency of the miniature excitatory postsynaptic current, but not of the miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current. In addition, the C-terminal proline-rich region of HIP1R responsible for cortactin binding was found to confer a dominant-negative effect on dendritic branching in cultured developing neurons, implying a critical role of cortactin binding in HIP1R function. Taken together, the results of our study suggest that HIP1R plays important roles in dendritic development and excitatory synapse formation and function.

Acute stress regulates phosphorylation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor GluN2B at S1284 in hippocampus.

Exposure to acute stress leads to diverse changes, which include either beneficial or deleterious effects on molecular levels that are implicated in stress-related disorders. N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated signalings, are thought to be vital players in stress-related mental disorders as well as attractive therapeutic targets for clinical treatment. In the present study, we utilized acute stress models in mice to explore regulation of phosphorylation level of S1284 in GluN2B subunit of NMDAR. We found out that forced swimming and acute restraint stress increased phosphorylation level of S1284, while phosphorylation level of S1284 was unaltered after brief exposure to open field. Moreover, phosphorylation change of S1284 was negated by treatment of roscovitine which is believed to be a Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Besides, we showed well correlation of phosphorylation change of S1284 and immobility time during forced swimming. Collectively, our results demonstrated that phosphorylation level of S1284 in GluN2B was regulated by acute stress.

Effects of Single and Repeated Exposure to a 50-Hz 2-mT Electromagnetic Field on Primary Cultured Hippocampal Neurons.

The prevalence of domestic and industrial electrical appliances has raised concerns about the health risk of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs). At present, the effects of ELF-MFs on the central nervous system are still highly controversial, and few studies have investigated its effects on cultured neurons. Here, we evaluated the biological effects of different patterns of ELF-MF exposure on primary cultured hippocampal neurons in terms of viability, apoptosis, genomic instability, and oxidative stress. The results showed that repeated exposure to 50-Hz 2-mT ELF-MF for 8 h per day after different times in culture decreased the viability and increased the production of intracellular reactive oxidative species in hippocampal neurons. The mechanism was potentially related to the up-regulation of Nox2 expression. Moreover, none of the repeated exposure patterns had significant effects on DNA damage, apoptosis, or autophagy, which suggested that ELF-MF exposure has no severe biological consequences in cultured hippocampal neurons.

Mitochondrial genome of the longtail butterfly ray Gymnura poecilura (Myliobatiformes: Gymnuridae).

The complete mitogenome the longtail butterfly ray (Gymnura poecilura) was first presented in this study. It is 17,874 bp in length, contains 37 genes with the typical gene order and transcriptional direction in vertebrates. The overall base composition is: 28.5% A, 26.5% T, 15.0% G and 30.1% C. There are 26 bp overlaps and 41 bp short intergenic spaces located in 7 and 16 gene junctions, respectively. Two start codons (ATG and GTG) and two stop codons (TAG and TAA/T) were used in protein-coding genes. The origin of L-strand replication (OL) was found between tRNA-Asn and tRNA-Cys genes. The control region has the same A and C contents (28.8%).