Utilizing network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal models to explore the therapeutic potential of the WenYang FuYuan recipe for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury through AGE-RAGE and NF-κB/p38MAPK signaling pathway modulation.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a debilitating condition with high morbidity, disability, and mortality that significantly affects the quality of life of patients. In China, the WenYang FuYuan recipe is widely used to treat ischemic stroke. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown, so exploring the potential mechanism of action of this formula is of great practical significance for stroke treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study employed network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments to clarify the active ingredients, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms of the WenYang FuYuan recipe in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, with a view to providing a solid scientific foundation for the subsequent study of this recipe. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Active ingredients of the WenYang FuYuan recipe were screened using the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform. Network pharmacology approaches were used to explore the potential targets and mechanisms of action of the WenYang FuYuan recipe for the treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. The Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion/Reperfusion 2 h Sprague Dawley rat model was prepared, and TTC staining and modified neurological severity score were applied to examine the neurological deficits in rats. HE staining and Nissl staining were applied to examine the pathological changes in rats. Immunofluorescence labeling and Elisa assay were applied to examine the expression levels of certain proteins and associated factors, while qRT-PCR and Western blotting were applied to examine the expression levels of linked proteins and mRNAs in disease-related signaling pathways. RESULTS: We identified 62 key active ingredients in the WenYang FuYuan recipe, with 222 highly significant I/R targets, forming 138 pairs of medication components and component-targets, with the top five being Quercetin, Kaempferol, Luteolin, ß-sitosterol, and Stigmasterol. The key targets included TP53, RELA, TNF, STAT1, and MAPK14 (p38MAPK). Targets related to cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury were enriched in chemical responses, enzyme binding, endomembrane system, while enriched pathways included lipid and atherosclerosis, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, AGE-RAGE signaling in diabetic complications. In addition, the main five active ingredients and targets in the WenYang FuYuan recipe showed high binding affinity (e.g. Stigmasterol and MAPK14, total energy <-10.5 Kcal/mol). In animal experiments, the WenYang FuYuan recipe reduced brain tissue damage, increased the number of surviving neurons, and down-regulated S100ß and RAGE protein expression. Moreover, the relative expression levels of key targets such as TP53, RELA and p38MAPK mRNA were significantly down-regulated in the WenYang FuYuan recipe group, and serum IL-6 and TNF-a factor levels were reduced. After WenYang FuYuan recipe treatment, the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway and downstream NF-kB/p38MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins were significantly modulated. CONCLUSION: This study utilized network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments to identify the potential mechanism of the WenYang FuYuan recipe, which may be associated with the regulation of the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway and the inhibition of target proteins and mRNAs in the downstream NF-kB/p38MAPK pathway.

Synergistic effects of rhizosphere effect and combined organic and chemical fertilizers application on soil bacterial diversity and community structure in oilseed rape cultivation.

The combined application of chemical and organic fertilizers has been recognized to enhance soil fertility and foster the soil microbial ecosystem. However, the optimal ratio of chemical and organic fertilizers in oilseed rape cultivation is still uncertain, and the role of rhizosphere effect is still unclear. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the impacts of varying ratios of chemical and organic fertilizers on the structure and potential functionalities of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil microbial communities. The interplay of microbial communities with soil properties and oilseed rape root exudates was investigated in controlled pot cultivations receiving varying ratios of chemical and organic fertilizers. Results indicated clear segregation in the soil bacterial community, influenced by both fertilization treatments and rhizosphere effects. The bacterial community structure significantly correlated with nitrate nitrogen, organic acids, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content. Rhizosphere effects led to increased bacteria abundance, reduced diversity, and decreased network stability. Notably, F3 treatment receiving 25% chemical and 75% organic fertilizers showed a significantly higher abundance at 1.43 × 1011 copies g-1 dry soil, accompanied by increased species and genetic diversity, and ecological network complexity. This treatment also yielded the highest aboveground biomass of oilseed rape. However, the application of organic fertilizers also increased the risk of plant pathogenicity. This study reveals the impact of fertilizers and rhizosphere effects on soil microbial community structure and function, shedding light on the establishment of more effective fertilization schemes for oilseed rape agriculture.

Establishment of the microstructure of porous materials and its relationship with effective mechanical properties.

In this study, a porous structure for a porous liquid storage medium is generated, and the homogenization theory based on displacement boundary conditions is used to predict the effective mechanical properties. The relationship between the porous material's macroscopic mechanical properties and microstructure is next analyzed. In order to establish the relationship between the microstructure of porous materials and their macroscopic mechanical properties, assuming that the pores grow along the z direction, a method is proposed to generate 3D open-cell porous materials based on six design parameters (i.e., the number of pores, porosity, irregularity of pore distribution, the randomness of pore growth in the x and y directions, and randomness of pore size). Since the porosity of oil-bearing materials ranges from 20 to 30%, the porosity of the RVE (Representative Volume Element) was kept under control at about 25%, and the effect of the six design factors on the mechanical properties of the RVE was investigated. Utilizing SLA 3D printing technology, specimens were produced, and compression tests were used to show how useful the results of the numerical analysis were. The results demonstrated that after the number of RVE pores reaches 9, the numerical results have good repeatability. The irregularity of the initial pore distribution has little effect on the effective mechanical properties of the RVE. At the same time, the increase in the randomness of pore growth and the randomness of pore size increases the degree of weakening of the mechanical properties in the z-direction, while reducing the degree of weakening in the x and y directions, but the latter has a smaller impact. Furthermore, there is a superimposition effect of design parameters on the RVE.

Immediate response of paddy soil microbial community and structure to moisture changes and nitrogen fertilizer application.

Water and fertilizer managements are the most common practices to maximize crop yields, and their long-term impact on soil microbial communities has been extensively studied. However, the initial response of microbes to fertilization and soil moisture changes remains unclear. In this study, the immediate effects of nitrogen (N)-fertilizer application and moisture levels on microbial community of paddy soils were investigated through controlled incubation experiments. Amplicon sequencing results revealed that moisture had a stronger influence on the abundance and community composition of total soil bacteria, as well as ammonia oxidizing-archaea (AOA) and -bacteria (AOB). Conversely, fertilizer application noticeably reduced the connectivity and complexity of the total bacteria network, and increasing moisture slightly exacerbated these effects. NH4+-N content emerged as a significant driving force for changes in the structure of the total bacteria and AOB communities, while NO3--N content played more important role in driving shifts in AOA composition. These findings indicate that the initial responses of microbial communities, including abundance and composition, and network differ under water and fertilizer managements. By providing a snapshot of microbial community structure following short-term N-fertilizer and water treatments, this study contributes to a better understanding of how soil microbes respond to long-term agriculture managements.

Observation and Analysis of Clinical Efficacy of Zhuang Medicine Lotus Acupuncture Cupping Stasis Therapy on Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of Zhuang Medicine Lotus Acupuncture Cupping Stasis Therapy on patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and its action mechanism. METHODS: 36 patients are randomly divided into Lotus Acupuncture Cupping Stasis Therapy group, pure cupping group and gabapentin group, with a total of five observation points for the first, fifth, tenth, fifteenth, and twentieth sessions of therapy (one session every three days). At each observation point, the venous blood of the patients is taken, and the contents of and changes in WNT3a, Frizzled8, ß-catenin, IL-18, TNF-α, NR2B, NK-1 and SP are tested by ELISA, RT-PCR and WesternBlot, respectively. The VAS scores and safety of the patients in the three groups are compared. RESULTS: With increased time spent in therapy, the VAS scores of patients in each group decreased gradually and there was a significant reduction in pain in patients in the Lotus Acupuncture Cupping Stasis Therapy group compared to the gabapentin and pure cupping groups (P<0.05). The levels of IL-18, TNF-α, NK-1, SP, WNT3a, Frizzled 8 and ß-catenin in the serum of all patients experienced a constant decline over time (P<0.05); the levels of the aforesaid factors in the serum of patients in the Lotus Acupuncture Cupping Stasis Therapy group dropped remarkably after the tenth session of therapy compared to those in gabapentin and pure cupping groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Zhuang Medicine Lotus Acupuncture Cupping Stasis Therapy can significantly reduce the pain of PHN patients, with a good therapeutic effect, and it is worthy of clinical use.

Cu Nanowires and Nanoporous Ag Matrix Fabricated through Directional Solidification and Selective Dissolution of Ag-Cu Eutectic Alloys.

Cu nanowires and a nanoporous Ag matrix were fabricated through directional solidification and selective dissolution of Ag-Cu eutectic alloys. Ag-39.9at.%Cu eutectic alloys were directionally solidified at growth rates of 14, 25, and 34 µm/s at a temperature gradient of 10 K/cm. The Cu phase in the Ag matrix gradually changed from lamellar to fibrous with an increase in the growth rate. The Ag matrix phase was selectively dissolved, and Cu nanowires of 300-600 nm in diameter and tens of microns in length were prepared in 0.1 M borate buffer with a pH of 9.18 at a constant potential of 0.7 V (vs. SCE). The nanoporous Ag matrix was fabricated through selective dissolution of Cu fiber phase in 0.1 M acetate buffer with a pH of 6.0 at a constant potential of 0.5 V (vs. SCE). The diameter of Ag pores decreased with increasing growth rate. The diameter and depth of Ag pores increased when corrosion time was extended. The depth of the pores was 30 µm after 12 h.

Nitrogen use aggravates bacterial diversity and network complexity responses to temperature.

Rising temperature affects microbial composition and function in agriculture field, especially under nitrogen fertilization. In this study, we investigated the bacterial community of paddy soil incubated at controlled temperatures (5 °C, 15 °C, 25 °C, and 35 °C). Results showed that the response of bacterial communities to temperature was not uniform. Temperature elevation from 15 to 25 °C abruptly shifted the soil bacterial community, whereas elevation from 5 to 15 °C and from 25 to 35 °C had a marginal effect. The bacterial α-diversity was higher at 5 °C and 15 °C, owing to the massively distributed taxa with low abundance. However, as the temperature increased to 25 °C and 35 °C, these taxa were diminished, whereas Firmicutes significantly increased, resulting in a strong decline in α-diversity. Simultaneously, bacterial network complexity significantly increased at 25 °C and 35 °C, indicating the bacteria had closer interactions. Nitrogen application aggravated the variation in bacterial diversity and network complexity among temperatures. Interestingly, most complex network was observed under higher temperatures in fertilized soils. Collectively, these results indicate that nitrogen exacerbates the response of the soil bacterial community to temperature, and association between diversity and network complexity may be present.

3D printed bioceramic scaffolds: Adjusting pore dimension is beneficial for mandibular bone defects repair.

Bioceramic scaffolds for repairing mandibular bone defects have considerable effects, whereas pore architecture in porous scaffolds on osteogenesis in specific structures is still controversial. Herein 6 mol% magnesium-substituted calcium silicate scaffolds were fabricated with similar porosity (∼58%) but different cylindrical pore dimensions (Ø 480, 600, and 720 µm) via digital light processing-based three-dimensional (3D) printing technique. The mechanical properties, bioactive ion release, and bio-dissolution of the bioceramic scaffolds were evaluated in vitro, and the facilitation of scaffolds on bone formation was investigated after implanting in vivo. The results showed that as the pore dimension increased, the scaffolds indicated similar surface microstructures, but their compressive strength was enhanced gradually. There was no significant difference in vitro bio-dissolution between the 480 and 600 µm groups, whereas the 720 µm group showed a much slower dissolution and ion release. Interestingly, the two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) micro-CT reconstruction analysis of rabbits' mandibular bone defects model showed that the 600 µm group exhibited evidently higher ratio of the newly formed bone volume to total volume (BV/TV) and trabecular number (Tb. N) values and lower ratio of the scaffolds residual volume to total volume (RV/TV) compare to the other two sizes. Furthermore, the histological analysis also revealed a considerably higher new bone ingrowth rate in the 600 µm group than the other two groups at 4-12 weeks post-implantation. Totally, it is proved from these experimental studies that the DLP-based accurately fabricated calcium (Ca) silicate bioceramic scaffolds with appropriate pore dimensions (i.e., 600 µm in pore size) are promising to guide new bone ingrowth and thus accelerate the regeneration and repair of cranial maxillofacial or periodontal bone defects.

Notoginsenoside R2 reduces Aß25-35-induced neuronal apoptosis and inflammation via miR-27a/SOX8/ß-catenin axis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) has affected numerous elderly individuals worldwide. Panax notoginseng has been shown to ameliorate AD symptoms, and notoginsenoside R2 is a key saponin identified in this plant. Purpose: In the current study, we aimed to explore whether notoginsenoside R2 could improve the prognosis of AD. Methods: Herein, primary rat cortical neurons were isolated and they were treated with amyloid beta-peptide (Aß) 25-35 oligomers. Cellular apoptosis was examined via flow cytometry and Western blotting. miR-27a and SOX8 mRNA expression levels were quantified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the interaction between miR-27a and SOX8 was investigated by utilizing a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Finally, an AD mouse model was established to validate the in vitro findings. Results: Notoginsenoside R2 alleviated Aß25-35-triggered neuronal apoptosis and inflammation. During this process, miR-27a expression was decreased by notoginsenoside R2, and miR-27a negatively modulated SOX8 expression. Furthermore, activation of SOX8 upregulated ß-catenin expression, thus suppressing apoptosis and neuroinflammation. Conclusions: Our animal experiments revealed that notoginsenoside R2 enhanced the cognitive function of AD mice and inhibited neuronal apoptosis. Notoginsenoside R2 ameliorated AD symptoms by reducing neuronal apoptosis and inflammation, thus suggesting a novel direction for AD pharmacotherapy.

Differentially expressed circRNA and functional pathways in the hippocampus of epileptic mice based on next-generation sequencing.

Epilepsy is a clinical syndrome caused by the highly synchronized abnormal discharge of brain neurons. It has the characteristics of paroxysmal, transient, repetitive, and stereotyped. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a recently discovered type of noncoding RNA with diverse cellular functions related to their excellent stability; additionally, some circRNAs can bind and regulate microRNAs (miRNAs). The present study was designed to screen the differentially expressed circRNA in an acute seizure model of epilepsy in mice, analyze the related miRNA and mRNA, and study their participating functions and enrichment pathways. In order to obtain the differential expression of circRNA in epilepsy and infer their function, we used next-generation sequencing and found significantly different transcripts. CIRI (circRNA identifier) software was used to predict circRNA from the hippocampus cDNA, EdgeR was applied for the differential circRNA analysis between samples, and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to draw the network diagram. A total of 10,388 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified, of which 34 were upregulated and 66 were downregulated. Among them, mm9_circ_008777 and mm9_circ_004424 were the key upregulated genes, and their expression in the epilepsy group was verified using Quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR). The analysis indicated that the extracted gene ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways were closely related to several epilepsy-associated processes. This study determined that mm9_circ_008777 and mm9_circ_004424 are potential biomarkers of epilepsy, which play important roles in epilepsy-related pathways. These results could help improve the understanding of the biological mechanisms of circRNAs and epilepsy treatments.

Long-term partial replacement of mineral fertilizer with in situ crop residues ensures continued rice yields and soil fertility: A case study of a 27-year field experiment in subtropical China.

High yields and environment-related issues because of over-fertilization in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production is a major concern in China. Partial replacement of mineral fertilizer (MF) with organic matter is considered a win-win approach for resource-saving and environmentally friendly rice production. Here, we examined the effects of reduced MF and in situ crop residue on the rice yield and soil fertility in the long term. A 27-year field experiment (a randomized block design with three replicates) in subtropical China was conducted to test the feasibility of the substitution in a double rice paddy ecosystem. The treatments were CT (no fertilizer application considered as control), NPK (mineral fertilizer N, P, and K), and RFC (reduced MF and in situ crop residue to supplement the reduced NPK dose). The crop residue included half of the rice straw and green manure contents, which were retained in situ in the RFC treatment. The RFC maintained the same rice yield and soil fertility levels as NPK. In general, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) content in RFC increased by 10.3% -20.8%, and 7.5% -28.0%, respectively, than that in NPK from the 5th to the 25th years. There was no significant difference in the content and net accumulation of SOC, TN, and TP and soil available nutrients between the RFC and NPK treatments after 25 years. The average annual yields were 9690 and 9872 kg ha-1 for the NPK and RFC treatments, respectively. There was no difference in the yield of the first, second, and annual rice crops between RFC and NPK in most years (six of the fifty-four seasons showed a significant difference). RFC increased the partial factor productivity (PFP), agronomic efficiency (AE) of MF, and yield stability (CV) (p < 0.05). Positive nutrient balance and a reduced loss of nutrients are evident reasons for achieving better indicators (PFP, AE, and CV) for nutrient compensation and organic nutrient utilization in the RFC treatment. The partial replacement of MF with in situ crop residue retention, is a simple and efficient way to maintain the soil fertility and rice yield as NPK in southern China.

Warming Shapes nirS- and nosZ-Type Denitrifier Communities and Stimulates N2O Emission in Acidic Paddy Soil.

Warming strongly stimulates soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, contributing to the global warming trend. Submerged paddy soils exhibit huge N2O emission potential; however, the N2O emission pathway and underlying mechanisms for warming are not clearly understood. We conducted an incubation experiment using 15N to investigate the dynamics of N2O emission at controlled temperatures (5, 15, 25, and 35°C) in 125% water-filled pore space. The community structures of nitrifiers and denitrifiers were determined via high-throughput sequencing of functional genes. Our results showed that elevated temperature sharply enhanced soil N2O emission from submerged paddy soil. Denitrification was the main contributor, accounting for more than 90% of total N2O emission at all treatment temperatures. N2O flux was coordinatively regulated by nirK-, nirS-, and nosZ-containing denitrifiers but not ammonia-oxidizing archaea or ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The nirS-containing denitrifiers were more sensitive to temperature shifts, especially at a lower temperature range (5 to 25°C), and showed a stronger correlation with N2O flux than that of nirK-containing denitrifiers. In contrast, nosZ-containing denitrifiers exhibited substantial variation at higher temperatures (15 to 35°C), thereby playing an important role in N2O consumption. Certain taxa of nirS- and nosZ-containing denitrifiers regulated N2O flux, including nirS-containing denitrifiers affiliated with Rhodanobacter and Cupriavidus as well as nosZ-containing denitrifiers affiliated with Azoarcus and Azospirillum. Together, these findings suggest that elevated temperature can significantly increase N2O emission from denitrification in submerged paddy soils by shifting the overall community structures and enriching some indigenous taxa of nirS- and nosZ-containing denitrifiers. IMPORTANCE The interdependence between global warming and greenhouse gas N2O has always been the hot spot. However, information on factors contributing to N2O and temperature-dependent community structure changes is scarce. This study demonstrated high-temperature-induced N2O emission from submerged paddy soils, mainly via stimulating denitrification. Further, we speculate that key functional denitrifiers drive N2O emission. This study showed that denitrifiers were more sensitive to temperature rise than nitrifiers, and the temperature sensitivity differed among denitrifier communities. N2O-consuming denitrifiers (nosZ-containing denitrifiers) were more sensitive at a higher temperature range than N2O-producing denitrifiers (nirS-containing denitrifiers). This study's findings help predict N2O fluxes under different degrees of warming and develop strategies to mitigate N2O emissions from paddy fields based on microbial community regulation.

Ferritin reduction is essential for cerebral ischemia-induced hippocampal neuronal death through p53/SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis.

Cerebral ischemia is the most common cause of hippocampal neuronal death and the most prevalent cause of stroke with high mortality rate. Ferroptosis has been suggested to affect the role of hippocampal neurons. This study explores the influence of lentivirus infection-induced ferritin overexpression in hippocampal neuronal injury and death through simulations in August Copenhagen Irish rat models. Twenty-four-hour cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced in the rats after 90-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Ferritin overexpression was induced through lentivirus infection. The Morris Water Maze (MWM) test and tau hyperphosphorylation test were performed on hippocampal neurons to establish a MCAO model. The effect of ferritin overexpression on hippocampal neuronal death was evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin staining and annexin V/propidium iodide flow cytometry. The MWM test revealed that MCAO modeling decreased the cognitive and locomotor capacity of the rats, whereas ferritin overexpression partially reversed the effect of MCAO. In addition, the hyperphosphorylation of tau caused by MCAO was reduced by ferritin. Pathogenic changes, impaired viability, increased apoptosis, and elevated caspase-9 cleavage in hippocampal neurons were clearly recovered by ferritin. Moreover, robust reactive oxygen species production and glutathione consumption, which was induced by MCAO modeling, were ameliorated by ferritin. Furthermore, two key modulators of ferroptosis, p53 and SLC7A11, were demonstrated to be upregulated by MCAO modeling and downregulated by ferritin. Ferritin reduction is essential for cerebral ischemia-induced hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis mediated via p53 and SLC7A11.

Diazotrophic Community Variation Underlies Differences in Nitrogen Fixation Potential in Paddy Soils Across a Climatic Gradient in China.

Biological nitrogen (N2) fixation as a source of new N input into the soil by free-living diazotrophs is important for achieving sustainable rice agriculture. However, the dominant environmental drivers or factors influencing N2 fixation and the functional significance of the diazotroph community structure in paddy soil across a climatic gradient are not yet well understood. Thus, we characterized the diazotroph community and identified the ecological predictors of N2 fixation potential in four different climate zones (mid-temperate, warm-temperate, subtropical, and tropical paddy soils) in eastern China. Comprehensive nifH gene sequencing, functional activity detection, and correlation analysis with environmental factors were estimated. The potential nitrogenase activity (PNA) was highest in warm-temperate regions, where it was 6.2-, 2.9-, and 2.2-fold greater than in the tropical, subtropical, and mid-temperate regions, respectively; nifH gene abundance was significantly higher in warm-temperate and subtropical zones than in the tropical or mid-temperate zones. Diazotroph diversity was significantly higher in the tropical climate zone and significantly lower in the mid-temperate zone. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and canonical correlation analysis indicated that paddy soil diazotroph populations differed significantly among the four climate zones, mainly owing to differences in climate and soil pH. Structural equation models and automatic linear models revealed that climate and nutrients indirectly affected PNA by affecting soil pH and diazotroph community, respectively, while diazotroph community, C/P, and nifH gene abundance directly affected PNA. And C/P ratio, pH, and the diazotroph community structure were the main predictors of PNA in paddy soils. Collectively, the differences in diazotroph community structure have ecological significance, with important implications for the prediction of soil N2-fixing functions under climate change scenarios.

Anti-greasy and conductive superamphiphobic coating applied to the carbon brushes/conductive rings of hydro-generators.

A superamphiphobic coating is usually prepared via a reduction reaction and then deposited onto the surface of the substrate. This technology is difficult to control and achieve high bond strength, which easily leads to powder shedding. To overcome this issue, electroplating technology is usually preferred for preparing adhesion coatings. However, the coating prepared using this method is usually suitable only for hard steel substrates, and not for soft substrates such as carbon brushes. Herein, we demonstrate an air spray technology for preparing anti-greasy and conductive superamphiphobic graphite-1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltrichlorosilane-SiO2 (GPS) coatings suitable for both soft substrates (carbon brushes) and hard substrates (collector rings). The sheet resistance of the coating with 10% graphite content is 4.8 × 10-3 Ω â–¡-1 for a 10 µm thin coating, corresponding to a resistivity of 4.8 µΩ cm. More importantly, the prepared coating has excellent liquid repellency, such as water, rapeseed oil and n-hexane. In addition, the coating has excellent anti-greasy and mechanical properties, which provide a brand-new solution for the greasy pollution in the engineering field. These advantages will enhance the application of superamphiphobic GPS coating in the fields of hydropower, wind power and transportation, and so on.

[Characteristics of soil nitrogen cycle and mechanisms underlying the increase in rice yield with partial substitution of mineral fertilizers with organic manure in a paddy ecosystem: A review]. / 稻作系统有机肥替代部分化肥的土壤氮循环特征及增产机制.

Partial substitution of mineral fertilizers with organic manure is a key strategy for stable and increase crop yield accompanying with zero growth of mineral fertilizers. Based on recent stu-dies, we reviewed the effects of partial substitution of mineral fertilizers with organic manure on rice yield, nitrogen utilization efficiency, soil nitrogen fractions, and microbial nitrogen fixation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification in rice paddy ecosystems. We further compared the cha-racteristics of soil nitrogen cycle of mineral fertilizers alone and partial substitution of mineral fertili-zers with organic manure. The partial substitution altered key processes of nitrogen cycling, including enhancement of ammonification, mediation of nitrification and denitrification, reduction of ammonia volatilization and nitrogen loss, improved the status of nitrogen supplements (enriching the supplement of low-molecular-weight organic nitrogen, adjusting the distribution of inorganic nitrogen components, increasing the amount of microbial biomass nitrogen, and decreasing the loss of total nitrogen), improved soil nitrogen supply (increasing supply of small molecule organic nitrogen, coordinating inorganic nitrogen components and proportions, and increasing soil microbial biomass nitrogen and total nitrogen fixation), which promoted nitrogen uptake and regulated nitrogen allocation in rice plant to realize stability and enhancement of rice yield.

MicroRNA-107 Ameliorates Damage in a Cell Model of Alzheimer's Disease by Mediating the FGF7/FGFR2/PI3K/Akt Pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent representation of dementia, is a neurodegenerative disease resulting from the degenerative disturbance of the central nervous system. Previous studies have indicated that miR-107 is reduced in the brain neocortex of patients with AD; however, its underlying mechanism is not clear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the question of whether miR-107 participates in AD development. The study confirmed that the miR-107 expression levels were dramatically decreased in patients with AD and in beta-amyloid (Aß) (Aß)-treated SH-SY5Y cells compared with control groups. Upregulation of miR-107 reversed the inhibitory role of Aß on cell proliferation and viability. In addition, miR-107 upregulation also ameliorated the Aß-induced inflammation and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, using bioinformatic prediction, dual-luciferase reporter assay (DLRA), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and Western blot (WB), miR-107 was confirmed to reduce the expression level of FGF7, and it subsequently deactivated the FGFR2/PI3K/Akt pathway. Moreover, FGF7 overexpression counteracted the role of miR-107 in the viability, proliferation, inflammation, and apoptosis of Aß-induced SH-SY5Y cells.

Efficient Gas Transportation Using Bioinspired Superhydrophobic Yarn as the Gas-Siphon Underwater.

Inspired by the gas-trapped mechanism underwater of Argyroneta aquatica, we prepared a superhydrophobic yarn with a fiber network structure via a facile and environmentally friendly method. Attributed to the low surface energy, the superhydrophobic fiber network structure on the yarn is able to trap and transport bubbles directionally underwater. The functional yarn has good superhydrophobic and superaerophilic properties underwater to realize the directional transport of bubbles underwater without being pumped. We designed demonstration experiments on the antibuoyancy directional bubble transportation, which indicated the feasibility in the applications of gas-related fields. Significantly, on further testing, where the superhydrophobic yarn is put into a U-shaped pipe, we obtain a gas-siphon underwater with a high flux. The superhydrophobic fiber structure yarn can trap the gas underwater to enable the self-starting behavior while no manual intervention is used. The gas-siphon can convey gas over the edge of a vessel and deliver it at a higher level without energy input, which is driven by the differential pressure. The relationship between the differential pressure and the volume flux of transport bubbles is investigated. The experimental results show that the prepared superhydrophobic yarn has the advantages of good stability, easy preparation, and low cost in bubble continuous transportation underwater, which provides a novel strategy for the development and application of new technologies such as directional transportation, separation, exhaustion, and collection of gases in water.

[Differential Responses of Rhizospheric nirK- and nirS-type Denitrifier Communities to Different Phosphorus Levels in Paddy Soil].

Phosphorus is an essential life element, which can affect the activities and functions of denitrifiers. Both nirK and nirS genes can code nitrite reductase; however, it remains unclear whether nirK- and nirS-containing denitrifers respond differentially to changes in the availability of phosphorus in paddy soil. In this study, P-deficient paddy soil was used to grow rice plants. Three phosphorus levels established by applying P fertilizer at a rate of 0 mg·kg-1 (CK), 15 mg·kg-1 (P1), and 30 mg·kg-1(P2), respectively. The abundance and community structure of nirK- and nirS- containing denitrifers were determined using quantitative PCR and high-throughput sequencing techniques. Results indicated that nirK- and nirS-containing communities responded differentially to changes in the P levels. The nirS-containing communities are more sensitive to the changes in P in both rhizosphere and bulk soil samples. In addition, the abundance of nirS genes was 2-3 times higher in the P2 treatment than in the CK treatment. Furthermore, the nirS community structure is also clearly differed from the CK treatment. However, P addition only induced partial modification of the community structure and abundance of nirK-containing denitrifiers. Moreover, compared to the bulk soil with each phosphorus level, the nirS community structure in the rhizosphere soil changed significantly; however, only the P2 treatment induced significant increases in the abundance of the nirS gene. In contrast, no significant differences in the abundance and composition of nirK-containing denitrifers were detected between rhizosphere and bulk soils under different phosphorus levels. Collectively, application of phosphate fertilizer in P-deficient paddy soil could significantly increase the abundance of nirK- and nirS-containing denitrifiers, changing their community structures, with nirS-type showing a greater sensitivity than nirK-type denitrifiers. In comparison, the denitrifying communities in the rhizosphere were more sensitive to variable P levels than that in the bulk soil. Compared to bulk soils, rice growth shifted the community structure of nirS- and nirK-containing denitrifiers in rhizosphere soils at each level of P, but failed to induce significant changes in their abundance (except for P2) that could cause a significant increase in nirS abundance. These results could provide a theoretical basis for exploring the effects of fertilization on soil denitrification.

Triple-network hydrogels with high strength, low friction and self-healing by chemical-physical crosslinking.

HYPOTHESIS: Hydrogels are widely used in the field of water lubrication and friction, such as artificial cartilage, because of their good wettability and flexibility. Moreover, compared with single network hydrogel, Triple-network (TN) hydrogel has higher fracture stress. Therefore, the research and preparation of a TN hydrogel with good mechanical properties and friction properties will be of great help to the improvement and application of hydrogel properties. EXPERIMENTS: A chemical-physical crosslinked triple-network (TN) hydrogel was prepared using PVA, PVP and AA as raw materials. By controlling the content of Zn2+ in TN hydrogel, conducting tension-compression test and friction test, we studied the effect of Zn2+ on the mechanical properties and friction properties of hydrogel. FINDINGS: The results showed that TN hydrogel had the best mechanical properties when the content of Zn2+ was 0.4 g. The fracture stress was 1.87 MPa, the strain rate was 175%, and the compressive stress was 3.5 MPa under 80% compressive deformation. At room temperature, TN hydrogel had good self-healing property and could maintain a high mechanical recovery rate, with a maximum recovery rate of 87%. The friction test results manifested that the hydrogel had a low friction coefficient, and the minimum friction coefficient was 0.15. The PVA/PVP/PAA-TN hydrogel prepared by this method has widened the application scope of hydrogel, making it more applicable in the field of high friction coefficient and mechanical properties.