Molecular characterization of vascular endothelial growth factor b from spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) and its potential roles in decreasing lipid deposition.

Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB), a member of the VEGF family, exhibits limited angiogenic activity in mammals but plays an unexpected role in targeting lipids to peripheral tissues. However, its role in lipid metabolism in fish is unknown. In this study, the vegfb gene was cloned and characterized from spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus). It encodes 254 amino acids and possesses the typical characteristics of the Vegfb family, demonstrating high homology with those from other vertebrate species. The vegfb gene exhibits the highest expression levels in the liver, followed by the gills, intestine, and adipose tissues in spotted sea bass. In vivo, high-lipid diets decreased vegfb expression and increased lipid deposition in liver of fish. In vitro, palmitic acid + oleic acid treatment or vegfb knockdown significantly increased TG and TC contents, promoting lipid droplet deposition in hepatocytes. Vegfb overexpression has the opposite effects, inhibiting lipid deposition and downregulating fatty acid transport and adipogenesis genes. In contrast, the vegfb knockdown significantly upregulated the expression levels of c/ebpα, plin2, and dgat1 (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that Vegfb may play an important role in reducing lipid deposition by regulating fatty acid transport and adipogenesis in the hepatocytes of spotted sea bass.

Enhancing the Consistency and Performance of Graphene-Based Devices via Al Intermediate-Layer-Assisted Transfer and Patterning.

Graphene has garnered widespread attention, and its use is being explored for various electronic devices due to its exceptional material properties. However, the use of polymers (PMMA, photoresists, etc.) during graphene transfer and patterning processes inevitably leaves residues on graphene surface, which can decrease the performance and yield of graphene-based devices. This paper proposes a new transfer and patterning process that utilizes an Al intermediate layer to separate graphene from polymers. Through DFT calculations, the binding energy of graphene-Al was found to be only -0.48 eV, much lower than that of PMMA and photoresist with graphene, making it easier to remove Al from graphene. Subsequently, this was confirmed through XPS analysis. A morphological characterization demonstrated that the graphene patterns prepared using the Al intermediate layer process exhibited higher surface quality, with significantly reduced roughness. It is noteworthy that the devices obtained with the proposed method exhibited a notable enhancement in both consistency and sensitivity during electrical testing (increase of 67.14% in temperature sensitivity). The low-cost and pollution-free graphene-processing method proposed in this study will facilitate the further commercialization of graphene-based devices.

Terahertz Biaxial Strain Sensor Based on Double-Upright Cross Metamaterial.

In this article, a terahertz metamaterial biaxial strain pressure sensor structure is proposed, which can address the problems of the low sensitivity, the narrow pressure measurement range, and the uniaxial-only detection of existing terahertz pressure sensors. The performance of the pressure sensor was studied and analyzed using the time-domain finite-element-difference method. By changing the substrate material and optimizing the structure of the top cell, the size of the structure that can simultaneously improve the range and sensitivity of the pressure measurements was determined. The simulation results show that the sensor has a pressure-sensing effect in the frequency range of 1.0-2.2 THz under the conditions of transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarization, and the sensitivity can reach up to 346 GHz/µm. The proposed metamaterial pressure sensor has significant applications in the remote monitoring of target structure deformation.

Ultra-Wideband and Narrowband Switchable, Bi-Functional Metamaterial Absorber Based on Vanadium Dioxide.

A switchable ultra-wideband THz absorber based on vanadium dioxide was proposed, which consists of a lowermost gold layer, a PMI dielectric layer, and an insulating and surface vanadium dioxide layer. Based on the phase transition properties of vanadium dioxide, switching performance between ultra-broadband and narrowband can achieve a near-perfect absorption. The constructed model was simulated and analyzed using finite element analysis. Simulations show that the absorption frequency of vanadium dioxide above 90% is between 3.8 THz and 15.6 THz when the vanadium dioxide is in the metallic state. The broadband absorber has an absorption bandwidth of 11.8 THz, is insensitive to TE and TM polarization, and has universal incidence angle insensitivity. When vanadium dioxide is in the insulating state, the narrowband absorber has a Q value as high as 1111 at a frequency of 13.89 THz when the absorption is more excellent than 99%. The absorber proposed in this paper has favorable symmetry properties, excellent TE and TM wave insensitivity, overall incidence angle stability, and the advantages of its small size, ultra-widebands and narrowbands, and elevated Q values. The designed absorber has promising applications in multifunctional devices, electromagnetic cloaking, and optoelectronic switches.

Enhanced performance of PC6monolayer as Li-ion battery anode materials by nitrogen doping.

The development of new promising anode materials is important for further commercial applications of batteries. In this paper, the potential of nitrogen-doped PC6(NCP-αand NCP-ß) monolayer materials in the development of anode materials for Li ion batteries was discussed by means of density functional theory calculations. Both NCP-αand NCP-ßhave excellent electronic conductivity and a high theoretical maximum storage capacity of 778.72 mA h g-1. The diffusion barriers of Li ions on monolayer NCP-αand NCP-ßare 0.33 eV and 0.32 eV, respectively. The average open circuit voltages of NCP-αand NCP-ßare 0.23 V and 0.27 V, respectively, in the suitable voltage range of anode materials. Compared with pristine PC6(717.09 mA h g-1), graphene (372 mA h g-1) and many other two-dimensional (2D) (MXenes (447.8 mA h g-1) anode materials, NCP-αand NCP-ßhave significantly higher theoretical storage capacities, lower diffusion barrier and suitable open-circuit voltages. The calculation results show that NCP-αand NCP-ßare potential candidates for high-performance LIBs anode materials.

Preparation of amino-functionalized fly ash based tobermorite for enhanced removal of Cr(VI).

Amino-functionalized fly ash based tobermorite (NH2-FAT) was prepared via a two-step process including a hydrothermal preparation of fly ash based tobermorite (FAT) from fly ash (FA) and the impregnation of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The characteristics of FA, FAT, and NH2-FAT were systematically measured. The removal capacity of Cr(VI) by FAT and NH2-FAT were comparatively studied. The results indicated that the NH2-FAT presented excellent removal efficiency towards Cr(VI) in the condition of pH of 2. The adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) by NH2-FAT in this study was up to 498.39 mg/g resulted from Langmuir model, which was more superior to that of FAT, other reported FA based adsorbents and most amino-functionalized adsorbents. Furthermore, the removal mechanisms of Cr(VI) by NH2-FAT were ascribed to both electrostatic attraction and reduction to Cr(III) by amino groups. Overall, this work indicates the NH2-FAT is a promising adsorbent for treating wastewater containing Cr(VI), and provides a new utilization method of FA.

Thermal-Resistance Effect of Graphene at High Temperatures in Nanoelectromechanical Temperature Sensors.

Graphene membranes act as temperature sensors in nanoelectromechanical devices due to their excellent thermal and high-temperature resistance properties. Experimentally, reports on the sensing performance of graphene mainly focus on the temperature interval under 400 K. To explore the sensing performance of graphene temperature sensors at higher temperature intervals, micro-fabricated single-layer graphene on a SiNX substrate is presented as temperature sensors by semiconductor technology and its electrical properties were measured. The results show that the temperature coefficient of the resistance value is 2.07 × 10-3 in the temperature range of 300-450 K and 2.39 × 10-3 in the temperature range of 450-575 K. From room temperature to high temperature, the "metal" characteristics are presented, and the higher TCR obtained at higher temperature interval is described and analyzed by combining Boltzmann transport equation and thermal expansion theory. These investigations provide further insight into the temperature characteristics of graphene.

Effects of dietary monocalcium phosphate supplementation on the anti-oxidative capacity, anti-bacteria function in immune organs of obscure puffer (Takifugu obscurus) after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila.

The purpose of the present study was to explore the impaired anti-bacteria ability in immune organs and immune systems of obscure puffer induced by chronic dietary phosphorus (P) deficiency. Fish were fed diets supplemented with 6 g/kg P (P6) and 0 g/kg P (P0) respectively for 15 weeks, and lower final body weight, feed intake, weight gain, whole body P content and bone P content were observed in fish fed P0 diet (P < 0.05). Then the fish were continued to feed for 3 weeks and intraperitoneal injection with PBS (P6+PBS) and Aeromonas hydrophila (A.hydrophila) (P6 + A.hydrophila and P0 + A.hydrophila), and sampled at 3, 6, 12 and 24 h. The results showed that dietary P deficiency lowered survival rate, total hemocyte count, whereas enhanced ROS production and apoptosis rate of obscure puffer compared to the 6 g/kg P supplemented group after infection. Moreover, compared to the P sufficient group, puffer fish fed P deficient diet decreased the expressions of antioxidant genes catalase (cat) and glutathione reductase (gr), immune-related genes toll-like receptor 2 (tlr-2) and anti-inflammatory factors transforming growth factor ß1 (tgf-ß1) and interleukin 11 (il-11) while increased pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (tnf-α), interleukin 1ß (il-1ß) and interleukin 8 (il-8) in head kidney post-infection. In addition, dietary P deficiency decreased the hepatic gene expressions of anti-apoptotic factor B-cell lymphoma 2 (bcl-2) and bax-inhibitor 1 (bi-1), accompanied by increasing the mRNA expressions of pro-apoptotic factor caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 compared to the P sufficient group after A.hydrophila infection. In conclusion, dietary P deficiency impaired the anti-bacteria function of the immune system as well as immune organs by increasing oxidative stress and aggravating the inflammatory response and apoptosis in obscure puffer under the A.hydrophila challenge.

Effects of dietary Senecio scandens buch-ham extracts on growth performance, plasma biochemical, histology and the expression of immune-related genes in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀).

The study mainly aimed at the effects of dietary Senecio scandens buch-ham extract (SSBE) on the growth performance, body composition, plasma biochemical index, intestinal and liver histology and the expression of antioxidant, apoptosis and inflammatory related genes in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀). Basal diets supplemented with SSBE (10:1) 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4% were fed hybrid grouper for 8 weeks. The results showed that WGR and SGR were significantly increased in the week 2 and week 4 in Diet 0.05% group (P < 0.05). The total protein, globulin and albumin significantly increased whereas alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride and alkaline phosphate in the plasma were significantly decreased in Diet 0.1% group (P < 0.05). The villi length, width, muscle thickness and the cross-sectional area of intestine were improved in Diet 0.05% and Diet 0.1% group. The expression levels of PPAR-α and CPT-1 in the liver of hybrid grouper were significantly increased following the supplementation of SSBE (P < 0.05). The expression levels of antioxidant related genes (CAT, GPX, GR and Keap1) and anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10) in liver, head kidney and spleen of hybrid grouper decreased significantly (P < 0.05). In addition, diets supplemented with 0.05%-0.1% SSBE had a good liver-protecting effect, but it would have a detrimental effect on hepatocytes when the content exceeds 0.2%. The above results indicated that the suitable additive amount of SSBE in hybrid grouper feed was 0.05%-0.1%.

Xiaochaihu Decoction reduces hepatic steatosis and improves D-GalN/LPS-induced liver injury in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀).

Excessive lipid accumulation and chemical abuse can induce fatty liver diseases in fish, but the underlying mechanism and therapies are unknown. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of Xiaochaihu Decoction (XCHD) on the growth performance, lipid metabolism and antioxidant function of hybrid grouper in vitro and in vivo, and provide evidence as to whether it can be potentially used as a medicine for liver diseases in aquaculture. In vitro, steatosis model of hybrid grouper primary hepatocytes were incubated for 48 h in control or lipid emulsion (LE)-containing medium with or without 24 h post-treatment with XCHD. XCHD treatment reversed the LE-induced intracellular lipid accumulation, cell viability and hepatocytes morphological structure. In vivo, a total of 300 hybrid grouper with an average initial weight of 25.43 ±â€¯0.18 g were fed diets containing five graded levels of XCHD at 150-1200 mg/kg diet for 8 weeks. After that, a challenge trial was conducted by injection of D-GalN/LPS to induce liver injury. As a result, dietary supplementation with 150-300 mg/kg XCHD diets can significant improve growth performance and feed utilization (P < 0.05). Dietary XCHD down-regulated the expression of lipogenic-related genes (G6PD, DGAT2 and ME1) and up-regulated lipolysis-related genes (ATGL, PPARα and LPL) expression in the liver of hybrid grouper. Livers challenged with D-GalN/LPS exhibited extensive areas of vacuolization with the disappearance of nuclei and the loss of hepatic architecture. These pathological alterations were ameliorated by XCHD treatment. XCHD significantly down-regulated the D-GalN/LPS induced apoptosis-related genes caspase-3, caspase-9 and p53 mRNA expression and up-regulated the antioxidant-related genes CAT and MnSOD mRNA expression in dose dependent manner, respectively. XCHD potently reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and enhanced antioxidant capability in hybrid grouper and may be a potential fish-feed additive to prevent fatty liver diseases onset and progression.

Dietary Radix Bupleuri extracts improves hepatic lipid accumulation and immune response of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀).

In this study, two experiments were performed to explore the effect of Radix Bupleuri extracts (RBE) on growth, lipid deposition and metabolism and immune response of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀) using in vitro and in vivo models. In vitro, we used 2 ml/L 20% lipid emulsion (LE)-induced steatosis in hybrid grouper primary hepatocytes, then RBE (200, 400 and 800 µg/ml) was added to the hepatocytes after (post-treatment) the incubation with 20% LE (2 ml/L) in the culture medium. We found that RBE markedly increased cell viability, which were consistent with hepatocytes morphological structure examination and lipid metabolism and immune related genes study. The above result suggested that RBE has a protective effect on this model of hepatocytes damage. In vivo, five graded levels of RBE at 0, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg diet were supplemented to a basal diet with 15% lipid levels (high lipid), and fed to a total of 300 hybrid grouper with an average initial weight of 25.58 ±â€¯0.05 g for 8 weeks. Growth performance, liver histology, plasma biochemical parameters, and expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and immune-related were measured. The study indicated that dietary RBE significantly improved growth performance and feed utilization and reduced hepatosomatic index. Dietary supplementation with 200-800 mg/kg RBE diets effectively decreased serum ALP, ALT, AST and LDH contents in fish. Furthermore, adipogenesis relative mRNA levels of DGAT2, G6PD, ME1 and DGKα in fish fed 200-400 mg/kg RBE diets were lower (P < 0.05) than in those fed RBE0 diets, while dietary supplementation with 200-800 mg/kg RBE diets up-regulated lipolysis-related genes (CPT1, LPL and PPARα) expression in the liver of hybrid grouper. Moreover, dietary RBE down-regulated the expression of apoptosis-related genes (caspase-9), up-regulated the expression of antioxidant genes (CAT) and immune-related genes (MHC2, IKKα and TGF-ß1). Thus, our data suggest that RBE suppressed lipid accumulation and enhanced immune capability in hybrid grouper both in vitro and in vivo. These results offer new insight into RBE as a hepatoprotective in fish.

Effects of dietary dandelion extracts on growth performance, liver histology, immune-related gene expression and CCl4 resistance of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀).

The study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with dandelion extracts (DE) on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, serum biochemical, liver histology, immune-related gene expression and CCl4 resistance of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀). A basal diet supplemented with DE at 0% (diet 0%), 0.1% (diet 0.1%), 0.2% (diet 0.2%), 0.4% (diet 0.4%) and 0.8% (diet 0.8%) were fed to hybrid grouper for 8 weeks. The results revealed that dietary DE had not a significant impact on growth performance and feed utilization (P > 0.05), but it could decrease the percent of crude lipids in whole body and increase the percent of crude protein in muscle (P < 0.05). Dietary DE increased the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase) and reduced inflammatory factor in the spleen and head-kidney of fish (P < 0.05), but reduced the expression of the liver antioxidant gene except for glutathione reductase (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 0.2%-0.4% DE could effectively improve liver health. After injection of CCL4 by 72 h, fish fed Diet0.2% and Diet0.4% showed regular hepatocyte morphology while fish fed Diet 0%, Diet 0.1% and Diet 0.8% showed hepatocyte damage. Higher survival rate and total blood cell count was observed in fish fed 0.1%-0.4% dietary DE (P < 0.05). In conclusion, DE could be used as a functional feed additive to enhance liver function of farmed fish. The best level of it should be between 0.2% and 0.4%.

Effects of replacing fish meal with soybean meal on growth performance, feed utilization and physiological status of juvenile obscure puffer, Takifugu obscurus.

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, feed utilization and physiological status of obscure puffer, Takifugu obscurus (13.03 ±â€¯0.14 g) fed diets in which fish meal (FM) was replaced with various levels of dehulled and defatted soybean meal (SBM): 0% (SBM0), 15% (SBM15), 30% (SBM30), 45% (SBM45), 60% (SBM60) and 75% (SBM75). No significant differences were observed in weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish when FM replacement level was lower than 30%, and the broken-line model of SGR showed the maximum replacement level was 40%. Fish fed the SBM-containing diets had a lower red blood cell value compared to the control. The hemoglobin and methemoglobin values showed a declining tendency as dietary SBM level increased. Plasma triacylglycerol, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels also showed a decreasing trend that was associated with the reduced crude lipid content of whole body as dietary SBM level increased. The activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in fish fed the SBM-containing diets were all higher than those fed the control diet while glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were lower than the control group. Results indicated that up to 40% FM protein, based on the broken-line analysis of SGR, can be replaced with SBM in diet for obscure puffer juveniles with supplemental lysine, methionine and taurine.

Electrical properties and behaviors of cuprous oxide cubes under high pressure.

An accurate in situ electrical resistivity measurement of cuprous oxide cubes has been conducted in a diamond anvil cell at room temperature with pressures up to 25 GPa. The abnormal electrical resistivity variation found at 0.7-2.2 GPa is attributed to the phase transformation from a cubic to a tetragonal structure. Three other discontinuous changes in the electrical resistivity are observed around 8.5, 10.3, and 21.6 GPa, corresponding to the phase transitions from tetragonal to pseudocubic to hexagonal to another hexagonal phase, respectively. The first-principles calculations illustrate that the electrical resistivity decrease of the tetragonal phase is not related to band-gap shrinkage but related to a higher quantity of electrons excited from strain-induced states increasing in band gap with increasing pressure. The results indicate that the Cu(2)O cubes begin to crush at about 15 GPa and completely transform into nanocrystalline at 25 GPa.

In situ impedance measurements in diamond anvil cell under high pressure.

Two-electrode configuration was developed for in situ electrical impedance detecting on diamond anvil cell under high pressure. The metal gasket was used as one electrode and the risk coming from electrical short between sample and interside wall of the gasket was eliminated. The configuration was evaluated and proved to be effective by measuring the electric impedance of nanocrystalline ZnS under high pressure.