A versatile bilayer smart packaging based on konjac glucomannan/alginate for maintaining and monitoring seafood freshness.

This study introduces a novel multi-functional double-layer intelligent packaging. It focuses on developing a dual-function system capable of real-time monitoring and freshness preservation. Specifically, cellulose nanocrystalline (CNC) was obtained through acid hydrolysis, and then CNC/soybean protein isolate (CNC/SPI) complex colloid particles were prepared via antisolvent method. These particles served as stabilizers to prepare oil-in-water (O/W) cinnamon essential oil Pickering emulsion (CSCEO). The CSCEO was then integrated into the emulsified hydrophobic layer of a konjac glucomannan (Kgm) matrix through intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Finally, alginate (Alg) matrix containing alizarin (Al) as an indicator was added to construct the bilayer structure using a layer-by-layer casting strategy. The inner layer Alg/Al was the pH/NH3-responsive indicator layer, while the outer layer Kgm/CSCEO acted as the high-barrier bacteriostatic layer. The obtained dual-function, double-layer film (Alg/Al-Kgm/CSCEO), which possesses a sensitive, reversible and rapid response towards pH/NH3, shows exceptional antibacterial and antioxidant properties, as well as excellent mechanical property, light-blocking capability and hydrophobicity. For monitoring and maintaining the actual freshness of shrimp, such a bilayer packaging displays smallest change of ∆E and TVB-N (18.65 mg/100 g) even after 72 h, which further highlighting its potential in enhancing food safety and extending shelf life.

Superporous sponge prepared by secondary network compaction with enhanced permeability and mechanical properties for non-compressible hemostasis in pigs.

Developing superporous hemostatic sponges with simultaneously enhanced permeability and mechanical properties remains challenging but highly desirable to achieve rapid hemostasis for non-compressible hemorrhage. Typical approaches to improve the permeability of hemostatic sponges by increasing porosity sacrifice mechanical properties and yield limited pore interconnectivity, thereby undermining the hemostatic efficacy and subsequent tissue regeneration. Herein, we propose a temperature-assisted secondary network compaction strategy following the phase separation-induced primary compaction to fabricate the superporous chitosan sponge with highly-interconnected porous structure, enhanced blood absorption rate and capacity, and fatigue resistance. The superporous chitosan sponge exhibits rapid shape recovery after absorbing blood and maintains sufficient pressure on wounds to build a robust physical barrier to greatly improve hemostatic efficiency. Furthermore, the superporous chitosan sponge outperforms commercial gauze, gelatin sponges, and chitosan powder by enhancing hemostatic efficiency, cell infiltration, vascular regeneration, and in-situ tissue regeneration in non-compressible organ injury models, respectively. We believe the proposed secondary network compaction strategy provides a simple yet effective method to fabricate superporous hemostatic sponges for diverse clinical applications.

Quality reporting of randomized controlled trials on SGLT2 inhibitors for heart failure: a comprehensive assessment.

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) provide clinicians with the best evidence of the effectiveness of an intervention, and complete and transparent trial reports help to critically assess and use trial results. The objective of our study was to assess the quality of reporting in RCTs of sodium-glucose co-transporter protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for heart failure (HF) and identify factors associated with improved reporting quality. Two researchers conducted a comprehensive search in four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane). The quality of each report was assessed using a 25-point Overall Quality Score (OQS) based on the guidelines provided in the 2010 Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) statement. We included a total of 58 relevant RCTs. The median OQS in the 2010 CONSORT statement was 15 (range 7.5-24). The missing items were primarily found in the 'Methods' and 'Results' sections of the 2010 CONSORT statement. Multivariate regression modeling revealed that a more recent publication year, high impact factor, and large sample size were significant predictors of OQS improvement. The findings suggest that the overall quality of reported RCTs of SGLT2 inhibitors in HF is unsatisfactory, which reduces their potential usefulness.

Supramolecular Hydrogel with Ultra-Rapid Cell-Mediated Network Adaptation for Enhancing Cellular Metabolic Energetics and Tissue Regeneration.

Cellular energetics plays an important role in tissue regeneration, and the enhanced metabolic activity of delivered stem cells can accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. However, conventional hydrogels with limited network cell adaptability restrict cell-cell interactions and cell metabolic activities. In this work, it is shown that a cell-adaptable hydrogel with high network dynamics enhances the glucose uptake and fatty acid ß-oxidation of encapsulated human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) compared with a hydrogel with low network dynamics. It is further shown that the hMSCs encapsulated in the high dynamic hydrogels exhibit increased tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) biosynthesis via an E-cadherin- and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent mechanism. The in vivo evaluation further showed that the delivery of MSCs by the dynamic hydrogel enhanced in situ bone regeneration in an animal model. It is believed that the findings provide critical insights into the impact of stem cell-biomaterial interactions on cellular metabolic energetics and the underlying mechanisms.

Carbon Dots from Camelina Decorating hFGF2-Linked Camelina Lipid Droplets Cooperate to Accelerate Wound Healing.

Constant oxidative stress at the wound site prolongs the inflammation period and slows down the proliferation stage. In order to shorten the inflammatory period meanwhile promote the proliferative activity of fibroblasts, herein, we synthesized novel camelina-derived carbon dots (CDs) decorating on hFGF2-linked camelina lipid droplets (CLD-hFGF2) to form nanobiomaterial CDs-CLD-hFGF2. The CDs-CLD-hFGF2 possesses peroxidase activity and has effective reactive oxygen species radical scavenging activity while achieving proliferation of NIH/3T3 cells under oxidative stress in vitro. In the acute wound model, wound healing after CDs-CLD-hFGF2 treatment reached nearly 92% on the 10th day, compared with 82% for CLD-hFGF2. Moreover, the wound site showed significant anti-inflammatory effects characterized by the downregulation of pro-inflammatory factors and the upregulation of anti-inflammatory factor levels. Overall, this study provided a strategy for the comprehensive utilization of camelina oil crops and revealed a promising future that could be considered an effective method for wound healing on the skin.

LncRNA SNHG14/miR-497a-5p/BACE1 axis modulates obesity-induced adipocyte inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Obesity is a metabolic disease with excess weight. LncRNA SNHG14 is abnormally expressed in numerous diseases. This research aimed to enucleate the lncRNA SNHG14 role in obesity. Adipocytes were treated with free fatty acid (FFA) to establish an in vitro model for obesity. Mice were fed a high-fat diet to construct an in vivo model. Gene levels were determined using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The protein level was checked by western blot. The lncRNA SNHG14 role in obesity was assessed using western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mechanism was estimated by Starbase, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, and RNA pull-down. LncRNA SNHG14 function in obesity was estimated using mouse xenograft models, RT-PCR, western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. LncRNA SNHG14 and BACE1 levels were increased, but the miR-497a-5p level was decreased in FFA-induced adipocytes. Interference with lncRNA SNHG14 reduced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related molecules GRP78 and CHOP expressions in FFA-induced adipocytes, and decreased IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α expressions, indicating that lncRNA SNHG14 knockdown mitigated FFA-induced ER stress and inflammation in adipocytes. Mechanistically, lncRNA SNHG14 combined with miR-497a-5p, and miR-497a-5p targeted BACE1. Meanwhile, lncRNA SNHG14 knockdown reduced levels of GRP78, CHOP, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, while cotransfection with anti-miR-497a-5p or pcDNA-BACE1 abolished these trends. Rescue assays illustrated that lncRNA SNHG14 knockdown relieved FFA-induced adipocyte ER stress and inflammation through miR-497a-5p/BACE1. Meanwhile, lncRNA SNHG14 knockdown restrained adipose inflammation and ER stress caused by obesity in vivo. LncRNA SNHG14 mediated obesity-induced adipose inflammation and ER stress through miR-497a-5p/BACE1.

Genome-wide analysis of CtNF-YB and lipid synthesis regulation of CtNF-YB12 in Carthamus tinctorius L.

KEY MESSAGE: The nuclear Factor YB of Carthamus tinctorius L. increased the content of unsaturated fatty acids by regulating the expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis and oil accumulation. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed oil is rich in linoleic acid and is widely used in food and medicine. Therefore, key genes regulating oil synthesis were mined through genetic engineering to provide genetic resources for improving oil content. Based on the conserved domain of the NF-YB, we screened and identified 14 CtNF-YB transcription factors in the safflower genome and divided them into three subfamilies through phylogenetic analysis. Regulatory motif analysis of the CtNF-YB promoter revealed specific cis-regulatory elements related to abiotic stress, growth, and development. Expression analysis of CtNF-YB family genes showed that non-Leafy Cotyledon 1(non-LEC1) genes were highly expressed in roots, leaves, and flowers; Leafy Cotyledon 1(LEC1) genes were highly expressed during early seed development; and Dr1-like genes were highly expressed in roots, stems, and leaves. CtNF-YB12 was identified as a LEC1 transcription factor based on phylogeny and BLAST alignment. Heterologous CtNF-YB12 expression in Arabidopsis thaliana increased seed pod length and seed size. Moreover, CtNF-YB12 overexpression increased the oil content of seeds, upregulated genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and glycolysis, and altered the content of unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), and linolenic acid (C18:3), as well as of sucrose, fructose, and glucose. CtNF-YB12 may increase the oil content by regulating key enzyme genes of oil synthesis, so it can be used as a reliable target.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Flavonoids from Juglans mandshurica Maxim.: Artificial Intelligence-Based Optimization, Kinetics Estimation, and Antioxidant Potential.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of flavonoids (JMBF) from Juglans mandshurica Maxim., an important industrial crop in China, was investigated in the present study. To improve the extraction efficiency of JMBF, suitable UAE was proposed after optimization using a hybrid response surface methodology-artificial neural network-genetic algorithm approach (RSM-ANN-GA). The maximum extraction yield (6.28 mg·g-1) of JMBF was achieved using the following optimum UAE conditions: ethanol concentration, 62%; solid-liquid ratio, 1:20 g·mL-1; ultrasonic power, 228 W; extraction temperature, 60 °C; extraction time, 40 min; total number of extractions, 1. Through the investigation of extraction kinetics, UAE offered a higher saturated concentration (Cs) for JMBF in comparison to traditional solvent extraction (TSE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that deeper holes were generated in J. mandshurica powder under the action of ultrasound, indicating that ultrasound significantly changed the structure of the plant materials to facilitate the dissolution of active substances. Extracts obtained using UAE and TSE were compared by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, the results of which revealed that the functional group of bioactive compounds in the extract was unaffected by the ultrasonication process. Moreover, JMBF was further shown to exhibit significant antioxidant properties in vitro. This study provides a basis for the application of JMBF as a natural antioxidant.

[Preparation and characterization of fenugreek leaf flavonoids and their protective effects against oxidative damage to hepatocytes].

The present study investigated the main components of fenugreek(Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) leaf flavonoids(FLFs) and their antioxidant activity. FLFs were prepared and enriched by solvent extraction, and the flavonoids were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). The protective effect of FLFs against H_2O_2-induced stress damage to L02 hepatocytes was also investigated. Firstly, the cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The oxidative stress injury model was induced by H_2O_2 in L02 cells. The release of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), the content of reduced glutathione(GSH) and malondialdehyde(MDA), and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) were measured by assay kits. Hoechst fluorescence staining was performed to observe the cell apoptosis. The expression levels of c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2), nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2(Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1), and their phosphorylated proteins were detected by Western blot. Based on the MS fragment ion information and data in databases, FLFs contained eight flavonoids with quercetin and kaempferol as the main aglycons. The cell viabi-lity assay revealed that as compared with the conditions in the H_2O_2 treatment group, 3.125-25 µg·mL~(-1) FLFs could increase the viability of L02 cells, reduce LDH release and MDA content in a dose-dependent manner, potentiate the activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH, decrease the phosphorylation of JNK and ERK1/2 proteins, and up-regulate the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. The results of fluorescence staining showed that the nucleus of the H_2O_2 treatment group showed concentrated and dense strong blue fluorescence, while the blue fluorescence intensity of the FLFs group decreased significantly. FLFs showed a protective effect against H_2O_2-induced oxidative damage in L02 cells, and the underlying mechanism is associated with the enhancement of cell capability in clearing oxygen free radicals and the inhibition of apoptosis by the activation of the MAPKs/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. The antioxidant effect of fenugreek leaf is related to its rich flavonoids.

Characterization of the diastaphenazine/izumiphenazine C biosynthetic gene cluster from plant endophyte Streptomyces diastaticus W2.

Two phenazine compounds, diastaphenazine and izumiphenazine C, with complex structures and promising antitumour activity have been isolated from the plant endophytic actinomycete Streptomyces diastaticus W2. Their putative biosynthetic gene cluster (dap) was identified by heterologous expression and gene knockout. There are twenty genes in the dap cluster. dap14-19 related to shikimic pathway were potentially involved in the precursor chorismic acid biosynthesis, and dapBCDEFG were confirmed to be responsible for the biosynthesis of the dibenzopyrazine ring, the nuclear structure of phenazines. Two transcriptional regulatory genes dapR and dap4 played the positive regulatory roles on the phenazine biosynthetic pathway. Most notably, the dimerization of the dibenzopyrazine ring in diastaphenazine and the loading of the complex side chain in izumiphenazine C could be catalysed by the cyclase homologous gene dap5, suggesting an unusual modification strategy tailoring complex phenazine biosynthesis. Moreover, metabolite analysis of the gene deletion mutant strain S. albus::23C5Δdap2 and substrate assay of the methyltransferase Dap2 clearly revealed the biosynthetic route of the complex side chain in izumiphenazine C.

[Research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum].

Trigonella foenum-graecum is an annual plant of the genus Trigonella in the Leguminosae family. It is widely distributed in China and has a long history of application. According to phytochemistry research, the seeds, stem, and leaves of this herb contain not only a variety of bioactive ingredients, including alkaloids, saponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and phenols, but also abundant nutrients such as unsaturated fatty acids and amino acids and various trace elements. Pharmacological studies have shown that both the extract of T. foenum-graecum and its chemical constituents exhibit hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antitumor, antioxidative, antimicro-bial, and hepatoprotective activities. This paper reviews the research progress on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of T. foenum-graecum, which may contribute to further development, application, and clinical research of this herb.

The complete chloroplast genome of Cotyledon tomentosa Harv.

Cotyledon tomentosa Harv. is a well-known succulent plant that have important ornamental and economic value. In this study, we release and detail the complete chloroplast genome sequences of C. tomentosa. The whole chloroplast genome was 149,729 bp in length and comprised 131 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes. The C. tomentosa. chloroplast genome had a GC content of 38.23%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete chloroplast genomes showed that C. tomentosa had a close relationship with Kalanchoe tomentosa, Bryophyllum daigremontianum and Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi.

Rapid, sensitive and label-free detection of pathogenic bacteria using a bacteria-imprinted conducting polymer film-based electrochemical sensor.

The rapid and sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria is very important for timely prevention and treatment of foodborne disease. Here, a bacteria-imprinted conductive poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid) (BICP) film-based impedimetric sensor was developed for the rapid, sensitive and label-free detection of staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The BICP film preparation was very convenient and eco-friendly, which was in situ deposited on gold electrode surface without the use of toxic organic solvents and cross-linkers. The process of imprinting and recognition were characterized by electrochemical technique and scanning electron microscope. The BICP had a novel structure without cocci-shaped cavities formed in the poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid) (PTAA) matrices. To obtain the optimal sensing performance, a set of factors affecting the imprinting and recognition were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, an extremely rapid recognition within 10 min, a very low limit of detection (LOD) of 2 CFU/mL, and wide linear range from 10 to 108 CFU/mL were achieved by the BICP film-based impedimetric sensor. The sensor also demonstrated high selectivity, and good universality and repeatability. Furthermore, the feasibility of its application has also been demonstrated in the analysis of real milk samples. This sensor offered a simple and universal method for rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of pathogenic bacteria, which could hold great potentials in fields like food safety.

The complete chloroplast genome of Thalictrum baicalense Turcz. ex Ledeb.

Thalictrum baicalense Turcz. ex Ledeb. is a well-known herbaceous perennid that has been used as a traditional medicine to treat influenza, hepatitis, and detoxfeaction. In this study, we release and detail the complete chloroplast genome sequences of T. baicalense. The whole chloroplast genome was 155,859 bp in length and comprised 130 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes. The T. baicalense chloroplast genome had a GC content of 38.39%. The phylogenetic relationships inferred that T. baicalense, T. tenue, T. minus and T. petaloideum are closely related to each other within the genus Thalictrum.

A Decomposition-Based Evolutionary Algorithm with Correlative Selection Mechanism for Many-Objective Optimization.

Decomposition-based evolutionary algorithms have been quite successful in dealing with multiobjective optimization problems. Recently, more and more researchers attempt to apply the decomposition approach to solve many-objective optimization problems. A many-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition with correlative selection mechanism (MOEA/D-CSM) is also proposed to solve many-objective optimization problems in this article. Since MOEA/D-SCM is based on a decomposition approach which adopts penalty boundary intersection (PBI), a set of reference points must be generated in advance. Thus, a new concept related to the set of reference points is introduced first, namely, the correlation between an individual and a reference point. Thereafter, a new selection mechanism based on the correlation is designed and called correlative selection mechanism. The correlative selection mechanism finds its correlative individuals for each reference point as soon as possible so that the diversity among population members is maintained. However, when a reference point has two or more correlative individuals, the worse correlative individuals may be removed from a population so that the solutions can be ensured to move toward the Pareto-optimal front. In a comprehensive experimental study, we apply MOEA/D-CSM to a number of many-objective test problems with 3 to 15 objectives and make a comparison with three state-of-the-art many-objective evolutionary algorithms, namely, NSGA-III, MOEA/D, and RVEA. Experimental results show that the proposed MOEA/D-CSM can produce competitive results on most of the problems considered in this study.

[Extraction technology, composition analysis and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of volatile oil from fenugreek leaves].

To define the extraction process, main components and antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of volatile oil from fenugreek(Trigonella foenum-graecum) leaves and its active substance basis. Response surface methodology was used for optimum supercritical CO_2 extraction conditions of essential oil from fenugreek leaves. The main components of volatile oil were analyzed by GC-MS, its antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the scavenging ability of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and 2, 2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, ABTS) free radical, and the antimicrobial effect of volatile oil was evaluated by K-B paper AGAR diffusion method. The results showed that the optimal extraction temperature was 50 ℃, the extraction time was 89 min, and the extraction pressure was 35 MPa. Under the conditions, the optimum extracting yield of volatile oil was 1.72%,which was about 1.5 times higher than that of the conventional steam distillation. A total of 52 compounds were found based on reference substance retention time and GC-MS fragmentation information or the existing literatures, and the major compounds were oleic acid(9.65%), carveol(9.41%), n-hexadecanoic acid(9.1%), linoleic acid(6.95%), methyl linolenate(5.4%), petroselinic acid(5.3%), testosterone(3.4%), sotolon(1.75%). The volatile oil of fenugreek showed moderate antioxidant activities in DPPH assay(IC_(50) value of 0.473 mg·mL~(-1)) and ABTS test(IC_(50) value of 0.107 mg·mL~(-1)). The oil had a stronger antimicrobial activity in vitro. MIC of the volatile oil ranged from 0.375 to 1.5 mg·mL~(-1). The results showed that the optimized volatile oil extraction process was stable, and the extraction yield was high. Fenugreek leaves contained a variety of volatile components, with obvious antioxidant and antibacterial activities. This study provides a certain theoretical basis for the comprehensive development and utilization of fenugreek.

DNAzyme-Functionalized R-Phycoerythrin as a Cost-Effective and Environment-Friendly Fluorescent Biosensor for Aqueous Pb2+ Detection.

The sensitive detection of Pb2+ is of significant importance for food safety, environmental monitoring, and human health care. To this end, a novel fluorescent biosensor, DNAzyme-functionalized R-phycoerythrin (DNAzyme-R-PE), was presented for Pb2+ analysis. The biosensor was prepared via the immobilization of Iowa Black® FQ-modified DNAzyme-substrate complex onto the surface of SPDP-functionalized R-PE. The biosensor produced a minimal fluorescence signal in the absence of Pb2+. However, Pb2+ recognition can induce the cleavage of substrate, resulting in a fluorescence restoration of R-PE. The fluorescence changes were used to measure sensitively Pb2+ and the limit of detection was 0.16 nM with a linear range from 0.5-75 nM. Furthermore, the proposed biosensor showed excellent selectivity towards Pb2+ even in the presence of other metal ions interferences and was demonstrated to successfully determine Pb2+ in spiked lake water samples.

Facile Preparation of a Bacteria Imprinted Artificial Receptor for Highly Selective Bacterial Recognition and Label-Free Impedimetric Detection.

The effective identification and quantification of pathogenic bacteria is essential for addressing serious public health issues. Here, we demonstrate a simple and universal impedimetric sensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria based on the recognition by a bacteria-imprinted polypyrrole (BIP) film. The BIP film was facilely prepared via one-step electro-polymerization followed by in situ removal of the bacterial template. The film structure is novel with noncavity-like imprinted sites situated at the surface of the polypyrrole (PPy) matrix, which are more accessible for the target bacteria and should enhance the mass transfer and the binding kinetics. A limit of quantitation low to 103 CFU/mL was achieved within 1 h for the detection of E. coli O157:H7, which is comparable to the antibody-based assays. Moreover, the sensor displayed remarkable selectivity, especially regarding the specific identification of bacterial serotypes. When employed to analyze E. coli O157:H7 in real drinking water, apple juice, and milk samples, the sensor showed recoveries from 96.0% to 107.9% with relative standard derivations (RSDs) less than 4%. The BIP-based sensing strategy provides a universal approach for specific, selective, and rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria. As compared to conventional biosensors based on biomolecular recognition, this sensor shows clear advantages including easy-of-preparation, robustness, and low cost, which may hold great potential in fields of food/public safety monitoring.

Screening diagnostic biomarkers of OSCC via an LCM-based proteomic approach.

The current standard for the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is based on the histologic examination of hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections; however, the discrimination among normal tissue, pre­cancerous lesions and cancerous lesions can be difficult. The aim of the present study was to identify proteins with diagnostic significance in differentiating or predicting oral mucosal carcinogenesis. Proteomic profiling based on the laser capture microdissection of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples was performed, followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to evaluate the results. IHC of cytokeratins (CKs) was performed in neck dissection treatment cases. The accuracy rate and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the value of CKs as biomarkers of OSCC. A lymph node metastasis mouse model was used to validate the selected biomarkers. Among the proteins identified using LC/MS, several CKs exhibited significant differential expression patterns between the cancerous and para-cancerous tissues. The IHC results showed that negative staining of CK4 and CK10/13 distinguished cancerous from para-cancerous tissues with an accuracy of 90% (95% CI, 0.68-0.99) and 75% (95% CI, 0.51-0.91), respectively. Furthermore, the positive staining of CK14 and CK17 clearly distinguished cancerous from para-cancerous lesions with an accuracy of 100% (95% CI, 83-100%) and 90% (95% CI, 0.68-0.99), respectively. There was also CK14-positive staining in micro-metastases of lymph nodes in the clinical samples and in an animal model.

Structural dependence of the photocatalytic properties of double perovskite compounds A2InTaO6 (A = Sr or Ba) doped with nickel.

The crystal structure of photocatalysts generally plays a pivotal role in controlling their electronic structure as well as catalytic performance. In this work, a series of double perovskite compounds A2InTaO6 (A = Sr or Ba) and their Ni doped counterparts were investigated with the aim of understanding how doping and structural modification will affect their photocatalytic activity. Our results show that Ni doping is effective in improving the optical absorption of these wide band gap semiconductors and accommodating the Sr cation in the A sites leads to severe structural distortion, i.e. the In(Ni)-O-Ta bond angle deviates largely from 180°. A better photocatalytic performance was observed for samples with Ni doping and Ba in the A sites. The best photocatalytic hydrogen production rate recorded was ∼293.6 µmol h(-1) for Ba2In0.9Ni0.1TaO6 under full range irradiation, corresponding to an apparent quantum efficiency of 2.75%. DFT calculations reveal the role of Ni doping by forming additional spin-polarized bands inside the intrinsic band gap of the native perovskite. The better photocatalytic activity of Ba2In0.9Ni0.1TaO6 can then be understood as a result of a reduced band gap as well as a linear In(Ni)-O-Ta bond arrangement that is favorable for the strong metal-oxygen-metal interactions.