Carboxymethylated Rhizoma alismatis polysaccharides reduces the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation by reducing cellular inflammation and oxidative stress.

This study aims to elucidate the mechanism and potential of Rhizoma alismatis polysaccharides (RAPs) in preventing oxidative damage to human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells. The experimental approach involved incubating HK-2 cells with 100 nm calcium oxalate monohydrate for 24 h to establish a cellular injury model. Protection was provided by RAPs with varying carboxyl group contents: 3.57%, 7.79%, 10.84%, and 15.33%. The safeguarding effect of RAPs was evaluated by analyzing relevant cellular biochemical indicators. Findings demonstrate that RAPs exhibit notable antioxidative properties. They effectively diminish the release of reactive oxygen species, lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde, a lipid oxidation byproduct. Moreover, RAPs enhance superoxide dismutase activity and mitochondrial membrane potential while attenuating the permeability of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Additionally, RAPs significantly reduce levels of inflammatory factors, including NLRP3, TNF-α, IL-6, and NO. This reduction corresponds to the inhibition of overproduced pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide and the caspase 3 enzyme, leading to a reduction in cellular apoptosis. RAPs also display the ability to suppress the expression of the HK-2 cell surface adhesion molecule CD44. The observed results collectively underscore the substantial anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic potential of all four RAPs. Moreover, their capacity to modulate the expression of cell surface adhesion molecules highlights their potential in inhibiting the formation of kidney stones. Notably, RAP3, boasting the highest carboxyl group content, emerges as the most potent agent in this regard.

Fabrication of 100-nm-period domain structure in lithium niobate on insulator.

Lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) is a powerful platform for integrated photonic circuits. Recently, advanced applications in nonlinear and quantum optics require to controllably fabricate nano-resolution domain structures in LNOI. Here, we report on the fabrication of stable domain structures with sub-100 nm feature size through piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM) tip poling in a z-cut LNOI. In experiment, the domain dot with an initial diameter of 80 nm and the domain line with an initial width of 50 nm can survive after a storage of more than 3 months. Particularly, we demonstrate the successful fabrication of 1D stable domain array with a period down to 100 nm and a duty cycle of ∼50%. Our method paves the way to precisely manipulate frequency conversion and quantum entanglement on an LNOI chip.

Femtosecond-laser-assisted high-aspect-ratio nanolithography in lithium niobate.

We report the successful fabrication of high-aspect-ratio lithium niobate (LN) nanostructures by using femtosecond-laser-assisted chemical etching. In this technique, a 1 kHz femtosecond laser is first used to induce local modifications inside the LN crystal. Then, selective chemical wet etching is conducted using a buffered oxide etch (BOE) solution. The etching rate in the laser-modified area reaches 2 µm h-1, which is enhanced by a factor of ∼660 in comparison to previous reports without laser irradiation. Such high selectivity in chemical etching helps realize high-performance maskless nanolithography in lithium niobate. In the experiment, we have fabricated high-quality LN nanohole arrays. The nanohole size reaches ∼100 nm and its aspect ratio is above 40 : 1. The minimal period of the LN hole array is 300 nm. Our work paves a way to fabricate LN nano-integrated devices for advanced optic and electronic applications.

Laser nanoprinting of 3D nonlinear holograms beyond 25000 pixels-per-inch for inter-wavelength-band information processing.

Nonlinear optics provides a means to bridge between different electromagnetic frequencies, enabling communication between visible, infrared, and terahertz bands through χ(2) and higher-order nonlinear optical processes. However, precisely modulating nonlinear optical waves in 3D space remains a significant challenge, severely limiting the ability to directly manipulate optical information across different wavelength bands. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a three-dimensional (3D) χ(2)-super-pixel hologram with nanometer resolution in lithium niobate crystals, capable of performing advanced processing tasks. In our design, each pixel consists of properly arranged nanodomain structures capable of completely and dynamically manipulating the complex-amplitude of nonlinear waves. Fabricated by femtosecond laser writing, the nonlinear hologram features a pixel diameter of 500 nm and a pixel density of approximately 25000 pixels-per-inch (PPI), reaching far beyond the state of the art. In our experiments, we successfully demonstrate the novel functions of the hologram to process near-infrared (NIR) information at visible wavelengths, including dynamic 3D nonlinear holographic imaging and frequency-up-converted image recognition. Our scheme provides a promising nano-optic platform for high-capacity optical storage and multi-functional information processing across different wavelength ranges.

New Evolutionary Insights into RpoA: A Novel Quorum Sensing Reprograming Factor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Quorum-sensing (QS) coordinates the expression of virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen known for causing severe infections in immunocompromised patients. QS has a master regulator, the lasR gene, but in clinical settings, P. aeruginosa isolates have been found that are QS-active but LasR-null. In this study, we developed an experimental evolutionary approach to identify additional QS-reprogramming determinants. We began the study with a LasR-null mutant with an extra copy of mexT, a transcriptional regulator gene that is known to be able to reprogram QS in laboratory LasR-null strains. In this strain, spontaneous single mexT mutations are expected to have no or little phenotypic consequences. Using this novel method, which we have named "targeted gene duplication followed by mutant screening", we identified QS-active revertants with mutations in genes other than mexT. One QS-active revertant had a point mutation in rpoA, a gene encoding the α-subunit of RNA polymerase. QS activation in this mutant was found to be associated with the downregulated expression of mexEF-oprN efflux pump genes. Our study therefore uncovers a new functional role for RpoA in regulating QS activity. Our results indicate that a RpoA-dependent regulatory circuit controlling the expression of the mexEF-oprN operon is critical for QS-reprogramming. In conclusion, our study reports on the identification of non-MexT proteins associated with QS-reprogramming in a laboratory strain, shedding light on possible QS activation mechanisms in clinical P. aeruginosa isolates.

Carboxymethylated Rhizoma alismatis Polysaccharides Regulate Calcium Oxalate Crystals Growth and Reduce the Regulated Crystals' Cytotoxicity.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the effects of polysaccharides (RAPD) extracted from the traditional anti-stone Chinese medicine Rhizoma alismatis and their carboxymethylated derivatives (RAPs) on the crystal phase, morphology, and size of calcium oxalate (CaOx). It also determined the damaging ability of the regulated crystals on human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2). METHODS: RAPD carboxymethylation with a carboxyl group (-COOH) content of 3.57% was carried out by the chloroacetic acid solvent method. The effects of -COOH content in RAPs and RAP concentration on the regulation of CaOx crystal growth were studied by controlling the variables. Cell experiments were conducted to explore the differences in the cytotoxicity of RAP-regulated crystals. RESULTS: The -COOH contents of RAPD, RAP1, RAP2, and RAP3 were 3.57%, 7.79%, 10.84%, and 15.33%, respectively. RAPs can inhibit the growth of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) and induce the formation of calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD). When the -COOH content in RAPs was high, their ability to induce COD formation was enhanced. In the crystals induced by RAPs, a high COD content can lower the damage to cells. In particular, the cytotoxicity of the crystals induced by RAP3 was the lowest. When the concentration of RAP3 increased, the cytotoxicity gradually increased due to the reduced size of the formed COD crystals. An interaction was observed between RAPs and crystals, and the number of RAPs adsorbed in the crystals was positively correlated with the -COOH content in RAPs. CONCLUSIONS: RAPs can reduce the damage of CaOx to HK-2 cells by regulating the crystallization of CaOx crystals and effectively reducing the risk of kidney stone formation. RAPs, especially RAP3 with a high carboxyl group content, has the potential to be developed as a novel green anti-stone drug.

Modeling Mathematical Relationship with Weight Loss and Texture on Table Grapes of 'Red Globe' and 'Wink' during Cold and Ambient Temperature Storage.

Weight loss associated with fruit texture during storage has received numerous reports; however, no research has been conducted on the mathematical relationships between weight loss and textural traits of table grapes stored at cold and ambient temperatures. In this study, it was found that the weight loss of 'Red Globe' was in the range of 0 to 0.0487, 0 to 0.0284 and 0 to 0.0199 compared to 0 to 0.0661, 0 to 0.0301 and 0 to 0.028 of 'Wink' at 13 °C, 3 °C, and 0 °C of storage for 13 days. Stored for 13 days at 13 °C, 3 °C, and 0 °C, the range of the textural traits of failure force, strain and penetration work in 'Red Globe' were 6.274 to 3.765, 6.441 to 3.867, 6.321 to 4.014; 51.931 to 11.114, 51.876 to 13.002, 51.576 to 20.892; 21.524 to 13.225, 21.432 to 14.234, 21.321 to 15.198 in contrast to in 'Wink' of 4.4202 to 2.2292, 4.4197 to 2.653, 4.4371 to 2.8199 and 15.674 to 2.7881, 15.776 to 4.1431, 15.704 to 5.702 and 12.922 to 7.754, 12.909 to 8.021, 12.915 to 8.407. Meanwhile, the weight loss and textural traits of two table grapes were examined using time-dependent and weight loss-dependent modeling at 13 °C, 3 °C, and 0 °C of storage. The Logistic, ExpDec1, and ExpDec2 models, as well as the Boltzmann model, were identified as the best fit for the obtained data. The equations proved to be more effective in characterizing the change in weight loss and texture of 'Red Globe' and 'Wink,' with the best equations suited to the weight loss and textural parameters having an average mean standard error of 2.89%. The viability of the established models was evaluated, and parametric confidence intervals of the equations were proposed to fit different grape cultivars. According to the findings, the weight loss and texture of the two grape cultivars could be accurately predicted by the established models; additionally, the results showed that cold storage is better for the quality of table grapes and that weight loss can predict the textural quality of table grapes. This study provides a theoretical framework for optimum storage temperature together with a significantly convenient and quick approach to measure the texture of grapes for fruit dealers and enterprises.

A subpopulation of CD146+ macrophages enhances antitumor immunity by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome.

As one of the main tumor-infiltrating immune cell types, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) determine the efficacy of immunotherapy. However, limited knowledge about their phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous nature restricts their application in tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we identified a subpopulation of CD146+ TAMs that exerted antitumor activity in both human samples and animal models. CD146 expression in TAMs was negatively controlled by STAT3 signaling. Reducing this population of TAMs promoted tumor development by facilitating myeloid-derived suppressor cell recruitment via activation of JNK signaling. Interestingly, CD146 was involved in the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated activation of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment, partially by inhibiting transmembrane protein 176B (TMEM176B), an immunoregulatory cation channel. Treatment with a TMEM176B inhibitor enhanced the antitumor activity of CD146+ TAMs. These data reveal a crucial antitumor role of CD146+ TAMs and highlight the promising immunotherapeutic approach of inhibiting CD146 and TMEM176B.

Effect of remimazolam tosilate on the incidence of hypoxemia in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy: A bi-center, prospective, randomized controlled study.

Background: Remimazolam tosilate is a new ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedative medicine. In this study, we evaluated the effect of remimazolam tosilate on the incidence of hypoxemia during sedation in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods: Patients in the remimazolam group received an initial dose of 0.1 mg/kg and a bolus dose of 2.5 mg of remimazolam tosilate, whereas patients in the propofol group received an initial dose of 1.5 mg/kg and a bolus dose of 0.5 mg/kg of propofol. Patients received ASA standard monitoring (heart-rate, non-invasive blood pressure, and pulse oxygen saturation) during the entire examination process. The primary outcome was the incidence of moderate hypoxemia (defined as 85%≤ SpO2< 90%, >15s) during the gastrointestinal endoscopy. The secondary outcomes included the incidence of mild hypoxemia (defined as SpO2 90%-94%) and severe hypoxemia (defined as SpO2< 85%, >15s), the lowest pulse oxygen saturation, airway maneuvers used to correct hypoxemia, patient's hemodynamic as well as other adverse events. Results: 107 elderly patients (67.6 ± 5.7 years old) in the remimazolam group and 109 elderly patients (67.5 ± 4.9 years old) in the propofol group were analyzed. The incidence of moderate hypoxemia was 2.8% in the remimazolam group and 17.4% in the propofol group (relative risk [RR] = 0.161; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.049 to 0.528; p < 0.001). The frequency of mild hypoxemia was less in the remimazolam group, but not statistically significant (9.3% vs. 14.7%; RR = 0.637; 95% CI, 0.303 to 1.339; p = 0.228). There was no significant difference in the incidence of severe hypoxemia between the two groups (4.7% vs. 5.5%; RR = 0.849; 95% CI, 0.267 to 2.698; p = 0.781). The median lowest SpO2 during the examination was 98% (IQR, 96.0%-99.0%) in patients in the remimazolam group, which was significantly higher than in patients in the propofol group (96%, IQR, 92.0%-99.0%, p < 0.001). Patients in the remimazolam group received more drug supplementation during endoscopy than patients in the propofol group (p = 0.014). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of hypotension between the two groups (2.8% vs. 12.8%; RR = 0.218; 95% CI, 0.065 to 0.738; p = 0.006). No significant differences were found in the incidence of adverse events such as nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and prolonged sedation. Conclusion: This study explored the safety of remimazolam compared with propofol during gastrointestinal endoscopy in elderly patients. Despite the increased supplemental doses during sedation, remimazolam improved risk of moderate hypoxemia (i.e., 85%≤ SpO2 < 90%) and hypotension in elderly patients.

Improved probe detection sensitivity by flexible tandem biotin labeling.

We develop a biotin-based tandem labeling approach to improve detection sensitivity of DNA probe. Through DNA polymerase-mediated overhand filling, the 3'end of DNA probe was tandemly labeled with biotin molecules. The intensity of biotin signals could be flexibly manipulated by controlling the introduced length of poly(A) in the 5' overhang.

The tissue factor expression on CD14++CD16-monocytes is a new markers in the Chinese Han older adult population with sepsis: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the tissue factor (TF) expression on different subsets of monocyte and tissue factor secretion of peripheral blood and evaluate their association with the prognosis of sepsis in the Chinese older adult population. METHODS: Monocyte subsets and TF expression on different subsets of monocyte were measured using flow cytometry in 80 older adult sepsis patients and 40 age and sex matched healthy controls. Plasma level of TF was measured using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method. RESULTS: TF expression on CD14++CD16- (MO1) monocyte was lower in death (28-day non-survivor) group compared with survival (28-day survivor) groups [1.01 % (0.58 %, 1.62 %) vs. 3.66 % (1.32 %, 6.93 %), p = 0.001]. The plasma level of TF was increased in death group compared to survival group according to the 28-day mortality [109.2 (67.3, 154.2) vs. 62.1 (44.7, 115.5) pg/mL, p = 0.031]. Logistic regression analysis showed TF expression on MO1 monocyte (ß = -0.776, OR = 0.460, CI: 0.251, 0.843, p = 0.012) was independently associated with the 28-day mortality. The ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve showed that the AUC (area under the curve) of the TF expression on MO1 monocyte for predicting 28-day mortality was 0.846 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The TF expression on CD14++CD16- monocyte is a new marker for the prognosis of older adult sepsis.

Extracellular vesicles in the treatment of oxidative stress injury: global research status and trends.

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the literature on "Extracellular Vesicles in the Treatment of Oxidative Stress Injury" and to reveal its current status, hot spots and trends. Methods: The relevant literature was obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) on 29 April 2023. We performed clustering and partnership analysis of authors, institutions, countries, references and keywords in the literature through CiteSpace software and the bibliometric online analysis platform and mapped the relevant knowledge maps. Results: A total of 1,321 relevant publications were included in the bibliometric analysis, with the number of publications in this field increasing year by year. These included 944 "articles" and 377 "reviews". The maximum number of publications published in China is 512, and the maximum number of highly cited publications published in the United States is 20. Based on CiteSpace, the country collaboration network map shows close and stable collaboration among high-productivity countries. Based on WoSCC, there are 1706 relevant research institutions and 119 highly cited elite institutions, among which Kaohsing Chang Gung Men Hosp has the most extensive influence. Studies related to "Extracellular Vesicles in the Treatment of Oxidative Stress Injury" have been published in 548 journals. The keywords of the publications show the main research areas and breakthroughs. Based on WoSCC, the keywords of the research area "Extracellular Vesicles in the Treatment of Oxidative Stress Injury" were found to be as follows: exosome(s), extracellular vesicle(s), oxidative stress, inflammation, mesenchymal stem cells, apoptosis, microRNA (miRNA), mitochondria, biomarker, autophagy, angiogenesis and Alzheimer's disease. Analysis showed that "mesenchymal stem cells", "microRNA", "autophagy", "histology" and "therapeutic" emerged as highly explosive keywords. Conclusion: This study is the first to use visual software and data mining to assess the literature in the field of "Extracellular Vesicles in the Treatment of Oxidative Stress Injury". The research history, research status and direction in this field provide a theoretical basis for its scientific research.

Potentially Useful Dwarfing or Semi-dwarfing Genes in Rice Breeding in Addition to the sd1 Gene.

The "Green revolution" gene sd1 has been used widely in the breeding of modern rice varieties for over half a century. The application of this gene has increased rice yields and thereby supported a significant proportion of the global population. The use of a single gene, however, has raised concerns in the scientific community regarding its durability, especially given the bottleneck in genetic background and the need for large input of fertilizer. New dwarfing or semi-dwarfing genes are needed to alleviate our dependence on the sole "Green revolution" gene. In the past few years, several new dwarfing and semi-dwarfing genes as well as their mutants have been reported. Here, we provide an extensive review of the recent discoveries concerning newly identified genes that are potentially useful in rice breeding, including methods employed to create and effectively screen new rice mutants, the phenotypic characteristics of the new dwarfing and semi-dwarfing mutants, potential values of the new dwarfing and semi-dwarfing genes in rice breeding, and potential molecular mechanisms associated with the newly identified genes.

Coordination Polymers Constructed from an Adaptable Pyridine-Dicarboxylic Acid Linker: Assembly, Diversity of Structures, and Catalysis.

4,4'-(Pyridine-3,5-diyl)dibenzoic acid (H2pdba) was explored as an adaptable linker for assembling a diversity of new manganese(II), cobalt(II/III), nickel(II), and copper(II) coordination polymers (CPs): [Mn(µ4-pdba)(H2O)]n (1), {[M(µ3-pdba)(phen)]·2H2O}n (M = Co (2), Ni (3)), {[Cu2(µ3-pdba)2(bipy)]·2H2O}n (4), {[Co(µ3-pdba)(bipy)]·2H2O}n (5), [Co2(µ3-pdba)(µ-Hbiim)2(Hbiim)]n (6), and [M(µ4-pdba)(py)]n (M = Co (7), Ni (8)). The CPs were hydrothermally synthesized using metal(II) chloride precursors, H2pdba, and different coligands functioning as crystallization mediators (phen: 1,10-phenanthroline; bipy: 2,2'-bipyridine, H2biim: 2,2'-biimidazole; py: pyridine). Structural networks of 1-8 range from two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic layers (1-3, 5-8) to three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic framework (MOF) (4) and disclose several types of topologies: sql (in 1), hcb (in 2, 3, 5), tfk (in 4), 3,5L66 (in 6), and SP 2-periodic net (6,3)Ia (in 7, 8). Apart from the characterization by standard methods, catalytic potential of the obtained CPs was also screened in the Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde with propanedinitrile to give 2-benzylidenemalononitrile (model reaction). Several reaction parameters were optimized, and the substrate scope was explored, revealing the best catalytic performance for a 3D MOF 4. This catalyst is recyclable and can lead to substituted dinitrile products in up to 99% product yields. The present study widens the use of H2pdba as a still poorly studied linker toward designing novel functional coordination polymers.

Identification of Novel Hypoxia Subtypes for Prognosis Based on Machine Learning Algorithms.

Objective: A reduced level or tension or the deprivation of oxygen is termed hypoxia. It is common for tumours to outgrow their natural source of nutrients, which causes hypoxia in some tumour regions. Hypoxia affects ovarian cancer (OC) in several ways. Methods: In this study, the expression patterns of prognostic hypoxia-related genes were curated, and consensus clustering analyses were performed to determine hypoxia subtypes in OC included in The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort. Two hypoxia-related subtypes were observed and considered for further investigation. The analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), gene ontology, mutation, and immune cell infraction were performed to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Results: In total, 377 patients with OC were classified into two subgroups based on the subtype of hypoxia. The clinical outcome was considerably poor for patients with hypoxia subtype 2. DEG and protein-protein interaction analyses revealed that the expression levels of CLIP2 and SH3PXD2A were low in OC tissues. Immune cell infarction analysis revealed that the subtypes were associated with the tumour microenvironment (TME). Conclusion: Our findings established the existence of two distinctive, complex, and varied hypoxia subtypes in OC. Findings from the quantitative analysis of hypoxia subtypes in patients improved our understanding of the characteristics of the TME and may facilitate the development of more efficient treatment regimens.

Effect of hearing loss on cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: A prospective, randomized, and controlled study.

Background: Hearing loss (HL) may increase the risk of cognitive decline in the elderly. However, the randomized controlled study on the effect of HL on cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is very limited. Methods: From 1 November 2020 to 30 March 2022, 1,987 individuals aged 55-65 years were randomly divided into the MCI with hearing impairment (MCI-HI), MCI without HI (MCI-nHI), and no MCI (nMCI) groups by stratified sampling, with 30 participants in each group. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the pure tone audiometry (PTA), and the auditory brainstem response (ABR) were measured at baseline and a follow-up 12 months later. The trial protocol was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov with the registration number NCT05336942. Results: Among the 90 participants, the average age was 60.41 ± 6.48 years. In the MCI-HI group at baseline, the PTA score of both the ears was negatively correlated with the naming and memory score (p < 0.05), and the PTA score of both the ears was negatively correlated with the MoCA and abstraction score at the 12-month follow-up (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences among the PTA, the ABR, the MMSE, and the MoCA scores in the MCI-nHI and nMCI groups (p > 0.05). Regression analysis showed that the PTA score of the right ear at baseline was an important factor associated with the MoCA, visuospatial/executive, naming, and abstraction scores at the 12-month follow-up (ß = -0.776 to -0.422, p < 0.05). Conclusion: HL was significantly negatively associated with cognitive function only in patients with MCI with hearing impairment (HI), and the PTA of the right ear may be a predictor of cognitive decline after 1 year in patients with MCI with HI. This information may help primary healthcare clinicians to prevent MCI by screening and intervening in care for elderly patients with HL.

Interaction between nanometer calcium oxalate and renal epithelial cells repaired with carboxymethylated polysaccharides.

OBJECTIVE: Injury of renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) is an important cause of kidney stone formation. In this article, the repairing effect of polysaccharide (PCP0) extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Poria cocos and its carboxymethylated derivatives on damaged HK-2 cells was studied, and the differences in adhesion and endocytosis of the cells to nanometer calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) before and after repair were explored. METHODS: Sodium oxalate (2.8 mmol/L) was used to damage HK-2 cells to establish a damage model, and then Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCPs) with different carboxyl (COOH) contents were used to repair the damaged cells. The changes in the biochemical indicators of the cells before and after the repair and the changes in the ability to adhere to and internalize nano-COM were detected. RESULTS: The natural PCPs (PCP0, COOH content = 2.56%) were carboxymethylated, and three carboxylated modified Poria cocos with 7.48% (PCP1), 12.07% (PCP2), and 17.18% (PCP3) COOH contents were obtained. PCPs could repair the damaged HK-2 cells, and the cell viability was enhanced after repair. The cell morphology was gradually repaired, the proliferation and healing rate were increased. The ROS production was reduced, and the polarity of the mitochondrial membrane potential was restored. The level of intracellular Ca2+ ions decreased, and the autophagy response was weakened. CONCLUSION: The cells repaired by PCPs inhibited the adhesion to nano-COM and simultaneously promoted the endocytosis of nano-COM. The endocytic crystals mainly accumulated in the lysosome. Inhibiting adhesion and increasing endocytosis could reduce the nucleation, growth, and aggregation of cell surface crystals, thereby inhibiting the formation of kidney stones. With the increase of COOH content in PCPs, its ability to repair damaged cells, inhibit crystal adhesion, and promote crystal endocytosis all increased, that is, PCP3 with the highest COOH content showed the best ability to inhibit stone formation.

Coordination Polymers from Biphenyl-Dicarboxylate Linkers: Synthesis, Structural Diversity, Interpenetration, and Catalytic Properties.

The present work explores two biphenyl-dicarboxylate linkers, 3,3'-dihydroxy-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-dicarboxylic (H4L1) and 4,4'-dihydroxy-(1,1'-biphenyl)-3,3'-dicarboxylic (H4L2) acids, in hydrothermal generation of nine new compounds formulated as [Co2(µ2-H2L1)2(phen)2(H2O)4] (1), [Mn2(µ4-H2L1)2(phen)2]n·4nH2O (2), [Zn(µ2-H2L1)(2,2'-bipy)(H2O)]n (3), [Cd(µ2-H2L1) (2,2'-bipy)(H2O)]n (4), [Mn2(µ2-H2L1)(µ4-H2L1)(µ2-4,4'-bipy)2]n·4nH2O (5), [Zn(µ2-H2L1)(µ2-4,4'-bipy)]n (6), [Zn(µ2-H2L2)(phen)]n (7), [Cd(µ3-H2L2)(phen)]n (8), and [Cu(µ2-H2L2) (µ2-4,4'-bipy)(H2O)]n (9). These coordination polymers (CPs) were generated by reacting a metal(II) chloride, a H4L1 or H4L2 linker, and a crystallization mediator such as 2,2'-bipy (2,2'-bipyridine), 4,4'-bipy (4,4'-bipyridine), or phen (1,10-phenanthroline). The structural types of 1-9 range from molecular dimers (1) to one-dimensional (3, 4, 7) and two-dimensional (8, 9) CPs as well as three-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (2, 5, 6). Their structural, topological, and interpenetration features were underlined, including an identification of unique two- and fivefold 3D + 3D interpenetrated nets in 5 and 6. Phase purity, thermal and luminescence behavior, as well as catalytic activity of the synthesized products were investigated. Particularly, a Zn(II)-based CP 3 acts as an effective and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for Henry reaction between a model substrate (4-nitrobenzaldehyde) and nitroethane to give ß-nitro alcohol products. For this reaction, various parameters were optimized, followed by the investigation of the substrate scope. By reporting nine new compounds and their structural traits and functional properties, the present work further outspreads a family of CPs constructed from the biphenyl-dicarboxylate H4L1 and H4L2 linkers.

College Students' Learning Performance, Teaching Skills, and Teaching Innovation in Intercultural Communication Class: Evidence Based on Experiential Learning Theory.

In China, the improvement of the learner performance is critical a challenge for the teaching staff and the management in intercultural communication class. Indeed, the administration of the Chinese schools is failed to provide effective learning to the students with innovative methods. The objective of this study was to identify the role of college students' learning performance, teaching skills, and teaching innovation in intercultural communication class. This study is based on the quantitative data collected on a five-point Likert scale from the target respondents who were the students of different colleges and 700 questionnaires distributed for it. The study concludes that there is a significant relationship among abstract conceptualization, active participation, and reflective observation in students' learning performance. Furthermore, this study highlights that the mediating role of teaching innovation is critical for students' learning performance. This study contributes to the literature with a significant theoretical framework. Finally, this study provides significant theoretical implications and practical implications which are key game-changers for improving the performance of the students in the intercultural communication class.

Bicyclol alleviates high-fat diet-induced hepatic ER stress- and autophagy-associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a manifestation of the metabolic syndrome in the liver, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represents its advanced stage. Bicyclol has protective activity against NAFLD in mice; however, the effect of bicyclol on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NASH and its underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown particularly anti-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagic machinery potentials. Therefore, the present study was performed to investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of bicyclol action on NAFLD/NASH. METHODS: Mice were fed an HFD to induce NAFLD/NASH, and bicyclol was administered as a treatment. Biochemistry and histopathological assays were performed to evaluate the effects of bicyclol on NAFLD/NASH. Moreover, the levels of hepatic ER stress- and autophagy-related markers were determined by western blotting. RESULTS: The present results revealed that bicyclol exerted significant protective effects against HFD-induced NAFLD/NASH. This activity was evidenced by the decrease in elevated serum transaminase and hepatic triglyceride levels, and the attenuation of negative histopathological changes. Bicyclol considerably alleviated hepatic inflammation and apoptosis. The protein expression of ER stress-related markers, including C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), was downregulated by the bicyclol treatment in HFD-induced mice. However, the protein expression of autophagy-related markers (LC3 and Beclin 1) was upregulated by the treatment with bicyclol. CONCLUSION: Bicyclol protected HFD-induced NASH, and partly due to its ability of reducing ER stress and promoting autophagy.