Therapeutic effect of mitochondrial transplantation on burn injury.

As mitochondrial damage or dysfunction is commonly observed following burn injuries, we investigated whether mitochondrial transplantation (MT) can result in therapeutic benefits in the treatment of burns. Human immortalized epidermal cells (HaCaT) and Kunming mice were used to establish a heat-injured cell model and a deep partial-thickness skin burn animal model, respectively. The cell model was established by exposing HaCaT cells to 45 or 50 °C for 10 min, after which cell proliferation was assayed using fluorescent double-staining and colony formation assays, cell migration was assessed using colloidal gold migration and scratch assays, and cell cycle progression and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. Histopathological staining, immunohistochemistry, nick-end labeling analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to evaluate the effects of MT on inflammation, tissue recovery, apoptosis, and scar growth in a mouse model. The therapeutic effects were observed in the heat-injured HaCaT cell model. MT promoted cell viability, colony formation, proliferation, and migration; decreased G1 phase; promoted cell division; and decreased apoptosis. Wound-healing promotion, anti-inflammation (decreased mast cell aggregation, down-regulated of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and up-regulated IL-10), acceleration of proliferation recovery (up-regulated CD34 and VEGF), apoptosis reduction, and scar formation reduction (decreased collagen I/III ratio and TGF-ß1) were observed in the MT mouse model. The MT mode of action was, however, not investigated in this study. In conclusion, our data indicate that MT exerts a therapeutic effect on burn injuries both in vitro and in vivo.

Transcriptomic analysis of the longissimus thoracis muscle in pigs has identified molecular regulatory patterns associated with meat quality.

Meat quality is a critical aspect of pig breeding. In addition to genetics, meat quality is also influenced by nutritional and environmental factors. In this study, three pig breeds, Shengxianhua, Jiaxing, and Qinglian Black (SXH, JXB and QLB), were used as experimental animals. Transcriptional analysis was performed on the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle to investigate variations in intramuscular fat (IMF), inosine monophosphate (IMP), amino acids, and muscle fiber morphology across different breeds. Ingenuity canonical pathway analysis (IPA) identified biological processes and key driver genes related to metabolism and muscle development. Additionally, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed gene modules associated with IMP. KEGG and GO analyses identified specific biological processes and signaling pathways related to IMP, including the Oxidative Phosphorylation pathway and rRNA Metabolic Processes. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying meat quality variations among pig breeds.

Mid-life adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and late-life subjective cognitive complaints in women.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence is limited on the role of mid-life Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet in late-life subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs). METHODS: We included 5116 women (mean age in 1985-1991: 46 years) from the New York University Women's Health Study. SCCs were assessed from 2018 to 2020 (mean age: 79 years) by a 6-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Compared to women in the bottom quartile of the DASH scores, the odds ratio (OR) for having two or more SCCs was 0.83 (95% confidence interval: 0.70-0.99) for women in the top quartile of DASH scores at baseline (P for trend = 0.019). The association was similar with multiple imputation and inverse probability weighting to account for potential selection bias. The inverse association was stronger in women without a history of cancer (P for interaction = 0.003). DISCUSSION: Greater adherence to the DASH diet in mid-life was associated with lower prevalence of late-life SCCs in women.

The possibility of visualizing TGF-ß1 expression in ApoE-/- mice atherosclerosis using MR targeted imaging.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial TGF-ß1 signaling is a primary driver of atherosclerosis-associated vascular inflammation. Targeted imaging and inhibition of the expression of TGF-ß1 may reduce the atherosclerotic vessel wall inflammation and stop the progression of atherosclerotic plaque. PURPOSE: To investigate the possibility of the anti-TGF-ß1-ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) specific probe as an imaging marker for the expression of TGF-ß1 in ApoE-/- mice atherosclerosis detected with 7.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Here, 70 ApoE-/- mice on a high-fat diet served as the experimental group and 30 C57BL/6 mice on a normal diet served as the control group. The morphology of plaques was viewed by H&E staining, and the expression and distribution of TNC and TGF-ß1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Another 40 mice in the experimental group were classified into a targeted group, which was administrated an anti-TGF-ß1-USPIO probe, and the pure group, which was injected with pure USPIO. RESULTS: The 7.0-T MRI showed that the relative signal intensity (rSI) changes of the targeted group decreased more than those of the pure group (-19.34 ± 0.68% vs. -5.61 ± 0.57%; P < 0.05). Histopathological analyses demonstrated expression of TGF-ß1 in atherosclerotic plaque formation progression from 10 to 28 weeks. The MR images of the expression of TGF-ß1 in atherosclerosis correlated well with the pathological progression of atherosclerotic plaque formation. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-TGF-ß1-USPIO could provide a useful molecular imaging tool for detecting and monitoring the expression of TGF-ß1 in atherosclerotic plaques by MRI.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide inhibits blue-light-induced skin oxidative damage with the involvement of mitophagy.

Although blue light can damage the skin to a certain extent, the pathogenesis of its damage remains still unclear. The available evidence suggests that oxidative stress may be the main cause of its damage. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) has antioxidative effects in a variety of cells. In this paper, we investigated the protective role of LBP and its mechanism of action related to mitophagy in blue-light-damaged skin cells. The findings indicated that in HaCaT cells and mouse skin, LBP pretreatment was effective in reducing blue-light-induced apoptosis and ameliorating the elevated level of cellular autophagy/mitophagy caused by excessive blue light exposure. The markers reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were used to assess oxidative stress. LBP could effectively inhibit blue-light-induced oxidative stress. It was also found that blue light exposure caused mitochondrial dysfunction in HaCaT cells, including increased intracellular calcium ion levels and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. LBP pretreatment significantly relieved mitochondrial dysfunction in HaCaT cells. These findings imply that LBP pretreatment protects skin cells from damage induced by blue light irradiation and that mitophagy may be a significant factor in skin photodamage.

Multi-Omics Reveals the Effect of Crossbreeding on Some Precursors of Flavor and Nutritional Quality of Pork.

Over the last several decades, China has continuously introduced Duroc boars and used them as breeding boars. Although this crossbreeding method has increased pork production, it has affected pork quality. Nowadays, one of the primary goals of industrial breeding and production systems is to enhance the quality of meat. This research analyzed the molecular mechanisms that control the quality of pork and may be used as a guide for future efforts to enhance meat quality. The genetic mechanisms of cross-breeding for meat quality improvement were investigated by combining transcriptome and metabolome analysis, using Chinese native Jiaxing black (JXB) pigs and crossbred Duroc × Duroc × Berkshire × JXB (DDBJ) pigs. In the longissimus Dorsi muscle, the content of inosine monophosphate, polyunsaturated fatty acid, and amino acids were considerably higher in JXB pigs in contrast with that of DDBJ pigs, whereas DDBJ pigs have remarkably greater levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids than JXB pigs. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differential metabolites were identified using transcriptomic and metabolomic KEGG enrichment analyses. Differential metabolites mainly include amino acids, fatty acids, and phospholipids. In addition, several DEGs that may explain differences in meat quality between the two pig types were found, including genes associated with the metabolism of lipids (e.g., DGKA, LIPG, and LPINI), fatty acid (e.g., ELOVL5, ELOVL4, and ACAT2), and amino acid (e.g., SLC7A2, SLC7A4). Combined with the DEGS-enriched signaling pathways, the regulatory mechanisms related to amino acids, fatty acids, and phospholipids were mapped. The abundant metabolic pathways and DEGs may provide insight into the specific molecular mechanism that regulates meat quality. Optimizing the composition of fatty acids, phospholipids, amino acids, and other compounds in pork is conducive to improving meat quality. Overall, these findings will provide useful information and further groundwork for enhancing the meat quality that may be achieved via hybrid breeding.

The Role of SOCS3 in Regulating Meat Quality in Jinhua Pigs.

Meat quality is an important economic trait that influences the development of the pig industry. Skeletal muscle development and glycolytic potential (GP) are two crucial aspects that significantly impact meat quality. It has been reported that abnormal skeletal muscle development and high glycogen content results in low meat quality. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying these factors are still unclear. Compared with intensive pig breeds, Chinese indigenous pig breeds, such as the Jinhua pig, express superior meat quality characteristics. The differences in the meat quality traits between Jinhua and intensive pig breeds make them suitable for uncovering the genetic mechanisms that regulate meat quality traits. In this study, the Jinhua pig breed and five intensive pig breeds, including Duroc, Landrace, Yorkshire, Berkshire, and Pietrain pig breeds, were selected as experimental materials. First, the FST and XP-EHH methods were used to screen the selective signatures on the genome in the Jinhua population. Then, combined with RNA-Seq data, the study further confirmed that SOCS3 could be a key candidate gene that influences meat quality by mediating myoblast proliferation and glycometabolism because of the down-regulated expression of SOCS3 in Jinhua pigs compared with Landrace pigs. Finally, through SOCS3 knockout (KO) and overexpression (OE) experiments in mouse C2C12 cells, the results showed that SOCS3 regulated the cell proliferation of myoblasts. Moreover, SOCS3 is involved in regulating glucose uptake by the IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Overall, these findings provide a basis for the genetic improvement of meat quality traits in the pig industry.

Encapsulation of tea polyphenols into high amylose corn starch composite nanofibrous film for active antimicrobial packaging.

Starch-based composite nanofibrous films loaded with tea polyphenols (TP) were successfully fabricated through electrospinning high amylose corn starch (HACS) with aid of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), referred as HACS/PVA@TP. With the addition of 15 % TP, HACS/PVA@TP nanofibrous films exhibited enhanced mechanical properties and water vapor barrier capability, and their hydrogen bonding interactions were further evidenced. TP was slowly released from the nanofibrous film and followed Fickian diffusion mechanism, which achieved the controlled sustained release of TP. Interesting, HACS/PVA@TP nanofibrous films effectively improved antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and prolonged the shelf life of strawberry. HACS/PVA@TP nanofibrous films showed superior antibacterial function by by destroying cell wall and cytomembrane, and degrading existing DNA fragments, stimulating excessive intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Our study demonstrated that the functional electrospun Starch-based nanofibrous films with enhanced mechanical properties and superior antimicrobial activities were potential for the application in active food packaging and relative areas.

Internal electric field-assisted copper ions chelated polydopamine/titanium dioxide nano-thin film heterojunctions activate peroxymonosulfate under visible light to catalyze degradation of gatifloxacin: Theoretical calculations and biotoxicity analysis.

The combination of photocatalysis and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation is considered effective in treating organic pollutants in water; however, the photocatalysts currently used to activate PMS are primarily in powder form, which cause secondary contamination because they are difficult to recycle. In this study, copper-ion-chelated polydopamine/titanium dioxide (Cu-PDA/TiO2) nanofilm were prepared for PMS activation on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates using hydrothermal and in-situ self-polymerization methods. The results showed that Cu-PDA/TiO2 + PMS + Vis degraded 94.8% of gatifloxacin (GAT) within 60 min, and the reaction rate constant reached 4.928 × 10-2 min-1, which was 6.25 and 4.04 folds higher than that of TiO2 + PMS + Vis (0.789 × 10-2 min-1) and PDA/TiO2 + PMS + Vis (1.219 × 10-2 min-1), respectively. The Cu-PDA/TiO2 nanofilm is easily recyclable and activates PMS to degrade GAT with no inferior performance, unlike the powder-based photocatalysts, and simultaneously maintains outstanding stability, which is highly suitable for applications in real aqueous environments. Biotoxicity experiments were conducted using E. coli, S. aureus, and mung bean sprouts as experimental subjects, and the results showed that the Cu-PDA/TiO2 + PMS + Vis system had excellent detoxification ability. In addition, a detailed investigation of the formation mechanism of step-scheme (S-scheme) Cu-PDA/TiO2 nanofilm heterojunctions was conducted by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Finally, a specific process for activating PMS to degrade GAT was proposed, which provides a novel photocatalysts for practical applications in aqueous pollution.

Switching Anti-Windup Synthesis for Linear Systems With Asymmetric Actuator Saturation.

This article proposes a switching anti-windup strategy for linear, time-invariant (LTI) systems subject to asymmetric actuator saturation and L2 -disturbances, the core idea behind which is to make full use of the available range of control input space by switching among multiple anti-windup gains. The asymmetrically saturated LTI system is converted to a switched system with symmetrically saturated subsystems, and a dwell time switching rule is presented to govern the switching between different antiwindup gains. Based on multiple Lyapunov functions, we derive sufficient conditions for guaranteeing the regional stability and weighted L2 performance of the closed-loop system. The switching anti-windup synthesis that designs a separate anti-windup gain for each subsystem is cast as a convex optimization problem. In comparison with the design of a single anti-windup gain, our method can induce less conservative results since the asymmetric character of the saturation constraint is fully utilized in the switching anti-windup design. Two numerical examples, and an application to aeroengine control (the experiments are conducted on a semiphysical test bench), demonstrate the superiority and practicality of the proposed scheme.

Single-Molecular Poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) Nucleus-Guided Assembly for Hydrophobicity-Dependent Molecular Transport in the Nanopore.

By combining DNA nanotechnology and solid-phase nanopore technology, the aggregation behavior of polymer guided by a single-molecular poly(propylene) (PPO) nucleus in a 3D DNA network has been studied. At low temperature, the PPO chain is evenly dispersed in the rigid 3D DNA network; at higher temperature, the PPO chain self-collapses to a single-molecular nucleus; and upon addition of amphiphilic block copolymers below the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the chains tend to aggregate on the isolated hydrophobic nucleus through intermolecular hydrophobic interactions. The process has been characterized by a rheological test and an electrochemical test. This study not only provides a preliminary understanding of the nucleation and growth process of block copolymers but also offers a theoretical basis for the study of protein self-folding and aggregation in the future. On this basis, utilizing this nucleation and growth event, a novel smart nanopore has been developed for hydrophobicity-dependent molecular transport.

Encapsulation of lycopene into electrospun nanofibers from whey protein isolate-Tricholoma lobayense polysaccharide complex stabilized emulsions: Structural characterization, storage stability, in vitro release, and cellular evaluation.

In this study, lycopene-loaded nanofibers were successfully fabricated by electrospinning of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions stabilized by whey protein isolate-polysaccharide TLH-3 (WPI-TLH-3) complexes. The lycopene encapsulated in the emulsion-based nanofibers exhibited enhanced photostability and thermostability, and achieved improved targeted small intestine-specific release. The release of lycopene from the nanofibers followed Fickian diffusion mechanism in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and first-order model in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) with the enhanced release rates. The bioaccessibility and cellular uptake efficiency of lycopene in micelles by Caco-2 cells after in vitro digestion were significantly improved. The intestinal membrane permeability and transmembrane transport efficiency of lycopene in micelles across Caco-2 cells monolayer were greatly elevated, thus promoting the effective absorption and intracellular antioxidant activity of lycopene. This work opens a potential approach for electrospinning of emulsions stabilized by protein-polysaccharide complexes as a novel delivery system for liposoluble nutrients with enhanced bioavailability in functional food industries.

Rational design of a novel MOF-based ternary nanocomposite for effectively monitoring harmful organophosphates in foods and the environment.

Methyl parathion (MP) is a widely used organophosphate insecticide that is extremely toxic due to its ability to irreversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase in the body and persistently accumulate in the environment. Timely detection of MP can prevent harmful residue exposure to humans. Therefore, the development of fast, efficient electrochemical methods to detect trace MP has been highly beneficial for monitoring harmful residues in foods and environment to ensure food safety and ecological conservation. Herein, a novel hybrid metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocomposite composed of Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and UiO-66-NH2 (PtNPs/UiO-66-NH2/MWCNTs) was rationally designed and prepared by a facile two-step strategy for the sensitive determination of MP. The synergistic effects are illustrated in detail using XRD, XPS, FTIR, TEM, and SEM studies as well as electrochemical technologies such as CV, EIS, and DPV. In addition, the performance of the ternary nanocomposite for detecting MP was investigated by comparing it with the binary-component one. The results showed that the PtNPs/UiO-66-NH2/MWCNT-based electrochemical sensor exhibited outstanding sensitivity of 21.9 µA µM-1 cm-2, satisfactory low detection limit of 0.026 µM and wide linear range of 0.11-227.95 µM for MP analysis. Furthermore, the fabricated sensor delivered distinguished freedom from interferences, outstanding regeneration ability, and adequate recoveries for fresh foods and river water samples. In conclusion, the proposed PtNPs/UiO-66-NH2/MWCNT-based sensor provides a potentially useful analytical tool for determining hazardous residues of OPs in foods and the environment.

A DNA-Schiff base functional nanopore sensing platform for the highly sensitive detection of Al3+ and Zn2+ ions.

The combination of DNA nanotechnology and nanopore sensing technology has greatly promoted research on target molecule or ion detection. The large solid-state nanopores/nanochannels show better mechanical stability and reproducibility, but metal ion detection in the large nanopores with diameters of hundreds of nanometers or several micrometers is rarely reported. Hence, it is meaningful and urgent to develop a large nanopore-based sensing platform for the detection of metal ions. Herein, we employed a salicylic aldehyde-modified DNA network in conjunction with a glass nanopipette (GN) with a diameter of hundreds of nanometers as a sensing platform for the detection of target metal ions. Upon the addition of different receptors with the amino group, the salicylic aldehyde could in situ specifically recognize and bind with Zn2+ and Al3, forming Schiff base-metal ion complexes at the four vertices of one face per nanocube unit. The steric hindrance effect of multiple Schiff bases and metal ion complexes leads to the blockage of internal structure and decrease of ion current in the GN. Owing to this signal amplification strategy, the detection limit of the target metal ion reaches a level of fM in the GN with a diameter of about 300 nm. In the future, this functional nanopore sensing platform is expected to realize highly sensitive detection for more biological metal ions by choosing appropriate receptors.

Fault Estimation Observer Design for Markovian Jump Systems With Nondifferentiable Actuator and Sensor Failures.

This article addresses the simultaneous actuator and sensor fault estimation (FE) problem for a class of Markovian jump systems (MJSs) with nondifferentiable actuator failures. In order to overcome the difficulties brought by the nondifferentiable actuator failures, we construct an extended vector composed of states, sensor faults, and disturbances, where the derivatives of actuator failures are not required in this augmented system. Then, two novel observer-based approaches are developed for the augmented descriptor system to cope with the FE problem. The first one is a reduced-order FE observer, where the actuator failures can be estimated by the algebraic input reconstruction strategy. The second one refers to an iterative learning observer (ILO) design method, which can obtain the accurate FE result by integrating the estimations in the iterative processes. The two proposed FE observer design methods can avoid the sliding surface switching problem produced by sliding-mode observers in the area of MJSs. Finally, a practical example of the F-404 aircraft engine system is presented to show the validity of the proposed FE observer design techniques.

Bulk RNA-seq and scRNA-seq analysis reveal an activation of immune response and compromise of secretory function in major salivary glands of obese mice.

Obesity affects the function of multiple organs/tissues including the exocrine organ salivary glands. However, the effects of obesity on transcriptomes and cell compositions in the salivary glands have yet been studied by bulk RNA-sequencing and single-cell RNA-sequencing. Besides, the cell types in the sublingual gland, one of the three major salivary glands, have yet been characterized by the approach of single-cell RNA-sequencing. In this report, we find that the histological structure of the three major salivary glands are not obviously affected in the obese mice. Bulk RNA-sequencing analysis shows that the most prominent changes observed in the three major salivary glands of the obese mice are the mobilization of transcriptomes related to the immune response and down-regulation of genes related to the secretory function of the salivary glands. Based on single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis, we identify and annotate 17 cell clusters in the sublingual gland for the first time, and find that obesity alters the relative compositions of immune cells and secretory cells in the major glands of obese mice. Integrative analysis of the bulk RNA-sequencing and single-cell RNA-sequencing data confirms the activation of immune response genes and compromise of secretory function in the three major salivary glands of obese mice. Consequently, the secretion of extracellular matrix proteins is significantly reduced in the three major salivary glands of obese mice. These results provide new molecular insights into understanding the effect of obesity on salivary glands.

Construction of a MOF-Supported Palladium Catalyst via Metal Metathesis.

A new MOF-supported heterogeneous palladium catalyst Pd/NBB-1 has been synthesized successfully through the effective metal metathesis between Pd(CF3 COO)2 and NBB-1. NBB-1 is a two-dimensional zinc metal-organic framework constructed from 2-aminoterephthalate (NH2 -H2 BDC) and 2,2'-bipyridine-5-carboxylate (HBPC) by solvothermal method. The replacement efficiency of Pd(II) to Zn(II) is up to 72% after only 24 hours, which is beneficial to the catalytic application. Pd/NBB-1 with a low loading of 2 mol% works efficiently in the 1,4-addition reaction of arylboronic acids with α,ß-unsaturated ketones in air, and its catalytic activity keeps unchanged after 3 reaction cycles. This work provides a new strategy to effectively prepare supported noble metal/MOF catalysts, which would further increase the practical applications of metal-organic frameworks.

PHARP: a pig haplotype reference panel for genotype imputation.

Pigs not only function as a major meat source worldwide but also are commonly used as an animal model for studying human complex traits. A large haplotype reference panel has been used to facilitate efficient phasing and imputation of relatively sparse genome-wide microarray chips and low-coverage sequencing data. Using the imputed genotypes in the downstream analysis, such as GWASs, TWASs, eQTL mapping and genomic prediction (GS), is beneficial for obtaining novel findings. However, currently, there is still a lack of publicly available and high-quality pig reference panels with large sample sizes and high diversity, which greatly limits the application of genotype imputation in pigs. In response, we built the pig Haplotype Reference Panel (PHARP) database. PHARP provides a reference panel of 2012 pig haplotypes at 34 million SNPs constructed using whole-genome sequence data from more than 49 studies of 71 pig breeds. It also provides Web-based analytical tools that allow researchers to carry out phasing and imputation consistently and efficiently. PHARP is freely accessible at http://alphaindex.zju.edu.cn/PHARP/index.php . We demonstrate its applicability for pig commercial 50 K SNP arrays, by accurately imputing 2.6 billion genotypes at a concordance rate value of 0.971 in 81 Large White pigs (~ 17 × sequencing coverage). We also applied our reference panel to impute the low-density SNP chip into the high-density data for three GWASs and found novel significantly associated SNPs that might be casual variants.