Tribological Behavior of Sulfonated Polyether Ether Ketone with Three Different Chemical Structures under Water Lubrication.

With the development of the shipbuilding industry, it is necessary to improve tribological properties of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) as a water-lubricated bearing material. In this study, the sulfonated PEEK (SPEEK) with three distinct chemical structures was synthesized through direct sulfonated polymerization, and high fault tolerance and a controllable sulfonation degree ensured the batch stability. The tribological and mechanical properties of SPEEK with varying side groups (methyl and tert-butyl) and rigid segments (biphenyl) were compared after sintering in a vacuum furnace. Compared to the as-made PEEK, as the highly electronegative sulfonic acid group enhanced the hydration lubrication, the friction coefficient and wear rate of SPEEK were significantly reduced by 30% and 50% at least without affecting the mechanical properties. And lower steric hindrance and entanglement between molecular chains were proposed to be partially responsible for the lowest friction behavior of SPEEK with methyl side groups, making it a promising and competitive option for water-lubricated bearings.

Association of the second birth mode of delivery and interval with maternal pelvic floor changes: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the association of the second birth delivery mode and interval with maternal pelvic floor changes. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included women who had a first delivery and were in weeks 36-41 of a subsequent pregnancy at Panzhihua Central Hospital between July 2017 and June 2018. The primary outcomes of the study were the hiatus area at 6 months postpartum and bladder neck (mm) at rest and during a maximum Valsalva maneuver. RESULTS: There were 112 women with vaginal delivery and 182 with Cesarean section. The hiatus area and hiatus circumference decreased at all time points (all P < 0.001). The women with Cesarean section had a smaller hiatus area and circumference (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). The hiatus diameters decreased with time in both groups (all P < 0.001) and were smaller after Cesarean section (both P < 0.001). The bladder neck at maximum Valsalva increased with time (all P < 0.001) without significant differences between the two groups. Finally, the proportion of patients with POP-Q stage 0/I increased with time in both groups (all P < 0.001), with the proportions being higher in the Cesarean group (P = 0.002). The birth interval was negatively correlated with the hiatus area (B=-0.17, 95%CI: -0.25, -0.08, P < 0.001) and positively correlated with the bladder neck at rest (B = 0.22, 95%CI: 0.08, 0.35, P = 0.001) and at maximum Valsalva (B = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.65, 1.05, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the mode of delivery at the second birth could influence the hiatus area and circumference and bladder neck size. The birth interval was negatively correlated with the hiatus area and positively correlated with the bladder neck at rest and at maximum Valsalva.

Liuwei Dihuang pills attenuate ovariectomy-induced bone loss by alleviating bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) senescence via the Yes-associated protein (YAP)-autophagy axis.

CONTEXT: Liuwei Dihuang pill (LWDH) has been used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects and mechanisms of action of LWDH in PMOP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: sham-operated (SHAM), ovariectomized (OVX), LWDH high dose (LWDH-H, 1.6 g/kg/d) and LWDH low dose (LWDH-L, 0.8 g/kg/d); the doses were administered after ovariectomy via gavage for eight weeks. After eight weeks, the bone microarchitecture was evaluated. The effect of LWDH on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was assessed via osteogenesis- and lipogenesis-induced BMSC differentiation. The senescence-related biological indices were also detected using senescence staining, cell cycle analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Finally, the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins and Yes-associated protein (YAP) were evaluated. RESULTS: LWDH-L and LWDH-H significantly modified OVX-induced bone loss. LWDH promoted osteogenesis and inhibited adipogenesis in OVX-BMSCs. Additionally, LWDH decreased the positive ratio of senescence OVX-BMSCs and improved cell viability, cell cycle, and the mRNA and protein levels of p53 and p21. LWDH upregulated the expression of autophagy-related proteins, LC3, Beclin1 and YAP, in OVX-BMSCs and downregulated the expression of p62. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: LWDH improves osteoporosis by delaying the BMSC senescence through the YAP-autophagy axis.

Large-scale loss-of-function perturbations reveal a comprehensive epigenetic regulatory network in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Epigenetic abnormalities have a critical role in breast cancer by regulating gene expression; however, the intricate interrelationships and key roles of approximately 400 epigenetic regulators in breast cancer remain elusive. It is important to decipher the comprehensive epigenetic regulatory network in breast cancer cells to identify master epigenetic regulators and potential therapeutic targets. METHODS: We employed high-throughput sequencing-based high-throughput screening (HTS2) to effectively detect changes in the expression of 2,986 genes following the knockdown of 400 epigenetic regulators. Then, bioinformatics analysis tools were used for the resulting gene expression signatures to investigate the epigenetic regulations in breast cancer. RESULTS: Utilizing these gene expression signatures, we classified the epigenetic regulators into five distinct clusters, each characterized by specific functions. We discovered functional similarities between BAZ2B and SETMAR, as well as CLOCK and CBX3. Moreover, we observed that CLOCK functions in a manner opposite to that of HDAC8 in downstream gene regulation. Notably, we constructed an epigenetic regulatory network based on the gene expression signatures, which revealed 8 distinct modules and identified 10 master epigenetic regulators in breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our work deciphered the extensive regulation among hundreds of epigenetic regulators. The identification of 10 master epigenetic regulators offers promising therapeutic targets for breast cancer treatment.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of pelvic floor dysfunction and pelvic floor ultrasound among women of childbearing age in Sichuan, China.

Objective: Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is highly prevalent among women. Pelvic floor ultrasound (PFU) is a critical method for assessing PFD. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of women of childbearing age regarding PFD and PFU. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 18, 2022, and September 20, 2022, in Sichuan, China. A total of 504 women of childbearing age participated in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess KAP regarding PFD and PFU. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between demographic characteristics and KAP. Results: The average scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practice were 12.53, 39.98, and 16.51 out of 17, 45, and 20, respectively. Despite adequate knowledge of PFD symptoms, aging-related risks, and PFD harms (correct rates > 80%), participants showed poor knowledge about the benefits of PFU, PFU types, and Kegel exercise (correct rates < 70%). High scores in knowledge and attitude (odds ratio = 1.23 and 1.11, P < 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively) were independent predictors of good practice, while never having been pregnant (odds ratio = 0.10, P < 0.001), alcohol consumption (odds ratio = 0.09, P = 0.027), and not being diagnosed with PFD or an unclear diagnosis independently predicted poor practice (both odds ratio = 0.03, both P < 0.001). Conclusion: Women of childbearing age in Sichuan, China, showed moderate knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice regarding PFD and PFU. Knowledge, attitude, pregnancy history, alcohol consumption, and PFD diagnosis are associated with practice.

Self-Assembled Serpentine Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 Hybrid Sheets with Ammonium Polyphosphate for Fire Safety Enhancement of Polylactide Composites.

Biodegradable polylactide (PLA) has been widely utilized in people's daily lives. In order to improve the fire safety of PLA, ammonium polyphosphate (APP) was self-assembled onto the surface of serpentine Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 through the electrostatic method, followed by mixing with PLA by melt compounding. The APP-modified serpentine (serpentine@APP) dispersed uniformly in the PLA matrix. Compared with pure PLA, the PLA composite with 2 wt% serpentine@APP reduced the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) by 43.9% and 16.3%, respectively. The combination of APP and serpentine exhibited suitable synergistic flame-retardant effects on the fire safety enhancement of PLA. In addition, the dynamical rheological tests revealed that the presence of APP and serpentine could reduce the viscosity of PLA composites. The plasticizing effects of APP and serpentine benefited the processing of PLA. The mechanical properties of PLA/serpentine@APP maintained suitable performance as pure PLA. This study provided a feasible way to enhance the fire safety of PLA without sacrificing its mechanical properties.

Nanohybrid of Co3O4 Nanoparticles and Polyphosphazene-Decorated Ultra-Thin Boron Nitride Nanosheets for Simultaneous Enhancement in Fire Safety and Smoke Suppression of Thermoplastic Polyurethane.

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is widely used in daily life due to its characteristics of light weight, high impact strength, and compression resistance. However, TPU products are extremely flammable and will generate toxic fumes under fire attack, threatening human life and safety. In this article, a nanohybrid flame retardant was designed for the fire safety of TPU. Herein, Co3O4 was anchored on the surface of exfoliated ultra-thin boron nitride nanosheets (BNNO@Co3O4) via coprecipitation and subsequent calcination. Then, a polyphosphazene (PPZ) layer was coated onto BNNO@Co3O4 by high temperature polymerization to generate a nanohybrid flame retardant named BNNO@Co3O4@PPZ. The cone calorimeter results exhibited that the heat release and smoke production during TPU combustion were remarkably restrained after the incorporation of the nanohybrid flame retardant. Compared with pure TPU, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) decreased by 44.1%, the peak smoke production rate (PSPR) decreased by 51.2%, and the peak CO production rate (PCOPR) decreased by 72.5%. Based on the analysis of carbon residues after combustion, the significant improvement in fire resistance of TPU by BNNO@Co3O4@PPZ was attributed to the combination of quenching effect, catalytic carbonization effect, and barrier effect. In addition, the intrinsic mechanical properties of TPU were well maintained due to the existence of the PPZ organic layer.

SIRT1-mediated p53 deacetylation inhibits ferroptosis and alleviates heat stress-induced lung epithelial cells injury.

OBJECTIVE: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common complication of heat stroke (HS) and a direct cause of death. However, the mechanism underlying ALI following HS remains unclear. METHOD: To investigate whether ferroptosis is involved in HS-ALI. We established a HS model of mice and mouse lung epithelial-2 cells (MLE-2). The severity of lung injury was measured by H&E staining, the wet-to-dry lung weight ratio, and Transmission electron microscopy. Potential markers of ferroptosis Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and lipid peroxidation were detected. The percentages of cell death and viability induced by HS were assessed by LDH and CCK8 assays. SLC7A11, ACSL4, GPX4, SIRT1, p53, and p53 K382 acetylation levels were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: The administration of ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1(Fer-1) could significantly ameliorate lung injury, inhibiting levels of MDA and 4-HNE, and ameliorating HS-induced increased ACSL4, decreased SLC7A11 and GPX4, suggesting ferroptosis was involved in HS-induced ALI in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, SIRT1 expression decreased, and p53 K382 acetylation levels increased in MLE-2 cells. Activation of SIRT1 could improve lung epithelial ferroptosis caused by HS in vivo ang in vitro. Besides, the activation of SIRT1 could significantly reduce the p53 K382 acetylation levels, suggesting that activation of SIRT1 could prevent ferroptosis via inhibiting p53 acetylation. CONCLUSION: These findings substantiate the vital role of the SIRT1/p53 axis in mediating ferroptosis in HS-ALI, suggesting that targeting SIRT1 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy to ameliorate ALI during HS.

Visible light photocatalytic degradation of sulfanilamide enhanced by Mo doping of BiOBr nanoflowers.

Design of high-efficiency visible light photocatalysts is critical in the degradation of antibiotic pollutants in water, a key step towards environmental remediation. In the present study, Mo-doped BiOBr nanocomposites are prepared hydrothermally at different feed ratios, and display remarkable visible light photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of sulfanilamide, a common antibacterial drug. Among the series, the sample with 2% Mo dopants exhibits the best photocatalytic activity, with a performance 2.3 times better that of undoped BiOBr. This is attributed to Mo doping that narrows the band gap of BiOBr and enhances absorption in the visible region. Additional contributions arise from the unique materials morphology, where the highly exposed (102) crystal planes enrich the photocatalytic active sites, and facilitate the adsorption of sulfanilamide molecules and their eventual attack by free radicals. The reaction mechanism and pathways are then unraveled based on theoretical calculations of the Fukui index and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry measurements of the reaction intermediates and products. Results from this study indicate that deliberate structural engineering based on heteroatom doping and morphological control may serve as an effective strategy in the design of highly active photocatalysts towards antibiotic degradation.

Heterogeneous photo-Fenton degradation toward sulfonamide matrix over magnetic Fe3S4 derived from MIL-100(Fe).

Magnetic Fe3S4 was facilely derived from MIL-100(Fe) as the precursor and thioacetamide (TAA) as the sulfur source under hydrothermal condition. The as-prepared Fe3S4 was adopted as catalyst to promote the photo-Fenton process, in which sulfamethoxazole (SMX) was used as representative pollutant sample to test the oxidative degradation performance of Fe3S4. The results showed that Fe3S4 exhibited excellent photo-Fenton-like oxidation decomposition performances toward sulfamethoxazole (SMX) under both UV and visible light. A possible degradation mechanism over Fe3S4 in the photo-Fenton reaction is put forward based on quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR). About 41% total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) over the as-prepared Fe3S4 can be accomplished within 40 min. As well, different sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs) like sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfisoxazole (SIM) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) were selected to further investigate the oxidative degradation activity of Fe3S4 in this photo-Fenton-like reaction system, in which the possible degradation pathways of SMX, SIM and SDZ were put forward based on UHPLC-MS analysis. This work provided a new strategy to prepare magnetic Fe3S4 as catalyst for advanced oxidation process, which can be easily separated from the treated water samples to accomplish facile recovery and recyclability.

High-Throughput Strategies for the Discovery of Anticancer Drugs by Targeting Transcriptional Reprogramming.

Transcriptional reprogramming contributes to the progression and recurrence of cancer. However, the poorly elucidated mechanisms of transcriptional reprogramming in tumors make the development of effective drugs difficult, and gene expression signature is helpful for connecting genetic information and pharmacologic treatment. So far, there are two gene-expression signature-based high-throughput drug discovery approaches: L1000, which measures the mRNA transcript abundance of 978 "landmark" genes, and high-throughput sequencing-based high-throughput screening (HTS2); they are suitable for anticancer drug discovery by targeting transcriptional reprogramming. L1000 uses ligation-mediated amplification and hybridization to Luminex beads and highlights gene expression changes by detecting bead colors and fluorescence intensity of phycoerythrin signal. HTS2 takes advantage of RNA-mediated oligonucleotide annealing, selection, and ligation, high throughput sequencing, to quantify gene expression changes by directly measuring gene sequences. This article summarizes technological principles and applications of L1000 and HTS2, and discusses their advantages and limitations in anticancer drug discovery.

Robust Cr(VI) reduction over hydroxyl modified UiO-66 photocatalyst constructed from mixed ligands: Performances and mechanism insight with or without tartaric acid.

Hydroxyl modified UiO-66 ((OH)2-UiO-66-X%, X represents the mass content ratio of introduced 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid) was prepared via a solvothermal reaction between zirconium tetrachloride, benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid (H2BDC), as well as 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (H2BDC-(OH)2). It was found that hydroxyl groups can act as the intramolecular hole scavenger to boost the photo-induced charge carrier separation to enhance Cr(VI) reduction. The photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction activities of (OH)2-UiO-66-X% were investigated upon the irradiation of low-power ultraviolet LED light. The findings demonstrated that (OH)2-UiO-66-20% with good cyclicity and stability exhibited superior photocatalytic performances to both UiO-66 and (OH)2-UiO-66. The introduction of hydroxyl groups can also extend the light absorption region to longer wavelength in visible range, which provides possibility for displaying photocatalytic activities under sunlight. The effect of small molecule organic acid (SOAs), pH value, and co-existing inorganic ions on photocatalytic performances of (OH)2-UiO-66-20% were investigated. Tartaric acid (TA) as typical SOAs was introduced to the reaction system to further boost the photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction via acting as hole scavenger, constructing charge-transfer-complex for quick electron transportation, and producing COO·- radicals. This work opened a new opportunity for modified MOFs for boosted elimination activities for environmental pollutants.

Electromyographic Biofeedback for Stress Urinary Incontinence or Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) can be regarded as an adjuvant to pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training (PFMT) for the management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of PFMT with and without EMG-BF on the cure and improvement rate, PFM strength, urinary incontinence score, and quality of sexual life for the treatment of SUI or pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wanfang, and CNKI were systematically searched for studies published up to January 2021. The outcomes were the cure and improvement rate, symptom-related score, pelvic floor muscle strength change, and sexual life quality. Twenty-one studies (comprising 1967 patients with EMG-BF + PFMT and 1898 with PFMT) were included. Compared with PFMT, EMG-BF + PFMT had benefits regarding the cure and improvement rate in SUI (OR 4.82, 95% CI 2.21-10.51, P < 0.001; I2 = 85.3%, Pheterogeneity < 0.001) and in PFD (OR 2.81, 95% CI 2.04-3.86, P < 0.001; I2 = 13.1%, Pheterogeneity = 0.331), and in quality of life using the I-QOL tool (SMD 1.47, 95% CI 0.69-2.26, P < 0.001; I2 = 90.1%, Pheterogeneity < 0.001), quality of sexual life using the FSFI tool (SMD 2.86, 95% CI 0.47-5.25, P = 0.019; I2 = 98.7%, Pheterogeneity < 0.001), urinary incontinence using the ICI-Q-SF tool (SMD - 0.62, 95% CI - 1.16, - 0.08, P = 0.024), PFM strength (SMD 1.72, 95% CI 1.08-2.35, P < 0.001; I2 = 91.4%, Pheterogeneity < 0.001), and urodynamics using Qmax (SMD 0.84, 95% CI 0.57-1.10, P < 0.001; I2 = 0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.420) and MUCP (SMD 1.54, 95% CI 0.66-2.43, P = 0.001; I2 = 81.8%, Pheterogeneity = 0.019). There was limited evidence of publication bias. PFMT combined with EMG-BF achieves better outcomes than PFMT alone in SUI or PFD management.

Bisphenol A cleanup over MIL-100(Fe)/CoS composites: Pivotal role of Fe-S bond in regenerating Fe2+ ions for boosted degradation performance.

Series of MIL-100(Fe)/CoS composites (MxCy) were facilely fabricated using ball-milling method. The optimum M50C50 exhibited extremely higher Fenton-like catalytic degradation activity toward bisphenol A (BPA) than the pristine MIL-100(Fe) and CoS. The significant improvement of BPA degradation was attributed to the synergetic effect between MIL-100(Fe) and CoS with the synergistic factor being 95.7%, in which the Fe-S bonds formed at the interface of the two components facilitate the Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle by improving the electron mobility both from Co to Fe and from S to Fe. Furthermore, the influence factors like co-existing inorganic ions and pH values on the catalysis activity of M50C50 were explored. The possible reaction mechanism was proposed and confirmed by both active species capture tests and electron spin resonance (ESR) determinations. It was found that M50C50 demonstrated good reusability and water stability, in which the morphology and structure were not changed obviously after five runs' operation. To our best knowledge, it is the first work concerning the interfacial interaction of Fe-MOF/MSx to promote Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle in Fe-MOFs for the purpose of organic pollutants degradation in the Fenton-like AOPs system.

Polyaniline modified MIL-100(Fe) for enhanced photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction and tetracycline degradation under white light.

The Z-scheme MIL-100(Fe)/PANI composite photocatalysts were facilely prepared from MIL-100(Fe) and polyaniline (PANI) by ball-milling, and were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible diffuse-reflectance spectrometry (UV-vis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence emission spectrometry (PL). The photocatalytic activities of MIL-100(Fe)/PANI composites were investigated via tetracycline degradation and hexavalent chromium reduction in aqueous solution under the irradiation of white light. The results revealed that the MIL-100(Fe)/PANI composite photocatalysts exhibited outstanding photocatalytic activities toward Cr(VI) reduction and tetracycline decomposition. The effects of pH and coexisting ions on the photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction were investigated. As well, the primary active species were identified via electron spin resonance (ESR) determination. A possible Z-scheme photocatalyst mechanism was proposed and verified. Finally, MIL-100(Fe)/PANI composites demonstrated good reusability and stability in water solution, implying potentially practical applications for real wastewater treatment.

Bufadienolides induce apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the AKT signaling pathway in melanoma A­375 cells.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of bufadienolides on the A­375 melanoma cell line, and to delineate the underlying mechanism. A Cell Counting Kit­8 assay was used to determine the viability of the cells, and flow cytometry was used to evaluate apoptosis. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the expression levels of proteins involved in the AKT pathway that are associated with apoptosis and autophagy. The results demonstrated that bufadienolides reduced the viability of A­375 cells in a dose­ and a time­dependent manner. Following treatment with bufadienolides, A­375 cells exhibited clear properties that were characteristic of apoptosis and autophagy. The expression levels of the pro­apoptotic proteins Bax and p53 were upregulated, whereas those of the anti­apoptotic proteins, Bcl­2 and caspase­3 were downregulated. In addition, the level of a protein known to be associated with autophagy, microtubule­associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3­II, was increased, whereas that of p62 protein was reduced. Finally, the AKT signaling pathway was blocked in the bufadienolide­treated A­375 cells. In conclusion, these results revealed that bufadienolides effectively induced apoptosis and autophagy in A­375 cells via the AKT pathway, and therefore may be one of the candidate targets for the future development of targeted drugs to treat melanoma.

Simultaneous Cr(VI) reduction and Cr(III) removal of bifunctional MOF/Titanate nanotube composites.

In this study, a series of BUC-21/titanate nanotube (BT-X) composites were facilely fabricated via ball-milling of 2-dimensional (2D) metal-organic framework (MOF) BUC-21 and titanate nanotubes (TNTs). The BT-X composites were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Both the photocatalytic reduction from Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and adsorptive removal of formed Cr(III) of BT-X composites were systematically investigated under different conditions including pH values and co-existing inorganic ions. It was found that BUC-21 (100 mg)/TNTs (100 mg) (BT-1) composites demonstrate remarkable ability of photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction and adsorptive Cr(III) removal, as well as good reusability and stability. It is believed that the introduction of TNTs could capture the formed Cr(III) from the surface of BUC-21, which provided more active sites exposed to enhance the Cr(VI) reduction.

Effect of Huperzine A on Aß-induced p65 of astrocyte in vitro.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Its pathology often accompanies inflammatory action, and astrocytes play important roles in such procedure. Rela(p65) is one of significant message factors in NF-κB pathway which has been reported high expression in astrocyte treated by Aß. HupA, an alkaloid isolated from Chinese herb Huperzia serrata, has been widely used to treat AD and observations reflected that it improves memory and cognitive capacity of AD patients. To reveal its molecular mechanisms on p65, we cultured astrocytes, built Aß-induced AD model, treated astrocytes with HupA at different concentrations, assayed cell viability with MTT, and detected p65 expression by immunohistochemistry and PCR. Our results revealed that treatment with 10 µM Aß1-42 for 24 h induced a significant increase of NF-κB in astrocytes; HupA significantly down-regulated p65 expression induced by Aß in astrocytes. This study infers that HupA can regulate NF-κB pathway to treat AD.

Tunneling-induced optical bistability in an asymmetric double quantum well.

Optical bistable behaviors induced by tunneling coupling are demonstrated in an asymmetric double quantum-well structure including a unidirectional ring cavity. We analytically find that optical bistability can be obtained with the existence of resonant tunneling. Furthermore, the threshold of the optical bistability can be modulated by the intensity or the detuning of the driving fields.