Investigating Müller glia reprogramming in mice: a retrospective of the last decade, and a look to the future.

Müller glia, as prominent glial cells within the retina, plays a significant role in maintaining retinal homeostasis in both healthy and diseased states. In lower vertebrates like zebrafish, these cells assume responsibility for spontaneous retinal regeneration, wherein endogenous Müller glia undergo proliferation, transform into Müller glia-derived progenitor cells, and subsequently regenerate the entire retina with restored functionality. Conversely, Müller glia in the mouse and human retina exhibit limited neural reprogramming. Müller glia reprogramming is thus a promising strategy for treating neurodegenerative ocular disorders. Müller glia reprogramming in mice has been accomplished with remarkable success, through various technologies. Advancements in molecular, genetic, epigenetic, morphological, and physiological evaluations have made it easier to document and investigate the Müller glia programming process in mice. Nevertheless, there remain issues that hinder improving reprogramming efficiency and maturity. Thus, understanding the reprogramming mechanism is crucial toward exploring factors that will improve Müller glia reprogramming efficiency, and for developing novel Müller glia reprogramming strategies. This review describes recent progress in relatively successful Müller glia reprogramming strategies. It also provides a basis for developing new Müller glia reprogramming strategies in mice, including epigenetic remodeling, metabolic modulation, immune regulation, chemical small-molecules regulation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and cell-cell fusion, to achieve Müller glia reprogramming in mice.

Unique urine and serum metabolomic signature in patients with excessive alcohol use: An exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: Excessive alcohol consumption has a multifaceted impact on the body's metabolic pathways and organ systems. The objectives of this study were to characterize global metabolomic changes and identify specific pathways that are altered in individuals with excessive alcohol use. METHODS: This exploratory study included 22 healthy controls with no known history of excessive alcohol use and 38 patients identified as using alcohol excessively. A Fibrosis-4 score was used to determine the risk of underlying alcohol-associated liver disease among the excessive drinkers. RESULTS: We found significantly altered urinary and serum metabolites among excessive drinkers, affecting various metabolic pathways including the metabolism of lipids, amino acids and peptides, cofactors and vitamins, carbohydrates, and nucleotides. Levels of two steroid hormones-5alpha-androstan-3beta,17beta-diol disulfate and androstenediol (3beta,17beta) disulfate-were significantly higher in both the serum and urine samples of excessive drinkers. These elevated levels may be associated with a higher risk of liver fibrosis in individuals with excessive alcohol use. CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption leads to marked alterations in multiple metabolic pathways, highlighting the systemic impact of alcohol on various tissues and organ systems. These findings provide a foundation for future mechanistic studies aimed at elucidating alcohol-induced changes in these metabolic pathways and their implications.

Clinical phenotype and laboratory characteristics of 93 patients with congenital fibrinogen disorders from unrelated 36 families.

Background: Congenital fibrinogen disorders (CFDs) are rare bleeding disorders (RBDs) caused by mutations in 1 of the 3 fibrinogen genes (FGA, FGB, and FGG). Objectives: To investigate the clinical phenotype, laboratory features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of CFDs. Methods: Clinical data of 93 subjects with CFDs identified from June 2018 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among the 93 patients, there were 46 males (49.5%) and 47 females (50.5%), with a median age of 23 years. Fifty-three of 93 (57%) subjects experienced bleeding, 3/93 (3.2%) experienced thrombosis, and 37/93 (39.8%) were asymptomatic. Females were more prone to experience bleeding (P < .0001). The 93 patients exhibited prolonged thrombin time, significantly decreased fibrinogen activity (Fg:C), and normal or decreased fibrinogen antigen. The 93 patients included 3 with hypofibrinogenemia, 16 with hypodysfibrinogenemia, and 74 with dysfibrinogenemia. Among the 53 patients with bleeding, bleeding episodes were identified in 3.8% (2/53), 20.8% (11/53), and 75.5% (40/53) patients with hypofibrinogenemia, hypodysfibrinogenemia, and dysfibrinogenemia, respectively. Genetic analysis was performed on 22 cases from 8 pedigrees, revealing 10 mutations, including 1 novel splice mutation. Twenty-eight (30.1%) subjects received replacement therapy to treat or prevent bleeding, consisting of 8 fresh frozen plasma transfusions, 3 packing and suture treatment, and 61 fibrinogen infusions. Conclusion: Most patients with CFDs have mild or no bleeding symptoms. Fg:C combined with fibrinogen antigen and pedigree investigation can improve the feasibility and accuracy of diagnosis of CFDs. The severity of bleeding symptoms was negatively correlated with Fg:C.

Comprehensive comparison of water quality risk and microbial ecology between new and old cast iron pipe distribution systems.

The effects of cast iron pipe corrosion on water quality risk and microbial ecology in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) were investigated. It was found that trihalomethane (THMs) concentration and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) increased sharply in the old DWDSs. Under the same residual chlorine concentration conditions, the adenosine triphosphate concentration in the effluent of old DWDSs (Eff-old) was significantly higher than that in the effluent of new DWDSs. Moreover, stronger bioflocculation ability and weaker hydrophobicity coexisted in the extracellular polymeric substances of Eff-old, meanwhile, iron particles could be well inserted into the structure of the biofilms to enhance the mechanical strength and stability of the biofilms, hence enhancing the formation of THMs. Old DWDSs significantly influenced the microbial community of bulk water and triggered stronger microbial antioxidant systems response, resulting in higher ARGs abundance. Corroded cast iron pipes induced a unique interaction system of biofilms, chlorine, and corrosion products. Therefore, as the age of cast iron pipes increases, the fluctuation of water quality and microbial ecology should be paid more attention to maintain the safety of tap water.

Effect of spin-lock frequency on quantitative myocardial T1ρ mapping.

OBJECTIVES: To use T1ρ mapping to assess myocardial fibrosis and to provide a reference for future clinical application, it is necessary to understand the factors influencing T1ρ values. This study explored the influence of different spin-locking frequencies on T1ρ values under a 3.0-T MR system. METHODS: Fifty-seven healthy subjects were prospectively and consecutively included in this study, and T1ρ mapping was performed on them in 3 short-axis slices with three spin-lock frequencies at the amplitude of 300 Hz, 400 Hz, and 500 Hz, then nine T1ρ images were acquired per subject. Four T1ρ-weighted images were acquired using a spin-lock preparation pulse with varying durations (0 msec, 13.3 msec, 26.6 msec, 40 msec). T1ρ relaxation times were quantified for each slice and each myocardial segment. The results were analyzed using Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) methods. RESULTS: Mean T1ρ relaxation times were 43.5 ± 2.8 msec at 300 Hz, 44.9 ± 3.6 msec at 400 Hz, and 46.2 ± 3.1 msec at 500 Hz, showing a significant progressive increase from low to high spin-lock frequency (300 Hz vs. 400 Hz, p = 0.046; 300 Hz vs. 500 Hz, p < 0.001; 400 Hz vs. 500 Hz, p = 0.043). In addition, The T1ρ values of females were significantly higher than those of males (300 Hz, p = 0.049; 400 Hz, p = 0.01; 500 Hz, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In this prospective study, myocardial T1ρ values for the specific CMR setting are provided, and we found that gender and spin-lock frequency can affect the T1ρ values. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: T1ρ mapping could supersede late gadolinium enhancement for detection of myocardial fibrosis. Establishing reference mean values that take key technical elements into account will facilitate interpretation of data in disease states. KEY POINTS: This study established myocardial T1ρ reference values for different spin-lock frequencies. T1ρ values increased with spin-lock frequency, but numerical differences were minimal. Females had higher T1ρ values than males at all frequencies.

Screening Targets and Therapeutic Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease Based on Deep Learning Model and Molecular Docking.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a complex interplay of various factors. However, a satisfactory cure for AD remains elusive. Pharmacological interventions based on drug targets are considered the most cost-effective therapeutic strategy. Therefore, it is paramount to search potential drug targets and drugs for AD. Objective: We aimed to provide novel targets and drugs for the treatment of AD employing transcriptomic data of AD and normal control brain tissues from a new perspective. Methods: Our study combined the use of a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) with differential expression analysis, variance assessment and molecular docking to screen targets and drugs for AD. Results: We identified the seven differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with the most significant variation (ANKRD39, CPLX1, FABP3, GABBR2, GNG3, PPM1E, and WDR49) in transcriptomic data from AD brain. A newly built MLP was used to confirm the association between the seven DEGs and AD, establishing these DEGs as potential drug targets. Drug databases and molecular docking results indicated that arbaclofen, baclofen, clozapine, arbaclofen placarbil, BML-259, BRD-K72883421, and YC-1 had high affinity for GABBR2, and FABP3 bound with oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Arbaclofen and YC-1 activated GABAB receptor through PI3K/AKT and PKA/CREB pathways, respectively, thereby promoting neuronal anti-apoptotic effect and inhibiting p-tau and Aß formation. Conclusions: This study provided a new strategy for the identification of targets and drugs for the treatment of AD using deep learning. Seven therapeutic targets and ten drugs were selected by using this method, providing new insight for AD treatment.

Regulation of oxidative stress response and antioxidant modification in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

As an efficient and safe industrial bacterium, Corynebacterium glutamicum has extensive application in amino acid production. However, it often faces oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to diminished production efficiency. To enhance the robustness of C. glutamicum, numerous studies have focused on elucidating its regulatory mechanisms under various stress conditions such as heat, acid, and sulfur stress. However, a comprehensive review of its defense mechanisms against oxidative stress is needed. This review offers an in-depth overview of the mechanisms C. glutamicum employs to manage oxidative stress. It covers both enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems, including antioxidant enzymes, regulatory protein families, sigma factors involved in transcription, and physiological redox reduction pathways. This review provides insights for advancing research on the antioxidant mechanisms of C. glutamicum and sheds light on its potential applications in industrial production.

[Risk factors for recurrence of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia after treatment with the Chinese Children's Cancer Group ALL-2015 protocol]. / CCCG-ALL-2015æ–¹æ¡ˆæ²»ç–—å„¿ç«¥æ€¥æ€§æ·‹å·´ç»†èƒžç™½è¡€ç— å¤å‘çš„å±é™©å› ç´ åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cumulative incidence of recurrence (CIR) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after treatment with the Chinese Children's Cancer Group ALL-2015 (CCCG-ALL-2015) protocol and the risk factors for recurrence. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 852 children who were treated with the CCCG-ALL-2015 protocol from January 2015 to December 2019. CIR was calculated, and the risk factors for the recurrence of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 852 children with ALL, 146 (17.1%) experienced recurrence, with an 8-year CIR of 19.8%±1.6%. There was no significant difference in 8-year CIR between the B-ALL group and the acute T lymphocyte leukemia group (P>0.05). For the 146 children with recurrence, recurrence was mainly observed in the very early stage (n=62, 42.5%) and the early stage (n=46, 31.5%), and there were 42 children with bone marrow recurrence alone (28.8%) in the very early stage and 27 children with bone marrow recurrence alone (18.5%) in the early stage. The Cox proportional-hazards regression model analysis showed that positive MLLr fusion gene (HR=4.177, 95%CI: 2.086-8.364, P<0.001) and minimal residual disease≥0.01% on day 46 (HR=2.013, 95%CI: 1.163-3.483, P=0.012) were independent risk factors for recurrence in children with B-ALL after treatment with the CCCG-ALL-2015 protocol. CONCLUSIONS: There is still a relatively high recurrence rate in children with ALL after treatment with the CCCG-ALL-2015 protocol, mainly bone marrow recurrence alone in the very early stage and the early stage, and minimal residual disease≥0.01% on day 46 and positive MLLr fusion gene are closely associated with the recurrence of B-ALL.

Immunometabolic alteration of CD4+ T cells in the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a prevalent autoimmune disorder wherein CD4+ T cells play a pivotal role in its pathogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms driving the hyperactivity of CD4+ T cells in pSS remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of immunometabolic alterations in driving the hyperactivity of CD4+ T cells in pSS. We employed Seahorse XF assay to evaluate the metabolic phenotype of CD4+ T cells, conducted flow cytometry to assess the effector function and differentiation of CD4+ T cells and measured the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, transcriptome sequencing, PCR, and Western blotting were utilized to examine the expression of glycolytic genes. Our investigation revealed that activated CD4+ T cells from pSS patients exhibited elevated aerobic glycolysis, rather than oxidative phosphorylation, resulting in excessive production of IFN-γ and IL-17A. Inhibition of glycolysis by 2-Deoxy-D-glucose reduced the expression of IFN-γ and IL-17A in activated CD4+ T cells and mitigated the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells. Furthermore, the expression of glycolytic genes, including CD3E, CD28, PIK3CA, AKT1, mTOR, MYC, LDHA, PFKL, PFKFB3, and PFKFB4, was upregulated in activated CD4+ T cells from pSS patients. Specifically, the expression and activity of LDHA were enhanced, contributing to an increased level of intracellular ROS. Targeting LDHA with FX-11 or inhibiting ROS with N-acetyl-cysteine had a similar effect on reversing the dysfunction of activated CD4+ T cells from pSS patients. Our study unveils heightened aerobic glycolysis in activated CD4+ T cells from pSS patients, and inhibition of glycolysis or its metabolite normalizes the dysfunction of activated CD4+ T cells. These findings suggest that aerobic glycolysis may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of pSS.

Long-term survivals of immune checkpoint inhibitors as neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy in dMMR/MSI-H colorectal and gastric cancers.

BACKGROUND: The long-term survival benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings is unclear for colorectal cancers (CRC) and gastric cancers (GC) with deficiency of mismatch repair (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H). METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled patients with dMMR/MSI-H CRC and GC who received at least one dose of neoadjuvant ICIs (neoadjuvant cohort, NAC) or adjuvant ICIs (adjuvant cohort, AC) at 17 centers in China. Patients with stage IV disease were also eligible if all tumor lesions were radically resectable. RESULTS: In NAC (n = 124), objective response rates were 75.7% and 55.4%, respectively, in CRC and GC, and pathological complete response rates were 73.4% and 47.7%, respectively. The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 96% (95%CI 90-100%) and 100% for CRC (median follow-up [mFU] 29.4 months), respectively, and were 84% (72-96%) and 93% (85-100%) for GC (mFU 33.0 months), respectively. In AC (n = 48), the 3-year DFS and OS rates were 94% (84-100%) and 100% for CRC (mFU 35.5 months), respectively, and were 92% (82-100%) and 96% (88-100%) for GC (mFU 40.4 months), respectively. Among the seven patients with distant relapse, four received dual blockade of PD1 and CTLA4 combined with or without chemo- and targeted drugs, with three partial response and one progressive disease. CONCLUSION: With a relatively long follow-up, this study demonstrated that neoadjuvant and adjuvant ICIs might be both associated with promising DFS and OS in dMMR/MSI-H CRC and GC, which should be confirmed in further randomized clinical trials.

Exosome nanovesicles: biomarkers and new strategies for treatment of human diseases.

Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles of cellular origin. One of the main characteristics of exosomes is their ability to carry a wide range of biomolecules from their parental cells, which are important mediators of intercellular communication and play an important role in physiological and pathological processes. Exosomes have the advantages of biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and wide biodistribution. As researchers' understanding of exosomes has increased, various strategies have been proposed for their use in diagnosing and treating diseases. Here, we provide an overview of the biogenesis and composition of exosomes, describe the relationship between exosomes and disease progression, and focus on the use of exosomes as biomarkers for early screening, disease monitoring, and guiding therapy in refractory diseases such as tumors and neurodegenerative diseases. We also summarize the current applications of exosomes, especially engineered exosomes, for efficient drug delivery, targeted therapies, gene therapies, and immune vaccines. Finally, the current challenges and potential research directions for the clinical application of exosomes are also discussed. In conclusion, exosomes, as an emerging molecule that can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, combined with multidisciplinary innovative solutions, will play an important role in clinical applications.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes-metal-organic framework nanocomposite based sensor for the monitoring of multiple monoamine neurotransmitters in living cells.

The levels of monoamine neurotransmitters (MNTs) including dopamine (DA), adrenaline (Adr), norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in cells are useful indicators to explore the pathogenesis of MNTs-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and depression. Herein, we constructed a novel electrochemical sensing platform based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-amine functionalized Zr (IV) metal-organic framework (UIO-66-NH2) nanocomposite for the detection of multiple MNTs including DA, Adr, NE and 5-HT. The synergistic effect between MWCNTs and UIO-66-NH2 endowed the nanocomposite with high specific surface area, low interface impedance and superior electrocatalytic activity, which effectively enhance the electrochemical performance of the sensor. The MWCNTs-UIO-66-NH2 nanocomposite-based sensor exhibited satisfied sensitivity for the quantitative measurement of DA, Adr, NE and 5-HT, as well as low detection limit. The outstanding biocompatibility of the constructed sensor permitted it to be successfully implemented for the real-time monitoring of DA released by PC12 and C6 cells, providing a promising strategy for clinical diagnosis of MNTs-related disorders and diseases.

Genetic association and functional implications of TLR4 rs1927914 polymorphism on colon cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer remains a major health concern worldwide, with genetic factors playing a crucial role in its development. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) has been implicated in various cancers, but their role in colon cancer is not well understood. This study aims to identify functional polymorphisms in the promoter and 3'UTR regions of TLRs and evaluate their association with colon cancer susceptibility. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study involving 410 colon cancer patients and 410 healthy controls from the Chinese population. Genotyping of polymorphisms in TLR3, TLR4, TLR5 and TLR7 was performed using PCR-RFLP and TaqMan MGB probes. Using logistic regression analysis, we evaluated the association of TLRs polymorphisms and the susceptibility to colon cancer. To understand the biological implications of the TLR4 rs1927914 polymorphism, we conducted functional assays, including luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the G-allele of the TLR4 rs1927914 polymorphism is significantly associated with a decreased risk of colon cancer (OR = 0.68, 95%CI = 0.50-0.91). Stratified analysis showed that TLR4 rs1927914 AG or GG genotype contributed to a decreased risk of colon cancer among younger individuals (OR = 0.52, 95%CI = 0.34-0.81), males (OR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.38-0.87), non-smokers (OR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.41-0.83) and non-drinker with OR (95%CI) of 0.66 (0.46-0.93). Functional assays demonstrated that in HCT116 and LOVO colon cancer cells, the luciferase activity driven by the TLR4 promoter with the rs1927914A allele was 5.43 and 2.07 times higher, respectively, compared to that driven by the promoter containing the rs1927914G allele. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) results indicated that the rs1927914G allele enhanced transcription factor binding. Using the transcription factor prediction tool, we found that the G allele facilitates binding of the repressive transcription factor Oct1, while the A allele does not. CONCLUSION: The TLR4 rs1927914 polymorphism influence the susceptibility to colon cancer, with the G allele offering a protective effect through modulation of gene expression. These insights enhance our understanding of the genetic determinants of colon cancer risk and highlight TLR4 as a promising target for cancer prevention strategies.

Eosin Y Post-Decorated Metal-Organic Framework as a Selectivity Regulator for the Alcohols Oxidation.

The selective oxidation of alcohols into aldehydes is a basic and significant procedure, with great potential for scientific research and industrial applications. However, as an important factor in the C(sp3)-H activation process, high selectivity is generally difficult to achieve due to the fact that the more easily activated properties of aldehydes are compared to alcohols. Herein, by the ingenious decoration of eosin Y into a Zr-based metal-organic framework (MOF-808), EY@MOF-808 was prepared as a selectivity regulator for the aerobic oxidation of the benzyl alcohols into corresponding aldehydes, possessing applicability for the benzylic alcohols with various substituents. By anchoring eosin Y on Zr6O4(OH)4 clusters of MOF-808 and maintaining open metal nodes with selective binding effects, the benzyl alcohol substrates were selectively coordinated to the unsaturated metal clusters adjacent to eosin Y, which ensured that the excited eosin Y rapidly activated substrates to generate carbon radicals by the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process. The rapid electron transfer (ET) simultaneously produced reactive oxygen species (O2•-) and then a combination of both to further promote the generation of benzaldehydes. The weak interaction of benzaldehydes with the skeleton allowed it to dissociate rapidly, thus preventing overoxidation. Under the catalysis of EY@MOF-808, the selectivity of various benzaldehydes was more than 99%. In contrast, eosin Y gave only benzoic acid products under the same conditions, which demonstrated the superiority of regulatory selectivity of EY@MOF-808. Taking advantage of the heterogeneity of the MOF, EY@MOF-808 was recycled four times without a decrease in its selectivity and avoided the quenching effect of eosin Y. The organic functional units postdecorated MOF-based photocatalyst strategy exhibits a promising new perspective approach to sustainably regulating the selectivity of inert oxidation.

Interfacial engineering of Ag/C catalysts for practical electrochemical CO2 reduction to CO.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction to value-added chemicals by renewable energy sources is a promising way to implement the artificial carbon cycle. During the reaction, especially at high current densities for practical applications, the complex interaction between the key intermediates and the active sites would affect the selectivity, while the reconfiguration of electrocatalysts could restrict the stability. This paper describes the fabrication of Ag/C catalysts with a well-engineered interfacial structure, in which Ag nanoparticles are partially encapsulated by C supports. The obtained electrocatalyst exhibits CO Faradaic efficiencies (FEs) of over 90% at current densities even as high as 1.1 A/cm2. The strong interfacial interaction between Ag and C leads to highly localized electron density that promotes the rate-determining electron transfer step by enhancing the adsorption and the stabilization of the key *COO‒ intermediate. In addition, the partially encapsulated structure prevents the reconfiguration of Ag during the reaction. Stable performance for over 600 h at 500 mA/cm2 is achieved with CO FE maintaining over 95%, which is among the best stability with such a high selectivity and current density. This work provides a novel catalyst design showing the potential for the practical application of electrochemical reduction of CO2.

A Dual-Active Covalent Triazine Framework Film for Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Peroxide Production.

Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production from water and oxygen offers a clean and sustainable alternative to the conventional energy-intensive anthraquinone oxidation method. Compared to powdered covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs), the film morphology of CTFs provides better connectivity in 2D, yielding several advantages: more efficient connections between active sites, reduced electron-hole pair recombination, increased resistance to superoxide radical induced corrosion, and decreased light scattering. Leveraging these benefits, it has incorporated dual active sites for both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the water oxidation reaction (WOR) into a CTF film system. This dual-active CTF film demonstrated an exceptional hydrogen peroxide production rate of 19 460 µmol h⁻¹ m⁻2 after 1 h and 17 830 µmol h⁻¹ m⁻2 after 5 h under visible light irradiation (≥420 nm) without the need for sacrificial agents.

Binder-Free Anodes for Potassium-ion Batteries Comprising Antimony Nanoparticles on Carbon Nanotubes Obtained Using Electrophoretic Deposition.

Antimony has a high theoretical capacity and suitable alloying/dealloying potentials to make it a future anode for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs); however, substantial volumetric changes, severe pulverization, and active mass delamination from the Cu foil during potassiation/depotassiation need to be overcome. Herein, we present the use of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to fabricate binder-free electrodes consisting of Sb nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in interconnected multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The anode architecture allows volume changes to be accommodated and prevents Sb delamination within the binder-free electrodes. The Sb mass ratio of the Sb/CNT nanocomposites was varied, with the optimized Sb/CNT nanocomposite delivering a high reversible capacity of 341.30 mA h g-1 (∼90% of the initial charge capacity) after 300 cycles at C/5 and 185.69 mA h g-1 after 300 cycles at 1C. Postcycling investigations reveal that the stable performance is due to the unique Sb/CNT nanocomposite structure, which can be retained over extended cycling, protecting Sb NPs from volume changes and retaining the integrity of the electrode. Our findings not only suggest a facile fabrication method for high-performance alloy-based anodes in PIBs but also encourage the development of alloying-based anodes for next-generation PIBs.

Zinc finger translocation­associated protein promotes ferroptosis through the upregulation of ACSL4 expression in vascular endothelial cells.

Numerous studies have reported the potential involvement of ferroptosis in the development of atherosclerosis (AS). Acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4) is an essential component in the promotion of ferroptosis. The present study aimed to investigate the role of ACSL4 and zinc finger translocation-associated protein (ZFTA) in the regulation of endothelial cell ferroptosis in AS. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with ACSL4 knockout were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. To assess ferroptosis, malondialdehyde concentration, iron content and reactive oxygen species levels were quantified in the present study. In addition, western blot analysis was conducted to explore the potential mechanisms underlying ACSL4 and ZFTA in the modulation of ferroptosis in HUVECs. The results of the present study demonstrated that the expression levels of ACSL4 and ZFTA were significantly increased in human atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, ACSL4 knockout led to a reduced susceptibility to ferroptosis, while ZFTA contributed to ferroptosis in HUVECs. Results of the present study also demonstrated that ZFTA overexpression upregulated ACSL4 expression in HUVECs, whereas ZFTA knockdown led to decreased ACSL4 expression. Co-transfection experiments demonstrated that the ZTFA overexpression-mediated increase in ferroptosis was reversed following ACSL4 knockdown. Collectively, results of the present study highlighted that ACSL4 mediated the effects of ZFTA on the ferroptosis of HUVECs. Thus, the present study demonstrated the potential role of ACSL4 and ZFTA in the regulation of ferroptosis, and highlighted that ferroptosis-related pathways may act as potential targets in the treatment of AS.

Quantitative phase image stitching guided by reconstructed intensity images in one-shot double field of view multiplexed digital holographic microscopy.

In digital holographic microscopy (DHM), achieving large field of view (FOV) imaging while maintaining high resolution is critical for quantitative phase measurements of biological cell tissues and micro-nano structures. We present a quantitative phase image stitching guided by reconstructed intensity images in one-shot double FOV multiplexed DHM. Double FOVs are recorded simultaneously through frequency division multiplexing; intensity feature pairs are accurately extracted by multi-algorithm fusion; aberrations and non-common baselines are effectively corrected by preprocessing. Experimental results show that even if phase images have coherent noise, complex aberrations, low overlap rate and large size, this method can achieve high-quality phase stitching.

Preparation and Characterization of Prickly Ash Peel Oleoresin Microcapsules and Flavor Retention Analysis.

Prickly ash peel oleoresin (PPO) is a highly concentrated oil of Prickly ash essential oil and has a stronger aroma. However, its low water solubility, high volatility, difficulty in transport and storage, and decomposition by light, heat, and oxygen limit its wider application. To solve this problem, this study used freeze-drying or spray-drying, with soybean protein isolate (SPI) or gum Arabic (GA), combined with aqueous maltodextrin (MD) as the encapsulating agents to prepare four types of PPO microcapsules (POMs). Spray-dried microcapsules with GA as the encapsulating agent achieved a high encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 92.31 ± 0.31%, improved the thermal stability of the PPO, and had spherical morphology. (Headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) HS-SPME/GC-MS detected 41 volatile compounds in PPO; of these, linalool, ß-myrcene, sabinene, and D-limonene were identified as key flavor components. Principal component analysis (PCA) effectively distinguished the significant differences in flavor between PPO, spray-dried SPI/MD microcapsules (SS), and spray-dried GA/MD microcapsules (SG). During 15 days of air-exposure, the loss of flavor from SG (54.62 ± 0.54%) was significantly lower than PPO (79.45 ± 1.45%) and SS (57.55 ± 0.36%). During the air-exposure period, SG consistently had the highest antioxidant capacity, making it desirable for PPO packaging, and expanding its potential applications within the food industry.