High-density frustrated Lewis pairs based on Lamellar Nb2O5 for photocatalytic non-oxidative methane coupling.

Photocatalytic methane conversion requires a strong polarization environment composed of abundant activation sites with the robust stretching ability for C-H scissoring. High-density frustrated Lewis pairs consisting of low-valence Lewis acid Nb and Lewis base Nb-OH are fabricated on lamellar Nb2O5 through a thermal-reduction promoted phase-transition process. Benefitting from the planar atomic arrangement of lamellar Nb2O5, the frustrated Lewis pairs sites are highly exposed and accessible to reactants, which results in a superior methane conversion rate of 1456 µmol g-1 h-1 for photocatalytic non-oxidative methane coupling without the assistance of noble metals. The time-dependent DFT calculation demonstrates the photo-induced electron transfer from LA to LB sites enhances their intensities in a concerted way, promoting the C-H cleavage through the coupling of LA and LB. This work provides in-depth insight into designing and constructing a polarization micro-environment for photocatalytic C-H activation of methane without the assistance of noble metals.

Hsa_circ_0044235 and hsa_circ_0001947 as novel biomarkers in plasma of patients with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Circular RNA (circRNA) are novel types of non-coding RNA that may be used as non-invasive noninvasive biomarkers in clinical plasma samples. However, the role of circRNA in plasma samples from patients with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has not been extensively investigated. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to screen differentially-expressed circRNA (hsa_circ_0000175, hsa_circ_0044235, hsa_circ_0068367, hsa_circ_0002316, hsa_circ_0104871, hsa_circ_0001947, hsa_circ_0001481, hsa_circ_0008675, hsa_circ_0082689 and hsa_circ_0082688) in plasma samples isolated from 22 patients with new-onset SLE and 22 healthy control (HC). The results indicated hsa_circ_0000175, hsa_circ_ 0044235, hsa_circ_0068367, and hsa_circ_0001947 expression levels were significantly lower in plasma samples from new-onset SLE patients compared with corresponding levels in HC subjects and patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Multivariate analysis indicated expression levels of hsa_circ_0044235 and hsa_circ_0001947 in plasma were independent risk factors for SLE. ROC curve analysis suggested that the combination of hsa_circ_0044235 and hsa_circ_0001947 indicated significant value in discriminating new-onset SLE from HC subjects and patients with RA. Moreover, the levels of hsa_circ_0044235 in plasma samples from patients with new-onset SLE were associated with platelet count, platelet-crit, and platelet distribution width; the expression of hsa_circ_0001947 in plasma from patients with SLE was associated with treatment. Thus, the present study demonstrated a promise for the combination of plasma hsa_circ_0044235 and hsa_circ_0001947 expression as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in patients with new-onset SLE.

PPARγ Ameliorates Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra-Induced Foamy Macrophage Formation via the ABCG1-Dependent Cholesterol Efflux Pathway in THP-1 Macrophages.

Foamy macrophages are present during the course of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and seems to be nutrient-rich reservoir and secure reservoir for the bacilli, which leads to bacterial persistence and infection transmission. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a key transcription factor for cholesterol metabolism in macrophages and its role in regulating atherosclerosis related foamy macrophages (FMs) formation has been well-studied. However, knowledge about the mechanism of PPARγ regulating Mtb infection induced FM formation remains very limited. In this study, we investigate the functional role of PPARγ in Mtb H37Ra infection-induced foamy macrophages formation. H37Ra infection induced a time-dependent decreased expression of PPARγ that paralleled the augmented lipid body formation in THP1-derived macrophages. PPARγ antagonist GW9662 significantly potentiate H37Ra induced lipid body formation and inhibit ABCG1 expression, overexpression of ABCG1 by transduced macrophages with lentivirus significantly reversed the promotion effect of GW9662 on FM formation. Moreover, Treatment with a TLR2 neutralizing antibody ameliorated the activation of ABCG1 by Mtb H37Ra without significantly effecting the suppression of PPARγ, suggesting a greater role for TLR2 to regulate ABCG1 compared to PPARγ. Overall, this study showed that PPARγ is involved in ameliorating FM formation by regulating ABCG1 expression, these observations expose a novel role of PPARγ in the Mtb infection induced FM formation.

A Mixed Decision Strategy for Freight and Passenger Transportation in Metro Systems.

This paper proposes a mixed decision strategy for freight and passenger transportation in metro systems during off-peak hours (MTS-OPH). The definition of the mixed decision strategy is proposed, and fixed and flexible loading modes are considered for different passenger flow volumes. A mathematical model of the MTS-OPH is proposed and solved using an improved variable neighborhood search algorithm. Case studies demonstrate the performance and applicability of the proposed model and algorithm, and the MTS-OPH is discussed for different delivery distances, passenger flows, and metro network types. The proposed strategy is suitable for long-distance delivery, and the proposed model framework can be applied to different types of metro networks with different levels of complexity. The mixed decision strategy provides a decision support tool for metro and freight companies and can propose corresponding solutions according to different passenger flows.

Low-Density Granulocytes Affect T-SPOT.TB Assay by Inhibiting the Production of Interferon-γ in T Cells via PD-L1/PD-1 Pathway.

BACKGROUND: T-SPOT TB (T-SPOT) assay is widely used for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection that is based on the detection of M. tuberculosis-specific interferon-γ-secreting T cells (ISCs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Recently, high frequencies of low-density granulocytes (LDGs) were found in the PBMCs of tuberculosis patients. Whether these LDGs affect the detection of T-SPOT has not been investigated. The impact of LDGs on T-SPOT assay and related mechanism were investigated in this study. METHODS: The correlations between the frequencies of LDGs and the results of T-SPOT were analyzed. T-SPOT with LDG-removed PBMCs and PBMCs with exogenous addition of LDGs were performed. The possible mechanism was explored by detecting the levels of negative immune regulatory molecules on LDGs. The impact of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on T-SPOT was evaluated and confirmed by function blocking with neutralizing antibody. RESULTS: The positive rates of T-SPOT and ISCs in tuberculosis patients with low LDGs frequency (n = 22) were significantly higher than those with high LDGs frequency (n = 39). Removal or exogenous addition of LDGs significantly increased or decreased the ISCs and the positive rate of T-SPOT. The frequencies of interferon-γ-producing T cells were negatively correlated with the frequencies of LDGs. The expression of PD-L1 was significantly elevated on LDGs. Pretreatment of LDGs with anti-PD-L1 antibody significantly counteracted the impact of LDGs on T-SPOT. Treatment of PBMCs with anti-PD-L1 antibody resulted in comparable ISCs with that of LDG removal. CONCLUSION: LDGs can inhibit the production of interferon-γ in T cells and decrease the positive rated of T-SPOT assay via highly expressed PD-L1.