Scanning tunneling microscopic observation of enhanced superconductivity in epitaxial Sn islands grown on SrTiO substrate.

Recent experimental and theoretical studies of single-layer FeSe film grown on SrTiO have revealed interface enhanced superconductivity, which opens up a pathway to promote the superconducting transition temperature. Here, to investigate the role of SrTiO substrate in epitaxial superconducting film, we grew a conventional superconductor β-Sn (bulk T ∼ 3.72 K) onto SrTiO substrate by molecular beam epitaxy.

Leaf Segmentation on Dense Plant Point Clouds with Facet Region Growing.

Leaves account for the largest proportion of all organ areas for most kinds of plants, and are comprise the main part of the photosynthetically active material in a plant. Observation of individual leaves can help to recognize their growth status and measure complex phenotypic traits. Current image-based leaf segmentation methods have problems due to highly restricted species and vulnerability toward canopy occlusion.

Transsynaptic Binding of Orphan Receptor GPR179 to Dystroglycan-Pikachurin Complex Is Essential for the Synaptic Organization of Photoreceptors.

Establishing synaptic contacts between neurons is paramount for nervous system function. This process involves transsynaptic interactions between a host of cell adhesion molecules that act in cooperation with the proteins of the extracellular matrix to specify unique physiological properties of individual synaptic connections. However, understanding of the molecular mechanisms that generate functional diversity in an input-specific fashion is limited.

From H NMR-based non-targeted to LC-MS-based targeted metabolomics strategy for in-depth chemome comparisons among four Cistanche species.

The great orthogonality between H NMR spectroscopy and LC-MS implies that their deployments in series could offer an opportunity to gain the qualified molecular markers via comparative metabolomics, and an attempt was made here to propose an integrated strategy namely "from H NMR-based non-targeted to LC-MS-based targeted metabolomics". In-depth chemome comparisons of Cistanche plants, such as C. deserticola, C.

Augmentation of vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immunity by a physical radiofrequency adjuvant.

Protein/subunit vaccines often require external adjuvants to induce protective immunity. Due to the safety concern of chemical adjuvants, physical adjuvants were recently explored to boost vaccination. Physical adjuvants use physical energies rather than chemicals to stimulate tissue stress and endogenous danger signal release to boost vaccination.

Multi-scale structures of cassava and potato starch fractions varying in granule size.

Large-, medium-, and small-sized granules were separated from cassava and potato starches. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide angle X-ray diffraction, small angle X-ray scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance and scanning electron microscope were used to investigate the supramolecular structures of cassava and potato starch fractions. The crystallinity of small-sized potato starch (SPS) was lower than that of its counterparts, while crystallinities of all cassava fractions were similar.

Comutations in DNA Damage Response Pathways Serve as Potential Biomarkers for Immune Checkpoint Blockade.

Biomarkers such as programmed death receptor 1 ligand (PD-L1) expression, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and high microsatellite instability are potentially applicable to predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, several challenges such as defining the cut-off value, test platform uniformity, and low frequencies limit their broad clinical application. Here we identify comutations in the DNA damage response (DDR) pathways of homologous recombination repair and mismatch repair (HRR-MMR) or HRR and base excision repair (HRR-BER; defined as co-mut) that are associated with increased TMB and neoantigen load and increased levels of immune gene expression signatures.

Simulation Strategies for Characterizing Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors in Botanical Dietary Supplements.

A novel "Prediction and Confirmation" (PC) strategy was proposed for characterizing phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE-5) derivatives in botanical dietary supplements (BDSs) for on-site detection. Discovery Studio (DS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used for the "Prediction" step in order to estimate PDE-5 derivative structures and theoretical Raman shifts without synthesizing the derivatives. After 11 potentially bioactive sildenafil derivatives were acquired through DS, 32 common calculated Raman shifts were obtained through DFT.

Wide spectral response photothermal catalysis-fenton coupling systems with 3D hierarchical FeO/Ag/BiMoO ternary hetero-superstructural magnetic microspheres for efficient high-toxic organic pollutants removal.

3D hierarchical FeO/Ag/BiMoO magnetic microspheres are fabricated through hydrothermal-photoreduction strategy, which fabricate an advanced photocatalytic-Fenton coupling system. The HO produced by photocatalysis could form the photo-Fenton system when combined with FeO under light illumination. The introduction of Ag nanoparticles could induce the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), which provides "hot electrons" for promoting photocatalysis.

Improvement of the chemical recycling process of waste carbon fibre reinforced plastics using a mechanochemical process: Influence of process parameters.

We present the experimental results of an optimal recycling method for waste carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRPs) that is based on the application of a set of unit mechanochemical processes. The objectives of this study were to highlight the influence of process factors that are inherent in the chemical recycling process of waste CFRP. We investigated the influence of the soaking period, the application of a catalyst and impurities on the recycling process and recovery efficiency of the waste CFRP.

A Comparative Study on Three Treatment Approaches to Applying Topical Botulinum Toxin A for Crow's Feet.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of three treatment approaches to applying Botulinum Toxin Type A (BoNTA) for crow's Feet.

Methods: Thirty female subjects with moderate-to-severe crow's feet were included in this comparative study. They were randomly divided into three groups, including the local intramuscular, intradermal microdroplet injection, and nanomicroneedle delivered with BoNTA therapy group.

Effect of fermentation modes on nutritional and volatile compounds of Huyou vinegar.

Semi-solid static mode was applied to brew Huyou () vinegar, called HV-SS, and changes of main nutrients, volatile compounds and antioxidant capacity at different brewing stages, i.e. Huyou puree (HP), Huyou wine (HW) and HV-SS, were investigated.

Melatonin protects mouse granulosa cells against oxidative damage by inhibiting FOXO1-mediated autophagy: Implication of an antioxidation-independent mechanism.

Oxidative stress has been described as a prime driver of granulosa cell (GCs) death during follicular atresia. Increasing evidence suggests potential roles of melatonin in protecting GCs from oxidative injury, though the underlying mechanisms remain largely undetermined. Here we first proposed that the inhibition of autophagy through some novel regulators contributes to melatonin-mediated GCs survival under conditions of oxidative stress.

Profiling Analysis Reveals the Potential Contribution of Peptides to Human Adipocyte Differentiation.

Purpose: Peptide drugs provide promising regimes in anti-obesity treatment. In order to identify potential bioactive peptides involved in adipogenesis.

Experimental Design: The intracellular peptides between preadipocytes and adipocytes are compared by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Caspase-10, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and total laminin are correlated with the tumor malignancy of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common malignant kidney tumor, the pathogenesis of which remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether caspase-10, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and total laminin (LM) were involved into the pathogenesis of ccRCC. The levels of caspase-10, MMP-9 and total LM were analyzed by ELISA in tumor tissues and adjacent non-malignant tissues of 27 patients with ccRCC.

Biosensor-Based Active Ingredients Recognition System for Screening STAT3 Ligands from Medical Herbs.

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor-based active ingredients recognition system (SPR-AIRS) was developed, validated, and applied to screen signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) ligands. First, features of the screening system were investigated in four aspects: (1) specificity of the STAT3-immobilized chip, it shows that the chip could be applied to screen STAT3 ligands from complex mixture; (2) linearity and limit of detection (LOD) of the system, the minimum recovery cycle number was determined as 5 cycles; (3) saturability of the chip, the results indicate that it is necessary to select a proper concentration based on the compound's K value; (4) robustness of the system, it indicates that inactive compounds in the matrix could not interfere with active compounds in the process of screening. Next, SPR-AIRS was applied to screen STAT3 ligands from medicinal herbs.

Iron Accumulation Leads to Bone Loss by Inducing Mesenchymal Stem Cell Apoptosis Through the Activation of Caspase3.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a disease associated with bone loss and microstructure degradation. Recent studies have shown that iron accumulation may be a risk factor for OP. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells and precursors to osteoblasts.

Plumbagin, a natural naphthoquinone, inhibits the growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells through inactivation of STAT3.

Although plumbagin, a natural naphthoquinone, has exhibited antiproliferative activity in numerous types of cancer, its anticancer potential in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. In the present study, the effect of plumbagin on the growth of ESCC cells was investigated in vitro and in vivo. ESCC cells were treated with plumbagin and tested for cell cycle distribution and apoptosis.

Combination of comprehensive two-dimensional prostate cancer cell membrane chromatographic system and network pharmacology for characterizing membrane binding active components from Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and their targets.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common and fatal cancer for men and effective treatment options are still not enough for patients. Radix et Rhizoma Rhei had been applied to treat PCa long-termly and effectively when combined with surgical treatment and chemotherapy. However, its active components and target proteins are still not quite clear.

Incorporating platelet-rich plasma into coaxial electrospun nanofibers for bone tissue engineering.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is used in therapy for bone tissue repair because an abundance of osteogenesis-related growth factors can be released from the concentrated platelets. However, its clinical use is limited because growth factors, temporally released from PRP, are degraded rapidly. This study aimed to incorporate PRP-derived growth factors into SF/PCL/PVA nanofibers by coaxial electrospinning to determine the release profiles of growth factors and how the presence of these growth factors enhances the osteogenic abilities of the nanofibers.

The Active Components of Fuzheng Huayu Formula and Their Potential Mechanism of Action in Inhibiting the Hepatic Stellate Cells Viability - A Network Pharmacology and Transcriptomics Approach.

This study aimed to identify the active components of Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) formula and the mechanism by which they inhibit the viability of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) by a combination of network pharmacology and transcriptomics. The active components of FZHY formula were screened out by text mining. Similarity match and molecular docking were used to predict the target proteins of these compounds.

Serum levels of PIICP, PIIANP, and PIIBNP are decreased in patients with an endemic osteochondropathy, Kashin-Beck disease.

Background: Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is an endemic, chronic, degenerative osteoarthropathy. KBD is usually diagnosed by using X-ray image and clinical symptoms, lacking of serological biomarkers. The serum level of PIICP, PIIANP, and PIIBNP can specifically reflect the damage of the cartilage.

Crucial role of oxidative stress in bactericidal effect of parthenolide against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

Background: Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) causes rice bacterial blight, which is one of the most devastating diseases on rice. Parthenolide (PTL) is a sesquiterpene lactone possessing multiple bioactivities.

The relationship between vitronectin and hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 300 million people will suffer from diabetes mellitus by 2025. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is much more prevalent. T2DM comprises approximately 90% of diabetes mellitus cases, and it is caused by a combination of insulin resistance and inadequate compensatory insulin secretory response.