A Series of Endohedral Metallo-BN Fullerene Superatomic Structures.

Superatoms are crucial in the assembly of functional and optoelectronic materials. This study investigates the endohedral metallo-boron nitride [boron nitride (BN)] fullerenes U@BN, Cm@BN, and U@BN in theory. Our findings confirm that U@BN, Cm@BN, and U@BN are superatoms and their electronic configurations are 1P1S1D1F2P2S2D2F3P, 1P1S1D1F1G1H2S2P2D2F, and 1P1S1D1F2P2S2D2F, respectively.

Identification of a Prognostic Model Based on NK Cell-Related Genes in Multiple Myeloma Using Single-Cell and Transcriptomic Data Analysis.

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM), an incurable plasma cell malignancy. The significance of the relationship between natural killer (NK) cell-related genes and clinical factors in MM remains unclear.

Methods: Initially, we extracted NK cell-related genes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy donors and MM samples by employing single-cell transcriptome data analysis in TISCH2.

ERRα protects against sepsis-induced acute lung injury in rats.

Background: Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is associated with poor survival rates. The identification of potential therapeutic targets for preventing sepsis-induced ALI has clinical importance. This study aims to investigate the role of estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) in sepsis-induced ALI.

YY1 was indispensable for the alleviation of quercetin on diabetic nephropathy-associated tubulointerstitial inflammation.

Background: The emergence of tubulointerstitial inflammation (TI) could accelerate the development of tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Yin Yang 1 (YY1) was a new pro-inflammatory mediator and became the important target of DN-related TIF. Quercetin performed an effective role in anti-inflammation and was probable to bind to YY1.

Ordered nanostructures arrays fabricated by anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template-directed methods for energy conversion.

Clean and efficient energy conversion systems can overcome the depletion of the fossil fuel and meet the increasing demand of the energy. Ordered nanostructures arrays convert energy more efficiently than their disordered counterparts, by virtue of their structural merits. Among various fabrication methods of these ordered nanostructures arrays, anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template-directed fabrication have drawn increasing attention due to its low cost, high throughput, flexibility and high structural controllability.

Gas-Flow-Assisted Wrinkle-Free Transfer of a Centimeter-Scale Ultrathin Alumina Membrane onto Arbitrary Substrates.

The transfer of an ultrathin membrane onto arbitrary substrates is important in different practical fields. Conventional wet-transfer methods inevitably induce wrinkle defects as a result of the large contact angle of the trapped droplet between the membrane and the substrate. Here, we demonstrate a gas flow-assisted method (GFAM) to transfer centimeter (cm)-scale ultrathin membranes onto arbitrary substrates (including a curved substrate) without wrinkles.

Inhibition of ERR Aggravates Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats via Provoking Inflammation and Oxidative Stress.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are critical pathologies that contribute to sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). This study investigated the regulatory role of estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERR) in an experimental model of sepsis-induced ALI. , a cecal ligation and puncture- (CLP-) induced ALI model was established in anesthetized rats.

[Influences of estrogen-related receptor α on pulmonary vascular endothelium of rats undergoing sepsis].

Objective: To investigate influences of estrogen-related receptor α(ERRα) on pulmonary vascular endothelium of rats undergoing sepsis.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups according to the random number table method (12 in each group): normal control group (NC group), sham operation group (Sham group), sepsis model caused by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group (CLP group), XCT790 intervention group (XCT790 group, given the XCT790 2.5 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection 30 minutes before CLP).

Inhibition of MRP4 alleviates sepsis-induced acute lung injury in rats.

This study was undertaken to examine the regulatory role of multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4) in an experimental model of sepsis-induced acute lung injury in rats. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture in anesthetized rats. Animals were then randomly assigned to receive intravenous injection of vehicle or MRP4 inhibitor (MK571, 20 mg/kg).

[Effect of multidrug resistant associated protein 4 overexpression on lipopolysaccharide-induced vascular endothelial hyperpermeability and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the effect of multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) overexpression on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced vascular endothelial hyperpermeability of rat pulmonary micro-vascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) and its molecule mechanism.

Methods: Three to six passages of PMVECs were cultured in vitro, and they were divided into three groups: the cells in LPS group were only challenged by LPS 10 μg/mL after being cultured in serum-free medium for 24 hours; the cells in Ad-shRNA and Ad-MRP4 groups were infected with the empty virus control or recombinant adenovirus expressing MRP4 for 2 hours, and then were cultured in serum-free medium for 24 hours followed by stimulation of LPS 10 μg/mL. Endothelial permeability was assayed by the Transwell chamber models at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours after LPS stimulation.

Identification and Characterization of Pathogenic and Endophytic Fungal Species Associated with Pokkah Boeng Disease of Sugarcane.

Pokkah Boeng is a serious disease of sugarcane, which can lead to devastating yield losses in crop-producing regions, including southern China. However, there is still uncertainty about the causal agent of the disease. Our aim was to isolate and characterize the pathogen through morphological, physiological, and molecular analyses.

Growth of Fe(3)O(4) nanorod arrays on graphene sheets for application in electromagnetic absorption fields.

A facial strategy is developed to fabricate a three-dimensional (3D) Fe3 O4 nanorod array/graphene architecture, in which Fe3 O4 nanorods with a length and diameter of about 600 and 100 nm, respectively, are grown on both surfaces of the graphene sheets. The measured electromagnetic parameters show that the 3D architecture exhibits excellent electromagnetic wave-absorption properties, that is, more than 99 % of electromagnetic wave energy can be attenuated by the 3D architecture if it is added in only 20 wt % of the paraffin matrix, as the thickness of the absorber is in the range from 2.38 to 5.

Marek's disease virus infection induces widespread differential chromatin marks in inbred chicken lines.

Background: Marek's disease (MD) is a neoplastic disease in chickens caused by the MD virus (MDV). Successful vaccine development against MD has resulted in increased virulence of MDV and the understanding of genetic resistance to the disease is, therefore, crucial to long-term control strategies. Also, epigenetic factors are believed to be one of the major determinants of disease response.

Annonaceous acetogenin mimics bearing a terminal lactam and their cytotoxicity against cancer cells.

Annonaceous acetogenins are a large class of naturally occurring polyketides exhibiting potent anticancer activities. Based on our previous discovery of AA005, a multi-ether mimic of natural acetogenins having potent antitumor activities and significant selectivity between normal cells and cancer cells, a new series of mimics containing a terminal lactam were designed, synthesized and evaluated. Bioactivity study against cancer cells shows that the N-methylated lactam-containing compounds 3, 4, and 5 exhibit comparable potencies to that of AA005, as well as the similar selectivity to cancer cells.