Properties of L. extract Pickering emulsion stabilized by carbon dots and its potential use in cosmetics.

L. () is a species of fern used in traditional Chinese medicine, however, its application in cosmetics has not yet been studied. This study obtained extract using 70% ethanol solution and evaporation.

Aluminium stress-induced modulation of root gravitropism in pea (Pisum sativum) via auxin signalling.

Aluminium (Al) toxicity stands out as a primary cause of crop failure in acidic soils. The root gravity setpoint angle (GSA), one of the important traits of the root system architecture (RSA), plays a pivotal role in enabling plants to adapt to abiotic stress. This study explored the correlation between GSA and Al stress using hydroponic culture with pea (Pisum sativum) plants.

Decoding the Pathway-Dependent Self-Assembly of Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticles by Ligand Crystallization.

Functional metamaterials can be constructed by assembling nanoparticles (NPs) into well-ordered structures, which show fascinating properties at different length scales. Using polymer-grafted NPs (PGNPs) as a building block, flexible composite metamaterials can be obtained, of which the structure is significantly affected by the property of polymer ligands. Here, it is demonstrated that the crystallization of polymer ligands determines the assembly behavior of NPs and reveal a pathway-dependent self-assembly of PGNPs into different metastructures in solution.

Hole Transport Layer-Free Low-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells for Efficient All-Perovskite Tandems.

Low-bandgap (LBG, E  ≈1.25 eV) tin-lead (Sn-Pb) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) play critical roles in constructing efficient all-perovskite tandem solar cells (TSCs) that can surpass the efficiency limit of single-junction solar cells. However, the traditional poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hole transport layer (HTL) in LBG PSCs usually restricts device efficiency and stability.

Impact of ternary NADES prepared from proline, glucose and water on the Maillard reaction: Reaction activity, Amadori compound yield, and taste-enhancing ability.

This study employed proline, glucose, and water to prepare natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) through heating and stirring. The Maillard reaction was then performed, producing a high yield of Amadori rearrangement product (ARP) and physicochemical properties of NADES were examined for impacts on the reaction. Water had a dual function by promoting the formation of hydrogen bonding networks within the NADES when present at less than 15%, and also working as a diluting agent that could potentially disturb its structure when exceed 15%.

Nonlinear relationship between sleep midpoint and depression symptoms: a cross-sectional study of US adults.

Background: Despite the close relationship between sleep-wake cycles and depression symptoms, the relationship between sleep midpoint and depression symptoms in adults remains understudied.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 18280 adults aged ≥ 18 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2020 were analyzed. Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, marital status, family income, body mass index, smoking status, drinking status, physical activity, comorbid condition, sleep duration, and sleep disturbance were adjusted in multivariate regression models.

MOF Template-Derived Carbon Shell-Embedded CoP Hierarchical Nanosheet as Bifunctional Catalyst for Overall Water Splitting.

The design of earth-abundant and highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reactions (HER/OER) is crucial for hydrogen production through overall water splitting. Herein, we report a novel nanostructure consisting of vertically oriented CoP hierarchical nanosheet arrays with in situ-assembled carbon skeletons on a Ti foil electrode. The novel Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67) template-derived hierarchical nanosheet architecture effectively improved electrical conductivity, facilitated electrolyte transport, and increased the exposure of the active sites.

Co-inhibition of adenosine 2b receptor and programmed death-ligand 1 promotes the recruitment and cytotoxicity of natural killer cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenosine promotes anti-tumor immune responses by modulating the functions of T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells in the tumor microenvironment; however, the role of adenosine receptors in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its effects on immune checkpoint therapy remain unclear. In this study, we obtained the tumor tissues from 80 OSCC patients admitted at the Shandong University Qilu Hospital between February 2014 and December 2016. Thereafter, we detected the expression of adenosine 2b receptor (A2BR) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) using immunohistochemical staining and analyzed the association between their expression in different regions of the tumor tissues, such as tumor nest, border, and paracancer stroma.

Serum soluble immune checkpoint levels predict cervical lymph node metastasis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients.

Background: Cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) is common in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC); however, the efficiency to distinguish CLNM before surgery is limited. T cell exhaustion, characterized by the overexpression of immune checkpoints, plays a critical role in the immune evasion of tumors. The aim of this study is to analyze the association between serum levels of soluble immune checkpoints (sICs) and CLNM in DTC patients.

Large-Area Arrays of Polymer-Tethered Gold Nanorods with Controllable Orientation and Their Application in Nano-Floating-Gate Memory Devices.

In this work, it is reported that large-area (centimeter-scale) arrays of non-close-packed polystyrene-tethered gold nanorod (AuNR@PS) can be prepared through a liquid-liquid interfacial assembly method. Most importantly, the orientation of AuNRs in the arrays can be controlled by changing the intensity and direction of electric field applied in the solvent annealing process. The interparticle distance of AuNR can be tuned by varying the length of polymer ligands.

Electric, magnetic, and shear field-directed assembly of inorganic nanoparticles.

Ordered assemblies of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) have shown tremendous potential for wide applications due to their unique collective properties, which differ from those of individual NPs. Various assembly methods, such as external field-directed assembly, interfacial assembly, template assembly, biomolecular recognition-mediated assembly, confined assembly, and others, have been employed to generate ordered inorganic NP assemblies with hierarchical structures. Among them, the external field-directed assembly method is particularly fascinating, as it can remotely assemble NPs into well-ordered superstructures.

Transient post-operative overexpression of CXCR2 on monocytes of traumatic brain injury patients drives monocyte chemotaxis toward cerebrospinal fluid and enhances monocyte-mediated immunogenic cell death of neurons in vitro.

Background: After traumatic brain injury (TBI), peripheral monocytes infiltrate into the central nervous system due to disruption of the blood-brain barrier, and play an important role in neuroinflammation. However, the mechanisms regulating the movement and function of peripheral monocytes after TBI have not been fully investigated.

Methods: TBI patients who underwent surgery at our hospital were recruited.

Back Interface Passivation for Efficient Low-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells and Photodetectors.

Low-bandgap (E~1.25 eV) mixed tin-lead (Sn-Pb) perovskites are promising candidates for efficient solar cells and self-powered photodetectors; however, they suffer from huge amounts of defects due to the unintentional p-type self-doping. In this work, the synergistic effects of maltol and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were achieved to improve the performance of low-bandgap perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and unbiased perovskite photodetectors (PPDs) by passivating the defects and tuning charge transfer dynamics.

Low Band Gap Perovskite Concentrator Solar Cells: Physics, Device Simulation, and Experiment.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) own rapidly increasing power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), but their concentrated counterparts (i.e., PCSCs) show a much lower performance.

The Application Value of Syndecan-2 Gene Methylation for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis: A Clinical Study and Meta-Analyses.

Objective: Syndecan-2 (SDC2) methylation has been previously reported as a sensitive biomarker for the early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC). Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is the latest development of PCR technology. It can accurately detect and quantify the target sequence of nucleic acid.

Decreased CXCR2 expression on circulating monocytes of colorectal cancer impairs recruitment and induces Re-education of tumor-associated macrophages.

Though circulating monocytes are the main source of tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), the regulatory mechanisms of their recruitment to tumours and further differentiation remain unclear. In the present study, we observed a significant decrease in CXCR2 expression in classical circulating monocytes of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly those in the late TNM stage. The percentage of CXCR2 monocytes was negatively associated with systemic inflammatory markers and positively associated with intratumoural immunocyte infiltration.

CD68 Macrophage Infiltration Associates With Poor Outcome of HPV Negative Oral Squamous Carcinoma Patients Receiving Radiation: Poly(I:C) Enhances Radiosensitivity of CAL-27 Cells but Promotes Macrophage Recruitment Through HMGB1.

Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) negative oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) generally have poor clinical outcomes and worse responses to radiotherapy. It is urgent to explore the underlining mechanisms of the distinct prognoses between HPV negative and HPV positive OSCC and to develop effective therapy strategy to increase the survival rate of HPV negative OSCC patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort of 99 resected OSCC patients to evaluate the prognosis of HPV negative and HPV positive OSCC patients receiving radiation or not.

Acquired Perforating Dermatosis Induced by PD-1 Inhibitor: A Case Report.

Acquired perforating dermatoses (APDs) are a group of diverse skin disorders in patients with systemic disease, most commonly chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus. APD induced by medication has seldom been reported. Anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody has recently been used as a broad-spectrum, effective, durable, and relatively safe antitumor therapy for various malignancies.

Halogen-Bond Mediated 3D Confined Assembly of AB Diblock Copolymer and C Homopolymer Blends.

Halogen-bond driven assembly, a world parallel to hydrogen-bond, has emerged as an attractive tool for constructing (macro)molecular arrangement. However, knowledge about halogen-bond mediated confined-assembly in emulsion droplets is limited so far. An I N bond mediated confined-assembly pathway to enable order-order phase transitions is reported here.

Using machine learning to develop an autoverification system in a clinical biochemistry laboratory.

Objectives: Autoverification systems have greatly improved laboratory efficiency. However, the long-developed rule-based autoverfication models have limitations. The machine learning (ML) algorithm possesses unique advantages in the evaluation of large datasets.

Identification and Verification of Molecular Subtypes with Enhanced Immune Infiltration Based on m6A Regulators in Cutaneous Melanoma.

Background: As the most aggressive type of skin cancer, cutaneous melanoma (CM) is experiencing a rapidly rising mortality in recent years. Exploring potential prognostic biomarkers or mechanisms of disease progression therefore has a great significance for CM. The purpose of this study was to identify genetic markers and prognostic performance of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators in CM.

Human Decidual Stromal Cells in Early Pregnancy Induce Functional Re-Programming of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Crosstalk Between G-CSF and IL-1β.

Accumulation of dendritic cells (DCs) is a special characteristic of the decidual microenvironment. Decidua-infiltrated DCs show unique phenotypes and functions that promote the establishment of fetal-maternal tolerance. However, the regulatory mechanisms yet to be fully investigated.

IL-6 expression promoted by Poly(I:C) in cervical cancer cells regulates cytokine expression and recruitment of macrophages.

Poly(I:C) is a promising adjuvant for cancer treatment vaccines to enhance the host anti-tumour immune response. However, the roles of poly(I:C) in the cervical cancer microenvironment and local immune reactions are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the roles of poly(I:C) in the cervical cancer.

PolyI:C Upregulated CCR5 and Promoted THP-1-Derived Macrophage Chemotaxis via TLR3/JMJD1A Signalling.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the specific roles of polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) in macrophage chemotaxis and reveal the potential regulatory mechanisms related to chemokine receptor 5 ().

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, THP-1-derived macrophages (THP1-Mφs) induced from THP- 1 monocytes were treated with 25 μg/mL polyI:C. Toll-like receptor 3 (), Jumonji domain-containing protein (JMJD)1A, and small interfering RNA (siRNAs) were transfected into THP1-Mφs.

An RNA-binding protein MUG13.4 interacts with AtAGO2 to modulate salinity tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Salt stress is a major constraint to plant growth and development, and plants have developed sophisticated mechanisms to cope with it. AtAGO2, an argonaute protein, is known to play an important role in plant adaptation to salt stress; however, the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon remains essentially unexplored. Here, we performed the yeast two-hybrid assay and found an R3H-domain containing protein, designated as MUG13.