Developing high-performance and sustainable polylactic acid/recycled polyolefin blends: Tuning the degree of functional group reaction and performance optimization.

In the current development of the plastics industry, the use of biodegradable and recycled plastics not only effectively reduces the volume of landfills and incineration but also significantly decreases environmental damage. However, the extensive application of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) is limited by its poor toughness and thermal properties. The study introduced recycled linear low-density polyethylene (R-LLDPE) and ethylene-octene copolymer (POE) to modify PLA, primarily based on their excellent toughness and thermal resistance.

Synergistic effects of dual reactive compatibilizers for high-performance fully biodegradable polylactic acid/poly (butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate) composites.

The PLA-g-(GMA-co-St) graft copolymer (PGS) was prepared using melt-free radical grafting technology, PGS and ESO were simultaneously employed as compatibilizers for the poly (lactic acid)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) blends. The effects of the type and amount of compatibilizers on the properties of the blends were studied. The results reveal that the epoxy groups in PGS and ESO can interact with the terminal groups of PLA and PBAT.

Yield stress and zeta potential-pH behaviour of washed spherical α-AlO particles with anionic additives: Particle force and ChemBio 3D simulation.

The yield stress- and zeta potential-pH behaviour of washed spherical α-AlO suspension with and without three typical anionic additives were characterized. The zero zeta potential or isoelectric point (IEP) of washed α-AlO particles locates at pH∼ 9.5.

Microarray analysis of signalling interactions between inflammation and angiogenesis in subchondral bone in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

Inflammation and angiogenesis, the major pathological changes of osteoarthritis (OA), are closely associated with joint pain; however, pertinent signalling interactions within subchondral bone of osteoarthritic joints and potential contribution to the peripheral origin of OA pain remain to be elucidated. Herein we developed a unilateral anterior crossbite mouse model with osteoarthritic changes in the temporomandibular joint. Microarray-based transcriptome analysis, besides quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

Near-Infrared II Fluorescence Imaging and Image-Guided siRNA Therapy of Atherosclerosis.

Targeting Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase γ (CaMKIIγ) in macrophages using RNAi nanotechnology represents an innovative and promising strategy in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, it remains elusive because of the current challenges associated with the systemic delivery of siRNA nanoparticle (NP) to atheromatous plaques and the complexity of atherosclerotic plaques. Here, we demonstrate the potential of a thienothiadiazole-based near-infrared-II (NIR-II) organic aggregation-induced emission (AIE) platform encapsulated with the Camk2g siRNA to effectively target CaMKIIγ in macrophages for dynamic imaging and image-guided gene therapy of atherosclerosis.

Interorgan communication in neurogenic heterotopic ossification: the role of brain-derived extracellular vesicles.

Brain-derived extracellular vesicles participate in interorgan communication after traumatic brain injury by transporting pathogens to initiate secondary injury. Inflammasome-related proteins encapsulated in brain-derived extracellular vesicles can cross the blood‒brain barrier to reach distal tissues. These proteins initiate inflammatory dysfunction, such as neurogenic heterotopic ossification.

Upregulated Mitochondrial Dynamics Is Responsible for the Procatabolic Changes of Chondrocyte Induced by α2-Adrenergic Signal Activation.

Objective: Activation of sympathetic tone is important for cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis (OA). Recent studies reported that sympathetic signals can affect the mitochondrial function of target cells. It is unknown whether this effect exits in chondrocytes and affects chondrocyte catabolism.

Differences in Toxoplasma gondii distribution in different muscle and viscera of naturally infected sheep.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a zoonotic parasite that can cause serious pathology in intermediate hosts such as humans and animals. Eating undercooked or raw meat is the most important route of infection by T.

Macrophage-Derived Extracellular DNA Initiates Heterotopic Ossification.

Heterotopic ossification (HO) severely affects people's lives; however, its pathological mechanism remains poorly understood. Although extracellular DNA (ecDNA) has been shown to play important roles in pathological calcification, its effects in HO development and progression remain unknown. The in vivo rat Achilles tendon injury model and in vitro collagen I calcification model were used to evaluate the effects of ecDNA in the ectopic calcifications and the main cell types involved in those pathological process.

Fibrotic Matrix Induces Mesenchymal Transformation of Epithelial Cells in Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a potentially malignant disorder of the oral mucosa; however, whether and how the fibrotic matrix of OSF is involved in the malignant transformation of epithelial cells remains unknown. Herein, oral mucosa tissue from patients with OSF, OSF rat models, and their controls were used to observe the extracellular matrix changes and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) in fibrotic lesions. Compared with controls, oral mucous tissues from patients with OSF showed an increased number of myofibroblasts, a decreased number of blood vessels, and increased type I and type III collagen levels.

A biomaterial-based therapy using a sodium hyaluronate/bioglass composite hydrogel for the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic, inflammatory and potentially malignant oral disorder. Its pathophysiology is extremely complex, including excessive collagen deposition, massive inflammatory infiltration, and capillary atrophy. However, the existing clinical treatment methods do not fully take into account all the pathophysiological processes of OSF, so they are generally low effective and have many side effects.

Study on the effect of koumiss on reactivation of infection.

is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects nucleated cells of all warm-blooded animals, and most patients have latent infections. The latent infection will be reactivated in the immunocompromised or immunocompromised individuals, which will lead to severe toxoplasmosis. At present, less research has been focused on the reactivation of infection.

Study on the antagonistic effects of koumiss on infection in mice.

is an important food-borne zoonotic parasite, and approximately one-third of people worldwide are positive for antibodies. To date, there are no specific drugs or vaccines against . Therefore, developing a new safe and effective method has become a new trend in treating toxoplasmosis.

[Regulation of plant iron homeostasis by abscisic acid: a review].

Iron (Fe) is an important trace element involved in many important plant physiological and metabolic processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen metabolism. Plants maintain iron homeostasis through absorption, transporting, storage and redistribution of iron. Iron metabolism is strictly regulated in plants.

Improving Multispike Learning With Plastic Synaptic Delays.

Emulating the spike-based processing in the brain, spiking neural networks (SNNs) are developed and act as a promising candidate for the new generation of artificial neural networks that aim to produce efficient cognitions as the brain. Due to the complex dynamics and nonlinearity of SNNs, designing efficient learning algorithms has remained a major difficulty, which attracts great research attention. Most existing ones focus on the adjustment of synaptic weights.

Clinical Evaluation of High-Resolution MRI Combined With DWI in Identifying Vulnerable Carotid Plaque.

Background: High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging combined with diffusion weighted imaging is used to identify vulnerable plaques (VP) and their characteristic components, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) correlation analysis with serum inflammatory markers to assess plaque vulnerability.

Methods: In this study, 60 eligible patients were included, including 29 patients in VP group and 31 patients in non-VP group (N group). The average ADC value, serum inflammatory marker levels (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) of the 2 groups were measured, and the characteristics of different plaque components and ADC levels of vascular wall in VP group were compared, to evaluate the correlation between serum inflammatory markers and the mean value of plaque ADC.

Study on the effect of koumiss on the intestinal microbiota of mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide food-borne parasite that can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. To date, there are no effective drugs to prevent or eradicate T. gondii infection.

Organic NIR-II dyes with ultralong circulation persistence for image-guided delivery and therapy.

Nanocarriers hold great promise for the controlled release of therapeutic payloads to target organs/tissues and extended duration of anticancer agents in the bloodstream. However, limited data on their in vivo pharmacokinetics and delivery process hamper clinical applications. Here we report a series of micellar nanocarriers self-assembled from new-generation thiophenthiadiazole (TTD)-based NIR-II fluorophores HLAnP (n = 1-4) for simultaneous bioimaging and drug delivery.

A small molecule nanodrug consisting of pH-sensitive ortho ester-dasatinib conjugate for cancer therapy.

The main objective of this paper is to develop a self-delivered prodrug system with nanoscale characteristics to enhance the efficacy of tumor therapy. The pH-sensitive prodrug was composed of ortho ester-linked dasatinib (DAS-OE), which was further self-assembled with or without doxorubicin (DOX) to obtain two carrier-free nanoparticles (DOX/DAS-OE NPs or DAS-OE NPs). The prodrug-based nanoparticles united the superiorities of small molecules and nano-assemblies together and displayed well-defined structure, uniform spherical shape, high drug loading ratio and on-demand drug release behavior.

pH-sensitive deoxycholic acid dimer for improving doxorubicin delivery and antitumor activity in vivso.

To develop simple and effective nano-drug delivery systems remains a major challenge in cancer treatment. Herein, we synthesized an ortho ester-linked deoxycholic acid dimer (DCA-OE), which could effectively self-assemble with doxorubicin (DOX) to form stable nanoparticles (DCA-OE/DOX NPs) by a single emulsion method. DCA-based nanoparticles had a desirable size (∼200 nm), morphology (spherical shape), and high drug encapsulation (drug loading content of ∼18.

Hierarchical WS@NiCoO Core-shell Heterostructure Arrays Supported on Carbon Cloth as High-Performance Electrodes for Symmetric Flexible Supercapacitors.

Nowadays, rationally preparing heterostructure materials can not only make up for the shortage of individual components, but also exert unexpected performance through synergistic interactions between the components. Herein, a core-shell of WS@NiCoO screw-like heterostructure arrays grown on carbon cloth (CC) was prepared by a two-step solvothermal method for supercapacitors. As a binder-free flexible electrode, a high areal capacitance of 2449.

pH-sensitive carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels via acid-labile ortho ester linkage as an implantable drug delivery system.

A series of pH-sensitive carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogels were prepared via ortho ester linkage. DOX-loaded gelatin nanoparticles with an average diameter of around 50 nm were incorporated into hydrogels to obtain hybrid hydrogels (DOX-NPs-Gel), which could be locally implanted into tumor site in any shape. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of these hydrogels could be easily controlled by adjusting the proportion of crosslinking agent.