Light-Switchable Polymer Adhesive Based on Photoinduced Reversible Solid-to-Liquid Transitions.

The development of switchable adhesives for reversible bonding and debonding can overcome the problems associated with conventional adhesives in separating, recycling, and repairing glued surfaces. Here, a photoresponsive azobenzene-containing polymer (azopolymer) is developed for photocontrolled adhesion. The azopolymer P1 (poly(6-(4-(-tolyldiazenyl)phenoxy)hexyl acrylate)) exhibits photoinduced reversible solid-to-liquid transitions due to trans-cis photoisomerization.

Genetic parameters and selection response for the harvest body weight of the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in a breeding program in China.

A multi-trait selective breeding program of Macrobrachium rosenbergii was initiated in China in 2015. In this program, the M. rosenbergii resources were widely collected from four countries, the origin of the founders was verified with 16 microsatellites and the pedigree was reconstructed, and the optimum contribution selection was used to make the mating design.

Spatially Engraving Morphological Structure on a Polymeric Surface by Ion Beam Milling.

Polymer surface patterning and modification at the micro/nano scale has been discovered with great impact in applications such as microfluidics and biomedical technologies. We propose a highly efficient fabricating strategy, to achieve a functional polymer surface, which has control over the surface roughness. The key development in this fabrication method is the polymer positive diffusion effect (PDE) for an ion-bombarded polymeric hybrid surface through focused ion beam (FIB) technology.

Dietary compounds have potential in controlling atherosclerosis by modulating macrophage cholesterol metabolism and inflammation via miRNA.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a typical example of a widespread fatal cardiovascular disease. Accumulation of cholesterol-laden macrophages in the artery wall forms the starting point of AS. Increased influx of oxidized low-density lipoprotein to macrophages and decreased efflux of free cholesterol out of macrophages constitute major factors promoting the development of AS.

Reduced Graphene Oxide Heterostructured Silver Nanoparticles Significantly Enhanced Thermal Conductivities in Hot-Pressed Electrospun Polyimide Nanocomposites.

Graphene presents an extremely ultra-high thermal conductivity, well above other known thermally conductive fillers. However, graphene tends to aggregate easily due to its strong intermolecular π-π interaction, resulting in poor dispersion in the polymer matrix. In this study, silver nanoparticles anchored reduced graphene oxide (Ag/rGO) were first prepared using one-pot synchronous reduction of Ag and GO solution via glucose.

Nitrogen-Rich Porous Organic Polyamines for Stabilization of Highly Dispersed Metal Nanoparticles and Catalytic Application.

Nitrogen-rich triazine-based porous organic polyamines (POPa) synthesized via a one-step polycondensation of melamine and 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tribenzaldehyde is employed to synthesize Au and Pd nanoparticles well-dispersed on POPa. The as-prepared POPa-supported Au NPs and Pd NPs (AuNPs@POPa, PdNPs@POPa) with a narrow size distribution show remarkable catalytic activity for the reduction of nitrobenzene compounds and organic dyes and the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction, respectively. Benefitting from POPa the AuNPs@POPa and PdNPs@POPa catalysts can be readily recovered and reused almost without loss of activity.

pH-responsive dithiomaleimide-amphiphilic block copolymer for drug delivery and cellular imaging.

A drug delivery system that is integrated with fluorescent imaging is an emerging platform for tumor diagnostic and therapy. A pH-responsive fluorescent polymer that can respond to the surrounding medium is a desired component with which to construct an advanced drug delivery system with bioimaging characteristics and controllable drug releasing. In this work, we synthesized novel amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(2-(diisopropylamino) ethyl methacrylate-co-dithiomaleimide) (PEG-b-poly(DPA-co-DTM)) and poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(2-(dibutylamino) ethyl methacrylate-co-dithiomaleimide) (PEG-b-poly(DBA-co-DTM)) with pH-responsiveness and fluorescence.

The research of transgenic human nucleus pulposus cell transplantation in the treatment of lumbar disc degeneration.

The present study determines whether the in vivo injection of TGFβ1 and CTGF mediated by AAV2 to transfect nucleus pulposus cells in degenerative lumbar discs can reverse the biological effects of rhesus lumbar disc degeneration. A total of 42 lumbar discs obtained from six rhesus monkeys were classified into three groups: experimental group, control group, and blank group. Degenerative lumbar discs were respectively injected with double gene-transfected human nucleus pulposus cells using minimally invasive techniques.

Improved Energy Storage Performance of Linear Dielectric Polymer Nanodielectrics with Polydopamine coated BN Nanosheets.

Polymer-based nanodielectrics have been intensively investigated for their potential application as energy storage capacitors. However, their relatively low energy density () and discharging efficiency () may greatly limit their practical usage. In present work, high insulating two-dimensional boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS), were introduced into a linear dielectric polymer (P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE)--PMMA) matrix to enhance the energy storage performance of the composite.

Screening of the candidate genes related to low-temperature tolerance of Fenneropenaeus chinensis based on high-throughput transcriptome sequencing.

In order to screen the candidate genes of Fenneropenaeus chinensis related to low-temperature tolerance, this research takes juvenile prawns of F. chinensis (P40) in low temperature stress group (4°C) and normal temperature group (18°C) as experimental materials. The results showed that a total of 127,939 Unigenes with average length of 1,190 bp were obtained by assembly, of which 46% were annotated in the Nr database.

Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis for RNA-Sequencing Data of the Varicose Veins Transcriptome.

Objective: Varicose veins are a common problem worldwide and can cause significant impairments in health-related quality of life, but the etiology and pathogenesis remain not well defined. This study aims to elucidate transcriptomic regulations of varicose veins by detecting differentially expressed genes, pathways and regulator genes.

Methods: We harvested great saphenous veins (GSV) from patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and varicose veins from conventional stripping surgery.

Advances in Biological Liquid Crystals.

Biological liquid crystals, a rich set of soft materials with rod-like structures widely existing in nature, possess typical lyotropic liquid crystalline phase properties both in vitro (e.g., cellulose, peptides, and protein assemblies) and in vivo (e.

Insights into the molecular basis of immunosuppression and increasing pathogen infection severity of ammonia toxicity by transcriptome analysis in pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.

The high concentration of ammonia resulting from intensive culture system and environmental pollution could cause disease occurrence in shrimp, but little information is available on its molecular mechanisms. In this study, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis among WSSV-infected shrimp under ammonia stress (LAV), WSSV-infected shrimp under normal water (LV), and normal shrimp under ammonia stress (LA) groups to identify the key genes and pathways involved in immunosuppression and increasing pathogen infection severity caused by ammonia toxicity in Litopenaeus vannamei. Totally, 526 significantly differential expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in LAV group compared to LV and LA groups, among which 270 genes were lost expressed and 67 genes uniquely expressed in the LAV group.

Tissue-Engineered Trachea Consisting of Electrospun Patterned sc-PLA/GO- g-IL Fibrous Membranes with Antibacterial Property and 3D-Printed Skeletons with Elasticity.

In this study, a tissue-engineered trachea, consisting of multilevel structural electrospun polylactide (PLA) membranes enveloping 3D-printed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) skeletons, was developed to create a mechanically robust, antibacterial and bioresorbable graft for the tracheal reconstruction. The study design incorporated two distinct uses of stereocomplex PLA: patterned electrospun fibers to enhance tissue integration compared to the random layered fibers, meanwhile possessing good antibacterial property; and 3D-printed TPU scaffold with elasticity to provide external support and protection. Herein, ionic liquid (IL)-functioned graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized and presented enhanced mechanical and hydrophilicity properties.

Antifungal effects of thymol and salicylic acid on cell membrane and mitochondria of Rhizopus stolonifer and their application in postharvest preservation of tomatoes.

This study investigated effects of the simultaneous application of thymol and salicylic acid (SIM) on the target sites of Rhizopus stolonifer, as well as the defenceenzymes of postharvest tomato, when applied as edible coating. SIM induced the changes of ultrastructure and membrane integrity of R. stolonifer.

Crosstalk between cytokinin and ethylene signaling pathways regulates leaf abscission in cotton in response to chemical defoliants.

Abscission is a process that allows plants to shed tissues or organs via cell separation, and occurs throughout the life cycle. Removal of leaves through the use of chemical defoliants is very important for mechanical harvesting of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). However, our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of the defoliation response involved is limited.

Membrane damage mechanism contributes to inhibition of trans-cinnamaldehyde on Penicillium italicum using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS).

The antifungal mechanism of essential oils against fungi remains in the shallow study. In this paper, antifungal mechanism of trans-cinnamaldehyde against Penicillium italicum was explored. Trans-cinnamaldehyde exhibited strong mycelial growth inhibition against Penicillium italicum, with minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.

Penaeid shrimp genome provides insights into benthic adaptation and frequent molting.

Crustacea, the subphylum of Arthropoda which dominates the aquatic environment, is of major importance in ecology and fisheries. Here we report the genome sequence of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, covering ~1.66 Gb (scaffold N50 605.

Comparative transcriptomic characterization of the eyestalk in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) during ovarian maturation.

In crustaceans, some of fundamental regulatory processes related to a range of physiological functions, including ovarian maturation, molting, glucose homeostasis, osmoregulation, etc., occur in the organs of the eyestalk. Additionally, reproduction is regulated by neuropeptide hormones and other proteins released from secretory sites (X-organ/sinus gland, XO/SG) within the eyestalk.

Resistance against Ralstonia solanacearum in tomato depends on the methionine cycle and the γ-aminobutyric acid metabolic pathway.

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a complex and destructive disease that affects over 200 plant species. To investigate the interaction of R. solanacearum and its tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant host, a comparative proteomic analysis was conducted in tomato stems inoculated with highly and mildly aggressive R.

Exosomes of Endothelial Progenitor Cells Inhibit Neointima Formation After Carotid Artery Injury.

Background: Exosomes released from endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a protective role in various disease models. Both endothelial cell (EC) damage and smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation are involved in the pathological process of restenosis after angioplasty and stenting. Few studies have focused on the therapeutic role of exosomes in EC damage and SMC proliferation.