Curzerene Induces Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer Cells Through Inhibition of MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway.

Objective: To investigate the anticancer activity of curzerene in colorectal cancer (CRC) in vitro and in vivo models.

Methods: HT29 and HCT8 cells were treated with different concentrations of curzerene (0, 20, 40, and 60 µg/mL) for 24 h. Cell viability was assessed using cell counting kit 8 assay, and cell proliferation was detected by colony-formation, then apoptosis rate was assessed by flow cytometry analysis.

A bio-inspired microwave wireless system for constituting passive and maintenance-free IoT networks.

With the rapid expansion of wireless networks, the deployment and long-term maintenance of distributed microwave terminals have become increasingly challenging. To address these issues, we present a bio-inspired microwave system to constitute passive and maintenance-free wireless networks. Drawing inspiration from vertebrate skeletons and skins, we employ stimuli-responsive polymer with tunable stiffness to support and protect sensitive electromagnetic structures, and synthesize self-healable skin-like polymer for system encapsulation.

Effects of Cr Doping on Spinel LiMnO Morphology and Electrochemical Performance.

LiMnO, a significant cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, has garnered considerable attention due to its low cost and environmental friendliness. However, its widespread application is constrained by its rapid capacity degradation and short cycle life at elevated temperatures. To enhance the electrochemical performance of LiMnO, we employed a liquid-phase co-precipitation and calcination method to incorporate Cr into the LiMnO cathode material, successfully synthesizing a series of LiCrMnO (x = 0~0.

Effects of Ti Doping on the Structural Stability and Electrochemical Performance of Layered P2-NaMnO Cathodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

The P2-NaMnO cathode material has long been constrained by phase transitions induced by the Jahn-Teller (J-T) effect during charge-discharge cycles, leading to suboptimal electrochemical performance. In this study, we employed a liquid phase co-precipitation method to incorporate Ti during the precursor MnO synthesis, followed by calcination to obtain NaTiMnO materials. We investigated the effects of Ti doping on the structure, morphology, Mn concentration, and Na diffusion coefficients of NaTiMnO.

Multilevel Printed Wearable Radio-Frequency Intelligent Identification Platform for Object Recognition.

As a noncontact target recognition technique, radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology demonstrates attractive potential in constructing human-machine interaction (HMI) systems. However, the current development of RFID technologies in HMI systems is hampered by critical challenges in manufacturing high-performance RFID readers with superior flexibility and wearing comfort. Hence, we propose a multilevel printing strategy to overcome the difficulties in manufacturing high-performance large-scale microwave systems.

Cortical circuit dynamics underlying motor skill learning: from rodents to humans.

Motor learning is crucial for the survival of many animals. Acquiring a new motor skill involves complex alterations in both local neural circuits in many brain regions and long-range connections between them. Such changes can be observed anatomically and functionally.

Value of a preoperative prognostic nutritional index for the prognostic evaluation of gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma patients.

Objective: To study the value of Onodera's prognostic nutrition index (PNI) in patients with gastric neuroendocrine cancer (G-NEC).

Methods: The clinical data on 148 cases of G-NEC presented between March 2010 and April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the clinical characteristics of the patients and PNI was analyzed.

Ammonium sulfate supplementation enhances erythromycin biosynthesis by augmenting intracellular metabolism and precursor supply in Saccharopolyspora erythraea.

In this study, the cellular metabolic mechanisms regarding ammonium sulfate supplementation on erythromycin production were investigated by employing targeted metabolomics and metabolic flux analysis. The results suggested that the addition of ammonium sulfate stimulates erythromycin biosynthesis. Targeted metabolomics analysis uncovered that the addition of ammonium sulfate during the late stage of fermentation resulted in an augmented intracellular amino acid metabolism pool, guaranteeing an ample supply of precursors for organic acids and coenzyme A-related compounds.

The effect of single-cell knockout of Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein on synaptic structural plasticity.

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the best-known form of inherited intellectual disability caused by the loss-of-function mutation in a single gene. The gene mutation abolishes the expression of Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein (FMRP), which regulates the expression of many synaptic proteins. Cortical pyramidal neurons in postmortem FXS patient brains show abnormally high density and immature morphology of dendritic spines; this phenotype is replicated in the knockout (KO) mouse.

Patient-Derived Organoids from Locally Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinomas Can Predict Resistance to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Background: Patients (pts) with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (LAGA) often receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A minority of patients do not respond to chemotherapy and thus may benefit from upfront surgery. Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) are an in vitro model that may mimic the chemotherapy response of the original tumors.

A Study on the Dynamic Tunning Range of CVD Graphene at Microwave Frequency: Determination, Prediction and Application.

In recent years, graphene has shown great application prospects in tunable microwave devices due to its tunable conductivity. However, the electromagnetic (EM) properties of graphene, especially the dynamic tunning characteristics, are largely dependent on experimental results, and thus are unable to be effectively predicted according to growth parameters, which causes great difficulties in the design of graphene-based tunable microwave devices. In this work, we systematically explored the impact of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) parameters on the dynamic tunning range of graphene.

Stretchable and self-healable spoof plasmonic meta-waveguide for wearable wireless communication system.

Microwave transmission lines in wearable systems are easily damaged after frequent mechanical deformation, posing a severe threat to wireless communication. Here, we report a new strategy to achieve stretchable microwave transmission lines with superior reliability and durability by integrating a self-healable elastomer with serpentine-geometry plasmonic meta-waveguide to support the spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP). After mechanical damage, the self-healable elastomer can autonomously repair itself to maintain the electromagnetic performance and mechanical strength.

Reconstruction of the Genome-Scale Metabolic Model of and Its Application in the Overproduction of Erythromycin.

is considered to be an effective host for erythromycin. However, little is known about the regulation in terms of its metabolism. To develop an accurate model-driven strategy for the efficient production of erythromycin, a genome-scale metabolic model (iJL1426) was reconstructed for the industrial strain.

Dictyophora Polysaccharide Attenuates As-Mediated PINK1/Parkin Pathway-Induced Mitophagy in L-02 Cell through Scavenging ROS.

Arsenic (As) is common in the human living environment and a certain amount of exposure to As can lead to liver damage; this toxic effect has been proved to be closely related to intracellular PINK1/Parkin pathway-mediated mitophagy. Dictyophora is an edible fungus that extracts polysaccharides with antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. In the present study, we demonstrated that As induced the onset of mitophagy in hepatocytes by stimulating cellular production of ROS to activate PINK1/Parkin, and the extent of damage increased with increased As-induced toxicity.

Serotonergic Psychedelics in Neural Plasticity.

Psychedelics, compounds that can induce dramatic changes in conscious experience, have been used by humans for centuries. Recent studies have shown that certain psychedelics can induce neural plasticity by promoting neurite growth and synapse formation. In this review, we focus on the role of classical serotonergic psychedelics in neural plasticity and discuss its implication for their therapeutic potentials.

Stress induces microglia-associated synaptic circuit alterations in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex.

The mammalian dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) receives diverse inputs and plays important roles in adaptive behavior and cognitive flexibility. Stress, a major risk factor for many psychiatric disorders, compromises the structure and function of multiple brain regions and circuits. Here we show that 7-day restraint stress impairs reversal learning in the 4-choice odor discrimination test, a decision-making task requiring an intact dmPFC.

An analog of psychedelics restores functional neural circuits disrupted by unpredictable stress.

Psychological stress affects a wide spectrum of brain functions and poses risks for many mental disorders. However, effective therapeutics to alleviate or revert its deleterious effects are lacking. A recently synthesized psychedelic analog tabernanthalog (TBG) has demonstrated anti-addictive and antidepressant potential.

Dual-Labeled Graphene Quantum Dot-Based Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Nanoprobes for Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy.

Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM)-based super-resolution imaging techniques (, photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM)/stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM)) require that the employed optical nanoprobes possess fluorescence intensity fluctuations under certain excitation conditions. Here, we present a dual-labeled graphene quantum dot (GQD)-based Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) nanoprobe, which is suitable for SMLM imaging. The nanoprobe is constructed by attaching Alexa Fluor 488 (AF488) and Alexa Fluor 568 (AF568) dye molecules onto GQDs.

Ropivacaine inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion while inducing apoptosis of glioma cells by regulating the SNHG16/miR-424-5p axis.

Background: Regional anesthesia has anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in various cancers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ropivacaine on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of glioma cells .

Methods: Under ropivacaine stimulation conditions, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of glioma cells were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-tetrazol-3-ium bromide (MTT), flow cytometry, and transwell assays, respectively.

Shedding light on learning and memory: optical interrogation of the synaptic circuitry.

In the quest for the physical substrate of learning and memory, a consensus gradually emerges that memory traces are stored in specific neuronal populations and the synaptic circuits that connect them. In this review, we discuss recent progresses in understanding the reorganization of synaptic circuits and neuronal assemblies associated with learning and memory, with an emphasis on optical techniques for in vivo interrogations. We also highlight some open questions on the missing link between synaptic modifications and neuronal coding, and how stable memory persists despite synaptic and neuronal fluctuations.

Recent Advances in Medical Image Processing.

Background: Application and development of the artificial intelligence technology have generated a profound impact in the field of medical imaging. It helps medical personnel to make an early and more accurate diagnosis. Recently, the deep convolution neural network is emerging as a principal machine learning method in computer vision and has received significant attention in medical imaging.