Fracture and fatigue characteristics of monodomain and polydomain liquid crystal elastomers.

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), a class of elastomers combining liquid crystals with a polymer network, have garnered significant interest for applications in the field of soft robotics. However, the fracture and fatigue characteristics of LCEs remain poorly understood. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the fracture and fatigue characteristics of LCEs, focusing on polydomain and monodomain variants subjected to different loading directions.

Electrowriting patterns and electric field harness directional cell migration for skin wound healing.

Directional cell migration is a crucial step in wound healing, influenced by electrical and topographic stimulations. However, the underlying mechanism and the combined effects of these two factors on cell migration remain unclear. This study explores cell migration under various combinations of guided straight line (SL) spacing, conductivity, and the relative direction of electric field (EF) and SL.

The Dose-Response Effect of Lycopene on Cerebral Vessel and Neuron Impairment Induced by Hyperlipidemia.

To study the dose-response effect of lycopene on vessel and neuron damage in the brain against hyperlipidemia, rats were fed with hypercholesterolemic feed and treated with lycopene orally by gavage at the dose of 5, 25, 45, 65, 85, and 105, 125 mg/kg/bw/d. At the end of the fourth week, lycopene doses and serum lycopene concentration showed an inverse U-shape curve. Serum lycopene concentration was negatively correlated with the levels of serum TC, TG, LDL-C, as well as the cerebral LDL-C, VEGF, and VCAM-1.

Adsorption kinetics of heptadecafluoro-1-nonanol: Phase transition and mixed control.

Hypothesis: The adsorption kinetics of heptadecafluoro-1-nonanol (CHFOH) onto a clean air-water interface at low surfactant concentrations (equilibrium surface tension, γ(C) > 65 mN/m) has been reported, and the controlling mechanism was found to be mixed diffusive-kinetic controlled (Kuo et al., JCIS 402 (2013) 131). However, it remains to be determined what the adsorption kinetics are at higher concentrations.

Correction to: Mechanisms of multiple neurotransmitters in the effects of Lycopene on brain injury induced by Hyperlipidemia.

Following publication of the original article [1] it came to the attention of the Research Integrity Group that the following corrections were required.

The inhibitory roles of Ihh downregulation on chondrocyte growth and differentiation.

The proliferative rate of chondrocytes affects bone elongation. Chondrocyte hypertrophy is required for endochondral bone formation as chondrocytes secrete factors required for osteoblast differentiation and maturation. Previous studies have demonstrated that the Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling pathway is a key regulator of skeletal development and homeostasis.

Mechanisms of multiple neurotransmitters in the effects of Lycopene on brain injury induced by Hyperlipidemia.

Background: Lycopene is a kind of carotenoid, with a strong capacity of antioxidation and regulating the bloodlipid. There has been some evidence that lycopene has protective effects on the central nervous system, but few studies have rigorously explored the role of neurotransmitters in it. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of several neurotransmitters as lycopene exerts anti-injury effects induced by hyperlipidemia.

Knockdown of Indian hedgehog protein induces an inhibition of cell growth and differentiation in osteoblast MC3T3‑E1 cells.

Indian hedgehog protein (Ihh) is evolutionarily conserved and serves important roles in controlling the differentiation of progenitor cells into osteoblasts. Ihh null mutant mice exhibit a failure of osteoblast development in endochondral bone. Although studies have demonstrated that Ihh signaling is a potent local factor that regulates osteoblast differentiation, the specific transcription factors that determine osteoblast differentiation remain unclear.

Effects of the duration of hyperlipidemia on cerebral lipids, vessels and neurons in rats.

Background: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of hyperlipidemia on the cerebral lipids, vessels and neurons of rats, and to provide experimental evidence for subsequent intervention.

Method: One hundred adult SD rats, half of which were male and half of which were female, were randomly divided into five groups on the basis of serum total cholesterol (TC) levels. Four groups were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (rat chow supplemented with 4% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid and 0.

The bioconcentration ability of heavy metal research for 50 kinds of rice under the same test conditions.

The aims of this experiment are to explore the accumulation of metal contamination of different varieties of rice planted in paddy fields and to provide a basis for the further research. The rice specimens were grown in and collected from a total area of 8.24 acres of rice planting fields where local farmers cultivated 50 different kinds of rice.

[Effects of lycopene on blood cells and fibrinolytic activity in hyperlipidemic rats].

Objective: To explore the effects of lycopene on blood cells and fibrinolytic activity in hyperlipidemic rats.

Methods: Forty adult male SD rats were divided randomly into five groups: normal control group, high fat model group, fluvastatin sodium group, lycopene low-dose group and lycopene high-dose group based on the level of serum TC. Normal control group was fed with normal animal diet, other groups were fed with high fat diet.

[Effects of lycopene on blood lipid and red blood cell of rat with hypercholesterolemia].

Objective: To study the effect of lycopene on red blood cell and the level of blood lipid.

Methods: According to the level of serum total cholesterol and weight, forty-eight adult male SD rats were divided randomly into six groups: normal control (group A), fed by normal feed; hyperlipidemia group (group B): fed by high fat diet; positive control group (group C): fed by high fat diet plus 10 mg * kg(-1) * d(-1) fluvastatin sodium; lycopene groups: fed by high fat diet plus 11 (group D), 22 (group E), 44 mg * kg(-1) * d(-1) (group F) lycopene through gavage, respectively. For all six groups, the level of serum total cholesterol (TC) and total triglyceride (TG) were measured at the end of 0, 1, 3 weeks of the study by taking samples from tail vein.

[Reliability and validity of a questionnaire on knowledge-attitude-practice on serum lipids].

Objective: To test the reliability and validity of a questionnaire on knowledge-attitude-practice on serum lipids.

Methods: Based on the data investigated with this questionnaire from 158 persons at the age of over 40 years and the test-retest data from 60 persons. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by homogeneity reliability and test-retest reliability.

Comparison of lycopene and fluvastatin effects on atherosclerosis induced by a high-fat diet in rabbits.

Objective: We evaluated the antiatherogenic effect of lycopene in rabbits fed a high-fat diet.

Methods: Forty adult male rabbits were divided into five groups that were fed a standard diet, a high-fat diet, a high-fat diet plus 4 mg/kg of lycopene, a high-fat diet plus 12 mg/kg of lycopene, and a high-fat diet plus 10 mg/kg of fluvastatin, respectively. Lycopene and fluvastatin were administered intragastrically.

Impact of rosiglitazone on the expression of beta3-AR in the stable cell lines expressed beta3-AR gene.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma2 (PPAR-gamma2) agonist, on the expression of beta3-adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) at transcriptional and translational level.

Methods: We cloned the cDNA sequences of human PPAR-gamma2 (hPPAR-gamma2) gene and human wild type and mutant beta3-adrenergic receptor (hbeta3-AR) genes and established their eukaryotic expression vectors. The pcDNA3.

Histamine induces the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and acid-binding protein (aP2) in white adipocytes.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether histamine induces up-regulated expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and fat acid-binding protein (aP2) in white adipocytes (differentiated 3T3-L1 cells).

Methods: Differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes was induced by the addition of 5 microg/mL insulin, 1 micromol/L dexamethasone, 10 mmol/L 1-isobutyl-3-methylxanthine, 1% dimethylsulfoxide, and 10% fetal bovine serum in Dulbecco's modification of Eagle's medium. Total RNA from differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was extracted and semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed to determine the levels of UCP2 and aP2 mRNA.

Distributive characteristics of Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg genetic polymorphisms of beta1-adrenoceptor in Chinese Han and Dai populations.

Aim: Genetic polymorphisms causing Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg mutants of beta(1)-adrenoceptor may result in significant changes in the function of this receptor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequencies of the Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg mutant alleles in healthy Chinese populations and to investigate the differences between 2 Chinese ethnic groups (Han and Dai populations) with respect to the frequencies of these alleles.

Methods: A total of 225 Han Chinese and 175 Dai Chinese unrelated healthy volunteers were recruited for this study.

[Assessing the content of formaldehyde in vermicelli in Changsha market].

In order to better supervise food safety for the residents, the extent of formaldehyde in vermicelli sold on Changsha market was assessed by the acetyl acetone colorimetry method. Results showed that among 106 samples, 61 were formaldehyde positive. The positive rate was 57.