Time-varying 3D optical torque via a single beam.

The spin angular momentum (SAM) plays a significant role in light-matter interactions. It is well known that light carrying SAM can exert optical torques on micro-objects and drive rotations, but 3D rotation around an arbitrary axis remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate full control of the 3D optical torque acting on a trapped microparticle by tailoring the vectorial SAM transfer.

Controllable Microparticle Spinning via Light without Spin Angular Momentum.

The spin angular momentum (SAM) of an elliptically or circularly polarized light beam can be transferred to matter to drive a spinning motion. It is counterintuitive to find that a light beam without SAM can also cause the spinning of microparticles. Here, we demonstrate controllable spinning of birefringent microparticles via a tightly focused radially polarized vortex beam that has no SAM prior to focusing.

Poly-L-ornithine blocks the inhibitory effects of fibronectin on oligodendrocyte differentiation and promotes myelin repair.

The extracellular matrix surrounding oligodendrocytes plays an important role during myelination and remyelination in the brain. In many cases, the microenvironment surrounding demyelination lesions contains inhibitory molecules, which lead to repair failure. Accordingly, blocking the activity of these inhibitory factors in the extracellular matrix should lead to more successful remyelination.

Astrocyte-derived hepcidin controls iron traffic at the blood-brain-barrier via regulating ferroportin 1 of microvascular endothelial cells.

Brain iron dysregulation associated with aging is closely related to motor and cognitive impairments in neurodegenerative diseases. The regulation of iron traffic at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is crucial to maintain brain iron homeostasis. However, the specific mechanism has not been clarified in detail.

Increasing 28 mitogenomes of Ephemeroptera, Odonata and Plecoptera support the Chiastomyaria hypothesis with three different outgroup combinations.

Background: The phylogenetic relationships of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and Ephemeroptera (mayflies) remain unresolved. Different researchers have supported one of three hypotheses (Palaeoptera, Chiastomyaria or Metapterygota) based on data from different morphological characters and molecular markers, sometimes even re-assessing the same transcriptomes or mitochondrial genomes. The appropriate choice of outgroups and more taxon sampling is thought to eliminate artificial phylogenetic relationships and obtain an accurate phylogeny.

Millifolide A, a dimeric ether of degraded sesquiterpene lactones, inhibited the proliferation of human lung cancer cell line A549.

The inhibitory effect of three degraded sesquiterpene lactones, -seco-tanapartholide, arteludooicinolide A and millifolide A isolated from L., on anti-human lung cancer cells was examined using MTT and reporter gene assays. Millifolide A has significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human lung cancer cells probably through inducing cell apoptosis.

Human adipose tissue- and umbilical cord-derived stem cells: which is a better alternative to treat spinal cord injury?

Multiple types of stem cells have been proposed for the treatment of spinal cord injury, but their comparative information remains elusive. In this study, a rat model of T10 contusion spinal cord injury was established by the impactor method. Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) or human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) (2.

Trapping and Manipulation of Single Cells in Crowded Environments.

Optical tweezers provide a powerful tool to trap and manipulate living cells, which is expected to help people gain physiological insights at single-cell level. However, trapping and manipulating single cells under crowded environments, such as blood vessels and lymph nodes, is still a challenging task. To overcome this issue, an annular beam formed by the far-field Bessel beam is introduced to serve as an optical shield to isolate the target cells from being disturbed.

Ceruloplasmin, a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Alzheimer's Disease.

Aims: Ceruloplasmin (CP), a ferrous oxidase enzyme, plays an important role in regulating iron metabolism and redox reactions. Previous studies showed that CP deficiency contributes to Parkinson's disease by increasing iron accumulation and oxidative stress in the substantia nigra. However, the role of CP in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is unclear.

Stability and cytotoxicity of angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides derived from bovine casein.

This study investigated the effect of heat treatment combined with acid and alkali on the angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of peptides derived from bovine casein. The free amino group content, color, and cytotoxicity of the peptides were measured under different conditions. When heated at 100 °C in the pH range from 9.

Lentiviral vector-mediated down-regulation of IL-17A receptor in hepatic stellate cells results in decreased secretion of IL-6.

Aim: To investigate the mechanism of interleukin (IL)-6 secretion through blocking the IL-17A/IL-17A receptor (IL-17RA) signaling pathway with a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro.

Methods: HSCs were derived from the livers of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. IL-6 expression was evaluated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

[Preparation and identification of rabbit antibody against LRR of Nogo-66 receptor (NgR)].

Aim: To prepare rabbit antibody against LRR of Nogo-66 receptor (NgR) and identify its properties.

Methods: LRR protein was expressed in E.coli BL21.

Expression and localization of p80 interleukin-1 receptor protein in the rat spinal cord.

The biological effects of interleukin (IL)-1 are mediated by two distinct receptors, the p80 or type I (IL-1RI) and p68 or type II (IL-1RII) receptors. Because IL-1RII has a short, 29-amino acid cytoplasmic domain which may not be sufficient for signaling, there is considerable evidence indicating that IL-1 may signal exclusively through the IL-1RI receptor. Here, we report the expression, distribution, and cellular localization of the IL-1RI protein in the adult rat spinal cord in vivo and embryonic spinal cord in vitro.

Upregulation of type I interleukin-1 receptor after traumatic spinal cord injury in adult rats.

Post-traumatic inflammation response has been implicated in secondary injury mechanisms after spinal cord injury (SCI). Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a key inflammatory mediator that is increasingly expressed after SCI. The action of IL-1 is mediated through its functional receptor, type I interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1RI).