Publications by authors named "Ran Lu"

Photomechanically responsive dynamic molecular crystals are central to developing efficient, rapid, and robust materials capable of conversion of light energy to mechanical work. However, unlike some other, mainly photochromic molecular solar thermal energy storage (MOST) systems, solids that undergo photoinduced [2+2] cycloaddition have not been thoroughly explored for powering reversible actuation, despite that this reaction system carries potential in the heavily strained bonds of the cyclobutane ring. In this study, we propose that broadband-light-induced [2+2] cycloaddition can be used to store energy and actuate dynamic organic crystals by irradiation with visible light.

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Objective: M6A methylation-regulated macrophages play an important role in the occurrence and development of arteriosclerosis. However, their role in lower extremity arteriosclerosis remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the key factors that regulate arteriosclerosis methylation in the lower extremities and the mechanism by which they affect arteriosclerosis by influencing macrophage polarization.

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Double negative T (DNT) cells are a unique subset of CD3 + TCRαβ + T lymphocytes that lack CD4, CD8, or NK1.1 expression and constitute 3-5% of the total T cell population in C57BL/6 mice. They have increasingly gained recognition for their novel roles in the immune system, especially under autoimmune conditions.

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Stem and progenitor cell mitosis is essential for tissue development and homeostasis. How these cells ensure proper chromosome segregation, and thereby maintain mitotic fidelity, in the complex physiological environment of a living animal is poorly understood. Here we use in situ live-cell imaging of C.

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Chlorogenic acid (CA) is an abundant plant secondary metabolite with promising allelopathic effects on weed growth. However, the molecular targets and mechanism of action of CA in plants remain elusive. Here, we report the employment of a clickable photoaffinity probe in identifying the protein targets of CA in seedling proteomes.

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Citrus polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) have considerable medicinal, health-promoting, and commercial importance. To provide a stable and reliable source of PMFs, an efficient process of large-scale preparation is warranted. Here, an extraction model for enriching PMFs from citrus fruits was proposed using an enzyme/acid-catalyzed hybrid hydrolysis approach.

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Background: Growing evidence suggests that chronic inflammation, resulting from intricate immune system interactions, significantly contributes to the onset of psychiatric disorders. Observational studies have identified a link between immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycosylation and various psychiatric conditions, but the causality of these associations remains unclear.

Methods: Genetic variants for IgG N-glycosylation traits and psychiatric disorders were obtained from published genome-wide association studies.

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Article Synopsis
  • Research indicates that one-carbon metabolism nutrients, such as vitamin B (VB), could play a role in treating acute pancreatitis.
  • A study used Mendelian randomization and mouse models to explore the effects of folate, homocysteine, and VB on this condition.
  • Findings suggest that VB may help reduce tissue damage and inflammation in acute pancreatitis by improving ATP levels and decreasing necrosis in pancreatic tissues.
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  • * A newly designed melatonin derivative with multiflorane substitution has demonstrated strong antifungal activity against multiple plant diseases, outperforming the widely used fungicide azoxystrobin.
  • * The antifungal effects are enhanced by the enantiomer form of the compound, which works by targeting and inhibiting the Mps1 kinase, leading to reduced fungal growth and virulence.
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  • Researchers have created a detailed neuronal wiring diagram of the whole brain of a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), mapping over 5 billion chemical synapses between more than 139,000 neurons, to better understand brain function.
  • The study includes detailed annotations about various cell types, nerve pathways, and neurotransmitter identities, and the data is freely available for other researchers to use and explore.
  • By analyzing synaptic pathways and connections, the project helps illustrate how neural structures relate to sensorimotor behaviors, paving the way for similar studies in other species.
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Background: Chronic inflammation initiated by inflammatory monocytes underlies the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, approaches that can effectively resolve chronic low-grade inflammation targeting monocytes are not readily available. The small chemical compound 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) exhibits broad anti-inflammatory effects in reducing atherosclerosis.

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Studying the status and source analysis of heavy metal pollution in farmland in typical mining and processing areas is an important prerequisite for promoting farmland soil ecological restoration and farmland protection in concentrated mining areas. In this study, the heavy metal content of farmland soil around a mining area in southwest China was detected, and the pollution status, distribution law, health risks, and sources of heavy metals were studied by using the land accumulation index method, comprehensive pollution index method, kriging interpolation method, health risk assessment method, and PMF receptor model on the sampling data. The results showed that the mean values of eight heavy metals in farmland soil except Ni exceeded the local soil background values, and the results of the ground accumulation index evaluation showed that Cd and Hg were extremely polluted; Pb and As showed medium pollution-heavy pollution; and Cr, Zn, Ni, and Cu were lightly polluted.

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Previously we have identified that the expression number and levels of oncogenes and antioncogenes are highly positively or negatively associated with major cellular progress in a cancer cell. However, we have not defined any cellular potentials of a human tumor cell at the level of the overall gene expression. Here, we counted the overall number of expression genes and overall counts of mRNA in depth and revealed that the expression levels of mRNA were directly associated with the expression number of genes in a human tumor cell.

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Article Synopsis
  • Testicular tumors are the most common cancer in young men, but their development mechanisms are not well understood, prompting research into their cellular diversity and communication.
  • An analysis of over 40,000 single-cell transcriptomes revealed five malignant subclusters, with certain subclusters linked to a worse immune response and lower disease-free survival rates.
  • The study also highlighted disrupted interactions between spermatogonial stem cells and Sertoli cells in seminoma testes, shedding light on the tumor environment for potential new therapies.
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Serial section transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has proven to be one of the leading methods for millimeter-scale 3D imaging of brain tissues at nanoscale resolution. It is important to further improve imaging efficiency to acquire larger and more brain volumes. We report here a threefold increase in the speed of TEM by using a beam deflecting mechanism to enable highly efficient acquisition of multiple image tiles (nine) for each motion of the mechanical stage.

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Smart multifunctional surfaces targeting intricate biological events or versatile therapeutic strategies are imminent to achieve long-term transmucosal implant success. This study used dopamine (DA), graphene oxide (GO), and type IV collagen (COL-IV) to construct multilayer nanofilms (DGC) based on their universal adhesive and biomimetic properties to design a versatile and bioactive titanium implant. The characterization of DGC on different titanium surfaces was performed, and its loading capacity, release profile, gene delivery, and biological properties were preliminarily evaluated.

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Background: Excessive inflammation is a major cause of implant failure. The surface morphology, hydrophilicity, and loading of biomaterials are major properties modulating anti-inflammatory macrophage activation. This paper investigates the regulatory effects of modifying the surface of Titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) with graphene oxide (GO) on the polarization of mouse monocyte macrophages (RAW264.

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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by immune system dysfunction that can lead to serious health issues and mortality. Recent investigations highlight the role of gut microbiota alterations in modulating inflammation and disease severity in SLE. This review specifically summaries the variations in gut microbiota composition across various murine models of lupus.

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Cardiovascular diseases caused by atherosclerosis (AS) seriously damage human health. Nano-photothermal technology has been proven to inhibit the development of vascular inflammation by inhibiting the proliferation of inflammatory macrophages. However, photothermal therapy can inhibit the enrichment of AS macrophages in the early stage, but the inhibitory effect is insufficient in the later stage.

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  • Animal movement is directed by motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to muscles, with complex premotor networks coordinating these movements for various behaviors.
  • Researchers analyzed the wiring of premotor circuits in Drosophila flies to understand how motor networks control leg and wing movements.
  • They discovered that leg motor modules have a hierarchical structure based on the size of motor neurons, while wing circuits are more flexible in their connectivity, highlighting differences in motor control for distinct body parts.
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  • This study focuses on understanding how neural circuits in the brain manage behavior by analyzing the Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) ventral nerve cord, which mirrors the spinal cord in vertebrates.
  • Researchers mapped approximately 45 million synapses and 14,600 neuron cell bodies within the fruit fly's nerve cord to comprehend its neural connections.
  • They created a motor neuron atlas that identifies which muscles are targeted by motor neurons, aiding in the understanding of leg and wing movement coordination, especially during take-off.
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Systemic neutrophil dysregulation contributes to atherosclerosis pathogenesis, and restoring neutrophil homeostasis may be beneficial for treating atherosclerosis. Herein, we report that a homeostatic resolving subset of neutrophils exists in mice and humans characterized by the low expression of TRAM, correlated with reduced expression of inflammatory mediators (leukotriene B4 [LTB4] and elastase) and elevated expression of anti-inflammatory resolving mediators (resolvin D1 [RvD1] and CD200R). TRAM-deficient neutrophils can potently improve vascular integrity and suppress atherosclerosis pathogenesis when adoptively transfused into recipient atherosclerotic animals.

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Background: Sheep and goats have undergone domestication and improvement to produce similar phenotypes, which have been greatly impacted by structural variants (SVs). Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of Asiatic mouflon, and implement a comprehensive analysis of SVs in 897 genomes of worldwide wild and domestic populations of sheep and goats to reveal genetic signatures underlying convergent evolution.

Results: We characterize the SV landscapes in terms of genetic diversity, chromosomal distribution and their links with genes, QTLs and transposable elements, and examine their impacts on regulatory elements.

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Monitoring of glutathione has attracted considerable attention owing to its biological and clinical significance. An eco-friendly, economic, simple, biocompatible probe with excellent sensitivity and selectivity is very important. Herein, FeOOH QD@ATP-BODIPY nanocomposite was fabricated from one-step synthesized FeOOH quantum dots (FeOOH QD) and commercial boron-dipyrromethene-conjugated adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP-BODIPY) for glutathione (GSH) sensing in solutions and living cells.

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