Refractive Index Morphology Imaging Microscope System Utilizing Polarization Multiplexing for Label-Free Single Living Cells.

Detections of internal substances and morphologies for label-free living cells are crucial for revealing malignant diseases. With the phase serving as a coupling of refractive index (RI) (marker for substances) and thickness (morphology), existing decoupling methods mainly rely on complex integrated systems or extensive optical field information. Developing simple and rapid decoupling methods remains a challenge.

Exploration of a vapor cell optical frequency standard scheme implemented using Doppler-free spectroscopy.

We implement a compact optical frequency standard scheme with laser frequency locked to the 5S (F = 2) - 6P (F = 3) transition of the second excited state of Rb atoms in a 3 mm cubic glass cell, using a Doppler-free saturated absorption spectroscopy. The experimental results show the frequency stability at the level of 2.2 × 10 at 1 s.

WIP1-mediated regulation of p38 MAPK signaling attenuates pyroptosis in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.

Wild-Type p53-Induced Phosphatase 1 (WIP1/PPM1D) is a serine/threonine phosphatase that plays a significant role in various physiological processes. However, the involvement of WIP1 in kidney remains unclear. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered to induce acute injury in mice and human kidney 2 (HK2) cells in the study.

Selenium binding protein 1 protects renal tubular epithelial cells from ferroptosis by upregulating glutathione peroxidase 4.

Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death involved in various types of acute kidney injury (AKI). It is characterized by inactivation of the selenoprotein, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and upregulation of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4). Since urinary selenium binding protein 1 (SBP1/SELENBP1) is a potential biomarker for AKI, this study investigated whether SBP1 plays a role in AKI.

DPP8/9 inhibition attenuates the TGF-β1-induced excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in human mesangial cells via Smad and Akt signaling pathways.

The pathogenesis of glomerular diseases is strongly influenced by abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in mesangial cells. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) enzyme family contains DPP8 and DPP9, which are involved in multiple diseases. However, the pathogenic roles of DPP8 and DPP9 in mesangial cells ECM deposition remain unclear.

Constructing Ag@SiO-TiO Nanofiber Interlayers with a Three-Dimensional Lithiophilic Gradient Framework for an Ultrastable Lithium Metal Anode.

Lithium metal batteries have become one of the most promising rechargeable batteries due to the ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity of the Li metal anode. However, the Li dendrite growth and volume change of the Li metal anode during repeated Li plating-stripping cycles restrict the practical viability. Herein, a unique lithiophilic gradient structure of uniformly incorporating Ag nanoparticles into a three-dimensional (3D) nanofiber framework with amorphous SiO and TiO hybrids was prepared by an electrospinning process and used as a multifunctional interlayer between the pristine separator and Li metal foil.

Investigating the Effect of Novel Gamified Stepper on Lower Limb Biomechanics in Seated Healthy Subjects.

The present study introduces a new gamified stepper device designed for bilateral lower limb rehabilitation, which is combined with a 3-D exergame. To the best of our knowledge, this is the initial study to utilize the stepping exercise for seated lower limb rehabilitation. The device comprises a stepping mechanism and a magnetic encoder.

Expression and Activity of the Transcription Factor CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein β (C/EBPβ) Is Regulated by Specific Pulse-Modulated Radio Frequencies in Oligodendroglial Cells.

The rapid growth of wireless electronic devices has raised concerns about the harmful effects of leaked electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on human health. Even though numerous studies have been carried out to explore the biological effects of EMR, no clear conclusions have been drawn about the effect of radio frequency (RF) EMR on oligodendrocytes. To this end, we exposed oligodendroglia and three other types of brain cells to 2.

Constructing a full, multiple-layer interactome for SARS-CoV-2 in the context of lung disease: Linking the virus with human genes and microbes.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has resulted in millions of deaths worldwide. The disease presents with various manifestations that can vary in severity and long-term outcomes. Previous efforts have contributed to the development of effective strategies for treatment and prevention by uncovering the mechanism of viral infection.

VPA improves ferroptosis in tubular epithelial cells after cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury.

As a novel non-apoptotic cell death, ferroptosis has been reported to play a crucial role in acute kidney injury (AKI), especially cisplatin-induced AKI. Valproic acid (VPA), an inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1 and 2, is used as an antiepileptic drug. Consistent with our data, a few studies have demonstrated that VPA protects against kidney injury in several models, but the detailed mechanism remains unclear.

Widespread autogenous mRNA-protein interactions detected by CLIP-seq.

Autogenous interactions between mRNAs and the proteins they encode are implicated in cellular feedback-loop regulation, but their extent and mechanistic foundation are unclear. It was recently hypothesized that such interactions may be common, reflecting the role of intrinsic nucleobase-amino acid affinities in shaping the genetic code's structure. Here we analyze a comprehensive set of CLIP-seq experiments involving multiple protocols and report on widespread autogenous interactions across different organisms.

Evaluation of Copper Levels in Dental Calculus of OSF Patients with Chewing Dried Areca-Nut Quids in Hunan Province of Mainland China.

Dental calculus is a potential material that can be used for assessing chronic exposure to trace heavy metals in oral cavity as it is a long-term reservoir. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between dental calculus copper levels and risk of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) due to chewing dried areca-nut quids in Mainland China. This study included 34 OSF (grade 1) sufferers with dried areca-nut quids chewing as the patient group and 23 healthy individuals without areca-nut chewing as the control group.

Syndromic Deafness Gene Controls Degeneration of Spiral Ganglion Neurons Through Modulating Proton Flux.

encodes the V1B2 subunit in V-ATPase, a proton pump responsible for the acidification of lysosomes. Mutations in this gene cause DDOD syndrome, DOORS syndrome, and Zimmermann-Laband syndrome, which share overlapping feature of congenital sensorineural deafness, onychodystrophy, and different extents of intellectual disability without or with epilepsy. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Maraviroc Prevents HCC Development by Suppressing Macrophages and the Liver Progenitor Cell Response in a Murine Chronic Liver Disease Model.

Maraviroc (MVC), a CCR5 antagonist, reduces liver fibrosis, injury and tumour burden in mice fed a hepatocarcinogenic diet, suggesting it has potential as a cancer therapeutic. We investigated the effect of MVC on liver progenitor cells (LPCs) and macrophages as both have a role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Mice were fed the hepatocarcinogenic choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented diet (CDE) ± MVC, and immunohistochemistry, RNA and protein expression were used to determine LPC and macrophage abundance, migration and related molecular mechanisms.

POSTAR3: an updated platform for exploring post-transcriptional regulation coordinated by RNA-binding proteins.

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play key roles in post-transcriptional regulation. Accurate identification of RBP binding sites in multiple cell lines and tissue types from diverse species is a fundamental endeavor towards understanding the regulatory mechanisms of RBPs under both physiological and pathological conditions. Our POSTAR annotation processes make use of publicly available large-scale CLIP-seq datasets and external functional genomic annotations to generate a comprehensive map of RBP binding sites and their association with other regulatory events as well as functional variants.

MicroRNAs Involved in the Therapeutic Functions of Noni ( L.) Fruit Juice in the Treatment of Acute Gouty Arthritis in Mice Induced with Monosodium Urate.

We investigated the functions of microRNAs in the therapeutic effects of noni ( L.) fruit juice on mouse models of acute gouty arthritis induced with monosodium urate (MSU). Compared with the model group (treated with MSU), mice in both the positive control group (treated with both MSU and colchicine) and noni fruit juice group (treated with MSU and noni fruit juice) showed a significantly decreased degree of paw swelling in 5 days, as well as the contents of two types of proinflammatory cytokines (i.

Profibrotic mechanisms of DPP8 and DPP9 highly expressed in the proximal renal tubule epithelial cells.

Background: DPP8 and DPP9 have been demonstrated to play important roles in multiple diseases. Evidence for increased gene expression of DPP8 and DPP9 in tubulointerstitium was found to be associated with the decline of kidney function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, which was observed in the Nephroseq human database. To examine the role of DPP8 and DPP9 in the tubulointerstitial injury, we determined the efficacy of DPP8 and DPP9 on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Integrative analysis of long extracellular RNAs reveals a detection panel of noncoding RNAs for liver cancer.

Long extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) in plasma can be profiled by new sequencing technologies, even with low abundance. However, cancer-related exRNAs and their variations remain understudied. We investigated different variations (i.

Temperature measurement with compositional correction of gas mixture based on laser-induced plasma.

Laser-induced breakdown plasma was used for gas temperature measurement based on the residual energy of a laser pulse defined as the laser energy detected in the beam path as well as plasma emissions. Gas mixtures with different compositions (/, /, and //) were used to simulate the main components of combustion products at different temperatures. First, the correlation of residual energy and gas temperature was investigated, which showed that the residual energy increased with an increase in the gas temperature.

Farrerol alleviates high glucose-induced renal mesangial cell injury through the ROS/Nox4/ERK1/2 pathway.

Hyperproliferation and oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia in mesangial cells plays crucial roles in the pathological process of diabetic nephropathy. Farrerol, isolated from rhododendron leaves, possesses broad anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties towards several diseases, but its role in diabetic neuropathy remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of farrerol in high glucose induced mesangial cell injury, and to explore underlying molecular mechanisms.

Pathogenic Effects and Potential Regulatory Mechanisms of Tea Polyphenols on Obesity.

Overweight and obesity are major threats to human health. Tea polyphenols exert multiple beneficial effects on human health and may play a positive regulatory role in fat assumption. However, how tea polyphenols contribute to the regulation of fat metabolism remains unclear to date.

A subunit of V-ATPases, ATP6V1B2, underlies the pathology of intellectual disability.

Background: Dominant deafness-onychodystrophy (DDOD) syndrome is a rare disorder mainly characterized by severe deafness, onychodystrophy and brachydactyly. We previously identified c.1516C > T (p.

Impact of pH on Regulating Ion Encapsulation of Graphene Oxide Nanoscroll for Pressure Sensing.

Recently, graphene oxide nanoscroll (GONS) has attracted much attention due to its excellent properties. Encapsulation of nanomaterials in GONS can greatly enhance its performance while ion encapsulation is still unexplored. Herein, various ions including hydronium ion (H₃O⁺), Fe, Au, and Zn were encapsulated in GONSs by molecular combing acidic graphene oxide (GO) solution.

Thick Two-Dimensional Water Film Confined between the Atomically Thin Mica Nanosheet and Hydrophilic Substrate.

The interesting properties of water molecules confined in a two-dimensional (2D) environment have aroused great attention. However, the study of 2D-confined water at the hydrophilic-hydrophilic interface is largely unexplored due to the lack of appropriate system. In this work, the behavior of water molecules confined between an atomically thin mica nanosheet and a hydrophilic SiO/Si substrate was investigated using an atomic force microscope in detail at ambient conditions.

Transforming Monolayer Transition-Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheets into One-Dimensional Nanoscrolls with High Photosensitivity.

One-dimensional (1D) nanoscrolls derived from two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets own unusual physical and chemical properties that arise from the spiraled 1D morphology and the atomic thin 2D building blocks. Unfortunately, preparation of large-sized nanoscrolls of transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) remains a big challenge, which greatly restricts the fabrication of single-scroll devices for their fundamental studies and further applications. In this work, we report a universal and facile method, by making use of the evaporation process of volatile organic solvent, to prepare TMDC (e.