Investigating Xiaochaihu Decoction's fever-relieving mechanism via network pharmacology, molecular docking, dynamics simulation, and experiments.

Xiaochaihu Decoction（XCHD）is a classic prescription for the treatment of fever, but the mechanism is not clear. In this study, We elucidated the mechanism of action through network pharmacology and molecular docking. A rat fever model was established to verify the prediction results of network pharmacology.

Preparation of uniform lignin/titanium dioxide nanoparticles by confined assembly: A multifunctional nanofiller for a waterborne polyurethane wood coating.

We report a facile synthesis for lignin/titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles (LT NPs) at room temperature by confining assembly of lignin macromolecules. The LT NPs had a uniform nanosize distribution (average diameter ∼ 68 nm) and were directly employed as multifunctional nanofillers to reinforce a waterborne polyurethane wood coating (WBC). X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the mechanism by which formed TiO confined lignin assembly.

Computational evaluation of CO conversion into formic acid via a novel adsorption mechanism on metal-free BC.

The electrochemical reduction of CO (CO2RR) to formic acid (HCOOH) is a promising approach to harness renewable energy for the production of value-added chemicals and contribute to carbon cycling. The search for cost-effective and efficient metal-free electrocatalysts is critical for realizing industrial applications. However, limited literature is available on this topic, primarily because the significant challenge of efficiently activating inert CO remains unresolved.

Efficient extraction of nanocellulose from lignocellulose using aqueous butanediol fractionation to improve the performance of waterborne wood coating.

The highly efficient extraction of cellulose from lignocellulose with an excellent yield of 95.2 % and purity of 96.7 % was demonstrated using acid-catalyzed fractionation with aqueous butanediol.

Chiral Discrimination of Penicillamine Enantiomers: The Role of Aggregation-Caused Quenching in Achieving High Selectivity.

The recognition and separation of chiral isomers are of great importance in both industrial and biological applications. In this study, a chiral recognition system based on electrochemiluminescence was established for the detection of penicillamine (PA) enantiomers. The system utilized a homochiral [Zn(BDC)(d-lac)] (Zn-BL) platform for the uniform distribution of Ru(bpy) nanoparticles, effectively mitigating aggregation-caused quenching.

Developing an Electrochemically Reversible Switch for Modulating the Optical Signal of Gold Nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possess remarkable optical properties and electrical conductivity, making them highly relevant in various fields such as medical diagnoses, biological imaging, and electronic sensors. However, the existing methods for modulating the optical properties of AuNPs are often under limitations such as a high cost, the complexity of detection, a narrow range of application settings, and irreversibility. In this study, we propose a novel approach to address these challenges by constructing a reversible electrochemical switch.

Efficient downstream valorization of lignocellulose after organosolv fractionation: Synergistic enhancement of waterborne coatings by co-assembled lignin@cellulose nanocrystals.

The simultaneous downstream valorization of cellulose and lignin is an important aspect of efficiently extracting value from lignocellulose. The present work, we demonstrated the preparation of a novel bio-based filler by the co-assembly of cellulose and lignin obtained from a one-pot ethanosolv lignocellulose fractionation process. The cellulose was valorized by forming cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) through simple bleaching and ultrasonication processes.

CN: A novel 2D carbon nitride with sp-N as support for efficient hydrogen production.

Two-dimensional (2D) carbon nitrides (CN) have great potential in advanced fields such as energy harvest and storage. We report a novel 2D CN, CN, comprising sp-N and sp-C atoms. Density functional theory calculations indicate that electronically, thermally, and dynamically stable CN is metallic even when cut into very narrow nanoribbons.

Improved Differentiation Ability and Therapeutic Effect of miR-23a-3p Expressing Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Mice Model with Acute Lung Injury.

Background And Objectives: Implantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) has been recognized as an effective therapy for attenuating acute lung injury (ALI). This study aims to discover microRNA (miRNA)-mediated improvement of BMSCs-based therapeutic effects.

Methods And Results: Mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for induction of ALI.

Synergistic targeting of CHK1 and mTOR in MYC-driven tumors.

Deregulation of v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC) occurs in a broad range of human cancers and often predicts poor prognosis and resistance to therapy. However, directly targeting oncogenic MYC remains unsuccessful, and indirectly inhibiting MYC emerges as a promising approach. Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is a protein kinase that coordinates the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint and protects cancer cells from excessive replicative stress.

Effect of infrahepatic inferior vena cava partial clamping on central venous pressure and intraoperative blood loss during laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Background: Infrahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) clamping is considered to be an effective method to reduce central venous pressure (CVP) and intraoperative bleeding in liver resection. However, its efficacy and safety during laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) remain unclear. We perform this retrospective study to evaluate its efficacy and safety during LH.

The reasonable drainage option after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration for the treatment of choledocholithiasis.

Objective: To obtain a reasonable drainage after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for the treatment of choledocholithiasis.

Methods: Data of 350 consecutive patients who underwent LCBDE in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients were divided into three groups according to different drainage types after LCBDE, including T-tube group with 116 cases, primary closure (PC) group with 114 cases and stent insertion group with 120 cases.

Mechanical Properties and Morphologies of Carboxyl-Terminated Butadiene Acrylonitrile Liquid Rubber/Epoxy Blends Compatibilized by Pre-Crosslinking.

In order to enhance the compatibilization and interfacial adhesion between epoxy and liquid carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile (CTBN) rubber, an initiator was introduced into the mixture and heated to initiate the cross-linking reaction of CTBN. After the addition of curing agents, the CTBN/epoxy blends with a localized interpenetrating network structure were prepared. The mechanical properties and morphologies of pre-crosslinked and non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends were investigated.

Enhanced piezoelectric effect at the edges of stepped molybdenum disulfide nanosheets.

The development of piezoelectric layered materials may be one of the key elements enabling expansion of nanotechnology, as they offer a solution for the construction of efficient transducers for a wide range of applications, including self-powered devices. Here, we investigate the piezoelectric effect in multilayer (ML) stepped MoS flakes obtained by liquid-phase exfoliation, which is especially interesting because it may allow the scalable fabrication of electronic devices using large area deposition techniques (e.g.

Aberrant expression of deubiquitylating enzyme USP9X predicts poor prognosis in gastric cancer.

Background: Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9, X-linked (USP9X), a member of deubiquitylating enzymes family, has recently been reported to be associated with a variety of cancer progression. While it functions as either oncogene or tumor suppressor in a context-dependent manner, the expression and role of USP9X in gastric cancer is largely unknown.

Methods: Sixty-eight cases of patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in this study.

Cellular uptake of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) microcapsules with different deformability and its influence on cell functions.

It is important to understand the safety issue and cell interaction pattern of polyelectrolyte microcapsules with different deformability before their use in biomedical applications. In this study, SiO2, poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) doped CaCO3 and porous CaCO3 spheres, all about 4μm in diameter, were used as templates to prepare microcapsules with different inner structure and subsequent deformability. As a result, three kinds of covalently assembled poly(allylaminehydrochloride)/glutaraldehyde (PAH/GA) microcapsules with similar size but different deformability under external osmotic pressure were prepared.

Note: Fabrication of a fast-response and user-friendly environmental chamber for atomic force microscopes.

The atomic force microscope is one of the most widespread tools in science, but many suppliers do not provide a competitive solution to make experiments in controlled atmospheres. Here, we provide a solution to this problem by fabricating a fast-response and user-friendly environmental chamber. We corroborate the correct functioning of the chamber by studying the formation of local anodic oxidation on a silicon sample (biased under opposite polarities), an effect that can be suppressed by measuring in a dry nitrogen atmosphere.

Nanoparticle/Polymer assembled microcapsules with pH sensing property.

The dual-labeled microcapsules via nanoparticle/polymer assembly based on polyamine-salt aggregates can be fabricated for the ratiometric intracellular pH sensing. After deposition of SiO2 nanoparticles on the poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/multivalent anionic salt aggregates followed by silicic acid treatment, the generated microcapsules are stable in a wide pH range (3.0 ∼ 8.

Fabrication of triple-labeled polyelectrolyte microcapsules for localized ratiometric pH sensing.

Encapsulation of pH sensitive fluorophores as reporting molecules provides a powerful approach to visualize the transportation of multilayer capsules. In this study, two pH sensitive dyes (fluorescein and oregon green) and one pH insensitive dye (rhodamine B) were simultaneously labeled on the microcapsules to fabricate ratiometric pH sensors. The fluorescence of the triple-labeled microcapsule sensors was robust and nearly independent of other intracellular species.

Association between IL6 -174G/C and cancer: A meta-analysis of 105,482 individuals.

Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine, which is implicated in the development and progression of several types of cancer. The -174G/C polymorphism of the IL6 gene controls serum levels of IL6 and may be associated with cancer risk, but the results from the published studies on the association between this polymorphism and cancer risk are conflicting. A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association of IL6 -174G/C with cancer risk.

Preparation and structure evolution of bowknot-like calcium carbonate particles in the presence of poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfate).

Calcium carbonate particles with a novel bowknot-like superstructure were fabricated in the presence of poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfate) (PSS) and under the assistance of ultrasonication during the initial reaction stage. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used to characterize the particles. Results demonstrated that the bowknot-like calcium carbonate particles were mainly composed of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) and some amounts of calcite and vaterite.

Association between the ATF3 gene and non-small cell lung cancer.

Background:   Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for ∼85% of all cases of lung cancer and has a poor prognosis. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a member of the ATF/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding (ATF/cyclic response element binding) family of transcription factors, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several types of cancer. However, whether the expression of ATF3 is aberrant in NSCLC and genetic variants, or DNA methylation of the gene contributes to the tumorigenesis of NSCLC, are largely unknown.

Layer-by-layer assembly of microcapsules and their biomedical applications.

Nanoengineered multifunctional capsules with tailored structures and properties are of particular interest due to their multifunctions and potential applications as new colloidal structures in diverse fields. Among the available fabrication methods, the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of multilayer films onto colloidal particles followed by selective template removal has attracted extensive attention due to its advantages of precise control over the size, shape, composition, wall thickness and functions of the obtained capsules. The past decade has witnessed a rapid increase of research concerning the new fabrication strategies, functionalization and applications of this kind of capsules, particularly in the biomedical fields such as drug delivery, biosensors and bioreactors.