Anisotropic Diffusion of Elongated Particles in Active Coherent Flows

The study of particle diffusion, a classical conundrum in scientific inquiry, holds manifold implications for various real-world applications. Particularly within the domain of active flows, where the motion of self-propelled particles instigates fluid movement, extensive research has been dedicated to unraveling the dynamics of passive spherical particles. This scrutiny has unearthed intriguing phenomena, such as superdiffusion at brief temporal scales and conventional diffusion at longer intervals. In contrast to the spherical counterparts, anisotropic particles, which manifest directional variations, are prevalent in nature. Although anisotropic behavior in passive fluids has been subject to exploration, enigmatic aspects persist in comprehending the interplay of anisotropic particles within active flows. This research delves into the intricacies of anisotropic passive particle diffusion, exposing a notable escalation in translational and rotational diffusion coefficients, as well as the superdiffusion index, contingent upon bacterial concentration. Through a detailed examination of particle coordinates, the directional preference of particle diffusion is not solely dependent on the particle length, but rather determined by the ratio of the particle length to the associated length scale of the background flow field. These revelations accentuate the paramount importance of unraveling the nuances of anisotropic particle diffusion within the context of active flows. Such insights not only contribute to the fundamental understanding of particle dynamics, but also have potential implications for a spectrum of applications.

Explorations on Key Module and Hub Genes Affecting IMP Content of Chicken Pectoralis Major Muscle Based on WGCNA

Inosine monophosphate (IMP) is a substance that enhances flavor and plays a crucial role in the umami taste of chicken muscle. It is also an influential factor in determining chicken's economic value. However, the molecular regulatory network underlying the IMP content in muscle remains unclear. To address this issue, we performed transcriptome sequencing on 20 pectoralis major muscle samples from 120-day-old Guangde feathered-leg chicken and used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify key regulatory factors that influence IMP content. The weighted gene co-expression network was constructed using a total of 16,344 genes, leading to the identification of 20 co-expression gene modules. Among the modules that were identified, it was observed that the purple module (R = -0.51, p = 0.02) showed a significant negative correlation with the IMP content. This suggests that the genes within the purple module had the ability to regulate the IMP content. A total of 68 hub genes were identified in the purple module through gene significance (GS) > 0.2 and module membership (MM) > 0.8. The STRING database was used for a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of hub genes. Furthermore, troponin I type 1 (TNNI1), myozenin 2 (MYOZ2), myosin light chain 2 regulatory cardiac slow (MYL2), and myosin light chain 3 regulatory cardiac slow (MYL3) involved in the "ATP-dependent activity", "cAMP signaling pathway" and "cGMP-PKG signaling pathway" were identified as central regulators that contribute to IMP content. These results offer valuable information into the gene expression and regulation that affects IMP content in muscle.

Accurate time-domain and frequency-domain co-simulation approach for OEICs design with Verilog-A

Optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs) have enhanced integration and communication capabilities in various applications. With the continued increase in complexity and scale, the need for an accurate and efficient simulation environment compatible with photonics and electronics becomes paramount. This paper introduces a method using the Verilog-A hardware language in the electronic design automation (EDA) platform to create equivalent circuit and compact models for photonic devices, considering their dispersion, polarization, multimode, and bidirectional transmission characteristics. These models can be co-simulated alongside electrical components in the electronic simulator, covering both the time and frequency domains simultaneously. Model parameters can be modified at any stage of the design process. Using the full link of an optoelectronic transceiver as an example, analyses from our Verilog-A model system show a mean absolute percentage error of 1.55% in the time-domain and 0.0318% in the frequency-domain when compared to the commercial co-simulation system (e.g., Virtuoso-INTERCONNECT). This underscores the accuracy and efficiency of our approach in OEICs design. By adopting this method, designers are enabled to conduct both electrical-specific and photonic-specific circuit analyses, as well as perform optoelectronic co-simulation within a unified platform seamlessly.

Chloro- and bromo-benzoquinone formation and transformation mechanisms in a drinking water-distribution system

Halogenated benzoquinones (HBQs) are frequently detected in tap water. HBQ levels are correlated with water age. As the water-transmission distance (water age) increases, the levels of bromo-benzoquinones (Br-BQs) decreased and those of chloro-benzoquinones (Cl-BQs) remained relatively stable in drinking water-distribution system in the presence of residual chlorine. 2,3,5,6-Tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (TCBQ) and 2,6-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone (DBBQ) were the most abundant Cl-BQ and Br-BQ, with maximum concentrations of 60.2 and 181.4 ng/L, respectively. TCBQ and DBBQ were chosen as representatives of HBQs to investigate their reactions with chlorine, including kinetics, pathways, and changes in toxicity. The hydrolysis and chlorination rates of HBQs were significantly pH-dependent, and the kinetic rates of DBBQ were faster than TCBQ in the pH range of 5-10. Chlorination converted highly toxic TCBQ and DBBQ to less-toxic chlorinated/brominated aliphatic disinfection by-products (DBPs), thereby reducing the overall toxicity of water bodies. This study provides comprehensive insights into the distinct life cycles of TCBQ and DBBQ in drinking water, covering formation, transformation, and toxicity. These findings provide a nuanced understanding of the risks posed by HBQs at various locations within the drinking water distribution system, offering valuable guidance for improving the control of DBPs in drinking water.

Transcriptome and Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis for Feather Follicle Density in a Chinese Indigenous Breed

Feather follicle density plays an important role in appealing to consumers' first impressions when making purchasing decisions. However, the molecular network that contributes to this trait remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to perform transcriptome and weighted gene co-expression network analyses to determine the candidate genes relating to feather follicle density in Wannan male chickens. In total, five hundred one-day-old Wannan male chickens were kept in a conventional cage system. Feather follicle density was recorded for each bird at 12 weeks of age. At 12 weeks, fifteen skin tissue samples were selected for weighted gene co-expression network analysis, of which six skin tissue samples (three birds in the H group and three birds in the L group) were selected for transcriptome analysis. The results showed that, in total, 95 DEGs were identified, and 56 genes were upregulated and 39 genes were downregulated in the high-feather-follicle-density group when compared with the low-feather-follicle-density group. Thirteen co-expression gene modules were identified. The red module was highly significantly negatively correlated with feather follicle density (p < 0.01), with a significant negative correlation coefficient of -0.72. In total, 103 hub genes from the red module were screened. Upon comparing the 103 hub genes with differentially expressed genes (DEGs), it was observed that 13 genes were common to both sets, including MELK, GTSE1, CDK1, HMMR, and CENPE. From the red module, FOXM1, GTSE1, MELK, CDK1, ECT2, and NEK2 were selected as the most important genes. These genes were enriched in the DNA binding pathway, the heterocyclic compound binding pathway, the cell cycle pathway, and the oocyte meiosis pathway. This study suggests that FOXM1, GTSE1, MELK, CDK1, ECT2, and NEK2 may be involved in regulating the development of feather follicle density in Wannan male chickens. The results of this study reveal the genetic structure and molecular regulatory network of feather follicle density in Wannan male chickens, and provide a basis for further elucidating the genetic regulatory mechanism and identifying molecular markers with breeding value.

Tracking Regulatory Mechanism of Trace Fe on Graphene Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Polarization and conductance losses are the fundamental dielectric attenuation mechanisms for graphene-based absorbers, but it is not fully understood in revealing the loss mechanism of affect graphene itself. For the first time, the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) based absorbers are developed with regulatory absorption properties and the absorption mechanism of RGO is mainly originated from the carrier injection behavior of trace metal Fe nanosheets on graphene. Accordingly, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of Fe/RGO-2 composite reaches - 53.38 dB (2.45 mm), and the effective absorption bandwidth achieves 7.52 GHz (2.62 mm) with lower filling loading of 2 wt%. Using off-axis electron hologram testing combined with simulation calculation and carrier transport property experiments, we demonstrate here the carrier injection behavior from Fe to graphene at the interface and the induced charge accumulation and rearrangement, resulting in the increased interfacial and dipole polarization and the conductance loss. This work has confirmed that regulating the dielectric property of graphene itself by adding trace metals can not only ensure good impedance matching, but also fully exploit the dielectric loss ability of graphene at low filler content, which opens up an efficient way for designing lightweight absorbers and may be extended to other types materials.

Anti-platelet aggregation activities of different grades of Angelica sinensis and their therapeutic mechanisms in rats with blood deficiency: insights from metabolomics and lipidomics analyses

In traditional Chinese medicine, the radix of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (RAS) is mainly used to replenish and invigorate the blood circulation. This study investigated anti-platelet aggregation activities were used by New Zealand rabbits, and high-performance liquid chromatography data were obtained to determine the spectrum-effect relationship for different commercial grades of RAS. Plasma and urine metabolites were examined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry-based metabolomics to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the role of these metabolites in a rat model of blood deficiency (BD). Plasma and spleen metabolites were additionally examined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography plus Q-Exactive tandem mass spectrometry-based lipidomics to clarify the mechanisms of RAS in treating BD. The third grade of RAS exhibited the best activity in replenishing and invigorating blood in vitro and in vivo. Ferulic acid, ligustilide, senkyunolide I, uridine, and guanine are quality markers of anti-platelet aggregation activity. Based on the metabolomics results, 19 potential biomarkers were screened in plasma, and 12 potential metabolites were detected in urine. In lipidomics analyses, 73 potential biomarkers were screened in plasma, and 112 potential biomarkers were screened in the spleen. RAS may restore lipid metabolism by regulating disorders of glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, amino acid metabolism (thereby improving energy metabolism), and arachidonic acid metabolism (thereby promoting blood circulation). These results provide a deeper understanding of the effects of different grades of RAS and a scientific reference for the establishment of grading standards and for the clinical use of RAS.

SlPHL1 positively modulates acid phosphatase in response to phosphate starvation by directly activating the genes SlPAP10b and SlPAP15 in tomato

Increased acid phosphatase (APase) activity is a prominent feature of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) responses to inorganic phosphate (Pi) restriction. SlPHL1, a phosphate starvation response (PHR) transcription factor, has been identified as a positive regulator of low Pi (LP)-induced APase activity in tomato. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this regulation remains to be elucidated. Here, SlPHL1 was found to positively regulate the LP-induced expression of five potential purple acid phosphatase (PAP) genes, namely SlPAP7, SlPAP10b, SlPAP12, SlPAP15, and SlPAP17b. Furthermore, we provide evidence that SlPHL1 can stimulate transcription of these five genes by binding directly to the PHR1 binding sequence (P1BS) located on their promoters. The P1BS mutation notably weakened SlPHL1 binding to the promoters of SlPAP7, SlPAP12, and SlPAP17b but almost completely abolished SlPHL1 binding to the promoters of SlPAP10b and SlPAP15. As a result, the transcriptional activation of SlPHL1 on SlPAP10b and SlPAP15 was substantially diminished. In addition, not only did transient overexpression of either SlPAP10b or SlPAP15 in tobacco leaves increase APase activity, but overexpression of SlPAP15 in Arabidopsis and tomato also increased APase activity and promoted plant growth. Subsequently, two SPX proteins, SlSPX1 and SlSPX4, were shown to physically interact with SlPHL1. Moreover, SlSPX1 inhibited the transcriptional activation of SlPHL1 on SlPAP10b and SlPAP15 and negatively regulated the activity of APase. Taken together, these results demonstrate that SlPHL1-mediated LP signaling promotes APase activity by activating the transcription of SlPAP10b and SlPAP15, which may provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of tomato response to Pi-limited stress.

Pillar arene Se nanozyme therapeutic systems with dual drive power effectively penetrated mucus layer combined therapy acute lung injury

siRNA has demonstrated a promising paradigm for therapy of acute lung injury(ALI). However, the pulmonary mucus layer barrier powerfully hinders the therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we proposed to use dual drive power to enhance the mucus permeation of siRNA by constructing the neutral and targeted selenium nanozymes therapeutic system. The multifunctional selenium nanozymes (CWP-Se@Man) were synthesized by modifying with cationic water-soluble pillar arene (CWP) and mannose (Man). After loading CCR2-siRNA, the CWP-Se@Man reached electroneutrality that co-driven by electroneutrality and targeting, the mucus permeation capacity of CWP-Se@Man enhanced by ∼15 fold, thus effectively penetrate pulmonary mucus layer and deliver CCR2-siRNA into macrophages. Moreover, with optimizing the composition of CWP-Se@Man made of CWP (Slutsky, 2013) [5] or CWP (Ichikado et al., 2012) [6], the therapeutic system CWP (Ichikado et al., 2012) [6]-Se@Man showed better biological activities due to smaller size. In inflamed modes, the CWP-Se@Man nanotherapeutic systems loading CCR2-siRNA not only exerted pronounced anti-inflammatory effect through combining inhibit the chemotactic effect and ROS, but also effectively against ALI after blocking the circulatory effect of ROS and inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, this strategy of dual-driving force penetration mucus renders a unique approach for mediating trans-mucus nucleic acid delivery in lungs, and provide a promising treatment for the acute lung injury therapy.

Albiflorin Alleviates Sepsis-induced Acute Liver Injury through mTOR/p70S6K Pathway

BACKGROUND

Sepsis often induces hepatic dysfunction and inflammation, accounting for a significant increase in the incidence and mortality rates. To this end, albiflorin (AF) has garnered enormous interest due to its potent anti-inflammatory activity. However, the substantial effect of AF on sepsis-mediated acute liver injury (ALI), along with its potential mechanism of action, remains to be explored.

METHODS

An LPS-mediated primary hepatocyte injury cell model in vitro and a mouse model of CLP-mediated sepsis in vivo were initially built to explore the effect of AF on sepsis. Furthermore, the hepatocyte proliferation by CCK-8 assay in vitro and animal survival analyses in vivo for the survival time of mice were carried out to determine an appropriate concentration of AF. Then, flow cytometry, Western blot (WB), and TUNEL staining analyses were performed to investigate the effect of AF on the apoptosis of hepatocytes. Moreover, the expressions of various inflammatory factors by ELISA and RT-qPCR analyses and oxidative stress by ROS, MDA, and SOD assays were determined. Finally, the potential mechanism of AF alleviating the sepsis-mediated ALI via the mTOR/p70S6K pathway was explored through WB analysis.

RESULTS

AF treatment showed a significant increase in the viability of LPS-inhibited mouse primary hepatocytes cells. Moreover, the animal survival analyses of the CLP model mice group indicated a shorter survival time than the CLP+AF group. AF-treated groups showed significantly decreased hepatocyte apoptosis, inflammatory factors, and oxidative stress. Finally, AF exerted an effect by suppressing the mTOR/p70S6K pathway.

CONCLUSION

In summary, these findings demonstrated that AF could effectively alleviate sepsis-mediated ALI via the mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway.

NOBILETIN AMELIORATES HEATSTROKE-INDUCED ACUTE LUNG INJURY BY INHIBITING FERROPTOSIS VIA P53/SLC7A11 PATHWAY

ABSTRACT

The molecular mechanism for nobiletin's protective effect against heatstroke-induced acute lung injury (HS-ALI) remains largely unknown. Previous research has demonstrated that ferroptosis is an important pathogenic event in HS-ALI. Nobiletin is a natural polymethoxylated flavonoid. Herein, we investigated the potential contribution of nobiletin to HS-ALI by inhibiting ferroptosis. Heat stress was used to induce HS-ALI in mice, and mouse lung epithelial-12 (MLE-12) cells were stimulated by heat stress in vitro . Nobiletin was administrated by gavage for 2 h before HS induction. Biochemical kits, immunofluorescence staining, and western blotting were performed on the markers of ferroptosis. Our results showed that nobiletin administration significantly attenuated HS-induced lung injury and ferroptosis. Moreover, nobiletin pretreatment significantly reversed HS-induced p53 upregulation in vivo and in vitro . Pretreatment with a p53 agonist, tenovin-6, partly abolished the protective effect of nobiletin in mice with HS-ALI. Meanwhile, p53 knockdown significantly increased GPX4 and SLC7A11 expression levels compared with the HS group in HS-induced MLE-12 cells. Subsequently, nobiletin ameliorated HS-induced MLE-12 cells ferroptosis by activating the SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway, whereas p53 overexpression effectively abolished the protective effect of nobiletin. Taken together, our findings reveal that nobiletin attenuates HS-ALI by inhibiting ferroptosis through the p53/SLC7A11 pathway, indicating it to be a potential therapeutic agent for HS-ALI prevention and treatment.

LincR-PPP2R5C Promotes Th2 Cell Differentiation Through PPP2R5C/PP2A by Forming an RNA-DNA Triplex in Allergic Asthma

PURPOSE

The roles and mechanisms of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in T helper 2 (Th2) differentiation from allergic asthma are poorly understood. We aimed to explore a novel lncRNA, LincR-protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B' gamma (PPP2R5C), in Th2 differentiation in a mouse model of asthma.

METHODS

LincR-PPP2R5C from RNA-seq data of CD4+ T cells of asthma-like mice were validated and confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, northern blotting, nuclear and cytoplasmic separation, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Lentiviruses encoding LincR-PPP2R5C or shRNA were used to overexpress or silence LincR-PPP2R5C in CD4+ T cells. The interactions between LincR-PPP2R5C and PPP2R5C were explored with western blotting, chromatin isolation by RNA purification assay, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer. An ovalbumin-induced acute asthma model in knockout (KO) mice (LincR-PPP2R5C KO, CD4 conditional LincR-PPP2R5C KO) was established to explore the roles of LincR-PPP2R5C in Th2 differentiation.

RESULTS

LncR-PPP2R5C was significantly higher in CD4+ T cells from asthmatic mice ex vivo and Th2 cells in vitro. The lentivirus encoding LincR-PPP2R5C suppressed Th1 differentiation; in contrast, the short hairpin RNA (shRNA) lentivirus decreased LincR-PPP2R5C and Th2 differentiation. Mechanistically, LincR-PPP2R5C deficiency suppressed the phosphatase activity of the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) holocomplex, resulting in a decline in Th2 differentiation. The formation of an RNA-DNA triplex between LincR-PPP2R5C and the PPP2R5C promoter enhanced PPP2R5C expression and activated PP2A. LincR-PPP2R5C KO and CD4 conditional KO decreased Th2 differentiation, airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammatory responses.

CONCLUSIONS

LincR-PPP2R5C regulated PPP2R5C expression and PP2A activity by forming an RNA-DNA triplex with the PPP2R5C promoter, leading to Th2 polarization in a mouse model of acute asthma. Our data presented the first definitive evidence of lncRNAs in the regulation of Th2 cells in asthma.

Advances in sulfonated modification and bioactivity of polysaccharides

Polysaccharides, as biological macromolecules, are widely found in plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria and exhibit various biological activities. However, many natural polysaccharides exhibit low or non-existent biological activities because of their high molecular weights and poor water solubility, limiting their application in many fields. Sulfonation is one of the most effective chemical modification methods to improve physicochemical properties and biological activities of natural polysaccharides or even impart natural polysaccharides with new biological activities. Therefore, sulfonated polysaccharides have attracted increasing attention because of their antioxidant, anticoagulant, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. This paper reviews the recent advances in the sulfonation of polysaccharides, including preparation, characterization, and biological activities of sulfonated polysaccharides, and provides a theoretical basis for wide applications of sulfonated polysaccharides.

Broadband electromagnetic wave absorption using pure carbon aerogel by synergistically modulating propagation path and carbonization degree

Carbon materials were widely used as electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption due to their advantages of light weight, environmental resistance and high electrical conductivity. However, conventional means were typically available by combining carbon and other materials to achieve effective absorption. Herein, a novel strategy using pure carbon aerogel with oriented structure was reported to enhance the EM wave absorption by synergistically modulating the wave propagation path and carbonization degree. The aerogel contained proposed modified carbon nanofibers (MCNF) derived from bacterial cellulose (BC), and core-shell carbon nanofibers @ reduced oxide graphene (CNF@RGO). The oriented structure was induced by the temperature field, which manifests anisotropic EM constitutive parameters (εx ≠ εz) at different directions of incident wave. The carbonization degree was adjusted by varying the carbonization temperature. At the carbonization temperature of 700 °C, the maximum reflection loss and effective absorption bandwidth reached -53.94 dB and 7.14 GHz, respectively, enabling the aerogel to outperform its previous counterparts. To clarify the EM wave mode-of-action in conjunction, physical models of the aerogel were established in addition to finite element simulation and theoretical analysis. Notably, the aerogel with a density of 3.6 mg/cm3 featured ultra-light weight, superhydrophobicity, superior compressibility, and thermal insulation. Our work offers an efficient strategy for designing broadband and multifunctional EM wave absorption materials (EWAMs), promising great potentials in complex stealth equipment.

Limited effects of different real groundwaters from three coastal cities in China on the transport of low-concentration nanoplastics in quartz sand

Nanoplastics (NPs) have been widely detected in soil-groundwater systems. However, to date, the effect of real groundwater on the fate and transport of NPs has been poorly understood. In this study, the transport and retention behaviors of both polystyrene and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) NPs (PS NPs and PLGA NPs) in different real groundwaters from three coastal cities in China were explored using column experiments. PS (0.51 and 1.1 μm) and PLGA (1 μm) NPs with a low concentration of 2 mg L-1 were employed. Close observation showed that the transport of PS NPs was much higher than PLGA NPs in different groundwaters, with an average breakthrough curve plateau (C/Co) of ∼0.81 for PS NPs and ∼0.19 for PLGA NPs, respectively. As observed for PLGA, the plastic shape- and size-induced straining may be the reason for the minimal transport. Interestingly, we found that although the physicochemical characteristics of different real groundwaters varied significantly, the transport of certain NPs in real groundwater was similar with negligible differences. Closer inspection indicated that similar pHs of different groundwaters may be the reason contributing to these findings. Further investigation revealed that the transport behaviors of PS and PLGA NPs in real groundwater did not follow the classical DLVO theory. These findings suggest that the fate and transport of NPs in real soil-groundwater systems are much more comprehensive than the prediction based on DLVO theory and need intensive investigation.

In situ rapid synthesis of ionic liquid/ionic covalent organic framework composites for CO2 fixation

IL/ICOF composites were in situ synthesized via a one-pot route in half an hour under ambient conditions for catalytic cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides into cyclic carbonates. The prepared composites feature a decent CO2 adsorption capacity of 1.63 mmol g-1 at 273 K and 1 bar and exhibit excellent catalytic performance in terms of yield and durability. This work may pave a new way to design and construct functionalized porous organic frameworks as heterogeneous catalysts for CO2 capture and conversion.

Lack of pharmacokinetic interaction between derazantinib and naringin in rats

CONTEXT

Derazantinib-an orally bioavailable, ATP competitive, multikinase inhibitor-has strong activity against fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR)2, FGFR1, and FGFR3 kinases. It has preliminary antitumor activity in patients with unresectable or metastatic FGFR2 fusion-positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA).

OBJECTIVE

This experiment validates a novel sensitive and rapid method for the determination of derazantinib concentration in rat plasma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and applies it to the study of drug-drug interaction between derazantinib and naringin in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A Xevo TQ-S triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer was used for mass spectrometry monitoring in selective reaction monitoring (SRM) mode with transitions of m/z 468 96 → 382.00 for derazantinib and m/z 488.01 → 400.98 for pemigatinib, respectively. The pharmacokinetics of derazantinib (30 mg/kg) was investigated in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats divided into two groups (with the oral pretreatment of 50 mg/kg naringin or not).

RESULTS

The newly optimized UPLC-MS/MS method was suitable for the determination of derazantinib in rat plasma. It was also successfully employed to evaluate the effect of naringin on derazantinib metabolism in rats. After pretreatment with naringin, there was no significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC_0→t, AUC_0→∞, t_1/2, CLz/F, and C_max) of derazantinib when compared with derazantinib alone.

CONCLUSION

Co-administration of naringin with derazantinib was not associated with significant changes in pharmacokinetic parameters. Thus, this study suggests that the combination of derazantinib with naringin can safely be administered concomitantly without dose adjustment.

Association between visceral fat area and serum uric acid in Chinese adults: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hyperuricemia has become a vital public health problem affecting the health of residents. The visceral fat area (VFA) is closely related to many chronic diseases. However, the association between VFA and hyperuricemia within the Chinese adult population remains nebulous. The aim of the research is to assess the relationship between VFA and serum uric acid levels.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From June 2020 to June 2021, a total of 340 Chinese adults (240 in the control group and 100 in the hyperuricemia group) were recruited from the physical examination center of Hongqi Hospital Affiliated to Mudanjiang Medical University. General demographic characteristics were collected by questionnaire. VFA was measured by a body composition analyzer, and serum biochemical indices were detected by clinical laboratory. VFA in the hyperuricemia group was higher than in the control group (P＜0.05). Further, VFA demonstrated a positive correlation with serum uric acid level (rs = 0.370, P＜0.001). To further explore this relationship, we divided the VFA into quartiles (＜P25, P25-P50, P50-P75, ≥P75). Upon comparison with the ＜P25 group, we found the VFA in the P25-P50, P50-P75, and ≥P75 groups to be associated with a substantially escalated risk of hyperuricemia, even after adjusting for age, gender, body weight, fasting plasma glucose, calcium, alanine transaminase, urea, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyltransferase. The OR and 95% CI were 2.547 (1.023, 6.341), 3.788 (1.409, 10.187) and 3.723 (1.308, 10.595), respectively (P＜0.05).

CONCLUSION

VFA has a positive correlation with serum uric acid levels and may serve as a crucial predictive marker for hyperuricemia.

Direct Enol Ether Metalation-Negishi Coupling Strategy To Prepare α-Heteroaryl Enol Ethers

A robust direct enol ether metalation-Negishi coupling using heteroaryl halides catalyzed by the palladium-Cy-DPEPhos system is reported. This method, which was demonstrated with a broad substrate scope, is a highly complementary method to the existing Heck coupling of synthesizing challenging α-heteroaryl-α-alkoxy alkenes.

Cascade Annulation Strategy for Expeditious Assembly of Hydroxybenzo[c]chromen-6-ones and Their Photophysical Property Studies

A 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene-promoted cascade double-annulation of ortho-alkynyl quinone methide (in situ generated from modular propargylamine) for constructing of 2-aryl-4-hydroxybenzo[c]chromen-6-ones is developed. This synthetic strategy offers remarkable operational simplicity as it allows the use of benchtop-grade solvents without the need for predrying measures and inert atmosphere protection. Additionally, it demonstrates good functional group compatibility. The photophysical properties of these compounds were also examined, revealing bright fluorescence with high quantum yields.

Synthesis of arene-functionalized fused heterocyclic scaffolds via a regioselective cascade 1,4-conjugate addition/5-exo-dig annulation strategy

Facile access to furan fused heterocyclic scaffolds through a regioselective cascade reaction of propargylamines with 4-hydroxy-2H-pyran-2-ones and 4-hydroxy-6-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one has been achieved. This cascade reaction presumably involves the formation of ortho-alkynyl quinone methide (o-AQM), 1,4-conjugate addition, followed by regioselective 5-exo-dig annulation, and a 1,3-H shift process. Moreover, the reaction provides a new and efficient method for the synthesis of highly sterically congested 3-phenolic furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-ones and furo[3,2-c]pyridin-4(5H)-ones by the formation of a furan ring from readily available starting materials in good to high yields (50-82%) with broad functional group compatibility in a single step. Significantly, the strategy described here is easily scalable and several useful synthetic transformations of the prepared arene-functionalized 4H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-ones were also performed.

Identification of genetic associations and functional SNPs of bovine KLF6 gene on milk production traits in Chinese holstein

BACKGROUND

Our previous research identified the Kruppel like factor 6 (KLF6) gene as a prospective candidate for milk production traits in dairy cattle. The expression of KLF6 in the livers of Holstein cows during the peak of lactation was significantly higher than that during the dry and early lactation periods. Notably, it plays an essential role in activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) signaling pathways. The primary aim of this study was to further substantiate whether the KLF6 gene has significant genetic effects on milk traits in dairy cattle.

RESULTS

Through direct sequencing of PCR products with pooled DNA, we totally identified 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the KLF6 gene. The set of SNPs encompasses 7 located in 5' flanking region, 2 located in exon 2 and 3 located in 3' untranslated region (UTR). Of these, the g.44601035G > A is a missense mutation that resulting in the replacement of arginine (CGG) with glutamine (CAG), consequently leading to alterations in the secondary structure of the KLF6 protein, as predicted by SOPMA. The remaining 7 regulatory SNPs significantly impacted the transcriptional activity of KLF6 following mutation (P < 0.005), manifesting as changes in transcription factor binding sites. Additionally, 4 SNPs located in both the UTR and exons were predicted to influence the secondary structure of KLF6 mRNA using the RNAfold web server. Furthermore, we performed the genotype-phenotype association analysis using SAS 9.2 which found all the 12 SNPs were significantly correlated to milk yield, fat yield, fat percentage, protein yield and protein percentage within both the first and second lactations (P < 0.0001 ~ 0.0441). Also, with Haploview 4.2 software, we found the 12 SNPs linked closely and formed a haplotype block, which was strongly associated with five milk traits (P < 0.0001 ~ 0.0203).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our study represented the KLF6 gene has significant impacts on milk yield and composition traits in dairy cattle. Among the identified SNPs, 7 were implicated in modulating milk traits by impacting transcriptional activity, 4 by altering mRNA secondary structure, and 1 by affecting the protein secondary structure of KLF6. These findings provided valuable molecular insights for genomic selection program of dairy cattle.

Double-stranded metallo-triangles: from anion-templated nonanuclear to cation-templated tetraicosanuclear dysprosium clusters

Two double-stranded metallo-triangles, Dy9 and Dy24, with hexaple-C10H7PO32- bridges were constructed, and their magnetic properties were explored. Compared with the field-induced relaxation phenomenon of Dy9 templated with a chloride anion, Dy24 templated with a sodium cation exhibited zero-field single-molecule-magnet behavior.

Altered intestinal microbiota enhances adenoid hypertrophy by disrupting the immune balance

Introduction

Adenoid hypertrophy (AH) is a common upper respiratory disorder in children. Disturbances of gut microbiota have been implicated in AH. However, the interplay of alteration of gut microbiome and enlarged adenoids remains elusive.

Methods

119 AH children and 100 healthy controls were recruited, and microbiome profiling of fecal samples in participants was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) was conducted to verify the effects of gut microbiota on immune response in mice.

Results

In AH individuals, only a slight decrease of diversity in bacterial community was found, while significant changes of microbial composition were observed between these two groups. Compared with HCs, decreased abundances of Akkermansia, Oscillospiraceae and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes genera and increased abundances of Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus gnavus genera were revealed in AH patients. The abundance of Bacteroides remained stable with age in AH children. Notably, a microbial marker panel of 8 OTUs were identified, which discriminated AH from HC individuals with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9851 in the discovery set, and verified in the geographically different validation set, achieving an AUC of 0.9782. Furthermore, transfer of mice with fecal microbiota from AH patients dramatically reduced the proportion of Treg subsets within peripheral blood and nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) and promoted the expansion of Th2 cells in NALT.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the effect of the altered gut microbiota in the AH pathogenesis.