A wave delay neural network for solving label-constrained shortest route query on time-varying communication networks.

The focus of the research is on the label-constrained time-varying shortest route query problem on time-varying communication networks. To the best of our knowledge, research on this issue is still relatively limited, and similar studies have the drawbacks of low solution accuracy and slow computational speed. In this study, a wave delay neural network (WDNN) framework and corresponding algorithms is proposed to effectively solve the label-constrained time-varying shortest routing query problem. This framework accurately simulates the time-varying characteristics of the network without any training requirements. WDNN adopts a new type of wave neuron, which is independently designed and all neurons are parallelly computed on WDNN. This algorithm determines the shortest route based on the waves received by the destination neuron (node). Furthermore, the time complexity and correctness of the proposed algorithm were analyzed in detail in this study, and the performance of the algorithm was analyzed in depth by comparing it with existing algorithms on randomly generated and real networks. The research results indicate that the proposed algorithm outperforms current existing algorithms in terms of response speed and computational accuracy.

Screening of potentially active compounds against rheumatoid arthritis in the Juan-Bi decoction using systems pharmacology and animal experiments.

Background: The Juan-Bi decoction (JBD) is a classic traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) prescription for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the active compounds of the JBD in RA treatment remain unclear. Aim: The aim of this study is to screen effective compounds in the JBD for RA treatment using systems pharmacology and experimental approaches. Method: Botanical drugs and compounds in the JBD were acquired from multiple public TCM databases. All compounds were initially screened using absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) and physicochemical properties, and then a target prediction was performed. RA pathological genes were acquired from the DisGeNet database. Potential active compounds were screened by constructing a compound-target-pathogenic gene (C-T-P) network and calculating the cumulative interaction intensity of the compounds on pathogenic genes. The effectiveness of the compounds was verified using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW.264.7 cells and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse models. Results: We screened 15 potentially active compounds in the JBD for RA treatment. These compounds primarily act on multiple metabolic pathways, immune pathways, and signaling transduction pathways. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that bornyl acetate (BAC) alleviated joint damage, and inflammatory cells infiltrated and facilitated a smooth cartilage surface via the suppression of the steroid hormone biosynthesis. Conclusion: We screened potential compounds in the JBD for the treatment of RA using systems pharmacology approaches. In particular, BAC had an anti-rheumatic effect, and future studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

New mechanistic understanding of osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption mediated by P2X7 receptors and PI3K-Akt-GSK3ß signaling.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis is a global health issue characterized by decreased bone mass and microstructural degradation, leading to an increased risk of fractures. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanism by which P2X7 receptors influence osteoclast formation and bone resorption through the PI3K-Akt-GSK3ß signaling pathway. METHODS: An osteoporosis mouse model was generated through ovariectomy (OVX) in normal C57BL/6 and P2X7f/f; LysM-cre mice. Osteoclasts were isolated for transcriptomic analysis, and differentially expressed genes were selected for functional enrichment analysis. Metabolite analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and multivariate statistical analysis and pattern recognition were used to identify differential lipid metabolism markers and their distribution. Bioinformatics analyses were conducted using the Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database and the MetaboAnalyst database to assess potential biomarkers and create a metabolic pathway map. Osteoclast precursor cells were used for in vitro cell experiments, evaluating cell viability and proliferation using the Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) assay. Osteoclast precursor cells were induced to differentiate into osteoclasts using macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-beta ligand (RANKL), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was performed to compare differentiation morphology, size, and quantity between different groups. Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of differentiation markers, fusion gene markers, and bone resorption ability markers in osteoclasts. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to examine the spatial distribution and quantity of osteoclast cell skeletons, P2X7 protein, and cell nuclei, while pit assay was used to evaluate osteoclast bone resorption ability. Finally, in vivo animal experiments, including micro computed tomography (micro-CT), hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, TRAP staining, and immunohistochemistry, were conducted to observe bone tissue morphology, osteoclast differentiation, and the phosphorylation level of the PI3K-Akt-GSK3ß signaling pathway. RESULTS: Transcriptomic and metabolomic data collectively reveal that the P2X7 receptor can impact the pathogenesis of osteoporosis through the PI3K-Akt-GSK3ß signaling pathway. Subsequent in vitro experiments showed that cells in the Sh-P2X7 + Recilisib group exhibited increased proliferative activity (1.15 versus 0.59), higher absorbance levels (0.68 versus 0.34), and a significant increase in resorption pit area (13.94 versus 3.50). Expression levels of osteoclast differentiation-related proteins MMP-9, CK, and NFATc1 were markedly elevated (MMP-9: 1.72 versus 0.96; CK: 2.54 versus 0.95; NFATc1: 3.05 versus 0.95), along with increased fluorescent intensity of F-actin rings. In contrast, the OE-P2X7 + LY294002 group showed decreased proliferative activity (0.64 versus 1.29), reduced absorbance (0.34 versus 0.82), and a significant decrease in resorption pit area (5.01 versus 14.96), accompanied by weakened expression of MMP-9, CK, and NFATc1 (MMP-9: 1.14 versus 1.79; CK: 1.26 versus 2.75; NFATc1: 1.17 versus 2.90) and decreased F-actin fluorescent intensity. Furthermore, in vivo animal experiments demonstrated that compared with the wild type (WT) + Sham group, mice in the WT + OVX group exhibited significantly increased levels of CTX and NTX in serum (CTX: 587.17 versus 129.33; NTX: 386.00 versus 98.83), a notable decrease in calcium deposition (19.67 versus 53.83), significant reduction in bone density, increased trabecular separation, and lowered bone mineral density (BMD). When compared with the KO + OVX group, mice in the KO + OVX + recilisib group showed a substantial increase in CTX and NTX levels in serum (CTX: 503.50 versus 209.83; NTX: 339.83 versus 127.00), further reduction in calcium deposition (29.67 versus 45.33), as well as decreased bone density, increased trabecular separation, and reduced BMD. CONCLUSION: P2X7 receptors positively regulate osteoclast formation and bone resorption by activating the PI3K-Akt-GSK3ß signaling pathway.

Trends and hotspots in gastrointestinal neoplasms risk assessment: A bibliometric analysis from 1984 to 2022.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal neoplasm (GN) significantly impact the global cancer burden and mortality, necessitating early detection and treatment. Understanding the evolution and current state of research in this field is vital. AIM: To conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of publications from 1984 to 2022 to elucidate the trends and hotspots in the GN risk assessment research, focusing on key contributors, institutions, and thematic evolution. METHODS: This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of data from the Web of Science Core Collection database using the "bibliometrix" R package, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace. The analysis focused on the distribution of publications, contributions by institutions and countries, and trends in keywords. The methods included data synthesis, network analysis, and visualization of international collaboration networks. RESULTS: This analysis of 1371 articles on GN risk assessment revealed a notable evolution in terms of research focus and collaboration. It highlights the United States' critical role in advancing this field, with significant contributions from institutions such as Brigham and Women's Hospital and the National Cancer Institute. The last five years, substantial advancements have been made, representing nearly 45% of the examined literature. Publication rates have dramatically increased, from 20 articles in 2002 to 112 in 2022, reflecting intensified research efforts. This study underscores a growing trend toward interdisciplinary and international collaboration, with the Journal of Clinical Oncology standing out as a key publication outlet. This shift toward more comprehensive and collaborative research methods marks a significant step in addressing GN risks. CONCLUSION: This study underscores advancements in GN risk assessment through genetic analyses and machine learning and reveals significant geographical disparities in research emphasis. This calls for enhanced global collaboration and integration of artificial intelligence to improve cancer prevention and treatment accuracy, ultimately enhancing worldwide patient care.

Overcoming Kinetic Limitations of Polyanionic Cathode toward High-Performance Na-Ion Batteries.

Polyanionic cathodes have attracted extensive research interest for Na-ion batteries (NIBs) due to their moderate energy density and desirable cycling stability. However, these compounds suffer from visible capacity fading and significant voltage decay upon the rapid sodium storage process, even if modified through nanoengineering or carbon-coating routes, leading to limited applications in NIBs. Herein, the Na3(VOPO4)2F cathode material with dominantly exposed {001} active facets is demonstrated by a topochemical synthesis route. Owing to the rational geometrical structure design and thereby directly shortening Na diffusion distance, the electrode delivers a reversible capacity of ∼129 mA h g-1 even at a high rate of 10 C, which is very close to the theoretical capacity of 132 mA h g-1, achieving a high energy density of ∼452 W h kg-1 coupled with a high-power density of 4660 W kg-1. When further served as a cathode for nonaqueous, aqueous-based, and solid-state full NIBs, respectively, our designed Na3(VOPO4)2F always enables superior electrochemical performance due to favorable kinetics.

RANKL-mediated osteoclast formation is required for bone loss in a murine model of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis.

Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis leads to extensive bone destruction. Osteoclasts are bone resorbing cells that are often increased in bone infected with S. aureus. The cytokine RANKL is essential for osteoclast formation under physiological conditions but in vitro evidence suggests that inflammatory cytokines may by-pass the requirement for RANKL. The goal of this study was to determine whether RANKL-dependent osteoclast formation is essential for the bone loss that occurs in a murine model of S. aureus osteomyelitis. To this end, humanized-RANKL mice were infected by direct inoculation of S. aureus into a unicortical defect in the femur. Mice were treated with vehicle or denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits RANKL, both before and during a 14-day infection period. The severe cortical bone destruction caused by infection was completely prevented by denosumab administration even though the bacterial burden in the femur was not affected. Osteoclasts were abundant near the inoculation site in vehicle-treated mice but absent in denosumab-treated mice. In situ hybridization demonstrated that S. aureus infection potently stimulated RANKL expression in bone marrow stromal cells. The extensive reactive bone formation that occurs in this osteomyelitis model was also reduced by denosumab administration. Lastly, there was a notable lack of osteoblasts near the infection site suggesting that the normal coupling of bone formation to bone resorption was disrupted by S. aureus infection. These results demonstrate that RANKL-mediated osteoclast formation is required for the bone loss that occurs in S. aureus infection and suggest that disruption of the coupling of bone formation to bone resorption may also contribute to bone loss in this condition.

miR-200a-3p-enriched MSC-derived extracellular vesicles reverse erectile function in diabetic rats by targeting Keap1.

BACKGROUND: The administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through intracavernous injection is a potential therapeutic approach for managing diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction (DMED). However, pulmonary embolism and tumorigenicity are fatal adverse events that limit the clinical application of MSCs. In this study, we examined the therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanism of MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs). METHODS: In this study, forty 8-week-old male SpragueDawley (SD) rats were utilised. In the control group, ten rats were administered an intraperitoneal injection of PBS. STZ (60 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into the remaining rats to establish a diabetes mellitus (DM) model. Afterwards, the diabetic rats were divided into three groups at random: the DM group (intracavernosal injection of PBS), the EVs group (intracavernosal injection of MSC-EVs), and the EVs-200a group (intracavernosal injection of miR-200a-3p-enriched extracellular vesicles). Erectile function was determined by measuring intracavernous pressure in real time and utilising electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerves. The smooth muscle content was evaluated through the investigation of penile tissue using immunofluorescence staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and western blotting after euthanasia. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels in the corpus cavernosum were measured via ELISA. In vitro, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used to induce oxidative stress. The viability of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (ccSMCs) incubated with or without H2O2 was measured using a CCK8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to assess the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in ccSMCs. Furthermore, a dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to validate the relationship between miR-200a-3p and Keap1. RESULTS: Reversal of erectile function was observed in the EVs groups, especially in the EVs-200a group. DM increased the MDA level and decreased the SOD and GSH levels. In the DM group, the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and smooth muscle 22 alpha (SM22α) was decreased, and the expression of osteopontin (OPN) was increased. Western blotting revealed decreased Nrf2, HO-1, and Bcl2 expression and increased Keap1, Bax and cleaved caspase3 expression in the cavernous tissue. miR-200a-3p-enriched extracellular vesicles (EVs-200a) reversed these changes and inhibited the loss of smooth muscle content and cavernous fibrosis. In vitro, H2O2 induced high ROS levels in ccSMCs and increased apoptosis, and these effects reversed by EVs-200a. H2O2 reduced Nrf2, HO-1, and Bcl2 expression and increased Keap1, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 expression, and these effects were reversed by MSC-EVs, especially EVs-200a. The of dual-luciferase reporter assay results indicated that miR-200a-3p directly targeted Keap1 in a negative manner. CONCLUSION: MSC-EVs, especially EVs-200a, alleviated erectile dysfunction in diabetic rats through the regulation of phenotypic switching, apoptosis and fibrosis. Mechanistically, miR-200a-3p targeted the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway to attenuate oxidative stress in diabetic rats.

Therapeutic potential of salidroside in type I diabetic erectile dysfunction: Attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

The primary objective of this work was to delve into the potential therapeutic advantages and dissect the molecular mechanisms of salidroside in enhancing erectile function in rats afflicted with diabetic microvascular erectile dysfunction (DMED), addressing both the whole-animal and cellular dimensions.We established a DMED model in Sprague‒Dawley (SD) rats and conducted in vivo experiments. The DMED rats were administered varying doses of salidroside, the effects of which on DMED were compared. Erectile function was evaluated by applying electrical stimulation to the cavernous nerves and measuring intracavernous pressure in real time. The penile tissue underwent histological examination and Western blotting. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was employed in the in vitro trial to induce an oxidative stress for the purpose of identifying alterations in cell viability. The CCK-8 assay was used to measure the viability of corpus cavernous smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) treated with vs. without salidroside. Flow cytometry was utilized to detect alterations in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Apoptosis was assessed through Western blotting and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL). Animal and cellular experiments indicate that the Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway may be upregulated by salidroside, leading to the improvement of erectile function in diabetic male rats by alleviating oxidative stress and reducing apoptosis in corpus cavernosum tissue.

Pro-inflammatory diets promote the formation of hyperuricemia.

Background: Hyperuricemia, as a very prevalent chronic metabolic disease with increasing prevalence year by year, poses a significant burden on individual patients as well as on the global health care and disease burden, and there is growing evidence that it is associated with other underlying diseases such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The association between hyperuricemia and dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores was investigated in this study. Methods: This study enrolled 13, 040 adult subjects (aged ≥ 20 years) from the US National Health and Nutrition Survey from 2003 to 2018. The inflammatory potential of the diet was assessed by the DII score, and logistic regression was performed to evaluate the relationship between the DII score and the development of hyperuricemia; subgroup analyses were used to discuss the influence of other factors on the relationship. Results: Participants in the other quartiles had an increased risk of hyperuricemia compared to those in the lowest quartile of DII scores. Stratification analyses stratified by body mass index (BMI), sex, hypertension, drinking, diabetes, education level and albumin-creatinine-ratio (ACR) revealed that the DII score was also associated with the risk of hyperuricemia (P<0.05). There was an interaction in subgroup analysis stratified by sex, age, and hypertension (P for interaction <0.05). The results showed a linear-like relationship between DII and hyperuricemia, with a relatively low risk of developing hyperuricemia at lower DII scores and an increased risk of developing hyperuricemia as DII scores increased. Conclusions: This study showed that the risk of hyperuricemia increased at slightly higher DII scores (i.e., with pro-inflammatory diets), but not significantly at lower levels (i.e., with anti-inflammatory diets). The contribution of the DII score to the development of hyperuricemia increased with higher scores. The relationship between inflammatory diets and hyperuricemia requires more research on inflammation, and this study alerts the public that pro-inflammatory diets may increase the risk of developing hyperuricemia.

Commercial Chinese polyherbal preparation Zao Ren An Shen prescription for primary insomnia: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Background: Natural products are widely used for primary insomnia (PI). This systematic review with trial sequential analysis (TSA) aimed to summarize evidence pertaining to the effectiveness and safety of Zao Ren An Shen (ZRAS) prescription, a commercial Chinese polyherbal preparation, for treating PI. Methods: Controlled clinical trials appraising ZRAS compared to controls or as an add-on treatment were systematically searched across seven databases until January 2024. Cochrane ROB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools were adopted to determine risk of bias. Quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework. Results: We analyzed 22 studies, involving 2,142 participants. The effect of ZRAS in reducing Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores was found to be comparable to benzodiazepines [MD = 0.39, 95%CI (-0.12, 0.91), p = 0.13] and superior to Z-drugs [MD = -1.31, 95%CI (-2.37, -0.24), p = 0.02]. The addition of ZRAS to hypnotics more significantly reduced polysomnographically-recorded sleep onset latency [MD = -4.44 min, 95%CI (-7.98, -0.91), p = 0.01] and number of awakenings [MD = -0.89 times, 95%CI (-1.67, -0.10), p = 0.03], and increased total sleep time [MD = 40.72 min, 95%CI (25.14, 56.30), p < 0.01], with fewer adverse events than hypnotics alone. TSA validated the robustness of these quantitative synthesis results. However, the quality of evidence ranged from very low to low. The limited data available for follow-up did not support meta-synthesis. Conclusion: While ZRAS prescription shows promising effectiveness in treating PI, the overall quality of evidence is limited. Rigorously-designed randomized control trials are warranted to confirm the short-term efficacy of ZRAS and explore its medium-to-long-term efficacy. Systematic Review Registration: (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=471497), identifier (CRD42023471497).

Ag/ZnO microcavities with high sensitivity and self-cleaning properties for fast repetitive SERS detection.

A SERS substrate with high sensitivity and reusability was proposed. The chip consists of multiple ZnO microcavities loaded with silver particles. Based on structural characteristics, this coupling between cavity modes and localized surface plasmon modes can highly localize the electric field, where experimental results revealed a detection limit of 10-11 M for R6G. In addition, during carrier control in semiconductors with localized electromagnetic fields, our substrate also exhibits high self-cleaning efficiency and in situ detection stability. Even in a dry environment, it exhibits excellent light-mediated cleaning ability across multiple reuse test cycles. The convenient, rinse-free substrate, with its cost-effective and sustainable features, shows great promise for the study on detection and degradation of active materials.

A novel strategy to prepare high performance multifunctional composite films by combining electrostatic assembly, crosslinking, topology enhancement and sintering.

Currently, polymer-fiber composite films face the challenge of striking a balance between good mechanical properties and multi-functionalities. Here, aramid fibers (ANFs), chitosan (CS) dendritic particles, and silver nanowires (AgNWs) were used to create high-performance multifunctional composite films. AgNWs and polymer dendritic particles form an interpenetrating segregated network that ensures both a continuous conductive filler and a polymer network. Electrostatic assembly eliminates repulsion between negatively charged ANFs, cross-linked CS particles generate a stable three-dimensional network, and a "brick-mortar" structure composed of multiple materials contributes to topological enhancement. Sintering encourages local overlap and fusing of the AgNWs while reducing their internal flaws. Based on the above strategy, these films achieve a strength of 306.5 MPa, a toughness of 26.5 MJ m-3, and a conductivity of 392 S cm-1. Density functional theory (DFT) and Comsol simulations demonstrate that the introduction of CS thin layers leads to strong hydrogen bonds and three-dimensional continuous conductive networks. With its outstanding mechanical and electrical properties, the AgNW@ANF/CS-CH film demonstrates excellent electromagnetic shielding (22 879.1 dB cm2 g-1) and Joule heating (70 °C within 10 s) capabilities. This work presents a novel approach to fabricate high-performance conductive films and expand their potential applications in lightweight wearable electronics and electrothermal therapy.

The complete mitochondrial genome of enigmatic mycoparasitic fungus Squamanita imbachii.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Squamanita imbachii I. Saar, is unveiled in this research for the first time. It covers 76,643 base pairs (bp) and exhibits a guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 23%. The genome includes 14 conserved protein-coding genes, 1 DNA polymerase gene, 2 ribosomal RNA gene (RNS and RNL), 25 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and 18 open reading frames (ORFs). Phylogenetic analysis, utilizing a mitochondrial gene dataset from 15 taxa across seven families within the Agaricales order, was conducted employing the maximum-likelihood (ML) approach. This analysis identified a close phylogenetic relationship between S. imbachii and Floccularia luteovirens (Alb. & Schwein.) Pouzar 1957, positioning both within the Squamanitaceae family.

Endogenous Type I-C CRISPR-Cas system of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus promotes biofilm formation and pathogenicity.

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is a significant zoonotic pathogen that causes septicemia, meningitis, and mastitis in domestic animals. Recent reports have highlighted high-mortality outbreaks among swine in the United States. Traditionally recognized for its adaptive immune functions, the CRISPR-Cas system has also been implicated in gene regulation, bacterial pathophysiology, virulence, and evolution. The Type I-C CRISPR-Cas system, which is prevalent in SEZ isolates, appears to play a pivotal role in regulating the pathogenicity of SEZ. By constructing a Cas3 mutant strain (ΔCas3) and a CRISPR-deficient strain (ΔCRISPR), we demonstrated that this system significantly promotes biofilm formation and cell adhesion. However, the deficiency in the CRISPR-Cas system did not affect bacterial morphology or capsule production. In vitro studies showed that the CRISPR-Cas system enhances pro-inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells. The ΔCas3 and ΔCRISPR mutant strains exhibited reduced mortality rates in mice, accompanied by a decreased bacterial load in specific organs. RNA-seq analysis revealed distinct expression patterns in both mutant strains, with ΔCas3 displaying a broader range of differentially expressed genes, which accounted for over 70% of the differential genes observed in ΔCRISPR. These genes were predominantly linked to lipid metabolism, the ABC transport system, signal transduction, and quorum sensing. These findings enhance our understanding of the complex role of the CRISPR-Cas system in SEZ pathogenesis and provide valuable insights for developing innovative therapeutic strategies to combat infections.

Mortalin promotes the evolution of androgen-independent prostate cancer through Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Prostate cancer (PC) is a major global health concern affecting male individuals. Among its variants, androgen-independent prostate cancer exhibits slow progression and lacks effective treatment targets, rendering it insensitive to hormone therapy. Recent reports have highlighted the significance of Mortalin, an important oncogene, in tumor migration and invasion through various signaling pathways. Experimental evidence from in-vivo and in-vitro studies indicate upregulated expression of Mortalin in prostate cancer tissues. Moreover, it has been shown to regulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process via the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, thereby promoting prostate cancer proliferation and metastasis. These findings suggest that Mortalin may serve as a promising novel immunotherapeutic target for prostate cancer.

Self-crosslinking hyaluronic acid hydrogel as an enteroprotective agent for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

The pathological changes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) include the disruption of intestinal barrier function and the infiltration of pathogenic microbes. The application of an artificial protective barrier at the site of inflammation can prevent bacterial infiltration, promote epithelial cell migration, and accelerate wound healing. In this study, dopamine-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-DA) was developed as a bioadhesive self-cross-linkable hydrogel, which acted as an enteroprotective agent to promote the healing of inflamed intestinal tissue. The adhesion strength HA-DA to mouse colon was 3.81-fold higher than HA. Moreover, HA-DA promoted Caco-2 cell proliferation and migration as well as had a strong physical barrier effect after gelation. After oral administration, the HA-DA reduced weight loss and attenuated impaired goblet cell function in mice with dextran sodium sulfate-induced IBD. In addition, HA-DA promoted restoration of the epithelial barrier by the upregulation of tight junction proteins. The results reported herein substantiated that self-cross-linkable hydrogel-based enteroprotective agents are a promising approach for the treatment of IBD.

Catalytic Upgrading of a Mixed Hydroxy Acid Feedstock Derived from Kraft Black Liquor.

Lignocellulosic feedstocks are widely studied for sustainable liquid fuel and chemical production. The pulp and paper industry generates large amounts of kraft black liquor (BL) from which a high volume of hydroxy acids (HAs) can be separated for further catalytic processing. Here, we explore the catalytic upgrading of HAs, including the conversion of (1) a model HA, gluconic acid; (2) a model mixture of HAs, and (3) a real mixture of HAs derived from kraft BL on M/Nb2O5 (M = Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru). The hydrodeoxygenation of model gluconic acid reveals that "volatile" carboxylic acids (mainly C2 and C3), levulinic acid, and cyclic esters are significant products over all the catalysts, with Pd/Nb2O5 showing superior activity and selectivity toward valuable intermediates. The model mixture of HAs shows a wide range of reactivity over the supported metal catalyst, with the product selectivity strongly correlating to reaction temperature. Utilizing a 0.25% Pd/Nb2O5 catalyst, a real mixture of HAs derived from kraft BL is successfully dehydroxylated to produce a mixture rich in C3-C8 carboxylic acids that may be amenable for further upgrading, e.g., catalytically to ketones with high carbon chain lengths. Despite the feedstock complexity, we selectively cleaved the C-OH bonds of HAs, while successfully preserving most of the -COOH groups and minimizing C-C and C=O bond scission reactions under the operating conditions tested. The BL-derived HA stream is thus proposed to be a suitable platform for producing mixed carboxylic acid products from an overoxygenated byproduct feed.

Controlled Nucleation and Oriented Crystallization of Methylammonium-Free Perovskites via In Situ Generated 2D Perovskite Phases.

Enhancing stability while maintaining high efficiency is among the primary challenges in the commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, a crystal growth technique assisted by in situ generated 2D perovskite phases has been developed to construct high-quality 2D/3D perovskite films. The in situ generated 2D perovskite serve as templates for regulating the nucleation and oriented crystal growth in the α-FAPbI3-rich film. This led to a high film quality with much reduced trap density and an ultralong carrier lifetime. The obtained perovskite film shows excellent stability under extreme environment conditions (T = 200 °C, RH = 75 ± 5%). The corresponding PSC achieved an efficiency of 26.16% (certified 25.84%), along with excellent operational stability (T93 > 1300 h, T ≅ 50 °C) as well as outstanding high and low temperature cycle stability.