Rosmarinic Acid-Rich Perilla frutescens Extract-Derived Silver Nanoparticles: A Green Synthesis Approach for Multifunctional Biomedical Applications including Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activities.

This study describes a simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles using a rosmarinic acid extract from Perilla frutescens (PFRAE) as the bioreduction agent. The resulting nanoparticles, called PFRAE-AgNPs, were characterized using various analytical techniques. The UV-Vis spectrum confirmed the formation of PFRAE-AgNPs, and the FTIR spectrum indicated the participation of rosmarinic acid in their synthesis and stabilization. The XRD pattern revealed the crystal structure of PFRAE-AgNPs, and the TEM analysis showed their spherical morphology with sizes ranging between 20 and 80 nm. The DLS analysis indicated that PFRAE-AgNPs were monodispersed with an average diameter of 44.0 ± 3.2 nm, and the high negative zeta potential (-19.65 mV) indicated their high stability. In the antibacterial assays, the PFRAE-AgNPs showed potent activity against both Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacterial pathogens, suggesting that they could be used as a potential antibacterial agent in the clinical setting. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of PFRAE-AgNPs against DPPH and ABTS radical scavengers highlights their potential in the treatment of various oxidative stress-related diseases. PFRAE-AgNPs also demonstrated significant anticancer activity against a range of cell lines including human colon cancer (COLO205), human prostate carcinoma (PC-3), human lung adenocarcinoma (A549), and human ovarian cancer (SKOV3) cell lines suggesting their potential in cancer therapy. The nanoparticles may also have potential in drug delivery, as their small size and high stability could enable them to cross biological barriers and deliver drugs to specific target sites. In addition to the aforementioned properties, PFRAE-AgNPs were found to be biocompatible towards normal (CHO) cells, which is a crucial characteristic for their application in cancer therapy and drug delivery systems. Their antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties make them promising candidates for the development of new therapeutic agents. Furthermore, their small size, high stability, and biocompatibility could enable them to be used in drug delivery systems to enhance drug efficacy and reduce side effects.

Optically-transparent meta-window for wireless communication.

Circumventing the attenuation of microwaves during the propagation is of prime importance to wireless communication towards higher carrier frequencies. Here, we propose a scheme of wireless communications via a functionalized meta-window constructed by an optically-transparent metasurface (OTM) consisting of indium tin oxide (ITO) patterns. When the signal is weak, the OTM can significantly strengthen the signal by focusing the incoming waves towards the windowsill, thus substantially enhancing the network speed. The intensity enhancement of microwaves at 5 GHz via an OTM is verified by both numerical simulations and experiments. Furthermore, the ability to increase the data transfer rate in a 5-GHz-WiFi environment is directly demonstrated. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of applying an optically-transparent meta-window for enhancing wireless communications.

The Role of Carbon in Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition-Grown MoS2 Films.

Acquiring homogeneous and reproducible wafer-scale transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) films is crucial for modern electronics. Metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) offers a promising approach for scalable production and large-area integration. However, during MOCVD synthesis, extraneous carbon incorporation due to organosulfur precursor pyrolysis is a persistent concern, and the role of unintentional carbon incorporation remains elusive. Here, we report the large-scale synthesis of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) thin films, accompanied by the formation of amorphous carbon layers. Using Raman, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we confirm how polycrystalline MoS2 combines with extraneous amorphous carbon layers. Furthermore, by fabricating field-effect transistors (FETs) using the carbon-incorporated MoS2 films, we find that traditional n-type MoS2 can transform into p-type semiconductors owing to the incorporation of carbon, a rare occurrence among TMDC materials. This unexpected behavior expands our understanding of TMDC properties and opens up new avenues for exploring novel device applications.

Research on Processability and Transmission Performance of Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic Ball Grid Array Packaging Based on Electroless Plating Surface Modification for Microwave Transceiver Circuits.

A microwave transmitter/receiver using the low-temperature co-fired ceramic substrate and ball grid array packaging demonstrates superior properties, including high integration, miniaturization, and high electromagnetic shielding. However, it holds limitations of inadequate hermeticity (that is, gas or moist impermeability), high cost, and low reproducibility. In this work, we aim to overcome these difficulties by introducing a new packing technique. The packaging utilizes an electroless plated Ni/Pd/Au surface, resulting in a significant enhancement of the packaging hermeticity by orders of magnitude, approaching the level of <5 × 10-9 Pa·m3/s. Both Sn63Pb37 and Au80Sn20 solder alloys demonstrate exceptional solderability, attributed to Pd atoms diffusing to the Au layer during soldering at 310 °C. A reliability test of the packaging shows that the shear strength of the solder balls drops after thermal shocks but negligibly affects the hermeticity of the packaging. Furthermore, a meticulously designed internal vertical interconnect structure and I/O interconnections were engineered in the ball grid array packaging, showcasing excellent transmission characteristics within the 10-40 GHz frequency range while ensuring effective isolation between ports.

Exploring the Biomedical Applications of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Perilla frutescens Flavonoid Extract: Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Cell Toxicity Properties against Colon Cancer Cells.

The present study reports the biomimetic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a simple, cost effective and eco-friendly method. In this method, the flavonoid extract of Perilla frutescens (PFFE) was used as a bioreduction agent for the reduction of metallic silver into nanosilver, called P. frutescens flavonoid extract silver nanoparticles (PFFE-AgNPs). The Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectrum showed a characteristic absorption peak at 440 nm that confirmed the synthesis of PFFE-AgNPs. A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis of the PFFE-AgNPs revealed that flavonoids are involved in the bioreduction and capping processes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns confirmed the face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure of PFFE-AgNPs. A transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis indicated that the synthesized PFFE-AgNPs are 20 to 70 nm in size with spherical morphology and without any aggregation. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies showed that the average hydrodynamic size was 44 nm. A polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.321 denotes the monodispersed nature of PFFE-AgNPs. Further, a highly negative surface charge or zeta potential value (-30 mV) indicates the repulsion, non-aggregation, and stability of PFFE-AgNPs. PFFE-AgNPs showed cytotoxic effects against cancer cell lines, including human colon carcinoma (COLO205) and mouse melanoma (B16F10), with IC50 concentrations of 59.57 and 69.33 µg/mL, respectively. PFFE-AgNPs showed a significant inhibition of both Gram-positive (Listeria monocytogens and Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative (Salmonella typhi and Acinetobacter baumannii) bacteria pathogens. PFFE-AgNPs exhibited in vitro antioxidant activity by quenching 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) free radicals with IC50 values of 72.81 and 92.48 µg/mL, respectively. In this study, we also explained the plausible mechanisms of the biosynthesis, anticancer, and antibacterial effects of PFFE-AgNPs. Overall, these findings suggest that PFFE-AgNPs have potential as a multi-functional nanomaterial for biomedical applications, particularly in cancer therapy and infection control. However, it is important to note that further research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of these nanoparticles in vivo, as well as to explore their potential in other areas of medicine.

Long non-coding RNA SNHG11 regulates the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway through rho/ROCK in trabecular meshwork cells.

Trabecular meshwork (TM) cell dysfunction is the leading cause of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 11 (SNHG11) is associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis, but its biological functions and role in glaucoma pathogenesis remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of SNHG11 in TM cells using immortalized human TM and glaucomatous human TM (GTM3 ) cells and an acute ocular hypertension mouse model. SNHG11 expression was depleted using siRNA targeting SNHG11. Transwell assays, quantitative real-time PCR analysis (qRT-PCR), western blotting, and CCK-8 assay were used to evaluate cell migration, apoptosis, autophagy, and proliferation. Wnt/ß-catenin pathway activity was inferred from qRT-PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence, and luciferase reporter and TOPFlash reporter assays. The expression of Rho kinases (ROCKs) was detected using qRT-PCR and western blotting. SNHG11 was downregulated in GTM3 cells and mice with acute ocular hypertension. In TM cells, SNHG11 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and migration, activated autophagy, and apoptosis, repressing the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, and activated Rho/ROCK. Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway activity increased in TM cells treated with ROCK inhibitor. SNHG11 regulated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling through Rho/ROCK by increasing GSK-3ß expression and ß-catenin phosphorylation at Ser33/37/Thr41 while decreasing ß-catenin phosphorylation at Ser675. We demonstrate that the lncRNA SNHG11 regulates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling through Rho/ROCK via ß-catenin phosphorylation at Ser675 or GSK-3ß-mediated phosphorylation at Ser33/37/Thr41, affecting cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and autophagy. Through its effects on Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, SNHG11 is implicated in glaucoma pathogenesis and is a potential therapeutic target.

Development of Plant Protein Derived Tri Angular Shaped Nano Zinc Oxide Particles with Inherent Antibacterial and Neurotoxicity Properties.

The synthesis of nanometer-sized metallic nanoparticles utilizing bio-sources is one of the most cost-effective and ecologically friendly approaches. Nano-zinc oxide particles (N-ZnO Ps) were made using a simple green synthesis method using an aqueous zinc nitrate salt and Perilla frutescens crude protein as a protecting and reducing agent in the current work. UV-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), (energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) EDX and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) were used to characterize the synthesized N-ZnO Ps. A distinctive UV-vis absorption peak was observed at 370 nm due to N-ZnO Ps. The SEM and HR-TEM pictures revealed N-ZnO Ps with a triangular form. The XRD pattern indicated the wurtzite structure of N-ZnO Ps. Nanoparticles exhibited a zeta potential of -11.3 mV. The antibacterial activity of N-ZnO Ps was tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumonia) microorganisms. The N-ZnO Ps were non-toxic to HMC-3 human normal brain microglia cells; however, they exhibited a potential cytotoxic effect on the LN-18 human brain glioblastoma cell line. These results indicate that N-ZnOPs can act as promising antibacterial and anticancer treatments in the prevention of Glioblastoma.

Perilla frutescens: A Rich Source of Pharmacological Active Compounds.

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton, an important pharmaceutical and nutraceutical crop, is widely cultivated in East Asian countries. In this review, we present the latest research findings on the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of P. frutescens. Different databases, including PubMed, Scopus, CNKI, Agricola, Scifinder, Embase, ScienceDirect, DOAJ, and Web of Science, were searched to present the best review. In this review, we clearly represent the active constituents responsible for each and every pharmacological activity, plausible mechanism of action, and maximum inhibitory concentrations, as well as IC50 values. Approximately 400 different bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, terpenoids, quinines, phenylpropanoids, polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, coumarins, anthocyanins, carotenoids, neolignans, fatty acids, polycosanols, tocopherols, and sitosterols, have been reported in the leaves, seeds, roots, and aerial parts of P. frutescens. The bioactive constituents of P. frutescens exhibited different enzyme-inhibition properties, including antihyaluronidase effects and aldose reductase inhibitory, α-glucosidase inhibitory, xanthine oxidase inhibitory, and tyrosinase inhibitory properties. P. frutescens showed strong anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, anti-spasmodic, anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, insecticidal, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. Hence, the active constituents of P. frutescens used in the treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications (retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy), prevention of hyperuricemia in gout patients, hyper pigmentation, allergic conditions, skin inflammation, skin allergy, atopic dermatitis, periodontosis, androgenic alopecia, gastric inflammation, oesophagitis, carcinogenesis, cardiovascular, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cerebral ischemic disorders. Furthermore, we revealed the most active constituents and possible mechanisms of the pharmacological properties of P. frutescens.

Artificial Neuron Networks Enabled Identification and Characterizations of 2D Materials and van der Waals Heterostructures.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials and their in-plane and out-of-plane (i.e., van der Waals, vdW) heterostructures are promising building blocks for next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. Since the performance of the devices is strongly dependent on the crystalline quality of the materials and the interface characteristics of the heterostructures, a fast and nondestructive method for distinguishing and characterizing various 2D building blocks is desirable to promote the device integrations. In this work, based on the color space information on 2D materials' optical microscopy images, an artificial neural network-based deep learning algorithm is developed and applied to identify eight kinds of 2D materials with accuracy well above 90% and a mean value of 96%. More importantly, this data-driven method enables two interesting functionalities: (1) resolving the interface distribution of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown in-plane and vdW heterostructures and (2) identifying defect concentrations of CVD-grown 2D semiconductors. The two functionalities can be utilized to quickly identify sample quality and optimize synthesis parameters in the future. Our work improves the characterization efficiency of atomically thin materials and is therefore valuable for their research and applications.

Effects of ethanol, activated carbon, and activated kaolin on perilla seed oil: Volatile organic compounds, physicochemical characteristics, and fatty acid composition.

Perilla seed oil (PSO) has a special aromatic odor, which is unpleasant to the personal preferences of some consumers. To this end, this article evaluated the differences in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), physicochemical characteristics, and fatty acid composition of PSO treated with ethanol (PSO-EA), activated carbon (PSO-AC), and activated kaolin (PSO-AK). The results showed that in the PSO, PSO-EA, PSO-AC, and PSO-AK samples, the content of linolenic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid hardly changed. Among the physicochemical characteristics of the four samples, the color difference between PSO and PSO-EA was greater than the color difference between PSO and PSO-AC, PSO-AK. The three treatment methods had the greatest impact on the PSO peroxide value but had little effect on other indicators. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrum results identified 28 known volatiles, of which aldehydes, alkenals, alcohols, ketones, and esters were the main groups. Fingerprint analysis found that PSO had an aromatic odor, which includes 1-hexanol, hexanal, and 2-pentylfuran; the removal effect of ethanol on VOCs in PSO was better than that of activated carbon and activated kaolin. The difference between the four oil samples was found from the strength of the VOCs' signals in a two-dimensional map. From the principal components analysis and the "nearest neighbor" fingerprint analysis, it was found that PSO is generally quite different from PSO-EA, PSO-AC, and PSO-AK, while in the "nearest neighbor" fingerprint analysis, PSO-AC and PSO-AK are similar in general. In short, PSO will have better applications in the food field. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Treatment of PSO with ethanol, activated carbon, and activated kaolin is conducive to the comprehensive utilization of edible resources. In this work, ethanol, activated carbon, and activated kaolin were used to remove VOCs in PSO, and PSO-EA, PSO-AC, and PSO-AK were obtained. The perilla seed oil after these three treatment methods was tested for VOCs, physicochemical characteristics, and fatty acid composition. They can meet the needs of more consumers without affecting the fatty acid composition in the PSO, and have broad development prospects.

Phytosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Perilla frutescens Leaf Extract: Characterization and Evaluation of Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activities.

PURPOSE: The present study investigates the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Perilla frutescens leaf extract, which acts as a reducing agent for the conversion of silver ions (Ag+) into AgNPs. P. frutescens leaf synthesized AgNPs (PF@AgNPs) were evaluated for biomedical properties including antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PF@AgNPs were synthesized using P. frutescens leaf extract and silver nitrate solution. The morphology and physical properties of PF@AgNPs were studied by spectroscopic techniques including, UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM, XRD, DLS, and TGA. Antibacterial activity of PF@AgNPs was evaluated by disk diffusion assay. Antioxidant activity of PF@AgNPs was checked by 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2.2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging assays. Anticancer activity of PF@AgNPs was checked by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Cytotoxic effects of PF@AgNPs on most susceptible cancer cell lines were observed by phase contrast microscopy. RESULTS: PF@AgNPs showed surface plasmon resonance peak at 461 nm. XRD pattern showed that the PF@AgNPs were face-centered cubic crystals with a mean size of 25.71 nm. TEM analysis revealed the different shapes (spherical, rhombic, triangle, and rod) of PF@AgNPs. Zeta potential value (-25.83 mV) indicated that PF@AgNPs were long-term stable and not agglomerated. A low polydispersity index value (0.389) indicated the monodispersity of PF@AgNPs. TGA revealed the high thermal stability of PF@AgNPs. PF@AgNPs exhibited maximum inhibition against Escherichia coli, followed by Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. PF@AgNPs showed maximum inhibition of 68.02 and 62.93% against DPPH and ABTS-free radicals, respectively. PF@AgNPs showed significant anticancer activity against human colon cancer (COLO205) and prostate adenocarcinoma (LNCaP). PF@AgNPs exhibited apoptotic effects on LNCaP cells including cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, fragmentation of nuclei, and formation of apoptotic bodies. CONCLUSION: The present study reports the successful synthesis of PF@AgNPs using P. frutescens leaf extract. The synthesized PF@AgNPs are FCC crystals, monodispersed, long-term stable, and non-agglomerated. The observed antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities demonstrate the potential biomedical applications of PF@AgNPs.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from perilla seed meal by response surface methodology: Characterization and in vitro antioxidant activities.

In this study, response surface methodology was employed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) process of perilla seed meal polysaccharides (PSMP). The optimal conditions for UAE of PSMP were: liquid-solid ratio of 26.00 mL/g, ultrasonic temperature of 43.00 °C, ultrasonic time of 52.00 min, and ultrasonic power of 229.00 W, the optimal conditions lead to an yield of 6.137 ± 0.062%. The structural characteristics of molecular weight, compositional monosaccharides, and glycosidic linkages were determined by size exclusion chromatography with multiangle light scattering, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Fourier-transfer infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance detections. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that many holes were formed on the surface of PSM after UAE. The antioxidant activities of PSMP were investigated using various assays in vitro. The results suggested that PSMP is potential natural resource of antioxidants for medicine and functional foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The selection of raw material perilla seed meal is conducive to the comprehensive utilization of edible resources. With consumer demands for newly developed foods with natural, wholesome ingredients are increasing nowadays. This study provides effective reference for in-depth research on other medicine-food dual-use resources. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) is a promising alternative method for hot water reflux extraction (HWRE) of polysaccharides for advantages of high efficiency and energy saving. In this work, the UAE process optimized by response surface methodology is more suitable for industrial application that can effectively decrease total cost of production by reducing the extraction temperature, shortening extraction time, and increasing raw material utilization.

Polycrystalline Few-Layer Graphene as a Durable Anticorrosion Film for Copper.

Corrosion of metals in atmospheric environments is a worldwide problem in industry and daily life. Traditional anticorrosion methods including sacrificial anodes or protective coatings have performance limitations. Here, we report atomically thin, polycrystalline few-layer graphene (FLG) grown by chemical vapor deposition as a long-term protective coating film for copper (Cu). A six-year old, FLG-protected Cu is visually shiny and detailed material characterizations capture no sign of oxidation. The success of the durable anticorrosion film depends on the misalignment of grain boundaries between adjacent graphene layers. Theoretical calculations further found that corrosive molecules always encounter extremely high energy barrier when diffusing through the FLG layers. Therefore, the FLG is able to prevent the corrosive molecules from reaching the underlying Cu surface. This work highlights the interesting structures of polycrystalline FLG and sheds insight into the atomically thin coatings for various applications.

Blood Pressure Variability during Angiography in Patients with Ischemic Stroke and Intracranial Artery Stenosis.

Our aim was to investigate factors predicting blood pressure (BP) variability during diagnostic cerebral angiography and associations between BP variability and clinical outcomes in patients with acute and subacute ischemic stroke and intracranial artery stenosis. 114 patients with ischemic stroke and intracranial artery stenosis (stenosis rate >50%) were recruited. Patients who underwent cerebral angiography within 3 days and 3-14 days of disease onset are referred to be Group A and Group S, respectively. BP variability in Group A was defined as the coefficient of variance (CV) of BP. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify predictors of CV of BP and associations between CV of BP and clinical outcomes at discharge. In Group A patients, advanced age was associated with increased CV of SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and antihypertensive use was associated with lower CV of SBP. Male was associated with lower CV of DBP. In Group S, higher CV of SBP was associated with hypertension and antihypertensive use. Males had lower CV of SBP than females. The calcium channel blocker was associated with lower CV of DBP. Higher scores of the Stroke Scale at admission were significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes for both groups, while BP variability was not. Factors associated with BP variability are significantly different between stroke patients undergoing angiography within 3 days vs. 3-14 days after disease onset. BP variability is not significantly associated with clinical outcomes at discharge.

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based approach for rapid comparison of lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase activity on multiple substrates.

Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases (LPAAT) play an essential role in generating phosphatidic acid (PA), a key intermediate for phospholipids and triacylglycerol synthesis. The individual members have a diversity of localisation, and a strong fatty acid substrate preference. In vitro LPAAT enzymatic activity assays are necessary for understanding the physiological function of these enzymes. In this work, we have developed a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based rapid enzymatic assay without using radioactive labelling. We show that this approach is comparable to radioactive labelling assays, using either native or non-native lysophosphatidic acid receiver molecules. Most importantly, this approach can be applied to the comparison of multiple substrates in a single assay. The approach is also adaptable for other lipid enzymatic assays.

Dynamic changes of proteasome and protective effect of bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, in mice with acute pancreatitis.

The proteasome is involved in the activation of NF-κB and can regulate the progression of inflammatory diseases. However, the role of proteasome in acute pancreatitis (AP) has not been demonstrated. In this study, we first observed that the protein level and activity of proteasome 20S were increased significantly in pancreatic injury tissues after caerulein-induced mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) induction, which was in consistent with the expression of the NF-κB nucleoprotein and positively correlated with the severity of AP. Then, bortezomib, a classical proteasome inhibitor, was used to intervene the progression of MAP in mice. The results showed that bortezomib administration reduced the serum amylase and lipase levels and mitigated histopathological manifestation of pancreatic injury in mice. Meanwhile, bortezomib decreased the expression of NF-κB p65 nucleoprotein as well as total proteasome 20S protein, and inhibited the activity of 20S in pancreatic tissues. In addition, we found that bortezomib could protect pancreatic acinar cell against necrosis and mitigate the severity of AP in a severe acute pancreatitis model induced by sodium taurocholate hydrate. Taken together, our study for the first time confirmed that the proteasome participated in the pathogenesis of AP and its inhibitor bortezomib could protect against AP in mice.

Recent Advances in Nonfullerene Acceptors for Organic Solar Cells.

Recently, research on nonfullerene acceptors in organic solar cells has gradually become a hot topic due to such superior characteristics of light absorption and energy-level-convenient manipulation, multiformity of the photoactive material structures, as well as the extensive area in production compared to the fullerene derivatives. However, the nonfullerene acceptors evolved slowly before 2012 and, as a matter of fact, the power conversion efficiency values could only bear 2.0%. Strikingly, nonfullerene acceptors have developed at a fast pace since 2013, with the best device performance of 13.1% now. In this review, recent research progress on nonfullerene acceptors, including small molecules and polymers, are sorted and summarized on the basis of the different characteristics.

Enhanced adsorption behaviors of Co2+ on robust chitosan hydrogel microspheres derived from an alkali solution system: kinetics and isotherm analysis.

Chitosan hydrogel microspheres derived from the LiOH/KOH/urea aqueous system demonstrate great characteristics of high mechanical strength, relative chemical inertness, renewability and 3-D fibrous network, making them promising functional supports. This work aims to investigate the tunable Co2+ adsorption behaviors on these robust chitosan microspheres in detail, providing the theoretical basis for optimizing the preparation procedure of chitosan microspheres supported Co3O4 catalysts in the future. The experimental results revealed that the fabricated original chitosan microspheres with more extended chain conformation could display enhanced adsorption capacity for Co2+ at determined concentration both in water and alcohol solutions, which is about 2-7 times higher than that of the conventional chitosan hydrogel microspheres prepared from the acetic acid solution. The kinetic experiments indicated that the adsorption process in water solution agreed with the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation mostly, while the chemical and physical adsorptions commonly contribute to the higher Co2+ adsorption on chitosan microspheres in alcohol solution. Moreover, in both cases, the film diffusion or chemical reaction is the rate limiting process in the initial adsorption stage, and the adsorption of Co2+ on chitosan microspheres can well fit to the Langmuir isotherm. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that such adsorption behaviors were dominated by an endothermic (ΔH° > 0) and spontaneous (ΔG° < 0) process.

The Posterior Insula Shows Disrupted Brain Functional Connectivity in Female Migraineurs Without Aura Based on Brainnetome Atlas.

Long-term headache attacks may cause human brain network reorganization in patients with migraine. In the current study, we calculated the topologic properties of functional networks based on the Brainnetome atlas using graph theory analysis in 29 female migraineurs without aura (MWoA) and in 29 female age-matched healthy controls. Compared with controls, female MWoA exhibited that the network properties altered, and the nodal centralities decreased/increased in some brain areas. In particular, the right posterior insula and the left medial superior occipital gyrus of patients exhibited significantly decreased nodal centrality compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, female MWoA exhibited a disrupted functional network, and notably, the two sub-regions of the right posterior insula exhibited decreased functional connectivity with many other brain regions. The topological metrics of functional networks in female MWoA included alterations in the nodal centrality of brain regions and disrupted connections between pair regions primarily involved in the discrimination of sensory features of pain, pain modulation or processing and sensory integration processing. In addition, the posterior insula decreased the nodal centrality, and exhibited disrupted connectivity with many other brain areas in female migraineurs, which suggests that the posterior insula plays an important role in female migraine pathology.