Flexible electronic devices are necessary for applications involving unconventional interfaces, such as soft and curved biological systems, in which traditional silicon‐based electronics would ...confront a mechanical mismatch. Biological polymers offer new opportunities for flexible electronic devices by virtue of their biocompatibility, environmental benignity, and sustainability, as well as low cost. As an intriguing and abundant biomaterial, silk offers exquisite mechanical, optical, and electrical properties that are advantageous toward the development of next‐generation biocompatible electronic devices. The utilization of silk fibroin is emphasized as both passive and active components in flexible electronic devices. The employment of biocompatible and biosustainable silk materials revolutionizes state‐of‐the‐art electronic devices and systems that currently rely on conventional semiconductor technologies. Advances in silk‐based electronic devices would open new avenues for employing biomaterials in the design and integration of high‐performance biointegrated electronics for future applications in consumer electronics, computing technologies, and biomedical diagnosis, as well as human–machine interfaces.
Silk fibroin is an ancient biomaterial with exquisite mechanical, optical, and electrical properties. Its intriguing properties and environmental benignity render silk fibroin compelling for the advancement of next‐generation biocompatible and biodegradable flexible electronic devices.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
In a smart home linked to a smart grid (SG), demand-side management (DSM) has the potential to reduce electricity costs and carbon/chlorofluorocarbon emissions, which are associated with electricity ...used in today's modern society. To meet continuously increasing electrical energy demands requested from downstream sectors in an SG, energy management systems (EMS), developed with paradigms of artificial intelligence (AI) across Internet of things (IoT) and conducted in fields of interest, monitor, manage, and analyze industrial, commercial, and residential electrical appliances efficiently in response to demand response (DR) signals as DSM. Usually, a DSM service provided by utilities for consumers in an SG is based on cloud-centered data science analytics. However, such cloud-centered data science analytics service involved for DSM is mostly far away from on-site IoT end devices, such as DR switches/power meters/smart meters, which is usually unacceptable for latency-sensitive user-centric IoT applications in DSM. This implies that, for instance, IoT end devices deployed on-site for latency-sensitive user-centric IoT applications in DSM should be aware of immediately analytical, interpretable, and real-time actionable data insights processed on and identified by IoT end devices at IoT sources. Therefore, this work designs and implements a smart edge analytics-empowered power meter prototype considering advanced AI in DSM for smart homes. The prototype in this work works in a cloud analytics-assisted electrical EMS architecture, which is designed and implemented as edge analytics in the architecture described and developed toward a next-generation smart sensing infrastructure for smart homes. Two different types of AI deployed on-site on the prototype are conducted for DSM and compared in this work. The experimentation reported in this work shows the architecture described with the prototype in this work is feasible and workable.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background and Purpose
Cancer cells exhibit more dependence on iron and enhanced sensitivity to iron‐dependent, programmed cell death (ferroptosis) than normal cells. Quercetin exerts anti‐cancer ...effects, but the underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the involvement of lysosome function and ferroptosis in the anti‐cancer potential of quercetin.
Experimental Approach
We used MTT assays and DNA content analysis to evaluate the cytotoxicity, colony formation assay to investigate cell proliferation, and flow cytometry and confocal microscopy to detect lysosomal acidification and protease enzyme activity. Western blotting, cell subfractionation, RT‐PCR and siRNA transfection were used to establish molecular mechanisms of action.
Key Results
Quercetin is known to promote p53‐independent cell death in various cancer cell lines. Although quercetin induces autophagy, genetic silencing of Atg7 fails to affect quercetin‐induced cell death. In contrast, both lysosome inhibitors and knockdown of the transcription factor EB can prevent quercetin‐induced cell death, suggesting the involvement of lysosome. Next, quercetin is found to induce lysosomal activation sequentially through nuclear translocation of EB and transcriptional activation of lysosomal genes. Notably, quercetin promoted lysosome‐dependent ferritin degradation and free iron release. This action and quercetin‐induced ROS generation synergistically resulted in lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Furthermore, Bid may link ferroptosis with apoptosis to cause cell death.
Conclusion and Implications
Quercetin induced EB‐mediated lysosome activation and increased ferritin degradation leading to ferroptosis and Bid‐involved apoptosis. Results from this study may expand our current knowledge about the mechanism of quercetin as an anti‐cancer agent.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
To compare changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving three-year conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARD), tumor necrosis ...factor-α inhibitors (TNFi), and abatacept.
Patients with RA were recruited from September 2014 to February 2021. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure BMD at the femoral neck (FN), total hip (TH), and lumbar spine (L1-4) at enrollment and three years later. Changes in the BMD of each regimen group were analyzed. Multiple ordinary least squares regression was used with the dependent variables to develop a model to predict the change in BMD.
A total of 752 participants were enrolled and 485 completed the three-year follow-up period. Of these, 375 (Group I), 84 (Group II), and 26 (Group III) participants received csDMARDs, TNFi, and abatacept therapy, respectively. Considering both type of therapy and completion of the follow-up period, participants were divided into groups A (csDMARDs, n = 104), B (TNFi, n = 52), and C (abatacept, n = 26). Compared to baseline, BMD decreased significantly at FN (p = 0.003) and L1-4 (p = 0.002) in Group A and at L1-4 (p = 0.005) in Group B, but remained stable at all sites in Group C. In terms of regression-adjusted percent change in BMD, there was a significant difference seen at all measured sites between group C compared to both groups A and B (+0.8%, -2.7%, -1.8% at FN; +0.5%, -1.1%, -1.0% at TH; +0.8%, -2.0%, -3.5% at L1-4, respectively; all p < 0.05). Anti-osteoporosis therapy had a BMD-preserving effect in RA.
Compared with csDMARDs and TNFi, abatacept may have a better BMD-preserving effect in RA. Anti-osteoporosis therapy can prevent systemic bone loss irrespective of RA therapy.
Berberine hydrochloride is the main effective component of Coptis spp. used in Chinese herbal medicine and its underlying molecular mechanisms, responsible for inducing effects in crustacean species, ...are not fully understood. In this study, the molecular response of the crab Charybdis japonica to berberine hydrochloride exposure was studied using transcriptome sequencing. The survival rate, gene expression and activities of several immune enzymes were measured after berberine hydrochloride treatments, with or without injection of the pathogenic bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila. A total of 962 differentially expressed genes (464 up-regulated and 498 down-regulated) were observed during exposure to 100 mg/L of berberine hydrochloride and in the control group after 48 h. Enrichment analysis revealed that these genes are involved in metabolism, cellular processes, signal transduction and immune functions, indicating that exposure to berberine hydrochloride activated the immune complement system. This bioactive compound simultaneously activated fibrinogen beta (FGB), fibrinogen alpha (FGA), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), kininogen (KNG), fibrinogen gamma chain (FGB), alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG), caspase-8 (CASP8), cathepsin L (CTSL), adenylate cyclase 3 (Adcy3) and MMP1. Its action could significantly increase the survival rate of the crabs injected with A. hydrophila and promote the activity of LZM, Caspas8, FGA, ACP and AKP in the hepatopancreas. When A. hydrophila was added, the neutralization of 300 mg/L berberine hydrochloride maximized the activities of Caspas8, LZM, ACP and AKP. Our results provide a new understanding of the potential effects of berberine hydrochloride on the immune system mechanisms in crustaceans.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
A systematic interrogation of male germ cells is key to complete understanding of molecular mechanisms governing spermatogenesis and the development of new strategies for infertility therapies and ...male contraception. Here we develop an approach to purify all types of homogeneous spermatogenic cells by combining transgenic labeling and synchronization of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium, and subsequent single-cell RNA-sequencing. We reveal extensive and previously uncharacterized dynamic processes and molecular signatures in gene expression, as well as specific patterns of alternative splicing, and novel regulators for specific stages of male germ cell development. Our transcriptomics analyses led us to discover discriminative markers for isolating round spermatids at specific stages, and different embryo developmental potentials between early and late stage spermatids, providing evidence that maturation of round spermatids impacts on embryo development. This work provides valuable insights into mammalian spermatogenesis, and a comprehensive resource for future studies towards the complete elucidation of gametogenesis.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Objective
T cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Serum‐derived exosomes are increased in SLE patients and are correlated with disease severity. This ...study was undertaken to investigate whether T cell–derived exosomal proteins play a role in SLE pathogenesis.
Methods
We characterized proteins in T cell–derived exosomes from SLE patients and healthy controls by MACSPlex exosome analysis and proteomics. To study the potential pathogenic functions of the exosomal protein identified, we generated and characterized T cell–specific transgenic mice that overexpressed that protein in T cells.
Results
We identified eosinophil cationic protein (ECP, also called human RNase III) as overexpressed in SLE T cell–derived exosomes. T cell–specific ECP–transgenic mice (n = 5 per group) displayed early induction of serum interferon‐γ (IFNγ) levels (P = 0.062) and inflammation of multiple tissue types. Older T cell–specific ECP–transgenic mice (n = 3 per group) also displayed an increase in follicular helper T cell and plasma B cell numbers, and in autoantibody levels (P < 0.01). Single‐cell RNA sequencing showed the induction of IFNγ messenger RNA (P = 2.2 × 10‐13) and inflammatory pathways in ECP‐transgenic mouse T cells. Notably, adoptively transferred ECP‐containing exosomes stimulated serum autoantibody levels (P < 0.01) and tissue IFNγ levels in the recipient mice (n = 3 per group). The transferred exosomes infiltrated into multiple tissues of the recipient mice, resulting in hepatitis, nephritis, and arthritis.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that ECP overexpression in T cells or T cell–derived exosomes may be a biomarker and pathogenic factor for nephritis, hepatitis, and arthritis associated with SLE.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Neuritogenesis is a process through which neurons generate their widespread axon and dendrites. The microtubule cytoskeleton plays crucial roles throughout neuritogenesis. Our previous study ...indicated that the amount of type II protein kinase A (PKA) on microtubules significantly increased upon neuronal differentiation and neuritogenesis. While the overall pool of PKA has been shown to participate in various neuronal processes, the function of microtubule-associated PKA during neuritogenesis remains largely unknown. First, we showed that PKA localized to microtubule-based region in different neurons. Since PKA is essential for various cellular functions, globally inhibiting PKA activity will causes a wide variety of phenotypes in neurons. To examine the function of microtubule-associated PKA without changing the total PKA level, we utilized the neuron-specific PKA anchoring protein MAP2. Overexpressing the dominant negative MAP2 construct that binds to type II PKA but cannot bind to the microtubule cytoskeleton in dissociated hippocampal neurons removed PKA from microtubules and resulted in compromised neurite elongation. In addition, we demonstrated that the association of PKA with microtubules can also enhance cell protrusion using the non-neuronal P19 cells. Overexpressing a MAP2 deletion construct which does not target PKA to the microtubule cytoskeleton caused non-neuronal cells to generate shorter cell protrusions than control cells overexpressing wild-type MAP2 that anchors PKA to microtubules. Finally, we demonstrated that the ability of microtubule-associated PKA to promote protrusion elongation was independent of MAP2 phosphorylation. This suggests other proteins in close proximity to the microtubule cytoskeleton are involved in this process.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
VLP: A Survey on Vision-language Pre-training Chen, Fei-Long; Zhang, Du-Zhen; Han, Ming-Lun ...
International journal of automation and computing,
02/2023, Volume:
20, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
In the past few years, the emergence of pre-training models has brought uni-modal fields such as computer vision (CV) and natural language processing (NLP) to a new era. Substantial works have shown ...that they are beneficial for downstream uni-modal tasks and avoid training a new model from scratch. So can such pre-trained models be applied to multi-modal tasks? Researchers have explored this problem and made significant progress. This paper surveys recent advances and new frontiers in vision-language pre-training (VLP), including image-text and video-text pre-training. To give readers a better overall grasp of VLP, we first review its recent advances in five aspects: feature extraction, model architecture, pre-training objectives, pre-training datasets, and downstream tasks. Then, we summarize the specific VLP models in detail. Finally, we discuss the new frontiers in VLP. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first survey focused on VLP. We hope that this survey can shed light on future research in the VLP field.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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