Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) compose a major component of the tumour microenvironment and form in this microenvironment prior to cancer metastasis. However, the detailed mechanisms of TAM ...remodelling in the context of bladder cancer have not been clearly defined. The present study collected exosomes from the conditioned medium of human bladder T24 cancer cells. The effects of macrophages treated with exosomes derived from T24 cells on bladder cancer cell migration and invasion were analysed by Transwell assays. The expression levels of endogenous and exosomal microRNA-21 (miR-21) were examined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, while the expression level of the target protein was analysed by western blot analysis. Luciferase reporter plasmids and mutants were used to confirm direct targeting. The effects of miR-21 on bladder cancer cell migration and invasion were analysed by Transwell and Matrigel assays following miR-21 transfection. It was identified that exosomes derived from bladder cancer cells polarized THP-1 cell-derived macrophages into the M2 phenotype, and TAM-mediated pro-migratory and pro-invasive activity was determined. Moreover, it was found that miR-21 was highly expressed in exosomes derived from bladder cancer cells as well as in macrophages treated with exosomes. In addition, macrophages transfected with miR-21 exhibited M2 polarization and promoted T24 cell migratory and invasive ability. Mechanistically, exosomal miR-21 derived from bladder cancer cells inhibited phosphatase and tensin homolog activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in macrophages and enhanced STAT3 expression to promote M2 phenotypic polarization. The present results suggest that exosomal miR-21 can promote cancer progression by polarizing TAMs. Key words: bladder cancer, exosomes, microRNA, tumour-associated macrophages
•OMIMBr and AOIMBr are modest cathodic inhibitors for mild steel in 0.5 M H2SO4.•AOIMBr shows better corrosion inhibition due to the allyl electron-donating group.•Inhibitor mainly physically adsorbs ...on steel surface via positively charged N atom.•The adsorption of inhibitor molecules obeys El-Awady thermodynamic–kinetic model.
The inhibition performance and mechanism of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (OMIMBr) and 1-allyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide (AOIMBr) for the corrosion of mild steel in 0.5M H2SO4 were investigated using weight loss method, electrochemical measurements, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and quantum chemical calculation. The results revealed that OMIMBr and AOIMBr acted as modest cathodic inhibitors, and due to the electron-donating effect of allyl group, AOIMBr showed better inhibitive performance. The adsorption of both inhibitors on steel surface obeyed El-Awady thermodynamic–kinetic model, thus the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were calculated and discussed. Moreover, theoretical calculation was used to investigate inhibition mechanism of studied inhibitors.
Healable, adhesive, wearable, and soft human‐motion sensors for ultrasensitive human–machine interaction and healthcare monitoring are successfully assembled from conductive and human‐friendly hybrid ...hydrogels with reliable self‐healing capability and robust self‐adhesiveness. The conductive, healable, and self‐adhesive hybrid network hydrogels are prepared from the delicate conformal coating of conductive functionalized single‐wall carbon nanotube (FSWCNT) networks by dynamic supramolecular cross‐linking among FSWCNT, biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol, and polydopamine. They exhibit fast self‐healing ability (within 2 s), high self‐healing efficiency (99%), and robust adhesiveness, and can be assembled as healable, adhesive, and soft human‐motion sensors with tunable conducting channels of pores for ions and framework for electrons for real time and accurate detection of both large‐scale and tiny human activities (including bending and relaxing of fingers, walking, chewing, and pulse). Furthermore, the soft human‐motion sensors can be enabled to wirelessly monitor the human activities by coupling to a wireless transmitter. Additionally, the in vitro cytotoxicity results suggest that the hydrogels show no cytotoxicity and can facilitate cell attachment and proliferation. Thus, the healable, adhesive, wearable, and soft human‐motion sensors have promising potential in various wearable, wireless, and soft electronics for human–machine interfaces, human activity monitoring, personal healthcare diagnosis, and therapy.
Flexible, wearable, healable, and adhesive soft strain sensors are successfully developed from a conductive and biocompatible hybrid hydrogel framework for ultrasensitive human–machine interaction and healthcare monitoring. They exhibit fast self‐healing ability (within 2 s), highly self‐healing efficiency (99%), robust self‐adhesiveness, and a tunable conducting framework for real‐time, wireless, and accurate detection in human–machine interfaces, human activity monitoring, personal healthcare diagnosis, and therapy.
The inhibition performance and mechanism of loquat leaves extract (LLE) for the corrosion of mild steel in 0.5 M H
SO
were investigated using weight loss method, electrochemical measurements and ...scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results revealed that LLE acted as a modest cathodic inhibitor, its inhibition efficiency increased with the concentration of LLE and reached a maximum value of 96% at the 100% V/V concentration, but decreased with incremental temperature. Besides, it was found that the adsorption of LLE on steel surface obeyed Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and then the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were further determined accordingly. Furthermore, LLE was preliminarily separated by pH-gradient sedimentation and the synergistic inhibition between the isolates was investigated.
With the rapid development of green consumption demand, more and more consumers choose to purchase green products. Incorporating consumers’ environmental awareness into a green supply chain, this ...paper studies the decisions and coordination of the green supply chain under the retailer’s reciprocal preference. The decentralized models with and without reciprocity are constructed and analyzed with consideration of product green degree and pricing. Then, the cost-sharing joint commission contract is proposed to realize Pareto improvement. Finally, propositions and conclusions are verified by numerical simulation. The results indicate that improving consumers’ environmental awareness is favorable to the profit of the whole supply chain and environment. Besides, within the reasonable range of retailer’s reciprocal preference, higher value of the retailer’s reciprocal preference is conductive to the better realization of environmental protection and the improvement of the economic welfare of the whole society. The cost-sharing contract exerts a positive effect in improving the environmental and economic performance in the green supply chain (GSC). The paper provides a theoretical foundation for the design of cooperative contracts in the GSC, especially the GSC with retailer’s reciprocal preference.
Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) flour and starch were heated in a dry state at 130°C for 2 or 4 h. The effects of dry heat treatment (DHT) on the pasting, morphological and structural properties ...of the samples were evaluated. Dry heat treatment had a more significant effect on the pasting viscosity of flour than starch; it increased the pasting viscosity of the flour while it only increased the final viscosity of the starch. After dry heating, the onset of gelatinization and the peak temperatures of the samples increased significantly while the endothermic enthalpy decreased. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the gel structure of the samples became more compact and the particles were plumper when compared with the native ones. Crystallinity of the samples decreased while the X-ray diffraction patterns remained the same after DHT.
Non-aqueous electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) with high energy density and long cycle life are the key to meet future energy demands. The performance of such high-energy supercapacitors ...greatly depends on the textural properties of the porous carbon electrode. Ordered mesoporous carbon materials are always the prominent electrodes for capacitor applications and the roles of pore size and pore structure need to be investigated in a non-aqueous capacitor system to achieve high performance. Herein, a series of well-ordered mesoporous carbon materials (OMCs) with high specific surface areas and high pore volumes are synthesized utilizing mesoporous silica (SBA-15 and KIT-6) templates at different carbonization temperatures and studied for EDLCs with non-aqueous electrolytes. The performance of EDLCs greatly depends on the mesopore structure and mesoporous surface area, which is evident from the electrochemical performance. In particular, CMK-3 (prepared using SBA-15) shows a higher specific capacitance than CMK-8 (prepared using KIT-6), which may come from the long straight channels of CMK-3 leading to a lower internal resistance and larger number of ion-diffusion pathways. The mesopores provide not only larger pores for fast electrolyte ion transport but also a high surface area and high pore volume for ion storage during the charge–discharge processes. Increasing the carbonization temperature from 600 to 900 °C increases the mesoporous surface area, resulting in enhanced specific capacitance.
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•Ordered mesoporous carbon materials (OMCs) were fabricated by a facile template method.•OMCs were utilized as electrode materials for electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs).•OMCs exhibited better EDLC performance than microporous materials.•CMK-3 with hexagonal structure (p6mm) performed higher capacitance than CMK-8 with cubic structure (Ia3d).•The mesoporous surface area plays a crucial role in determining the EDLC performance.
Fusarium graminearum is a destructive wheat pathogen. No fully resistant cultivars are available. Knowledge concerning the molecular weapons of F. graminearum to achieve infection remains limited. ...Here, we report that deletion of the putative secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene cluster fg3_54 compromises the pathogen's ability to infect wheat through cell-to-cell penetration. Ectopic expression of fgm4, a pathway-specific bANK-like regulatory gene, activates the transcription of the fg3_54 cluster in vitro. We identify a linear, C- terminally reduced and D-amino acid residue-rich octapeptide, fusaoctaxin A, as the product of the two nonribosomal peptide synthetases encoded by fg3_54. Chemically-synthesized fusaoctaxin A restores cell-to-cell invasiveness in fg3_54-deleted F. graminearum, and enables colonization of wheat coleoptiles by two Fusarium strains that lack the fg3_54 homolog and are nonpathogenic to wheat. In conclusion, our results identify fusaoctaxin A as a virulence factor required for cell-to-cell invasion of wheat by F. graminearum.
Flexible electronics are drawing tremendous interest for various applications in wearable healthcare biomonitoring, on‐demand therapy, and human–machine interactions. However, conventional plastic ...substrates with uncomfortableness, mechanical mismatches, and impermeability have limited the application of flexible on‐skin electronic devices for healthcare biomonitoring and on‐demand therapy. Herein, flexible breathable electronic devices with the capabilities of real‐time temperature sensing and timely on‐demand anti‐infection therapy at wound sites are presented. These devices are assembled from a crosslinked electrospun moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MOX)‐loaded thermoresponsive polymer nanomesh film with a conductive pattern. The conductive polymer nanomesh film demonstrates excellent flexibility, reliable breathability, and robust environmental stability. Furthermore, the assembled temperature sensor displays a linear relationship between the electrical resistance and temperature, potentially enabling real‐time biomonitoring of tissue temperature at the wound site. Smart artificial electronic skins (E‐skins) are assembled from the thermoresponsive polymer nanomesh film for spatial touching sensing mapping of temperature changes. Furthermore, the flexible temperature sensor is coupled with a wireless transmitter for real‐time wireless temperature monitoring. Notably, the thermoresponsive polymer nanomesh film can also be assembled as a highly efficient flexible heater to trigger the on‐demand release of antibiotics loaded in the fibers to eliminate bacterial colonization in the wound site once infection has occurred.
Flexible breathable nanomesh electronic devices with the capabilities of real‐time temperature sensing and timely on‐demand therapy at wound sites are assembled. They exhibit excellent flexibility, reliable breathability, environmental stability, highly sensitive wireless temperature sensing capability to potentially monitor tissue temperature, temperature sensing mapping ability when assembled as electronic skin, and robust heating efficiency to trigger on‐demand drug release at the wound site.
Panax ginseng, a slow‐growing perennial herb, is the most praised and popular traditional medicinal herb. Mountain‐cultivated ginseng (MCG) and cultivated ginseng (CG) both belong to Panax ginseng C. ...A. Meyer. The market price and medical effects of this popular health product are closely related to its age. It is widely acknowledged that CG is typically harvested after 4–6 years of growth, but MCG is often collected after 10 years. Until now, the age identification of MCG or mountain wild ginseng (MWG) has remained a major challenge. In this study, we established a novel and rapid method for staining xylem vessels with phloroglucinol and identifying the “annual growth rings” of ginseng by utilizing a stereoscope, which serves as a reliable indicator of the age of MCG. Statistical analysis of the ring radius and the ring density of MCG aged from 1 to 20 years shows that the secondary xylem of MCG increases rapidly in the first 3 years but then gradually slows down from 4 to 10 years, and minor fluctuation is observed in the next 10 years. Meanwhile, the space between the growth rings (ring density) becomes increasingly small with age. This straightforward staining approach can reveal the age of MCG with remarkable clarity and can distinguish MCG from CG.
Research Highlights
A novel rapid staining method for Panax ginseng was established.
The age of mountain‐cultivated ginseng (MCG) can be identified by microscopic techniques.
MCG and cultivated ginseng (CG) can be discriminated by microstructure characteristics.
We established a new rapid staining method to dye xylem vessels with phloroglucinol, and with the help of a stereoscope, we calculated the “annual growth rings”, the rings of ginseng that can tell the age of MCG. Besides, this straightforward staining approach could also distinguish MCG from CG easily.
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