Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is an active metabolite of artemisinin and its derivatives, which is a potent drug extensively applied in clinical treatment of malaria. The antitumor properties of DHA have ...received increasing attention. However, there is no systematic summary on the pharmacological mechanisms of DHA against esophageal carcinoma (ESCA). The present study implemented network pharmacology- and molecular docking-based approaches to unveil the pharmacological mechanisms of DHA against ESCA.
DHA targets were accessed through integrating the SwissTargetPrediction, HERB, as well as BATMAN-TCM platforms. In TCGA-ESCA dataset, genes with differential expression were screened between 161 ESCA and 11 normal tissue specimens. DHA targets against ESCA were obtained through intersection. Their biological significance was evaluated with functional enrichment analysis. A prognostic signature was established
uni- and multivariate cox regression analyses. DHA-target interactions were predicted
molecular docking. Molecular dynamics simulation was implemented to examine the stability of DHA binding to potential targets.
The study predicted 160 DHA targets as well as 821 genes with differential expression in ESCA. Afterwards, 16 DHA targets against ESCA were obtained, which remarkably correlated to cell cycle progression. The ADORA2B- and AURKA-based prognostic signature exhibited the reliability and independency in survival prediction. The stable docking of DHA-ADORA2B and DHA-AURKA was confirmed.
Collectively, this study systematically revealed the basis and mechanism of DHA against ESCA through targeting multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms, and thus offered theoretical and scientific basis for the clinical application of DHA.
Major depressive disorder is a highly debilitating psychiatric disorder involving the dysfunction of different cell types in the brain. Microglia are the predominant resident immune cells in the ...brain and exhibit a critical role in depression. Recent studies have suggested that depression can be regarded as a microglial disease. Microglia regulate inflammation, synaptic plasticity, and the formation of neural networks, all of which affect depression. In this review, we highlighted the role of microglia in the pathology of depression. First, we described microglial activation in animal models and clinically depressed patients. Second, we emphasized the possible mechanisms by which microglia recognize depression-associated stress and regulate conditions. Third, we described how antidepressants (clinical medicines and natural products) affect microglial activation. Thus, this review aimed to objectively analyze the role of microglia in depression and focus on potential antidepressants. These data suggested that regulation of microglial actions might be a novel therapeutic strategy to counteract the adverse effects of devastating mental disorders.
Antibacterial property of packaging is needed to improve the microbiological safety of foods. The aim of this work was to incorporate various amounts of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) into films based ...on quaternized chitosan (2-N-Hydroxypropyl-3-trimethylammonium chloride chitosan, HTCC) to develop coating for preserving food. The HTCC film and blend films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The effects of CMC content on the physical properties and antibacterial activities of the blend films were investigated. The effect of coating bananas with the films on their preservation was also determined. The results revealed that HTCC and CMC in the blend films interacted by hydrogen bonding. Both of them could be partly miscible. Compared with HTCC100 film, CMC incorporation improved tensile strength, thermostability, and water resistance, however, increased oxygen permeability, and decreased light transmittance and antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Bananas coated with the HTCC/CMC blend films had longer shelf life than uncoated bananas. CMC incorporation thus evidently reinforced the HTCC film and lowered its WVP. These results suggest that HTCC/CMC blend films can be used as food packaging materials.
•HTCC/CMC blend films were prepared through a simple mixing method.•The films had low water permeability, high tensile strength and thermostability.•The films had good activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.•Bananas coated with the blend films exhibited extended shelf life.
Surface modification and endothelialization of vascular biomaterials are common approaches that are used to both resist the nonspecific adhesion of proteins and improve the hemocompatibility and ...long-term patency of artificial vascular grafts. Surface modification of vascular grafts using hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol), zwitterionic polymers, heparin or other bioactive molecules can efficiently enhance hemocompatibility, and consequently prevent thrombosis on artificial vascular grafts. However, these modified surfaces may be excessively hydrophilic, which limits initial vascular endothelial cell adhesion and formation of a confluent endothelial lining. Therefore, the improvement of endothelialization on these grafts by chemical modification with specific peptides and genes is now arousing more and more interest. Several active peptides, such as RGD, CAG, REDV and YIGSR, can be specifically recognized by endothelial cells. Consequently, graft surfaces that are modified by these peptides can exhibit targeting selectivity for the adhesion of endothelial cells, and genes can be delivered by targeting carriers to specific tissues to enhance the promotion and regeneration of blood vessels. These methods could effectively accelerate selective endothelial cell recruitment and functional endothelialization. In this review, recent developments in the surface modification and endothelialization of biomaterials in vascular tissue engineering are summarized. Both gene engineering and targeting ligand immobilization are promising methods to improve the clinical outcome of artificial vascular grafts.
This review highlights the recent developments of surface modification and endothelialization of biomaterials in vascular tissue engineering applications.
Nanoparticle (NP) interactions with cells and organisms are mediated by a biomolecular adsorption layer, the so‐called “protein corona.” An in‐depth understanding of the corona is a prerequisite to ...successful and safe application of NPs in biology and medicine. In this work, earlier in situ investigations on small NPs are extended to large polystyrene (PS) NPs of up to 100 nm diameter, using human transferrin (Tf) and human serum albumin (HSA) as model proteins. Direct NP sizing experiments reveal a reversibly bound monolayer protein shell (under saturating conditions) on hydrophilic, carboxyl‐functionalized (PS‐COOH) NPs, as was earlier observed for much smaller NPs. In contrast, protein binding on hydrophobic, sulfated (PS‐OSO3H) NPs in solvent of low ionic strength is completely irreversible; nevertheless, the thickness of the observed protein corona again corresponds to a protein monolayer. Under conditions of reduced charge repulsion (higher ionic strength), the NPs are colloidally unstable and form large clusters below a certain protein–NP stoichiometric ratio, indicating that the adsorbed proteins induce NP agglomeration. This comprehensive characterization of the persistent protein corona on PS‐OSO3H NPs by nanoparticle sizing and quantitative fluorescence microscopy/nanoscopy reveals mechanistic aspects of molecular interactions occurring during exposure of NPs to biofluids.
Serum protein adsorption onto large polystyrene nanoparticles is quantitatively assessed via in situ nanoparticle sizing and fluorescence imaging. Under saturating conditions, proteins bind reversibly and form a monolayer on carboxyl‐functionalized nanoparticles with hydrophilic surfaces. In contrast, hydrophobic, sulfated nanoparticles are enwrapped by monolayers of irreversibly bound proteins, which can cause nanoparticle agglomeration below a certain threshold coverage.
Assessing root sources of three uncertainties – parameterization of soil hydraulic characteristics, boundary conditions, and estimation of source/sink terms – is a significant challenge in soil water ...transport modeling. This study aims to evaluate the uncertainty of three each widely-used parameter estimation methods affecting plot-scale water dynamics. The study employs HYDRUS, a process-based hydrologic model, to incorporate these uncertainties and compare model predictions to measured values in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppe, China. Soil hydraulic parameters are determined using two direct methods (laboratory-derived approach and evaporation method) and one indirect method (neural network). While each hydraulic parameter method generally simulates soil moisture dynamics, the evaporation method performed better, especially under dry conditions. This suggests that measuring the intensity properties, such as unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, with the evaporation method is crucial for reasonable soil moisture simulation. The study also demonstrates the impact of different applied boundary conditions on simulated soil moisture, specifically the partitioning of reference FAO evapotranspiration via one direct method (soil fraction cover) and two indirect methods (leaf area index and crop height). The partitioning via soil fraction cover reflected a better simulation. Additionally, the study compares the uncertainties of root water uptake function with root growth parameters and constant root depth referenced to grass and pasture, and finds no significant difference among them. Comparing three sources of uncertainty in predicting soil moisture, the study concludes that the input soil hydraulic parameter is more sensitive than evapotranspiration partitioning or representation of root water uptake function. Our study highlights that measuring soil intensity properties can better reflect the effects of land use change, such as compaction, on field water transports.
The trend of digital transformation fosters enterprise change, helps cultivate enterprises' own competitive advantages and is crucial to the advancement of sports enterprises' sustainable development ...in the framework of the emerging digital economy as a national strategy. However, there have been few empirical studies on the microlevel of digital transformation and its impact on the sustainability of sports organizations. Therefore, the sustainable growth dynamic model is used to construct indicators of corporate sustainability by referencing 48 sports corporations listed on Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares markets and the New Third Board in China from 2012 to 2021. The intrinsic relationship between digital transformation and the sustainable development of sports enterprises and the underlying mechanism of action are explored by constructing a panel fixed effects model, a chain mediating effects model, and a panel threshold model. The most important contribution is as follows: To provide a useful reference for analyzing enterprise digital transformation, a more complete indicator indicating the extent of corporate digital transformation is built. The micro viewpoint broadens our awareness of sustainable development in sports organizations and deepens our understanding of the interaction model between sustainable development and enterprise digital transformation. This study provides methodical evidence and insights for an accurate understanding of digital transformation for sustainable enterprise development, looking into the "black box" of the mechanism between digital transformation and sustainable business development. The results show that digital transformation significantly aids sports enterprises in their pursuit of long-term sustainability. Heterogeneity tests demonstrate the pivotal role of digital transformation in advancing the sustained growth of sports firms and high-tech sports enterprises situated in the eastern region of China. Regarding transmission mechanisms, the chain mediating effect of enterprises' digital transformation on improved technological innovation and TFP, which in turn promote long-term business growth, has yet to be validated. Further examination exposes that within the context of the correlation between digital transformation and the sustainability of corporations, there is a single threshold effect based on financing restrictions and operational costs and a double threshold effect based on operational efficiency.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Under the influence of development strategies with regard to national fitness and health in China, the interactive development between national fitness and national health is becoming increasingly ...strong. To explore the coupling and coordination relationship between national fitness and national health, this paper conducts an empirical analysis of the coupling and coordination relationship between national fitness and national health in 11 provinces and cities in Eastern China using the entropy weight method, a coupling coordination model, spatial visualization of the coupling coordination degree and spatial autocorrelation analysis. The research confirms that the comprehensive development level of national fitness and national health in Eastern China shows a steady upward trend, with a lag in national fitness as a whole, and that the growth rate of national fitness development is faster than that of national health development. The coupling coordination degree of the two systems of national fitness and national health in Eastern China shows a slow upward trend, and the coupling coordination degree rises from barely coordinated to primary coordination. There are significant differences in the spatial pattern of coupling coordination: the spatial pattern from north to south generally shows 'low-high-high-low-high-low' characteristics, and the spatial spillover effect of coupling coordination in various regions has not yet appeared. The revised GM(1.1) prediction results indicate that the level and improvement rate of coupling coordination will accelerate significantly in the next 10 years, but the spatial differences will still exist. Finally, suggestions are proposed to optimize the coupling and coordinated development of national fitness and national health based on policy guarantees as well as strengthening and cross-regional cooperation.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
•FTIR and chemometrics were used to detect the authenticity of walnut oil.•FTIR and chemometrics were used to detect the adulteration of walnut oil.•The classification limit of soybean oil ...adulterated in walnut oil by FTIR was 10%.•Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to detect the adulteration of walnut oil.•The classification limit detected by fluorescence spectroscopy was less than 5%.
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and fluorescence spectroscopy combined with soft independent modeling of class analogies (SIMCA) and partial least square (PLS) were used to detect the authenticity of walnut oil and adulteration amount of soybean oil in walnut oil. A SIMCA model of FTIR spectra could differentiate walnut oil and other oils into separate categories; the classification limit of soybean oil in walnut oil was 10%. Fluorescence spectroscopy could differentiate oil composition by the peak position and intensity of emission spectrum without multivariate analysis. The classification limit of soybean oil adulterated in walnut oil by fluorescence spectroscopy was below 5%. The deviation of the prediction model for fluorescence spectra was lower than that for FTIR spectra. Fluorescence spectroscopy was more applicable than FTIR in the adulteration detection of walnut oil, both from the determination limit and prediction deviation.
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