MoS2 quantum dots (QDs)‐based white‐light‐emitting diodes (QD‐WLEDs) are designed, fabricated, and demonstrated. The highly luminescent, histidine‐doped MoS2 QDs synthesized by microwave induced ...fragmentation of 2D MoS2 nanoflakes possess a wide distribution of available electronic states as inferred from the pronounced excitation‐wavelength‐dependent emission properties. Notably, the histidine‐doped MoS2 QDs show a very strong emission intensity, which exceeds seven times of magnitude larger than that of pristine MoS2 QDs. The strongly enhanced emission is mainly attributed to nitrogen acceptor bound excitons and passivation of defects by histidine‐doping, which can enhance the radiative recombination drastically. The enabled electroluminescence (EL) spectra of the QD‐WLEDs with the main peak around 500 nm are found to be consistent with the photoluminescence spectra of the histidine‐doped MoS2 QDs. The enhanced intensity of EL spectra with the current increase shows the stability of histidine‐doped MoS2 based QD‐WLEDs. The typical EL spectrum of the novel QD‐WLEDs has a Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage chromaticity coordinate of (0.30, 0.36) exhibiting an intrinsic broadband white‐light emission. The unprecedented and low‐toxicity QD‐WLEDs based on a single light‐emitting material can serve as an excellent alternative for using transition metal dichalcogenides QDs as next generation optoelectronic devices.
A “single light‐emitting material,” “low‐toxicity,” and “economical fabrication process” white‐light‐emitting diode based on histidine‐doped MoS2 quantum dots is successfully designed, fabricated, and demonstrated. This work overcomes the low‐luminescence problem for traditional 2D transition metal dichalcogenides and achieves high performance white‐light‐emitting diodes with an intrinsic broadband white‐light electroluminescence and a Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage chromaticity coordinate of (0.30, 0.36).
Vascular calcification is a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. To develop appropriate prevention and/or therapeutic strategies for vascular calcification, it is important ...to understand the origins of the cells that participate in this process. In this report, we used the SM22-Cre recombinase and Rosa26-LacZ alleles to genetically trace cells derived from smooth muscle. We found that smooth muscle cells (SMCs) gave rise to osteochondrogenic precursor- and chondrocyte-like cells in calcified blood vessels of matrix Gla protein deficient (MGP) mice. This lineage reprogramming of SMCs occurred before calcium deposition and was associated with an early onset of Runx2/Cbfa1 expression and the downregulation of myocardin and Msx2. There was no change in the constitutive expression of Sox9 or bone morphogenetic protein 2. Osterix, Wnt3a, and Wnt7a mRNAs were not detected in either calcified MGP or noncalcified wild-type (MGP) vessels. Finally, mechanistic studies in vitro suggest that Erk signaling might be required for SMC transdifferentiation under calcifying conditions. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that adult SMCs can transdifferentiate and that SMC transdifferentiation is an important process driving vascular calcification and the appearance of skeletal elements in calcified vascular lesions.
PurposeThe gradual ageing of global population has necessitated the creation of conducive and supportive food and beverage environments for older adults. This study identifies the key evaluation ...criteria for senior-friendly restaurants and examines the importance of each criterion.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to synthesis the key evaluation criteria for senior-friendly restaurants and analyses the weights of these criteria. It identifies and prioritises four main criteria and twenty sub-criteria in the hierarchical framework by employing the sophisticated approach.FindingsThe results indicate that the main criteria ranked by importance are “barrier-free environment”, “food quality”, “service quality” and “corporate social responsibility (CSR)”. There are five most important sub-criteria, such as “simple and intuitive use” and “perceptible information” belonging to the main criterion “barrier-free environment”, “hygiene and safety” and “food freshness” belonging to the main criterion “food quality” and “assurance” belonging to “service quality”. Incorporating the analytical findings, this study suggests the key evaluation criteria to facilitate the construction and development of senior-friendly restaurants.Originality/valueThe precisely hierarchical model and key criteria proposed in this study provide clear guidelines for managers of senior-friendly restaurants to develop feasible strategies and also contribute to the theoretical development of food-friendly environments and services for elderly consumers.
Hepatitis B is the most prevalent viral hepatitis worldwide, affecting approximately one-third of the world's population. Among HBV factors, the surface protein is the most sensitive biomarker for ...viral infection, given that it is expressed at high levels in all viral infection phases. The large HBV surface protein (LHBs) contains the integral pre-S1 domain, which binds to the HBV receptor sodium taurocholate co transporting polypeptide on the hepatocyte to facilitate viral entry. The accumulation of viral LHBs and its prevalent pre-S mutants in chronic HBV carriers triggers a sustained endoplasmic reticulum (ER) overload response, leading to ER stress-mediated cell proliferation, metabolic switching and genomic instability, which are associated with pro-oncogenic effects. Ground glass hepatocytes identified in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients harbor pre-S deletion variants that largely accumulate in the ER lumen due to mutation-induced protein misfolding and are associated with increased risks of cancer recurrence and metastasis. Moreover, in contrast to the major HBs, which is decreased in tumors to a greater extent than it is in peritumorous regions, LHBs is continuously expressed during tumorigenesis, indicating that LHBs serves as a promising biomarker for HCC in people with CHB. Continuing efforts to delineate the molecular mechanisms by which LHBs regulates pathological changes in CHB patients are important for establishing a correlation between LHBs biomarkers and HCC development.
Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), a prevalent liver disorder affecting one-third of the global population, encompasses a spectrum ranging from fatty liver to severe hepatic steatosis. ...Both genetic and lifestyle factors, particularly diet and nutrition, contribute to its etiology. Folate deficiency, a frequently encountered type of malnutrition, has been associated with the pathogenesis of MAFLD and shown to impact lipid deposition. However, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship remain incompletely understood. We investigated the impact of disturbed folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism (OCM) on hepatic lipid metabolism both in vitro using human hepatoma cells and in vivo using transgenic fluorescent zebrafish displaying extent-, stage-, and duration-controllable folate deficiency upon induction. Disturbed folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism, either by inducing folate deficiency or adding anti-folate drug, compromises autophagy and causes lipid accumulation in liver cells. Disturbed folate status down-regulates cathepsin L, a key enzyme involved in autophagy, through inhibiting mTOR signaling. Interfered mitochondrial biology, including mitochondria relocation and increased fusion-fission dynamics, also occurs in folate-deficient hepatocytes. Folate supplementation effectively mitigated the impaired autophagy and lipid accumulation caused by the inhibition of cathepsin L activity, even when the inhibition was not directly related to folate deficiency. Disruption of folate-mediated OCM diminishes cathepsin L expression and impedes autophagy via mTOR signaling, leading to lipid accumulation within hepatocytes. These findings underscore the crucial role of folate in modulating autophagic processes and regulating lipid metabolism in the liver.
Oral cancer with high incidence rates is occurring in many countries including in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. Smoking, alcoholism, and betel nut chewing are considered to be ...the main risk factors for oral cancer. Further, deaths from oral cancer have increased year by year. Although several oral cancer-associated biomarkers have been reported, very few useful biomarkers have been applied for early diagnosis. Therefore, the investigation of oral cancer-specific biomarkers is urgently needed. We previously investigated N-glycomes of oral cancer cells and patient plasma. We found that both mRNA levels of FUT8 and core-fucosylated glycoproteins increase in cases of oral cancer relative to normal cases. In this study we aim to discover novel core-fucosylated glycoprotein biomarkers for oral cancer diagnosis with glycoproteomic approaches. First, forty plasma samples obtained from the Human Bioinformation Bank of NCKUH were subjected to AAL (Aleuria aurantia lectin) affinity chromatography. Core-fucosylated proteins were collected and applied for LC-MS/MS followed by electrophoresis. Fourteen proteins were identified, and expression levels of proteins in plasma were verified by western blot. Expression levels of some glycoproteins were elevated in the oral cancer group, including ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, and leucin-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1). However, levels of some glycoproteins decreased in the cancer group, including apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) and apolipoprotein A-IV (apo A-IV). Via ELISA analysis, we found that apo A-IV and apo A-IV/total protein ratios were decreased in plasma accompanied with cancer stages. The LRG1/total protein ratio was found to increase while plasma levels of LRG1 were not found to differ between the oral cancer plasma and normal groups. An ROC curve analysis reveals strong diagnosis performance when combining apo A-IV levels and LRG1/total protein ratios. Taken together, apo A-IV and LRG1, given their strong performance in detecting oral cancer, can serve as useful biomarkers and may be used as a useful tool for oral cancer screening and early diagnosis.
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•Investigating oral cancer specific biomarkers for early diagnosis is urgently needed.•Fourteen plasma core-fucosylated proteins are identified by glycoproteomics.•Apo A-IV could be potential biomarker for early diagnosis of oral cancer in combination with LRG1/total protein.
C5a is a potent inflammatory mediator that binds C5aR1 and C5aR2. Although pathogenic roles of the C5a/C5aR1 axis in inflammatory disorders are well documented, the roles for the C5a/C5aR2 axis in ...inflammatory disorders and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that the C5a/C5aR2 axis contributes to renal inflammation and tissue damage in a mouse model of acute pyelonephritis. Compared with WT littermates, C5ar2-/- mice had significantly reduced renal inflammation, tubular damage, and renal bacterial load following bladder inoculation with uropathogenic E. coli. The decrease in inflammatory responses in the kidney of C5ar2-/- mice was correlated with reduced intrarenal levels of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1), NLRP3 inflammasome components, cleaved caspase-1, and IL-1β. In vitro, C5a stimulation of macrophages from C5ar1-/- mice (lacking C5aR1 but expressing C5aR2) led to significant upregulation of HMGB1 release, NLRP3/cleaved caspase-1 inflammasome activation, and IL-1β secretion. Furthermore, blockade of HMGB1 significantly reduced C5a-mediated upregulation of NLRP3/cleaved caspase-1 inflammasome activation and IL-1β secretion in the macrophages, implying a HMGB1-dependent upregulation of NLRP3/cleaved caspase-1 inflammasome activation in macrophages. Our findings demonstrate a pathogenic role for the C5a/C5aR2 axis in renal injury following renal infection and suggest that the C5a/C5aR2 axis contributes to renal inflammation and tissue damage through upregulation of HMGB1 and NLRP3/cleaved caspase-1 inflammasome.
Molecules derived from cinnamon have demonstrated diverse pharmacological activities against infectious pathogens, diabetes and inflammatory diseases. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the ...cinnamon-derived molecule IND02 on the adhesion of leukocytes to host cells. The anti-inflammatory ability of IND02, a pentameric procyanidin type A polyphenol polymer isolated from cinnamon alcohol extract, was examined. Pretreatment with IND02 significantly reduced the attachment of THP-1 cells or neutrophils to TNF-α-activated HUVECs or E-selectin/ICAM-1, respectively. IND02 also reduced the binding of E-, L- and P-selectins with sialosides. Furthermore, IND02 could agglutinate human red blood cells (RBC), and the agglutination could be disrupted by sialylated glycoprotein. Our findings demonstrate that IND02, a cinnamon-derived compound, can interact with sialosides and block the binding of selectins and leukocytes with sialic acids.
Today, the most serious threat to global health is the continuous outbreak of respiratory diseases, which is called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought severe ...challenges to public health and has attracted great attention from the research and medical communities. Most patients infected with COVID-19 will have fever. Therefore, the monitoring of body temperature has become one of the most important basis for pandemic prevention and testing. Among them, the measurement of body temperature is the most direct through the Forehead Thermometer, but the measurement speed is relatively slow. The cost of fast-checking body temperature measurement equipment, such as infrared body temperature detection and face recognition temperature machine, is too high, and it is difficult to build Disease Surveillance System (DSS). To solve the above-mentioned problems, the Intelligent pandemic prevention Temperature Measurement System (ITMS) and Pandemic Prevention situation Analysis System (PPAS) are proposed in this study. ITMS is used to detect body temperature. However, PPAS uses big data analysis techniques to prevent pandemics. In this study, the campus field is used as an example, in which ITMS and PPAS are used. In the research, Proof of Concept (PoC), Proof of Service (PoS), and Proof of Business (PoB) were carried out for the use of ITMS and PPAS in the campus area. From the verification, it can be seen that ITMS and PPAS can be successfully used in campus fields and are widely recognized by users. Through the verification of this research, it can be determined that ITMS and PPAS are indeed feasible and capable of dissemination. The ITMS and PPAS are expected to give full play to their functions during the spread of pandemics. All in all, the results of this research will provide a wide range of applied thinking for people who are committed to the development of science and technology.
According to the “World Population Prospects 2022” released by the United Nations in August 2022, the world will officially enter an “aging society”. In order to provide the elderly with an improved ...quality of daily life, “health promotion” and “prevention of disease” will be important. With respect to care of the elderly, the concepts of “therapeutic environment” and “green care” have been explored and developed. Therefore, in this study, we combine the currently popular Internet of Things (IoT) into an aquaponics system and proposes a smart green care system (SGCS). The proposed system uses face recognition technology to record the labor and rehabilitation history of the elderly, in combination with environmental data analysis, to enable automatic control decisions for equipment in conjunction with a voice control system to reduce the obstacles faced by the elderly in operating the information system. It also uses image recognition technology to monitor and notify about plant diseases and insect pests to achieve automatic management and enhance the interaction between the elderly and the SGCS through human–computer interaction. The SGCS allows the elderly to guide it to participate in appropriate activities through direct contact with the natural environment, thereby enhancing the quality of green healing life. In this study, taking long-term care institutions as an example, we verified proof of concept (PoC), proof of service (PoS), and proof of business (PoB), confirming the feasibility of the SGCS. The SGCS proposed in this study can be successfully used in long-term care institutions and various other environments, such as medical units and home care contexts. It can take full advantage of the functions associated with the concept of “healing environment” and “green care” widely recognized by users. Therefore, it can be widely used in the field of long-term care in the future.
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