This paper proposes a novel autonomous underwater vehicle path planning algorithm in a cluttered underwater environment based on the heat method. The algorithm calculates the isotropic and ...anisotropic geodesic distances by adding the direction and magnitude of the currents to the heat method, which is named the anisotropy-based heat method. Taking account of the relevant influence of the environment on the cost functions, such as currents, obstacles and turn of the vehicle, an efficient collision-free and energy-optimized path solution can be obtained. Simulation results show that the anisotropy-based heat method is able to find a good trajectory in both static and dynamic clutter fields (including uncertain obstacles and changing currents). Compared with the fast marching (FM) algorithm, the anisotropy-based heat method is not only robust, flexible, and simple to implement, but it also greatly saves time consumption and memory footprint in a time-variant environment. Finally, the evaluation criteria of paths are proposed in terms of length, arrival time, energy consumption, and smoothness.
The aim of this study is to explore the potential targets and molecular mechanism of matrine (MAT) against aging. Bioinformatic-based network pharmacology was used to investigate the aging-related ...targets and MAT-treated targets. A total of 193 potential genes of MAT against aging were obtained and then the top 10 key genes (cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, Cyclin A2, androgen receptor, Poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1 (PARP1), histone-lysine N-methyltransferase, albumin, mammalian target of rapamycin, histone deacetylase 2, and matrix metalloproteinase 9) were filtered by the molecular complex detection, maximal clique centrality (MMC) algorithm, and degree. The Metascape tool was used for analyzing biological processes and pathways of the top 10 key genes. The main biological processes were response to an inorganic substance and cellular response to chemical stress (including cellular response to oxidative stress). The major pathways were involved in cellular senescence and the cell cycle. After an analysis of major biological processes and pathways, it appears that PARP1/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD
)-mediated cellular senescence may play an important role in MAT against aging. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and in vivo study were used for further investigation. MAT could interact with the cavity of the PARP1 protein with the binding energy at -8.5 kcal/mol. Results from molecular dynamics simulations showed that the PARP1-MAT complex was more stable than PARP1 alone and that the binding-free energy of the PARP1-MAT complex was -15.962 kcal/mol. The in vivo study showed that MAT could significantly increase the NAD
level of the liver of d-gal-induced aging mice. Therefore, MAT could interfere with aging through the PARP1/NAD
-mediated cellular senescence signaling pathway.
Functional carbon dot (CDs) were prepared for carrying drugs, and the load-release mechanisms and cytotoxicity of CDs-drugs were studied. The prepared CDs with –NH2 modifying can be used as carriers ...to transport drugs (containing –C=O group, such as DOX) to improve their pH targeting, or carry drugs (containing –COOH group, such as FAC) to improve their intestinal absorbability.
Display omitted
Carbon dot (CDs) were prepared for carrying DOX (Doxorubicin) or FAC (Ferric ammonium citrate), and the loading mechanism and release kinetics of CDs-drugs were studied. CDs were prepared using peony pollen and urea, and characterized by TEM, XRD, 13C NMR, XPS, UV, FT-IR, DLS and zeta potential. The obtained CDs were rich of –NH2 group on the surface, amorphous phase, spherical morphology with the diameter about 5 nm, and had a blue fluorescence with the quantum yield (QY) of 12%. Iron disorders can cause cancer or anemia. DOX is used for treating cancer, but has severe side effects. FAC is an iron supplement agent, but had low bioavailability. CDs carried DOX (or FAC) through –N=C– (or –CONH–) bond, had high loading efficiency for DOX (37.2%) and FAC (54.0%) by optimizing mass ratios of mCDs to mdrug and reacted overnight. Cellular experiments showed that CDs-drugs had lower cytotoxicity than free drugs and CDs co-located with the drug. In vitro release indicated that CDs-DOX had pH-targeted property and CDs-FAC could be absorbed easily. CDs-drug release belonged to Weibull model, and release mechanism was determined by the bonding way between CDs and drug. CDs had potential applications in delivery drugs with –C=O or –COOH group.
Objective
We aimed to discover potential circulating genes and non-coding molecules (micro RNA miRNA and circular RNA circRNA) in CD4+ T cells in relation to seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).
Methods
...Microarray data of GSE50223 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during and outside the pollen season were analyzed using R software and by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. The protein–protein interactions, modules, miRNAs targeting DEGs, merged miRNA–DEG networks, and circRNAs targeted with miRNAs were further analyzed.
Results
We identified 211 DEGs during the pollen season and eight DEGs outside the season, of which only MMP12, NR4A2, and CD69 were differentially expressed both during and outside the pollen season. DEGs during the pollen season were enriched in the GO categories ‘neutrophil degranulation’, ‘neutrophil activation involved in immune response’, ‘neutrophil mediated immunity’, and ‘neutrophil activation’. A significant module was identified with key nodes of CDK6 and hsa-miR-29b-3p. Six significant circRNAs were also identified.
Conclusions
Some genes, miRNAs, and circRNAs in CD4+ T may play vital roles in SAR and may thus be potential targets for the prevention and treatment of SAR.
NiTiO3-BiOBr heterostructured photocatalysts were constructed via precipitation, calcination and hydrothermal treatments. Various characterizations demonstrated that BiOBr nanosheets were decorated ...on NiTiO3 nanoparticals, forming porous rod-like heterojunctions. Compared with independent NiTiO3 and BiOBr, the composites with optimal BiOBr content presented highly improved visible-light photocatalytic efficiency. The degradation rates of Rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline (TC) reached 96.6% in 1.5 h (100% in 2 h) and 73.5% in 3 h, which are 6.61 and 1.53 times those of NiTiO3, respectively. The result is an improved photocatalytic behavior from the formation of heterojunctions with a large interface area, which significantly promoted the separation of photogenerated carriers and strengthened the visible-light absorption. Based on the free radical capture experiments and band position analysis, the photodegradation mechanism of type-II heterojunction was deduced. This study provides a new way to fabricate highly efficient NiTiO3-based photocatalysts for degrading certain organics.
We aimed to study the effects of an ethyl acetate fraction of
(PAE) on d-galactose (d-gal)-induced senescence and the underlying mechanism. Firstly, analysis of the phytochemical composition revealed ...total flavonoids, total phenolics, total saponins, rutin, and luteolin contents of 71.72 ± 2.99 mg rutin equivalents/g, 40.19 ± 0.47 mg gallic acid equivalents/g, 128.13 ± 1.04 mg oleanolic acid equivalents/g, 1.67 ± 0.07 mg/g and 1.61 ± 0.01 mg/g, respectively. The mice were treated with d-gal for six weeks, and from the fifth week, the mice were administered with PAE by gavage once a day for five weeks. We found significant d-gal-induced ageing-related changes, such as learning and memory impairment in novel object recognition and Y-maze, fatigue in weight-loaded forced swimming, reduced thymus coefficient, and histopathological injury of the liver, spleen, and hippocampus. The PAE effectively protected from such changes. Further evaluation showed that PAE decreased the senescence-associated
-galactosidase of the liver, spleen, and hippocampus, as well as the oxidative stress of the liver, plasma, and brain. The abundance of flavonoids, phenols, and saponins in PAE may have contributed to the above results. Overall, this study showed the potential application of PAE for the prevention or treatment of ageing-associated disorders.
The anti-aging effects of phloridzin on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were investigated by employing a replicative lifespan assay of the K6001 yeast strain. After administrating phloridzin at ...doses of 3, 10, and 30 μM, the lifespan of the yeast was significantly prolonged in comparison with the untreated group (p<0.01, p<0.001). To determine the mechanism of action, anti-oxidative experiments and ROS assay were performed. Phloridzin improved the viability of the yeast dose-dependently under oxidative stress by 7.5 mM H
2
O
2
, and a low dose of phloridzin inhibited ROS of the yeast. Further, SOD1, SOD2, and Sir2 gene expression was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and was found to be significantly increased. Finally, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and SIRT1 activity assays showed that phloridzin notably increased the activity of SOD and SIRT1. These results suggest that SOD and Sir2 have important roles in phloridzin-regulated lifespan extension of yeast, and potentially anti-aging effects for mammalian cells via SIRT1.
Ferric citrate liposome (FAC-Lip) with good sustained-released properties was prepared by the rotary-evaporated film-ultrasonic method, and characterized by TEM, DLS, zeta potentials and ...encapsulation efficiency (EE%). In vitro release kinetic models and mechanisms of FAC-Lip in artificial gastric juice (SGF) and artificial intestinal juice (SIF) were determined; the thermal degradation in PBS was also determined. The results showed that in vitro release kinetic models of FAC-Lip were two-phase kinetics model and the release mechanisms were non-Fick diffusion both in SGF and SIF; the degradation of FAC-Lip was an endothermic and spontaneous reaction.
Display omitted
•FAC-Lip was prepared with good sustained-released property and high encapsulation efficiency 72.77 ± 0.42%.•For the first time to report the carrier (liposome) changed the release model and mechanism of drug (FAC) in vitro release.•The store stability and thermodynamic parameters (Ea, ΔH, ΔG and ΔS) of FAC-Lip were studied.
Ferric citrate liposome (FAC-Lip) with good sustained-released property was prepared by the rotary-evaporated film-ultrasonic method, and characterized by TEM, DLS, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency (EE%). The effects of membrane material ratios (mPC: mchol = 8:1, 10:1 and 12:1) and drug lipid ratios (mFAC: mPC = 1:4, 1:6.5 and 1:8) on the release of FAC-Lip were examined. The in vitro release kinetic models and mechanisms of FAC-Lip in artificial gastric juice (SGF) and artificial intestinal juice (SIF) compared with free-FAC were determined. The thermal degradation in PBS was also determined. The results showed that FAC-Lip with membrane material ratio (10:1) and drug lipid ratio (1:6.5) had the optimal sustained-released property, unilamellar vesicles with uniform size (178 ± 2.12 nm), negative charge (−56 ± 3.51 mV) and high encapsulation efficiency (72.77 ± 0.42%). The in vitro release kinetic models of FAC-Lip were two-phase kinetics model and the release mechanisms were non-Fick diffusion both in SGF and SIF. The thermal degradation of FAC-Lip was an endothermic and spontaneous reaction. The results may be helpful in optimizing drug-liposome design, application in food and medicine industries, and furthermore, predicting and guiding medication in vivo.
Cucurbitacin B (CuB) isolated from Cucumis melo by using a PC12 cell bioassay system exhibited significant nerve growth factor (NGF)‐mimic or NGF‐enhancing activity in PC12 and primary neuron cells. ...It was also demonstrated pro‐neurogenesis effects in ICR and APP/PS1 mice and improved memory deficit of APP/PS1 mice. Its possible mechanism includes significant induction of the phosphorylation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), protein kinase C (PKC), phospholipase C (PLC) and inhibition of cofilin. ChemProteoBase profiling, binding assay and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) were used to determine the target protein. Results revealed that CuB could affect actin dynamics as an actin inhibitor but did not bind with GR. The protein level of cofilin in PC12 cells after treating 0.3 μM and different temperatures was significantly higher than that of control group. Other neurotrophic signalling pathways, such as TrkA/TrkB, were analysed with specific inhibitors and Western blot. The inhibitors of TrkA, PLC, PKC, Ras, Raf and ERK1/2 significantly decreased the percentage of PC12 cells with neurite outgrowth and shortened the length of neurite outgrowth induced by CuB. CuB significantly induced the phosphorylation of TrkA, ERK and CREB. The phosphorylation of these proteins was obviously decreased by their specific inhibitors. These results suggest that cofilin is a candidate target protein of CuB in PC12 cells and that the GR/PLC/PKC and TrkA/Ras/Raf/ERK signalling pathways play important roles in the neuroprotective effect of CuB.
ZnO nanorods (NRs) heterojunction arrays have been widely used in photovoltaic cells owing to the outstanding photoelectrical chracteristics, high stability and low cost. The NRs arrays structure can ...integrate multiple functional components, so that it can exhibit more excellent physical and chemical properties that even independent components do not possess. The design of heterojunction nanostructures can effectively solve the problems of light absorption and carrier transport. First, the synthesis methods of ZnO NRs and their heterojunction arrays were systematically introduced, including traditional chemical vapor deposition (CVD), electrodeposition, hydrothermal method, and so on, the different structures and properties of ZnO NRs heterojunctions were analyzed. Then, the selected materials could be further processed and assembled into NRs array heterojunction with integrated functions were discussed. The strategies of maximizing energy conversion performance (structure optimization, heterojunction, surface plasmon resonance, and doping) were emphatically summarized. In addition, the research progress of ZnO NRs and their heterojunctions in photoelectric energy conversion system were summarized, and the application potential of combining nanostructure design with solar cells was summarized. Finally, the challenges and future development prospects of ZnO NRs and their heterojunction arrays in photovoltaic conversion were pointed out.
ZnO nanorods and their heterojunction arrays have excellent photoelectric properties. By organically integrating multiple functional components, they exhibit better physical and chemical properties, even those which are not possessed by independent components. By maximizing energy conversion performance strategies (structure optimization, heterojunction, surface plasmon resonance, and doping), the problems of light absorption and carrier transport of solar cells can be effectively solved.
PDF
