Explore the vast range of titles available.

Adhesive hydrogels have gained popularity in biomedical applications, however, traditional adhesive hydrogels often exhibit short-term adhesiveness, poor mechanical properties and lack of antibacterial ability. Here, a plant-inspired adhesive hydrogel has been developed based on Ag-Lignin nanoparticles (NPs)triggered dynamic redox catechol chemistry. Ag-Lignin NPs construct the dynamic catechol redox system, which creates long-lasting reductive-oxidative environment inner hydrogel networks. This redox system, generating catechol groups continuously, endows the hydrogel with long-term and repeatable adhesiveness. Furthermore, Ag-Lignin NPs generate free radicals and trigger self-gelation of the hydrogel under ambient environment. This hydrogel presents high toughness for the existence of covalent and non-covalent interaction in the hydrogel networks. The hydrogel also possesses good cell affinity and high antibacterial activity due to the catechol groups and bactericidal ability of Ag-Lignin NPs. This study proposes a strategy to design tough and adhesive hydrogels based on dynamic plant catechol chemistry. Biomimetic catechol-based adhesives have attracted significant interest but can lose adhesion due to excessive oxidation. Here, the authors report on the addition of silver-Lignin nanoparticles as a dynamic catechol redox system to maintain catechol/quinone balance, making a reusable, antibacterial bioadhesive.

Agricultural green finance is an important means to boost the development of agricultural green. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2021, this paper theoretically discusses the impact of agricultural green finance on the level of agricultural green development and conducts an empirical study by using the two-way fixed effect model and panel threshold model. The empirical findings show that agricultural green finance can significantly improve the level of agricultural green development mainly through facilitating the level of agricultural green technology innovation. The promoting effect of agricultural green finance on the level of agricultural green development is remarkable in the eastern region and non-major grain-producing areas, but not obvious in the central and western regions and major grain-producing areas. Indeed, the impact has a single threshold effect with environmental regulation as the threshold. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve the level of agricultural green development from the following aspects: vigorously developing agricultural green finance; promoting agricultural green technology innovation; strictly implementing environmental protection policies; and designing appropriate environmental regulation zones.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection continues to have devastating consequences worldwide. Recently, great efforts have been made to identify SARS-CoV-2 host factors, but the regulatory mechanisms of these host molecules, as well as the virus per se, remain elusive. Here we report a role of RNA G-quadruplex (RG4) in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Combining bioinformatics, biochemical and biophysical assays, we demonstrate the presence of RG4s in both SARS-CoV-2 genome and host factors. The biological and pathological importance of these RG4s is then exemplified by a canonical 3-quartet RG4 within Tmprss2 , which can inhibit Tmprss2 translation and prevent SARS-CoV-2 entry. Intriguingly, G-quadruplex (G4)-specific stabilizers attenuate SARS-CoV-2 infection in pseudovirus cell systems and mouse models. Consistently, the protein level of TMPRSS2 is increased in lungs of COVID-19 patients. Our findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection and suggest RG4 as a potential target for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Understanding the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection is important to control the pandemic. Here the authors show the biological and pathological role of RNA G-quadruplex structure in both SARS-CoV-2 genome and host factors, particularly TMPRSS2.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent worldwide, yet the role of serum vitamins in hepatic fat accumulation, particularly across lean and non-lean individuals, remains incompletely understood. This study evaluated associations between serum levels of vitamins A, C, D, and E and the degree of CAP-defined hepatic steatosis in lean and non-lean adults. Data from the 2017-2018 NHANES were analyzed. Weighted multivariable linear regression was performed in lean and non-lean adults to assess the associations between serum vitamin levels and CAP-defined hepatic steatosis, using unadjusted, demographic-adjusted, and fully adjusted models. No significant linear associations were observed between serum vitamin levels and the degree of hepatic steatosis in lean adults. A nonlinear association with serum vitamin C was observed, indicating a threshold effect. The association between vitamin C and the degree of liver fat accumulation also varied by diabetes status. In non-lean adults, serum vitamin C consistently showed an inverse association with CAP-defined hepatic steatosis (Model 2: β = -0.16, 95% CI: -0.25 to -0.07), as did vitamins A (β = -6.34, 95% CI: -10.43 to -2.25) and D (β = -0.13, 95% CI: -0.21 to -0.04). Higher serum levels of vitamins A, C, and D were associated with lower CAP-defined hepatic steatosis in non-lean adults, while a nonlinear relationship involving vitamin C was observed in lean individuals. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Chronic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a metabolic disorder that often leads to liver fibrosis, a condition with limited therapy options. Adiponectin is an adipocytokine that regulates glucose and lipid metabolism via binding to its receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, and AdipoRs signaling is reported to enhance fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake. Here, we synthesize and report an adiponectin-based agonist JT003, which potently improves insulin resistance in high fat diet induced NASH mice and suppresses hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation in CCl 4 induced liver fibrosis. Mechanistic studies indicate that JT003 simultaneously stimulates AdipoR1- and AdipoR2- mediated signaling pathways as well as the PI3K-Akt pathway. Moreover, JT003 treatment significantly improves ER-mitochondrial axis function, which contributes to the reduced HSCs activation. Thus, the AdipoR1/AdipoR2 dual agonist improves both NASH and fibrosis in mice models, which provides the pharmacological and biological foundation for developing AdipoRs-based therapeutic agents on liver fibrosis. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and associated liver fibrosis have limited therapy options. Here the authors report a novel adiponectin-based dual agonist for adiponectin receptors 1 and 2 with a longer half-life, and show that it ameliorates NASH and liver fibrosis in mouse models.

The digital economy serves as a catalyst for global economic growth, making its interaction with carbon emissions critical for sustainable development and green transformation. Using panel data from 110 cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2012 to 2021, this study evaluates DE and CE levels through the entropy weight TOPSIS method and analyzes their coupling and influencing factors via the coupling coordination and the diamond model. Results indicate that, first, DE and CE exhibit similar spatiotemporal evolution, characterized by annual growth and significant regional disparities. The downstream region grows 6% faster than the overall study area, while the CE growth rate in the midstream region is 7% higher. Second, coupling coordination has been improved, with low-coupling and micro-imbalanced regions as the dominant types. Notably, the upstream region records the fastest coupling coordination degree growth, reaching 9%. Finally, innovation, government policies, and environmental pressures are identified as the main drivers of spatial coordination, with innovation exerting the most extensive influence. This study yields actionable insights into DE-CE dynamics and provides valuable guidance for sustainable development strategies at both regional and global scales.

Objective Ovarian cancer (OC) is a major threat to women’s health. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are key regulators in cellular communication by secreting extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are involved in OC. This study probed into the mechanism of human MSCs derived-EVs (hMSC-EVs) in regulating OC cell growth and chemotherapy resistance. Methods hMSCs and EVs were isolated and identified. After adding EVs, the uptake of EVs by OC CAOV3/ES2 cells (for in vitro studies), and cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected. Downregulated miRNAs in hMSC-EVs were screened and miR-18a-5p expression in OC patients was detected. The prognosis of OC patients was analyzed. Binding sites of miR-18a-5p and NACC1 were predicted and validated. NACC1 expression in OC tissues was measured by RT-qPCR, and its correlation with miR-18a-5p was analyzed by Pearson method. AKT/mTOR pathway activation was assessed by WB. The cisplatin sensitivity of EVs-treated CAOV3 cells was evaluated via MTT assay and tested by tumor formation assay in nude mice. Results hMSC-EVs suppressed OC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. miR-18a-5p was downregulated in OC and miR-18a-5p low expression was associated with a poor prognosis. EV-encapsulated miR-18a-5p targeted NACC1. NACC1 was upregulated in OC tissues. miR-18a-5p knockdown and NACC1 overexpression both annulled the inhibition of hMSC-EVs on OC cell growth. AKT and mTOR were elevated in OC and NACC1 activated the AKT/mTOR pathway in OC cells. hMSC-EVs promoted cisplatin sensitivity of OC cells by carrying miR-18a-5p. Conclusion hMSC-EVs-derived miR-18a-5p inhibits OC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemotherapy resistance.

Based on the calculation of the inclusive financial development level of 22 provinces and 4 municipalities in China from 2004 to 2017, this paper uses the Kernel density estimation method to further analyze the evolution of the inclusive financial index. Based on the above analysis, we make empirical analysis of the impact of China's inclusive financial inclusion development index on farmers' entrepreneurship using static panel and dynamic panel estimation method. The empirical conclusions show that there are certain differences in inclusive financial inclusion development level in various provinces in China. Improving the inclusion development level of inclusive finance can better promote farmers' entrepreneurship. Urbanization level, economic openness and regional economic development level have a significant positive effect on farmers' entrepreneurship, while farmers' income and education level have a significant negative effect on farmers' entrepreneurship. It is possible to promote farmers' entrepreneurship by improving the inclusive development level of inclusive finance, combining urbanization, increasing government investment in productive fixed assets, increasing economic openness and improving regional economic development.

To address the problem of large errors in 3D maps caused by mismatching due to white flares formed through specular reflections on smooth object surfaces during digital image acquisition, we propose applying the polarization principle to filter out the orthogonally polarized component of linearly polarized light in the reflected light, thereby reducing or eliminating the white flare area. The experimental results demonstrate that the system can effectively suppress the flare intensity on nonmetallic surfaces, which mitigates artifacts in 3D reconstruction.

Roxadustat is a recently approved hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor that has demonstrated favorable safety and efficacy in the treatment of renal anemia. Recent studies found it also has potential for the treatment of other hypoxia-related diseases. Although clinical studies have not yet found significant adverse or off-target effects of roxadustat, clinicians must be vigilant about these possible effects. Hypoxia-inducible factor regulates the expression of many genes and physiological processes in response to a decreased level of oxygen, but its role in the pathogenesis of different diseases is complex and controversial. In addition to increasing the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor, roxadustat also has some effects that may be HIF-independent, indicating some potential off-target effects. This article reviews the pharmacological characteristics of roxadustat, its current status in the treatment of renal anemia, and its possible effects on other pathological mechanisms.