Explore the vast range of titles available.

Taking the extraction amount of rutin as the index, the extraction process of rutin from Ilex asprella (Hook. et Arn.) Champ. ex Benth. using the ultrasonic-assisted deep eutectic solvent method was optimized through response surface method. The effects of various factors, including the types of deep eutectic solvent, molar ratio of the solvent, water content, liquid-solid ratio, the temperature, power and time of ultrasound on the extraction amount of rutin were investigated. In accordance with the result of univariate experiments, the extraction process was optimized through employing the Box-Behnken response surface design method. A three-factor, three-level experimental model was established with the liquid-solid ratio, water content and ultrasonic time as variables. The findings indicated that the optimal technological conditions were as stated below: the molar ratio of lactic acid to choline chloride at 1:1, the ultrasonic extraction temperature at 40 °C, the ultrasonic extraction time at 31 min, the water content at 28%, and the liquid-solid ratio at 20:1 mL/g. Under optimal conditions, the validation experimental result revealed that the extraction amount of rutin was 86.553 ± 1.35 µg/g, with an absolute error of less than 0.6% in comparison with the predicted value of the model. The use of deep eutectic solvents for the extraction of rutin and the application of response surface method for optimizing the extraction process of rutin from Ilex asprella (Hook. et Arn.) Champ. ex Benth. were demonstrated. The present study provided a reference for the comprehensive utilization of Ilex asprella (Hook. et Arn.) Champ. ex Benth. .

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease triggered by oral ingestion of gluten, with certain gluten residues resistant to digestive tract enzymes. Within the duodenum, the remaining peptides incite immunogenic responses, including the generation of autoantibodies and inflammation, leading to irreversible damage. Our previous exploration unveiled a glutenase called Bga1903 derived from the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia gladioli. The cleavage pattern of Bga1903 indicates its moderate ability to mitigate the toxicity of pro-immunogenic peptides. The crystal structure of Bga1903, along with the identification of subsites within its active site, was determined. To improve its substrate specificity toward prevalent motifs like QPQ within gluten peptides, the active site of Bga1903 underwent site-directed mutagenesis according to structural insights and enzymatic kinetics. Among the double-site mutants, E380Q/S387L exhibits an approximately 34-fold increase in its specificity constant toward the QPQ sequence, favoring glutamines at the P1 and P3 positions compared to the wild type. The increased specificity of E380Q/S387L not only enhances its ability to break down pro-immunogenic peptides but also positions this enzyme variant as a promising candidate for oral therapy for celiac disease.

Ti-62A alloy plates with three different types of microstructure,fully equiaxed,bimodal,and Widmanst(a)tten,were obtained by various heat treatments to investigate the effects of microstructure on the tensile and fracture properties at room temperature.The results reveal that Widmanst(a)tten microstructure exhibits good damage tolerance behavior considering strength,fracture toughness,and fatigue crack growth behavior,while the bimodal microstructure shows good comprehensive properties considering the plasticity synthetically.Optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microstructure analyses on fracture and fatigue crack path demonstrate that the dependence of mechanical properties and fatigue crack growth behavior on microstructural feature are attributed to the α lamellae width and the α colony size.

Split Hopkinson pressure bar test system was used to investigate the plastic deformation behavior and dynamic response character of a-type Ti–5Al–2.5Sn ELI and near a-type Ti–8Al–1Mo–1V titanium alloy when subjected to dynamic loading. In the present work, stress–strain curves at strain rate from 1.5 9 103to 5.0 9 103s-1were analyzed, and optical microscope（OM） was used to reveal adiabatic shearing behavior of recovered samples. Results show that both the two alloys manifest significant strain hardening effects. Critical damage strain rate of the two alloys is about 4.3 9 103s-1, under which the impact absorbs energy of Ti–5Al–2.5Sn ELI and Ti–8Al–1Mo–1V are 560 and 470 MJ m-3, respectively. Both of them fracture along the maximum shearing strength orientation, an angle of 45° to the compression axis. No adiabatic shear band（ASB） is found in Ti–5Al–2.5Sn ELI alloy, whereas several ASBs with different widths exist without regular direction in Ti–8Al–1Mo–1V alloy.

Measuring topological invariants is an essential task in characterizing topological phases of matter. They are usually obtained from the number of edge states due to the bulk-edge correspondence or from interference since they are integrals of the geometric phases in the energy band. It is commonly believed that the bulk band structures could not be directly used to obtain the topological invariants. Here, we implement the experimental extraction of Zak phase from the bulk band structures of a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model in the synthetic frequency dimension. Such synthetic SSH lattices are constructed in the frequency axis of light, by controlling the coupling strengths between the symmetric and antisymmetric supermodes of two bichromatically driven rings. We measure the transmission spectra and obtain the projection of the time-resolved band structure on lattice sites, where a strong contrast between the non-trivial and trivial topological phases is observed. The topological Zak phase is naturally encoded in the bulk band structures of the synthetic SSH lattices, which can hence be experimentally extracted from the transmission spectra in a fiber-based modulated ring platform using a laser with telecom wavelength. Our method of extracting topological phases from the bulk band structure can be further extended to characterize topological invariants in higher dimensions, while the exhibited trivial and non-trivial transmission spectra from the topological transition may find future applications in optical communications. Experimental extraction of Zak phase from band structures of a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model in the synthetic frequency dimension, constructed by two coupled ring resonators with bichromatic modulations of different amplitudes.

Zhiming Cai and colleagues report the exome sequencing of tumor and matched normal tissue from nine transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) of the bladder, with further screening in 88 additional subjects. The authors identify mutations in chromatin remodeling genes in 59% of the 97 TCC subjects. Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most common type of bladder cancer. Here we sequenced the exomes of nine individuals with TCC and screened all the somatically mutated genes in a prevalence set of 88 additional individuals with TCC with different tumor stages and grades. In our study, we discovered a variety of genes previously unknown to be mutated in TCC. Notably, we identified genetic aberrations of the chromatin remodeling genes ( UTX, MLL - MLL3 , CREBBP - EP300 , NCOR1 , ARID1A and CHD6 ) in 59% of our 97 subjects with TCC. Of these genes, we showed UTX to be altered substantially more frequently in tumors of low stages and grades, highlighting its potential role in the classification and diagnosis of bladder cancer. Our results provide an overview of the genetic basis of TCC and suggest that aberration of chromatin regulation might be a hallmark of bladder cancer.

As the core abrasive in chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) processes, the morphology, size uniformity, and chemical reactivity of CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are crucial factors determining the surface precision and yield of devices. In this work, a KNO3–LiNO3 eutectic molten salt was used as the reaction medium. By systematically adjusting key processing parameters (such as the type of cerium source, the species and dosage of surfactants, and calcination conditions), the regulatory effects of these factors on particle growth mechanisms were clarified. This adjustment enabled the controlled synthesis of spherical CeO2 NPs with customized morphology, particle size, and surface defect states. The multi-stage reaction process of the precursor during calcination was identified by applying thermal analysis techniques, including TG-DSC and TG-FTIR. This process includes dehydration, ion exchange, and thermal decomposition. Microstructural analysis shows that the type and dosage of the cerium source and template agent significantly affect the uniformity of particle size and spherical morphology. Moreover, by using an optimized process with a heating rate of 6 °C/min and maintaining at 400 °C for 3 h, spherical CeO2 NPs with an average particle size of 60 nm, uniform size distribution, and high sphericity were successfully synthesized via a single-step calcination process. Based on these findings, a further proposal was put forward regarding a crystal growth mechanism mediated by micelle-directed assembly and oriented attachment. This method only requires a single calcination step, has mild reaction conditions, and involves a simple process without the need for specialized equipment—features that show great potential for scalable production. It provides both a theoretical basis and experimental support for the controlled preparation of high-performance CeO2 abrasives.

COVID-19 has seriously threatened public health, and transdermal vaccination is an effective way to prevent pathogen infection. Microneedles (MNs) can damage the stratum corneum to allow passive diffusion of vaccine macromolecules, but the delivery efficiency is low, while iontophoresis can actively promote transdermal delivery but fails to transport vaccine macromolecules due to the barrier of the stratum corneum. Herein, we developed a wearable iontophoresis-driven MN patch and its iontophoresis-driven device for active and efficient transdermal vaccine macromolecule delivery. Polyacrylamide/chitosan hydrogels with good biocompatibility, excellent conductivity, high elasticity, and a large loading capacity were prepared as the key component for vaccine storage and active iontophoresis. The transdermal vaccine delivery strategy of the iontophoresis-driven MN patch is “press and poke, iontophoresis-driven delivery, and immune response”. We demonstrated that the synergistic effect of MN puncture and iontophoresis significantly promoted transdermal vaccine delivery efficiency. In vitro experiments showed that the amount of ovalbumin delivered transdermally using the iontophoresis-driven MN patch could be controlled by the iontophoresis current. In vivo immunization studies in BALB/c mice demonstrated that transdermal inoculation of ovalbumin using an iontophoresis-driven MN patch induced an effective immune response that was even stronger than that of traditional intramuscular injection. Moreover, there was little concern about the biosafety of the iontophoresis-driven MN patch. This delivery system has a low cost, is user-friendly, and displays active delivery, showing great potential for vaccine self-administration at home.

Huanming Yang, Zhiming Cai, Jun Wang and colleagues report whole-exome sequencing of 10 clear cell renal cell carcinomas followed by a screen of ~1,100 genes in a total of 98 tumors. They found 12 new disease-associated genes and detected frequent alterations in the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway. We sequenced whole exomes of ten clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) and performed a screen of ∼1,100 genes in 88 additional ccRCCs, from which we discovered 12 previously unidentified genes mutated at elevated frequencies in ccRCC. Notably, we detected frequent mutations in the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway (UMPP), and alterations in the UMPP were significantly associated with overexpression of HIF1α and HIF2α in the tumors ( P = 0.01 and 0.04, respectively). Our findings highlight the potential contribution of UMPP to ccRCC tumorigenesis through the activation of the hypoxia regulatory network.

Osteoarthritis (OA) has remained a prevalent public health problem worldwide over the past decades. OA is a global challenge because its specific pathogenesis is unclear, and no effective disease-modifying drugs are currently available. Exosomes are small and single-membrane vesicles secreted via the formation of endocytic vesicles and multivesicular bodies (MVBs), which are eventually released when MVBs fuse with the plasma membrane. Exosomes contain various integral surface proteins derived from cells, intercellular proteins, DNAs, RNAs, amino acids, and metabolites. By transferring complex constituents and promoting macrophages to generate chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines, exosomes function in pathophysiological processes in OA, including local inflammation, cartilage calcification and degradation of osteoarthritic joints. Exosomes are also detected in synovial fluid and plasma, and their levels continuously change with OA progression. Thus, exosomes, specifically exosomal miRNAs and lncRNAs, potentially represent multicomponent diagnostic biomarkers for OA. Exosomes derived from various types of mesenchymal stem cells and other cell or tissue types affect angiogenesis, inflammation, and bone remodeling. These exosomes exhibit promising capabilities to restore OA cartilage, attenuate inflammation, and balance cartilage matrix formation and degradation, thus demonstrating therapeutic potential in OA. In combination with biocompatible and highly adhesive materials, such as hydrogels and cryogels, exosomes may facilitate cartilage tissue engineering therapies for OA. Based on numerous recent studies, we summarized the latent mechanisms and clinical value of exosomes in OA in this review.