Explore the vast range of titles available.

Bacterial infection caused cell pyroptosis and gingival inflammation contributes to periodontitis progression, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the main infectious agent of gram-negative bacteria, which is reported to be closely associated with gingival inflammation and periodontitis. In this study, the primary human periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) were isolated, cultured, and exposed to LPS treatment, and the results suggested that LPS suppressed cell viability and promoted pro-inflammatory cytokines' (IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and TNF-α) generation and secretion in the PDLCs and its supernatants in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Also, we noticed that LPS upregulated NLRP3, Gasdermin D, and cleaved caspase-1 to trigger pyroptotic cell death in the PDLCs. Further experiments identified that glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) was upregulated by LPS treatment, and inhibition of GSK-3β by its inhibitor (GSKI) or GSK-3β downregulation vectors was effective to restore normal cellular functions in LPS-treated PDLCs. Mechanistically, blockage of GSK-3β restrained NLRP3-meidated cell pyroptosis and inflammation, resulting in the recovery of cell viability and inhibition of cell death in PDLCs treated with LPS, which further ameliorated periodontitis progression. Finally, we collected the serum from periodontitis patients and healthy volunteers, and the clinical data supported that those pro-inflammatory cytokines were also upregulated in patients' serum but not in the healthy participants. Taken together, we concluded that targeting the GSK-3β/NLRP3 pathway mediated cell pyroptosis was effective to attenuate LPS-induced cell death and inflammation in PDLCs, and this study firstly investigated this issue, which broadened our knowledge in this field.

Molybdenum oxide (MoOX) has been widely utilized as a hole transport layer (HTL) in crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells, owing to characteristics such as a wide bandgap and high work function. However, the relatively low conductivity of MoOX films and their poor contact performance at the MoOX-based hole-selective contact severely degrade device performance, particularly because they limit the fill factor (FF). Oxygen vacancies are of paramount importance in governing the conductivity of MoOX films. In this work, MoOX films were modified through ultraviolet irradiation (UV-MoOX), resulting in MoOX films with tunable oxygen vacancies. Compared to untreated MoOX films, UV-MoOX films contain a higher density of oxygen vacancies, leading to an enhancement in conductivity (2.124 × 10−3 S/m). In addition, the UV-MoOX rear contact exhibits excellent contact performance, with a contact resistance of 20.61 mΩ·cm2, which is significantly lower than that of the untreated device. Consequently, the application of UV-MoOX enables outstanding hole selectivity. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the solar cell with an n-Si/i-a-Si:H/UV-MoOX/Ag rear contact reaches 24.15%, with an excellent FF of 84.82%.

In modern warfare, achieving strikes against military targets commonly involves utilizing methods such as fire coverage and missile precision guidance. While effective, fire coverage requires significant ammunition support, and missiles can be costly. Therefore, an intelligent strike solution can be an effective way to address these challenges. The inter-cannonball wireless communication network provides a solid foundation for inter-cannonball networking and joint strikes. The synergy improves the strike’s range and precision, ensuring own safety and destroying the enemy’s core with success. In this paper, the reliability of inter-cannonball group communication is studied. The vast array of activities and short striking distance of cannonballs make wireless networking between cannonballs a technological challenge. For this unique communication environment, the network of cannonballs is discussed, the self-organizing structure model of the network is proposed, the corresponding node topology is established, the protocol framework of inter-cannonball communication is presented, and the simulation parameters of the communication network are set. On this premise, discrete event simulation is performed by using the OPNET program to validate the impact of failure rate and node movement speed on the inter-cannonball network communication reliability. And the main performance indices of the inter-cannonball communication system are derived. The simulation results indicate that it can maintain basic communication stability, with wireless LAN delays of less than 100 ms, even when the node failure rate reaches 20%. The simulation verification method, on the other hand, overcomes the limitations of the real environment, optimizes the design phase, reduces research costs, and accelerates the development of intelligent cannonballs.

The development of electric vehicles has made massive progress in recent years, and the battery part has been receiving constant attention. Although lithium-ion battery is a powerful energy storage technology contemporarily with great convenience in the field of electric vehicles and portable/stationary storage, the scantiness and increasing price of lithium have raised significant concerns about the battery’s developments; an alternative technology is needed to replace the expensive lithium-ion batteries at use. Therefore, the sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) were brought back to life. Sharing a similar mechanism as the lithium-ion batteries makes SIBs easier to understand and more effective in the research. In recent years, the developed materials for anode and cathode in the SIB have extensively promoted its advancements in increasing the energy density, power rate, and cyclability; multiple types of electrolytes, either in the form of aqueous, solid, or ions, offers safety and stability. Still, to rival the lithium-ion batteries, the SIB needs much more work to improve its performance, further expanding its application. Overall, the SIB has tremendous potential to be the future leading battery technology because of its abundance.

Molybdenum oxide (MoO ) has been widely utilized as a hole transport layer (HTL) in crystalline silicon ( -Si) solar cells, owing to characteristics such as a wide bandgap and high work function. However, the relatively low conductivity of MoO films and their poor contact performance at the MoO -based hole-selective contact severely degrade device performance, particularly because they limit the fill factor (FF). Oxygen vacancies are of paramount importance in governing the conductivity of MoO films. In this work, MoO films were modified through ultraviolet irradiation (UV-MoO ), resulting in MoO films with tunable oxygen vacancies. Compared to untreated MoO films, UV-MoO films contain a higher density of oxygen vacancies, leading to an enhancement in conductivity (2.124 × 10 S/m). In addition, the UV-MoO rear contact exhibits excellent contact performance, with a contact resistance of 20.61 mΩ·cm , which is significantly lower than that of the untreated device. Consequently, the application of UV-MoO enables outstanding hole selectivity. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the solar cell with an n-Si/i-a-Si:H/UV-MoO /Ag rear contact reaches 24.15%, with an excellent FF of 84.82%.

Molybdenum oxide (MoO[sub.X]) has been widely utilized as a hole transport layer (HTL) in crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells, owing to characteristics such as a wide bandgap and high work function. However, the relatively low conductivity of MoO[sub.X] films and their poor contact performance at the MoO[sub.X]-based hole-selective contact severely degrade device performance, particularly because they limit the fill factor (FF). Oxygen vacancies are of paramount importance in governing the conductivity of MoO[sub.X] films. In this work, MoO[sub.X] films were modified through ultraviolet irradiation (UV-MoO[sub.X]), resulting in MoO[sub.X] films with tunable oxygen vacancies. Compared to untreated MoO[sub.X] films, UV-MoO[sub.X] films contain a higher density of oxygen vacancies, leading to an enhancement in conductivity (2.124 × 10[sup.−3] S/m). In addition, the UV-MoO[sub.X] rear contact exhibits excellent contact performance, with a contact resistance of 20.61 mΩ·cm[sup.2], which is significantly lower than that of the untreated device. Consequently, the application of UV-MoO[sub.X] enables outstanding hole selectivity. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the solar cell with an n-Si/i-a-Si:H/UV-MoO[sub.X]/Ag rear contact reaches 24.15%, with an excellent FF of 84.82%.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on the proliferation, migration and differentiation of human carious dental pulp stem cells (hCDPSCs), and to elucidate the underlying mechanism(s). Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of IGF-1 and VEGF on the proliferation of hCDPSCs. Transwell assay was used to detect the migratory ability of the hCDPSCs. Alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining were used to detect the osteogenic ability of hCDPSCs, whereas the angiogenic ability of the hCDPSCs was tested by tube formation assay. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting were used to detect the expression levels of associated genes and proteins. IGF-1 (100 ng/ml) or VEGF (25 ng/ml) alone were revealed to be able to promote proliferation and migration of hCDPSCs; however, the combined use of IGF-1 and VEGF enhanced this effect when compared with the use of either agent in isolation. Alizarin red and ALP staining revealed that the use of either VEGF or IGF-1 alone did not result in any significant effects, whereas their use in combination promoted the osteogenic differentiation of hCDPSCs. In addition, the RT-qPCR and western blotting analyses revealed that the expression levels of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and ALP were increased upon combined treatment of the cells with VEGF and IGF-1. The expression levels of VEGF and plateletderived growth factor (PDGF) in hCDPSCs were enhanced upon treatment with either VEGF or IGF-1 in isolation, with greater effects observed when VEGF and IGF-1 were added in combination, indicating that VEGF and IGF-1 may exert a synergistic role in these events. Further experiments revealed that the combination of VEGF and IGF-1 led to an activation of the AKT signaling pathway. The proliferation and angiogenesis of hCDPSCs were also shown to be more effective compared with treatment with either VEGF or IGF-1 in isolation. Taken together, the present study has demonstrated that the combined use of VEGF and IGF-1 leads to an increase in the proliferation, migration, osteogenesis and angiogenesis of hCDPSCs and, furthermore, these signaling molecules may mediate their effects via activation of the AKT signaling pathway.

Social media is an appropriate source for analyzing public attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine and various brands. Nevertheless, there are few relevant studies. In the research, we collected tweet posts by the UK and US residents from the Twitter API during the pandemic and designed experiments to answer three main questions concerning vaccination. To get the dominant sentiment of the civics, we performed sentiment analysis by VADER and proposed a new method that can count the individual's influence. This allows us to go a step further in sentiment analysis and explain some of the fluctuations in the data changing. The results indicated that celebrities could lead the opinion shift on social media in vaccination progress. Moreover, at the peak, nearly 40\\% of the population in both countries have a negative attitude towards COVID-19 vaccines. Besides, we investigated how people's opinions toward different vaccine brands are. We found that the Pfizer vaccine enjoys the most popular among people. By applying the sentiment analysis tool, we discovered most people hold positive views toward the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by most brands. In the end, we carried out topic modelling by using the LDA model. We found residents in the two countries are willing to share their views and feelings concerning the vaccine. Several death cases have occurred after vaccination. Due to these negative events, US residents are more worried about the side effects and safety of the vaccine.

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common skin condition characterized by the recurrence of wheals, with or without angioedema, which lasts for at least 6 weeks. Owing to its pruritus and incurability, this disease adversely affects the patients’ physical and mental health and diminishes the quality of life. CU is generally classified into two subtypes based on the relevance of eliciting factors: chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), the latter of which is further divided into several subtypes. To improve the understanding and clinical management of this highly heterogeneous disorder, the EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guideline was developed and published in 2018 based on evidence and expert consensus. The diagnostic and treatment algorithms proposed by the guideline have largely facilitated dermatologists in clinical practice. However, several questions remained unsolved and have been widely investigated in the recent years. First, a better understanding of the association between chronic urticaria and its potential underlying causes or eliciting factors such as autoimmunity, infections, coagulation aberrance, and vitamin D deficiency is warranted. This would lead to updates in the diagnostic and treatment procedures of different subtypes of chronic urticaria. Secondly, treatment for recalcitrant cases, especially those resistant to or intolerant of second-generation antihistamines and (or) omalizumab, calls for novel therapeutic measures or strategies. In the present review, we summarized recent advances in the understanding and management of both CSU and CIndU, with special emphasis on their underlying causes or eliciting factors, pathogenic mechanisms, potential targets for intervention, and advances in treatment strategies.

DNA base editors, typically comprising editing enzymes fused to the N-terminus of nCas9, display off-target effects on DNA and/or RNA, which have remained an obstacle to their clinical applications. Off-target edits are typically countered via rationally designed point mutations, but the approach is tedious and not always effective. Here, we report that the off-target effects of both A > G and C > T editors can be dramatically reduced without compromising the on-target editing simply by inserting the editing enzymes into the middle of nCas9 at tolerant sites identified using a transposon-based genetic screen. Furthermore, employing this Cas-embedding strategy, we have created a highly specific editor capable of efficient C > T editing at methylated and GC-rich sequences. DNA base editors can display off-target effects on DNA and RNA. Here the authors embed the base editing enzymes in the middle of nCas9 to reduce these without impacting on-target editing.