Metal Semiconductor Contact between Gold and Boron Carbide

We have investigated the interaction of gold (Au) with the semiconductor boron carbide through X-ray photoemission and heterojunction diode fabrication. The plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) hydrogenated semiconducting boron carbide films, deposited from closo-1,7-dicarbadodecaborane (metacarborane, m-B10C2H12), shows a shift in the binding energies of the core level photoemission features when gold is deposited on the surface. The shifting of the B 1s level is smaller than for the C 1s level and the non-uniform nature of the shifts indicates a strong, complex and reversible gold chemical interaction with the surface, particularly with the C sites. The capacitance-voltage, C(V), and current versus voltage, I(V), results for the metacarborane film deposited on p-type Si(100) yield a carrier scattering time of 50 ns which is significantly smaller than the 35 ms for the PECVD orthocarborane boron carbide films

Targeting Thioredoxin System with an Organosulfur Compound, Diallyl Trisulfide (DATS), Attenuates Progression and Metastasis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

Background/Aims: Metastasis is the leading cause resulting in high mortality in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. Cancer cells are skilled at utilizing thioredoxin (Trx) system as an efficient antioxidant system to counteract oxidative damage, facilitating the occurrence of metastasis. Here, we identified an organosulfur compound named DATS isolated from garlic, that inhibits the expression of Trx-1 and the enzyme activity of Trx reductase in breast cancer cells. Methods: Tissue microarray of breast cancer patients and immunohistochemical method were used to analyze the role of Trx-1 in breast cancer metastasis. Spotaneous metastasis model and experimental metastasis model combined with HE staining, immunohistochemistry were used to verify in vivo anti-metastatic effect of DATS as well as its regulation on thioredoxin. Western blot, immunofluorescence, redox state assessment and detection of enzyme activity were employed to determine the effect of DATS on thioredoxin system. Trx-1 siRNA interference was used to investigate the conclusive evidence that Trx-1 was the target of DATS. Results: In agreement with reduced Trx-1 nuclear translocation from cytoplasm by DATS, the production of reduced form of Trx-1 was dramatically decreased. Furthermore, in vivo, DATS administration was observed to significantly suppress spontaneous and experimental metastasis in nude mice. Delivery of DATS also resulted in decreased expression of Trx-1 as the direct target, as well as expression of NF-κB and MMP2/9 in primary tumor and lung tissue. Notably, the effects of DATS on the expression of downstream metastasis-associated genes were mediated by Trx-1, as demonstrated by the combination use of DATS and Trx-1 siRNA. Conclusion: Collectively, this present study indicates that targeting Trx system with DATS may provide a promising strategy for treating metastasis of TNBC

A Conscious Resting State fMRI Study in SLE Patients Without Major Neuropsychiatric Manifestations

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is one of the main causes of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Signs and symptoms of NPSLE are heterogeneous, and it is hard to diagnose, and treat NPSLE patients in the early stage. We conducted this study to explore the possible brain activity changes using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) in SLE patients without major neuropsychiatric manifestations (non-NPSLE patients). We also tried to investigate the possible associations among brain activity, disease activity, depression, and anxiety. In our study, 118 non-NPSLE patients and 81 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Rs-fMRI data were used to calculate the regional homogeneity (ReHo) in all participants. We found decreased ReHo values in the fusiform gyrus and thalamus and increased ReHo values in the parahippocampal gyrus and uncus. The disease activity was positively correlated with ReHo values of the cerebellum and negatively correlated with values in the frontal gyrus. Several brain areas showed correlations with depressive and anxiety statuses. These results suggested that abnormal brain activities might occur before NPSLE and might be the foundation of anxiety and depression symptoms. Early detection and proper treatment of brain dysfunction might prevent the progression to NPSLE. More studies are needed to understand the complicated underlying mechanisms

Serum Fetuin-A Associates with Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance in Chinese Adults

Previous studies have demonstrated that fetuin-A is related to insulin resistance among subjects with normal glucose tolerance but not patients with type 2 diabetes. There are limited data available concerning fetuin-A and insulin resistance in Chinese. We aimed to study the association of fetuin-A with insulin resistance among participants with or without type 2 diabetes in a large sample size of adults aged 40 and older.A community-based cross-sectional study was performed among 5,227 Chinese adults. The average age of our study was 61.5±9.9 years. Serum fetuin-A concentrations were not significantly different between male and female (296.9 vs. 292.9 mg/l, p = 0.11). Compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of serum fetuin-A revealed a significant higher proportion of type 2 diabetic patients (34.8% vs. 27.3%, p<0.0001). In the multinomial logit models, the risk of type 2 diabetes was associated with each one quartile increase of serum fetuin-A concentrations when referenced not only to normal glucose tolerance (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.07-1.43, p = 0.004) but also to impaired glucose regulation (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08-1.44, p = 0.003, respectively), after adjustment for age, sex, community, current smoking, and current drinking. The logistic regression analysis showed that fetuin-A were associated with elevated HOMA-IR and fasting serum insulin both among the participants with or without type 2 diabetes in the full adjusted analysis. There was no significant association between elevated serum fetuin-A concentrations and impaired glucose regulation (all p≥0.12).Higher fetuin-A concentrations were associated with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in middle aged and elderly Chinese

COVID-19 Vaccine Comparison: How to Choose the Best Suiting Vaccine for Different Needs

Varied measurements have been developed to solve the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the best ways is vaccines. This paper aims to compare different kinds of vaccines and help people or countries to choose the best suitable vaccine needs based on their different needs. It provides a broader and more detailed analysis of variant vaccines on different levels. In the sequence of technology maturity, inactivated vaccines including CoronaVac, BBIBP-CorV vaccine, and WIBP-CorV vaccine, viral-based vector vaccines including AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, and mRNA vaccines including Moderna vaccine and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine have been discussed. There are several important elements of these vaccines, for example, mechanism, effectiveness, and side effects. Different criteria make comparison. For effectiveness, in general, Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines could be a better choice. For cost-performance ratio, the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is the best. As for inoculators’ age and race, old people are suggested to take CoronaVac, and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and CoronaVac are suitable for all races. In terms of mutant variant distribution, CoronaVac could be the best choice. Based on safety concerns, inactivated vaccines are better choices. For the developing period, mRNA vaccines win the game. In conclusion, this paper provides further directions for countries seeking the best suitable vaccine for their citizens. After comparing the main vaccines available, we provide a clear view of when countries decide. There would be specific vaccines best suiting specific needs of inoculators and countries

Dual Cluster Head Optimization of Wireless Sensor Networks Based on Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization

Energy conservation is one of the main problems in a wireless sensor network (WSN). Compared with a single cluster head (CH), a dual CH optimization was proposed for less energy consumption by the WSN and an acquisition delay by the mobile sink (MS). Firstly, a fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm and a multi-objective particle swarm optimization were utilized for the determinations of the first and second CHs. Following that, the ideal trajectory of MS was assessed using the improved ant colony algorithm. Finally, the lifetimes, the death rounds of the first node and the 50% node, and the number of packets received at the base station were compared among the proposed approach. Moreover, five algorithms were compared to validate the optimization, and the improved trajectory was compared with the original one as well. It was found that, for 100 nodes, the number of dead rounds from the proposal increased by 7.9%, 22.9%, 25.1%, 61%, and 74.4% for the first node, and that of the 50% nodes increased by 27.8%, 34.2%, 98.3%, 213.1%, and 211.2%, respectively. The base station packet reception increased by about 19.3%, 53.5%, 27%, 86.8%, and 181.2%, respectively. The trajectory of MS could also decrease by about 10%

Berberine Reduces Pyruvate-driven Hepatic Glucose Production by Limiting Mitochondrial Import of Pyruvate through Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier 1Research in Context

Background: Mitochondrial pyruvate import via mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) is a central step in hepatic gluconeogenesis. Berberine inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis, but the mechanism is incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate whether berberine could reduce excessive hepatic glucose production (HGP) by limiting mitochondrial import of pyruvate through MPC1. Methods: High-fat diet (HFD) feeding augmented HGP. The effects of berberine on hepatic fatty acid oxidation, sirtuin3 (SIRT3) induction and mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) function were examined. Findings: HFD feeding increased hepatic acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA) accumulation with impaired pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity and increased pyruvate carboxylase (PC) induction. Berberine reduced acetyl CoA accumulation by limiting fatty acid oxidation and prevented mitochondrial pyruvate shift from oxidation to gluconeogenesis through carboxylation. Upon pyruvate response, SIRT3 binded to MPC1 and stabilized MPC1 protein via deacetylation modification, facilitating mitochondrial import of pyruvate. Berberine preserved the acetylation of MPC1 by suppression of SIRT3 induction and impaired MPC1 protein stabilization via protein degradation, resultantly limiting mitochondrial pyruvate supply for gluconeogenesis. Interpretation: Berberine reduced acetyl CoA contents by limiting fatty acid oxidation and increased MPC1 degradation via preserving acetylation, thereby restraining HGP by blocking mitochondrial import of pyruvate. These findings suggest that limitation of mitochondrial pyruvate import might be a therapeutic strategy to prevent excessive hepatic glucose production. Keywords: Berberine, Gluconeogenesis, Sirtuin3, Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier