Phase transition of holographic entanglement entropy in massive gravity

The phase structure of holographic entanglement entropy is studied in massive gravity for the quantum systems with finite and infinite volumes, which in the bulk is dual to calculate the minimal surface area for a black hole and black brane respectively. In the entanglement entropy$-$temperature plane, we find for both the black hole and black brane there is a Van der Waals-like phase transition as the case in thermal entropy$-$temperature plane. That is, there is a first order phase transition for the small charge and a second order phase transition at the critical charge. For the first order phase transition, the equal area law is checked and for the second order phase transition, the critical exponent of the heat capacity is obtained. All the results show that the phase structure of holographic entanglement entropy is the same as that of thermal entropy regardless of the volume of the spacetime on the boundary.Comment: 15 pages, many figures, some statments are adde

Bovine GDF10 gene polymorphism analysis and its association with body measurement traits in Chinese indigenous cattle

The objective of this research was to detect bovine GDF10 gene polymorphism and analyze its association with body measurement traits (BMT) of animals sampled from 6 different Chinese indigenous cattle populations. The populations included Xuelong (Xl), Luxi (Lx), Qinchuan (Qc), Jiaxian red (Jx), Xianang (Xn) and Nanyang (Ny). Blood samples were taken from a total of 417 female animals stratified into age categories of 12–36 months. Polymerase chain reaction–single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR–SSCP) was employed to find out GDF10 single polymorphism nucleotide (SNPs) and explore their possible association with BMT. Sequence analysis of GDF10 gene revealed 3 SNPs in total: 1 in exon1 (G142A) and 2 in exon3 (A11471G, and T12495C). G142A and T12495C SNPs are both synonymous mutation. They showed 2 genotypes namely respectively (GG, GA) and (PP and PB). A11471G SNP is a missense mutation leading to the change of Alanine to Threonine amino acid. It showed three genotypes namely AA, BB and AB. Analysis of association of polymorphism with body measurement traits at the three locus showed that there were significant effects on BMT in Qc, Jx and Ny cattle population. These results suggest that the GDF10 gene might have potential effects on body measurement traits in the above mentioned cattle populations and could be used for marker-assisted selection

Five genes influenced by obesity may contribute to the development of thyroid cancer through the regulation of insulin levels

Previous studies indicate that obesity is an important contributor to the proceeding of thyroid cancer (TC) with limited knowledge of the underlying mechanism. Here, we hypothesize that molecules affected by obesity may play roles in the development of TC. To test the hypothesis above, we first conducted a large-scale literature-based data mining to identify genes influenced by obesity and genes related to TC. Then, a mega-analysis was conducted to study the expression changes of the obesity-specific genes in the case of TC, using 16 independent TC array-expression datasets (783 TC cases and 439 healthy controls). After that, pathway analysis was performed to explore the functional profile of the selected target genes and their potential connections with TC. We identified 1,036 genes associated with TC and 534 regulated by obesity, demonstrating a significant overlap (N = 176, p-value = 4.07e−112). Five out of the 358 obesity-specific genes, FABP4, CFD, GHR, TNFRSF11B, and LTF, presented significantly decreased expression in TC patients (LFC<−1.44; and p-value < 1e−7). Multiple literature-based pathways were identified where obesity could promote the pathologic development of TC through the regulation of these five genes and INS levels. The five obesity genes uncovered could be novel genes that play roles in the etiology of TC through the modulation of INS levels

Anthocyanins from the Red Juvenile Leaves of Loropetalum Chinense var. rubrum (Chinese Fringe Flower) Identification and pH Sensing Behaviors

In this study, anthocyanins were extracted from the frozen juvenile leaves of Loropetalum Chinense var. rubrum with high efficiency using ethanol containing 0.1% HCl as extractant. After being purified with AB-8 resin, this extract was investigated with HPLC-DAD-MS/MS determination, and six anthocyanins were identified according to chromatogram, MS data and ratios of absorbance at 400-460 nm to that at absorption maximum (~520 nm), A400-460/A520. Besides cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, peonidin 3-O-glucoside, malvidin 3-O-glucoside, the most abundant malvidin 3,5-O-diglucoside was confirmed through preparative HPLC separation and 1 H NMR determination. However, two delphinidin- and petunidin-derived anthocyanins should be further clarified whether they are 3,5-O-diglucoside or 5-O-glucobioside. In addition, a novel anthocyanin, 2H-pyran[5,6]malvidin 3-O-glucobioside was also proposed yet need more data to confirm. Moreover, malvidin 3,5-O-diglucoside showed excellent pH sensing ability, displaying distinct color change from pink (pH 1.5) to colorlessness (pH 5.5), to blue (pH 6.8) and finally green (pH 8.8 to pH 10.5). All these should be helpful to evaluate this plant as natural pigment resource. </p

Rational Design of Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Zn2+ Imaging under Oxidative Stress in Cells

Zn2+ is a vital ion for most of the physiological processes in the human body, and it usually has a mutual effect with oxidative stress that often occurs in pathological tissues. Detecting fluctuation of Zn2+ level in cells undergoing oxidative stress could be beneficial to understanding the relationship between them. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescent Zn2+ probe was rationally designed. The wavelength corresponding to the maximum fluorescence intensity bathometrically shifted from 620 nm to 650 nm after coordinating with Zn2+. The intensity ratio of two fluorescence channels changed significantly in cells treated by oxidative stress inducers. It was shown from the results that the labile zinc level was generally elevated under oxidative stress stimulated by various inducers

Rational Design of Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Zn²⁺ Imaging under Oxidative Stress in Cells

Zn2+ is a vital ion for most of the physiological processes in the human body, and it usually has a mutual effect with oxidative stress that often occurs in pathological tissues. Detecting fluctuation of Zn2+ level in cells undergoing oxidative stress could be beneficial to understanding the relationship between them. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescent Zn2+ probe was rationally designed. The wavelength corresponding to the maximum fluorescence intensity bathometrically shifted from 620 nm to 650 nm after coordinating with Zn2+. The intensity ratio of two fluorescence channels changed significantly in cells treated by oxidative stress inducers. It was shown from the results that the labile zinc level was generally elevated under oxidative stress stimulated by various inducers

Iridium(III)-Based PD-L1 Agonist Regulates p62 and ATF3 for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy

Anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy, a new lung cancer treatment, is limited to a few patients due to low PD-L1 expression and tumor immunosuppression. To address these challenges, the upregulation of PD-L1 has the potential to elevate the response rate and efficiency of anti-PD-L1 and alleviate the immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment. Herein, we developed a novel usnic acid-derived Iridium(III) complex, Ir-UA, that boosts PD-L1 expression and converts “cold tumors” to “hot”. Subsequently, we administered Ir-UA combined with anti-PD-L1 in mice, which effectively inhibited tumor growth and promoted CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration. To our knowledge, Ir-UA is the first iridium-based complex to stimulate the expression of PD-L1 by explicitly regulating its transcription factors, which not only provides a promising platform for immune checkpoint blockade but, more importantly, provides an effective treatment strategy for patients with low PD-L1 expression

Iridium(III)-Based PD-L1 Agonist Regulates p62 and ATF3 for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy

Anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy, a new lung cancer treatment, is limited to a few patients due to low PD-L1 expression and tumor immunosuppression. To address these challenges, the upregulation of PD-L1 has the potential to elevate the response rate and efficiency of anti-PD-L1 and alleviate the immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment. Herein, we developed a novel usnic acid-derived Iridium(III) complex, Ir-UA, that boosts PD-L1 expression and converts “cold tumors” to “hot”. Subsequently, we administered Ir-UA combined with anti-PD-L1 in mice, which effectively inhibited tumor growth and promoted CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration. To our knowledge, Ir-UA is the first iridium-based complex to stimulate the expression of PD-L1 by explicitly regulating its transcription factors, which not only provides a promising platform for immune checkpoint blockade but, more importantly, provides an effective treatment strategy for patients with low PD-L1 expression

Super-Resolution Imaging of Mitochondrial HClO during Cell Ferroptosis Using a Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe

Ferroptosis is of great importance in physiological and pathological processes, which is associated with various inflammation-related diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer. Ferroptosis can cause abnormal change of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitochondria. Hypochlorous acid (HClO) acts as a typical ROS. Therefore, it is needed to study the relationship between mitochondrial morphology and HClO changes during ferroptosis at the subcellular level. To this end, a near-infrared-excitation/emission fluorescent probe, HD-Br-1, for rapid detection of mitochondrial HClO was developed based on the specific oxidative cleavage of the N,N-dimethylthiocarbamate moiety. The fluctuation in mitochondrial HClO content and the change in mitochondrial morphology during ferroptosis were monitored in real time by super-resolution imaging. In addition, HD-Br-1 was successfully applied to monitor exogenous and endogenous mitochondrial HClO during cell ferroptosis and visualize tumor to discriminate from healthy tissues. Therefore, we believe that HD-Br-1 could provide a valuable approach for the detection of mitochondrial HClO in cancer cells as well as for understanding the ferroptosis mechanism and early diagnosis of cancers associated with ferroptosis for future research

Light-activated mitochondrial fission through optogenetic control of mitochondria-lysosome contacts.

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles whose fragmentation by fission is critical to their functional integrity and cellular homeostasis. Here, we develop a method via optogenetic control of mitochondria-lysosome contacts (MLCs) to induce mitochondrial fission with spatiotemporal accuracy. MLCs can be achieved by blue-light-induced association of mitochondria and lysosomes through various photoactivatable dimerizers. Real-time optogenetic induction of mitochondrial fission is tracked in living cells to measure the fission rate. The optogenetic method partially restores the mitochondrial functions of SLC25A46-/- cells, which display defects in mitochondrial fission and hyperfused mitochondria. The optogenetic MLCs system thus provides a platform for studying mitochondrial fission and treating mitochondrial diseases