Resveratrol reduces inflammatory response and detrimental effects in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by down-regulating stimulator of interferon genes/TANK-binding kinase 1/interferon regulatory factor 3 signaling

Inflammatory responses induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) play a critical role in the progression of vascular dementia. Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling function as a key mediator of inflammation and immunological responses in the central nervous system (CNS), and resveratrol (RES) exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects. However, the role of STING signaling and the relationship between RES and STING signaling in persistent hypoperfusion-induced cerebral inflammation remain unclear. In this study, Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to either Sham or bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) surgery and received RES or vehicle daily by intraperitoneal injection for 4 or 8 weeks. Morris’s water maze was used for the analysis of cognitive function. The neuroinflammatory responses in white matter and hippocampus of the rat brain were assessed by Western blot, Immunofluorescence staining, and qRT-PCR analyses. Myelin integrity, neutrophil infiltration, and microglia proliferation were assessed by Immunohistochemistry and histologic analysis. We demonstrated that after CCH, neurons, microglia, and astrocyte under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress upregulated the expression of STING, TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), and the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), as well as translocation of IRF3 into the nucleus. These were accompanied by infiltration of neutrophils, activation of microglia, and overproduction of proinflammatory mediators. Improvements in cognitive deficits were related to reduced hippocampal neuronal cell death and increased myelin integrity in RES-treated rats. The neuroprotective effects of RES were associated with suppression of the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), VCAM-1, interferon-β (IFN-β), and IL-1β, likely through mitigation of the STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway. These inhibitory effects exerted by RES also inhibited the levels of myeloperoxidase, reduced excess expression of reactive astrocytes, and activated microglia. In conclusion, the STING/TBK1/IRF3 axis may be critical for proinflammatory responses in cerebral tissue with persistent hypoperfusion, and RES exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing STING/TBK1/IRF3 signaling

Modeling, Simulation and Analysis of Intermediate Fixed Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

To address the problem that piezoelectric energy harvesters are difficult to apply in certain environments, this paper establishes the theoretical study of the intermediate fixed disc piezoelectric energy harvester (IFDPEH) based on the unimorph under concentrated force. The reliability of the model was indirectly verified by numerical simulation and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) simulation. The effects of load, radius ratio (piezoelectric layer/intermediate support), thickness ratio (piezoelectric layer/total thickness), and elastic modulus ratio (substrate/piezoelectric layer) on electrical energy were studied. The results indicate that the radius/thickness ratios of the IFDPEH based on aluminum and beryllium bronze are 0.05/0.31 and 0.05/0.48, respectively. In addition, through parameter comparison, it is found that the most important parameters affecting IFDPEH power are radius ratio and large load. The results are demonstrated to be meaningful for broadening the application of piezoelectric energy harvesters by the derived closed-form equations for the electrical energy along the diameters of the piezoelectric discs in the z-direction

Modeling, Simulation and Analysis of Intermediate Fixed Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

To address the problem that piezoelectric energy harvesters are difficult to apply in certain environments, this paper establishes the theoretical study of the intermediate fixed disc piezoelectric energy harvester (IFDPEH) based on the unimorph under concentrated force. The reliability of the model was indirectly verified by numerical simulation and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) simulation. The effects of load, radius ratio (piezoelectric layer/intermediate support), thickness ratio (piezoelectric layer/total thickness), and elastic modulus ratio (substrate/piezoelectric layer) on electrical energy were studied. The results indicate that the radius/thickness ratios of the IFDPEH based on aluminum and beryllium bronze are 0.05/0.31 and 0.05/0.48, respectively. In addition, through parameter comparison, it is found that the most important parameters affecting IFDPEH power are radius ratio and large load. The results are demonstrated to be meaningful for broadening the application of piezoelectric energy harvesters by the derived closed-form equations for the electrical energy along the diameters of the piezoelectric discs in the z-direction

SlHSP17.7 Ameliorates Chilling Stress-Induced Damage by Regulating Phosphatidylglycerol Metabolism and Calcium Signal in Tomato Plants

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are sensitive to chilling temperatures between 0 °C and 12 °C owing to their tropical origin. SlHSP17.7, a cytoplasmic heat shock protein, interacts with cation/calcium exchanger 1-like (SlCCX1-like) protein and promotes chilling tolerance in tomato fruits (Zhang, et al., Plant Sci., 2020, 298, 1–12). The overexpression of SlHSP17.7 can also promote cold tolerance in tomato plants, but its specific mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we show that the overexpression of SlHSP17.7 in tomato plants enhances chilling tolerance with better activity of photosystem II (PSII). Metabolic analyses revealed that SlHSP17.7 improved membrane fluidity by raising the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Transcriptome analyses showed that SlHSP17.7 activated Ca2+ signaling and induced the expression of C-repeat binding factor (CBF) genes, which in turn inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The gene coexpression network analysis showed that SlHSP17.7 is coexpressed with SlMED26b. SlMED26b silencing significantly lowered OE-HSP17.7 plants’ chilling tolerance. Thus, SlHSP17.7 modulates tolerance to chilling via both membrane fluidity and Ca2+-mediated CBF pathway in tomato plants

Highly Sensitive and Selective Sensing of Free Bilirubin Using Metal–Organic Frameworks-Based Energy Transfer Process

Free bilirubin, a key biomarker for jaundice, was detected with a newly designed fluorescent postsynthetically modified metal organic framework (MOF) (UIO-66-PSM) sensor. UiO-66-PSM was prepared based on the aldimine condensation reaction of UiO-66-NH₂ with 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzaldehyde. The fluorescence of UIO-66-PSM could be effectively quenched by free bilirubin via a fluorescent resonant energy transfer process, thus achieving its recognition of free bilirubin. It was the first attempt to design a MOF-based fluorescent probe for sensing free bilirubin. The probe exhibited fast response time, low detection limit, wide linear range, and high selectivity toward free bilirubin. The sensing system enabled the monitor of free bilirubin in real human serum. Hence, the reported free bilirubin sensing platform has potential applications for clinical diagnosis of jaundice

Recreational Green Space Service in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area: A Multiple Travel Modes Perspective

Recreational green space (RGS) offers the most intuitive place for urban residents to get in touch with nature. The service radiation of RGS is related to the travel mode, however, residents’ travel behavior has long been ignored in the study of RGS services. This paper considers the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), uses multi-source data, refines the spatial distribution of residents, extracts and classifies the RGS into three categories (township (TRGS), country (CRGS), and urban (URGS)), and analyzes the spatial distribution of the three types of RGS. Using the travel isochrone, the RGS services coverage (including spatial and population coverage) in 11 cities within the GBA is defined by multiple travel modes. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation of the RGS services in the GBA is conducted based on the residents’ transportation choice willingness and recreational selection. The results showed that: (1) TRGSs are mainly distributed in the suburbs, URGSs are mainly concentrated in the mid-western and southern regions, and CRGSs are mostly concentrated in the center of the GBA. (2) For daily travel (15-min and 30-min travel modes), the coverage of the RGS services is unevenly distributed, while under the 60-min travel mode, the RGS services can almost fully cover the residents in the GBA (SPURGS > 99%). (3) The RGS service of the central cities (Hong Kong, Macau) is better than that of the edge cities (Zhaoqing, Jiangmen), and the different city types should adopt different RGS planning and management strategies. This study provides a reference for RGS refined planning and maintenance in mega-urban agglomerations

Recreational Green Space Service in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area: A Multiple Travel Modes Perspective

Recreational green space (RGS) offers the most intuitive place for urban residents to get in touch with nature. The service radiation of RGS is related to the travel mode, however, residents’ travel behavior has long been ignored in the study of RGS services. This paper considers the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), uses multi-source data, refines the spatial distribution of residents, extracts and classifies the RGS into three categories (township (TRGS), country (CRGS), and urban (URGS)), and analyzes the spatial distribution of the three types of RGS. Using the travel isochrone, the RGS services coverage (including spatial and population coverage) in 11 cities within the GBA is defined by multiple travel modes. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation of the RGS services in the GBA is conducted based on the residents’ transportation choice willingness and recreational selection. The results showed that: (1) TRGSs are mainly distributed in the suburbs, URGSs are mainly concentrated in the mid-western and southern regions, and CRGSs are mostly concentrated in the center of the GBA. (2) For daily travel (15-min and 30-min travel modes), the coverage of the RGS services is unevenly distributed, while under the 60-min travel mode, the RGS services can almost fully cover the residents in the GBA (SPURGS > 99%). (3) The RGS service of the central cities (Hong Kong, Macau) is better than that of the edge cities (Zhaoqing, Jiangmen), and the different city types should adopt different RGS planning and management strategies. This study provides a reference for RGS refined planning and maintenance in mega-urban agglomerations

Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates in Unsterilized Hyper-Saline Medium by Halophiles Using Waste Silkworm Excrement as Carbon Source

The chlorophyll ethanol-extracted silkworm excrement was hardly biologically reused or fermented by most microorganisms. However, partial extremely environmental halophiles were reported to be able to utilize a variety of inexpensive carbon sources to accumulate polyhydroxyalkanoates. In this study, by using the nile red staining and gas chromatography assays, two endogenous haloarchaea strains: Haloarcula hispanica A85 and Natrinema altunense A112 of silkworm excrement were shown to accumulate poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) up to 0.23 g/L and 0.08 g/L, respectively, when using the silkworm excrement as the sole carbon source. The PHA production of two haloarchaea showed no significant decreases in the silkworm excrement medium without being sterilized compared to that of the sterilized medium. Meanwhile, the CFU experiments revealed that there were more than 60% target PHAs producing haloarchaea cells at the time of the highest PHAs production, and the addition of 0.5% glucose into the open fermentation medium can largely increase both the ratio of target haloarchaea cells (to nearly 100%) and the production of PHAs. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the feasibility of using endogenous haloarchaea to utilize waste silkworm excrement, effectively. The introduce of halophiles could provide a potential way for open fermentation to further lower the cost of the production of PHAs

Genetic variability and forensic efficiency of 39 microsatellite loci in the Li ethnic group from Hainan Island in the South China Sea

<p><b>Background:</b> Investigation of allele and genotype frequencies of microsatellite loci in various populations is an essential pre-requisite in forensic application.</p> <p><b>Aim:</b> The present study obtained population genetic data and forensic parameters of 39 autosomal Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) loci from a Chinese Li ethnic group and estimated the genetic relationships between Li and other reference populations.</p> <p><b>Subjects and methods:</b> Thirty-nine STR loci, which include D19S433, D5S818, D21S11, D18S51, D6S1043, D3S1358, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, D2S441, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX, Penta E, TH01, D12S391, D2S1338, FGA, D6S477, D18S535, D19S253, D15S659, D11S2368, D20S470, D1S1656, D22-GATA198B05, D8S1132, D4S2366, D21S1270, D13S325, D9S925, D3S3045, D14S608, D10S1435, D7S3048, D17S1290 and D5S2500, were amplified in two multiplex DNA-STR fluorescence detection systems for 189 unrelated healthy individuals of the Chinese Li ethnic group. The allele frequency distribution and several parameters commonly used in forensic science were statistically analysed.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> A total of 378 alleles were observed with corresponding allelic frequencies ranging from 0.0026–0.5899. The power of discrimination and power of exclusion ranged from 0.7569–0.9672 and 0.2513–0.7355, respectively. The power of exclusion (PE) ranged from 0.2580–0.7943 for trio paternity cases and 0.1693–0.5940 for duo paternity cases. The polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.5001–0.8611. The cumulative match probability across these 39 loci was 2.4242 × 10⁻³⁸.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> The results indicate that 39 STR loci are polymorphic among the Li ethnic group in Hainan Island in the South China Sea. This set of polymorphic STR loci provide highly polymorphic information and forensic efficiency for forensic individual identification and paternity testing, as well as basic population data for population genetics and anthropological research.</p