Atomic-engineered gradient tunable solid-state metamaterials.

Metamaterial has been captivated a popular notion, offering photonic functionalities beyond the capabilities of natural materials. Its desirable functionality primarily relies on well-controlled conditions such as structural resonance, dispersion, geometry, filling fraction, external actuation, etc. However, its fundamental building blocks-meta-atoms-still rely on naturally occurring substances.

Complete synchronization of three-layer Rulkov neuron network coupled by electrical and chemical synapses.

This paper analyzes the complete synchronization of a three-layer Rulkov neuron network model connected by electrical synapses in the same layers and chemical synapses between adjacent layers. The outer coupling matrix of the network is not Laplacian as in linear coupling networks. We develop the master stability function method, in which the invariant manifold of the master stability equations (MSEs) does not correspond to the zero eigenvalues of the connection matrix.

Study on landslide susceptibility mapping with different factor screening methods and random forest models.

The number of input factors affects the prediction accuracy of a model. Factor screening plays an important role as the starting point for data input. The aim of this study is to explore the influence of different factor screening methods on the prediction results.

Corrigendum: Different immunological mechanisms between AQP4 antibody-positive and MOG antibody-positive optic neuritis based on RNA sequencing analysis of whole blood.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.

A Residual UNet Denoising Network Based on Multi-Scale Feature Extraction and Attention-Guided Filter.

In order to obtain high-quality images, it is very important to remove noise effectively and retain image details reasonably. In this paper, we propose a residual UNet denoising network that adds the attention-guided filter and multi-scale feature extraction blocks. We design a multi-scale feature extraction block as the input block to expand the receiving domain and extract more useful features.

Different immunological mechanisms between AQP4 antibody-positive and MOG antibody-positive optic neuritis based on RNA sequencing analysis of whole blood.

Purpose: To compare the different immunological mechanisms between aquaporin 4 antibody-associated optic neuritis (AQP4-ON) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated optic neuritis (MOG-ON) based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of whole blood.

Methods: Whole blood was collected from seven healthy volunteers, 6 patients with AQP4-ON and 8 patients with MOG-ON, and used for RNA-seq analysis. An examination of immune cell infiltration was performed using the CIBERSORTx algorithm to identify infiltrated immune cells.

ASK1/p38‑mediated NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway contributes to aberrant retinal angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness among the working‑age population in several countries. Despite the available treatments, some patients are diagnosed at the late stages of the disease when treatment is more difficult. Hence, it is crucial that novel targets are identified in order to improve the clinical therapy of DR.

p38 promoted retinal micro-angiogenesis through up-regulated RUNX1 expression in diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes and is characterized by visible microvascular alterations including retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, inflammation, abnormal permeability, neovascularization and macular edema. Despite the available treatments, some patients present late in the course of the disease when treatment is more difficult. Hence, it is crucial that the new targets are found and utilized in the clinical therapy of DR.

Targeting Keap1 by miR-626 protects retinal pigment epithelium cells from oxidative injury by activating Nrf2 signaling.

Activation of the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) cascade can offer significant protection against oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Here, we identified a novel kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-targeting microRNA, microRNA-626 (miR-626) that activates Nrf2 signaling. In ARPE-19 cells and primary human RPE cells, ectopic overexpression of miR-626 targeting the 3'-UTR (3'-untranslated region) of Keap1 downregulated its expression, promoting Nrf2 protein stabilization and nuclear translocation, leading to expression of ARE-dependent genes (HO1, NOQ1 and GCLC).

AMPKα phosphatase Ppm1E upregulation in human gastric cancer is required for cell proliferation.

Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a valuable anti-cancer strategy. In the current study, we tested expression and potential function of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase phosphatase (Ppm1E), an AMPKα phosphatase, in human gastric cancers. Ppm1E expression was elevated in human gastric cancer tissues (vs.

3D-Printed Ultratough Hydrogel Structures with Titin-like Domains.

Titin is composed of repeated modular domains which unfold and dissipate energy upon loading. Here we employed such molecular-level paradigm to fabricate macroscopic ultratough hydrogel structures with titin-like domains, enabled by three-dimensional printing with multiple nozzles. Under stretch, the relatively thin and weak gel fibers in the printed structures break first and the hidden lengths postpone the failure of the main structures, mimicking the toughening principle in titin.

miRNA-141 attenuates UV-induced oxidative stress via activating Keap1-Nrf2 signaling in human retinal pigment epithelium cells and retinal ganglion cells.

Activation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling could protect cells from ultra violet (UV) radiation. We aim to provoke Nrf2 activation via downregulating its inhibitor Keap1 by microRNA-141 ("miR-141"). In both human retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPEs) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), forced-expression of miR-141 downregulated Keap1, causing Nrf2 stabilization, accumulation and nuclear translocation, which led to transcription of multiple antioxidant-responsive element (ARE) genes (HO1, NOQ1 and GCLC).

3D Printing of Ultratough Polyion Complex Hydrogels.

Polyion complex (PIC) hydrogels have been proposed as promising engineered soft materials due to their high toughness and good processability. In this work, we reported manufacturing of complex structures with tough PIC hydrogels based on three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. The strategy relies on the distinct strength of ionic bonding in PIC hydrogels at different stages of printing.

Squamosamide derivative FLZ protects retinal pigment epithelium cells from oxidative stress through activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-AKT signaling.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell apoptosis is attributed to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis. FLZ, a novel synthetic squamosamide derivative from a Chinese herb, Annona glabra, has displayed significant cyto-protective activity. In the current study, we explored the pro-survival effect of FLZ in oxidative stressed-RPE cells and studied the underlying signaling mechanisms.

Ultraviolet (UV) and hydrogen peroxide activate ceramide-ER stress-AMPK signaling axis to promote retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell apoptosis.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) impair the physiological functions of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells by inducing cell apoptosis, which is the main cause of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The mechanism by which UV/ROS induces RPE cell death is not fully addressed. Here, we observed the activation of a ceramide-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling axis in UV and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-treated RPE cells.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel splice variant of the LIM domain family gene, PINCH 2, in human testis.

By hybridizing human adult testis cDNA microarrays with human adult and embryo testis cDNA probes, we identified a novel human testis gene, PINCH 2. PINCH 2 expression was 3.4-fold higher in adult than in fetal testis.