Structural basis and biased signaling of proton sensation by GPCRs mediated by extracellular histidine rearrangement.

Proton sensing by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is crucial in many life activities. However, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report 8 cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of human GPR4 and GPR68 at different pH values and in complex with Gs or Gq trimers or in apo state.

Triptolide exposure triggers ovarian inflammation by activating cGAS-STING pathway and decrease oocyte quality in mouse.

Triptolide (TPL), a prominent bioactive constituent derived from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii, exhibits diverse pharmacological effects such as anti-tumor and anti-immune properties. Despite its extensive clinical application for the treatment of arthritis and immune disorders, TPL has been associated with multiorgan toxicity, including adverse effects on the female reproductive system. However, the precise mechanisms underlying TPL-induced ovarian damage remain poorly understood.

Acrolein exposure affects ovarian function by interfering with glycolysis and mitochondrial energy metabolism in mouse.

Acrolein is a widespread contaminant found in both diet and environment, entering the human body through food, alcohol, smoking, and exposure to fuel combustion fumes. While prior studies have highlighted acrolein's harmful impact on oocyte quality and early embryonic development in vitro, the specific mechanisms by which acrolein affects the female reproductive system in vivo remain poorly understood. This study first confirmed that in vitro acrolein exposure disrupts spindle morphology and chromosome alignment during the mid-MI stage of oocyte development, thus hindering oocyte maturation.

Amorphous GeSnSe nanoparticles as a Li-Ion battery anode with High-Capacity and long cycle performance.

A new ternary amorphous GeSnSe (GSS) nanopowder was effectively synthesized by using ball milling under inert atmosphere. Its topographical, microstructural and elemental characterizations revealed the formation of nanoparticles with undefined shape, short-range order and the tailored stoichiometry. Remarkably, this novel amorphous material demonstrates its competences as a promising Li-ion host anode, exhibiting a high cycle performance with a specific charge capacity of 963 mAh g at an applied C-rate of 0.

Promoting effects of soil C and N and limiting effect of soil P jointly determine the plant diversity during the aerial seeding restoration process in Mu Us sandy land, China.

Introduction: Exploring the change and maintaining mechanism of plant diversity is of great significance for guiding the restoration of degraded ecosystems. However, how plant taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity change during long-term ecosystem restoration process and their driving factors remain unclear.

Methods: Based on the 35-year time gradient of aerial seeding restoration in Mu Us sandy land, this study explored the changes in plant taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity and the driving factors.

Asperuloside Promotes Apoptosis of Cervical Cancer Cells through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mitochondrial Pathway.

Objective: To investigate the effects of asperuloside on cervical cancer based on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial pathway.

Methods: Different doses (12.5-800 µg/mL) of asperuloside were used to treat cervical cancer cell lines Hela and CaSki to calculate the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC) of asperuloside.

Controllable Phase Transition Properties in VO Films via Metal-Ion Intercalation.

VO has shown great promise for sensors, smart windows, and energy storage devices, because of its drastic semiconductor-to-metal transition (SMT) near 340 K coupled with a structural transition. To push its application toward room-temperature, effective transition temperature () tuning in VO is desired. In this study, tailorable SMT characteristics in VO films have been achieved by the electrochemical intercalation of foreign ions (e.

Lpar1-mediated Effects in Endothelial Progenitor Cells Are Crucial for Lung Repair in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome/Acute Lung Injury.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome/acute lung injury (ARDS/ALI) involves acute respiratory failure characterized by vascular endothelial and lung alveolar epithelial injury. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can mediate vasculogenesis. However, the limitations of EPCs, such as low survival and differentiation, are believed to inhibit the effectiveness of autologous cell therapies.

LPAR2-mediated action promotes human renal cell carcinoma via MAPK/NF-κB signaling to regulate cytokine network.

Purpose: Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) exerts various physiological and pathological effects by activating its distinct G-protein-coupled LPA receptors. We demonstrated that LPA can increase the migration and proliferation of renal carcinoma cells. Meanwhile, LPAR1 and LPAR2 were preferentially expressed in renal cancer (RC) cell lines.

Laser-Assisted Nanotexturing and Silver Immobilization on Titanium Implant Surfaces to Enhance Bone Cell Mineralization and Antimicrobial Properties.

Despite the great advancement and wide use of titanium (Ti) and Ti-based alloys in different orthopedic implants, device-related infections remain the major complication in modern orthopedic and trauma surgery. Most of these infections are often caused by both poor antibacterial and osteoinductive properties of the implant surface. Here, we have demonstrated a facile two-step laser nanotexturing and immobilization of silver onto the titanium implants to improve both cellular integration and antibacterial properties of Ti surfaces.

Shared network and supply chain features for synergetic control of carbon and air pollutant emissions.

The synergetic control of carbon and air pollutant emissions will be an unflagging effort for China in its dual pursuit of air quality improvement and carbon neutrality. The shared features of sectoral emissions from network and supply chain perspectives, as well as the evolution of these features under policy intervention remain to be investigated. This study develops four ecological networks for CO and SO emissions targeting the period 2010-2015 with strengthened emission control implemented.

Sulforaphane Targets TRA-1/GLI Upstream of DAF-16/FOXO to Promote Longevity and Healthspan.

Broccoli-derived isothiocyanate sulforaphane inhibits inflammation and cancer. Sulforaphane may support healthy aging, but the underlying detailed mechanisms are unclear. We used the nematode model to address this question.

Strong Interfacial Coupling of Tunable Ni-NiO Nanocomposite Thin Films Formed by Self-Decomposition.

The next-generation spintronic devices including memristors, tunneling devices, or stochastic switching exert surging demands on magnetic nanostructures with novel coupling schemes. Taking advantage of a phase decomposition mechanism, a unique Ni-NiO nanocomposite has been demonstrated using a conventional pulsed laser deposition technique. Ni nanodomains are segregated from NiO and exhibit as faceted "emerald-cut" morphologies with tunable dimensions affected by the growth temperature.

The role of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in bFGF/PDGF composite hydrogel promoting the repair of spinal cord injuries.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the role of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in bFGF/PDGF composite hydrogel promoting the repair of spinal cord injuries.

Methods: In this study, the spinal cord injury rat model was established using Allen's punch method. Healthy male Sprague Dawley rats of the clean grade were randomly divided into four groups (n=18, each): sham operation group (group S), bFGF/PDGF composite hydrogel group (group A), bFGF/PDGF composite hydrogel + LY294002 (PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitor) group (group B) and bFGF/PDGF composite hydrogel + IGF-1 (PI3K/AKT signaling pathway agonist) group (group C).

Sulforaphane Inhibits the Expression of Long Noncoding RNA H19 and Its Target APOBEC3G and Thereby Pancreatic Cancer Progression.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is extremely malignant and the therapeutic options available usually have little impact on survival. Great hope is placed on new therapeutic targets, including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and on the development of new drugs, based on e.g.

Sulforaphane promotes longevity and healthspan via DAF-16/DAF-2 insulin/IGF-1 signaling.

The broccoli-derived isothiocyanate sulforaphane inhibits inflammation, oxidative stress and cancer, but its effect on healthspan and longevity are unclear. We used the nematode model and fed the wildtype and 9 mutant strains ±sulforaphane. The lifespan, phenotype, pharyngeal pumping, mobility, lipofuscin accumulation, and RNA and protein expression of the nematodes were assessed by using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, live imaging, fluorescence microscopy, and qRT-PCR.

Multifunctional Metal-Oxide Nanocomposite Thin Film with Plasmonic Au Nanopillars Embedded in Magnetic LaSrMnO Matrix.

Searching for multifunctional materials with tunable magnetic and optical properties has been a critical task toward the implementation of future integrated optical devices. Vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) thin films provide a unique platform for multifunctional material designs. Here, a new metal-oxide VAN has been designed with plasmonic Au nanopillars embedded in a ferromagnetic LaSrMnO (LSMO) matrix.

Hybrid Ag-LiNbO nanocomposite thin films with tailorable optical properties.

Ag nanostructures exhibit extraordinary optical properties, which are important for photonic device integration. Herein, we deposited Ag-LiNbO (LNO) nanocomposite thin films with Ag nanoparticles (NPs) embedded into the LNO matrix by the co-deposition of Ag and LNO using a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. The density and size of Ag NPs were tailored by varying the Ag composition.

Engineered heat dissipation and current distribution boron nitride-graphene layer coated on polypropylene separator for high performance lithium metal battery.

Li metal as a battery anode has been intensively studied because of its high gravimetric capacity (3860 mAh g), a low standard electrode potential (-3.04 vs. SHE), a reasonable electronic conductivity and low density.

Strain Effects on the Growth of LaSrMnO (LSMO)-NiO Nanocomposite Thin Films via Substrate Control.

Oxide-oxide-based vertically aligned nanocomposites (VANs) have demonstrated a new material platform for enhanced and/or combined functionalities because of their unique vertical geometry and strain coupling. Various factors contribute to the growth of VANs, including deposition parameters, phase composition, phase ratios, crystallography, etc. In this work, substrate strain effects are explored through growing a two-phase oxide-oxide LaSrMnO (LSMO):NiO system, combining antiferromagnetic NiO and ferromagnetic LSMO, on various substrates with different lattice parameters.

Ultrafast, dry microwave superheating for the synthesis of an SbO-GNP hybrid anode to investigate the Na-ion storage compatibility in ester and ether electrolytes.

The impact of ester and ether-based electrolytes on sodium-ion reversible storage in an SbOx-GNP hybrid anode synthesised by ultrafast dry microwave superheating is investigated. Kinetic and diffusion studies further support the higher capacity, good C-rate performance, and superior cycling stability of the hybrid anode in the ester-based electrolyte.

Room-Temperature Ferroelectric LiNbBaTiO Spinel Phase in a Nanocomposite Thin Film Form for Nonlinear Photonics.

Tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) materials are one of the most promising classes of materials for ferroelectric and nonlinear optical devices, owing to their very unique noncentrosymmetric crystal structure. In this work, a new TTB phase of LiNbBaTiO (LNBTO) has been discovered and studied. A small amount of a secondary phase, LiTiO (LTO), has been incorporated as nanopillars that are vertically embedded in the LNBTO matrix.