Preliminary Investigation of the Antioxidant,Anti-Diabetic,and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Enteromorpha intestinalis Extracts

Marine algae are a promising source of potent bioactive agents against oxidative stress, diabetes, and inflammation. However, the possible therapeutic effects of many algal metabolites have not been exploited yet. In this regard, we explored the therapeutic potential of Enteromorpha intestinalis extracts obtained from methanol, ethanol, and hexane, in contrasting oxidative stress. The total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) content were quantified in all extracts, with ethanol yielding the best values (about 60 and 625 mg of gallic acid and rutin equivalents per gram of extract, respectively). Their antioxidant potential was also assessed through DPPH^•, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide anion scavenging assays, showing a concentration-dependent activity which was greater in the extracts from protic and more polar solvents. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities were estimated for checking the antidiabetic capacity, with IC₅₀ values of about 3.8 µg/mL for the methanolic extract, almost as low as those obtained with acarbose (about 2.8 and 3.3 µg/mL, respectively). The same extract also showed remarkable anti-inflammatory effect, as determined by hemolysis, protein denaturation, proteinase and lipoxygenase activity assays, with respectable IC₅₀ values (about 11, 4, 6, and 5 µg/mL, respectively), also in comparison to commercially used drugs, such as acetylsalicylic acid.     

Sweet Cherries as Anti-Cancer Agents: From Bioactive Compounds to Function

Sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) are among the most appreciated fruits worldwide because of their organoleptic properties and nutritional value. The accurate phytochemical composition and nutritional value of sweet cherries depends on the climatic region, cultivar, and bioaccessibility and bioavailability of specific compounds. Nevertheless, sweet cherry extracts are highly enriched in several phenolic compounds with relevant bioactivity. Over the years, technological advances in chemical analysis and fields as varied as proteomics, genomics and bioinformatics, have allowed the detailed characterization of the sweet cherry bioactive phytonutrients and their biological function. In this context, the effect of sweet cherries on suppressing important events in the carcinogenic process, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, was widely documented. Interestingly, results from our research group and others have widened the action of sweet cherries to many hallmarks of cancer, namely metabolic reprogramming. The present review discusses the anticarcinogenic potential of sweet cherries by addressing their phytochemical composition, the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of specific bioactive compounds, and the existing knowledge concerning the effects against oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, deregulated cell proliferation and apoptosis, invasion and metastization, and metabolic alterations. Globally, this review highlights the prospective use of sweet cherries as a dietary supplement or in cancer treatment.     

Camu-Camu Fruit Extract Inhibits Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses by Regulating NFAT and Nrf2 Signaling Pathways in High Glucose-Induced Human Keratinocytes

Myrciaria dubia (HBK) McVaugh (camu-camu) belongs to the family Myrtaceae. Although camu-camu has received a great deal of attention for its potential pharmacological activities, there is little information on the anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects of camu-camu fruit in skin diseases. In the present study, we investigated the preventative effect of 70% ethanol camu-camu fruit extract against high glucose-induced human keratinocytes. High glucose-induced overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was inhibited by camu-camu fruit treatment. In response to ROS reduction, camu-camu fruit modulated the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling pathways related to inflammation by downregulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, camu-camu fruit treatment activated the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and subsequently increased the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase1 (NQO1) expression to protect keratinocytes against high-glucose-induced oxidative stress. These results indicate that camu-camu fruit is a promising material for preventing oxidative stress and skin inflammation induced by high glucose level.     

SU-8光刻胶应变分布光学全场检测方法

由于SU-8光刻胶的内应力将会影响高深宽比结构的全金属光栅的制作质量,本文针对近年来SU-8光刻胶应力测量困难的情况,提出了一种基于激光剪切散斑干涉技术的SU-8光刻胶应变分布测量的新方法。该方法通过对被测胶体加载前后两幅干涉图像的处理,直接得到被测胶体结构的全场应变分布情况,由胶体的应变变形数据即可反映出内应力的变化和分布趋势。同时使用ANSYS有限元分析软件对同一被测胶体进行应变仿真模拟研究,获得胶体结构的变形场仿真数据。组建了实验系统,进行了实验验证,结果表明:实际测量变形量约为1.189μm,仿真的最大变形量为1.088μm,测量误差在允许范围内,且测量的形变趋势与仿真模拟结果相一致,表明激光剪切散斑干涉技术可应用于SU-8光刻胶的应变分布全场无损检测。     

酪酸梭菌抗阿司匹林致小鼠胃溃 疡作用的初步研究

目的 观测酪酸梭菌是否对阿司匹林导致的胃溃疡具有预防效应,并对其机制进行初步探讨。方法 取30只健康 雄性ICR 小鼠,随机分成3 组,每组各10 只,即模型组、酪酸梭菌组、奥美拉唑组。酪酸梭菌组以6×108cfu/ 只的菌量,模型组和奥美拉唑组均予以相同体积的无菌培养基,灌胃4d 后再饥饿处理48h,然后以250mg/kg 剂量的阿司匹林灌胃造模,奥美拉唑组小鼠于造模前30min,腹腔注射奥美拉唑（13mg/kg）。造模4h 后,取胃组织分别测定SOD、CAT 活力、MDA 含量;进行常规HE 染色观察胃黏膜组织结构变化,PAS染色判断黏液量的变化,免疫组化法测定Bcl-2、Bax 表达水平。结果 模型组的SOD、CAT 活性明显降低,MDA 含量显著增加,而酪酸梭菌预处理后逆转了该趋势（P＜0.01）,与奥美拉唑组比较无统计学差异。HE染色观察,酪酸梭菌能减轻胃黏膜的病理损伤,与奥美拉唑组无统计学差异。PAS 结果提示酪酸梭菌能够增加黏液量。酪酸梭菌组的Bcl-2 表达较模型组显著增多,同时Bax 表达显著减少。结论 酪酸梭菌预处理通过抗氧化应激、增加胃黏液量、上调Bcl-2/Bax 表达比例,减轻阿司匹 林造成的胃溃疡损伤。     

Size-dependent resonance and buckling behavior of nanoplates with high-order surface stress effects

This work presents a theoretical study of the resonance frequency and buckling load of nanoplates with high-order surface stress model. A classical thin plate theory based on Kirchhoff–Love assumption is implemented with surface effects. Circular and rectangular nanoplates with simply supported end conditions are exemplified. The size-dependent solutions are compared with the simplified solutions based on simple surface stress model, and also on the classical theory of elasticity. We aim to explore the scope of applicability so that the modified continuum mechanics model could serve as a refined approach in the prediction of mechanical behavior of nanoplates.     

Stage-I fatigue crack studies in order to validate the dislocation-free zone model of fracture for bulk materials

Stage-I fatigue cracks are commonly described by the model of Bilby, Cottrell and Swinden (BCS model). However, since several experimental investigations have shown a dislocation-free zone (DFZ) in front of crack-tips, it is necessary to validate the new DFZ model and to examine the deviations to the BCS model. Therefore, the dislocation density distribution is derived from height profiles of slip lines in front of stage-I fatigue cracks in CMSX4® single crystals measured by contact-mode atomic force microscopy. This is possible, because the cracks are initiated at notches milled by focused ion beam technique directly on slip planes with a high Schmid factor. Consequently, the directions of the Burgers vectors are well known; it is possible to calculate the dislocation density distributions from the height profiles. The measured distributions are compared to the calculated distribution function of the DFZ model proposed by Chang et al. The additionally measured microscopic friction stress of the dislocations is then used to calculate the influence of grain boundaries on the dislocation density distribution in front of stage-I cracks. The calculation is done by the extended DFZ model of Shiue et al. and compared with the measured distribution function in polycrystalline specimens. Finally, the crack-tip sliding displacement as a measure for the crack propagation rate is compared for the DFZ model and the BCS model with the experimentally revealed values. The important result: the often used BCS model does not reflect the experimental measurements. On the contrary, the DFZ model reflects the measurements at stage-I cracks qualitatively and quantitatively.     

Effect of source strength on dislocation pileups in the presence of stress gradients

The behaviour of a dislocation pileup with a finite-strength source is investigated in the presence of various stress gradients within a continuum model where a free-dislocation region exists around the source. Expressions for dislocation density and stress field within the pileup are derived for the situation where there are first and second spatial gradients in applied stress. For a pileup configuration under an applied stress, yielding occurs when the force acting on the leading dislocations at the pileup tips reaches the obstacle strength, and at the same time, it is required that the source be at the threshold stress for dislocation production. A numerical methodology is presented to solve the underlying equations that represent the yielding conditions. The yield stress calculated for a pileup configuration is found to depend on stress gradients, obstacle spacing and source/obstacle strengths. It increases with increasing the first stress gradient, yet dependent on the second stress gradient. Furthermore, while the dependency of yield stress on the obstacle spacing intensifies with increasing the first stress gradient, it diminishes with an increase of second stress gradient. Therefore, the second stress gradient, as a newly introduced parameter, can provide a new physical insight into the size-dependent plasticity phenomena at small length scales.     

Independent Generation and Time-Resolved Detection of 2′-Deoxyguanosin-N2-yl Radicals

Guanine radicals are important reactive intermediates in DNA damage. Hydroxyl radical (HO^.) has long been believed to react with 2′-deoxyguanosine (dG) generating 2′-deoxyguanosin-N1-yl radical (dG(N1-H)^.) via addition to the nucleobase π-system and subsequent dehydration. This basic tenet was challenged by an alternative mechanism, in which the major reaction of HO^. with dG was proposed to involve hydrogen atom abstraction from the N2-amine. The 2′-deoxyguanosin-N2-yl radical (dG(N2-H)^.) formed was proposed to rapidly tautomerize to dG(N1-H)^.. We report the first independent generation of dG(N2-H)^. in high yield via photolysis of 1 . dG(N2-H)^. is directly observed upon nanosecond laser flash photolysis (LFP) of 1 . The absorption spectrum of dG(N2-H)^. is corroborated by DFT studies, and anti- and syn-dG(N2-H)^. are resolved for the first time. The LFP experiments showed no evidence for tautomerization of dG(N2-H)^. to dG(N1-H)^. within hundreds of microseconds. This observation suggests that the generation of dG(N1-H)^. via dG(N2-H)^. following hydrogen atom abstraction from dG is unlikely to be a major pathway when HO^. reacts with dG.     

An explanation of the unusual strength of the hydrogen bond in small water clusters

We seek to explain why the hydrogen bond possesses unusual strength in small water clusters that account for many of the complex behaviors of water. We have investigated and visualized the donation of covalent character from covalent (sigma) to hydrogen bonds by calculating the eigenvector coupling properties of quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), stress tensor σ ( r ), and Ehrenfest Force F ( r ) on the F ( r ) molecular graph. The next-generation three-dimensional (3-D) bond-path framework sets are presented, and only the F ( r ) bond-path framework sets reproduce the earlier finding on the coupling between covalent (sigma) and hydrogen bonds that possess a degree of covalent character. Exploration of the bond-path between the covalent (sigma) and hydrogen bond's critical points provides an explanation for the previously obtained coupling results. The directional character of the covalent (sigma) and hydrogen bonds' 3-D bond-path framework sets for the F ( r ) explains differences found in the earlier results from QTAIM and the stress tensor σ ( r ).