Regulation of Cytokines and Dihydrotestosterone Production in Human Hair Follicle Papilla Cells by Supercritical Extraction-Residues Extract of Ulmus davidiana

This study was conducted to examine the anti-hair loss mechanism of the supercritical fluid extraction-residues extract of Ulmus davidiana by the regulation of cytokine production and hormone function in human dermal follicle papilla cells (HDFPCs). To investigate the modulatory effects on H₂O₂-induced cytokines, we measured transforming growth factor-beta and insulin-like growth factor 1 secreted from HDFPCs. To investigate the regulatory effects of supercritical extraction-residues extract of Ulmus davidiana on dihydrotestosterone hormone production, cells were co-incubated with high concentrations of testosterone. The supercritical extraction-residues extract of Ulmus davidiana significantly inhibited the secretion of transforming growth factor-beta but rescued insulin-like growth factor 1 in a dose-dependent manner. The supercritical extraction-residues extract of Ulmus davidiana markedly reduced dihydrotestosterone production. These results suggest that the supercritical fluid extract residues of Ulmus davidiana and their functional molecules are candidates for preventing human hair loss.     

Piceatannol Protects Brain Endothelial Cell Line (bEnd.3) against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is involved in the pathogenesis of many cerebral diseases. Oxidative stress and inflammation are contributing factors for BBB injury. Piceatannol, a natural ingredient found in various plants, such as grapes, white tea, and passion fruit, plays an important role in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. In this study, we examined the protective effects of piceatannol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) insult in mouse brain endothelial cell line (bEnd.3) cells and the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that piceatannol mitigated the upregulated expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) and iNOS in LPS-treated bEnd.3 cells. Moreover, piceatannol prevented the generation of reactive oxygen species in bEnd.3 cells stimulated with LPS. Mechanism investigations suggested that piceatannol inhibited NF-κB and MAPK activation. Taken together, these observations suggest that piceatannol reduces inflammation and oxidative stress through inactivating the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways on cerebral endothelial cells in vitro.     

Immunomodulatory Properties of Masticadienonic Acid and 3α-Hydroxy Masticadienoic Acid in Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells are antigen-presenting cells, which identify and process pathogens to subsequently activate specific T lymphocytes. To regulate the immune responses, DCs have to mature by the recognition of TLR ligands, TNFα or IFNγ. These ligands have been used as adjuvants to activate DCs in situ or in vitro, with toxic effects. It has been shown that some molecules affect the immune system, e.g., Masticadienonic acid (MDA) and 3α-hydroxy masticadienoic acid (3α-OH MDA) triterpenes naturally occurring in several medicinal plants, since they activate the nitric oxide synthase in macrophages and induce T lymphocyte proliferation. The DCs maturation induced by MDA or 3a-OH MDA was determined by incubating these cells with MDA or 3α-OH MDA, and their phenotype was afterwards analyzed. The results showed that only 3α-OH MDA was able to induce DCs maturation. When mice with melanoma were inoculated with DCs/3α-OH MDA, a decreased tumor growth rate was observed along with an extended cell death area within tumors compared to mice treated with DCs incubated with MDA. In conclusion, it is proposed that 3α-OH MDA may be an immunostimulant molecule. Conversely, it is proposed that MDA may be a molecule with anti-inflammatory properties.     

Effect of the Terminal Acceptor Unit on the Performance of Non-Fullerene Indacenodithiophene Acceptors in Organic Solar Cells

Four acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–D–A)-type molecules bearing indacenodithiophene as donating central core and various end-capping acceptor units have been designed and synthesised as n-type materials suitable for organic solar cells (OSCs). The studied optical and electrochemical properties supported by theoretical calculations revealed that the nature and the strength of the terminal groups exert a decisive influence on the polymer bulk-heterojunction OSC performance.     

接种密度对Vero细胞在微载体表面生长的影响

研究了接种密度对Ｖｅｒｏ细胞在微载体表面生长行为的影响,发现培养过程中所获得的细胞最高密度随接种密度的增加而有所提高,当细胞的表面接种密度高于１．０×１０＾５ｃｅｌｌｓ／ｍｇＭＣ时,因贴壁后细胞扩展受到限制而不利于进入对数生长期。就整个Ｖｅｒｏ细胞培养过程,适宜的表面接种密度为３×１０＾－４－７×１０＾４ｃｅｌｌｓ／ｍｇＭＣ,此时可以获得较高的比生长速率和细胞增殖倍数。     

弱激光照射周氏新对虾心脏细胞的显微和超微结构观察

采用He-Ne激光照射周氏新对虾的心脏组织.组织学和生物统计学表明:He-Ne激光照射后,心脏组织具有明显异染色质的细胞数量有所增加.在同一照射强度的情况下,照射的时间越长,其心脏组织具有明显异染色质的细胞数量就越多;电镜观察结果表明:经过2 h照射立即取材的心肌细胞,细胞核形态发生变化,异染色质增加,线粒体出现空泡化、嵴断裂、水肿,粗面内质网出现扩张、颗粒脱落.     

中枢记忆性T细胞和效应记忆性T细胞

免疫记忆是适应性免疫应答的重要特征,其细胞学基础的阐明是疫苗开发和疾病预防的关键。近年来的研究表明,记忆性T细胞可以被进一步划分为中枢记忆性T细胞和外周记忆性T细胞2个亚群,它们的分布和功能迥异,在生物学特性上也不尽相同。二者关系的深入探讨对于免疫记忆的认识和疾病防治均具有重大的理论和实践意义。     

Numerical study of InGaN tandem solar cells with intermediate bands

Theoretical investigations of InGaN tandem solar cells with intermediate bands (IBs) have been conducted through calculating the diode equation taking into account the radiative and nonradiative recombination currents. The calculated maximum ef?ciencies of the double‐junction cell with one IB in each subcell are 57.85% and 68.37% under AM1.5G one‐sun and 46000‐sun illuminations, respectively. It has also been observed that the combined device with the top‐cell bandgaps of 2.9–3.4 eV (2.6–3.4 eV for full concentration) may have an opportunity to realize the application of over 50% efficiency. We suggest that the optimized width of the IB layer be designed in the range of 1–6 μm if its absorption coefficient is 10⁴–10⁵ cm^–1 in the IB region.     

Analysis of the dynamics of a delayed HIV pathogenesis model

In this paper, considering full Logistic proliferation of CD4⁺ T cells, we study an HIV pathogenesis model with antiretroviral therapy and HIV replication time. We first analyze the existence and stability of the equilibrium, and then investigate the effect of the time delay on the stability of the infected steady state. Sufficient conditions are given to ensure that the infected steady state is asymptotically stable for all delay. Furthermore, we apply the Nyquist criterion to estimate the length of delay for which stability continues to hold, and investigate the existence of Hopf bifurcation by using a delay τ as a bifurcation parameter. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the main results.     

微生物燃料电池修复钒污染地下水的响应曲面优化研究

使用响应曲面法, 对单室微生物燃料电池去除五价钒的运行条件进行分析和优化。采用乙酸钠作为单室微生物燃料电池的碳源, 探讨钒初始浓度、COD初始浓度和电解液电导率对五价钒去除率的影响, 三因素三水平的响应曲面分析结果表明, 五价钒初始浓度对五价钒去除率的影响最显著, 其次为 COD 初始浓度, 最后是电解液电导率。利用响应曲面法得到最优实验条件: 五价钒初始浓度为75.44 mg/L, COD初始浓度为1007.48 mg/L, 电导率为11.98 mS/cm, 此时可获得五价钒的最大理论去除率80.31%。验证实验的结果证实了该优化方法的可靠性。研究成果可以促进微生物燃料电池技术在治理钒污染地下水领域的实际应用。