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Cell Biochemistry and Function Jul 2024Stem cells demonstrate differentiation and regulatory functions. In this discussion, we will explore the impacts of cell culture density on stem cell proliferation,...
Stem cells demonstrate differentiation and regulatory functions. In this discussion, we will explore the impacts of cell culture density on stem cell proliferation, adipogenesis, and regulatory abilities. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the initial culture density of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) on the adipogenic differentiation of autologous cells. Our findings indicate that the proliferation rate of hPDLSCs increased with increasing initial cell density (0.5-8 × 10 cells/cm). After adipogenic differentiation induced by different initial cell densities of hPDLSC, we found that the mean adipose concentration and the expression levels of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (CEBPα), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) genes all increased with increasing cell density. To investigate the regulatory role of hPDLSCs in the adipogenic differentiation of other cells, we used secreted exocrine vesicles derived from hPDLSCs cultivated at different initial cell densities of 50 μg/mL to induce the adipogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells. We also found that the mean adipose concentration and expression of LPL, CEBPα, and PPARγ genes increased with increasing cell density, with an optimal culture density of 8 × 10 cells/cm. This study provides a foundation for the application of adipogenic differentiation in stem cells.
Topics: Humans; Periodontal Ligament; Adipogenesis; Stem Cells; Cell Differentiation; PPAR gamma; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Cells, Cultured; Lipoprotein Lipase; Cell Proliferation; Cell Count; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha
PubMed: 38940455
DOI: 10.1002/cbf.4069 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jun 2024The chemically pre-intercalated lattice engineering is widely applied to elevate the electronic conductivity, expand the interlayer spacing, and improve the structural...
The chemically pre-intercalated lattice engineering is widely applied to elevate the electronic conductivity, expand the interlayer spacing, and improve the structural stability of layered oxide cathodes. However, the mainstream unitary metal ion pre-intercalation generally produces the cation/vacancy ordered superstructure, which astricts the further improvement of lattice respiration and charge-carrier ion storage and diffusion. Herein, a multiple metal ions pre-intercalation lattice engineering is proposed to break the cation/vacancy ordered superstructure. Taking the bilayer VO as an example, Ni, Co, and Zn ternary ions are simultaneously pre-intercalated into its interlayer space (NiCoZnVO). It is revealed that the Ni─Co neighboring characteristic caused by Ni(3d)-O(2p)-Co(3d) orbital coupling and the Co-Zn/Ni-Zn repulsion effect due to chemical bond incompatibility, endow the NiCoZnVO sample with the cation/vacancy disordered structure. This not only reduces the Li diffusion barrier, but also increases the diffusion dimension of Li (from one-dimension to two-dimension). Particularly, Ni, Co, and Zn ions co-pre-intercalation causes a prestress, which realizes a quasi-zero-strain structure at high-voltage window upon charging/discharging process. The functions of Ni ion stabilizing the lattice structure and Co or Zn ions activating more Li reversible storage reaction of V/V are further revealed. The cation/vacancy disordered structure significantly enhances Li storage properties of NiCoZnVO cathode.
PubMed: 38940444
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202404099 -
Biological Reviews of the Cambridge... Jun 2024New technologies have resulted in a better understanding of blood and lymphatic vascular heterogeneity at the cellular and molecular levels. However, we still need to...
New technologies have resulted in a better understanding of blood and lymphatic vascular heterogeneity at the cellular and molecular levels. However, we still need to learn more about the heterogeneity of the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems among different species at the anatomical and functional levels. Even the deceptively simple question of the functions of fish lymphatic vessels has yet to be conclusively answered. The most common interpretation assumes a similar dual setup of the vasculature in zebrafish and mammals: a cardiovascular circulatory system, and a lymphatic vascular system (LVS), in which the unidirectional flow is derived from surplus interstitial fluid and returned into the cardiovascular system. A competing interpretation questions the identity of the lymphatic vessels in fish as at least some of them receive their flow from arteries via specialised anastomoses, neither requiring an interstitial source for the lymphatic flow nor stipulating unidirectionality. In this alternative view, the 'fish lymphatics' are a specialised subcompartment of the cardiovascular system, called the secondary vascular system (SVS). Many of the contradictions found in the literature appear to stem from the fact that the SVS develops in part or completely from an embryonic LVS by transdifferentiation. Future research needs to establish the extent of embryonic transdifferentiation of lymphatics into SVS blood vessels. Similarly, more insight is needed into the molecular regulation of vascular development in fish. Most fish possess more than the five vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genes and three VEGF receptor genes that we know from mice or humans, and the relative tolerance of fish to whole-genome and gene duplications could underlie the evolutionary diversification of the vasculature. This review discusses the key elements of the fish lymphatics versus the SVS and attempts to draw a picture coherent with the existing data, including phylogenetic knowledge.
PubMed: 38940420
DOI: 10.1111/brv.13114 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jun 2024Droplet-based electricity generators (DEGs) are increasingly recognized for their potential in converting renewable energy sources. This study explores the interplay of...
Droplet-based electricity generators (DEGs) are increasingly recognized for their potential in converting renewable energy sources. This study explores the interplay of surface hydrophobicity and stickiness in improving DEG efficiency. It find that the high-performance C-WaxDEGs leverage both these properties. Specifically, DEGs incorporating polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with carnauba wax (C-wax) exhibit increased output as surface stickiness decreases. Through experimental comparisons, PDMS with 1wt.% C-wax demonstrated a significant power output increase from 0.07 to 1.2 W m , which attribute to the minimized adhesion between water molecules and the polymer surface, achieved by embedding C-wax into PDMS surface to form microstructures. This improvement in DEG performance is notable even among samples with similar surface potentials and contact angles, suggesting that C-wax's primary contribution is in reducing surface stickiness rather than altering other surface properties. The further investigations into the C-WaxDEG variant with 1wt.% C-wax PDMS uncover its potential as a sensor for water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, and heavy metal ion concentration. These findings open avenues for the integration of C-WaxDEGs into flexible electronic devices aimed at environmental monitoring.
PubMed: 38940416
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402765 -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Jun 2024The development of the electric vehicle industry has spurred demand for secondary batteries capable of rapid-charging and slow-discharging. Among them, sodium-ion...
The development of the electric vehicle industry has spurred demand for secondary batteries capable of rapid-charging and slow-discharging. Among them, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) with layered oxide as the cathode exhibit competitive advantages due to their comprehensive electrochemical performance. However, to meet the requirements of rapid-charging and slow-discharging scenarios, it is necessary to further enhance the rate performance of the cathode material to achieve symmetrical capacity at different rates. Simultaneously, minimizing lattice strain during asymmetric electrochemical processes is also significant in alleviating strain accumulation. In this study, the ordered distribution of transition metal layers and the diffusion pathway of sodium ions are optimized through targeted K-doping of sodium layers, leading to a reduction of the diffusion barrier and endowment of prominent rate performance. At a 20C rate, the capacity of the cathode can reach 94% of that at a 0.1C rate. Additionally, the rivet effect of the sodium layers resulted in a global volume strain of only 0.03% for the modified cathode during charging at a 10C rate and discharging at a 1C rate. In summary, high-performance SIBs, with promising prospects for rapid-charging and slow-discharging capability, are obtained through the regulation of sodium layers, opening up new avenues for commercial applications.
PubMed: 38940403
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202404701 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jun 2024Understanding the reconstruction mechanism to rationally design cost-effective electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is still challenging. Herein, a...
Understanding the reconstruction mechanism to rationally design cost-effective electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is still challenging. Herein, a defect-rich NiMoO precatalyst is used to explore its OER activity and reconstruction mechanism. In situ generated oxygen vacancies, distorted lattices, and edge dislocations expedite the deep reconstruction of NiMoO to form polycrystalline Ni (oxy)hydroxides for alkaline oxygen evolution. It only needs ≈230 and ≈285 mV to reach 10 and 100 mA cm, respectively. The reconstruction boosted by the redox of Ni is confirmed experimentally by sectionalized cyclic voltammetry activations at different specified potential ranges combined with ex situ characterization techniques. Subsequently, the reconstruction route is presented based on the acid-base electronic theory. Accordingly, the dominant contribution of the adsorbate evolution mechanism to reconstruction during oxygen evolution is revealed. This work develops a novel route to synthesize defect-rich materials and provides new tactics to investigate the reconstruction.
PubMed: 38940385
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202401384 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jun 2024Lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO) battery represents a high-energy density energy storage with excellent real-time CO enrichment and conversion, but its practical...
Lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO) battery represents a high-energy density energy storage with excellent real-time CO enrichment and conversion, but its practical utilization is hampered by the development of an excellent catalytic cathode. Here, the synergistic catalytic strategy of designing CoRu bimetallic active sites achieves the electrocatalytic conversion of CO and the efficient decomposition of the discharge products, which in turn realizes the smooth operation of the Li-CO battery. Moreover, obtained support based on metal-organic frameworks precursors facilitates the convenient diffusion and adsorption of CO, resulting in higher reaction concentration and lower mass transfer resistance. Meanwhile, the optimization of the interfacial electronic structure and the effective transfer of electrons are achieved by virtue of the strong interaction of CoRu at the support interface. As a result, the Li-CO cell assembled based on bimetallic CoRu active sites achieved a discharge capacity of 19,111 mA h g and a steady-state discharge voltage of 2.58 V as well as a cycle life of >175 cycles at a rate of 100 mA g. Further experiments combined with density-functional theory calculations achieve a deeply view of the connection between cathode and electrochemical performance and pave a way for the subsequent development of advanced Li-CO catalytic cathodes.
PubMed: 38940363
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402447 -
Cancer Prevention Research... Jun 2024With advances in the early detection and treatment of cancer, the incidence of multiple primary cancers (MPC) or second primary cancers has increased over time....
With advances in the early detection and treatment of cancer, the incidence of multiple primary cancers (MPC) or second primary cancers has increased over time. Characterization of etiologic risk factors, including family history of cancer, within the general population is critical for assessing MPC risk in patients. We examined the association between family history of cancer among first-degree relatives and MPC risk in a prospective study of 139,958 participants from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusting for potential confounders. Over a median follow-up of 16 years (IQR: 11-19 years), 6,170 participants were diagnosed with MPC. Having a family history of cancer increased the risk of MPC by 18% (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.12-1.24). A positive linear trend was observed between the reported number of cancers in the family history and MPC risk with HRs (95% CI) of 1.13 (1.07-1.20), 1.23 (1.14-1.33), 1.29 (1.15-1.45), and 1.42 (1.20-1.70) for one, two, three, and four or more cancers among first-degree relatives, respectively (Ptrend = 2.36 × 10-13). No significant differences were observed by cancer histology or specific cancer types reported in the family history. Our study demonstrates that the family history of cancer is an important risk factor for the development of MPCs and that a comprehensive assessment of the number of cancers reported among first-degree relatives may identify those at higher risk who may benefit from targeted cancer prevention and screening strategies. Prevention Relevance: Our study makes a substantial contribution to the understanding of risk factors for MPCs in the general population. It demonstrates that individuals with a strong family history of cancer are at higher risk for MPCs and may benefit from more targeted cancer prevention and screening interventions.
PubMed: 38940339
DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-24-0062 -
Journal of Integrative Plant Biology Jun 2024In flowering plants, sexual reproductive success depends on the production of viable pollen grains. However, the mechanisms by which QUA QUINE STARCH (QQS) regulates...
In flowering plants, sexual reproductive success depends on the production of viable pollen grains. However, the mechanisms by which QUA QUINE STARCH (QQS) regulates pollen development and how transcriptional activators facilitate the transcription of QQS in this process remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION 1 (ICE1), a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, acts as a key transcriptional activator and positively regulates QQS expression to increase pollen germination and viability in Arabidopsis thaliana by interacting with INDETERMINATE DOMAIN14 (IDD14). In our genetic and biochemical experiments, overexpression of ICE1 greatly promoted both the activation of QQS and high pollen viability mediated by QQS. IDD14 additively enhanced ICE1 function by promoting the binding of ICE1 to the QQS promoter. In addition, mutation of ICE1 significantly repressed QQS expression; the impaired function of QQS and the abnormal anther dehiscence jointly affected pollen development of the ice1-2 mutant. Our results also showed that the enhancement of pollen activity by ICE1 depends on QQS. Furthermore, QQS interacted with CUT1, the key enzyme for long-chain lipid biosynthesis. This interaction both promoted CUT1 activity and regulated pollen lipid metabolism, ultimately determining pollen hydration and fertility. Our results not only provide new insights into the key function of QQS in promoting pollen development by regulating pollen lipid metabolism, but also elucidate the mechanism that facilitates the transcription of QQS in this vital developmental process.
PubMed: 38940322
DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13725 -
Development (Cambridge, England) Jul 2024Generation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) ex vivo and in vivo, especially the generation of safe therapeutic HSPCs, still remains inefficient. In...
Generation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) ex vivo and in vivo, especially the generation of safe therapeutic HSPCs, still remains inefficient. In this study, we have identified compound BF170 hydrochloride as a previously unreported pro-hematopoiesis molecule, using the differentiation assays of primary zebrafish blastomere cell culture and mouse embryoid bodies (EBs), and we demonstrate that BF170 hydrochloride promoted definitive hematopoiesis in vivo. During zebrafish definitive hematopoiesis, BF170 hydrochloride increases blood flow, expands hemogenic endothelium (HE) cells and promotes HSPC emergence. Mechanistically, the primary cilia-Ca2+-Notch/NO signaling pathway, which is downstream of the blood flow, mediated the effects of BF170 hydrochloride on HSPC induction in vivo. Our findings, for the first time, reveal that BF170 hydrochloride is a compound that enhances HSPC induction and may be applied to the ex vivo expansion of HSPCs.
Topics: Animals; Zebrafish; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Mice; Cell Differentiation; Hematopoiesis; Receptors, Notch; Signal Transduction; Embryoid Bodies; Cilia; Blastomeres; Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 38940293
DOI: 10.1242/dev.202476