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Polianthes tuberosa L. Extract suppresses melanogenesis through concurrent Inhibition of cAMP/CREB and MAPK signaling pathways
Abstract Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a primary environmental stimulus for skin hyperpigmentation. Polianthes tuberosa L . (PT), rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, yet the anti-melanogenic mechanism of the PT extract (PTE) remains unexplored. Network pharmacology revealed nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2, superoxide dismutase 1, nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1, and interleukin-6 as core targets, suggesting that PTE may coordinately modulate oxidative stress and inflammation. Consistent with this prediction, PTE dose-dependently suppressed UV-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species generation in immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Furthermore, PTE not only inhibited the UV-induced release of inflammatory cytokines and paracrine melanogenic factors in HaCaT cells, but also mitigated UV-induced collagen reduction in fibroblasts. In the mouse melanoma cell line B16F10, the PTE significantly suppressed melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity ( p < 0.001). Integration of transcriptomic and proteomic data provided a complementary view of molecular regulation at both the messenger RNA and protein levels. This convergent evidence indicated that PTE acts as a concurrent inhibitor of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A/cAMP-response element binding protein and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling axes, as validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. This dual inhibition led to the downregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and its downstream melanogenic enzymes. Our findings underscore the potential of PTE as a multifaceted, natural whitening agent for cosmetic applications.
Field component modulation of vortex beams in uniaxial crystals driven by angular and topological charge dependencies
Abstract We investigate the propagation of linearly polarized vortex–Gaussian beams carrying topological charge M through a rutile uniaxial crystal at arbitrary angles relative to the optical axis. Using a full vectorial numerical model, we provide a systematic mapping of how both the propagation angle $$\theta$$ and the topological charge jointly govern the evolution of the transverse and longitudinal electric–field components. The results reveal a pronounced and angle-dependent modulation of all field components, accompanied by a strong and predictable amplification with increasing M . In particular, the longitudinal component exhibits an M -dependent oscillatory behavior that peaks near orthogonal incidence, while the generated transverse component reaches its maximum close to parallel propagation. The phase distributions show a clear topological imprint, including a reduction of the longitudinal-field phase winding to $$(M-1)$$ due to anisotropy-driven coupling. These observations shed light on the coupled roles of anisotropy, propagation angle, and vortex charge in shaping the vectorial structure of light inside uniaxial crystals. The results hold relevance for applications in optical manipulation, vector-beam generation, and quantum and classical information processing.
Analysis of urban resilience assessment and spatiotemporal patterns in coastal cities under sea-level rise
Direction aware and self-adaptive A* algorithm with PPO heuristic for UAV path planning of smart city
A density functional theory study of cyclophosphamide and purinethol adsorption on a covalent triazine framework (CTF-2) for drug delivery applications
Pareto-based design of thermophotovoltaic micro-combustors via a novel framework combining IGWO-tuned ANN, multi-objective multi-verse optimization, and ARAS-based decision making
The influence of sex on shoulder and hip joint resting position and mobility in elite golfers
Higher free-roaming dog density sustains rabies virus transmission in Haiti
Abstract Eliminating dog-to-dog rabies virus transmission, the primary cause of > 70,000 human deaths annually, remains a challenge in over 100 countries due to the difficulty of implementing effective dog vaccination and population management programs. Despite the development of tools to optimize vaccine impact, rabies virus transmission dynamics are still not well-understood, largely due to insufficient surveillance. Utilizing data from Haiti’s advanced rabies surveillance system, we analyzed likely rabies cases, adjusted for a 5% detection rate, to estimate the true rabies burden in Haitian dogs. Our study calculated the effective reproduction number (Re) of rabies, finding strong associations between Re and free-roaming dog density, with Re falling below 1.0 when free-roaming dog density fell below 10 per km². This association suggests that denser free-roaming dog populations may perpetuate rabies transmission, providing critical insights for targeting effective vaccination efforts.
Investigation of airborne microplastics emission and characteristics in hospital laundry environments
MI-181 enhances ciliation and cilia length in a cigarette smoke exposed airway epithelial model
Abstract Multiciliated airway epithelial cells possess motile cilia, which are essential for mucociliary clearance, facilitating the removal of particulates from the respiratory system. Previous studies showed that exposure to cigarette toxins causes damage to motile cilia formation, length, and function, and can lead to reduced mucociliary clearance and lung diseases like COPD. Given the limited options for treating smoking-related diseases, it is imperative to define novel therapeutics to address this need. Recently, we discovered that, contrary to its ability to depolymerize microtubules, the small molecule MI-181 can induce ciliogenesis and increase the length of primary cilia in retinal pigment epithelial cells without adverse effects on cell health. Here, we utilized a human airway basal stem cell derived air-liquid interface mucociliary airway epithelium model system, coupled with smoke exposure, to test the effect of MI-181 on motile cilia. We determined that MI-181 promotes the recovery of motile cilia length. Additionally, the effect of MI-181 on the area covered by motile cilia and levels of the FOXJ1 motile cilia transcription factor showed inter-donor heterogeneity. Importantly, transmission electron microscopy analysis of motile cilia axonemes showed that MI-181-treated motile cilia displayed a normal 9 + 2 arrangement of microtubules. Together, these data suggest that MI-181 promotes the recovery of motile cilia length after smoke exposure and that these cilia are structurally intact.
Non-Invasive electrophysiological monitoring of cardiac organoids using 3D-Net-assisted microelectrodes array platform
Abstract The rapid advancement of organoids has increased interest in replacing conventional 2D alternatives to animal testing. In drug development, cardiotoxicity assessment is essential, and electrophysiological signals from cardiomyocytes serve as key biomarkers. Accordingly, planar 2D microelectrode array (MEA) chips are widely used. However, cardiomyocytes-based platform fails to reproduce complex in vivo physiological responses, leading to the combination of human cardiac organoids (hCdOs) with 3D sensors. Most of these approaches remain in the research stage and lack standardization. Therefore, there is still a need for methods that can stably evaluate organoids using commercially available 2D MEA chips. In this study, a silicon-based 3D-Net was introduced to enable stable monitoring of hCdOs electrophysiological signals on MEA chip. hCdOs fabricated using established protocols showed morphological and functional reproducibility suitable for drug testing. The 3D-Net prevented organoid flotation, ensured sufficient medium supply, and enabled measurements beyond acute assessment periods without functional impairment. Drug responsiveness varied significantly depending on the presence of 3D-Net and the volume of drug-containing medium. The 3D-Net platform overcomes the limitations of MEA, providing an effective and non-invasive method for functional evaluation and drug screening of hCdOs. Furthermore, this approach is expected to support preclinical evaluation of drug efficacy and safety.
Influence of paper mill sludge ash on mechanical, microstructural and durability properties of metakaolin based geocrete
Devitrification-driven pore formation in the tight tuff from the Tiaohu formation in the Santanghu Basin, Northwest China
A pro-inflammatory neutrophil subpopulation drives intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury via the ATF4-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway
Preparation and characterization of self-cured geopolymer binder using metakaolin precursor
Abstract This study presents an advancement in “Self-cured geopolymer” technology, aiming to enable ambient-temperature curing. The experimental work systematically investigated two primary strategies: the incorporation of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) as an additive and the modification of manufacturing processes. The results demonstrate that the supplementary calcium from OPC enhances the geopolymer’s curing regime, yielding superior early-age strength and mechanical properties. Notably, the latent heat released from the reactions of high-energy compounds (e.g., OPC and activators) was found to be a significant internal heat source, functionally comparable to external heat curing. The synergy of these approaches establishes a feasible pathway for developing “Self-cured geopolymer cement” that achieves substantial mechanical strength under ambient conditions. The developed Self-cured geopolymer techniques, there are potentials that could increase the commercial viability of geopolymers as a construction material in construction industry by eliminating heating process and preparation of alkaline liquids as well as it could make a solid contribution to the field of low-carbon binder development. Potential application of Geopolymer cement powder as conventional OPC by just adding water. The results of the current work showed that the strength values reached abobit 45 MPa for 20% replacement (optimum dose) after 28 days of curing, while for one-part geopolymer mix reached to 48 MPa for 40% replacement (optimum dose) after 28 days curing,