Comprehensive Mechanism Research Articles

Mechanism of American Ginseng Against Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Network Pharmacology & Molecular Docking

Background: Ginseng is one of the top-selling natural products worldwide and has been shown to have significant effects. Nonetheless, there is limited research on American ginseng when compared to Asian ginseng. A small number of studies have demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of American ginseng, which include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-stimulating activities. Objective: The objective of our research is to predict the molecular mechanism by which American ginseng combats Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking techniques. By doing so, we aim to reveal one of the comprehensive mechanisms through which American ginseng exerts its therapeutic effects. Methods: We conducted a search for related compounds in American ginseng using the TCMSP database, which we then utilized to classify potential targets for the major ingredients. We obtained targets associated with T2DM from various databases, including PharmGKB, OMIM, TTD, GeneCards, and DrugBank. Using STRING and Cytoscape software, we constructed PPI networks. We subsequently performed GO and KEGG analysis on the targets using the R programming language. Ligand and target structures were acquired from PubChem and PDB databases, respectively. Chem3D and AutoDock software was used to process the structures, while PyMoL was employed for molecular docking analysis. Results: Several investigations have indicated that PTGS2, NFKBIA, PRKCA, IL1B, NCOA2, and LPL targets are significantly associated with American ginseng's effectiveness in treating T2DM. Molecular docking analysis further validated these findings. We discovered three active components with highaffinity, namely papaverine, ginsenoside-rh2, and beta-sitosterol. Conclusion: The outcomes of our predictions could contribute to the development of American ginseng or its active constituents as an alternative therapy for T2DM.

The Stylistic Nature of the Theory of Foregrounding in the Literary Text

The theory of foregrounding plays an integral part in the way a reader perceives and decodes linguistic expression, whereas construal process allows for dynamic categorization and portrayal of a situation with the help of a big diversity of linguistic means. By means of classification of construing phenomena, scholars identified key dimensions such as attention, judgment, perspective and constitution, elucidating intricate mechanisms of comprehension and expression of language. The article touches on two types of saliencies in cognitive linguistics such as cognitive and ontological salience. It also underscores Langacker’s notion of “entrenchment” and investigates the concepts of communicative salience, gearing towards profiling and trajectory / landmark alignment to set forth how attention is directed in linguistic expressions. The article examines the theory of foregrounding in cognitive linguistics and its correlation with construal operation. It sheds light on how language shapers perception and categorization of situation, participants and their features through a wide range of construal phenomenon. The article dives into various classifications and subcategories of construal phenomenon, highlighting the way attention, judgment, perspective and constitution play a part in language input and output. The article sets forth complex interplay of language, cognitive operations and salience, in particular within the framework of cognitive linguistics. The article investigates how language means and structures contribute to the foregrounding of prominent conceptual elements and decoding scenes and situations. The scientific work explores a wide range of notions of salience in literary analysis, primarily focusing on Leech and Short’s concepts of literary relevance, psychological prominence and statistical deviance. The article delves into the way these notions cooperate with one another and contribute to subjective recognition of style in literary texts. Moreover, it explores the role of figure and ground in the theory of foregrounding emphasizing how original and striking linguistic means, or “figures” stand out from conventional linguistic elements, aka. “ground” contributing to actualization and creative presentation of the world in literature. Overall, the scientific article emphasizes dynamic process of stylistic analysis and the function of literature in presenting the world in a novel and creative manner.

The comprehensive evaluation and mechanism of HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA (Thunb) injection as a complementary therapy for infantile pneumonia

BackgroundHouttuynia cordata injection (HCI), a commercialized product made from the active ingredients extracted from Houttuynia cordata Thunb, has been used clinically in China for >50 years with significant therapeutic effects on pseudorabies herpesvirus infection in vitro and H1N1 influenza virus in mice. Purpose of studyThis work is to evaluate the complementary therapeutic effect of HCI on infantile pneumonia (IP) and to explore its mechanism of action. Study designFirst, the complementary efficacy of HCI in improving IP was evaluated by meta-analysis, with only randomized controlled trials from 5 electronic databases were included in this study. Second, network pharmacology was employed to predict the underlying mechanism of HCI in improving IP. Finally, molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat IP model were used to verify the predicted results. ResultsMeta-analysis indicated that HCI can complementarily improve pneumonia by increasing cure rate and reducing the duration of fever, cough, and wheezing. Network pharmacology analysis using databases such as Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP), Swiss target prediction, Therapeutic target database and Genecards showed that quercetin, houttuynin and kaempferol in HCI are the main compounds that improve IP and regulate 96 pneumonia-related protein targets. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis indicated that interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), protein kinase B-1, matrix metalloproteinase 9, interleukin-10, tumor protein 53, epidermal growth factor receptor, C-X-C motif chemokine 8 and interferon gamma are the ten most relevant targets of HCI in improving IP. In the gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, 96 targets are involved in 706 GO functions and 148 KEGG pathways. Among them, TNF-α/IL-1β signaling associated with inflammatory response is considered to be an important mechanism in IP. Molecular docking, SPR and LPS-induced IP model confirmed the predicted results. ConclusionsHCI has a complementary therapeutic effect on IP, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TNF-α/IL-1β inflammatory response by two flavonoid compounds.

Transcriptional regulation of multi-tissue mRNA expression by L-arabinose mitigates metabolic disorders in leptin receptor-deficient mice

L-arabinose, a sugar substitute, exhibits anti-diabetic effects due to its lower caloric content than conventional sugar. However, the comprehensive molecular mechanisms underlying its organ-to-organ interactions remain elusive in transgenic mouse models. Therefore, we investigated these anti-diabetic effects using mRNA sequencing analysis across multiple tissues. We used leptin receptor-deficient mice subjected to a normal diet with sucrose (SUC), SUC supplemented with erythritol (ERY), and SUC supplemented with L-arabinose (ARA) for 16 weeks. Prolonged supplementation with L-arabinose significantly lowered fasting blood glucose and HOMA-IR levels, improved glucose tolerance, and markedly reduced body fat in the leptin receptor-deficient mice without affecting food and energy intake. The ARA group exhibited decreased activities of gluconeogenic enzymes (PEPCK, G6Pase) and increased glycolytic enzyme activity, signifying enhanced insulin sensitivity. Additionally, significant alterations in gene expression related to fatty acid metabolism and insulin resistance were observed, including a notable increase in the transcription of genes essential for fatty acid oxidation. L-arabinose supplementation also led to improved myogenesis and a reduction in chronic inflammation, indicating potential efficacy in mitigating diabetic sarcopenia. Overall, this study positions L-arabinose supplementation as a promising therapeutic strategy for managing insulin resistance and its associated complications, meriting further investigation into its role in diabetes management.

Understanding the effects of live streamers’ appearance and abilities in shaping consumer purchase: A cross-cultural empirical research

This research aims to investigate the comprehensive mechanism of streamers' attractiveness on consumer purchases in diverse cultural contexts. We confirmed the cultural differences between Douyin's and Tiktok shop's users through a pre-survey, and then collected live video data and viewer behavioral data from the two platforms. Based on the elaboration likelihood model framework, this research reveals that both appearance attractiveness and abilities attractiveness have positive effects on purchase behavior. Intriguingly, two types of attractiveness exhibit a substitutive relationship in Eastern cultural group, whereas they are complementary in Western cultures. Findings highlighted the complex impacts of streamers' attractiveness on consumer purchases, emphasizing the importance of cross-cultural analysis to comprehend consumer behavior in digital retail.

Study on Chemical Kinetic Mechanism and Autoignition Characteristics of Isopentanol/Gasoline Surrogate Fuel

Abstract In this article, the detailed mechanism of isopentanol was simplified by direct relationship graph error propagation (DRGEP), generation rate analysis, reaction path optimization, and sensitivity analysis, and a comprehensive simplified mechanism of isopentanol/gasoline alternative fuels was obtained. Isopentanol/gasoline-characterized fuels with different blending ratios were investigated, and the results showed that blending of isopentanol promoted the autoignition of gasoline. It was found that blending isopentanol does not significantly affect the low-temperature reaction path of alkanes, but increases the reaction path flux from toluene to benzene. During combustion of isopentanol/gasoline alternative fuels, the isopentanol component exhibits a unique two-stage combustion phenomenon.

Enhancing visible-light-driven photocatalysis: unveiling the remarkable potential of H2O2-assisted MOF/COF hybrid material for organic pollutant degradation.

In this study, we synthesized MOF/COF hybrid material (NH2-MOF-5/MCOF) by integrating NH2-MOF-5 (Zn) with a melamine-based COF (MCOF) to target the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. Characterization using SEM, XRD, XPS, FT-IR, and UV-DRS confirmed the synthesized MOF/COF hybrid's exceptional photocatalytic performance under visible light. The addition of H2O2 significantly enhanced the photocatalytic degradation, achieving removal rates of 90%, 92%, and 57% for 11.75mg L-1, 30mg L-1, and 83mg L-1 of MB, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed first-order kinetics, with a rate constant nearly 3.5 times higher with added H2O2. We proposed a comprehensive photocatalytic mechanism elucidated through energy band structure analysis and scavenger tests. Our findings revealed the formation of a heterojunction between NH2-MOF-5 and MCOF, which mitigates electron-hole recombination, with ∙OH identified as the principal species governing methylene blue degradation. Moreover, the NH2-MOF-5/MCOF hybrid displayed excellent reusability and chemical stability over six cycles. Notably, this H2O2-assisted hybrid material demonstrated the removal of 99% of ibuprofen, a pharmaceutical drug, showcasing its broad applicability in removing organic contaminants in aqueous solutions, thereby holding great promise for wastewater treatment.

In situ DRIFTs-based comprehensive reaction mechanism of photo-thermal synergetic catalysis for dry reforming of methane over Ru-CeO2 catalyst

Solar-driven photo-thermal dry reforming of methane (DRM) is an environmentally friendly production route for high-value-added chemicals. However, the lack of thorough understanding of the mechanism for photo-thermal reaction has limited its further development. Here, we systematically investigated the mechanism of photo-thermal DRM reaction with the representative of Ru/CeO2 catalyst. Through in situ DRIFTs and transient experiments, comprehensive investigation into the reaction steps and their reactive sites in the process of DRM reaction were conducted. Besides, the excitation and migration direction of photo-electron was determined by ISI-XPS experiments, and the change of surface defect structure induced by light was characterized by ISI-EPR experiments. Based on the above results, the photo-enhancement effect on each micro-reaction step was determined. This study provides a theoretical basis for the industrialization of photo-thermal DRM reaction and its development of catalysts.

Design and Development of Cybersecurity Suite

Protecting personal, corporate and government data in the digital age requires cybersecurity. Traditional cybersecurity methods sometimes lack comprehensive and dynamic protection mechanisms as cyber-attacks change and become more sophisticated. A new cybersecurity suite is proposed in this study. It integrates various advanced security technologies into a single user-friendly platform interaction. This paper specifically combines techniques for real-time phishing detection, strong password management, safe encryption and decryption services and an interactive module to promote user awareness and behaviours to improve digital security for individuals and organization. Rapid prototyping is used in iterative and incremental development phases to adapt to changing security needs and user input. This method allows the platform to be constantly improved to satisfy the current cybersecurity standards and react to new threats. The prototyped developed provides proactive digital defence, a complete cybersecurity platform that equips users to defend their digital presence. With the intuitive design and advanced feature set, the prototype aspires to democratize cybersecurity. Empirical testing of the prototype revealed that makes an effective protection of a wider audience without the complexities of security software. This paper contributes in the advances cybersecurity technology and shaping the digital protection measures.

Exploring the interplay between Alzheimer's disease and COVID-19: Insights into cognitive impairment and drug interactions

Alzheimers disease (AD) is a severe well-known cognitive disease, and it is also the most worldwide cause of dementia. Studies have shown that AD may have some interactions with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in some particular areas. This paper aims to figure out the potential associations how one causes the interplay of another, whether directly or indirectly. In addition, the paper provides a comprehensive mechanism underlying cognitive impairment also known as brain fog of COVID-19, including the effects on neurons and glial cells by persistent elevation of the chemokine CCL11. Then the paper provides drug-drug interaction with metabolized by same cytochrome enzymes lead to major changes in the pharmacology of treatments. Finally, the paper concludes the points mentioned about the associations between COVID-19 and AD then suggests the direction of the future studies.

Machine learning exploring the chemical compositions characteristics and sources of PM2.5 from reduced on-road activity

Particulate nitrate pollution has emerged as a major contributor to haze events in urban environment, due to the rapid increase of vehicle emissions. However, a comprehensive formation mechanisms of PM2.5 responses to vehicle emissions control still remains high uncertainties. In our study, hourly criteria air pollutants, meteorological parameters and chemical compositions of PM2.5 were continuously measured with or without reduced on-road activity at the coastal city in southeast China. XG Boost-SHAP models analysis showed that increasing concentrations of NO3−, NH4+, and BC contribute to elevated PM2.5 levels, due to the influence of vehicle emissions. Based on PMF model results, there was a notable increase in the contributions of traffic-related emissions, industrial activities, and dust sources to PM2.5, with increments of 13%, 4%, and 7%, respectively. In addition, metal elements such as Mn emerged as the primary contributor to hazard quotient (HQ) values, originated from non-exhaust emissions of vehicles, which might cause the potential toxic risks on human health, particularly during haze events. Hence, this study improve the understanding of air quality and human health both direct and indirect responses to vehicle emissions control in future urban management.

Supply chain digitalization and sports industry performance in Chinese context: a mediated moderated model

PurposeIn era of industry 4.0 all the organizations are investing their resources so they can adopt the latest technologies with no exception of supply chain. Accordingly, the present study attempted to examine the influence of digitalization of supply chain and performance in context of Chinese sports industry. Additionally, it has considered the supply chain integration and time management as a mechanism along with boundary condition of supply chain resilience.Design/methodology/approachThe study followed positivism philosophy and adopted quantitative methods. The data were collected by using the questionnaire from the Chinese sport industry organizations’ professionals related to logistics and supply chain. A total 746 questionnaires were distributed and 570 of them subjected to SPSS and Smart PLS for data analysis. Hypotheses were tested using PLS-SEM through the Smart-PLS 4.FindingsThe results of the study revealed that supply chain digitalization positively influences the both internal and external supply chain integration. Moreover, supply chain planning and scheduling influenced by both internal and external supply chain integration lead by supply chain digitalization. Ultimately resulting in improved sports industry performance. However, the supply chain resilience did not found as a significant moderator.Originality/valueThe study is few of the attempts that have tested a comprehensive mechanism through which the supply chain digitalization lead towards the higher performance. Also, the study results signify that the digitization can help the organizations to accomplish superior performance specifically in sports industry.

Category-agnostic semantic edge detection by measuring neural representation randomness

Edge detection plays a fundamental role in computer vision tasks and gains wide applications. In particular, semantic edge detection recently draws more attention due to the high demand for a fine-grained understanding of visual scenes. However, detecting high-level semantic edges hidden in visual scenes is quite challenging. Existing semantic edge detection methods focus on category-aware semantic edges and require elaborate category annotations. Instead, we first propose the category-agnostic semantic edge detection task without additional semantic category annotations. To achieve this goal, we propose to utilize only edge position annotations and leverage the information randomness of semantic edges. Specifically, we align semantic edge positions to the ground truth by maximizing randomness on edge regions and minimizing randomness on non-edge regions in the training process. In the inference process, we first obtain neural representations by the trained network, and then generate semantic edges by measuring neural randomness. We evaluate our method by comparisons with alternative methods on two well-known datasets: Cityscapes (Cordts et al., 2016) and SBD (Hariharan et al., 2014). The results demonstrate our superiority over the alternatives, which is more significant under weak annotations. We also provide comprehensive mechanism studies to verify the generalizability, rationality, and validity of our working mechanism.

Consideration of special effects for the application of an optimized fracture mechanics approach for the RPV safety assessment (CAMERA)

A comprehensive fracture mechanics test program called CAMERA was carried out for seven RPV base and weld materials in unirradiated and irradiated conditions. The objective was to establish an application-oriented completion of the fracture mechanics approach for the RPV safety assessment over the entire relevant temperature range up to operating temperature. For this purpose, fracture toughness tests in the ductile-brittle transition region with and without warm pre-stress (WPS), and in the ductile region (upper shelf) were performed in order to complete the fracture toughness curves of the material concerned. The test program was completed by various analytical and numerical calculations and microstructural analyses. The benefit of the WPS effect was confirmed for both the material (higher apparent fracture toughness values) and the load path (no initiation after maximum loading). By fracture toughness tests in the ductile regime the fracture toughness curve could be completed up to the operating temperature and the T0 based criterion temperature TUS above which no brittle fracture occurs was determined and successfully verified. Based on the results obtained by the Master Curve, WPS and crack resistance tests it was demonstrated how to integrate the criterion temperature TUS in the fracture toughness-temperature diagram including the loading transient to an application window for the RPV safety assessment that is based on T0 only. For three out of nineteen data sets the homogeneity screening procedure described in ASTM E1921 did indicate a macroscopically inhomogeneous material for that a generally conservative reference temperature T0IN was calculated that is on average 11 K higher than the reference temperature T0. A higher susceptibility of weld materials for macroscopic material inhomogeneity compared to base materials was found. The suitability of the applied SE(B) and C(T) specimens for the specific fracture mechanics tests (WPS and/or crack resistance in ductile region) was proven. Micromechanical Local Approach damage models (Bordet and Gurson) were successfully applied for test design and prediction of fracture toughness. The overall results reveal even so some open gaps remaining for future work that are addressed as well.

Postharvest biocontrol ability and involved mechanism of volatile organic compounds from Serratia nematodiphila BC-SKRU-1 against Penicillium digitatum tangerine fruit

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by microorganisms offer a promising strategy for managing green mold disease in citrus fruits caused by Penicillium digitatum. This study evaluated the biocontrol efficacy of VOCs produced by Serratia nematodiphila BC-SKRU-1 (BC-SKRU-1 VOCs) against green mold in postharvest tangerine fruits, targeting P. digitatum NKP4321. Our findings demonstrated that BC-SKRU-1 VOCs exhibited a broad spectrum of activity against seven plant pathogens, with the highest efficacy observed against NKP4321 (68.21%). A concentration of 106 CFU mL−1 for VOC production by BC-SKRU-1 completely inhibited the mycelial growth of NKP4321, whereas a concentration of 107 CFU mL−1 was required to fully inhibit spore germination. The application of four plates of BC-SKRU-1 VOCs at 108 CFU mL−1 significantly reduced the severity of green mold disease, with optimal biocontrol achieved through continuous fumigation during storage. Notably, 2-nonanol, identified as the predominant component among the 20 VOCs using HS-SPME/GC-MS, exhibited superior antifungal activity both in vitro and in vivo. It effectively decreased ergosterol production and disrupted plasma membrane integrity in NKP4321 cells. Furthermore, 2-nonanol altered the cellular content of non-enzymatic antioxidants (e.g., GSH, GSSG) and enzymatic antioxidants (e.g., CAT, SOD), elucidating its comprehensive antifungal mechanism. These findings highlight the potential of BC-SKRU-1 VOCs, particularly 2-nonanol, as effective biocontrol agents for enhancing postharvest fruit preservation by combating fungal pathogens.

Bridge-oxygen bonding modulates Ru single atoms for peroxymonosulfate activation: Importance of high-valent Ru species and 1O2

The application of single-atom catalysts (SACs) to advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) based on peroxymonosulfate (PMS) has attracted considerable attention. However, the catalytic pathways and mechanisms underlying these processes remain unclear. In this study, NiFe-LDH was synthesized and single Ru atoms were stably loaded onto it by forming Ru–O–M (M=Ni or Fe) bonds (Ru@NiFe-LDH). This was demonstrated using high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM (HAADF-STEM) and X-ray absorption fine structure spectra (XANES). The Ru@NiFe-LDH/PMS system showed a high catalytic reactivity (100 % sulfamethoxazole degradation in only 30 min), high stability (97 % reactivity was maintained after continuous operation for 400 min), and wide pH suitability (working pH range 3–11) for AOPs. The crucial roles of the high-valent species (Ru(V) = O) and 1O2 in this reaction were verified. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that electron transfer produced a positively charged Ru. This enhances the adsorption of negatively charged PMS anions onto the Ru monoatomic sites, thereby, causing the formation of Ru-PMS* complexes. This study implies that the structure–function relationship between organic compounds and SACs plays a significant role in PMS-based AOPs, and provides a comprehensive mechanism for the role of high-valent species in heterogeneous Fenton-like systems.

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Al2O3 Nanoparticles: Comprehensive Characterization Properties, Mechanics, and Photocatalytic Dye Adsorption Study

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are gaining traction in inorganic catalysis and photocatalysis, driving the development of eco-friendly methods. This study introduces an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach for synthesizing Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) using extracts derived from the leaves of Calligonum comosum L. The primary objective of this investigation is to assess the photocatalytic efficacy of the synthesized catalyst in addressing organic pollutants. The Al2O3 NPs exhibit a spherical morphology with crystalline arrangements, as evidenced by an average crystallite size of 25.1 nm in the XRD analysis. The band gap energy of the Al2O3 NPs is determined to be 2.86 eV. In terms of mechanical properties, the Al2O3 NPs show significant potential in enhancing both flexural and compressive properties, thereby making them a viable choice for improving the mechanical performance of composites. Notably, the Young’s modulus of the hybrid composite (comprising plant material and Al2O3 NPs) exhibits a remarkable increase of 34.4% in flexion and 78.3% in compression compared to the plant material alone. The catalytic performance of the Al2O3 NPs is evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as a cationic dye and Rose Bengal (RB) as an anionic dye. Impressively, the Al2O3 NPs demonstrate degradation efficiencies of 98.2% for MB and 90.5% for RB. The degradation processes occur under solar light irradiation, with a contact time of 120 m, a maintained pH of 7, and a temperature of 25 °C. This study found that Al2O3 nanoparticles are a promising, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly option for water treatment.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles loaded with linalool as a potential control agent of malaria infection

This research aimed to produce and analyze zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) loaded with linalool (LZNPs), and to evaluate their in vitro and in vivo efficacy through targeting the inflammation and oxidative stress. LZNPs were synthesized using an ethanolic solution of polyvinyl alcohol. The Malstat technique was used to evaluate the effectiveness of LZNPs against both sensitive and resistant strains of Plasmosium falciparum. In vivo effects of ZNPs and LZNPs on parasite growth suppression, survival rate, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant genes, and gene and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by Real-time PCR and Western blot techniques. The results indicated that LZNPs demonstrated noteworthy (P < 0.001) antiplasmodial activity against both susceptible and resistant strains of P. falciparum. P. berghei NK65 strain-infected mice treated with the ZNPs and LZNPs at doses of 5–15 mg/kg notably (p < 0.001) increased the survival rates and parasite growth suppression. LZNPs at 5–15 mg/kg demonstrated a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in oxidative stress markers, increased the expression level of antioxidant genes, and reduced the gene and protein expression level of inflammatory cytokines. The current experimental study demonstrated the potent in vitro antiplasmodial activity of LZNPs against chloroquine-resistant and sensitive strains of P. falciparum compared to ZNPs alone. Additionally, the study identified the potential benefits of this nanocomposite in suppressing the parasite and extending the survival rate in mice infected with P. berghei by targeting inflammation and oxidative stress. It also showed minimal toxicity in liver and kidney function in healthy mice. Nevertheless, further research is essential to elucidate the comprehensive mechanisms and practical effectiveness of LZNPs.

Serotonergic psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT alters plasticity-related gene expression and generates anxiolytic effects in stressed mice.

Serotonergic psychedelics have potential therapeutic effects in treating anxiety and mood disorders, often after a single dose, and are suggested to have plasticity-inducing action. However, a comprehensive mechanism of action is still lacking. Here, we investigated how a single dose of the short-acting 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) acts on gene expression from microdissected brain regions (anterior cingulate cortex - ACC; basolateral amygdala - BLA; ventral hippocampus CA1 region - vCA1 and dentate gyrus-DG) of naive and stressed mice. Specifically, we compared gene expression of Arc, Zif268, BDNF, CREB, mTORC1, NR2A, TRIP8b, and NFkB in mice injected with 5-MeO-DMT or saline at different time points (1 h, 5 h, or 5 days prior). 5-MeO-DMT altered mRNA expression of immediate early genes Arc and ZiF268 in the ACC, BLA, and vCA1, while NR2A expression was decreased after 5 h in the vCA1. We also found a long-term increase in TRIP8b, a gene related to the modulation of neuronal activity, in the vCA1 after 5 days. Behaviorally, 5-MeO-DMT treated mice showed mixed anxiolytic and anxiogenic effects in the elevated plus maze and open field test 24 h or 5 days after treatment. However, pre-treated mice subjected to acute stress showed both lower corticosterone levels and robust anxiolytic effects of 5-MeO-DMT administration. Together, our findings provide insights into the molecular actions of 5-MeO-DMT in the brain related to anxiolytic effects of behavior.

Comprehensive aging model coupling chemical and mechanical degradation mechanisms for NCM/C6-Si lithium-ion batteries

The aging of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is synergistically influenced by multiple chemical/mechanical degradation mechanisms. Therefore, conventional models that incorporate only partial mechanisms exhibit limited predictive accuracy and applicability, failing to fully reflect the effects of chemical/mechanical degradation under complex operating conditions. Here, we propose an aging model for NCM/C6-Si LIBs coupled with comprehensive chemical/mechanical degradation mechanisms. The model includes chemical mechanisms at the C6-Si anode solid electrolyte interface (SEI), Li plating, and NCM cathode electrolyte interface (CEI), as well as mechanical mechanisms of loss of active material (LAM) for C6, Si, and NCM. Based on this model, we comprehensively investigate the effect of capacity loss by (dis)charge rates and ambient temperatures, obtaining the aging characteristics and the contribution of each mechanism to loss under different variables. Furthermore, we quantitatively analyze the sensitivity and response characteristics of the degradation sub-mechanism to (dis)charge rate and temperature. This study introduces an advanced aging analysis model for NCM/C6-Si LIBs, which can effectively decouple the operational characteristics of the degradation mechanism and provide guidance for developing next-generation high-energy LIBs.