Low Capacity Research Articles

Speculative Criminality at Home: Bypassing Tenant Rights Through Police Surveillance in Detroit’s Rental Housing

In 2016, Detroit, Michigan’s police department piloted a city-wide public-private-community video surveillance program called Project Green Light (PGL). Businesses that host the service, typically gas stations and convenience stores, receive priority response times for emergency dispatch calls, artificially decreasing 911 response times in a city with historically low emergency response capacity. This has led to many senior care homes with medically vulnerable residents to subscribe to PGL, as well as landlords of residential apartment buildings. While the program has been identified as a marker of gentrification by housing and anti-surveillance activists and residents, it has also raised concern about perpetuating the criminalization of Black Detroiters, specifically those living in rental housing that hosts the technology. In a city that is rapidly evolving through private, institutional, and public partnership developments while elected officials espouse to maintain racial and economic equity as core values of Detroit’s upcoming master planning process, the lack of foresight of the impact of surveillance tech is striking. The article’s focus is on surveillance technology as a defining element of contemporary urban development which enacts both a forbearance and expansion of rights through the application of technology to property relations. Relying on the automation of policing and racially biased artificial intelligence perpetuates criminality based on race, class, and perceived gender while additionally tying those experiences to the bundle of rights associated with the ownership of property.

Tungsten Bronze W3Nb2O14 Nanorod: The Low-Strain and Preferred Orientation Enables Long-Life for High-Rate Lithium-Ion Storage.

Tungsten bronze oxides have emerged as attractive materials for energy storage owing to their fast charge-discharge property. However, the internal weakness of low capacity and short cycling performance impedes their development in wide application. In this work, the tungsten bronze W3Nb2O14 nanorods with preferred orientation (001) were prepared by hydrothermal method for the first time. It not only displays high-rate performance but also exhibits high capacity (201 mA h g-1 at 0.2 C) and long cycling property (80% capacity retention at 50 C after 3000 cycles). Notably, in situ XRD revealed the c evolution frustrates the V increase, and the maximum unit-cell volume expansion is only 2.9% during lithiation/delithiation, reflecting the long cycle performance is benefit from the low strain and preferred orientation. The ex-situ 6Li NMR spectra revealed that the lithiation and delithiation present preference based on the size of tunnels in the crystal framework.

Advanced Oxidation Processes and Adsorption Technologies for the Removal of Organic Azo Compounds: UV, H2O2, and GAC

This research focuses on the removal of emerging contaminants (CEC) present in synthetic aqueous matrices. Azole compounds were selected as CEC of interest due to their persistence and toxicity, particularly the triazole and oxazole groups. These compounds are also trace contaminants listed in the proposed revision of Directive 91/271/EEC on urban wastewater treatment and the 3rd European Union Observation List (Implementing Decision EU 2020/116), highlighting their regulatory importance. The draft Directive includes the implementation of quaternary treatments to achieve the highest possible removal rates of micropollutants. Among the technologies used on a large scale are some advanced oxidation processes (AOP), often combined with adsorption on activated carbon (AC). Laboratory-scale pilot plants have been designed and operated in this research, including UV photolysis and oxidation with H2O2 and adsorption with GAC. The results demonstrate that UV photolysis is able to remove all the selected CECs except fluconazole, reaching eliminations higher than 86% at high doses of 31.000 J/m2. Treatment by H2O2 achieved removals of 4 to 55%, proving to be ineffective in the degradation of persistent compounds when acting as a single technology. Adsorption by AC is improved with longer contact times, reaching removals above 80% for benzotriazole and methyl benzotriazole at short contact times, followed by sulfamethoxazole and tebuconazole. Fluconazole had a mean adsorption capacity at low contact times, while metconazole and penconazole showed low adsorption capacities.

Efficient Oxidative Removal of Indoor Formaldehyde Using Functionalized Activated Alumina.

Formaldehyde (HCHO) has become a significant indoor air pollutant, arising from the widespread use of decorative and construction materials. Adsorption is the most convenient method for HCHO removal. However, the current adsorption is limited by the current low adsorption capacity and desorption. Herein, activated alumina (γ-Al2O3) loaded with permanganate was proposed for the efficient oxidative removal of indoor HCHO. The results demonstrate that the permanganate-containing alumina-based pellets (PAP) with 75% of alumina (PAP-75) displayed the highest adsorption capacity of 10,800 μg g-1. This high adsorption capacity is mainly attributed to the presence of numerous pore structures within the pellets, good dispersion of permanganate on the surface and inside the spheres, abundant surface-active sites, and high porosity. The adsorption kinetics explains that the chemisorption, intraparticle diffusion, and film diffusion are the primary rate-controlling steps. This study provides an effective strategy for further improving alumina-based adsorption materials for HCHO removal.

Influence of Sex and Body Composition on Aerobic Capacity in Normal Weight Lean, Normal Weight Obese, and Obese Phenotypes

Normal weight obesity (NWO) is a body composition phenotype that is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk and is characterized by a normal weight body mass index but elevated body fat. The purpose of this study was to determine sex differences in aerobic capacity across body composition phenotypes, including normal weight lean (NWL), NWO, and traditional obesity (OB). We recruited 60 participants according to three body composition phenotypes: NWL (n = 10 females, n = 10 males), NWO (n = 10 females, n = 10 males), and OB (n = 10 females, n = 10 males). Measurements included fasting metabolic risk factors, body composition X-ray scan, and peak exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine aerobic capacity (VO2peak). Across groups, males (34.5 ± 11.7 mL/kg/min) exhibited greater VO2peak than females (28.8 ± 8.8 mL/kg/min; p = 0.04). There were no differences in VO2peak between sexes within the same body composition phenotype, but NWL (42.7 ± 9.0 mL/kg/min) exhibited greater VO2peak than NWO (27.9 ± 4.4 mL/kg/min; p < 0.0001) and OB (24.4 ± 7.3 mL/kg/min; p < 0.0001). VO2peak was inversely correlated with relative body fat in the full sample (r = −0.67; p < 0.0001), but was stronger in males (r = −0.78; p < 0.0001) than females (r = −0.53; p = 0.0028). Visceral adipose tissue was not significantly correlated with VO2peak in the full sample (r = −0.25; p = 0.05) or in males (r = −0.23; p = 0.25), although they were inversely correlated in females (r = −0.36; p = 0.048). Our results suggest low aerobic capacity in both men and women with NWO, similar to men and women with OB. The relationship between body composition and aerobic capacity is strong across body composition phenotypes, but appears to be more consistent in females than males. For healthcare professionals aiming to lower cardiometabolic risk, attention should be given to improving aerobic fitness in both men and women with elevated body fat, including those with NWO.

A comparative study of the genetically improved Abbassa Nile tilapia strain (GIANT-G9) and a commercial strain in Egypt: growth vs. stress response

Selective breeding is a potent method for developing strains with enhanced traits. This study compared the growth performance and stress responses of the genetically improved Abbassa Nile tilapia strain (G9; GIANT-G9) with a local commercial strain over 12 weeks, followed by exposure to stressors including high ammonia (10 mg TAN/L), elevated temperature (37 °C), and both for three days. The GIANT-G9 showed superior growth, including greater weight gain, final weight, length gain, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio, as well as a lower feed conversion ratio and condition factor compared to the commercial strain. The expression of growth hormone in the brain of the GIANT‐G9 increased significantly after 6 weeks, although it slightly decreased after 12 weeks. Growth hormone receptor 1 expression also increased significantly after 6 weeks. Muscle insulin-like growth factors (igf1 and igf2) levels up-regulated significantly only after 12 weeks in the GIANT‐G9. Under stress, serum enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) were significantly higher in the GIANT‐G9, while the commercial strain had lower levels. No significant changes were observed in liver ALP activity among stressed strains. Under stress, the GIANT‐G9 exhibited marked upregulation of splenic Toll-like receptors (tlr2, tlr9, tlr21), myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (myd88), nuclear factor kappa B (nf-κB), interleukin (il) 1β, and il6. Notably, il6 expression was higher than il1β in the spleen, with the opposite pattern in the head kidney. In response to immune stimulation, globulin levels significantly increased in the GIANT‐G9 but with similar values to the stressed commercial strain. Myostatin expression increased in the spleen of the stressed GIANT‐G9. The commercial strain exhibited the best liver catalase and superoxide dismutase activities under stress, while the GIANT‐G9 showed increased liver glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity after exposure to ammonia and temperature stress. Serum lysozyme activity increased in the stressed commercial strain and under temperature stress in the GIANT‐G9 but decreased under other stress conditions. Overall, the stressed commercial strain demonstrated higher survivability than the stressed GIANT‐G9. The study revealed significant interactions between strains and stress factors. The GIANT‐G9 exhibited higher growth rates but lower antioxidant and immune capacities compared to the commercial strain at the juvenile stage of life and production cycle.

Empowering SMEs innovation through intangible factors

Due to constrained resources, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often have a low capacity to innovate. While research has focused chiefly on empowering SMEs' innovation through tangible factors, this paper explores the contribution of intangible factors towards innovation under frugality conditions. We address this gap using data collected from Indonesian SME automobile component manufacturers. We employ the expanded CDM (Crepon Duguet Mairesse) model that divides innovation into three stages: effort, output, and productivity. The findings showed that in addition to common tangible factors, intangible factors contribute to all stages of innovation, though tangible factors appear to exert greater influence. The direct impact of product innovation on firm performance is moderated by tangible factors, whereas the indirect impact is moderated by intangible factors. By examining how intangible and tangible factors simultaneously empower SMEs’ innovation and hence firms’ performance, we significantly contribute to advancing the theory of frugal innovation, the competition and strategy theory, and the extended resource-based view (ERBV).

The application of nanomaterials in drug delivery system

Drug delivery system (DDS) is a key technology platform for optimizing the distribution of drugs in the body. It improves the the efficiency of drug treatment and reduces side effects by regulating the dose, time and target location. This review focuses on the application progress of nanomaterials in DDS. Liposomes, albumin nanoparticles and magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are widely used due to their good biocompatibility, targeted drug release ability and imaging application potential. However, these materials also have certain limitations. Liposomes have low drug loading capacity, and their product Doxil shows low tolerance and certain adverse reactions. New nanomaterials are being developed and tried to be used in DDS. Innovative materials such as nano gels and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have the capacity of reprinting a large number of drugs and low toxicity and application potential. These materials are in the research stage and are expected to play a significant role in future clinical applications.

Icariin modulates osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation in ADSCs via the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway: a novel therapeutic strategy for osteoporosis

BackgroundAdipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) transplantation presents a promising approach for osteoporosis (OP) treatment. However, the therapeutic efficacy of ADSCs is hindered by low post-transplantation survival rates and limited capacities for adhesion, migration, and differentiation. Icariin (ICA), the primary active compound of Epimedium, has been shown to promote cell proliferation and induce osteogenic differentiation; however, its specific effects on ADSC osteogenesis and the mechanisms by which ICA enhances osteoporosis treatment through cell transplantation remain inadequately understood.PurposeThis study investigates the effects of different concentrations of ICA on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of rat ADSCs, aiming to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. ADSCs were isolated from female SPF-grade SD rats, with surface markers identified through flow cytometry. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation were assessed using Alizarin Red and Oil Red O staining, respectively. Third-generation ADSCs were divided into five groups: control, resveratrol (100 μmol/L), and four ICA treatment groups (1, 10, 50, and 100 μmol/L). Western blotting was performed to analyze the expression of factors associated with the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway and the adipogenic marker PPARγ. Additionally, ADSCs were labeled with lentiviruses carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to assess their in vivo distribution, survival, proliferation, and differentiation of ADSCs post-ICA intervention.ResultsIn vitro, ICA significantly inhibited the Hippo pathway, reducing YAP and TAZ phosphorylation and enhancing their transcriptional activity, while simultaneously suppressing PPARγ. This promoted osteogenesis and inhibited adipogenesis in ADSCs. In vivo, ICA-treated ADSCs demonstrated effective distribution, survival, and osteogenic differentiation following subcutaneous injection into allogeneic rats.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that ICA significantly enhances the osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs while inhibiting adipogenesis, providing novel insights and therapeutic strategies for osteoporosis and related conditions.

Effects of structural design, interface optimization, and processing on the performance of lithium battery anode silicon nanomaterials

With an emphasis on the advancements in anode material research, this article offers a comprehensive summary of the major technologies used in lithium-ion batteries, a common type of electrochemical energy storage device. Because silicon has both benefits, such as low cost and high theoretical specific capacity, and significant drawbacks, including electrode pulverization and capacity loss due to volume expansion, it is the main focus of this study. This article goes into great detail on the use of silicon material nanosizing to enhance silicon anode performance, discussing how reducing particle size can mitigate the negative effects of volume changes during cycling. However, the section on compositing and structural design processes lacks sufficient depth, which limits the understanding of how these processes can further improve anode stability and efficiency. Furthermore, the article does not comprehensively cover the diverse methods utilized to enhance silicon anode performance, such as the incorporation of conductive additives or protective coatings. The challenges associated with the practical applications of silicon nanoparticles, such as scalability and cost-effectiveness, are examined in detail; nevertheless, the prospects for further research and technological advancements in these areas are not sufficiently addressed. This paper calls for more in-depth studies and innovations in compositing techniques, structural optimization, and practical solutions to realize the full potential of silicon anodes for advanced energy storage.

The Role of Gastrostomy and Noninvasive Ventilation in Primary Lateral Sclerosis.

Literature on the role of gastrostomy and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is limited. We aim to investigate whether PLS patients develop dysphagia requiring feeding tubes or respiratory failure necessitating NIV. We conducted a retrospective study of PLS patients with a definite diagnosis followed at our center (1994-2024). Patients with marked dysphagia (score < 3 on Question 3 of the ALSFRS-R) received a recommendation for gastrostomy and were divided into two groups: G1/G2 (accepted/declined gastrostomy). We investigated NIV indications due to respiratory failure and compared these patients (G3) to those without respiratory impairment (G4). Demographic, clinical, and neurophysiological data were collected and compared. Forty-eight patients had a definite diagnosis of PLS. Gastrostomy was recommended to 18 (37.5%), yet only 7 patients (38.9%-G1) consented. The median time to gastrostomy was 77 months. Total survival and survival post-gastrostomy recommendation were not different between G1 and G2. Six PLS patients (12.5%-G3) developed respiratory failure and initiated NIV (median of 63 months). At 63 months, G3 had significantly lower median forced vital capacity (65% vs. 99%; p < 0.001) and phrenic nerve amplitude (0.43 vs. 0.75 mV; p = 0.039), but a greater ALSFRS-R slope (0.34 vs. 0.14; p = 0.046) and shorter survival (35 vs. 94.9 months; p = 0.009) compared to G4. Dysphagia requiring gastrostomy was common in our PLS cohort, but survival after gastrostomy recommendation did not differ between groups. Patients who developed respiratory impairment may represent a distinct group with faster disease progression and shorter survival. Our findings may contribute to a deeper understanding and improved management of PLS.

Assessment of various etiological factors for oral squamous cell carcinoma in non-habit patients- a cross sectional case control study

BackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most prevalent oral cancers in the world. The major etiological factors are considered to be tobacco and alcohol. However, the etiological factors for non-habit associated oral squamous cell carcinoma (NHOSCC) remains an enigma. So we focused in assessing various etiological factors like genetic factor, microbial factor, dental factor and the biochemical factor of non-habit associated oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim was to assess Harvey Rat Sarcoma Virus gene (HRAS) mutation, total bacterial count, Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1), regressive changes of teeth, total antioxidant capacity and its association with NHOSCC.Materials and methodsA total of 564 (n = 564) patients with OSCC were included in the study. Out of 564 patients, 282 patients had NHOSCC and 282 patients had habit associated oral squamous cell carcinoma (HOSCC). The isolated DNA from the tissue was subjected to Sanger’s sequencing analysis for mutation analysis of the HRAS gene. The isolated serum was subjected to HSV-1 ELISA analysis and TAC ELISA analysis. The dental cast used to analyze the presence of sharp teeth/ any other form of regressive changes of teeth.ResultsFirstly, we found 3 novel pathogenic mutations c.16C > A/p.L6M (missense mutation), c.359 T > C/p.L120P (point mutation), c.382C > T/p.R128W (missense mutation) of HRAS gene in NHOSCC samples by genetic analysis. No significant difference was noted in the total bacterial count between the non-habit associated and habit associated oral squamous cell carcinoma (HOSCC). The binary logistic regression showed patients with HSV1 infection have 2.667 odds (2.667 OR, CI, 1.589- 4.484) of getting NHOSCC and it was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001).The dental analysis revealed that patients with regressive changes have 4.432 odds (4.432 OR, CI, 2.807- 6.998) of getting NHOSCC and it was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). The biochemical analysis revealed patients with lower total antioxidant capacity have 0.671 odds (0.671 OR, CI, 0.621–0.725) of getting NHOSCC and was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that the frequency of HRAS mutation in NHOSCC is high. HSV1, oxidative stress and regressive changes of teeth are associated with NHOSCC.ConclusionOur results suggest that the frequency of HRAS mutation in NHOSCC is high. HSV1, oxidative stress and regressive changes of teeth are associated with NHOSCC.

The Functional Fitness of the Community Dwelling Older Adults in Shan Dong of Mainland China in Comparison with the Population in Hong Kong

Purpose: To compare the functional fitness (FF) of the community dwelling older adults in Shan Dong (SD) of mainland China with their peers from Hong Kong (HK). Methods: 1887 older adults living in SD were assessed with the Senior Fitness Test (SFT). One-sample t-tests were used to determine age group differences in each FF component between the SD and HK populations. Results: Compared with their HK peers, SD adults showed better performance in the task of 30s arm curl, but lower ability in the 30s chair stand, back scratch, chair sit &amp; reach, and 8 ft up &amp; go across all age groups. In the 2 min test, SD males demonstrated lower capacity at 75-79 years old, females exhibited higher and lower ability at 65-69, 70-74 and 80-84 years old, respectively. Additionally, higher BMI was observed in SD males at 65-69 years old and in females at 65-69, 70-74 and 75-79 years old. The changing trends of SD-HK disparities with aging varied between genders and different FF parameters, and notably, the disadvantage in motor abilities of the SD old females tended to increase with age, which resulted in relative larger gaps at 80-84 years old. Conclusions: There are great disparities in functional fitness between the older adults of SD and HK. Age-stratified and gender-specific interventions focusing on the motor abilities of lower extremity strength, upper and lower body flexibility and agility and balance control should be established for the SD old residents, especially for females.

A Four-Year Study of Antibiotic Resistance, Prevalence and Biofilm-Forming Ability of Uropathogens Isolated from Community- and Hospital-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections in Southern Italy

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between nosocomial and community microorganisms isolated from patients with UTI by determining their bacterial profile, antibiotic resistance and ability to produce biofilms. A retrospective study, based on bacterial isolates from consecutive urine samples collected between January 2019 and December 2023, was conducted at a university hospital. The main pathogens isolated from both community and hospital samples were the same, but their frequency of isolation differed. Compared with community-associated cases, hospital-associated infections have more isolates of Acinetobacter baumanii complex. In contrast, Proteus mirabilis isolates were more prevalent in community than in hospital infections. In both hospital and community isolates, gram-positive bacteria showed a lower overall antimicrobial resistance (22%) compared to gram-negative bacteria (30%). The data demonstrated that individual strains exhibited disparate degrees of capacity for biofilm formation. Additionally, the data indicate an inverse correlation between biofilm production and antibiotic resistance. Isolates from community patients exhibited lower capacities for biofilm production in comparison to the capacities demonstrated by microorganisms isolated from nosocomial patients (29% and 35%, respectively). Area-specific surveillance studies can provide valuable information on UTI pathogens and antimicrobial resistance patterns, which can be useful in guiding empirical treatment.

CFTR mutation is associated with bone differentiation abnormalities in cystic fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis-related Bone Disease is an emerging challenge faced by 50 % of adult people with cystic fibrosis (CF). The multifactorial causes of this comorbidity remain elusive. However, congenital bone defects have been observed in animal models with CFTR mutations, suggesting its importance. The role of CFTR in bone cells development is unknown. Studies from human cells remain somewhat controversial depending on the cells used and the disease state of the patients from which the cells derived. Therefore, we investigated the role of CFTR in osteoblast development using induced pluripotent stem cells generated from homozygous CF donors for F508del and non-CF controls. This approach allows for a clear understanding towards how the CFTR mutation may influence osteoblast differentiation independently from other confounding factors. We observed a lower capacity of differentiation in CF cells as compared to control, already from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) stage, whereby they retained expression of the pluripotency marker OCT4. Furthermore, our results demonstrated a delayed osteoblast commitment and altered expression of specific markers, such as an increased RANKL/OPG ratio and decreased BMP2, suggesting a potentially perturbed bone homeostasis associated with CFTR mutation. This is the first study of its kind, clearly demonstrating a role for CFTR mutation in delaying osteoblast differentiation and/or regeneration.

Prussian Blue Analogues "Dressed" in MXene Nanosheets Tightly for High Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

MXenes, have been considered as a new generation anode material in lithium-ion batteries for lower lithium-ion diffusion barriers and superior conductivity. Unfortunately, their structures are prone to aggregation and stacking, hindering further shuttle of lithium ions and electrons, resulting in lower discharge capacity. Therefore, the introduction of interlayer spacers for the preparation of MXene-based hybrids has attracted much attention. Introducing Prubssian blue analogues (PBAs) as a new interlayer spacer to combine with MXene nanosheets can not only preserve the high conductivity of MXene and inhibit the volume expansion and structural degradation of the PBA component, but also inherit the characteristics of large specific surface area and high porosity of PBAs. By intelligent regulating the size of MXene sheets, Co-PBA@MXene hybrids with common sandwich-like structures and superior core-shell-like structures have been successfully obtained. Furthermore, Co@M(x:y) hybrids are prepared by intelligently adjusting the shell thickness of MXene through intelligently controlling of the mass ratio between Co-PBA and MXene. Among them, the Co@M(5:2) anode exhibits an excellent capacity (603mA h g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 after 100 cycles) and superior long-term cycling stability due to the protective and conductive properties provided by the MXene shell and multi-redox pairs and rich porosity from Co-PBA core.

Dose-related effects of eugenol: exploring renal functionality and morphology in healthy Wistar rats.

Eugenol has pharmacological properties, but its impact on renal function is limitedly studied. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of eugenol at 10, 20, and 40 mg Kg-1, administered via gavage for 60 days, on histological, biochemical, oxidative, and proteomic parameters in rat kidneys. Adult Wistar rats treated with 10 mg Kg-1 of eugenol had kidneys with low total antioxidant capacity, high nitric oxide content, and high percentual of blood vessels, with no damage to renal function or morphology. The kidney proteome revealed an upregulation of proteins associated with energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function. Eugenol at 20 mg Kg-1 did not alter kidney histology but inhibited Na+/K+ ATPase activity. This dose elicited an upregulation of proteins associated with mitochondrial function and cellular defense. Finally, 40 mg Kg-1 eugenol had more pronounced effects on the kidney, increasing serum sodium, potassium, and chloride levels, inhibiting Na+/K+ ATPase activity, triggering an adaptive response to oxidative stress and showed apical brush border thinness in proximal tubules. We concluded that eugenol exerted dose-dependent effects on kidney function and morphology. These findings highlight the importance of careful consideration of eugenol's dosage in therapeutic applications.

Influence of different temperatures and diets on the life cycle of invasive species Conogethes punctiferalis.

Understanding the interactive effects of temperature and diet on insect life cycles is crucial for effective pest management. Here, the influence of different temperatures and diets on the life cycle of Conogethes punctiferalis was investigated using the age-stage, two-sex life table analysis. The results support the hypothesis that temperature and diets (maize, apple, and artificial diet) significantly influence the entire life cycle performance of C. punctiferalis. The duration of larval development was significantly prolonged, whereas adult lifespan was shortened and showed lower reproductive capacity on apple and artificial diet than maize. The total pre-oviposition period was longer on apples than on maize and artificial diet at both temperatures (20, 26°C). The highest r (0.113 d-1), λ (1.128 d-1), R0 (57.213) , and GRR (75.54) of C. punctiferalis were found on maize at 26°C, while the highest T (45.062) was found on apples. Similar results were obtained in the age-specific survival curves (sxj), fecundity (mx), maternity (lxmx), and reproductive value (vxj) of YPM on different host plants when exposed to 20°C. These findings highlight the need for further research into the complex interactions between temperature, diet, and insect life history traits to develop effective pest management strategies and enhance our understanding of insect ecology in agroecosystems.

Mechanism of THBS1 Regulation of MDCK Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis Through TGF-β/Smad Signalling.

Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells are a key cell line for influenza vaccine production, due to their high viral yield and low mutation resistance. In our laboratory, we established a tertiary cell bank (called M60) using a standard MDCK cell line imported from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in the USA. Due to their controversial tumourigenicity, we domesticated non-tumourigenic MDCK cells (named CL23) for influenza vaccine production via monoclonal screening in the early stage of this study, and the screened CL23 cells were characterised based on their low proliferative capacity, which had certain limitations in terms of expanding their production during cell resuscitation. It was thus our objective to enhance the proliferation efficiency of MDCK cells for influenza vaccine production following cell resuscitation, with a view to improving the production of non-tumourigenic MDCK cells for vaccines and enhancing the production of influenza virus lysate vaccines from MDCK cells through genetic intervention. We concentrated on the protein thrombosponin-1 (THBS1), which was markedly differentiated in the proteomics data of the two MDCK cells. By integrating this finding with related studies, we were able to ascertain that THBS1 exerts a significant influence on the level of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Consequently, our objective was to investigate the impact of THBS1 expression on MDCK cell apoptosis by verifying the differences in THBS1 expression between the two MDCK cells and by interfering with THBS1 expression in the MDCK cells. We found that the knockdown of THBS1 significantly increased the proliferation and apoptosis of CL23 cells without causing significant changes in cell migration and invasion, and its overexpression significantly decreased the proliferation of M60 cells and increased cell migration, invasion, and apoptosis. In addition, the TGF-β/Smad pathway target genes transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (Smad2), and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (Smad3), were significantly down-regulated in CL23 cells after THBS1 knockdown and up-regulated in M60 cells after overexpression, with consistent expression identified at both the mRNA and protein levels. The treatment of cells with TGF-β activators and inhibitors further demonstrated that THBS1 regulated MDCK cell proliferation and apoptosis through the TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway. Finally, we found that THBS1 also regulated H1N1 influenza virus replication. These findings enable a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of THBS1 regarding MDCK cell proliferation and apoptosis functions and the effects of influenza virus replication.

Dual-Enzyme-Instructed Peptide Self-Assembly to Boost Immunogenic Cell Death by Coordinating Intracellular Calcium Overload and Chemotherapy.

The concept of immunogenic cell death (ICD) induced by chemotherapy as a potential synergistic modality for cancer immunotherapy has been widely discussed. Unfortunately, most chemotherapeutic agents failed to dictate effective ICD responses due to their defects in inducing potent ICD signaling. Here, we report a dual-enzyme-instructed peptide self-assembly platform of CPMC (CPT-GFFpY-PLGVRK-Caps) that cooperatively utilizes camptothecin (CPT) and capsaicin (Caps) to promote ICD and engage systemic adaptive immunity for tumor rejection. Although CPT and Caps respectively prevent tumor progression by inhibiting type-I DNA topoisomerase and activating transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) for intracellular calcium overload, neither alone effectively stimulates sufficient ICD signaling to meet immunotherapeutic needs. CPMC, sequentially allowing an active Caps derivative of VRK-Caps and CPT to release extracellularly and intracellularly, can synergize two distinct apoptosis pathways stimulated by Caps and CPT to increase tumor immunogenicity and elicit systemic T-cell-based immunity. Consequently, CPMC facilitates the generation of improved tumor-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses and sustained immunological memory, successfully suppressing both primary and distant tumors. Moreover, CPMC can render tumors susceptible to PD-L1 blockade and synergize with an antiprogrammed cell death-ligand 1 (aPDL1) antibody for tumor inhibition. Combining two cancer chemotherapeutic drugs with low ICD-stimulating capacity using a peptide self-assembly strategy was demonstrated to boost ICD responses and potentiate cancer immunotherapy.