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Chemotherapy is a conventional treatment for glioma, but its efficacy is greatly limited due to low blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and lack of specificity. Herein, intelligent and tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive folic acid (FA) derivatives and mitochondria-targeting berberine (BBR) derivatives co-modified liposome coated with Tween 80 loading paclitaxel (PTX-Tween 80-BBR + FA-Lip) was constructed. Specifically speaking, liposomes modified by FA can be effectively target ed to glioma cells. BBR, due to its delocalized positive electricity and lipophilicity, can be attracted by mitochondrial membrane potential and concentrate on mitochondria to achieve mitochondrial targeting and induce cell apoptosis. By simultaneously modifying the liposome with FA and BBR to deliver drugs, leads to a good therapeutic effect of glioma through FA-based glioma targeting and BBR-based mitochondrial targeting. In addition, the surface of the liposome was coated with Tween 80 to further improve BBB penetration. All results exhibited that PTX-Tween 80-BBR + FA-Lip can observably improve the chemotherapy therapeutic efficacy through the highly specific tumor targeting and mitochondrial targeting, which can provide new ideas and methods for the targeted therapy of glioma.

Data collected in a large epidemiologic study were analyzed to examine respiratory health effects of residential coal use in 7058 school children living in the four Chinese cities of Chongqing, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, and Wuhan. A Scenario Evaluation Approach was used to develop two exposure variables, heating coal smoke and cooking coal smoke. Estimated lifetime exposures to heating coal smoke and cooking coal smoke were both classified into four-level ordinal scales, as follows: no reported exposure (control); lightly exposed; moderately exposed; and heavily exposed. Zero-one dummy variables were constructed for each exposure level other than the control level (total six variables). These variables were entered into the analytical model. We tested for exposure-response relationships using logistic regression models, while controlling for other relevant covariates, including an indicator variable of ambient air pollution levels. We observed monotonic and positive exposure-response relationships of exposure to heating coal smoke with modeled odds ratios (ORs) of phlegm, cough with phlegm, and bronchitis. Other health outcomes were not associated with such exposure in a monotonic exposure-response pattern. However, ORs for cough, wheeze, and asthma were all higher in the exposed groups than in the control group. We observed no consistent associations between cooking coal smoke and the examined health outcomes. We conclude that exposure to heating coal smoke could have adverse effects on children's respiratory symptoms and illnesses in these four Chinese cities.

Naltrexone, a compound with high affinity for the mu opioid receptor (MOP-R) reduces alcohol consumption. SoRI-9409 is a derivative of naltrexone that has highest affinity at delta opioid receptors (DOP-Rs). We have investigated the effects of SoRI-9409 on ethanol consumption to determine the consequences of altering the naltrexone compound to a form with increased efficacy at DOP-Rs.Effects of the opioid receptor antagonists, SoRI-9409 (0-30 mg/kg, IP), naltrexone (0-30 mg/kg, IP), or naltrindole (0-10 mg/kg, IP) on ethanol consumption was measured in high- and low-ethanol-consuming rats with two different drinking paradigms. SoRI-9409-, naltrexone-, and naltrindole-mediated inhibition of DOP-R-stimulated [(35)S]GTP gamma S binding was measured in brain membranes prepared from high-ethanol-consuming rats. The effects of SoRI-9409 on morphine-mediated analgesia, conditioned place preference, and anxiety were also examined.In high- but not low-ethanol-consuming animals, SoRI-9409 is threefold more effective and selective at reducing ethanol consumption when compared with naltrexone or naltrindole for up to 24 hours. SoRI-9409 administered daily for 28 days continuously reduced ethanol consumption, and when the administration of SoRI-9409 was terminated, the amount of ethanol consumed remained lower compared with vehicle-treated animals. Furthermore, SoRI-9409 inhibits DOP-R-stimulated [(35)S]GTP gamma S binding in brain membranes of high-ethanol-consuming rats.SoRI-9409 causes selective and long-lasting reductions of ethanol consumption. This suggests that compounds that have high affinity for DOP-Rs such as SoRI-9409 might be promising candidates for development as a novel therapeutic for the treatment of alcoholism.

The upsurge in higher education is considered a key determinant for enhancing green growth. Moreover, ICT development is also the main catalyst of green growth. This research explores the role of higher education and ICT on green growth for China from 1995 to 2020. The study employs auto-regressive distributive lag (ARDL) approach for short-run and long-run estimates of green growth. The effect of higher education and ICT on green growth is significantly positive in the long run and short run. The outcomes of the empirical models reveal that financial inclusion is positively associated with green growth in both long run and short run. Moreover, renewable energy consumption is found to have a positive impact on green growth. The findings thus point to the need for policies that promote human capital and ICT infrastructure as a way of accelerating green growth.

Abstract The assessment of the time and frequency connectedness between cryptocurrencies and renewable energy stock markets is of key interest for portfolio diversification. In this paper, we utilize weekly data from 07 August 2015 to 26 March 2021 to document the dynamics and portfolio diversification from a fresh cryptocurrencies-renewable energy perspective. Our time-frequency domain spillovers results reveal that renewable energy stocks are the main spillover contributors in the connectedness system and the short-run spillovers dominate their long-run counterparts. Furthermore, investors can gain more profits through short-run transactions in our portfolio design and we can optimize portfolios by investing a large portion in cryptocurrencies. A fascinating fact is that the COVID-19 pandemic can reverse the effectiveness of our hedging strategy.

Uncontrolled inflammation causes health problems. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) at Ser727, resulting in inflammation. The leaf of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) is a medicinal herb for managing inflammation-associated diseases. Oral administration or topical application of VA leaf extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects in rat models. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the herb are not fully understood.In this study, we aimed to investigate the involvement of ERK/STAT3 (Ser727) signaling in the anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanolic extract of VA leaves.Extracts of VA leaves were prepared with different concentrations of ethanol. A LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cell model was used for in vitro assays, and a TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate)-induced ear edema mouse model was employed for in vivo assays. The 95% ethanol extract of VA leaves (VAE) exerted the strongest inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated macrophages; thus it was selected for use in this study. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to examine pathological conditions of mouse ear tissues. Griess reagent was employed to examine NO generation in cell cultures. Immunoblotting and ELISA were used to examine protein levels, and RT-qPCR was employed to examine mRNA levels.Topical application of VAE ameliorated mouse ear edema induced by TPA. VAE suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK (Thr202/Tyr204) and STAT3 (Ser727); and decreased protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the mouse ear tissues and in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. VAE also inhibited NO production, and lowered mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the macrophages.VAE ameliorates TPA-induced mouse ear edema. Suppression of ERK/STAT3 (Ser727) signaling is involved in VAE's anti-inflammatory effects. These novel data provide further pharmacological justifications for the medicinal use of VA in treating inflammation-associated diseases, and lay the groundwork for developing VAE into a new anti-inflammatory agent.

The relationship between exchange rate volatility (ERV) and other macroeconomic factors, including trade flows, domestic production, inflation, money demand, and economic growth, has remained a topic of a large number of studies in international finance. However, the research question that the past empirics have overlooked is whether ERV has any role in helping an emerging economy like China in its journey toward a renewable energy transition. To answer this question, this analysis intends to scrutinize the nexus between ERV and renewable energy investment (REI) in China over 1991Q1-2021Q4. Moreover, due to the asymmetric behavior of ERV, we have based our analysis on the asymmetric assumption. For analyzing the short and long-run impacts of ERV on REI in China, we used the linear autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and nonlinear ARDL methods. In the long term, the ARDL model predicts that stricter environmental policies and higher GDP will lead to more investment in renewable energy. As far as the nonlinear model is concerned, the long-term negative change in ERV does not affect REIs, whereas a long-term positive change in ERV reduces such investments. Likewise, unfavorable short-term exchange rate shocks encourage REI while positive short-term shocks discourage such development. Moreover, investment in renewable energy is bolstered by GDP, environmental policy strictness, and financial development, but is dampened by CO2 emissions in the short term in both models. On the basis of these results, we suggest that policymakers should consider implementing measures to stabilize exchange rates to promote investment in renewable energy.

The application of neutron emitting radioisotopes in brachytherapy facilitates the use of the higher biological effectiveness of neutrons compared to photons in treating some cancers. Different types of high intensity sources are in use for the treatment of different cancers. To improve the therapy of bulky tumors the dose can be augmented by the additional use of the boron capture reaction of thermal neutrons. This requires information about the thermal neutron dose component around the Cf source. In this work, a Mg/Ar‐ionization chamber internally coated with was used to measure the thermal neutrons. These measurements were performed on two different sources, one in use in the Gershenson Radiation Oncology Center at Harper Hospital in Detroit, MI, and one at the University Hospital of Chiang Mai in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The results of these measurements are compared and indicate that the differences in the construction of the sources influence the thermal dose component.

The high surface area, electrical and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) composites has rendered them promising candidates for structural power composites. Nevertheless, it is important to understand their mechanical behaviour before they are applied in energy storage devices amid the safety concerns. This work explores the nail penetration behaviours of supercapacitor specimens consisting of CNT electrodes and pseudocapacitor specimens with carbon nanotube-polyaniline (CNT/PANI) electrodes. Specimens with and without electrolyte were tested. The dry cells without electrolyte follow a power law behaviour, while the wet cells with the electrolyte exhibit a piece-wise nonlinear relationship. The force, voltage and temperature of the supercapacitor were recorded during the nail penetration test. No temperature change or overheating was observed after short-circuit. Moreover, electrochemical testing is performed before and after the specimen penetration. The cyclic voltammetry shows the dramatic loss of capacitance, changing the cell behaviour from capacitor to resistor-like manner. Johnson-Cook model was used to predict the nail penetration behaviour. The coefficients of Johnson-Cook model are calibrated from the experimental load-displacement curves. The finite element model predictions are in a good agreement with the experimental results.