TLR7/8-Agonist-Loaded M1-Macrophage-Derived Nanovesicles Promote the Polarization of Macrophages to Enhance Bladder Cancer Immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies, modulate the cancer killing function of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, immunosuppressive M2-type tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are abundant in bladder cancer (BC) and able to release substances such as cytokines to promote tumor growth, evade immune cell attack and lead to tumor ICIs treatment resistance. In the present study, we utilized nanovesicles derived from M1 macrophages, which contained constituents of M1 macrophages (M1 NV), and loaded the vesicles with the TLR7/8 agonist R848, a potent driver of M1 macrophages to construct M1 NV-R848 nanovesicles. Compared with M1 NV or R848 treatment alone, M1 NV-R848 was able to induce polarization of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages more efficient both in vitro and in vivo. Intravenous injection of M1 NV-R848 improved the immunosuppressive TME and inhibited tumor growth and no significantly toxic or immunogenic in MB-49 tumor-bearing mice. In addition, compared with M1 NV-R848 treatment alone, combined injection of M1 NV-R848 and PD-L1 was able to further inhibit MB-49 tumor growth. Thus, our study demonstrates that M1 NV-R848 has the ability to promote the polarization of M2 TAMs to M1 macrophages and to enhance the efficacy of the ICIs PD-L1 in the treatment of UBC with no significantly toxic or immunogenic.

Ultrasonic activation of inert poly(tetrafluoroethylene) enables piezocatalytic generation of reactive oxygen species

Controlled generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential in biological, chemical, and environmental fields, and piezoelectric catalysis is an emerging method to generate ROS, especially in sonodynamic therapy due to its high tissue penetrability, directed orientation, and ability to trigger in situ ROS generation. However, due to the low piezoelectric coefficient, and environmental safety and chemical stability concerns of current piezoelectric ROS catalysts, novel piezoelectric materials are urgently needed. Here, we demonstrate a method to induce polarization of inert poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) particles (<d > ~ 1–5 μm) into piezoelectric electrets with a mild and convenient ultrasound process. Continued ultrasonic irradiation of the PTFE electrets generates ROS including hydroxyl radicals (•OH), superoxide (•O2−) and singlet oxygen (1O2) at rates significantly faster than previously reported piezoelectric catalysts. In summary, ultrasonic activation of inert PTFE particles is a simple method to induce permanent PTFE polarization and to piezocatalytically generate aqueous ROS that is desirable in a wide-range of applications from environmental pollution control to biomedical therapy.

Local Newspaper Decline and Political Polarization

Shifting media diets are increasingly viewed as a key driver of political polarization. In particular, prior research has focused on greater choice between partisan outlets and the rise of online news. This paper sheds light on a heretofore understudied yet equally salient development: the decline of local news. We argue that local news exits can induce polarization by increasing exposure to news about national politics, where partisan and ideological differences are more salient than at the local level. To test our argument, we draw on a novel panel data set of the coverage areas of all German news- papers between 1980 and 2009. Using a difference-in-differences design, we demonstrate that local news exits increase electoral polarization. Consistent with our theoretical argument, we also find that local news exits lead to increased consumption of national news, higher degrees of partisan identification, and increased political engagement at the individual level.

Regulatory T cells induce polarization of pro-repair macrophages by secreting sFGL2 into the endometriotic milieu

An increased number of highly active regulatory T cells (Tregs) and macrophages has been found in peritoneal fluid from women with endometriosis. Here, we show that the level of Tregs-derived soluble fibrinogen-like protein 2 (sFGL2) increases in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis. Higher expression of FGL2 and its receptor CD32B is observed in eutopic endometrium and ectopic tissues. The production of sFGL2 in Tregs may be enhanced by several cytokines. sFGL2 selectively induces pro-repair macrophage polarization mainly through the activation of the SHP2-ERK1/2-STAT3 signaling pathway, and the suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, sFGL2 induces a much higher level of metallothionein (MT) expression that in turn facilitates pro-repair macrophages polarization. sFGL2-induced pro-repair macrophages promote Th2 and Tregs differentiation, creating a positive feedback loop. These findings suggest that sFGL2 secreted by Tregs skews macrophages toward a pro-repair phenotype via SHP2-ERK1/2-STAT3 signaling pathway, which is involved in the progression of endometriosis.

Numerical modeling of the disappearance of equatorial plasma bubble by nighttime medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances

The Naval Research Laboratory first-principles ionosphere model SAMI3/ESF is performed to study the interaction between the nighttime medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) and equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). The synthetic dynamo currents are imposed into the potential equation to induce polarization electric fields for generating the MSTIDs. Simulations demonstrate that the MSTIDs can inhibit the upward growth of EPBs; however, MSTIDs alone are insufficient to explain the disappearance of EPBs. We found that the meridional winds likely contribute to the disappearance of MSTIDs by reducing the background electron density and polarization electric fields within the EPBs. Then, the MSTIDs transport plasma to fill the EPB depletions up via E × B drifts. Both MSTIDs and meridional winds are necessary to comprehend the underlying mechanism of EPB disappearance. We also found that the zonal and vertical E × B drifts within the MSTIDs affect the morphology of EPBs, leading to a reverse-C shape structure.

Near-infrared dual-wavelength plasmonic switching and digital metasurface unveiled by plasmonic Fano resonance

Plasmonic Fano resonance (FR) that contributes to multitudinous potential applications in subwavelength nanostructures can facilitate the realization of tunable wavelength selectivity for controlling light–matter interactions in metasurfaces. However, the plasmonic FR can be generated in metasurfaces with simple or complex geometries, and few of them can support flexible amplitude modulation and multiwavelength information transfer and processing. Here, we study the near-infrared plasmonic FR in a hybrid metasurface composed of concentrically hybridized parabolic-hole and circular-ring-aperture unit cells, which can induce polarization-dependent dual-wavelength passive plasmonic switching (PPS) and digital metasurface (DM). It is shown that the designable plasmonic FR can be realized by changing the geometric configurations of the unit cells. In particular, owing to the polarization-dependent characteristic of FR, it is possible to fulfill a compact dual-wavelength PPS with high ON/OFF ratios in the related optical communication bands. Moreover, such PPS that manipulates the amplitude response of the transmitted spectrum is an efficient way to reveal a 1-bit DM, which can also be rationally extended to a 2-bit DM or more. Our results suggest a pathway for studying polarization-dependent PPS and programmable metasurface devices, yielding possibilities for subwavelength nanostructures in optical communication and information processing.

Numerical Modeling of the Disappearance of Equatorial Plasma Dubble by the Nighttime Medium-scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances

The Naval Research Laboratory first-principles ionosphere model SAMI3/ESF is performed to study the interaction between the nighttime medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) and equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). The synthetic Es layer instability driven by the external dynamo currents are imposed into the potential equation to induce polarization electric fields for generating the MSTIDs. Simulations demonstrate that the MSTIDs alone can inhibit the upward growth of EPBs, but are insufficient to explain the disappearance of EPBs. The meridional winds are necessary to comprehend the underlying mechanism. The zonal and vertical E × B drifts of MSTIDs also affect the morphology of EPBs that could result in a reverse-C shape structure.

A Review of Electrical Methods as A Worthy Tool for Mineral Exploration

This paper focuses on the review of electrical geophysical methods such as electrical resistivity and induced polarization as a technique for mineral exploration. It highlights the general fundamental principles of the electrical methods and result from other investigations. Most rock – forming minerals are insulators, and electrical current is carried through rocks mainly by the passage of ions in pore waters. In light of this, most rocks conduct electricity by electrolytic rather than electronic processes. Since metals and most metallic sulphides conduct electricity efficiently by the flow of electrons, electrical method is efficient and important in environmental investigation especially in areas where metallic objects are the targets and also in the search for sulphide ores. The results from various research showed the applicability of these geophysical ground methods, specially the Induce Polarization method, as a support tool in the identification and selection of exploration targets for test drilling.