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The key signaling networks regulating cancer cell proliferation remain to be defined. The leucine-rich repeat containing G-protein coupled receptor 48 (GPR48) plays an important role in multiple organ development. In the present study, we investigated whether GPR48 functions in cancer cells using MCF-7, HepG2, NCI-N87 and PC-3 cells. We found that GPR48 overexpression promotes while its knockdown using small interfering RNA oligos inhibits cell proliferation. In addition, Wnt/β-catenin signaling was activated in cells overexpressing GPR48. Therefore, our results indicated that GPR48 activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling to regulate cancer cell proliferation.

A simple microwave-assisted solvothermal method was used to prepare fluorescent nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) with high fluorescence quantum yield (79.63%) using citric acid and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine as starting materials. The PVAm-g-N-CDs grafted products were synthesized by amide bond formation between the carboxylic groups of N-CDs and amine groups of polyvinylamine (PVAm). Fluorescent hydrogel films (PVAm-g-N-CDs/PAM) were synthesized by interpenetration polymer network polymerization of PVAm-g-N-CDs and acrylamide (AM). When used for ion detection, we found that the fluorescence of the hydrogel films was clearly quenched by addition of Hg . Repeatability tests on using the hydrogel films for Hg detection showed that they could be applied at least three times. The PVAm-g-N-CDs/PAM could serve as an effective fluorescent sensing platform for sensitive detection of Hg ions with a detection limit of 0.089 μmol/L. This work may offer a new approach for developing recoverable and sensitive N-CDs-based sensors for biological and environmental applications.

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To investigate the interaction of transition metal oxides with polybenzoxazine and their influence on the thermal degradation mechanism of polybenzoxazine, transition metal oxides Y 2 O 3 , La 2 O 3 , Pr 6 O 11 , and Gd 2 O 3 were added to benzoxazine monomer based on p-cresol and aniline to prepare polybenzoxazine composites. The chemical structures and final polymerization extent of polybenzoxazine and its composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and differential scanning colorimetry (DSC). The molecular weights of these cured samples were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The influence of transition metal oxides on the thermal properties of polybenzoxazine matrix was investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetric analyzer interfaced with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-IR), and (pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry)Py-GC-MS. The results show that transition metal oxides can form coordination interactions with the nitrogen atoms of polybenzoxazine. The coordination interaction can anchor the aniline and make the molecular weights of polybenzoxazine matrix increase, which delays evaporation of aniline during thermal degradation, improves the char yield at 800 • C, and increases the glass transition temperatures (T g ) of polybenzoxazine composites.

Compared with root nitrogen fertilization, foliar nitrogen fertilizer (FNF) has been widely used for crops growth due to its fast fertilizer efficiency and high utilization rate, especially when the crops...

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