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Background: Ensuring data is of appropriate quality is essential for the secondary use of electronic health records (EHRs) in research and clinical decision support. An effective method of data quality assessment (DQA) is automating data quality rules (DQRs) to replace the time-consuming, labor-intensive manual process of creating DQRs, which is difficult to guarantee standard and comparable DQA results. This paper presents a case study of automatically creating DQRs based on openEHR archetypes in a Chinese hospital to investigate the feasibility and challenges of automating DQA for EHR data.Methods: The clinical data repository (CDR) of the Shanxi Dayi Hospital is an archetype-based relational database. Four steps are undertaken to automatically create DQRs in this CDR database. First, the keywords and features relevant to DQA of archetypes were identified via mapping them to a well-established DQA framework, Kahn's DQA framework. Second, the templates of DQRs in correspondence with these identified keywords and features were created in the structured query language (SQL). Third, the quality constraints were retrieved from archetypes. Fourth, these quality constraints were automatically converted to DQRs according to the pre-designed templates and mapping relationships of archetypes and data tables. We utilized the archetypes of the CDR to automatically create DQRs to meet quality requirements of the Chinese Application-Level Ranking Standard for EHR Systems (CARSES) and evaluated their coverage by comparing with expert-created DQRs.Results: We used 27 archetypes to automatically create 359 DQRs. 319 of them are in agreement with the expert-created DQRs, covering 84.97% (311/366) requirements of the CARSES. The auto-created DQRs had varying levels of coverage of the four quality domains mandated by the CARSES: 100% (45/45) of consistency, 98.11% (208/212) of completeness, 54.02% (57/87) of conformity, and 50% (11/22) of timeliness.Conclusion: It's feasible to create DQRs automatically based on openEHR archetypes. This study evaluated the coverage of the auto-created DQRs to a typical DQA task of Chinese hospitals, the CARSES. The challenges of automating DQR creation were identified, such as quality requirements based on semantic, and complex constraints of multiple elements. This research can enlighten the exploration of DQR auto-creation and contribute to the automatic DQA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)‐based prognostic signature for stratification of patients with head a nd neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In total, 493 HNSCC samples obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database were divided into training and testing cohorts (3:2 ratio). We identified 3913 immune‐related lncRNAs in the HNSCC training cohort by Pearson correlation analysis; only seven were independently associated with overall survival and were used to develop an immune‐related lncRNA prognostic signature (IRLPS) grouping of HNSCC patients into high‐ and low‐IRLPS subgroups. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses revealed that low‐IRLPS patients had a better prognosis in all the cohorts, which was retained after stratification by sex, grade, and HPV status. Although the TNM stage was also an independent prognostic factor, the IRLPS had a better discriminability with higher AUC at the 3‐ and 5‐year follow‐ups in all cohorts. Low‐IRLPS samples had more immune cell infiltration and were enriched in immune‐related pathways, while high‐ IRLPS samples were enriched in metabolic pathways. A nomogram constructed including age, TNM stage, and IRLPS showed good calibration. Thus, IRLPS improves the prognostic prediction and also distinguishes different tumor microenvironment (TME) in HNSCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and benign method of C (sp3)‐H acylation based on the direct conversion of stable amides has been established. This photoredox cross‐coupling of amides and methylbenzenes for aromatic ketones is enabled by the cheap benzophenone photocatalyst and nickel catalyst, with high yield (up to 90 %). The benzophenone catalyst having electron‐withdrawing group promotes the efficiency of hydrogen atom transfer, which is beneficial to improve the yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Radiotherapy is the mainstay for treating brain metastasis (BM). The objective of this study is to evaluate the overall survival (OS) of patients with BM of lung cancer treated with different radiotherapy modalities. Methods: Patients with BM of lung cancer who underwent radiotherapy between July 2007 and November 2017 were collected, and their baseline demographics, clinicopathological characteristics and treatments were recorded. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared by using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analysis of the prognostic factors were performed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results: A total of 144 patients were enrolled, of whom 77 underwent whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), 39 underwent whole brain radiotherapy with consecutive boost (WBRT + boost), and 28 underwent integrated simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT). The OS in SIB-IMRT group was significantly longer than that in WBRT group (median OS 14 (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.8–19.1) vs.7 (95% CI 5.5–8.5) months, log-rank p < 0.001) and WBRT + boost group (median OS: 14 (95% CI 8.8–19.1) vs.11 (95% CI 8.3–13.7) months, log-rank p = 0.037). Multivariable analysis showed that mortality risk of patients treated with SIB-IMRT decrease by 56, 59, 64 and 64% in unadjusted model (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.44; 95% CI 0.28–0.70, p < 0.001), model 1 (HR = 0.41; 95% CI 0.26–0.65, p < 0.001), model 2 (HR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.21–0.61, p < 0.001), and model 3 (HR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.21–0.61, p < 0.001). Conclusions: For patients with BM of lung cancer, SIB-IMRT seems to be associated with a more favorable prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Epoxypropyl dimethydodecyl ammonium chloride (EPDDMAC) were grafted on γ-Al 2 O 3 particles. • α-Al 2 O 3 were coated with EVOH and modified with EPDDMAC. • Using the TIPS method, the alumina particles can be completely encapsulated with less polymer. • γ-Al 2 O 3 /EPDDMAC particles and α-Al 2 O 3 @EVOH/EPDDMAC particles showed great antimicrobial performance. Antimicrobial particles can inhibit or kill microorganisms, and have been widely used as antimicrobial filler in coatings and polymers. Herein, we present a facile method to prepare antimicrobial alumina particles by grafting epoxypropyl dimethydodecyl ammonium chloride (EPDDMAC) on γ-Al 2 O 3 or ethylene–vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) coated α-Al 2 O 3.The results show that EPDDMAC can be grafted on γ-Al 2 O 3 or EVOH-coated α-Al 2 O 3 particles effectively, and the grafting rate rises with the increased EPDDMAC amount. The grafted composite particles exhibit excellent antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and display great potential in antibacterial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CCL5 and CCR1 expression levels increased significantly following SAH. • Selective CCR1 antagonist Met-RANTES improved the prognosis of mice after SAH. • RCCL5 injection aggravated neurological dysfunction in SAH mice. • CCR1 attenuated neuroinflammation after SAH via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Neuroinflammation is an important mechanism underlying brain injury caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). C-C chemokine receptor type 1 (CCR1)-mediated inflammation is involved in the pathology of many central nervous system diseases. Herein, we investigated whether inhibition of CCR1 alleviated neuroinflammation after experimental SAH and aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of its potential protective effects. To analyze SAH transcriptome data R studio was used, and a mouse model of SAH was established using endovascular perforations. In this model, the selective CCR1 antagonist Met-RANTES (Met-R) and the CCR1 agonist recombinant CCL5 (rCCL5) were administered 1 h after SAH induction. To investigate the possible downstream mechanisms of CCR1, the JAK2 inhibitor AG490 and the JAK2 activator coumermycin A1 (C-A1) were administered 1 h after SAH induction. Furthermore, post-SAH evaluation, including SAH grading, neurological function tests, Western blot, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay, and Fluoro-Jade B and fluorescent immunohistochemical staining were performed. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were detected by ELISA. CCL5 and CCR1 expression levels increased significantly following SAH. Met-R significantly improved neurological deficits in mice, decreased apoptosis and degeneration of ipsilateral cerebral cortex neurons, reduced infiltrating neutrophils, and promoted microglial activation after SAH induction. Furthermore, Met-R inhibited the expression of p-JAK2, p-STAT3, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α. However, the protective effects of Met-R were abolished by C-A1 treatment. Furthermore, rCCL5 injection aggravated neurological dysfunction and increased the expression of p-JAK2, p-STAT3, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α in SAH mice, all of which were reversed by the administration of AG490. Finally, the levels of CCL5 and CCR1 were elevate in the CSF of SAH patient and high level of CCL5 and CCR1 levels were associated with poor outcome. The present results suggested that inhibition of CCR1 attenuates neuroinflammation after SAH via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, which may provide a new target for the treatment of SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In smart ports, accurate perception of vessels' state during berthing and unberthing is crucial to ensure the safety of vessels and ports. In this paper, a method for better monitoring the berthing and unberthing state of vessels is proposed by introducing the GIS spatial analysis technique. For the aspect of the motion state of the vessels, the optimal segmentation region of the hull from the point cloud data is extracted with the aid of GIS spatial theory. Subsequently, the key points are obtained from the optimal segmentation region to calculate the key parameters in the process of berthing and unberthing. Besides, the spatial raster analysis technique is employed to construct the missing point cloud data in the segmentation region. For the other aspect of the spatial state of the vessels, the spatial trajectory of vessels is given. According to the information on a spatial trajectory, a comprehensive study of the spatial state of vessels is performed from the perspective of directional features and spatial relationships. In summary, the proposed method not only identifies the vessels' motion state from a spatial perspective but also accurately calculates key parameters related to berthing and unberthing. Furthermore, it provides intuitive and clear visualization of the spatial relationship features between the vessel and the shore. Based on the experimental data of berthing and unberthing in Dalian Port, China, accurate results are achieved to verify the feasibility of the proposed method, which can provide a new idea for intelligent berthing and unberthing of vessels. • A spatial analysis method is proposed for monitoring the ship's motion state. • Based on GIS spatial theory, a hull segmentation technique is firstly established. • The spatial trajectory of ships is given during berthing and unberthing. • The motion state is shown spatially by the spatial measurement analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolyl Endopeptidase (PEP) has the unique ability to hydrolyze the carboxyl terminal peptide bonds of Proline. This enzyme holds great value in various fields including medical research, disease treatment, human diet, and food production. Aspergillus niger is a significant food-grade protein expression system renowned for its high safety. It is considered an ideal system for producing Aspergillus -derived PEP due to its ability to secrete a large amount of endogenous proteins. Our research group successfully constructed the Aspergillus niger PEP engineering strain in the early stages by eliminating the background protein AsaA, thereby increasing secretion protein production. In this article, we explore new solutions to further enhance production. Experimental investigations were conducted to regulate secretory protein production at different levels by modifying the 5′UTR and reconstructing the secretion pathways. The results demonstrate that the strain modified by the 5′UTR and Kozak sequence (glaA5'UTR-GCCACC, glaA::protA) exhibited a 1.88-fold increase in gene transcription and a 105% increase in extracellular PEP activity compared to the non-modified strain. Co-expression of the ERdjs gene AnScj1 further increased extracellular PEP activity by 168%. However, deletion of derA or vps10 , key genes in the Aspergillus niger secretory protein degradation pathway, resulted in reduced levels of gene transcription and secretory expression. This article holds practical significance in enhancing the secretion and expression of PEP, obtaining higher-yield strains, and exploring optimization strategies for highly expressed proteins. [Display omitted] • 5'UTR modification enhances the expression of prolyl endopeptidase. • The ER-located DnaJ family member AnScj1 improves the expression of secretory protein. • Deletion of derA or vps10 does not always favor secretory protein expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common type of lung cancer. Extracellular vehicles (EVs) are nano-sized particles containing proteins, lipids, and miRNAs secreted by various cells, which play important roles in the development of lung cancer by regulating a wide range of signaling pathways. This study focused on elucidating a potential mechanism by which EVs promote the development of NSCLC.Methods: Expression levels of miR-744, SUV39H1, Smad9, and BMP4 in clinical tissue samples of NSCLC patients and cell lines were quantified by RT-qPCR and/or western blot analysis. The interaction between SUV39H1 and miR-744 was identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. miR-744, SUV39H1, and BMP4 expression levels were modulated in A549 and H460 cells, in order to evaluate their effects on cell proliferation, colony formation and cell cycle. A NSCLC xenograft mouse model was used to verify the in vitro findings. NSCLC cell-derived EVs and normal bronchial epithelial cell-derived EVs were isolated and their roles in NSCLC development were evaluated in vivo and in vitro.Results: miR-744 expression was lower in cancer cell-derived derived EVs than in normal lung epithelial cell-derived EVs. Reduced miR-744 expression in EVs upregulated SUV39H1 in NSCLC cells and further increased BMP4 levels to promote NSCLC development. BMP4 was upregulated in NSCLC cells upon suppression of Smad9 mediated by SUV39H1. Reduced miR-744 expression transferred from cancer cell-derived EVs into NSCLC cells enhanced cancer development.Conclusion: Overall, our findings unveiled a mechanism whereby miR-744 delivered by NSCLC-derived EVs upregulated SUV39H1, activating the Smad9/BMP9 axis and thus promoted cancer development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodium-catalyzed alkenylation of allylbenzene derivatives via C–C bond activation provides an unprecedented access to alkenylation products with remarkable regioselectivities. Using DFT calculations, we elucidate the reaction mechanism and the origins of the regioselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four novel heteroleptic Cu(I) photosensitizers with 3,8‐diaryl‐2,9‐diisopropyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline derivatives as electron‐donating bidentate N‐ligands have been designed and synthesized. The metal copper complexes are studied in light‐driven water reduction system. And the substituent effect at the 3,8‐positions of N‐ligands impacting on photosensitive activity and photoelectric chemical properties are explored and discussed. Surprisingly, with the enhancement of electron‐donating capacity of substituent group at 3,8‐sites of 1,10‐phenanthroline, the photosensitive activity of photosensitizer linearly increases, and photocatalytic performance up to 817 turnover numbers (TON) was reached combining with water reduction catalyst (WRC), Fe3(CO)12. The photocatalytic performance of these photosensitizers dramatically increased compared to 2,9‐diispropyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline complex (TON = 89). Moreover, the introduction of methoxy substituent to copper complexes, which could increase the fluorescence lifetimes (τmax = 209 ns) and promote hydrogen evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the nonlinear vibration of a cable with multiple intra-span elastic supports under primary resonance excitation. The elastic supports are treated as linear springs in the analysis. Lagrange's equation and modal superposition approach are employed to derive the dynamic equilibrium equations of the cable based on the energy of system. The nonlinear dynamic behaviour of a cable is analysed in this work, and 3:1 internal resonance is investigated, with coupled in-plane and out-of-plane motions discussed as well. A cable with both two edges simply supported subjected to harmonic excitation is studied by using homotopy analysis method. The amplitude-frequency response and the first approximation solutions of the double-modal motion are obtained. Through comparison with four-order Runge-kutta approach, it demonstrates this method is accurate. Finally, numerical analysis is performed to study how the pretensions, the damping coefficients and the linear stiffness coefficients of the elastic supports influence the amplitude-frequency and amplitude-excitation curves. A range of nonlinear dynamic properties of a cable are acquired, especially the internal resonance issue, which requires the cables stay beyond the region of resonance prior to perform structural design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the inherent organic–metal system property, phosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes (PhOLEDs) are capable of exhibiting high performance. However, the existence of unintended triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA), which is mainly originated from high triplet exciton density leading to inferior device performance, is a current predicament. For mitigating the TTA in devices, reported herein is an effective host system with the role of precisely controlling the triplet excitons via the multichannel processes, in which a bipolar host material, a hole‐transporting material, and an electron‐transporting material are mixed to manage the triplet exciton transfer. The mixed‐host with so‐called "triplet excitons harvesting" strategy exhibits two concomitant reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) processes that simultaneously occur in the bipolar host material:electron‐transporting material and the host‐transporting material:electron‐transporting material exciplexes, respectively. Highly efficient green and red PhOLEDs are demonstrated by these multichannel processes, in which phosphorescent emitters bis(2‐phenylpyridine) (acetylacetonate) iridium(III) (Ir(ppy)2(acac)) and bis(2‐methyldibenzo[f,h]‐quinoxaline) (acetylacetonate) iridium(III) (Ir(MDQ)2(acac)) are doped into the mixed‐host, respectively. The green and red PhOLEDs realize nearly 30% of maximum external quantum efficiencies of 29.4% and 29.2%, respectively, and also maintain 29.1% and 28.3% at 1000 cd m−2. These excellent efficiencies and low roll‐offs confirm that the concomitant RISC processes effectively manage and utilize triplet excitons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qingxin kaiqiao fang (QKF), a traditional Chinese medicine compound, has been applied to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) for many years and has exhibited remarkable effects. However, the underlying mechanism is still not explicit. The current study aims to investigate whether QKF exerts an antiapoptotic role through the p38 MAPK pathway in the course of AD. Network pharmacology analysis was applied to study the effective components, possible therapeutic targets, and AD-related pathway of QKF. Further, the AD cell model was established using amyloid-beta (Aβ)25-35 peptide and primary hippocampal neuronal cells extracted from newborn Sprague-Dawley rats. Microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) imaging was used to detect the morphology of hippocampal neurons. Western blot (WB) analysis was applied to detect the protein expression levels of p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assays, respectively. SB203580 and U46619 were used to detect changes in cell morphology, cell viability, and apoptosis upon inhibiting or activating p38 MAPK. Our present work showed that QKF protects hippocampal neuronal morphology, enhances cell viability, and reduces the number of TUNEL-positive cells. In addition, our results showed that QKF increased the expression levels of antiapoptotic proteins and decreased the expression of proapoptotic proteins. QKF at 25 mg·mL−1 best inhibited neuronal apoptosis among the three doses of QKF by suppressing p38 MAPK activity. Collectively, QKF plays an antiapoptotic role via the p38 MAPK pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disease result from absolute or relative insulin secretion deficiency, insulin resistance, or both, and has become a major and growing public healthy menace worldwide. Currently, clinical antidiabetic drugs still have some limitations in efficacy and safety such as gastrointestinal side effects, hypoglycemia, or weight gain. Rosmarinus officinalis is an aromatic evergreen shrub used as a food additive and medicine, which has been extensively used to treat hyperglycemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetic wounds. A great deal of pharmacological research showed that rosemary extract and its phenolic constituents, especially carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid, and carnosol, could significantly improve diabetes mellitus by regulating glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, anti-inflammation, and anti-oxidation, exhibiting extremely high research value. Therefore, this review summarizes the pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms of rosemary extract and its primary phenolic constituents on diabetes and relative complications both in vitro and in vivo studies from 2000 to 2020, to provide some scientific evidence and research ideas for its clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangements trigger aberrant epigenetic modification and gene expression in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, which generates one of the most aggressive subtypes of leukemia with an apex self-renewal. It remains a challenge to directly inhibit rearranged MLL itself because of its multiple fusion partners and the poorly annotated downstream genes of MLL fusion proteins; therefore, novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Methods: qRT-PCR, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and leukemia-free survival analysis were used to validate LAMP5-AS1 (LAMP5 antisense 1) expression and evaluate its clinical value. We performed in vitro and in vivo experiments to investigate the functional relevance of LAMP5-AS1 in MLL leukemia progression and leukemia cell stemness. RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), histone methyltransferase assay, RNA pull-down assay, and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to validate the relationship between LAMP5-AS1 and the methyltransferase activity of DOT1L. The downstream ectopic target genes of LAMP5-AS1/DOT1L were validated by the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and western blot. Results: We discovered that a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) LAMP5-AS1 can promote higher degrees of H3K79 methylation, followed by upregulated expression of the self-renewal genes in the HOXA cluster, which are responsible for leukemia stemness in context of MLL rearrangements. We found that LAMP5-AS1 is specifically overexpressed in MLL leukemia patients (n = 58) than that in the MLL-wt leukemia (n = 163) (p < 0.001), and the patients with a higher expression level of LAMP5-AS1 exhibited a reduced 5-year leukemia-free survival (p < 0.01). LAMP5-AS1 suppression significantly reduced colony formation and increased differentiation of primary MLL leukemia CD34+ cells. Mechanistically, LAMP5-AS1 facilitated the methyltransferase activity of DOT1L by directly binding its Lys-rich region of catalytic domain, thus promoting the global patterns of H3K79 dimethylation and trimethylation in cells. These observations supported that LAMP5-AS1 upregulated H3K79me2/me3 and the transcription of DOT1L ectopic target genes. Conclusions: This is the first study that a lncRNA regulates the self-renewal program and differentiation block in MLL leukemia cells by facilitating the methyltransferase activity of DOT1L and global H3K79 methylation, showing its potential as a therapeutic target for MLL leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report the experience with first-trimester prenatal detection of pregnancies complicated by trisomy 18. Study design: Proven cases of trisomy 18 identified between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation were retrospectively reviewed. Information on maternal demographics, prenatal sonographic findings, indications for prenatal diagnosis and chromosomal analysis results was obtained by reviewing medical records. Results: During the 7-year period from January 2011 to December 2017, 89 cases of full trisomy 18 had first-trimester indications for prenatal diagnosis at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center. Eighty-five (95.5%) had abnormal sonographic findings in the first trimester. The most common finding was increased nuchal translucency (55.1%), followed by cystic hygroma (18.0%), omphalocele (14.6%), and fetalis hydrops (11.2%). Four cases (4.5%) were not associated with any abnormal first-trimester sonographic finding, and were diagnosed because of routine positive screening results for trisomy 18. A single case was diagnosed because of a positive cell-free DNA (cfDNA) result. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that a large number of fetuses with trisomy 18 have abnormal sonographic findings in the first trimester, and support the continued utility of first-trimester sonographic examination in the diagnosis of this trisomy even with the availability of cfDNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional Chinese medicine of Qingxin Kaiqiao Recipe (QKR) is effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims to investigate whether QKR improves the cognitive ability and takes neuroprotective effect on APP/PS1 double transgenic mice via the PI3K/Akt pathway. APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were randomly divided into a model, donepezil-treated, or QKR-treated group (L-QKR: 4.75 mg/kg/d, M-QKR: 9.5 mg/kg/d, and H-QKR: 19 mg/kg/d, respectively). Wild-type C57/BL6J mice were used as the control group. Morris water maze (MWM) was used to test the ability of spatial navigation and memorization; terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labelling (TUNEL) assay was applied to test the apoptosis; amyloid protein granule deposition was detected via Methenamine silver staining; Western blot (WB) analysis, immunohistochemistry, and RT-PCR were applied to measure the expression of Aβ and corresponding indicators of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Compared with the model group, QKR significantly relieved the cognitive impairment, reduced the deposition of senile plaques, decreased the expression of GSK-3α and Aβ, and increased the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and IDE. In addition, the number of TUNEL-positive cells decreased after treatment using QKR. The current study proved that QKR, especially at the high dose tested, exerted a protective effect on improving learning and memory, inhibiting apoptosis, and reducing the process of pathological degeneration in the hippocampus of AD mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The high incidence of gastric cancer (GC) and paradoxical high prevalence of advanced stage GC, amounting to around 2/3 at time of diagnosis, have urged doctors and researchers around the world not only to ameliorate the detection rate of GC at early stages but also to optimize the clinical management of GC at advanced stages. Content: We hereby recommend a more goal-oriented multimodality approach with objectives to increase survival rate and improve survival status. Based on precision and accurate clinical staging at diagnosis, we suggest that advanced stage GC (AGC) patients should be channeled into different treatment plans according to their disease status where they can be subjected to comprehensive measures involving chemo, radio, immunological, or target therapies depending on the pathophysiological behavior of their tumor. Patients assessed as potentially resectable cT4N + M0 can undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy with intent of tumor downsizing and downgrading followed by surgery with intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to decrease the incidence of peritoneal dissemination due to surgical trauma and adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation in cases of bulky nodal metastasis. In cases with distal metastasis, conversion therapy is recommended with the possibility of surgery of curative intent in case of favorable response. The options of alternate treatment options such as trans-catheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for limited liver lesions or neoadjuvant intraperitoneal plus systemic chemotherapy (NIPS) for peritoneal carcinomatosis have to be negotiated. With surgery as the cornerstone for cancer treatment, there is acknowledgment of the significance of perioperative comprehensive approaches but there has not been some consensus guiding clinical application. Henceforth, in this review, based on past literature, current guidelines and ongoing clinical trials, we have shared a proposal of the current treatment modalities in practice for the advanced stages of gastric cancer. Conclusion: Even though surgery is the golden standard of radical cancer treatment, clinical reality shows that without proper perioperative management, patients undergoing radical resections manifest high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Hence, in this review, we have outlined a clinical agenda to optimize the management of advanced stage GC with objective to improve survival outcome and quality of life of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a rare and highly malignant neoplasm composed of small round cells, which frequently occurs in children and adolescents. PNET originating from the prostate is even rarer. We report a case of PNET of the prostate with notalgia and paraplegia as the initial symptoms. Positron emission tomography–computed tomography scanning showed hypodense and hypermetabolism on the prostate; subsequently, we ascertained the diagnosis by transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. The patient underwent local vertebral radiotherapy combined with five courses of systematic chemotherapy. Disease progressed after 11 months, and the overall survival was 17 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavons are the dynamic agent of flavor symmetry breaking and have flavor changing couplings to the Standard Model (SM) fermions. We consider their contributions to the lepton flavor violating (LFV) decays P → ℓ i ℓ j and τ → ℓ i P with ℓ i ≠ ℓ j = e , μ or τ and P ∈ { B s , B d , D , K , η b , η c , η , η ′ , π } in the simplest flavon model without Higgs-flavon mixing. We find that flavons can produce significant contributions to some of these LFV decay processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal variations in the transports of total alkalinity (TAlk) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from the Lower Changjiang (Yangtze) River/Estuary to the East China Sea were investigated based on a series of field surveys in 2015–2017, including monthly samplings at Datong Station and seasonal mapping cruises in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent northwestern East China Sea. In comparison with historical data sets, the Changjiang TAlk flux varied around a nearly stable average over the past 55 years. This is much different from some American rivers, where TAlk export fluxes increased for a century long. To assess effects of riverine carbonate inputs on coastal carbonate chemistry, we compared several cases showing freshwater‐dilution‐induced decline in coastal aragonite saturation state (Ωarag), including rainwater dilution and riverine water dilution. Without riverine carbonate inputs, the effect of a unit of salinity decrease (due to rainwater dilution) on Ωarag was expected to be counteracted by a DIC removal of 10 μmol/kg relative to the baseline value along relevant conservative mixing line, when coastal Ωarag was close to a critical value of 1.5. Considering terrestrial carbonate inputs from Changjiang, however, the freshwater‐dilution‐induced coastal Ωarag suppression decreased by 12%. Our data also showed that more than 10% of wet‐season DIC flux discharged from the Changjiang Estuary was sequestered by biological activities in nearshore areas, while the TAlk flux was rarely affected. This biological alteration effectively transformed the terrestrial carbonate system from a feature of DIC:TAlk >1.0 to the usual seawater feature of DIC:TAlk <0.9. Plain Language Summary: Changjiang (Yangtze River) serves as the second largest carbonate contributor to the ocean among the world large rivers. We examined riverine/estuarine transport fluxes of total alkalinity (TAlk) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the continuum from the Lower Changjiang to its estuary and to the adjacent northwestern East China Sea. In comparison with historical data, the Changjiang TAlk flux varied around a nearly stable average over the past 55 years, which was much different from the American case of century‐long TAlk increase in some rivers. We also assessed effects of riverine carbonate inputs on the coastal carbonate chemistry. Results suggest that terrestrial carbonate inputs decreased the freshwater‐dilution‐induced carbonate mineral suppression in coastal zones. Based on field data, we estimated that more than 10% of wet‐season DIC flux discharged from the Changjiang Estuary was sequestered by biological activities in nearshore areas, while the TAlk flux was rarely affected. We explained how biological drawdown of riverine DIC transformed the terrestrial feature of DIC:TAlk ratio higher than 1.0 to the usual seawater feature of DIC:TAlk ratio less than 0.9, supporting Alfred C. Redfield's argument on "the influence of organisms on the composition of seawater" in the 1960s or earlier. Key Points: Changjiang (Yangtze River) export flux of total alkalinity varied around a nearly stable average over the past 55 yearsTerrestrial carbonate input from Changjiang decreased the freshwater‐dilution‐induced coastal aragonite saturation state suppression by 12%More than 10% of wet‐season DIC flux discharged from Changjiang was sequestered in coastal zones, while the TAlk flux was rarely affected [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper selenide as an anode for lithium-ion batteries suffers from volume expansion/contraction, while constructing nanostructured copper selenide with other components is considered as an effective strategy. In this work, Cu2−xSe@C@Sb2Se3 nanosheets were fabricated through a two step solvothermal procedure with the assistance of glucose. Such a structure can facilitate the migration rate of Li+, enhance the electrical conductivity, buffer the volume variation and prohibit the aggregation of the electrode. As a result, Cu2−xSe@C@Sb2Se3 exhibits good electrochemical performance with a specific capacity of 341 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1 and 153 mA h g−1 at a rate of 2000 mA g−1. Such a structural design and synthetic strategy may also be applied to explore other nanocomposites to improve the electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytohormone cytokinin has various roles in plant development, including meristem maintenance, vascular differentiation, leaf senescence, and regeneration. Prior investigations have revealed that cytokinin acts via a phosphorelay similar to the two-component system by which bacteria sense and respond to external stimuli. The eventual targets of this phosphorelay are type-B ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORS (B-ARRs), containing the conserved N-terminal receiver domain (RD), middle DNA binding domain (DBD), and C-terminal transactivation domain. While it has been established for two decades that the phosphoryl transfer from a specific histidyl residue in ARABIDOPSIS HIS PHOSPHOTRANSFER PROTEINS (AHPs) to an aspartyl residue in the RD of B-ARRs results in a rapid transcriptional response to cytokinin, the underlying molecular basis remains unclear. In this work, we determine the crystal structures of the RD-DBD of ARR1 (ARR1RD-DBD) as well as the ARR1DBD-DNA complex from Arabidopsis. Analyses of the ARR1DBD-DNA complex have revealed the structural basis for sequence-specific recognition of the GAT trinucleotide by ARR1. In particular, comparing the ARR1RD-DBD and ARR1DBD-DNA structures reveals that unphosphorylated ARR1RD-DBD exists in a closed conformation with extensive contacts between the RD and DBD. In vitro and vivo functional assays have further suggested that phosphorylation of the RD weakens its interaction with DBD, subsequently permits the DNA binding capacity of DBD, and promotes the transcriptional activity of ARR1. Our findings thus provide mechanistic insights into phosphorelay activation of gene transcription in response to cytokinin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and malignant subtype in breast cancer. Immunotherapy is a currently promising and effective treatment for TNBC, while not all patients are responsive. Therefore, it is necessary to explore novel biomarkers to screen sensitive populations for immunotherapy. All mRNA expression profiles of TNBC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were clustered into two subgroups by analyzing tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) with single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). A risk score model was constructed based on differently expressed genes (DEGs) identified from two subgroups using Cox and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selector Operation (LASSO) regression model. And it was validated by Kaplan–Meier analysis and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) databases. Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) and Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were performed on clinical TNBC tissue samples. The relationship between risk score and immune checkpoint blockades (ICB) related signatures was further investigated, as well as the biological processes were performed by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). We obtained three DEGs positively related to prognosis and infiltrating immune cells in TNBC. Our risk score model could be an independent prognostic factor and the low risk group exhibited a prolonged overall survival (OS). Patients in low risk group were more likely to present a higher immune infiltration and stronger response to immunotherapy. GSEA revealed the model was associated with immune-related pathways. We constructed and validated a novel model based on three prognostic genes related to TIME in TNBC. The model contributed a robust signature that could predict the prognosis in TNBC, especially for the efficacy of immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enzyme FabH catalyzes the initial step of fatty acid biosynthesis that is essential for bacterial survival. Therefore, FabH has been identified as an attractive target for the development of new antibacterial agents. We present here the discovery of a promising new series of Pyrazol-Benzimidazole amides with low toxicity and potent FabH inhibitory. Twenty-seven novel compounds have been synthesized, and all the compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS. Afterwards they were evaluated for in-vitro antibacterial activities against E. coli , P. aeruginosa , B. subtilis and S. aureus , along with E. coli FabH inhibition and cytotoxicity test. Some compounds proved to be of low toxicity and potent, especially compound 31 exhibited the most potential to be a new drug with MIC of 0.49–0.98 μg/mL against the tested bacterial strains and IC 50 of 1.22 μ M against E. coli FabH. Eight analogues 16 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 and 36 with low range MIC against wild type Xanthomonas Campestris exhibited no inhibition against FabH-deficient mutant strain, which firmly proved the class of compounds arrived at antibacterial activity via interacting with FabH. In silico ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) evaluation also pointed out that these compounds are potential for druggability. Further, effective overall docking scores of all the compounds have been recorded, and docking simulation of compound 31 into E. coli FabH binding pocket has been conducted, where solid binding interactions has been identified. Image 1 • 27 novel Pyrazol-Benzimidazole amide derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated as potential FabH inhibitors. • Cytotoxicity, hemolytic activities and in silico ADMET were also appraised as well as molecular docking. • Compound 31 showed the most potent inhibitory activity against four tested bacterial and FabH. • Crystal structure of compound 17 was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of phosphine‐free Ru(III)/Ru(II) complexes of NH functionalized N˄N˄N pincer ligands exhibit excellent activity for acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling (ADC) of secondary alcohols with 2‐aminobenzyl or γ‐amino alcohols to quinolines and pyridines. Ru(III) complexes [LRuCl3] (L=6‐(3‐R1,5‐R2‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐N‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)pyridin‐2‐amine; 1 a: R1=R2=H (L1); 1 b: R1=R2=Me (L2); 1 c: R1=H, R2=CF3 (L3); 1 d: R1=H, R2=Ph (L4); 1bMe: L=6‐(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐N‐methyl‐N‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)pyridin‐2‐amine (L2Me)) were obtained by refluxing RuCl3 ⋅ xH2O with the corresponding ligand in EtOH. Five Ru(II) complexes [LRu(DMSO‐κS)Cl2] (2 a: L=L1; 2 b: L=L2; 2 c: L=L3; 2 d: L=L4; 2bMe: L=L2Me) were formed by reducing the corresponding Ru(III) complex in refluxing EtOH. The latter complexes could also be prepared directly by refluxing Ru(DMSO)4Cl2 with the corresponding ligand in EtOH. These Ru(III) and Ru(II) complexes, especially 1 b/2 b, exhibited high catalytic efficiency and broad functional group tolerance in ADC reactions of secondary alcohols with 2‐aminobenzyl or γ‐amino alcohols to quinolines and pyridines. A detail mechanistic study indicated the Ru(III) complex was reduced into the Ru(II) species, which is the active catalytic center for ADC via a Ru−H/N−H bifunctional outer‐sphere mechanism. This protocol provides a reliable, atom‐economical and environmentally benign procedure for C−N and C−C bond formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells of eukaryotic multicellular organisms have inherent heterogeneity. Recent advances in single-cell gene expression studies enable us to explore transcriptional regulation in dynamic development processes and highly heterogeneous cell populations. In this study, using a high-throughput single-cell RNA-sequencing assay, we found that the cells in Arabidopsis root are highly heterogeneous in their transcriptomes. A total of 24 putative cell clusters and the cluster-specific marker genes were identified. The spatial distribution and temporal ordering of the individual cells at different developmental stages illustrate their hierarchical structures and enable the reconstruction of continuous differentiation trajectory of root development. Moreover, we found that each root cell cluster exhibits distinct patterns of ion assimilation and hormonal responses. Collectively, our study reveals a high degree of heterogeneity of root cells and identifies the expression signatures of intermediate states during root cell differentiation at single-cell resolution. We also established a web server (http://wanglab.sippe.ac.cn/rootatlas/) to facilitate the use of the datasets generated in this study. Using high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) assay, this study reveals high degree of heterogeneity of Arabidopsis root cells and identifies the expression signatures of intermediate states during root cell differentiation at the single-cell resolution. The spatial distribution and temporal ordering of the individual cell at different developmental stages illustrate their hierarchical structure and reconstructs continuous differentiation trajectory of root development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new sky-blue thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) emitter TRZ-DCF, has been developed based on 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-7,7-dimethyl-5,7-dihydroindeno[2,1- b ]carbazole (DCF) as donor and 2,4-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazine as acceptor. Due to the fusion of fluorene and carbazole moieties into the single carbazole donor, the multimodified emitter exhibits obvious TADF characteristics with a smaller singlet-triplet splitting (Δ E ST) value of 0.22 eV and relatively high photoluminance quantum yield (PLQY) of 84%. As a result, a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 18.7%, a current efficiency (CE) of 39.0 cd A−1 and a power efficiency (PE) of 30.5 lm W−1 with a Commission Internationale de L' Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.18, 0.34), significantly surpassing the performance of the reference emitter 9-(4-(4,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)phenyl)-9H-carbazole (TRTZ), are achieved in optimal device construction. It is found that the EQE roll-off (20.8%) of TRZ-DCF is acceptable, that the efficiency drops to 14.8% at 1000 cd m−2 in optimal device construction. These results demonstrate the multiple modifications of weak electron-donating carbazole donor is an effective way of constructing high-efficiency blue TADF emitters with small roll-off. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • We present a new sky-blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter combining a novel multimodified carbazole donor moiety with triazine-based unit for efficient organic light-emitting diodes. • The external quantum efficiency (18.7%), singlet-triplet splitting (0.22 eV) and photoluminance quantum yield (84%) as well as the roll-off behavior (20.8%) of the emitter TRZ-DCF have been finely tuned through multiple modification of the reference emitter TRTZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Effect of compound 30 on cell cycle progression of A549 cells and G2/M-related proteins; 3D diagram of the interaction between compound 30 and the colchicine binding site. A series of novel benzimidazole grafted benzsulfamide-containing pyrazole ring derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for the inhibitory activity against tubulin polymerization and cancer cells. Also the docking simulation of these compounds was conducted. Highlights • 25 novel benzimidazole grafted benzsulfamide-containing pyrazole ring derivatives have been synthesized. • Their biological activities were evaluated as potential tubulin assembling inhibitors. • Compound 30 showed the most potent inhibitory activity against cancer cell and tubulin. • Crystal structure of compounds 20 and 24 were determined. Abstract Tubulin-targeting drugs have increasingly become the focus of anticancer drugs research. Twenty-five novel benzimidazole grafted benzsulfamide-containing pyrazole ring derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for bioactivity as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Among them, compound 30 showed the most excellent inhibition against tubulin assembly (IC 50 = 1.52 μ M) and in vitro growth inhibitory activity against a panel of four human cancer cell lines (IC 50 = 0.15, 0.21, 0.33 and 0.17 μ M, respectively for A549, Hela, HepG2 and MCF-7). It could also validly induce A549 cell apoptosis, cause cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and disrupt the cellular microtubule network. These results, along with molecular docking data, provided an important basis for further optimization of compound 30 as a potential anticancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Two thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) deep-blue emitters (4-SCZ, 4-SCZ-F) were developed by combining a novel spiro-type donor moiety with different triazine-based unit. By modifying the interplay between the donors and acceptor through tuning the phenylene linker using a fluorine substituent, singlet-triplet splitting (∆ E ST) can be regulated. In addition, the rigid geometry of these emitters also ensures their high photoluminance quantum yield (PLQY). As a result, when applied 4-SCZ-F as the emitter, good performance with current efficiency (CE)/power efficiency (PE)/external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 11.16 cd/A/9.74 lm/W/7.21% and Commission Internationale de l′Éclairage (CIE) coordinate at (0.16, 0.17) was achieved. Graphical abstract fx1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have reported an efficient synthetic protocol to build different hollow hybrid nanocomposites with tunable compositions, such as Au/TiO2, Pt/ZrO2, and Au/CexTi1−xO2. The noble metal nanoparticles were well encapsulated in a wall composed of the designated transition metal oxides, showing promising potential as stable catalysts as demonstrated by Pt/ZrO2 for methane combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We used an impedance-controlled generator with an internally cooled electrode to perform radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in ex vivo bovine livers, with a single injection of either 38.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) or 10% hydrochloric acid (HCl), to determine the relative effects of these two solutions on tissue impedance, temperature and ablation volume. Materials and methods: We performed 10 ablations each with injections of NaCl (NaCl-RFA), HCl (HCl-RFA) or nothing (RFA-alone), with a power setting of 200 W for 15 minutes. We recorded tissue impedance before and after injection. We logged temperatures obtained from thermocouple probes positioned 5, 10, 15 and 20 mm from the internally cooled RF electrode. After ablation, we measured ablation zone longitudinal and transverse diameters, and we calculated a spherical ratio (SR) for each ablation. Results: Mean post-injection impedance of 30.3 (standard deviation [SD] 2.5) ohms for HCl was significantly lower than that of 55.4 (SD 3.5) ohms for NaCl (p < .001). Mean maximum temperatures recorded at each respective distance from the RFA electrode were all highest for HCl-RFA and lowest for RFA-alone (p < .001). Mean longitudinal and transverse diameters after HCl-RFA (5.50 [SD 0.25] cm and 5.28 [SD 0.22] cm, respectively) were significantly larger than those after NaCl-RFA (4.24 [SD 0.35] cm and 3.55 [SD 0.43] cm, respectively) and after RFA-alone (3.60 [SD 0.10] cm and 2.70 [SD 0.13] cm, respectively) (p < .001). Mean SR after HCl-RFA (0.93, SD 0.02) was significantly higher than mean SR after NaCl-RFA (0.76, SD 0.06) and RFA-alone (0.72, SD 0.04) (p < .001). Conclusion: Monopolar, impedance-controlled RFA, with an internally cooled electrode and a single 10% HCl injection may allow larger tumors to be treated, potentially resulting in improved patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Considering hue preservation in the global and local enhancement methods. • Proposed a variational-based fusion method to improve the global and local contrast. • Contrast optimization and color correction are considered in the fusion framework. Abstract Non-uniform illumination images are of limited visibility due to under-exposure, over-exposure, or a combination of these two factors. Enhancing these images is a very challenging task in image processing. Although there are numerous enhancement methods to improve the visual quality of images, many of these methods produce undesirable results with regard to contrast and saturation improvements. In order to improve the visibility of images without over-enhancement or under-enhancement, a variational-based fusion method is proposed for adaptively enhancing non-uniform illumination images. First, a hue-preserving global contrast adaptive enhancement algorithm obtains a globally enhanced image. Second, a hue-preserving local contrast adaptive enhancement method produces a locally enhanced image. Finally, an enhanced result is obtained by a variational-based fusion model with contrast optimization and color correction. The final result represents a trade-off between global contrast and local contrast, and also maintains the color balance between the globally enhanced image and the locally enhanced image. This method produces visually desirable images in terms of contrast and saturation improvements. Experiments were conducted on a dataset that included different kinds of non-uniform illumination images. The results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the compared enhancement algorithms both qualitatively and quantitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Our objective was to determine the safety and ablation size of hydrochloric acid-perfused radiofrequency ablation (HCl-RFA) in liver tissues, prospectively using in vivo rabbit and ex vivo porcine liver models. Materials and methods: The livers in 30 rabbits were treated in vivo with perfusions of normal saline (controls) and HCl concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, during RFA at 103 °C and 30 W for 3 min. For each experimental setting, six ablations were created. Safety was assessed by comparing baseline weight and selected laboratory values with those at 2, 7, and 14 days’ post-ablation, and by histopathological analysis. The livers in 25 pigs were treated ex vivo with the same five perfusions during RFA at 103 °C, at both 30 W and 60 W, for 30 min. Ablation diameters and volumes were measured by two examiners. Results: Rabbit weights and selected laboratory values did not differ significantly from baseline to 7 and 14 days’ post-ablation, liver tissues outside the ablation zones were normal histologically, and adjacent organs showed no macroscopic damage. The mean ablation volumes in the porcine livers treated with HCl-RFA were all larger than those treated with normal saline perfusion during RFA (NS-RFA), at both 30 W and 60 W (p < 0.001). The largest ablation volume and transverse diameter were observed in the porcine livers during 10% HCl-RFA at 60 W, measuring 179.22 (SD = 24.79) cm3 and 6.84 (SD = 0.36) cm, respectively. Conclusions: Based on our experiments, HCl-RFA in the liver appears to be as safe as NS-RFA while also resulting in larger ablation zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report the experience with first-trimester prenatal detection of pregnancies complicated by trisomy 18.Study design: Proven cases of trisomy 18 identified between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation were retrospectively reviewed. Information on maternal demographics, prenatal sonographic findings, indications for prenatal diagnosis and chromosomal analysis results was obtained by reviewing medical records.Results: During the 7-year period from January 2011 to December 2017, 89 cases of full trisomy 18 had first-trimester indications for prenatal diagnosis at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center. Eighty-five (95.5%) had abnormal sonographic findings in the first trimester. The most common finding was increased nuchal translucency (55.1%), followed by cystic hygroma (18.0%), omphalocele (14.6%), and fetalis hydrops (11.2%). Four cases (4.5%) were not associated with any abnormal first-trimester sonographic finding, and were diagnosed because of routine positive screening results for trisomy 18. A single case was diagnosed because of a positive cell-free DNA (cfDNA) result.Conclusion: These results demonstrate that a large number of fetuses with trisomy 18 have abnormal sonographic findings in the first trimester, and support the continued utility of first-trimester sonographic examination in the diagnosis of this trisomy even with the availability of cfDNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene in the presence or absence of CO 2 over silica-doped TiO 2 supported Ga 2 O 3 catalysts was investigated. The silica doping of TiO 2 support greatly improved the dehydrogenation activity in the absence of CO 2 , which can be ascribed to the increased acid sites. The initial activity in the presence of CO 2 decreased after the silica doping, due to the reduction in reverse water-gas shift ability. However, the selectivity as well as the stability increased, resulting in higher steady ethylene yield. A dynamic process consisting of alternative oxidative dehydrogenation/regeneration cycles by gasifying the carbon deposit with air for 10 min after each cycle of 6 h reaction was also performed and relatively stable ethane conversion ~30% and ethylene yield ~25% can be achieved. The different catalytic behaviors are probably associated with the different state of gallium species, caused by the different interaction between the Ga 2 O 3 and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two cryoprotectant solutions, including trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and several loading durations were used to evaluate the cryopreservation of the shoot tip of Eriobotrya plants. The best results for regrowth (59.91%) were obtained from 10% TMAO compared to 10% DMSO as cryoprotectant, although nonsignificant differences were found for survival between the two cryoprotectants. We detected pronounced effects of loading duration on survival and regrowth rates of shoot tips. The maximum regrowth (56.36%) was observed at 9 h of loading duration. The cryoprotectants and loading durations greatly affected the regrowth of Eriobotrya shoot tips, and TMAO could be introduced as a nontoxic and efficient cryoprotectant. These results could lay a foundation for the cryopreservation of Eriobotrya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three novel donor-acceptor type organic semiconductors PO1TPA , PO2TPA , and 2POTPA composed of arylamine donor and arylphosphine oxide acceptor were designed and synthesized through ortho -linking strategy. By varying the donor/acceptor ratio in these compounds, the effect of donor-acceptor connection pattern on the thermal stability, photophysical and optoelectronic properties of these materials was studied systematically. PO1TPA , PO2TPA , and 2POTPA exhibited high triplet energy due to the ortho -substituted fashion. As a result they were applied in blue, green, and red phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) as host materials. PO1TPA exhibited high electroluminescent performance for blue, green, and red devices with EQE over 20% due to its bipolar charge transport property. It is hoped that the results of this work could enrich the rational construction of host materials based on arylphosphine oxide and arylamine units via ortho -linking strategy for the development of highly efficient OLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A yolk–shell structured metal–TiO2 nanocomposite was constructed using a facile and versatile method. Due to the dual functions of 3-aminophenol which worked as the template precursor and metal ion coordination agent, metal nanoparticles could disperse well, and the as-prepared yolk–shell Ag–TiO2 nanocomposite showed promising catalytic activity for the reduction of p-nitrophenol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the constraints of limited spaces and imbalanced traffic volumes (for both in and out directions) of container gates, reversible lane layouts become an economical and practical way to improve the service level of container terminal systems and make the maximum use of the current terminal resources. Together with a consideration of minimized total costs (both construction and operating) of terminal gate system, this paper first developed an optimization model to decide the number and scheduling rules of the reversible lanes at a terminal gate. A metaheuristic algorithm was built to solve the optimal model. Meanwhile, to reflect the randomness and dynamics property of the terminal gate system in practice, parameters that cannot be calculated from conventional analytic methods are obtained through a simulation model. Finally, a hub container terminal in the northeast of China was employed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method and provide a theoretical foundation for the construction and management of terminal gate systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a synthesis of microporous organic nanotube networks (MONNs) by a combination of hyper cross-linking and molecular templating of core-shell bottlebrush copolymers. The intrabrush and interbrush cross-linking of polystyrene (PS) shell layer in the core-shell bottlebrush copolymers led to the formation of micropores and large-sized nanopores (meso/macrospores) in MONNs, respectively, while selective removal of polylactide (PLA) core layer generated mesoporous tubular structure. The size of PLA-templated mesoporous cores and porous structure both at micro- and meso-scale could be controlled by simple tuning of the ratio of core/shell or the PLA core fraction in the bottlebrush precursors. Moreover, the resultant MONNs showed a highly selective adsorption capacity for the positively charged dyes on the basis of multi-porosity and carboxylate group-rich structure. In addition, MONNs also exhibited effective performance in size-selective adsorption of biomacromolecules. This work represents a new avenue for the preparation of MONNs and also provides a new application for molecular bottlebrushes in nanotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlamydia muridarum induction of mouse hydrosalpinx, depending on both tubal infection and inflammation, has been used for investigating Chlamydia trachomatis pathogenesis. We now report that IL-6 both inhibits C. muridarum infection and exacerbates pathogenicity in the mouse genital tract. When intravaginally inoculated with a high dose of C. muridarum , IL-6-deficient mice developed more extensive genital tract infection with severe hydrosalpinx, suggesting that IL-6 is required for controlling the high dose infection but not essential for C. muridarum -induced pathology. However, at a low dose, IL-6-deficient mice still developed more extensive infection in the genital tract but no longer with significant pathology, suggesting that IL-6 is required for both controlling the low dose infection and exacerbating the low dose infection-induced pathology. The lack of hydrosalpinx in IL-6-deficient mice correlated with significantly reduced inflammatory infiltration in the oviduct tissue and decreased spleen CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that produce TNFα. Thus, IL-6-dependent pathways are important for both limiting chlamydial colonization in the genital tract mucosal tissues regardless of the infection doses and exacerbating chlamydial pathogenicity in the upper genital tract when IL-6-independent pathogenic mechanisms are not yet activated with a low infection dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A convenient method for the preparation of symmetric and unsymmetric bisimidazole derivatives was established. The symmetric bisimidazolylmethane derivatives 1a-9a was prepared with 2-substituted imidazole derivatives 1-9 as reaction materials. However, the symmetric and unsymmetric bisimidazolylmethane derivatives 10a-12a and 10b-12b was obtained, respectively. With 4-position with the azo-groups imidazole derivatives 10-12 were used as reaction materials. All these compounds have been structurally characterized by the NMR, ESI-MS, and EA. And 8a and 12a were also characterized by the X-ray single crystal diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population genetic structure ofOnychostoma lepturumon Hainan Island was investigated based on mitochondrial CR + cytbregion in 63 specimens collected from four populations. Population analyses indicated significant genetic structure (FST = 0.749) and displayed a significant relationship between phylogeny and geography (NST = 0.750 andGST = 0.140). Thirty-one mtDNA haplotypes were classified into four lineages, and these lineages had an almost allopatric distribution. The results of a statistical dispersal-vicariance analysis suggest that the ancestral populations were distributed widely on Hainan Island, and the rising of the central mountainous area of Hainan Island, the Wuzhi and Yinggeling Mountain Range, separated these four drainages into independent lineages. According to a spatial analysis of molecular variance analysis, we divided these populations into three units: ND, CH and WQ + LS, running into Qiongzhou Strait, the Gulf of Tokin and the South China Sea, respectively. According to our study, the exposure of straits and shelf under water retreat gave chances for population dispersion during the glaciations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Simple preparation of stimuli-responsive hydrogels with good mechanical properties and mild stimuliresponsiveness is essential for their applications as smart soft robots. Mechanically strong Janus poly( N-isopropylacrylamide)/graphene oxide (PNIPAM/GO) nanocomposite hydrogels with stimuli-responsive bending behaviors are prepared through a simple one-step method by using molds made of a Teflon plate and a glass plate. Residual oxygen in the air bubbles on the Teflon plate surface affects the polymerization and hence the cross-linking density, leading to the different swelling/deswelling rates of the two sides of the gels. Therefore, the hydrogels exhibit bending/unbending behaviors upon heating/cooling in water. The incorporation of GO nanosheets dramatically enhances the mechanical properties of Janus hydrogels. Meanwhile, the photo-responsive property of the GO nanosheets also imparts the hydrogels with remotecontrollable deformation under IR irradiation. The application of the Janus PNIPAM/GO hydrogels as thermo-responsive grippers is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition-metal phosphides have recently been identified as low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts that are highly active for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Unfortunately, to achieve a controlled phosphidation of nonprecious metals toward a desired nanostructure of metal phosphides, the synthetic processes usually turned complicated, high-cost, and even dangerous due to the reaction chemistry related to different phosphorus sources. It becomes even more challenging when considering the integration of those active metal phosphides with the structural engineering of their conductive matrix toward a favorable architecture for optimized catalytic performance. Herein, we identified that the biomass itself could act as an effective synthetic platform for the construction of supported metal phosphides by recovering its inner phosphorus upon reacting with transition-metals ions, forming well-dispersed, highly active nanoparticles of metal phosphides incorporated in the nanoporous carbon matrix, which promised high catalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction. Our synthetic protocol not only provides a simple and effective strategy for the construction of a large variety of highly active nanoparticles of metal phosphides but also envisions new perspectives on an integrated utilization of the essential ingredients, particularly phosphorus, together with the innate architecture of the existing biomass for the creation of functional nanomaterials toward sustainable energy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A single protein (VA-pro) of 22.589 kDa was purified from velvet antler residue. • The enzymatic hydrolysis of velvet antler simulated the gastrointestinal digestion. • VA-pro was dominated by β-turn and β-sheet with high contents of Pro, Gly and Glu. • VA-pro effectively inhibited solid tumor growth of S180 tumor-bearing mice. • VA-pro induced S phase cell cycle arrest of tumor cells by mitochondrial pathway. Velvet antler is a traditional Chinese medicine with various pharmacological values, which is an important raw material for traditional Chinese medicinal wine. Nevertheless, the chemical compositions and bioactivities of velvet antler residue used for making medicinal wine are rarely reported, leading to a waste of resources. In this study, a velvet antler protein (VA-pro) was extracted from velvet antler residue by simulating the gastrointestinal digestion, and its composition, structural characteristics and in vivo anti-tumor activities were determined and investigated. VA-pro possessed high purity with a relatively low molecular weight as 22.589 kDa under HPLC, one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis, and it contained high contents of Pro, Gly, Glu and Ala. Besides, the secondary structure of VA-pro was dominated by β-turn and β-sheet, and VA-pro possessed similar protein sequence, isoelectric point and amino acid compositions to hypothetical protein G4228_020061. The in vivo results substantiated that VA-pro could improve the body weights and immune organ indices, increase the expressions of sera cytokines and regulate the distributions of T and B lymphocytes subsets in peripheral blood of S180 tumor-bearing mice. Furthermore, VA-pro could effectively inhibit solid S180 tumors growth by inducing S phase cell cycle arrest mediated through mitochondria. To summarize, our study provided theoretical support that VA-pro had the potential to be used as an immunopotentiator in immunocompromised or cancer-bearing hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chemical investigation of 95% ethanol extract from the stem and branch of Tripterygium wilfordii has resulted in the isolation and characterization of two new compounds, one neolignan (1) and one phenylalanine derivative (2), as well as four known compounds (3–6). The structures of the new compounds were determined based on extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was defined by X-ray crystallographic analyses and electronic circular dichroism calculation. In addition, compounds 2 and 4–6 exhibited inhibitory effects against NO production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages with the IC50 value ranging from 3.51 μM to 30.40 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report the discovery of a series of new small molecule inhibitors of histone lysine demethylase 4D (KDM4D). Molecular docking was first performed to screen for new KDM4D inhibitors from various chemical databases. Two hit compounds were retrieved. Further structural optimization and structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis were carried out to the more selective one, compound 2 , which led to the discovery of several new KDM4D inhibitors. Among them, compound 10r is the most potent one with an IC 50 value of 0.41 ± 0.03 μM against KDM4D. Overall, compound 10r could be taken as a good lead compound for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]