Search

A family of macrocyclic mononuclear Ln(III) coordination compounds, containing "lasso-type" protection based on cavity microenvironment, are obtained by template-assisted synthesis. The macrocyclic ligand could efficiently sensitize Sm(III) ion, and quantum yields are as high as 1.48 ± 0.03 and 0.24 ± 0.02% for Sm(III) ion in solid state and methanol, respectively. A series of mononuclear lanthanide(III) coordination compounds Ln - 1 a with the "lasso-type" protection have been synthesized based on the flexible [1+1] pendant-arm Schiff-base macrocyclic ligand H 2 L1 a. X-ray structure analysis reveals that the central ten-coordinate Ln(III) ion in every compound adopts distorted bicapped square antiprism geometry which is surrounded by one macrocycle and two axial chelating nitrates. Photophysical measurements have demonstrated that the macrocyclic ligand can serve as an effective sensitizer for Sm(III) ion. The relative compound Sm - 1 a shows efficient luminescence. Especially, the quantum yields are as high as about 1.48 ± 0.03 and 0.24 ± 0.02% for Sm(III) ion in solid state and methanol, respectively. The fluorescence lifetime is 42.3 μs in solid state together with 24.5 μs in methanol. It is proposed that the macrocyclic ligand plays an important role in guaranteeing the effective match of energy levels for Sm(III) central ion and constructing unique cavity microenvironment to shield the Sm(III) ion emitter from possible quenching effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first chiral molecular hybrids based on covalently linked polyoxometalate clusters and enantiopure 1,1′-binaphthyl units have been prepared. Their structures have been confirmed by ¹H NMR, FTIR, and ESI-MS measurements. Such hybrids show moderate chiroptical behavior in solutions, and Cotton effects are observed up to 450 nm, indicating chiral extension from the binaphthyl core to the cluster-containing π-conjugated arms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stabilization of a G-quadruplex (G4) in the promotor of the c-MYC proto-oncogene leads to inhibition of gene expression, and it thus represents a potentially attractive new strategy for cancer treatment. However, most G4 stabilizers show little selectivity among the many G4s present in the cellular complement of DNA and RNA. Intriguingly, a crescent-shaped cell-penetrating thiazole peptide, TH3, preferentially stabilizes the c-MYC G4 over other promotor G4s, but the mechanisms leading to this selective binding remain obscure. To investigate these mechanisms at the atomic level, we performed an in silico comparative investigation of the binding of TH3 and its analogue TH1 to the G4s from the promotors of c-MYC, c-KIT1, c-KIT2, and BCL2. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, combined with in-depth analyses of non-covalent interactions and bulk and per-nucleotide binding free energies, revealed that both TH3 and TH1 can induce the formation of a sandwich-like framework through stacking with both the top and bottom G-tetrads of the c-MYC G4 and the adjacent terminal capping nucleotides. This framework produces enhanced binding affinities for c-MYC G4 relative to other promotor G4s, with TH3 exhibiting an outstanding binding priority. Van der Waals interactions were identified to be the key factor in complex formation in all cases. Collectively, our findings fully agree with available experimental data. Therefore, the identified mechanisms leading to specific binding of TH3 towards c-MYC G4 provide valuable information to guide the development of new selective G4 stabilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A linear fluorinated benzocyclobutene-type monomer (4F-bis-BCB) was facilely synthesized by a one-step copper-catalyzed etherification reaction and a simple precipitation post-purification method. Moreover, a series of BCB-based polymeric low-dielectric (low-k) materials were obtained by the thermal-induced ring-opening copolymerization of 4F-bis-BCB with divinyl tetramethyl disiloxane-bisbenzocyclobutene (DVS-BCB) monomer and further simple thermal curing at high temperature (200–300 °C). The resultant fully cured materials demonstrated excellent low dielectric properties at high frequency of 10 GHz (dielectric constant (Dk)<2.6, dielectric loss (Df)<1.57×10−2), great hydrophobicity (water contact angle >116°), ultra-low water absorption (<0.19% after soaked in water at room temperature for 60 h) and excellent planarization ability (surface roughness<0.56 nm of 3 µm-thick film). Overall, this new fluorinated BCB-type monomer provides us an alternative for the facile preparation of low-k polymeric materials and exhibits great potential for future applications in high-frequency communication and three-dimensional high-density packaging technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform a systematical investigation of the possible deuteron-like bound states with configuration ΞccN(N¯), where N(N¯) denotes the nucleon (anti-nucleon), in the framework of the one-boson-exchange potential model. In the spin-triplet sector we take into account both the 3S1 and 3D1 channels due to non-vanishing tensor force. There exist several candidates of the loosely bound molecular states for the ΞccN and ΞccN¯ systems, which lie below the threshold of ΛcΛc or ΛcΛ¯c. We also investigate the possible loosely bound states with configurations ΛcN(N¯) and ΣcN(N¯). These molecular candidates may be searched for at Belle II and LHC in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility, phylotype, and virulence genes of Escherichia coli (E. coli) from cows with clinical mastitis. A total of 497 mastitis samples were collected and 92 E. coli isolates were identified. E. coli isolates were highly resistance to ampicillin (41.3%), followed by piperacillin (36.9%) and tetracycline (34.7%). Five intimin types, namely μR-ι2, λ, ξR/β2, νR-ε2, η, were observed among 75 EPEC strains with eae gene, with all the intimins were first detected in bovine mastitis milk. And 65 E. coli strains (70.7%) belonged to seven different O serotypes (O121, O91, O22, O26, O128, O111, and O113). For the phylogroup assignment, only 87 E. coli isolates could be assigned into phylogroup B1, A, C, and E. This study suggested the prevailing among EPEC strains isolated from mastitis in five provinces was important to understand the etiology of E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-concentration ozonation was developed as a novel technique to control the excess biomass in volatile organic compound (VOC) biofilters. In order to understand the reaction mechanism between ozone and biomass, the changes in properties of ozone exposed extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were investigated in this study. EPS was sequestered from the biofilm, obtained from a biofilter treating gaseous toluene, and then it was exposed to gaseous ozone at 272 ± 22 ppm continuously for 12 h. The total organic carbon (TOC) results indicated that low concentration ozone could not mineralize the EPS to carbon dioxide (CO2) completely. The excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (EEM) results demonstrated that ozone preferred to attack the benzene ring and specific amino acid residues (such as tryptophan) on the protein chain. High performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) results confirmed that the protein molecules were depolymerized after ozone attack, while the molecular weight of polysaccharides was not much affected by ozone. During ozonation, few volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, benzaldehyde and by-products of toluene, were generated, which confirms a minor change in the TOC concentration of EPS. Results revealed that low concentration ozone can reduce the molecular weight of biofilter EPS which can be a key reason for controlling biomass accumulation. Additionally, this can be used to study the composition of biofilm EPS from biofilters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To summarize the best evidence for lung cancer screening and follow-up management of pulmonary nodules, and to provide reference for clinical practice. Methods Extensive literature search on lung cancer screening and follow-up management of pulmonary nodules was conducted in CNKI, WANFANG, VIP, PubMed, EMbase and Web of Science. The information extraction, quality evaluation and summary of evidence were carried out, and the retrieval period was up to December 1, 2022. Results A total of 33 articles were included in this study, including 5 guidelines, 2 expert consensuses, 2 expert recommendations, 14 systematic reviews and 10 cohort studies. Finally, 6 recommendations on lung cancer screening were concluded, including screening process, recommended screening age, recommended high-risk groups, recommended screening means, recommended screening frequency, and smoking cessation intervention among smokers. And 2 recommendations on pulmonary nodule management were concluded. Conclusion This study summarizes evidence of lung cancer screening and pulmonary nodules management, which can provide reference for health care personnel to conduct early screening and follow-up management of lung cancer in high-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities constitute a population that is vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection; COVID-19 vaccination effectively reduces severe COVID-19 in these settings. To examine demographic differences in primary and up-to-date vaccination status against COVID-19 among LTC facility residents, a descriptive analysis of COVID-19 vaccination data from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) COVID-19 vaccination data from October 31, 2022, to May 7, 2023, were analyzed. Being up to date was defined as having received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine dose or having completed a primary vaccination series <2 months earlier. Geographic disparities in vaccination coverage were identified, with substantially lower prevalences of up-to-date status among LTC facility residents in the South (Region 6) (37.7%) and Southeast (Region 4) (36.5%) than among those in the Pacific Northwest (Region 10) (53.3%) and Mountain West (Region 8) (59.6%) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regions. Up-to-date status was lowest among Black or African American (39.9%) and multiracial (42.2%) LTC facility residents. Strategies to increase up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination among LTC facility residents could include and address these geographic and racial differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Aberrant regulation of complement system plays an important role in preeclampsia. • Aberrant complement activation initiated as early as first trimester in preeclampsia. • There is aberrant regulation at the C3a-C5a level in preeclampsia. Recent studies have shown that aberrant activation of the complement system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. There is evidence to suggest that aberrant activation of the complement system may already be present during the first trimester. Here, we performed a prospective study in which peripheral blood samples were collected from 500 women during pregnancy. Twenty-one patients (41 specimens) suffering from preeclampsia later in pregnancy were classified into the study group, and sixty-three gravidas with normal pregnancies (136 specimens) were selected as the control group. The plasma concentrations of complement factor B (CFB), C1q, complement factor H (CFH), C3c, C4, C3a, C5a and soluble C5b-9 (sC5b-9) were measured. The levels of CFB (P = 0.004), CFH (P = 0.002), C1q (P = 0.044), C3c (P = 0.032) and C4 (P = 0.015) were significantly higher in preeclampsia than in normal pregnancy during the first trimester, and these levels became similar to those in normal pregnancy thereafter. Before the onset of preeclampsia, the levels of C3a, C5a and sC5b-9 in the preeclampsia group were similar to those in control group even in late pregnancy. C3a levels showed a significant positive correlation with C5a in normal pregnancy (r=0.658, P< 0.01) but not in preeclampsia (r = 0.001, P = 1).Thus, we found that aberrant activation of the complement system in patients with preeclampsia was initiated during the first trimester but returned to normal pregnancy levels in the second trimester. At the same time, there is aberrant regulation of complement activation at the C3a-C5a level in preeclampsia during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that has been extensively studied for many years. However, finding a complete cure remains a significant challenge. Protein acetylation, especially histone acetylation, plays a significant role in the anti-asthma process. Histone deacetylation inhibitors (HDACi) have been shown to have a curative effect on asthma in clinical practice. An asthmatic mouse model was created by ovalbumin induction. Proteome and acetylproteome analysis were performed on lung tissues. HDACi were tested in the asthmatic mice. A total of 5346 proteins and 581 acetylation sites were identified, among which 154 proteins and 68 acetylation peptides were significantly altered by asthma. Many activated and deactivated processes, pathways, and protein groups were identified through bioinformatics analysis. Sequence motif preference analysis gave rise to a novel Kacrelated core histone region, -KAXXK-, which was postulated as a key regulatory unit of histone acetylation. Asthma involves a variety of proteome dynamics and is controlled by protein lysine acetylation through the core motif -KAXXK-. These findings provide novel avenues to target and treat asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is one of the most common chronic health conditions in children, and social determinants are thought to be important risk factors. We used Georgia data from the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), and data from the Georgia hospital and emergency department survey for children with a diagnosis of asthma. All data were from the years 2011 to 2016. SAS and SUDAAN were used to calculate weighted prevalence estimates and to perform univariate and multivariate analysis of the association between social determinants, demographic characteristics, other potential risk factors, and asthma-related outcomes. The prevalence of asthma is higher in African-American children and when the parental income is less than $75,000 per year. A multivariate analysis adjusting for ethnicity, parental income, and sex found that the strongest independent predictor of asthma was African-American race (aOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.5–5.8). African-American and multiracial children also experienced extremely high burdens due to asthma related hospitalizations and emergency department visits, with rates two to five times higher than children in other groups. The secular trend for ED visits and hospitalizations is declining. African-American race is an independent predictor of asthma in children in Georgia, and African-American and multiracial children experience a greater burden of asthma than children of other races. Programmatic efforts at the state and national level to improve access, adherence, and knowledge about asthma are important if we are to continue to improve outcomes for these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli has been frequently reported as a major foodborne bacterium contaminating raw milk or pasteurized milk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) technique combined with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and propidium monoazide (PMA) to detect culturable E. coli in milk. An internal amplification control was also added into this reaction system as an indicator of false-negative results. The inclusivity and exclusivity of the primers were tested using DNA from 7 E. coli and 14 other bacterial strains. The concentrations of SDS and PMA were determined according to plate counts and quantitative cycle values of qPCR, respectively. A standard curve was established using series diluted E. coli DNA. The reliability and specificity of this method were further determined by the detection of E. coli in spiked milk. The results showed that the optimal concentrations of SDS and PMA were 100 µg/mL and 40 μ M , respectively. A standard curve with a good linear relationship (coefficient of determination = 0.997; amplification efficiency = 100.5%) was obtained. Compared with conventional PCR and PMA-qPCR, the SDS-PMA-qPCR assay was more specific and sensitive in culturable E. coli detection. Therefore, we evaluated and improved the SDS-PMA-qPCR method for detecting culturable E. coli in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: GWAS have identified genetic variants associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). One of the potential uses of these genetic biomarkers is to improve the predictive capacity of existing risk functions. We studied the clinical utility of 4 multi-locus genetic risk scores (GRS's), previously validated in European subjects, among persons of African (AFR), Latino (LAT) and East-Asian (EA) ancestry. Methods: We used data from the GERA cohort of Kaiser Permanente in Northern California (30-74 years old, 69 to 73% female) that included 2,079 AFR, 4,329 LAT and 4,801 EA. We generated 4 GRSs based on 8, 12, 36 and 51 SNPs, respectively, associated with CHD weighted by the magnitude of the association reported by the CardiogramplusC4D Consortium. We used the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) to estimate 10-year CHD risk (< 10%=low, 10 to 20%=intermediate, > 20%=high). Results: After a mean (± SD) follow-up of 5.9 (± 1.5) years, 77, 109 and 101 incident CHD events (AMI, angina pectoris, revascularization procedures and/or CHD death) were documented in AFR, LAT and EA, respectively. In models adjusted for individual FRS risk factors and principal components, GRS_8 and GRS_51 were significantly associated with CHD among LAT while GRS_36 and GRS_51 were significantly associated with CHD among EA. In fixed effects meta-analysis there was no evidence of heterogeneity (all p>0.53). The inclusion of the GRS on top of the FRF did not improve the Harrel's C-statistics in any of the ethnic subgroups nor in the meta-analysis. The bias-corrected NRI in the intermediate FRS group (c-NRI) was statistically significant for GRS_8 and GRS_12 in EA and in the meta-analyses. Conclusions: All 4 GRS's were linearly and directly associated with an increased risk of CHD events among minority subjects in GERA. Reclassification was overall better for GRS_8 and GRS_12 than for GRS_39 or GRS_51. These results support the consideration of the inclusion of genetic information in classical functions for risk assessment among subjects of minority background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the backward propagation of acoustic waves, the direction of phase velocity is anti-parallel to that of group velocity. We propose a scheme to manipulate the backward propagation using a periodical structure. The dynamic backward propagation process is further experimentally observed. It is demonstrated that the oblique incident plane wave moves backward when it travels through the periodical structure and the backward shift can be controlled within a certain range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and widely available, but many adults in the U.S. have not been vaccinated for COVID-19. This study examined the associations between behavioral and social drivers of vaccination with COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the U.S. adults and their prevalence by region. A nationally representative sample of U.S. adults participated in a cross-sectional telephone survey in August–November 2021; the analysis was conducted in January 2022. Survey questions assessed self-reported COVID-19 vaccine initiation, demographics, and behavioral and social drivers of vaccination. Among the 255,763 respondents, 76% received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine uptake was higher among respondents aged ≥75 years (94%), females (78%), and Asian non-Hispanic people (94%). The drivers of vaccination most strongly associated with uptake included higher anticipated regret from nonvaccination, risk perception, and confidence in vaccine safety and importance, followed by work- or school-related vaccination requirements, social norms, and provider recommendation (all p <0.05). The direction of association with uptake varied by reported level of difficulty in accessing vaccines. The prevalence of all of these behavioral and social drivers of vaccination was highest in the Northeast region and lowest in the Midwest and South. This nationally representative survey found that COVID-19 vaccine uptake was most strongly associated with greater anticipated regret, risk perception, and confidence in vaccine safety and importance, followed by vaccination requirements and social norms. Interventions that leverage these social and behavioral drivers of vaccination have the potential to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and could be considered for other vaccine introductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a critical food crop feeding the world, but pathogens threaten its production. Wheat Heat Shock Protein 90.2 (HSP90.2) is a pathogen‐inducible molecular chaperone folding nascent preproteins. Here, we used wheat HSP90.2 to isolate clients regulated at the posttranslational level. Tetraploid wheat hsp90.2 knockout mutant was susceptible to powdery mildew, while the HSP90.2 overexpression line was resistant, suggesting that HSP90.2 was essential for wheat resistance against powdery mildew. We next isolated 1500 clients of HSP90.2, which contained a wide variety of clients with different biological classifications. We utilized 2Q2, a nucleotide‐binding leucine repeat‐rich protein, as a model to investigate the potential of HSP90.2 interactome in fungal resistance. The transgenic line co‐suppressing 2Q2 was more susceptible to powdery mildew, suggesting 2Q2 as a novel Pm‐resistant gene. The 2Q2 protein resided in chloroplasts, and HSP90.2 played a critical role in the accumulation of 2Q2 in thylakoids. Our data provided over 1500 HSP90.2 clients with a potential regulation at the protein folding process and contributed a nontypical approach to isolate pathogenesis‐related proteins. Summary Statement: This work revealed over 1500 clients of wheat Heat Shock Protein 90.2, a highly conserved pathogen molecular chaperone folding a wide range of signal transducers. 2Q2, a chloroplast‐localized nucleotide‐binding leucine repeat‐rich (NB‐LRR) protein, was discovered as a novel powdery mildew‐resistant protein, showing the potential of HSP90.2 chaperome in future plant fungal resistance study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CD4 + T helper (Th)22 cells play a regulatory role in autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes mellitus. The Th22-related cytokine interleukin (IL)-22, the expression of which is increased in diabetes mellitus (DM), can act as a neurotrophic factor to protect neurons from apoptosis. Paradoxically, neuronal apoptosis and learning and memory decline occur in DM. In this study, we investigated the relationship between IL-22 and its receptors IL-22Rα1 and IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP, a soluble inhibitor of IL-22) in diabetic encephalopathy (DE) and the effects of IL-22 on hippocampal neurons, learning and memory. Methods: A C57BL/6 mouse model of diabetes was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, diabetes group, diabetes + recombinantIL-22 (rIL-22) group and diabetes + IL-22BP group. The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate learning and memory, the expression of IL-22 was measured by ELISA, and Evans Blue staining was used to evaluate blood–brain barrier permeability. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to measure the mRNA expression of IL-22 and IL-22Rα1 in the hippocampus. The morphology and number of hippocampal neurons were assessed by Nissl staining, and TUNEL staining was used to detect hippocampal neuronal apoptosis. Immunofluorescence was used to analyze IL-22Rα1 expression and localization in hippocampus, and Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression of IL-22, IL-22Rα1, IL-22BP, and the apoptosis related proteins Caspase-3 and C-caspase-3. Results: Compared with those in the control group, mice in the diabetes group showed cognitive decline; apoptosis of hippocampal neurons; increased expression of hippocampal Caspase-3, C-Caspase-3, IL-22, IL-22Rα1, and IL-22BP; and a decreased IL-22/IL-22BP ratio. Learning and memory were improved, neuronal apoptosis was attenuated, IL-22Rα1 expression and the IL-22/IL-22BP ratio were increased, and caspase-3 and C-caspase-3 expression was decreased in the rIL-22-treated group compared with the diabetes group. IL-22BP treatment aggravated diabetic cognitive dysfunction and pathological alterations in the hippocampus, decreased the IL-22/IL-22BP ratio, and increased the expression of caspase-3 and C-caspase-3 in mice with diabetes. Conclusion: A decrease in the IL-22/IL-22BP ratio plays an important role in diabetic cognitive dysfunction, and rIL-22 can effectively alleviate DE. Herein, we shed light on the interaction between IL-22 and IL-22BP as therapeutic targets for DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are an ideal therapy for type 2 diabetes and, as of recently, for obesity. In contrast to visceral fat, subcutaneous fat appears to be protective against metabolic diseases. Here, we aimed to explore whether liraglutide, a GLP-1RA, could redistribute body fat via regulating lipid metabolism in different fat depots. After being fed a high-fat diet for 8 week s, 50 male Wistar and Goto-Kakizaki rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a diabetic control group, low- and high-dose liraglutide-treated groups and a diet-control group. Different doses of liraglutide (400 μg/kg/day or 1200 μg/kg/day) or an equal volume of normal saline were administered to the rats subcutaneously once a day for 12 weeks. Body composition and body fat deposition were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and MRI. Isotope tracers were infused to explore lipid metabolism in different fat depots. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analyses were conducted to evaluate the expression of adipose-related genes. The results showed that liraglutide decreased visceral fat and relatively increased subcutaneous fat. Lipogenesis was reduced in visceral white adipose tissue (WAT) but was elev ated in subcutaneous WAT. Lipolysis was also attenuated, and fatty acid oxidation wa s enhanced. The mRNA expression levels of adipose-related genes in different tissues displayed similar trends after liraglutide treatment. In addition, the expression of browning-related genes was upregulated in subcutaneous WAT. Taken together, the results su ggested that liraglutide potentially redistributes body fat and promotes browning remodeling in subcutaneous WAT to improve metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of bacteriophage proteins in the host subcellular localization could provide important clues for understanding the interaction between phage and host bacteria as well as antibacterial drug design. To date, computational methods have been reported to identify bacteriophage proteins located in the host cell. However, there is still space for improving the prediction accuracy. The existing methods considering the sequence order correlation and the physicochemical property of protein provide us insights to construct an integrated descriptor based on sequence for phage proteins. Meanwhile, we proposed a feature selection technique to obtain the optimal features. In the jackknife test, the prediction accuracies are 86.7% and 97.9%, respectively for discrimination between PH proteins and non-PH proteins as well as PHM proteins and PHC proteins. Based on our model, we updated the web server PHPred to version 2.0 which can be freely accessed from http://lin-group.cn/server/PHPred2.0 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery of people with psychiatric disabilities requires high-quality nursing care. However, the existing research on the nursing competencies needed for caring for people with psychiatric disabilities have been based on a narrow competency framework. By adopting a broader competency framework, this study aimed to find the competencies needed for the nursing care of people with psychiatric disabilities in a hospital environment. Accordingly, a questionnaire will be developed to measure these competences. First, a literature review and interviews with psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and people with psychiatric disabilities were conducted to develop the pool of competency items. Second, a pilot study was conducted to review the initial pool of items. Finally, a survey of 581 psychiatric nurses was used to conduct a series of principal component analyses to explore the structure of the questionnaire. The 17-item questionnaire included 5 factors, which accounted for 68.60% of the total variance: sense of responsibility, vocational identification, agreeableness, cooperation capacity, and carefulness; the Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were 0.85, 0.85, 0.74, 0.80, and 0.77, respectively. Most of the competencies belonged to attitudes, values, and traits, which were overlooked in previous studies. The questionnaire has satisfactory internal reliability and structural validity, and could contribute some to the selection of the psychiatric workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maltose metabolism of baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in lean dough is suppressed by the glucose effect, which negatively affects dough fermentation. In this study, differences and interactions among SNF4 (encoding for the regulatory subunit of Snf1 kinase) overexpression and REG1 and REG2 (which encodes for the regulatory subunits of the type I protein phosphatase) deletions in maltose metabolism of baker’s yeast were investigated using various mutants. Results revealed that SNF4 overexpression and REG1 and REG2 deletions effectively alleviated glucose repression at different levels, thereby enhancing maltose metabolism and leavening ability to varying degrees. SNF4 overexpression combined with REG1/REG2 deletions further enhanced the increases in glucose derepression and maltose metabolism. The overexpressed SNF4 with deleted REG1 and REG2 mutant ΔREG1ΔREG2 + SNF4 displayed the highest maltose metabolism and strongest leavening ability under the test conditions. Such baker’s yeast strains had excellent potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common degenerative disease among the elderly population. In addition to cognitive impairment, AD is often accompanied by behavioral manifestations. However, little attention has been paid to changes in bone metabolism and related mechanisms in patients with AD. We found that AD mice (APPswe/PS1dE9) had reduced bone density, weakened bone strength, and amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition in the bone tissue. It was further found that targeting autophagy receptors Optineurin (OPTN) and Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) increased bone density and bone strength in AD mice, promoted the clearance of Aβ in the bone tissue, and maintained bone homeostasis. Our study suggests that abnormal Aβ deposition may be the co-pathogenesis of AD and osteoporosis (OP). Targeting OPTN and SQSTM1 has a dual-functional effect of alleviating both AD and OP through selective autophagy that specifically targets Aβ for clearance. Therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy may help guide the treatment of patients with AD complicated with OP. • Alzheimer's disease is often accompanied by behavioral manifestations. • Aβ deposition may be the co-pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. • Selective autophagy contributes to the clearance of abnormally deposited Aβ. • Targeting autophagy is beneficial for Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the synthesis of the first arylimido derivatives of mixed-metal polyoxometalates. Evaluation of the photophysical properties of the generated hybrid materials; Preparation of hybrid materials; Reactions between hexamolybdate and isocyanate.

We report an asymptomatic child who was positive for a coronavirus by reverse transcription PCR in a stool specimen 17 days after the last virus exposure. The child was virus positive in stool specimens for at least an additional 9 days. Respiratory tract specimens were negative by reverse transcription PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Referred somatic pain triggered by hyperalgesia is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It was reported that sprouting of sympathetic nerve fibers into the dorsal root ganglion (DGR) and neurogenic inflammation were related to neuropathic pain, the excitability of neurons, and afferents. The purpose of the study was to explore the potential and mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) for the intervention of colon inflammation and hyperalgesia. Sprague-Dawley (SD) was randomly divided into four groups, including control, model, EA, and sham-EA. Our results showed EA treatment significantly attenuated dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced colorectal lesions and inflammatory cytokine secretion, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, PGE2, and IL-6. EA also inhibited mechanical and thermal pain hypersensitivities of colitis rats. Importantly, EA effectively abrogated the promotion effect of DSS on ipsilateral lumbar 6 (L6) DRG sympathetic-sensory coupling, manifested as the sprouting of tyrosine hydroxylase- (TH-) positive sympathetic fibers into sensory neurons and colocalization of and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Furthermore, EA at Zusanli (ST36) activated neurogenic inflammation, characterized by decreased expression of substance P (SP), hyaluronic acid (HA), bradykinin (BK), and prostacyclin (PGI2) in colitis rat skin tissues corresponding to the L6 DRG. Mechanically, EA treatment reduced the activation of the TRPV1/CGRP, ERK, and TLR4 signaling pathways in L6 DRG of colitis rats. Taken together, we presumed that EA treatment improved colon inflammation and hyperalgesia, potentially by suppressing the sprouting of sympathetic nerve fibers into the L6 DGR and neurogenic inflammation via deactivating the TRPV1/CGRP, ERK, and TLR4 signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Searching for materials with improved electrochemical behaviors is an important topic in portable energy storage devices. In this work a simple one‐step solvothermal process is developed to rationally synthesize nanocellular α‐MnSe and its applications in energy storage devices are studied. The MnSe faradic electrode shows a low internal resistance (0.37 Ω), high capacity (84.7 mAh g−1 at 10 mV s−1), good rate capability, and long cycle life. All‐solid‐state battery‐supercapacitor hybrid (BSH) devices are assembled using binder‐free nanocellular MnSe as the positive electrode and active carbon (AC) as the negative electrode. The MnSe//AC all‐solid‐state devices exhibit large energy and power densities (39.6 µWh cm−2 at 0.96 mW cm−2), extremely low internal resistance (only 1.34 Ω), fast charge process, outstanding cycle stability (119.79% retention after 8000 cycles), and flexibility with rather low bending loss. The wrist strap product by connecting three MnSe//AC all‐solid‐state devices in series can readily drive a green light‐emitting diode for 3 min after 5 s of charging process. This work demonstrates that MnSe is an ideal low‐resistance candidate of electrode materials for all‐solid‐state BSH devices, which is expected to facilitate the development in the portable and wearable energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional quantitative PCR (qPCR) are unable to differentiate DNA of viable Staphylococcus aureus cells from dead ones. The aim of this study was to use sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and propidium monoazide (PMA) coupled with lysostaphin to detect viable Staph. aureus. The cell suspensions were treated with SDS and PMA before DNA extraction. The SDS is an anionic surfactant, which can increase the permeability of dead cells to PMA without compromising the viability of live cells. The lysostaphin was applied to improve the effectiveness of DNA extraction. The reliability and specificity of this method were further determined by the detection of Staph. aureus in spiked milk. The results showed that there were significant differences between the SDS-PMA-qPCR and qPCR when a final concentration of 200 μg/mL of lysostaphin was added in DNA extraction. The viable Staph. aureus could be effectively detected when SDS and PMA concentrations were 100 µg/mL and 40 μM, respectively. Compared with conventional qPCR, the SDS-PMA-qPCR assay coupled with lysostaphin was more specific and sensitive. Therefore, this method could accurately detect the number of viable Staph. aureus cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report the new insight into lanthanide complexes with “shell-type” protection by the natural macrocyclic cavity. A family of mononuclear Ln(III) complexes 1 – 6 based on a 21-membered [1 + 1] Schiff-base macrocyclic ligand H 2 L, originating from extended dialdehyde H 2 pdd and 1,2-bis(2-aminoethoxy)ethane precursors, have been obtained by the template synthesis method. Crystal structure analysis reveals that each Ln(III) ion, coordinated to one macrocycle H 2 L and two nitrates, is successfully capsulated by macrocyclic cavity forming the “lasso-type” architecture. Meanwhile, the photophysical measurements are studied for all six complexes in CH 3 OH, showing characteristic luminescence peaks of the Sm(III) ion in the visible band range for complexes 3 which are attributed to efficient energy transfer from macrocyclic sensitizer H 2 L. This strong luminescence of Sm(III) complex 3 is also quantitatively evidenced and its quantum yield is as high as 0.35% in CH 3 OH at room temperature. Comparing other reported examples these lanthanide complexes support another reliable method to shield Ln(III) ions from quenchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CH3NH3PbI3 films were synthesized by a facile low-cost solution process and were used to fabricate photoconductive detectors. The perovskite photodetector is very sensitive to light, with a high responsivity of 5.51mA/W and a sensitivity of 50 at 5V under 350nm light illumination. The device exhibits the fast rise and decay processes with similar appearance, and the relaxation time constants are 270 and 300ms, respectively. The photo-current shows an evident saturation, without further increase for prolonging the illumination period. The perovskite photodetectors display high responsive performances to short-wavelength lights. This study is expected to provide a fundamental knowledge of perovskite photodetectors with high speed and repeatability for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case incidence rates among residents in nursing homes by up-to-date vaccination status in the U.S. from October 10-2022 to January 8, 2023. The study calculated the proportion of up-to-date nursing home residents who received bivalent COVID-19 booster doses. Possible reasons for not receiving booster doses include low booster vaccine effectiveness, misinformation about the severity of illness, or vaccination fatigue.

Objectives: In summer 2021, the number of COVID-19–associated hospitalizations in the United States increased with the surge of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. We assessed how COVID-19 vaccine initiation and dose completion changed during the Delta variant surge, based on jurisdictional vaccination coverage before the surge. Methods: We analyzed COVID-19 vaccination data reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We classified jurisdictions (50 states and the District of Columbia) into quartiles ranging from high to low first-dose vaccination coverage among people aged ≥12 years as of June 30, 2021. We calculated first-dose vaccination coverage as of June 30 and October 31, 2021, and stratified coverage by quartile, age (12-17, 18-64, ≥65 years), and sex. We assessed dose completion among those who initiated a 2-dose vaccine series. Results: Of 51 jurisdictions, 15 reached at least 70% vaccination coverage before the Delta variant surge (ie, as of June 30, 2021), while 35 reached that goal as of October 31, 2021. Jurisdictions in the lowest quartile of vaccination coverage (44.9%-54.9%) had the greatest absolute (9.7%-17.9%) and relative (18.1%-39.8%) percentage increase in vaccination coverage during July 1–October 31, 2021. Of those who received the first dose during this period across all jurisdictions, nearly 1 in 5 missed the second dose. Conclusions: Although COVID-19 vaccination initiation increased during July 1–October 31, 2021, in jurisdictions in the lowest quartile of vaccination coverage, coverage remained below that of jurisdictions in the highest quartile of vaccination coverage before the Delta variant surge. Efforts are needed to improve access to and increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines, especially in low-coverage areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P2P online lending platforms have been developing rapidly worldwide in recent years. This study seeks to explain platform users' behaviour in different cultures. Specifically, this research aims to investigate the sentiment polarity of the posts in P2P online lending platforms and how it influences the quantity and quality of user reviews. Over 3000 online posts were collected from large online platforms in China and U.S. The findings indicate that in U.S. P2P online lending platforms, there are more reviews for negative-sentiment posts than those for positive-sentiment posts. In a collective culture such as China, there are more reviews in P2P online lending platforms for positive-sentiment posts, and platform participants tend to post strong sentiment information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Merrifield-Simmons index σ is the total number of independent vertex sets (including the empty set) of the graph G. The Wiener index W is the sum of distances in all unordered pairs of vertices of G. We construct some new graphs satisfying σ > W and W > σ, respectively. In particular, infinite graphs satisfying W > σ are invented with graphs with diameter 2 and infinite ones satisfying σ > W are discovered with so-called universally diametrical graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is a severe condition temporally associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we applied the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definition to identify diagnosed and undiagnosed MIS-A cases among adults discharged during April 2020–January 2021 from 4 Atlanta, Georgia hospitals affiliated with a single medical center. Non–MIS-A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification encounter code U07.1. We calculated the ratio of MIS-A to COVID-19 hospitalizations, compared demographic characteristics of the 2 cohorts, and described clinical characteristics of MIS-A patients. Results We identified 11 MIS-A cases, none of which were diagnosed by the treatment team, and 5755 COVID-19 hospitalizations (ratio 1:523). Compared with patients with COVID-19, patients with MIS-A were more likely to be younger than 50 years (72.7% vs 26.1%, P <.01) and to be non-Hispanic Black (81.8% vs 50.0%, P =.04). Ten patients with MIS-A (90.9%) had at least 1 underlying medical condition. Two MIS-A patients (18.2%) had a previous episode of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, occurring 37 and 55 days prior to admission. All MIS-A patients developed left ventricular systolic dysfunction. None had documented mucocutaneous involvement. All required intensive care, all received systemic corticosteroids, 8 (72.7%) required mechanical ventilation, 2 (18.2%) required mechanical cardiovascular circulatory support, and none received intravenous immunoglobulin. Two (18.2%) died or were discharged to hospice. Conclusions MIS-A is a severe but likely underrecognized complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Improved recognition of MIS-A is needed to quantify its burden and identify populations at highest risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Individuals with certain medical conditions are at substantially increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to assess COVID-19 vaccination among U.S. adults with reported medical conditions.Methods: Data from the National Immunization Survey-Adult COVID Module collected during August 1-September 25, 2021 were analyzed in 2022 to assess COVID-19 vaccination status, intent, vaccine confidence, behavior, and experience among adults with reported medical conditions. Unadjusted and age-adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs and APRs) were generated using logistic regression and predictive marginals.Results: Overall, COVID-19 vaccination coverage with ≥1 dose was 81.8% among adults with reported medical conditions, and coverage was significantly higher compared with those without such conditions (70.3%) Among adults aged ≥18 years with medical conditions, COVID-19 vaccination coverage was significantly higher among those with a provider recommendation (86.5%) than those without (76.5%). Among all respondents, 9.2% of unvaccinated adults with medical conditions reported they were willing or open to vaccination. Adults who reported high risk medical conditions were more likely to report receiving a provider recommendation, often or always wearing masks during the last 7 days, concerning about getting COVID-19, thinking the vaccine is safe, and believing a COVID-19 vaccine is important for protection from COVID-19 infection than those without such conditions.Conclusions: Approximately 18.0% of those with reported medical conditions were unvaccinated. Receiving a provider recommendation was significantly associated with vaccination, reinforcing that provider recommendation is an important approach to increase vaccination coverage. Ensuring access to vaccine, addressing vaccination barriers, and increasing vaccine confidence can improve vaccination coverage among unvaccinated adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of the aggregation kinetics of protein amyloids and the structural properties of the ensuing aggregates are vital in the study of the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases and the discovery of therapeutic targets. In this article, we show that the fluorescence lifetime of synthetic dyes covalently attached to amyloid proteins informs on the structural properties of amyloid clusters formed both in vitro and in cells. We demonstrate that the mechanism behind such a "lifetime sensor" of protein aggregation is based on fluorescence self-quenching and that it offers a good dynamic range to report on various stages of aggregation without significantly perturbing the process under investigation. We show that the sensor informs on the structural density of amyloid clusters in a high-throughput and quantitative manner and in these aspects the sensor outperforms super-resolution imaging techniques. We demonstrate the power and speed of the method, offering capabilities, for example, in therapeutic screenings that monitor biological self-assembly. We investigate the mechanism and advantages of the lifetime sensor in studies of the K18 protein fragment of the Alzheimer's disease related protein tau and its amyloid aggregates formed in vitro. Finally, we demonstrate the sensor in the study of aggregates of polyglutamine protein, a model used in studies related to Huntington's disease, by performing correlative fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and structured-illumination microscopy experiments in cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been paid more and more attention to supervised classification models in the area of predicting drug-target interactions (DTIs). However, in terms of classification, unavoidable missing DTIs in data would cause three issues which have not yet been addressed appropriately by former approaches. Directly labeled as negatives (non-DTIs), missing DTIs increase the confusion of positives (DTIs) and negatives, aggravate the imbalance between few positives and many negatives, and are usually discriminated as highly-scored false positives, which influence the existing measures sharply. Results: Under the framework of local classification model (LCM), this work focuses on the scenario of predicting how possibly a new drug interacts with known targets. To address the first two issues, two strategies, Spy and Super-target, are introduced accordingly and further integrated to form a two-layer LCM. In the bottom layer, Spy-based local classifiers for protein targets are built by positives, as well as reliable negatives identified among unlabeled drug-target pairs. In the top layer, regular local classifiers specific to super-targets are built with more positives generated by grouping similar targets and their interactions. Furthermore, to handle the third issue, an additional performance measure, Coverage, is presented for assessing DTI prediction. The experiments based on benchmark datasets are finally performed under five-fold cross validation of drugs to evaluate this approach. The main findings are concluded as follows. (1) Both two individual strategies and their combination are effective to missing DTIs, and the combination wins the best. (2) Having the advantages of less confusing decision boundary at the bottom layer and less biased decision boundary at the top layer, our two-layer LCM outperforms two former approaches. (3) Coverage is more robust to missing interactions than other measures and is able to evaluate how far one needs to go down the list of targets to cover all the proper targets of a drug. Conclusions: Proposing two strategies and one performance measure, this work has addressed the issues derived from missing interactions, which cause confusing and biased decision boundaries in classifiers, as well as the inappropriate measure of predicting performance, in the scenario of predicting interactions between new drugs and known targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a novel severe postinfectious condition associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The purpose of this report is to describe nationwide trends in the evolving clinical management of MIS-C. Methods Patients with MIS-C were reported from state and local jurisdictions to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) MIS-C national surveillance system. Patients' case reports were reviewed to ensure that they met the CDC MIS-C case definition and had sufficient data for analysis. The prevalence of use of treatments for MIS-C, temporal trends in use of these treatments, and frequency of administration of different treatment combinations were analyzed. Results There were 4470 patients meeting the MIS-C case definition with onset dates from 19 February 2020 to 31 July 2021. The proportion of patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) has declined over time, from 78.7% in April 2020 to 57.5% in June 2021 (P  = .001). The most common treatments were intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), given to 85.6% of patients; steroids (77.7%), and antiplatelet medications (73.7%); use of each of these treatments has increased over time, particularly in patients not requiring admission to an ICU (all P  < .001). Older patients and non-Hispanic Black patients were more likely to receive additional modes of therapy including vasoactive medication, noninvasive respiratory support, anticoagulation medication, and intubation/mechanical ventilation. Conclusions IVIG, steroids, and antiplatelet medication have become increasingly utilized as standard treatment for MIS-C patients, while the use of other treatments may be contingent on the type and severity of clinical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms underlying osteoarthritis (OA) have recently been hypothesized to involve a dysfunctional immune system. In this study, we collected synovium, synovial fluid (SF), and peripheral blood from 21 patients. Mononuclear cells were characterized using FCM. H&E staining and mIHC histological assessment of synovium were performed. Cytokine levels in the SF were measured using ELISA. We observed similar frequencies of immune cells in the synovium and SF, which were enriched in DCs. Notably, CD1c+CD163+ DC3s were expanded in the synovium and SF. Furthermore, we found that DC3s were primarily located within the ectopic lymphoid-like structure (ELLS) in close proximity to CD8+ T cells. Finally, the level of TNF-α and IL12p70 in the SF correlated with the severity of OA. These data suggest that OA is an immune system-related disease and that DC3s may play an active role in OA progression by promoting ELLS formation and inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and accumulating evidence suggested that proteostatic imbalance is a key feature of the disease. Traditional Chinese medicine exhibits a multi-target therapeutic effect, making it highly suitable for addressing protein homeostasis imbalance in AD. Dendrobium officinale is a traditional Chinese herbs commonly used as tonic agent in China. In this study, we investigated protection effects of D. officinale phenolic extract (SH-F) and examined its underlying mechanisms by using transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans models. We found that treatment with SH-F (50 μg/mL) alleviated Aβ and tau protein toxicity in worms, and also reduced aggregation of polyglutamine proteins to help maintain proteostasis. RNA sequencing results showed that SH-F treatment significantly affected the proteolytic process and autophagy–lysosomal pathway. Furthermore, we confirmed that SH-F showing maintainance of proteostasis was dependent on bec-1 by qRT-PCR analysis and RNAi methods. Finally, we identified active components of SH-F by LC-MS method, and found the five major compounds including koaburaside, tyramine dihydroferulate, N-p-trans-coumaroyltyramine, naringenin and isolariciresinol are the main bioactive components responsible for the anti-AD activity of SH-F. Our findings provide new insights to develop a treatment strategy for AD by targeting proteostasis, and SH-F could be an alternative drug for the treatment of AD. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cellular generation of toxic metabolites and subsequent detoxification failure can cause the uncontrolled accumulation of these metabolites in cells, leading to cellular dysfunction. Amyloid-β protein (Aβ), a normal metabolite of neurons, tends to form toxic oligomeric structures that cause neurodegeneration. It is unclear how healthy neurons control the levels of intracellular oligomeric Aβ in order to avoid neurodegeneration. Using immunochemical and biochemical studies, we show that the Aβ-binding serine protease Omi is a stress-relieving heat-shock protein that protects neurons against neurotoxic oligomeric Aβ. Through its PDZ domain, Omi binds preferentially to neurotoxic oligomeric forms of Aβ rather than non-toxic monomeric forms to detoxify oligomeric Aβ by disaggregation. This specific interaction leads not only to mutual detoxification of the pro-apoptotic activity of Omi and Aβ-induced neurotoxicity, but also to a reduction of neurotoxic-Aβ accumulation. The neuroprotective role of Omi is further supported by its upregulation during normal neurogenesis and neuronal maturation in mice, which could be in response to the increase in the generation of oligomeric Aβ during these processes. These findings provide novel and important insights into the detoxification pathway of intraneuronal oligomeric Aβ in mammals and the protective roles of Omi in neurodegeneration, suggesting a novel therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoporous Ni Cu P amorphous alloy (NPA NiCuP) and nanoporous Ni Cu crystalline alloy (NP NiCu) have been prepared by potentiostatic etching of copper from the electroless Ni Cu P and Ni Cu alloy platings, respectively. The results of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersion Spectrum (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) indicate that the NPA–NiCuP alloy is amorphous structure and shows a porous network structure with the pore size of 100–300 nm. The electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine in alkaline media is investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and double potential step chronoamperometry (DPSCA). The results suggest that the proton diffusion coefficient of redox species and the reaction rate constant of the NPA–NiCuP alloy electrode in KOH solution are higher than those of the smooth electroless Ni Cu P amorphous (SA–NiCuP) and NP–NiCu alloy electrodes. In addition, the NPA–NiCuP electrode has higher anodic oxidation peak current density and lower onset oxidation potential of hydrazine in KOH solution than the SA–NiCuP and NP–NiCu electrodes. Finally, the CV measurement suggests that the NPA–NiCuP electrode has a relatively stable redox behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cell wall lipids phthiocerol dimycocerosates (PDIMs) and its structurally-related compound, phenolic glycolipids (PGLs) are major virulence factors of mycobacterium, as shown by the reduced growth of PDIMs/PGLs deficient mutants in various animal models. PDIMs/PGLs play active roles in modulating host immune responses. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of how PDIMs/PGLs deficient mutant was eliminated in vivo are still elusive. Our aim was to investigate what host immune responses have effect on mycobacterium elimination in vivo. Using microarray, we find PDIMs/PGLs modulate divergent host responses, including chemotaxis and focal adhesion's downstream pathway and apoptosis. We examine these two host responses by Diff-Quik stain, coupled with transmission electron microscopy and TUNEL stain respectively. The ultrastructure observation showed that eosinophils appeared in WT-infected zebrafish at day 1, however eosinophils arrived was delayed to day 7 in PDIMs/PGLs-deficient mutant-infected animals. More intriguingly, apoptosis was markedly increased in PDIMs/PGLs-mutant infected zebrafish at day 1 after infection, compared to WT-infected fishes at this time. However, apoptosis trend was fully reversed by day 7, with increased apoptosis were detected in WT-infected zebrafish compared with the PDIMs/PGLs-deficient mutant, especially more apoptosis within the granuloma. This study shows that the anti-apoptotic effects of PDIMs/PGLs and the recruitment of eosinophils in tissue during the early infection in zebrafish might promote bacterium growth in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xinglong Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), is one of the major optical observatories in China, which hosts nine optical telescopes including the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) and the 2.16 m reflector. Scientific research from these telescopes is focused on stars, galaxies, and exoplanets using multicolor photometry and spectroscopic observations. Therefore, it is important to provide the observing conditions of the site, in detail, to the astronomers for an efficient use of these facilities. In this article, we present the characterization of observing conditions at Xinglong Observatory based on the monitoring of meteorology, seeing and sky brightness during the period from 2007 to 2014. Meteorological data were collected from a commercial Automatic Weather Station (AWS), calibrated by China Meteorological Administration. Mean and median wind speed are almost constant during the period analyzed and ranged from 1:0 to 3:5 m s-1. However, high wind speed (≥15 m s-1) interrupts observations, mainly, during the winter and spring. Statistical analysis of air temperature showed the temperature difference between daytime and nighttime, which can be solved by opening the ventilation device and the slit of the dome at least 1 hr before observations. Analysis resulted in average percentage of photometric nights and spectroscopic nights are 32% and 63% per year, respectively. The distribution of photometric nights and spectroscopic nights has a significant seasonal tendency, worse in summer due to clouds, dust, and high humidity. Seeing measurements were obtained using the Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM). Mean and median values of seeing over 1 year are around 1.9" and 1.7", respectively. Eighty percent of nights with seeing values are below 2.6", whereas the distribution peaks around 1.8". The measurements of sky brightness are acquired from the Sky Quality Meter (SQM) and photometric observations. Analysis shows that sky brightness at the zenith is around 21:1 mag arcsec-2 and becomes brighter with a larger zenith angle. Sky brightness increases due to the light pollution of the surrounding cities, Beijing, Tangshan, and Chengde. Significant influence toward the direction of Beijing, at an altitude of 30°, can increase the sky brightness up to 20:0 mag arcsec-2. Sky brightness reduces after midnight, mainly because of the influence of city lights and the artificial acts. The above results suggest that Xinglong Observatory is still a good site for astronomical observations. Our analysis of the observing conditions at Xinglong Observatory can be used as a reference to the observers on targets selection, observing strategy, and telescope operati [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A seriesof cobalt-based catalysts supported on several acidic/basicoxides were prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation methodand applied for the one-pot synthesis of isophorone diamine (IPDA)from hydroamination of isophorone nitrile (IPN). The effects of thesupports and cobalt loading on the performance of the catalysts wereinvestigated. The results showed that the Co/SiO2catalystwith 20 wt % Co loading gave the highest conversion of IPN (90.9%)and yield of IPDA (70.4 mol %) among the supported cobalt catalystsused in this work, and it could be reused eight times without a significantdecrease in the catalytic performance, which was much better thanthat from the commercial Raney Co. Meanwhile, the possible intermediatesand reaction pathways during hydroamination of IPN were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) was reported in association with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. MIS-A was included in the list of adverse events to be monitored as part of the emergency use authorizations issued for COVID-19 vaccines. Methods Reports of MIS-A patients received by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after COVID-19 vaccines became available were assessed. Data collected on the patients included clinical and demographic characteristics and their vaccine status. The Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) was also reviewed for possible cases of MIS-A. Results From 14 December 2020 to 30 April 2021, 20 patients who met the case definition for MIS-A were reported to CDC. Their median age was 35 years (range, 21–66 years), and 13 (65%) were male. Overall, 16 (80%) patients had a preceding COVID-19-like illness a median of 26 days (range 11–78 days) before MIS-A onset. All 20 patients had laboratory evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Seven MIS-A patients (35%) received COVID-19 vaccine a median of 10 days (range, 6–45 days) before MIS-A onset; 3 patients received a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine 4, 17, and 22 days before MIS-A onset. Patients with MIS-A predominantly had gastrointestinal and cardiac manifestations and hypotension or shock. Conclusions Although 7 patients were reported to have received COVID-19 vaccine, all had evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Given the widespread use of COVID-19 vaccines, the lack of reporting of MIS-A associated with vaccination alone, without evidence of underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection, is reassuring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a severe hyperinflammatory condition in persons aged <21 years associated with antecedent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Our objective was to describe MIS-C cases reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) national surveillance since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began. Methods We included patients meeting the MIS-C case definition with onset date from 19 February 2020 through 31 July 2021, using CDC's MIS-C case report form, which collects information on demographics, clinical presentation, and laboratory results. Trends over time across 3 MIS-C pandemic waves were assessed using Cochran-Armitage test for categorical and Jonckheere-Terpstra test for continuous variables. Results Of 4901 reported cases, 4470 met inclusion criteria. Median patient age increased over time (P  < .001), with a median of 9 years (interquartile range, 5–13 years) during the most recent (third) wave. Male predominance also increased (62% in third wave, P  < .001). A significant (P  < .001) increase in severe hematologic and gastrointestinal involvement was observed across the study period. Frequency of several cardiovascular complications (ie, cardiac dysfunction, myocarditis, and shock/vasopressor receipt) and renal failure declined (P  < .001). Provision of critical care including mechanical ventilation (P  < .001) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO; P  = .046) decreased, as did duration of hospitalization and mortality (each P  < .001). Conclusions Over the first 3 pandemic waves of MIS-C in the United States, cardiovascular complications and clinical outcomes including length of hospitalization, receipt of ECMO, and death decreased over time. These data serve as a baseline for monitoring future trends associated with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) or other variants and increased COVID-19 vaccination among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust aerosols persistently affect nearly all landscapes worldwide, and the saltation activity caused by dusty weather (e.g., dust days) releases considerable amounts of aerosol into the atmosphere. Nevertheless, dust-induced saltation activity may also occur on non-dust days. To date, few studies have investigated the saltation activity characteristics on non-dust days. Moreover, the contribution of non-dust days to the total saltation activity remains ambiguous. This study comprehensively investigates the characteristics of saltation activity on non-dust days. Specifically, we analyze the influence of the saltation activity of non-dust days on dust aerosols by utilizing saltation, atmospheric, soil, dust aerosol (i.e., PM10 and aerosol optical depth), and weather record data obtained from the Taklimakan Desert, China, between 2008 and 2010. Our results show that lower temperature, vapor pressure, and soil moisture on non-dust days reduces the saltation threshold velocity (5.9 m/s) more compared to on dust days (6.5 m/s). Furthermore, regarding wind speed, relatively strong monthly saltation activity occurs from March to August, and daily saltation activity occurs from 9:00 to 16:00. Although non-dust days only contribute 18.5% and 7.7% to saltation time and saltation count, respectively, both significantly influence the dust aerosols. Therefore, the effect of saltation activity on non-dust days cannot be undervalued, particularly while performing dust aerosol studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research aimed at understanding the specific role of glycosylation patterns in protein function would greatly benefit from additional approaches allowing direct access to homogeneous glycoproteins. Herein the development and application of an efficient approach for the synthesis of complex homogenously glycosylated peptides based on a multifunctional photocleavable auxiliary is described. The presence of a PEG polymer within the auxiliary enables sequential enzymatic glycosylation and straightforward isolation in excellent yields. The auxiliary-modified peptides can be directly used in native chemical ligations with peptide thioesters easily obtained by direct hydrazinolysis of the respective glycosylated peptidyl resins and subsequent oxidation. The ligated glycopeptides can be smoothly deprotected by UV irradiation. We apply this approach to the preparation of variants of the epithelial tumor marker MUC1 carrying one or more Tn, T, or sialyl-T antigens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]