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To improve the performance and reduce the vibration of the mistuned blisk, a novel approach combining hard-coating and multipackets is presented. First, the dynamical models of the blisk without hard-coating and multipackets, the hard-coated mistuned blisk without multipackets, and the hard-coated mistuned blisk with multipackets are established based on the lumped parameter model (LPM). Then, the solved results are compared with those previous literature to validate the feasibility and correctness of the proposed models. Furthermore, the characteristics of the natural frequencies and the vibration responses for the mistuned blisk is investigated by proposed LPMs. Finally, the effect of the hard-coating and multipackets on the vibration characteristics for the mistuned blisk are discussed. The obtained results manifest that the vibration response of the mistuned blisk can be further suppressed when the hard-coating and the multipackets are considered simultaneously compared with only the hard-coating or multipackets considered, which provides useful guidance on the vibration reduction for the mistuned blisk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mineralogical development and diagenetic sequence of lacustrine shales in the Chang 7 Member of the Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin are detailed studied. A model of their depositional system and a diagenetic diagram are proposed in this study. Through detailed petrographic, mineralogical, and elemental analyses, four distinct shale types are identified: argillaceous shale, siliceous shale, calcareous shale, and carbonate, clay, and silt-bearing shale. The main diagenetic process in argillaceous shale is the transformation of illite to smectite, negatively impacting shale porosity. Siliceous shale undergoes carbonate cementation and quartz dissolution, contributing to increased porosity, particularly in mesopores. Calcareous shale experiences diagenesis characterised by carbonate formation and dissolution, with a prevalence of siderite. In carbonate, clay, and silt-bearing shale, the dissolution of K-feldspar contributes to illitization of kaolinite. Argillaceous shale, characterised by more clay minerals and lower mesopore volume, is identified as a potential hydrocarbon seal. Siliceous shale, with the highest pore volume and abundant inter-mineral pores, emerges as a promising shale oil reservoir. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of shale properties, aiding in the prediction of shale oil exploration potential in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Vinylene linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have drawn extensive attention due to their desirable stability, carbon conjugation and opto‐electronic properties. Suitable catalyst is a key factor in the synthesis of vinylene linked COFs, and proton acids and bases are widely reported as catalysts so far. Herein, we report the synthesis of vinylene linked COFs using Lewis acid ZnCl2 as catalyst for the first time. Four COFs with hexagonal pores of different sizes are synthesized by the reaction of 2,4,6‐trimethyl triazine and a series of aromatic aldehydes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "condylarth" genus Hyopsodus is diverse and abundantly represented in Eocene mammalian faunas of North America. In contrast, fossil specimens of Hyopsodus are rather sparse in Eurasia. Only four species of Hyopsodus are known from Asia and two from Europe, as compared to the 18 species of Hyopsodus described from North America. Here, we report a new species of Hyopsodus, Hyopsodus arshantensis sp. nov., from the middle part of the Arshanto Formation in the Erlian Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. The holotype and only specimen of the new species, a right mandible with m1-m2, exhibits a unique combination of characters on m1-m2 not present in other species of Hyopsodus, including a moderately lophodont crown, a long trigonid without a paraconid, an obliquely aligned protolophid, an angle between the cristid obliqua and the posthypocristid slightly greater than 90°, a midline position of the hypoconulid, and a relatively large entoconid. The m1-m2 morphology of H. arshantensis is intermediate between specimens of Hyopsodus from the Wasatchian and Uintan North American Land Mammal Ages (NALMA), and is comparable to that of Hyopsodus from the Bridgerian NALMA. Moreover, its relatively large size is near the size range present among the late Bridgerian species of Hyopsodus. Based on those similarities, in combination with a few fossil mammals from overlying layers, the middle part of the Arshanto Formation could be correlated in part to the late Bridgerian, and the upper part of the Arshanto Formation may bracket the time interval equivalent to the Bridgerian/Uintan boundary. That proposed correlation and somewhat different faunas recognized within the Arshanto Formation suggest that it may be necessary to subdivide the Arshantan Asian Land Mammal Age (ALMA) and/or redefine the Arshantan/Irdinmanhan ALMA boundary in future comprehensive studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "condylarth" genus Hyopsodus is diverse and abundantly represented in Eocene mammalian faunas of North America. In contrast, fossil specimens of Hyopsodus are rather sparse in Eurasia. Only four species of Hyopsodus are known from Asia and two from Europe, as compared to the 18 species of Hyopsodus described from North America. Here, we report a new species of Hyopsodus, Hyopsodus arshantensis sp. nov., from the middle part of the Arshanto Formation in the Erlian Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. The holotype and only specimen of the new species, a right mandible with m1-m2, exhibits a unique combination of characters on m1-m2 not present in other species of Hyopsodus, including a moderately lophodont crown, a long trigonid without a paraconid, an obliquely aligned protolophid, an angle between the cristid obliqua and the posthypocristid slightly greater than 90°, a midline position of the hypoconulid, and a relatively large entoconid. The m1-m2 morphology of H. arshantensis is intermediate between specimens of Hyopsodus from the Wasatchian and Uintan North American Land Mammal Ages (NALMA), and is comparable to that of Hyopsodus from the Bridgerian NALMA. Moreover, its relatively large size is near the size range present among the late Bridgerian species of Hyopsodus. Based on those similarities, in combination with a few fossil mammals from overlying layers, the middle part of the Arshanto Formation could be correlated in part to the late Bridgerian, and the upper part of the Arshanto Formation may bracket the time interval equivalent to the Bridgerian/Uintan boundary. That proposed correlation and somewhat different faunas recognized within the Arshanto Formation suggest that it may be necessary to subdivide the Arshantan Asian Land Mammal Age (ALMA) and/or redefine the Arshantan/Irdinmanhan ALMA boundary in future comprehensive studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrolysis experiments of sawdust with KOH and K 2 CO 3 catalysts were carried out under different heating rate in nitrogen atmosphere using thermogravimetric analyzer. The distributed activation energy model (DAEM) was used to analyze pyrolysis kinetics of sawdust. The results showed that both KOH and K 2 CO 3 had strong catalytic effect on sawdust pyrolysis, which reduced the pyrolysis temperature of sawdust and increased the yield of char. There was only one main peak in DTG curve, which means that the pyrolysis behavior of cellulose and hemicellulose in sawdust was greatly changed. The catalytic performance of KOH was found to be more excellent in sawdust pyrolysis. Also KOH could catalyze the pyrolysis of sawdust at low temperature. The kinetic analysis results showed that the two kinds of catalysts could reduce the activation energy of sawdust pyrolysis and maintain a similar catalytic trend, but KOH had a more stable catalytic performance. • KOH and K 2 CO 3 catalysts were applied to pyrolysis of sawdust. • DEAM was used to analyze pyrolysis kinetics of sawdust. • The catalysts reduced the pyrolysis temperature of sawdust and increased char. • The catalysts reduced the activation energy of pyrolysis, but KOH was more excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The [2+2] cycloaddition is a versatile strategy for the synthesis of strained cyclobutenes of high synthetic value. In this study, two efficient intermolecular [2+2] cycloadditions between two different types of chloroalkynes and unactivated alkene are realized with gold catalysis. Of significance is that the reaction works with challenging monosubstituted unactivated alkenes, which is unprecedented in gold catalysis and scarcely documented in other metal-catalyzed/promoted reactions; moreover, the reaction exhibits excellent regioselectivities, which are much better than those reported in literature. With 1,2-disubstituted unactivated alkenes, the reaction is largely stereospecific. The cyclobutene products can be prepared in nearly gram scale and readily undergo further reactions including various cross-coupling reactions using the C(sp²)-Cl and/or C(sp²)-SPh bond, which in turn substantially broaden the scope of accessible cyclobutenes and enhance the synthetic utility of this bimolecular reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pantographs are an important part of power supply systems of high-speed trains, whose good working performance is a guarantee for the steady power supply and safety operation of high-speed trains. The aerodynamic drag of pantographs will have negative impacts on the running of high-speed trains. In the meanwhile, the disturbance effect of pantographs on airflow will cause large aerodynamic noises when a high-speed train runs at a high speed. Therefore, this paper conducted a numerical simulation for the flow field and aerodynamic noises of pantographs on the symmetrical plane, compared simulation results with experimental one, verified the correctness of the numerical simulation model and further studied the impact of pantograph angles on radiation noises. When pantographs were working, cylindrical rods which were vertical to the direction of airflows had a more obvious disturbance effect on airflows and caused a larger range of vortex shedding. Shedding vortexes were mainly distributed at the pantograph head, hinge joints between upper and lower arms and rear bases. Near-field aerodynamic noises on the longitudinal symmetrical plane of pantographs were distributed at the lower arm, middle hinge joints and bases. The maximum appeared at the middle hinge joints. The intensity of vortexes at the middle hinge joints, lower arms and bases when the pantograph angle was 60° was more than that at other pantograph angles. In this case, the near-field aerodynamic noise of pantographs was more than that of other pantograph angles. In addition, radiation noises of observation points of pantographs in all directions presented an obvious linear relationship. The far-field radiation noise of pantographs was gradually decreased with the increased distance from pantographs. In addition, the far-field radiation noises of pantographs on the same vertical plane had the intensity with the same level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small RNA and degradome sequencing have identified a large number of miRNA-target pairs in plant seeds. However, detailed spatial and temporal studies of miRNA-mediated regulation, which can reflect links between seed development and germination are still lacking. Results: In this study, we extended our investigation on miRNAs-involved gene regulation by a combined analysis of seed maturation and germination in barley. Through bioinformatics analysis of small RNA sequencing data, a total of 1324 known miRNA families and 448 novel miRNA candidates were identified. Of those, 16 known miRNAs with 40 target genes, and three novel miRNAs with four target genes were confirmed based on degradome sequencing data. Conserved miRNA families such as miR156, miR168, miR166, miR167, and miR894 were highly expressed in embryos of developing and germinating seeds. A barley-specific miRNA, miR5071, which was predicted to target an OsMLA10-like gene, accumulated at a high level, suggesting its involvement in defence response during these two developmental stages. Based on target prediction and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of putative targets, nine highly expressed miRNAs were found to be related to phytohormone signalling and hormone cross-talk. Northern blot and qRT-PCR analysis showed that these miRNAs displayed differential expression patterns during seed development and germination, indicating their different roles in hormone signalling pathways. In addition, we showed that miR393 affected seed development through targeting two genes encoding the auxin receptors TIR1/AFBs in barley, as over-expression of miR393 led to an increased length–width ratio of seeds, whereas target mimic (MIM393)-mediated inhibition of its activity decreased the 1000-grain weight of seeds. Furthermore, the expression of auxin-responsive genes, abscisic acid- and gibberellic acid-related genes was altered in miR393 misexpression lines during germination and early seedling growth. Conclusions: Our work indicates that miRNA-target pairs participate in gene expression regulation and hormone interaction in barley embryo and provides evidence that miR393-mediated auxin response regulation affects grain development and influences gibberellic acid and abscisic acid homeostasis during germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paraceratheriid Pappaceras is the earliest unequivocal rhinocerotoid genus to date, for which the osteological morphology is relatively unique compared to other perissodactyls. Due to the poor preservation condition, paleobiological aspects of Pappaceras (or forstercooperiines), such as chewing and feeding behavior, still remain unknown. Under the Extant Phylogenetic Bracket, the cranial musculature of the newly erected Pappaceras meiomenus has been reconstructed using two-dimensional illustrations, drawings and interpretations of the position and general morphology of cranial muscles for which origins and insertions on the skull are visible. In this study, eight muscles are reconstructed, described and compared to the corresponding muscles known or inferred in other perissodactyls, including the m. levator nasolabialis, the m. levator labii superior, the m. caninus, the m. zygomaticus, the m. masseter, the m. temporalis, the m. buccinator and the m. pterygoid. The reconstruction of the masticatory muscles suggests that Pappaceras meiomenus is strictly herbivorous, probably folivorous, with a primary component of vertical biting. The relatively well-developed m. pterygoid (particularly the m. pterygoideus medialis) indicates that Pappaceras meiomenus is similar to hyracodontids, having more advantages in rotary chewing than other non-hyracodontid rhinocerotoids. The configuration of basicranial features shows differentiation between non-hyracodontids and hyracodontids, demonstrating that the well-developed, specialized postglenoid process and the wide glenoid fossa, along with the postcotyloid process of the mandible, serve as a strong fulcrum during the power stroke in non-hyracodontids. Based on its rostral morphology, we suggest that Pappaceras meiomenus was a general browser. The morphology of its incisors and canines further indicate the ability to feed on hard plants, using the postulated puncture-crushing and grinding function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paraceratheriid Pappaceras is the earliest unequivocal rhinocerotoid genus to date, for which the osteological morphology is relatively unique compared to other perissodactyls. Due to the poor preservation condition, paleobiological aspects of Pappaceras (or forstercooperiines), such as chewing and feeding behavior, still remain unknown. Under the Extant Phylogenetic Bracket, the cranial musculature of the newly erected Pappaceras meiomenus has been reconstructed using two-dimensional illustrations, drawings and interpretations of the position and general morphology of cranial muscles for which origins and insertions on the skull are visible. In this study, eight muscles are reconstructed, described and compared to the corresponding muscles known or inferred in other perissodactyls, including the m. levator nasolabialis, the m. levator labii superior, the m. caninus, the m. zygomaticus, the m. masseter, the m. temporalis, the m. buccinator and the m. pterygoid. The reconstruction of the masticatory muscles suggests that Pappaceras meiomenus is strictly herbivorous, probably folivorous, with a primary component of vertical biting. The relatively well-developed m. pterygoid (particularly the m. pterygoideus medialis) indicates that Pappaceras meiomenus is similar to hyracodontids, having more advantages in rotary chewing than other non-hyracodontid rhinocerotoids. The configuration of basicranial features shows differentiation between non-hyracodontids and hyracodontids, demonstrating that the well-developed, specialized postglenoid process and the wide glenoid fossa, along with the postcotyloid process of the mandible, serve as a strong fulcrum during the power stroke in non-hyracodontids. Based on its rostral morphology, we suggest that Pappaceras meiomenus was a general browser. The morphology of its incisors and canines further indicate the ability to feed on hard plants, using the postulated puncture-crushing and grinding function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis, Jacq.) is the most important source of edible oil. The improvement of oil yield is currently slow in conventional breeding programs due to long generation intervals. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) has the potential to accelerate genetic improvement. To identify DNA markers associated with oil content traits for MAS, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping using genotyping by sequencing (GBS) in a breeding population derived from a cross between Deli Dura and Ghana Pisifera, containing 153 F1 trees. Results: We constructed a high-density linkage map containing 1357 SNPs and 123 microsatellites. The 16 linkage groups (LGs) spanned 1527 cM, with an average marker space of 1.03 cM. One significant and three suggestive QTL for oil to bunch (O/B) and oil to dry mesocarp (O/DM) were mapped on LG1, LG8, and LG10 in a F1 breeding population, respectively. These QTL explained 7.6-13.3% of phenotypic variance. DNA markers associated with oil content in these QTL were identified. Trees with beneficial genotypes at two QTL for O/B showed an average O/B of 30.97%, significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that of trees without any beneficial QTL genotypes (average O/B of 28.24%). QTL combinations showed that the higher the number of QTL with beneficial genotypes, the higher the resulting average O/B in the breeding population. Conclusions: A linkage map with 1480 DNA markers was constructed and used to identify QTL for oil content traits. Pyramiding the identified QTL with beneficial genotypes associated with oil content traits using DNA markers has the potential to accelerate genetic improvement for oil yield in the breeding population of oil palm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-throughput small RNA sequencing has identified several potential aluminum (Al)-responsive microRNAs (miRNAs); however, their regulatory role remains unknown. Here, we identified two miR393 family members in barley, and confirmed two target genes--HvTIR1 and HvAFB--through a modified form of 5'-RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) as well as degradome data analysis. Furthermore, we investigated the biological function of the miR393/target module in root development and its Al stress response. The investigation showed that miR393 affected root growth and adventitious root number by altering auxin sensitivity. Al3+ exposure suppressed miR393 expression in root apex, while overexpression of miR393 counteracted Al-induced inhibition of root elongation and alleviated reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cell death. Target mimic (MIM393)-mediated inhibition of miR393's activity enhanced root sensitivity to Al toxicity. We also confirmed that auxin enhanced Al-induced root growth inhibition in barley via application of exogenous 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and the expression of auxin-responsive genes in the root apex was induced upon Al treatment. Overexpression of miR393 attenuated the effect of exogenous NAA on Al-induced root growth inhibition, and down-regulated the expression of auxinresponsive genes under Al stress, implying that miR393 regulates root sensitivity to Al through the alteration of auxin signaling output in barley. Therefore, these data indicate that miR393 acts as an integrator of environmental cues in auxin signaling, and suggest a new strategy to improve plant resistance to Al toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A high-density genetic map is essential for de novo genome assembly, fine mapping QTL for important complex traits, comparative genomic studies and understanding the mechanisms of genome evolution. Although a number of genomic resources are available in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer), a high-density linkage map is still lacking. To facilitate QTL mapping for marker-assisted selection and genome assembly, and to understand the genome-wide recombination rates, we constructed high density linkage maps using three families and genotyping by sequencing. Results: A high-density consensus linkage map consisting of 8, 274 markers was constructed based on sex-averaged genetic maps. The genetic maps were then aligned and integrated with the current genome assembly of Asian seabass. More than 90% of the genome contig sequences were anchored onto the consensus genetic map. Evidence of assembly errors in the current genome assembly was identified. A fragment of up to 2.5 Mb belonging to LG14 was assembled into Chr15. The length of family-specific sex-averaged maps ranged from 1348.96 to 1624.65 cM. Female maps were slightly longer than male maps using common markers. Female-to-male ratios were highly variable both across chromosomes within each family and throughout three families for each chromosome. However, the distribution patterns of recombination along chromosomes were similar between sexes across the whole genome. The overall recombination rates were significantly correlated with genome-wide GC content and the correlations were revealed to be stronger in females than in males. Conclusions: These high-density genetic maps provide not only essential tools for facilitating de novo genome assembly and comparative genomic studies in teleosts, but also critical resources for fine mapping QTL and genome-wide association mapping for economically important traits in Asian seabass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let D = {z ϵ C : ǀzǀ < 1g be the open unit disk, ' an analytic self-map of D and an analytic function on D. Let D be the differentiation operator and Wφψ the weighted composition operator. The boundedness and compactness of the product-type operators DWφψ from the weighted Bergman-Orlicz spaces to the Bloch-Orlicz spaces on D are characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) is difficult. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and crosslinked C-telopeptides of type II collagen (CTX-II) are two markers which can potentially predict the destruction of articular cartilage of early OA. To comprehensively evaluate the diagnosis value of serum COMP and CTX-II markers in OA, the longitudinal and combined measurement of serum COMP and CTX-II were performed at different stages of pathological process of OA in adult rabbits with OA, compared with the sham-operated rabbits. Methods: Thirty-six adult white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups, the OA group and the control group (n = 18 per group). OA models were established by anterior cruciate ligament transection. Sham operations were performed in the control group. Before the surgery and at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 after surgery, serum CTX-II and COMP concentrations were detected using sandwich-ELISA in all rabbits. Three rabbits in each group were killed at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 after surgery, and femoral condyle specimens were collected. Histological changes in articular cartilage were evaluated according to the Mankin scoring criteria. Results: At each time point, the Mankin scores and serum concentrations of CTX-II and COMP were significantly higher in the OA group than in the control group. In addition, in the OA group, there was a significant relationship between the CTX-II and COMP concentrations and the Mankin score. Conclusions: Early dynamic combined detection of serum CTX-II and COMP concentrations is effective for early OA diagnosis and evaluation of OA severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let D = {z ∈ C : |z| < 1} be the open unit disk, φ an analytic self-map of D and ψ an analytic function on D. Let D be the differentiation operator and φ,ψ the weighted composition operator. The boundedness and compactness of the product-type operators DWφ,ψ from the weighted Bergman-Orlicz spaces to the Bloch-Orlicz spaces on D are characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let D = {z ∈ C : |z| < 1} be the open unit disk, φ an analytic self-mapping of D and an analytic function in D. Let D be the differentiation operator and Wφ,ψ the weighted composition operator. The boundedness and compactness of the product-type operator Wφ,ψD from weighted Bergman-Nevanlinna spaces to weighted Zygmund spaces on D are characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the effect of decompression alone and combined decompression, fusion and internal fixation procedure for degenerative lumbar stenosis in elderly patients. Methods: We reviewed 168 lumbar stenosis patients treated using decompression alone or with combined procedures in the department of orthopaedics of Tianjin 4th Centre Hospital from October 2010 to January 2014. The clinical data including age, gender, procedure type, operation time, follow-up period, blood loss, preoperative and postoperative JOA and ODI scores were recorded. The patients were divided into decompression alone group and combined surgeries group according to the procedure type. Results: The combined surgeries group presented with larger blood loss (p<0.05) and more operation time (p<0.05), compared with the group of decompression alone. The preoperative and postoperative JOA scores were significantly higher (p<0.05), and the ODI scores significantly lower in the decompression alone group (P<0.05), but at the final follow-up, there were no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). The complication rate was lower in the group of decompression alone, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Both the decompression alone and combined surgeries can result in a satisfactory effects in elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, but the combined surgeries presented with a relatively higher complication rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let D = {z ∊ C : /z/ < 1} be the open unit disk, φ an analytic self-mapping of D and ψ an analytic function in D. Let D be the differentiation operator and Wφψ the weighted composition operator. The boundedness and compactness of the product-type operator Wφψ D from weighted Bergman- Nevanlinna spaces to weighted Zygmund spaces on D are characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is highly sensitive to cold stress during reproductive developmental stages, and little is known about the mechanisms of cold responses in rice anther. Using the HiSeq™ 2000 sequencing platform, the anther transcriptome of photo thermo sensitive genic male sterile lines (PTGMS) rice Y58S and P64S (Pei'ai64S) were analyzed at the fertility sensitive stage under cold stress. Approximately 243 million clean reads were obtained from four libraries and aligned against the oryza indica genome and 1497 and 5652 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in P64S and Y58S, respectively. Both gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were conducted for these DEGs. Functional classification of DEGs was also carried out. The DEGs common to both genotypes were mainly involved in signal transduction, metabolism, transport, and transcriptional regulation. Most of the DEGs were unique for each comparison group. We observed that there were more differentially expressed MYB (Myeloblastosis) and zinc finger family transcription factors and signal transduction components such as calmodulin/calcium dependent protein kinases in the Y58S comparison group. It was also found that ribosome-related DEGs may play key roles in cold stress signal transduction. These results presented here would be particularly useful for further studies on investigating the molecular mechanisms of rice responses to cold stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the performance and efficiency of the rotating cylindrical shell (RCS), one of the effective ways reduces the mass of the RCS. The scientific and effective method is to design the variable thickness of RCS (VTRCS) along the axial direction in response to this demand. Then, the vibration traveling wave characteristics of VTRCS are investigated by Chebyshev–Ritz method. The displacement field of the cylindrical shell is expanded in the form of the product of the Chebyshev polynomial and the boundary function. The kinetic and potential energies of the VTRCS are calculated based on the Sanders shell theory considering the effects of Coriolis forces and centrifugal forces. Also, the frequency equation of the VTRCS is obtained according to the Ritz method. The accuracy of the modeling method is verified by comparing the present results with literature that had done, and the convergence of the calculated results is studied. Finally, the free-vibration traveling wave characteristics of the VTRCS in different thickness variations are compared, and the parameters such as the rotational speed, thickness variation parameters, and aspect ratio on the free-vibration traveling wave characteristics of the VTRCS are discussed. The influence of thickness variation on the vibration characteristics is analyzed, which has significance for the lightweight design for VTRCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats. Methods. SAP was established in rats by retrograde pancreatic duct injection of sodium taurocholate. In one group, 5 × 106 cells/kg of UCMSC suspension was injected into the tail vein 0 h, 1 h, 6 h and 12 h after the induction of SAP. In other groups, different doses of UCMSC suspension (5 × 104 cells/kg, 5 × 105 cells/kg, 5 × 106 cells/kg or 1 × 107 cells/kg) were administered at 1 h. Serum amylase was assayed at 12 h. Mortality, ascites, serum tumor necrosis factor-a, interferon-y (assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorberit assay) and the wet-dry weight of the pancreas gland were assessed at 48 h. Pathologic changes of pancreatic and pulmonary tissues were observed. Results. Mortality in rats receiving 5 × 106 cells/kg of UCMSCs at 0 h was 10% compared with 58% in the SAP control group. Ascites, serum amylase and wet-dry pancreatic weigfit significantly decreased, and production of tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ were reduced. Pathologic injuries of pancreatic and pulmonary tissues were markedly alleviated. Administration of UCMSCs (5 × 105 cells/kg, 5 × 106 cells/kg or 1 × 107 cells/kg) at 1 h or 5 × 106 cells/kg at 6 h significantly reduced the severity of SAP. The effect was less marked at 12 h and with lower concentrations of UCMSCs. Conclusions. UCMSCs significantly decreased pancreatic injury caused by SAP in a time-dependent and dose-dependent way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the outcomes of arthroscopic microfracture for isolated osteochondral lesions of the talus without combined lesions, in patients of less than 50 years old with lesions of <1.5 cm2. Thirty-five patients (35 ankles) with isolated osteochondral lesions of the talus were treated by arthroscopic microfracture. There were 27 men and 8 women of average age 35 years (range 17–50) and mean body mass index (BMI) 25 kg/m2 (range 20–34) at the time of surgery. Clinical outcome evaluations were performed at a mean follow-up of 33 months. Overall results, as determined using American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scores, were excellent in 16 (46%), good in 15 (43%), and fair in 4 (11%). Mean AOFAS scores improved from 63 points (range 52–77) preoperatively to 90 points (range 73–100) at final follow-up, median Ankle Activity Score (AAS) from 3 points (range 1–5) to 6 points (range 3–8), mean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores from 7 points (range 5–8) to 2 points (range 0–5), and mean Short Form-36 scores showed improvements in physical function, role limitation, bodily pain, social function, and general health ( P < 0.05). In terms of prognostic factors, a longer symptom duration was found to negatively affect outcome, as determined by AOFAS scores, AAS, and VAS scores. Arthroscopic microfracture for isolated osteochondral lesions of the talus is a safe and effective procedure, which provides good clinical outcomes in the majority of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The halogen bonding complexes H2O ⋯ M (M = F2, ClF, and CF4) in comparison with the hydrogen bonding H2O ⋯ HF complex are studied by high-level ab initio calculations and electron topological atoms-in-molecules (AIM) analyses. The basis set superposition error corrections are important to predict if the structures are in good agreement with the experimental results. Both the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations and the AIM analyses indicate a interaction strength order: H2O ⋯ HF > H2O ⋯ ClF ⋯ H2O ⋯ F2 ⋯ H2O ⋯ CF4, with the interaction energies –7.91, –4.16, –1.11, and –1.05 kcal/mol, respectively. The symmetry-adapted perturbation theory analyses have been carried out towards understanding of the nature of the halogen bonding interactions in the complexes H2O ⋯ M (M = F2, ClF, andCF4), where the exchange energies are the predominant repulsive components. For the complexes involving polar monomers, the hydrogen bonding H2O ⋯ HF and the halogen bonding H2O ⋯ ClF, the largest attractive contributions are the electrostatic energies. However, in H2O ⋯ F2 and H2O ⋯ CF4, the attractive dispersion energies become more important, and the induction energy in the former complex is a little higher than that in the latter. In contrary to the red-shifts of H–F, Cl–F, and F–F bond stretching vibrational frequencies in the complexes H2O ⋯ M (M = HF, ClF, andF2), the blue-shifts are predicted for C–F bonds neighboring water in H2O ⋯ CF4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously gaseous mediator, regulating many pathophysiological functions in mammalian cells. H2S has been shown to inhibit myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, little is known about whether H2S could modulate intestinal I/R injury. This study aimed to investigate the effect of H2S on intestinal I/R injury and potential mechanism(s) underlying the action of H2S in regulating the development of intestinal I/R injury in rats. Methods: Following surgical induction of intestinal I/R injury for 1 h, groups of Sprague‐Dawley rats were treated with, or without, tetramethylpyrazine (8 mg/kg), or sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, an H2S donor at 7 or 14 μmol/kg) 30 min after occlusion. All rats were sacrificed immediately after the reperfusion. Their intestinal injury, together with that of sham‐control rats, was histologically examined and their sera and intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activities were characterized by biochemical analysis. Key findings: The results showed that NaHS significantly reduced intestinal I/R injury and the levels of sera and intestinal MDA activity, and dramatically increased the levels of serum and intestinal SOD and GSH‐Px activity. Conclusions: The results suggest that H2S protects from intestinal I/R injury in rats, which is associated with increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents two novel spectral soil area indices to identify bare soil area and distinguish it more accurately from the urban impervious surface area (ISA). This study designs these indices based on medium spatial resolution remote sensing data from Landsat 8 OLI dataset. Extracting bare soil or urban ISA is more challenging than extracting water bodies or vegetation in multispectral Remote Sensing (RS). Bare soil and the urban ISA area often were mixed because of their spectral similarity in multispectral sensors. This study proposes Normalized Soil Area Index 1 (NSAI1) and Normalized Soil Area Index 2 (NSAI2) using typical multispectral bands. Experiments show that these two indices have an overall accuracy of around 90%. The spectral similarity index (SDI) shows these two indices have higher separability between soil area and ISA than previous indices. The result shows that percentile thresholds can effectively classify bare soil areas from the background. The combined use of both indices measured the soil area of the study area over 71 km2. Most importantly, proposed soil indices can refine urban ISA measurement accuracy in spatiotemporal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasma-chemical reactions of several materials are described in this paper. Materials such as quartz and platinum are used for containers of chemical reactions in various fields. Because of their stability chemical reactions do not occur easily, but such reactions can occur within the plasma of a rf ion source, and ion beams of such materials have been extracted from the ion source. This is because of the energetic plasma constituents and the bombardment of material surfaces by these high-energy particles. Various high-temperature chemical reactions can take place in the low-temperature (cool) plasma environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to explore the miR-1247-mediated promotion of osteosarcoma (OS) cell proliferation by SOX9. Methods: We recruited 97 OS patients admitted to our hospital (the observation group, OG) and 82 healthy people undergoing physical examinations (the control group, CG) over the same period into this study. The expression of miR-1247 and SOX9 in human OS cells in vitro was tested to determine the effect of miR- 1247 and SOX9 on OS and to analyze the relationship between miR-1247 and SOX9. Results: We detected lowly expressed miR-1247 and highly expressed SOX9 in the peripheral blood of OS patients (P < 0.05). Both miR- 1247 and SOX9 showed good performances in diagnosing OS. OS cells (143B cells) in the miR-1247-mimics group showed markedly lower cell proliferation and invasion rates and higher apoptosis rates than cells in the miR-1247-inhibitor group and the miR-NC group (P < 0.05). 143B cells in the sh-SOX9 group showed higher proliferation and invasion rates and lower apoptosis rates than cells in the si-SOX9 group and the NC group (P < 0.05). SOX9 protein concentrations were lower in cells in the miR-1247-mimics group than in cells in the miR-1247-inhibitor group and the miR-NC group (P < 0.05), with higher SOX9 protein concentrations in the miR-1247-inhibitor group than in the miR-NC group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: MiR-1247 is lowly expressed in OS. It can promote the proliferation and invasion of OS cells and accelerate the progression of OS by mediating SOX9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pet golden hamsters were first identified being infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) delta variant of concern (VOC) and transmitted the virus back to humans in Hong Kong in January 2022. Here, we studied the binding of two hamster (golden hamster and Chinese hamster) angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 (ACE2) proteins to the spike protein receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of SARS-CoV-2 prototype and eight variants, including alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and four omicron sub-variants (BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, and BA.4/BA.5). We found that the two hamster ACE2s present slightly lower affinity for the RBDs of all nine SARS-CoV-2 viruses tested than human ACE2 (hACE2). Furthermore, the similar infectivity to host cells expressing hamster ACE2s and hACE2 was confirmed with the nine pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Additionally, we determined two cryo-electron microscopy (EM) complex structures of golden hamster ACE2 (ghACE2)/delta RBD and ghACE2/omicron BA.3 RBD. The residues Q34 and N82, which exist in many rodent ACE2s, are responsible for the lower binding affinity of ghACE2 compared to hACE2. These findings suggest that all SARS-CoV-2 VOCs may infect hamsters, highlighting the necessity of further surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae hold promise as a sustainable source of biofuels based on their rapid growth and high lipid content. The objective of this study was to adapt microalgae cultivation on an Algal Turf Scrubber® to local conditions (e.g., climate, dairy wastewater characteristics) for maximizing the productivity, which is critical to the future commercialization of algal biofuels. Analysis shows that ethanol, chloroform, and hexane are generally more efficient in the Soxhlet extraction of lipids than other solvents. Thin layer chromatography is used to explore the conditions for the separation of lipids and chlorophyll. For best separation, we have tried mixed solvents with various compositions. We have also used high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to characterize the separation fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pilot application of an Algal Turf Scrubber® at Eastern New Mexico University for treatment of dairy wastewater from a local dairy continues to show promise. Dairies and Cattle Farms make up a significant portion of eastern New Mexico's economy, and they produce millions of gallons of wastewater every year. Utilizing an Algal Turf Scrubber® could help treat millions of gallons of water and produce thousands of pounds of feedstock for cattle or algal biofuel production. Through collaboration with New Mexico State University, we found using oven dry weight and ash free dry weight are accurate ways to track algal growth at the site. By utilizing the data and comparing it with monitoring data collected from the site we can show the continued plausibility of an Algal Turf Scrubber® to treat dairy wastewater, even in a rural desert environment. We are looking further into increasing the effectiveness of the system by increasing the biodiversity of the algal community and finding new ways to manage the algal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Technical safety and short-term surgical outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) have been investigated in many clinical trials. However, studies with large sample size and sufficient follow-up comparing LAG and open gastrectomy (OG) for AGC have seldom been reported. The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of LAG versus open OG for AGC using a propensity score matching analysis. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 459 and 856 patients who underwent LG or OG with D2 lymph node dissection, respectively, for AGC between June 2007 and June 2012. One-to-one propensity score matching was performed to compensate for heterogeneity between groups. We compared long-term outcomes between the two groups after propensity score matching. Results In the propensity score-matched cohort, no significant differences were observed in 5-year overall survival (OS) (52.0% vs. 53.4%; P = 0.805) and disease-free survival (DFS) (46.8% vs. 47.3%; P = 0.963) between the LAG group and OG group. Stratified analysis showed that the 5-year OS and DFS rates were comparable between the two groups in each tumor stage (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that the operation method was not an independent prognostic factor for OS or DFS. Further analysis showed that the recurrence pattern was similar between the LAG group the OG group (P > 0.05). Conclusion LAG is a feasible surgical procedure for AGC in terms of long-term prognosis, although the results should be confirmed by the ongoing randomized controlled trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a diastereodivergent strategy for constructing bicyclic γ-lactones bearing quaternary carbon centers via ketone hydroacylation. By applying a Rh catalyst and JoSPOphos ligand, either the anti or syn bicyclic γ-lactones can be accessed with high enantio- and diastereoselectivities, depending on the choice of solvent, temperature, and counterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a diastereodivergent strategy for constructing bicyclic γ-lactones bearing quaternary carbon centers via ketone hydroacylation. By applying a Rh catalyst and JoSPOphos ligand, either the anti or syn bicyclic γ-lactones can be accessed with high enantio- and diastereoselectivities, depending on the choice of solvent, temperature, and counterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxymatrine (OMT), which is a quinolizidine alkaloid extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Sophora flavescens Aiton, is often used to treat various inflammatory diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of OMT against septic shock-induced myocardial injury in rats, and to determine the underlying mechanisms. In the present study, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was applied to generate a rat model of sepsis. The rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=8/group): Sham operation (CON) group, OMT control group, CLP model group, and CLP + OMT (high dose, 52 mg/kg; medium dose, 26 mg/kg; low dose, 13 mg/kg) groups. Cardiac function and histological alterations were analyzed by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Myocardial cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. The mRNA and protein expression levels were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Furthermore, the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the myocardial tissue were determined by radioimmunoassay. The results demonstrated that OMT exhibited anti-inflammatory properties, improved myocardial contractility and compliance, and significantly decreased pathological injury to rat myocardial ultrastructure. In addition, OMT significantly decreased heart rate and left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and increased mean arterial pressure, left intraventricular pressure change rate, and left ventricular end systolic pressure in rats following septic shock. Treatment with OMT attenuated the mRNA expression of lipopolysaccharide binding protein, cluster of differentiation 14, nuclear factor (NF)-κB (p65), TNF-α, p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and caspase-3, and decreased the protein expression of NF-κB (p65), phosphorylated (p) NF-κB inhibitor-α, p-p38-MAPK caspase-3 and TNF-α in septic myocardial tissue. The present study concluded that OMT may offer substantial therapeutic potential for the treatment of septic shock-induced myocardial injury by inhibiting the TNF-α/p38-MAPK/caspase-3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted between humans and minks, and some mutations in the spike (S) protein, especially in the receptor-binding domain (RBD), have been identified in mink-derived viruses. Here, we examined binding of the mink angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to mink-derived and important human-originating variants, and we demonstrated that most of the RBD variants increased the binding affinities to mink ACE2 (mkACE2). Cryo-electron microscopy structures of the mkACE2-RBD Y453F (with a Y-to-F change at position 453) and mkACE2-RBD F486L complexes helped identify the key residues that facilitate changes in mkACE2 binding affinity. Additionally, the data indicated that the Y453F and F486L mutations reduced the binding affinities to some human monoclonal antibodies, and human vaccinated sera efficiently prevented infection of human cells by pseudoviruses expressing Y453F, F486L, or N501T RBD. Our findings provide an important molecular mechanism for the rapid adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 in minks and highlight the potential influence of the main mink-originating variants for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two generic deep learning models for automatic classification of dual-phase microstructures were constructed through the semantic segmentation method of DeepLab v3+, based on a small data including 6 SEM images of the U-2Nb alloys with dual-phase microstructure and the corresponding ground truth. One model is suitable for directly classifying images with different gray-level ranges and has a good average classifying accuracy. Although the other model is only suitable for a specific gray-level range, but it cost less for training and can realize a higher classifying accuracy than the former model combined with optimal gray-level adjustment for images. The two DL models were applied to classify dual-phase microstructures of different morphologies and materials, including the isothermal cooling and continuous cooling microstructures of U-2Nb alloys, and the dual-phase steel microstructure, the results of which manifest that both the two models have high classification accuracy and excellent general applicability. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This meta-analysis is aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs in gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG). Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized control trials involving either enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)/fast track surgery (FTS) for patients underwent LAG. EMBASE, Pubmed, Web of science, and Cochrane Library were searched. Primary outcomes included the length of postoperative hospital stay, cost of hospitalization, postoperative complications, and readmission rate. Results: Five randomized control trials were eligible for analysis. There were 159 cases in FTS group and 156 cases in conventional care group. Compared with conventional care group, FTS group relates to shorter postoperative hospital stay (WMD - 2.16; 95% CI -3.05 to - 1.26, P < 0.00001), less cost of hospitalization (WMD - 4.72; 95% CI - 6.88 to - 2.55, P < 0.00001), shorter time to first flatus (WMD - 9.72; 95% CI - 13.75 to - 5.81, P < 0.00001), lower level of C-reaction protein on postoperative days 3 or 4 (WMD - 19.66; 95% CI - 28.98 to - 10.34, P < 0.00001), higher level of albumin on postoperative day 4 (WMD 3.45; 95% CI 2.01 to 4.89, P < 0.00001), and postoperative day 7 (WMD 5.63; 95% CI 1.01 to 10.24, P = 0.02). Regarding postoperative complications, no significant differences were observed between FTS group and conventional care group (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.09, P = 0.10). The readmission rate of FTS group was comparable to conventional care group (WMD 3.14; 95% CI 0.12 to 81.35, P = 0.49). Conclusions: Among patients undergoing LAG, FTS is associated with shorter postoperative hospital stay, rapid postoperative recovery, and decreased cost without increasing complications or readmission rate. The combined effects of the two methods could further accelerate clinical recovery of gastric cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been previously identified that α‑amino‑ 3‑hydroxy‑5‑methyl‑4‑isoxazole‑propionic acid receptors (AMPARs) are expressed in pancreatic β cells and regulate exocytosis and insulin release. It is known that protein interacting with C‑kinase 1 (PICK1) regulates trafficking and synaptic targeting of AMPARs in the central nervous system. However, it is unknown whether PICK1 regulates glutamate‑induced insulin release in β cells. The present study demonstrated that glutamate‑induced exocytosis was increased in β cells derived from PICK1‑knockout mice. In agreement with this result, adding PICK1 in β cells reduced glutamate‑induced exocytosis, whereas adding EVKI, a peptide that interrupts the interaction between AMPARs and PICK1, increased the exocytosis of β cells with the application of glutamate. Furthermore, the conductance of ATP‑sensitive potassium (KATP) channels was reduced in PICK1‑knockout mice, which was reversed by the overexpression of PICK1. In addition, PICK1 application reduced voltage oscillation induced by the closure of KATP. Taken together, the results indicate that PICK1 regulates glutamate‑induced exocytosis in β cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study characterized the electrical and optical properties of single-junction GaAs solar cells coated with antireflective layers of silicon dioxide (SiO2), indium tin oxide (ITO), and a hybrid layer of SiO2/ITO applied using Radio frequency (RF) sputtering. The conductivity and transparency of the ITO film were characterized prior to application on GaAs cells. Reverse saturation-current and ideality factor were used to evaluate the passivation performance of the various coatings on GaAs solar cells. Optical reflectance and external quantum efficiency response were used to evaluate the antireflective performance of the coatings. Photovoltaic current-voltage measurements were used to confirm the efficiency enhancement obtained by the presence of the anti-reflective coatings. The conversion efficiency of the GaAs cells with an ITO antireflective coating (23.52%) exceeded that of cells with a SiO2 antireflective coating (21.92%). Due to lower series resistance and higher short-circuit current-density, the carrier collection of the GaAs cell with ITO coating exceeded that of the cell with a SiO2/ITO coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiotensin II (Ang II) induces cardiac inflammation and remodeling. Emerging evidence indicates that Ang II may utilize the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway in mediating pro-inflammatory and profibrotic activities. However, the precise mechanism is poorly understood. Myeloid differentiation 2 (MD2), a molecule that physically binds to TLR4, confers lipopolysaccharide responsiveness and may also be involved in mediating the actions of Ang II. We hypothesize that MD2 plays an essential role in cardiac inflammation and remodeling induced by local Ang II, and inhibition of MD2 can attenuate Ang II-induced cardiac dysfunction. Using a specific small molecule MD2 blocker L6H21 and the MD2 knockout mice, we show that MD2 deficiency significantly reduces cardiac inflammation and subsequent fibrosis, hypertrophy, and dysfunction in mice challenged with subc2utaneous injection of Ang II. In rat cardiomyocyte-like H9c2 cells as well as rat primary cardiomyocytes, inhibition of MD2 by L6H21 or siRNA knockdown suppressed the Ang II-induced TLR4 signaling pathway activation including MyD88 recruitment, and reduced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and matrix protein expression. These pro-inflammatory activities of Ang II were independent of the AT1 receptor. Finally, we demonstrated the direct interaction between Ang II and MD2 protein via hydrogen bonds on Arg-90, Glu-92, and Asp-100. Ang II produces an inflammatory response and cardiac remodeling by directly binding to MD2, activating MD2/TLR4 complex, and recruiting MyD88. MD2 may be a new therapeutic target for Ang II-mediated cardiac inflammation and remodeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wx gene primarily influences the physiochemical properties changes of rice (Oryza sativa L.) To improve the grain qualities of the cv. Y58S with low amylose content (AC) value, the genetic effect of Wx gene was explored on quality traits. With the BC3F2 genetic population of Y58S line associated with different AC value as the materials, this study reported the genetic effect of three different Wx alleles (Wxa, Wxin, Wxb) under near-isogenic background. It was shown that Wx had major effects on the quality traits, and the genetic effect value was in the order Wxa > Wxin > Wxb. In addition, during the course of physiochemical properties changes of higher AC rice cultivars determined by Wxa or Wxin allele, accompanied by the increasing of AC, gel consistency and head milled rice recovery would be decreased in combination with the rising of chalky traits, all of which resulted in substantial fluctuations on quality traits (p < 0.01). However, the genetic law was not evident for Wxb allele. Therefore, except for the major gene Wx, the minor genes in the regulative network of starchsynthesis might be utilized for quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sugar transporter (ST) plays an important role in plant growth, development and fruit quality. In this study, a total of 75 ST genes were identified in the pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd) genome based on systematic analysis. Furthermore, all ST genes identified were grouped into eight subfamilies according to conserved domains and phylogenetic analysis. Analysis of cis-regulatory element sequences of all ST genes identified the MYBCOREATCYCB1 promoter in sucrose transporter (SUT) and monosaccharide transporter (MST) genes of pear, while in grape it is exclusively found in SUT subfamily members, indicating divergent transcriptional regulation in different species. Gene duplication event analysis indicated that whole-genome duplication (WGD) and segmental duplication play key roles in ST gene amplification, followed by tandem duplication. Estimation of positive selection at codon sites of ST paralog pairs indicated that all plastidic glucose translocator (pGlcT) subfamily members have evolved under positive selection. In addition, the evolutionary history of ST gene duplications indicated that the ST genes have experienced significant expansion in the whole ST gene family after the second WGD, especially after apple and pear divergence. According to the global RNA sequencing results of pear fruit development, gene expression profiling showed the expression of 53 STs. Combined with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, two polyol/monosaccharide transporter (PLT) and three tonoplast monosaccharide transporter (tMT) members were identified as candidate genes, which may play important roles in sugar accumulation during pear fruit development and ripening. Identification of highly expressed STs in fruit is important for finding novel genes contributing to enhanced levels of sugar content in pear fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the mean of anteroposterior (AP) measurements of the uterus in longitudinal and oblique transverse planes, and the pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI) of the uterine artery and superficial skin wound artery between patients taking Channa striatus and placebo. Background: Channa striatus, also known as haruan, is a fresh water snakehead fish consumed in many parts of Southeast Asia. Channa striatus is also normally consumed by women postpartum to promote wound healing as well as to reduce post-operative pain. Methodology: This study is a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in women after Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS). Subjects were randomised to either a Channa striatus or a placebo group and were given a daily dosage of 500 mg of Channa striatus extract or 500 mg maltodextrin, respectively, for six weeks post LSCS. The anteroposterior measurements of the uterus in the longitudinal and oblique transverse planes, and the pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI) of the uterine and superficial skin wound arteries were assessed using pelvic Gray-scale ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound at baseline (Day 3) and at two weeks, four weeks and six weeks post-operatively. Results: Sixty-six subjects were randomised into the study with 33 in the Channa striatus group and 33 in the placebo group. No significant differences were detected in terms of the pulsatility index (PI) and the resistive index (RI) of the uterine and superficial skin wound arteries between the Channa striatus and placebo groups. However, in the Channa striatus group, the AP measurements of the uterus on the longitudinal and oblique transverse planes were significantly lower compared to the placebo group (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Daily intake of Channa striatus extract results in marked differences compared to placebo in terms of uterine involution and recovery in women post LSCS. Trial Registration: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microglial activation has been recognized as being vital in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the identification of therapeutic drugs to prevent microglial activation and thus protect against inflammation-mediated neuronal injury, is required. In the present study, dextromethorphan (DM), a compound widely used in antitussive remedies that has been demonstrated to possess neuroprotective effects, was shown to reduce proinflammatory mediator production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 mouse microglial cells. Western blot analysis revealed that DM markedly suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NFκB), caspase-3 signaling and the expression of another inflammation-inducing factor, heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) and heat shock factor-1, induced by LPS in BV2 cells. Results from ELISA assay demonstrated that DM reduced the release of HSP60, nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 induced by LPS in BV2 microglia. These results were confirmed by immunofluorescence, suggesting that DM may exert a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting microglial activation through the HSP60-NFκB signaling pathway. Therefore, DM may offer substantial therapeutic benefits in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases that are accompanied by microglial activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The treatment methods for the failed internal fixation in elderly patients suffering from several osteoporostic fractures are still inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of endoprosthetic replacement for failure treatment of intertrochanteric fracture. Methodology: A total of 13 patients with failed internal fixation for intertrochanteric fracture were collected between January 2002 and October 2009. All of them were treated with endoprosthetic replacement and followed up till October 2010. Four of them received total hip replacement and the remained nine received artificial bipolar femoral head replacement. Clinical and functional outcomes of patients were assessed. Results: Of 13 patients, nine were females and four were males with the mean age of 76.5 years (SD, 11.7, range, 58-92 years) at the time of fracture. The average time of operation and follow-up was 124 minutes (89-187minutes) and 31 months (14-68 months), respectively. The average blood loss during the operation was 631 ml (450-1560 ml). All patients showed good pain relief and functional improvement. Final postoperative Harris and WOMAC scores were significantly improved from pre-operative levels (P < 0.05). Only five patients showed operative complications. Conclusions: Our finding indicated that endoprosthetic replacement is an effective salvage procedure for failed internal fixation of intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients with effective pain relief and functional improvement as well as few serious complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the desorption kinetics of yttrium, lanthanum and cerium from soils in China. Physicochemical properties of soils; Determinants of rare-earth elements from soils; Role of hydrogen ion concentration in the adsorption of the metal compounds.