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Several mutations identified in phospholamban (PLN) have been linked to familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure, yet the underlying molecular mechanism remains controversial. PLN interacts with sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) and regulates calcium uptake, which is modulated by the protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent phosphorylation of PLN during the fight-or-flight response. Here, we present the crystal structures of the catalytic domain of mouse PKA in complex with wild-type and DCM-mutant PLNs. Our structures, combined with the results from other biophysical and biochemical assays, reveal a common disease mechanism: the mutations in PLN reduce its phosphorylation level by changing its conformation and weakening its interactions with PKA. In addition, we demonstrate that another more ubiquitous SERCA-regulatory peptide, called another-regulin (ALN), shares a similar mechanism mediated by PKA in regulating SERCA activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Capacity deionization technology, an innovative desalination technology, is applied to removing heavy metal ions. • PPy/CS/CNT composite electrode is prepared, and used in CDI process for removing heavy metal ions. • Chitosan is used to improve the stability and moldability of polypyrrole composite electrode. • The specific capacitance of PPy/CS/CNT composite electrode is 103.19 F/g, which is 1.6 times of that of PPy/CNT. • The adsorption capacity of PPy/CS/CNT composite electrode is 16.83 mg/g, which is 2.1 times of that of PPy/CNT. Capacity deionization technology, an innovative desalination technology, is applied to removing heavy metal ions. As a new pseudo-capacitance electrode material, polypyrrole (PPy) is considered as a promising and perfect electrode material of CDI. In this paper, polypyrrole/chitosan/carbon nanotubes (PPy/CS/CNT) composite nano-electrode were prepared by in situ polymerization, and its surface characteristics, electrochemical properties and adsorption performances were tested. SEM and TEM images shown that CS and PPy are coated on CNT surface in order. The BET surface area and BJH pore diameter of PPy/CS/CNT composite nanoelectrode are 33.51 m2/g and 34.57 nm, respecitively, tested by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) test shown that specific capacitance value and adsorption capacity of the PPy/CS/CNT composite nanoelectrode both are increased first and then decreased with the increasing of the CS dosages, and the highest values are 103.19 F/g and 16.83 mg/g at mass ratio of CS:Py = 2:10, which are 1.6 times and 2.1 times of that of PPy/CNT composite nanoelectrode, respectively. The adsorption kinetic data followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating a chemical adsorption process of composite electrode for heavy metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindin, which is a highly conserved extracellular matrix protein, has been documented to play pivotal roles in regulating angiogenesis, inflammatory processes, and immune responses. The aim of the present study was to assess whether mindin contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. A significant up-regulation of Mindin expression was observed in the serum, arteries and atheromatous plaques of ApoE−/− mice after high-fat diet treatment. Mindin−/−ApoE−/− mice and macrophage-specific mindin overexpression in ApoE−/− mice (Lyz2-mindin-TG) were generated to evaluate the effect of mindin on the development of atherosclerosis. The Mindin−/−ApoE−/− mice exhibited significantly ameliorated atherosclerotic burdens in the entire aorta and aortic root and increased atherosclerotic plaque stability. Moreover, bone marrow transplantation further demonstrated that mindin deficiency in macrophages was largely responsible for the alleviated atherogenesis. The Lyz2-mindin-TG mice exhibited the opposite phenotype. Mindin deficiency enhanced foam cell formation by increasing the expression of cholesterol effectors, including ABCA1 and ABCG1. The mechanistic study indicated that mindin ablation promoted LXR-β expression via a direct interaction. Importantly, LXR-β inhibition largely reversed the ameliorating effect of mindin deficiency on foam cell formation and ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression. The present study demonstrated that mindin deficiency serves as a novel mediator that protects against foam cell formation and atherosclerosis by directly interacting with LXR-β. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), antibodies targeting PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1)/PDL1 (programmed death-ligand 1) or CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte--associated protein 4), have revolutionized cancer management but are associated with devastating immune-related adverse events including myocarditis. The main risk factor for ICI myocarditis is the use of combination PD-1 and CTLA4 inhibition. ICI myocarditis is often fulminant and is pathologically characterized by myocardial infiltration of T lymphocytes and macrophages. Although much has been learned about the role of T-cells in ICI myocarditis, little is understood about the identity, transcriptional diversity, and functions of infiltrating macrophages. METHODS: We used an established murine ICI myocarditis model (Ctla4+/-Pdcd1-/- mice) to explore the cardiac immune landscape using single-cell RNA-sequencing, immunostaining, flow cytometry, in situ RNA hybridization, molecular imaging, and antibody neutralization studies. RESULTS: We observed marked increases in CCR2 (C-C chemokine receptor type 2)+ monocyte-derived macrophages and CD8+ T-cells in this model. The macrophage compartment was heterogeneous and displayed marked enrichment in an inflammatory CCR2+ subpopulation highly expressing Cxcl9 (chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 9), Cxcl10 (chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 10), Gbp2b (interferon-induced guanylate-binding protein 2b), and Fcgr4 (Fc receptor, IgG, low affinity IV) that originated from CCR2+ monocytes. It is important that a similar macrophage population expressing CXCL9, CXCL10, and CD16α (human homologue of mouse FcgR4) was expanded in patients with ICI myocarditis. In silico prediction of cell-cell communication suggested interactions between T-cells and Cxcl9+Cxcl10+ macrophages via IFN-γ (interferon gamma) and CXCR3 (CXC chemokine receptor 3) signaling pathways. Depleting CD8+ T-cells or macrophages and blockade of IFN-γ signaling blunted the expansion of Cxcl9+Cxcl10+ macrophages in the heart and attenuated myocarditis, suggesting that this interaction was necessary for disease pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that ICI myocarditis is associated with the expansion of a specific population of IFN-γ-- induced inflammatory macrophages and suggest the possibility that IFN-γ blockade may be considered as a treatment option for this devastating condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and excitotoxicity contribute to neuronal death during ischemic stroke; however, the mechanisms underlying these complicated pathophysiological processes remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we found that the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) was markedly increased after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in mice. TRAF6 ablation in male mice decreased the infarct volume and neurological deficit scores and decreased proinflanunatory signaling, oxidative stress, and neuronal death after cerebral 1/R, whereas transgenic overexpression of TRAF6 in male mice exhibited the opposite effects. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that TRAF6 induced Racl activation and consequently promoted I/R injury by directly binding and ubiquitinating Racl. Either functionally mutating the TRAF6 ubiquitination site on Racl or inactivating Racl with a specific inhibitor reversed the deleterious effects of TRAF6 overexpression during I/R injury. 1 n conclusion, our study demonstrated that TRAF6 is a key promoter of ischemic signaling cascades and neuronal death after cerebral I/R injury. Therefore, the TRAF6/Racl pathway might be a promising target to attenuate cerebral I/R injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work evaluated the performance of ionic liquids (ILs) in supported liquid membranes in the removal of total cyanide from wastewater. Membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurements to study the membrane morphology and wetting ability. In particular, the effects of operational parameters such as membrane immersion time, feedphase concentration, and pH on cyanide removal were investigated. ILs are organic salts that are entirely composed of organic cations and either organic or inorganic anions. Since their vapor pressure is negligible, they can be handled easily; this characteristic gives rise to their 'green' nature. In this study, a hydrophobic IL, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim]PF6), was immobilized in the pores of a solid polymeric support made of polyvinylidene fluoride. The optimal conditions were as follows: 1 hour membrane immersion time, 312.24 mg/L feed-phase concentration, a feed-phase pH of 4, 3% NaOH solution, and 1 hour stirring time. The cyanide removal was 95.31%. The treatment of cyanide using supported ionic liquid membrane (SILM) technology is a method with potential applications in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver fibrosis is a common stage in the majority of chronic liver diseases, regardless of the etiology, and its progression may lead to hepatic cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Metabolomics, a powerful approach in systems biology, is a discipline used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the small molecule metabolites of cells at specific times and under certain conditions. The present study aimed to investigate serum metabolic changes following Shu Gan Jian Pi formula (SGJPF) treatment of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‑induced liver fibrosis in rats using gas chromatography‑time of flight mass spectrometry (GC‑TOFMS). In addition, the potential mechanisms were explored. Rat liver fibrosis was induced by twice‑weekly subcutaneous CCl4 injection for 12 continuous weeks. During the same period, the SGJPF group received 16.2 g/kg body weight SGJPF, diluted in water, once a day for 12 weeks. Rats in the control and model groups received oral administration of the same volume of saline solution. Serum samples from the control, model and SGJPF groups were collected after 12 weeks of treatment, and metabolic profile alterations were analyzed by GC‑TOF/MS. Metabolic profile analysis indicated that clustering differed between the three groups and the following 1 2 metabolites w ere detected in the serum of all three groups: Isoleucine; L‑malic acid; D‑erythro‑sphingosine; putrescine; malonic acid; 3,6‑anhydro‑D‑galactose, α‑ketoglutaric acid; ornithine; glucose; hippuric acid; tetrahydrocorticosterone; and fucose. The results demonstrated that SGJPF treatment mitigated the effects of CCl4‑induced liver fibrosis on biomarker levels, thus indicating that SGJPF may have a therapeutic effect on CCl4‑induced liver fibrosis in rats. The mechanism may involve the regulation of energy, amino acid, sphingolipid, cytochrome P450, glucose and water‑electrolyte metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4) is associated with the pathological processes of various inflammatory diseases. However, the potential function and underlying mechanisms of LILRB4 in atherogenesis remain to be investigated. In the present study, LILRB4 expression was examined in both human and mouse atherosclerotic plaques. The effects and possible mechanisms of LILRB4 in atherogenesis and plaque instability were evaluated in LILRB4-/-ApoE-/- and ApoE-/- mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). We found that LILRB4 was located primarily in macrophages, and its expression was up-regulated in atherosclerotic lesions from human coronary arteries and mouse aortic roots. LILRB4 deficiency significantly accelerated the development of atherosclerotic lesions and increased the instability of plaques, as evident by the increased infiltration of lipids, decreased amount of collagen components and smooth muscle cells. Moreover, LILRB4 deficiency in bone marrow derived cells promoted the development of atherosclerosis. In vivo and in vitro analyses revealed that the proinflammatory effects of LILRB4 deficiency were mediated by the increased activation of NF-κB signaling due to decreased src homolog 2 domain containing phosphatase (Shp) 1 phosphorylation. In conclusion, the present study indicates that LILRB4 deficiency promotes atherogenesis, at least partly, through reduced Shp1 phosphorylation, which subsequently enhances the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response. Thus, targetting the 'LILRB4-Shp1' axis may be a novel therapeutic approach for atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver fibrosis is caused by liver injury induced by a number of chronic liver diseases, including schistosome infection, hepatitis infection, metabolic disease, alcoholism and cholestasis. The tissue damage occurring after injury or inflammation of the liver is a reversible lesion; however, liver fibrosis has become a worldwide problem and poses a threat to human health. The development of an effective drug for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis is ongoing and uses information from different occurrences of liver fibrosis. In the present study, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced metabonomic changes in serum and urine at 12 weeks were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to investigate potential biomarkers. Liver fibrosis was induced in rats by subcutaneous injections of CCl4 twice a week for 12 consecutive weeks. Histopathological changes were used to assess the successful production of a CCl4-induced liver fibrosis model. Serum and urine samples from the two groups were collected at 12 weeks. The metabolic profile changes were analyzed by GC/MS alongside principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures. Metabolic profile studies indicated that the clustering of the two groups could be separated and seven metabolites in serum and five metabolites in urine were identified. In serum, the metabolites identified included isoleucine, L-malic acid, α-copper, carnitine, hippuric acid, glutaric acid and glucose. In urine 2-hydroxy butyric acid, isoleucine, N-acetyl-β-alanine, cytidine and corticoid were identified. The present study demonstrated that the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis may be associated with the dysfunction of a number of metabolic pathways, including glucose, amino acid, P450, fatty acid, nucleic acid, water-electrolyte and glutathione biosynthesis. Assessing potential biomarkers may therefore provide novel targets and theories for the innovation of novel drugs to prevent and cure liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the disposal problem of cyanide wastewater, removal of cyanide from wastewater using a water-in-oil emulsion type of emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) was studied in this work. Specifically, the effects of surfactant Span-80, carrier trioctylamine (TOA), stripping agent NaOH solution and the emulsion-to-external-phase-volume ratio on removal of cyanide were investigated. Removal of total cyanide was determined using the silver nitrate titration method. Regression analysis and optimization of the conditions were conducted using the Design-Expert software and response surface methodology (RSM). The actual cyanide removals and the removals predicted using RSM analysis were in close agreement, and the optimal conditions were determined to be as follows: the volume fraction of Span-80, 4% (v/v); the volume fraction of TOA, 4% (v/v); the concentration of NaOH, 1% (w/v); and the emulsion-to-external-phase volume ratio, 1:7. Under the optimum conditions, the removal of total cyanide was 95.07%, and the RSM predicted removal was 94.90%, with a small exception. The treatment of cyanide wastewater using an ELM is an effective technique for application in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new natural hydraulic lime (NHL) has been fabricated from lime mud and 5-15% by weight fly ash by calcination and it has been applied to the preparation of fly ash bricks. Lime and dicalcium silicate have been identified as the main crystalline phases of the new NHL by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Tricalcium aluminate and gehlenite were formed when fly ash content was increased. After calcining at 1,000°C, available lime (31-55% by weight) and sulfate (0.53-0.71% by weight) contents of the new NHL have conformed the performance requirements of NHL. Compressive strength of standard mortars showed that the new NHL met performance requirements. Results also showed that for the new NHL, 900-1,000°C was chosen as the optimum calcination temperature and 10% by weight was the optimum fly ash content. Comparison of the compressive strength of fly ash bricks with the new NHL and ordinary lime has indicated that the new NHL shows better behavior than ordinary lime. Moreover, fly ash bricks with the new NHL have high compressive strength in water curing (5.8-19.7 MPa), natural curing (8.5-20.5 MPa), and autoclaved curing (17.4-22.5 MPa) conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was performed to determine whether aspirin, a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, has an effect on the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in C6 glioma cells. Using an in vitro glioma invasion model, the expression of Cx43 protein in C6 cells was significantly increased following aspirin treatment at a dose of 8 mmol/l for 30, 60 and 120 min via western blot analysis. The peak value of the Cx43 expression was observed in C6 cells after 120 min of aspirin treatment, which was significantly reduced by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In addition, aspirin also significantly increased the gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) activity and reduced glioma invasion, which was induced by PGE2. This led to the conclusion that the aspirin-induced glioma invasion decrease may be associated with the increased expression of Cx43 protein and formation of GJIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of caveolin-1 in rat brain glioma tissue, and to determine whether interleukin-1β (IL-1β) has a role in this process. Using glioma cells, a tumor-burdened rat model was established, and the expression of caveolin-1 protein in the tumor sites was significantly increased following intracarotid infusion of IL-1β (3.7 ng/kg/min), as indicated by western blot analysis. The maximum value of the caveolin-1 expression was observed in tumor-burdened rats after 60 min of IL-1β perfusion, and which was significantly enhanced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In addition, VEGF also significantly increased IL-1β-induced blood tumor barrier (BTB) permeability. The results suggest that the IL-1β-induced BTB permeability increase may be associated with the expression of caveolin-1 protein, and VEGF may be involved in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A certain amount of cyanide is present in wastewater of various industrial processes, such as wet extraction of gold, coal processing, electroplating and other industries. In this work, an experimental study regarding transport of cyanide through a dispersion supported liquid membrane was performed. A model was established to describe the reaction and transport of CN(I) in the supported liquid membrane and the mass transfer kinetics equations were deduced. Through mass transfer kinetic equation it was derived that, when the carrier concentration was under certain conditions, there was a linear relationship between the reciprocal of the permeability coefficient of CN(I) (1/Pc) and n-th power of the concentration of H+ (cnH+), and the parameters Δa(δa/da) and Δo(δ0/d0) could be obtained from the slope and intercept of the straight line. Then the diffusion coefficient do and the diffusion layer thickness δo of the phase interface between the feed phase and membrane phase could be calculated. Factors affecting migration of CN(I) were analyzed, and the stable removal rate of CN(I) was more than 90% with carrier concentration (%TOA) of 2%, feed phase pH of 4, initial CN(I) concentration of 30 mg/L, stirring time of 1 hour, volume ratio of membrane solution to NaOH solution of 2:1, strip phase concentration of 2 mol/L. The results showed that the overall mass transfer rate increased first and then decreased with an increase of TOA concentration, organic-to-strip volume ratio, and strip concentration. Furthermore, the transport percentage of CN(I) was increased, the stability of membrane was enhanced, and the lifetime of the membrane was extended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amide derivatives 6aw were designed and synthesized as potential inhibitors of tubulin polymerization and as anticancer agents. The in vitro anticancer activities of these compounds were evaluated against three cancer cell lines by the MTT method. Among all the designed compounds, compound 6f exhibited the most potent anticancer activity against A549, MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 0.03μM, 0.06μM and 0.05μM, respectively. Compound 6f also exhibited significant tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity (IC50=1.73μM), which was superior to the positive control. The obtained results, along with a 3D-QSAR study and molecular docking that were used for investigating the probable binding mode, could provide an important basis for further optimization of compound 6f as a novel anticancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Yin et al. (Int. J. Quantum Inform. 10 (2012) 1250041) proposed a quantum proxy group signature scheme with χ-type entangled states. The scheme combines the properties of group signature and proxy signature. The study points out that the semi-honest Trent can give the forged signature under the assumption of this scheme. And, we find that even if the three parties honestly perform the scheme, the signature still cannot be realized with high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual fluorescence spectra of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) is investigated using time-dependent density functional theory and complete active space self-consistent field methods. Electronic absorption and emission spectra of DMAP have been investigated in three solvents, that is, cyclohexane, chloroform, and acetonitrile. The present study reveals that the dual fluorescence phenomena of DMAP appear in the cases of acetonitrile and chloroform, but not in cyclohexane. The electronic structures of the ground state and the intramolecular charge transfer states are, therefore, studied in order to reveal the insight of dual fluorescence. Our theoretical results suggest that the twisting of dimethylamino moiety in DMAP is necessary for the intramolecular charge transfer. The mechanism of the dual fluorescence of DMAP is discussed based on the twisted intramolecular charge transfer model and the dual fluorescence phenomenon is explained theoretically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel chiral fluorescence calix[4]arenes functionalized at the lower rim with diphenylethylenediamine and thiourea units were synthesized and examined for their enantioselective recognition abilities by the fluorescence and 1H NMR spectra in DMSO. The results indicate that 1 and 2 both formed a 1:1 complex with amino alcohol and exhibit good enantioselective fluorescent responses for phenylglycinol (receptor 1 KL/KD = 4.85, ΔΔG0 = - 3.90 kJ mol- 1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two quantum secret sharing protocols in the paper of Brádler and Dusek (2004 J. Opt. B: Quantum Semiclass. Opt. 6 63) are analysed and it is shown that both protocols are insecure not only for a dishonest participant but also for an external eavesdropper. An external eavesdropper Eve can steal half of Alice's secret without being detected, if she employs a special attack strategy. We give a possible way to improve the protocol to withstand this attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory was applied to the investigation of photoinduced electron transfer (ET) and the absorption spectrum for a bis-naphthalimide spermine conjugate. The multichannel feature of ET excitation in this system was focused on because four groups may act as electron donors and acceptors. The segment in this conjugate, N-(N-methylpropyl)-1,8-naphthalimide, which contains one donor and acceptor pair, was studied at first. Through theoretical calculation, the absorption band at 340 nm was assigned to the → transition. For the whole system involving four chromophores, this work suggested three types of ET. From the theoretical investigation, the naphthalimide radical anion turned out to be formed via intramolecular ET between the two terminal naphthalimide groups, rather than via the electron transfer between the dialkylamine moiety and the naphthalimide one. Furthermore, the electronic coupling matrix elements according to the generalized Mulliken−Hush theory were estimated and the detailed analyses showed that the strongest absorption was due to the local excitation of the naphthalimide chromophore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrothermal earbon was prepared from waste turmeric residue, and its physicochemical structure was characterized by EPMA, FTIR, XRD and BET. The effects of hydrothermal carbon dosage, pH value, adsorption time and coexisting anions on Br removal from drinking water were studied by static adsorption method. The results showed that after adsorption for 60 min, the adsorption capacity of hydrothermal carbon to 5 mg/L Br was 5.51 mg/g, the removal rate was 55.12%, under the conditions of 25 °C, pH = 7 and 0.5 g/L of the dosage of hydrothermal carbon. The adsorption of Br by hydrothermal carbon fitted to Freundlich isothermal adsorption model, and its adsorption process could be better described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are involved in diverse abiotic stresses tolerance in many different organisms. Our previous studies have shown that the heterologous expression of OsLEA1a interfered with the resistance of Escherichia coli to abiotic stresses. However, in the present study, based on growth status and physiological indices of rice plant, the overexpression of OsLEA1a in rice conferred increased resistance to abiotic stresses compared with the wild-type (WT) plants. Before applying abiotic stresses, there were no significant differences in physiological indices of rice seedlings. After NaCl, sorbitol, CuSO4 and H2O2 stresses, the transgenic lines had lower relative electrical conductivity, malondialdehyde and lipid peroxidation, greater the contents of proline, soluble sugar and glutathione, and higher the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase than the WTplants. The results indicate that the OsLEA1a gene is involved in the protective response of plants to various abiotic stresses by inhibiting cell membrane damage and enhancing reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity. It was speculated that post-translational modification causes OsLEA1a functional differences in E. coli and rice. The present study shows that OsLEA1a could be a useful candidate gene for engineering abiotic stress tolerance in cultivated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting cardiac remodeling is regarded as a key therapeutic strategy for heart failure. Kielin/chordin-like protein (KCP) is a secretory protein with 18 cysteinerich domains and associated with kidney and liver fibrosis. However, the relationship between KCP and cardiac remodeling remains unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of KCP in cardiac remodeling induced by pressure overload and explore its potential mechanisms. Left ventricular (LV) KCP expression was measured with real-time quantitative PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining in pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling in mice. Cardiac function and remodeling were evaluated in wide-type (WT) mice and KCP knockout (KO) mice by echocardiography, which were further confirmed by histological analysis with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining. RNA sequence was performed with LV tissue from WT and KO mice to identify differentially expressed genes and related signaling pathways. Primary cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were used to validate the regulatory role and potential mechanisms of KCP during fibrosis. KCP was down-regulated in the progression of cardiac remodeling induced by pressure overload, and was mainly expressed in fibroblasts. KCP deficiency significantly aggravated pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction and remodeling. RNA sequence revealed that the role of KCP deficiency in cardiac remodeling was associated with cell division, cell cycle, and P53 signaling pathway, while cyclin B1 (CCNB1) was the most significantly upregulated gene. Further investigation in vivo and in vitro suggested that KCP deficiency promoted the proliferation of CFs via P53/P21/CCNB1 pathway. Taken together, these results suggested that KCP deficiency aggravates cardiac dysfunction and remodeling induced by pressure overload via P53/P21/CCNB1 signaling in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent emergence of low-dimensional copper-based halide perovskite Cs3Cu2I5, for use in optoelectronics and radiation detection, has evoked considerable interest. Presently, Cs3Cu2I5 single crystals grown using solution methods barely have clearly defined crystal planes and the crystal quality remains inferior. In this work, we have achieved high-quality Cs3Cu2I5 single crystals featuring prominent crystal habit planes through reducing the growth rate by controlling the concentration of I- ions via the addition of formic acid. The slow reaction between I3- and formic acid at a lower growth temperature can effectively control the concentration of I- ions in the solution, thereby reducing the growth rate and extending the metastable growth range simultaneously. This optimized process can yield high-quality single crystals, with a reduced full width at half maxima (FWHM) of 0.047° for the X-ray rocking curve on the (002) natural crystal habit plane, a substantially improved energy resolution of 7.1% for a photon energy of 511 keV, and an increased absolute light yield to 39 000 photons per MeV. Our study demonstrates that the reaction-controlled growth may be an effective way to improve the crystal quality of the copper-based halide perovskite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a two-dimensional physical model is established in a Hall thruster sheath region to investigate the influences of the electron temperature and the propellant on the sheath potential drop and the secondary electron emission in the Hall thruster, by the particle-in-cell (PIC) method. The numerical results show that when the electron temperature is relatively low, the change of sheath potential drop is relatively large, the surface potential maintains a stable value and the stability of the sheath is good. When the electron temperature is relatively high, the surface potential maintains a persistent oscillation, and the stability of the sheath reduces. As the electron temperature increases, the secondary electron emission coefficient on the wall increases. For three kinds of propellants (Ar, Kr, and Xe), as the ion mass increases the sheath potentials and the secondary electron emission coefficients reduce in sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms underlying neointima formation remain unclear. Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs), which are key innate immune regulators, play important roles in cardiometabolic diseases. However, the function of IRF4 in arterial restenosis is unknown. METHODS: IRF4 expression was first detected in human and mouse restenotic arteries. Then, the effects of IRF4 on neointima formation were evaluated with universal IRF4-deficient mouse and rat carotid artery injury models. We performed immunostaining to identify IRF4-expressing cells in the lesions. Smooth muscle cell (SMC)–specific IRF4-knockout (KO) and -transgenic (TG) mice were generated to evaluate the effects of SMC-IRF4 on neointima formation. We used microarray, bioinformatics analysis, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay to identify the downstream signals of IRF4 and to verify the targets in vitro. We compared SMC-IRF4-KO/Krüppellike factor 4 (KLF4)–TG mice with SMC-IRF4-KO mice and SMC-specific IRF4-TG/KLF4-KO mice with SMC-specific IRF4-TG mice to investigate whether the effect of IRF4 on neointima formation is KLF4-dependent. The effect of IRF4 on SMC phenotype switching was also evaluated. RESULTS: IRF4 expression in both the human and mouse restenotic arteries is eventually downregulated. Universal IRF4 ablation potentiates neointima formation in both mice and rats. Immunostaining indicated that IRF4 was expressed primarily in SMCs in restenotic arteries. After injury, SMC-IRF4- KO mice developed a thicker neointima than control mice. This change was accompanied by increased SMC proliferation and migration. However, SMC-specific IRF4-TG mice exhibited the opposite phenotype, demonstrating that IRF4 exerts protective effects against neointima formation. The mechanistic study indicated that IRF4 promotes KLF4 expression by directly binding to its promoter. Genetic overexpression of KLF4 in SMCs largely reversed the neointima-promoting effect of IRF4 ablation, whereas ablation of KLF4 abolished the protective function of IRF4, indicating that the protective effects of IRF4 against neointima formation are KLF4-dependent. In addition, IRF4 promoted SMC dedifferentiation. CONCLUSIONS: IRF4 protects arteries against neointima formation by promoting the expression of KLF4 by directly binding to its promoter. Our findings suggest that this previously undiscovered IRF4-KLF4 axis plays a key role in vasculoproliferative pathology and may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of arterial restenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was systematically conducted, using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing, to analyze the impact of four different fertilizer application regimes (CK, no fertilization; CF, conventional chemical fertilizer; OF, organic fertilizer; MF, organic-inorganic mixed fertilizer) on the soil physicochemical properties, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), and phoD (gene encoding alkaline phosphatase) microbial community in 0-20cm soil layer at cauliflower harvest season, thus identifying the underlying mechanism of effects of different fertilization regimes on the structure and diversity of phoD microbe under integrated planting and breeding system in vegetable field. The results showed that: (1) compared to CK, OF significantly increased the contents of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and Ca by 47.83%, 38.46%, 104.81% and 69.21%, respectively (P<0.05); both OF and MF significantly increased ALP activity. The MBP content in CF and OF was improved by 56.12% and 195.16%, respectively, compared with CK; the MBP content in OF was the highest (105.40mg·kg-1). (2) Pseudomonas was the dominant genus under different fertilization treatments. CF and MF significantly reduced the relative abundance of Pseudomonas by 33.39% and 45.52%, respectively, compared with CK. Fertilization decreased the Chao1 index, and MF increased both the diversity (Simpson index) and evenness (Simpsoneven index) of soil phoD microorganisms. (3) MBP, AP, and ALP were the key environmental factors affecting the phoD microbial community structure. There was no significant correlation between phoD microbial α diversity indexes and soil properties. Therefore, under the integrated planting and breeding system in vegetable field, different fertilization treatments changed soil physicochemical and biological properties, and thus drove the changes of composition, structure and diversity of soil phoD microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromatic hydrocarbon fuels, such as toluene, are importantcomponentsin real jet fuels. In this work, reactive molecular dynamics (MD)simulations employing the ReaxFF reactive force field have been performedto study the high-temperature oxidation mechanisms of toluene at differenttemperatures and densities with equivalence ratios ranging from 0.5to 2.0. From the ReaxFF MD simulations, we have found that the initiationconsumption of toluene is mainly through three ways, (1) the hydrogenabstraction reactions by oxygen molecules or other small radicalsto form the benzyl radical, (2) the cleavage of the C–H bondto form benzyl and hydrogen radicals, and (3) the cleavage of theC–C bond to form phenyl and methyl radicals. These basic reactionmechanisms are in good agreement with available chemical kinetic models.The temperatures and densities have composite effects on toluene oxidation;concerning the effect of the equivalence ratio, the oxidation reactionrate is found to decrease with the increasing of equivalence ratio.The analysis of the initiation reaction of toluene shows that thehydrogen abstraction reaction dominates the initial reaction stageat low equivalence ratio (0.5–1.0), while the contributionfrom the pyrolysis reaction increases significantly as the equivalenceratio increases to 2.0. The apparent activation energies, Ea, for combustion of toluene extracted fromReaxFF MD simulations are consistent with experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The initiation mechanisms and kinetics of pyrolysis and combustion of n-dodecane are investigated by using the reactive molecular dynamics (ReaxFF MD) simulation and chemical kinetic modeling. From ReaxFF MD simulations, we find the initiation mechanisms of pyrolysis of n-dodecane are mainly through two pathways, (1) the cleavage of C–C bond to form smaller hydrocarbon radicals, and (2) the dehydrogenation reaction to form an H radical and the corresponding n-C12H25 radical. Another pathway is the H-abstraction reactions by small radicals including H, CH3, and C2H5, which are the products after the initiation reaction of n-dodecane pyrolysis. ReaxFF MD simulations lead to reasonable Arrhenius parameters compared with experimental results based on first-order kinetic analysis of n-dodecane pyrolysis. The density/pressure effects on the pyrolysis of n-dodecane are also analyzed. By appropriate mapping of the length and time from macroscopic kinetic modeling to ReaxFF MD, a simple comparison of the conversion of n-dodecane from ReaxFF MD simulations and that from kinetic modeling is performed. In addition, the oxidation of n-dodecane is studied by ReaxFF MD simulations. We find that formaldehyde molecule is an important intermediate in the oxidation of n-dodecane, which has been confirmed by kinetic modeling, and ReaxFF leads to reasonable reaction pathways for the oxidation of n-dodecane. These results indicate that ReaxFF MD simulations can give an atomistic description of the initiation mechanism and product distributions of pyrolysis and combustion for hydrocarbon fuels, and can be further used to provide molecular based robust kinetic reaction mechanism for chemical kinetic modeling of hydrocarbon fuels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Optimized lightweight, compact and high temperature sustaining shielding materials for neutron and gamma radiation were developed by genetic algorithms (GA) combined with the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code. A series of samples were designed according to the method. Deep penetration tests by the MCNP code were completed. The results show that the designed samples have more advantages related to the radiation shielding effects in comparison with PB202 and KRAFTON-XP3, especially the Cakes with multi-layers structures of the Fe-Interlayer-Pb have excellent performance. Taking into account the ratios designed of components among elements in the material, the manufacturing process of polymer with nano-TiO2 was studied experimentally by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Several samples have been tested. The attenuation experiments on the samples were carried out using tandem electrostatic accelerator neutron source, spontaneous fission neutron source 252Cf and γ-rays source of 60Co. The experimental results verify the correctness of optimal design and craft. The Cakes are quite suitable for applications in the practices of nuclear science and technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic polymorphism is a difference in DNA sequence among individuals, groups, or populations that give rise to different forms. Differences in DNA sequences that occur naturally in a population. Single nucleotide substitutions, insertions and deletions of nucleotides and repetitive sequences (microsatellites) are all examples of polymorphism. The position at which such a sequence difference is found is a polymorphic site. A single nucleotide substitution is called a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). SNPs can occur in coding parts of the gene. If they result in genetic code change, amino-acid polymorphism would occur. The heterodimeric IFN-γ receptor ( IFNGR) complex was made up of two receptor subunits including IFNGR-1 and IFNGR-2. There exist five dbSNP alleles in IFNGR1 exon region and six dbSNP alleles in IFNGR2. Some researchers had found that the greatest risk of the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) be detected in the individuals who had the Met14/Val14 genotype or the combination of IFNGR1 Met14/Val14 genotype and IFNGR2 Gln64/Gln64 genotype in Japanese patients. So we aimed to assess the association between two polymorphisms within the IFNGR gene (A88G and A839G) and SLE in Chinese patients. This study included 154 patients with SLE and 159 unrelated healthy controls. We examined the IFNGR genotype by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-single-strand conformation polymorphism method, RT-PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method and DNA sequencing. Genotype frequencies between SLE patients and controls were compared and relationship between genotype frequencies and clinical manifestations of SLE were evaluated. We found that IFNGR2 Arg64/Arg64 genotype decrease the risk of SLE (OR = 2.326, 95% CI 1.181–4.581, Fisher P = 0.015), and the same as IFNGR2 Arg64/Arg64 genotype and IFNGR1 Val14/Val14 genotype combination (OR = 2.420, 95% CI 1.206–4.854, Fisher P = 0.013). The allelic frequency of Val14/Met14 is significantly higher in the patients with oral ulcer or thrombocytopenia when compared with patient without these clinical feature (OR = 4.630, 95% CI 1.370–15.640, Fisher P = 0.021; or OR = 6.368, 95% CI 2.009–20.191, Fisher P = 0.003). On the contrary, the allelic frequency of Val14/Val14 is lower in the patients with oral ulcer or thrombocytopenia than those without these clinical feature (OR = 0.216, 95% CI 0.064–0.730, Fisher P = 0.021; or OR = 0.157, 95% CI 0.050–0.498, Fisher P = 0.003). And after data analysis, we also find that the allelic frequency of Gln64/Gln64 is lower in the patients with arthritis when compared with patient without arthritis (OR = 0.369, 95% CI 0.166–0.818, Fisher P = 0.017). We can conclude that the IFNGR polymorphisms (Val14Met and Gln64Arg) are protective in SLE in Chinese patients. We describe a novel association between Val14/Met14 carriage and patients with oral ulcer or thrombocytopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent paper [ K. Loukopoulos and D. E. Browne Phys. Rev. A 81 062336 (2010)], five schemes for secure multiparty computation utilizing the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) quantum correlation were presented, which were claimed to be secure in some kinds of security models. However, this study points out that schemes C and D2 could be attacked by corrupted parties replacing photon and exchanging classical information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased biodiversity can make valuable contributions to food production and security around the world. The role of plant species diversity for "ecological intensification" of agriculture has been widely recognised, but the potential contribution of multi-trophic-level production systems, such as rice-fish co-culture, has received less attention. A continuous 4-year experiment (2015–2018) was conducted comparing rice-fish (yellow finless eel and loach) co-culture, and mono-rice planting practices on the Chongming Eco-island of China. During the experiment, pests (insect herbivores and weeds), arthropods, pesticides, grain and marketable fish yield were sampled, soil quality (available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, total nitrogen, organic matter content and pH) and rice grain quality (protein content, chalkiness, gel consistency, amylose content) were evaluated, and an economic analysis were performed. Fish decreased herbivore insect abundance by 24.07%, reduced weeds abundance, richness and biomass by 67.62, 62.01 and 58.88% respectively, increased invertebrate predator abundance by 19.48%, and reduced the need for pesticide by 23.4%. Co-culture practice produced an average economic values 10.33% higher than in the mono-rice farming. In addition, rice-fish co-culture enhanced both soil and rice quality. Our results confirm that rice-fish co-culture can be an effective form of ecological intensification, incorporating and contributing ecosystem services in agricultural production and increasing sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stable multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated based on black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) packaged by polytetrafluoroethylene. The laser mainly consists of a polytetrafluoroethylene packaging device of black phosphorus quantum dots (PTFEPDBPQDs) and a Lyot filter. PTFEPD-BPQDs have the function of suppressing the mode competition and stabilizing the multiwavelength output. In the experiments, for the unpackaged BPQDs device, BPQDs will degrade and lose its function within 48 h, whereas for the PTFEPD-BPQDs, BPQDs can keep their function for more than 3 weeks. Fifteen stable multiwavelength lasing signals (MWLSs) with the wavelength space of 0.35 nm are achieved. A 10-min optically driven deposition is more conducive to the stable output of MWLSs. The wavelength offset and peak power fluctuation of the output spectrum at central wavelength are 0.1 nm and 0.9 dB, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optical fiber sensor for simultaneous measurement of refractive index (RI) and temperature is achieved by using an optical fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with two core-offset trapezoid cone structures, in which part of the core mode light will be coupled into cladding modes when passing through the first trapezoid cone and the two parts of light will combine in the second one and interfere with each other over there. The transmission spectrum would vary with the RI and the temperature. The experimental data show that the RI sensitivities of the two interference valleys are -35.93 and -51.14 nm/RIU, respectively. The temperature sensitivities of them are 0.05 and 0.04 nm/°C, respectively. Therefore, it can be realized to gauge the RI and the temperature simultaneously. The proposed sensor can also be applied to chemistry and biology which has broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Alloyed Fe 3 Si intermetallic compound coatings were prepared through non-electrolysis high-temperature infiltration in molten salt on the surface of AISI420 and AISI304 stainless steel containing Cr and Cr, Ni elements, compared with Fe 3 Si coating on A3 carbon steel surface. The microstructure of infiltration coatings was examined by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy. The electrochemical corrosion properties and behavior of Fe 3 Si coatings in H 2 SO 4 solution were evaluated via electrochemical techniques and static immersion tests. The results revealed that the permeation coatings prepared on the stainless steel surface are composed of a Cr- and Cr-, Ni-alloyed Fe 3 Si intermetallic-compound layer and a diffusion layer. Owing to the presence of alloying elements Cr and Ni from the substrate, the permeation coatings were relatively thick, dense, and contained only a few defects. The Cr-, Ni-alloyed Fe 3 Si coating prepared on AISI304 surface was the most compact, contained fewer defects, and was thicker than the coating prepared on AISI420. The Fe 3 Si infiltration coatings exhibited significant passivation characteristics in 10 vol% H 2 SO 4 aqueous solution. Alloyed Fe 3 Si coatings of AISI420 and AISI304 exhibit better corrosion resistance in 10 vol% and 20 vol% H 2 SO 4 than the Fe 3 Si coating of carbon steel. Therefore, these coatings can protect both types of stainless steel from surface corrosion. The best corrosion resistance was realized for the alloyed Fe 3 Si coating on AISI304 surface. The corrosion resistance and protection performance of Fe 3 Si intermetallic-compound coatings in H 2 SO 4 solution are directly correlated with the thickness, compactness, defect characteristics, and passivation properties of the infiltration coatings. However, alloying elements from the alloy steel substrates had a significant effect on these four factors, during the infiltration process in the molten salt. Highlights • Alloying has significant effect on the corrosion resistance of Fe 3 Si infiltration coatings. • The Cr- and Cr-, Ni-alloyed Fe 3 Si infiltration coatings have good passivation properties. • The best corrosion resistance is realized for the Fe 3 Si infiltration coating on AISI304 surface. • Infiltration coatings on AISI420/304 are composed of an alloyed Fe 3 Si layer and a diffusion layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is the leading cause of maternal death during the first trimester of pregnancy. A better understanding of EP risk can help prevent its occurrence. We carried out a multi-center, large-sample, case-control study to evaluate the risk factors for EP in Shanghai, China. Methods: Women who were diagnosed with EP (n = 2411) and women with intrauterine pregnancies (n = 2416) were recruited from five hospitals in Shanghai, China. Information regarding the sociodemographic characteristics; reproductive, gynecological and surgical history; and previous and current use of contraceptives was collected from all participants. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and adjusted for potential confounding factors via multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The study revealed that the risk of EP was associated with the traditional risk factors including previous EP (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.72, 95 % CI: 1.83–4.05), previous Chlamydia trachomatis infection (Adjusted OR = 3.18, 95 % CI: 2.64, 3.84), previous infertility (AOR = 2.18, 95 % CI: 1.66–2.88), previous adnexal surgery (AOR = 2.09, 95 % CI: 1.49–2.93), previous appendectomy (AOR = 1.64, 95 % CI: 1.13–2.37), and previous use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) (AOR = 1.72, 95 % CI: 1.39–2.13). Additionally, EP risk was increased following the failure of most contraceptives used in the current cycle including IUDs (AOR = 16.43, 95 % CI: 10.42–25.89), oral contraceptive pills (AOR = 3.02, 95 % CI: 1.16–7.86), levonorgestrel emergency contraception (AOR = 4.75, 95 % CI: 3.79–5.96), and female sterilization (AOR = 4 .73, 95 % CI: 1.04–21.52). Stratified analysis showed that in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) was the main risk factor for EP in women with tubal infertility (AOR = 8.99, 95 % CI: 1.98–40.84), although IVF-ET showed no association with EP in women with non-tubal infertility (AOR = 2.52, 95 % CI: 0.14–44.67). Conclusion: In addition to the traditional risk factors, IVF-ET and current IUD use play dominant roles in the occurrence of EP. Attention should be given to women with tubal infertility who have undergone IVE-ET treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a 45-year-old man diagnosed with POEMS syndrome, a multisystemic disease accompanied by monoclonal plasmacyte disorders. Topics discussed include skin changes such as atropurpureus patches, diffused hyperpigmentation, and thickening, the role of high serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overproduction in POEMS syndrome, involvement of VEGF-mediated angiogenesis or vasculogenesis, and deposition of light chains.

Rheological and textural properties of mixed gels of hydrolyzed Konjac glucomannan (KGM) and kappacarrageenan (kC) were studied. The objective of the work was to investigate the effect of ratio, total content, molecular weight, pH and temperature of KGM on the mixed system gels. At 40% KGM the gel showed better hardness; whereas, the total content (1.0%-2.0% (w/w)) demonstrated that when it's higher, the hardness increased significantly (P<0.05) and lowers the springiness. In addition, hardness values were relatively higher than would be expected for hydrolyzed KGM in comparison with native KGM and kC mixed system gels. It was found out that the hydrolyzed KGM (LM-2) exhibited better texture properties and suitable for the mixt system gels KGM/kC. The influence of pH shift on the hardness was stabilized after the pH5. The rheological properties, showed the significant temperature effect difference between kC alone and kC-LM-2 with 34±0.2°C and 42±0.2°C, respectively, where the gels' moduli G' and G' meet at frequency 10 rad/s and 1% strain. Although, KGM and kC mixed system gels behaviors are said to be influenced by the choice β-mannanase in the hydrolysis and preparation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]