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Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) is an etiological agent of enteric disease that results in high mortality rates in piglets. The economic impact of the virus is considerable, causing significant losses to the pig industry. The development of an efficacious subunit vaccine to provide promising protection against TGEV is of the utmost importance. The viral antigen, spike glycoprotein (S), is widely regarded as one of the most effective antigenic components for vaccine research. In this study, we employed immunoinformatics and molecular dynamics approaches to develop an 'ideal' multi-epitope vaccine. Firstly, the dominant, non-toxic, highly antigenic T (Th, CTL) and B cell epitopes predicted from the TGEV S protein were artificially engineered in tandem to design candidate subunit vaccines. Molecular docking and dynamic simulation results demonstrate that it exhibits robust interactions with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Of particular significance was the finding that the vaccine was capable of triggering an immune response in mammals, as evidenced by the immune simulation results. The humoral aspect is typified by elevated levels of IgG and IgM, whereas the cellular immune aspect is capable of eliciting the robust production of interleukins and cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2). Furthermore, the adoption of E. coli expression systems for the preparation of vaccines will also result in cost savings. This study offers logical guidelines for the development of a secure and efficacious subunit vaccine against TGEV, in addition to providing a novel theoretical foundation and strategy to prevent associated CoV infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: RNA modifications of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are critical for tRNA function. Growing evidence has revealed that tRNA modifications are related to various disease processes, including malignant tumors. However, the biological functions of methyltransferase-like 1 (METTL1)-regulated m7G tRNA modifications in breast cancer (BC) remain largely obscure. Methods: The biological role of METTL1 in BC progression were examined by cellular loss- and gain-of-function tests and xenograft models both in vitro and in vivo. To investigate the change of m7G tRNA modification and mRNA translation efficiency in BC, m7G-methylated tRNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (m7G tRNA MeRIP-seq), Ribosome profiling sequencing (Ribo-seq), and polysome-associated mRNA sequencing were performed. Rescue assays were conducted to decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms. Results: The tRNA m7G methyltransferase complex components METTL1 and WD repeat domain 4 (WDR4) were down-regulated in BC tissues at both the mRNA and protein levels. Functionally, METTL1 inhibited BC cell proliferation, and cell cycle progression, relying on its enzymatic activity. Mechanistically, METTL1 increased m7G levels of 19 tRNAs to modulate the translation of growth arrest and DNA damage 45 alpha (GADD45A) and retinoblastoma protein 1 (RB1) in a codon-dependent manner associated with m7G. Furthermore, in vivo experiments showed that overexpression of METTL1 enhanced the anti-tumor effectiveness of abemaciclib, a cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor. Conclusion: Our study uncovered the crucial tumor-suppressive role of METTL1-mediated tRNA m7G modification in BC by promoting the translation of GADD45A and RB1 mRNAs, selectively blocking the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. These findings also provided a promising strategy for improving the therapeutic benefits of CDK4/6 inhibitors in the treatment of BC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common digestive malignancies with relatively high morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles in tumor cell malignancy. However, the biological function and clinical significance of many circRNAs in ESCC remain elusive. Methods: The expression level and clinical implication of circRUNX1 in ESCC tissues were evaluated using qRT-PCR. In vitro and in vivo functional studies were conducted to investigate the underlying biological effects of circRUNX1 on ESCC cell growth and metastasis. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, dual-luciferase reporter assays, and rescue experiments were performed to explore the relationships between circRUNX1, miR-449b-5p, Forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3), and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2). Results: CircRUNX1 was found to be significantly up-regulated in ESCC tissues and associated with TNM stage and differentiation grade. Functionally, circRUNX1 promoted ESCC cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. CircRUNX1 enhanced FOXP3 expression by competitively sponging miR-449b-5p. Notably, both miR-449b-5p mimics and FOXP3 knockdown restored the effects of circRUNX1 overexpression on cell proliferation and metastasis. Furthermore, IGF2BP2 binding to circRUNX1 prevented its degradation. Conclusions: IGF2BP2 mediated circRUNX1 functions as an oncogenic factor to facilitate ESCC progression through the miR-449b-5p/FOXP3 axis, implying that circRUNX1 has the potential to be a promising diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for ESCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An up-to-date overview of patterns of injuries caused by RTAs in southwest China. • Head injury still occupied the highest proportion among the injuries and deaths. • It's urgently needed to develop a more reliable brain injury evaluation criterion. • Emergency care to head injury at the scene is effective to reduce traffic fatality. Background : The objective of this study is to provide an up-to-date overview of the patterns of injuries, especially traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by RTAs and to discuss some of the public health consequences. Methods : A scientific team was established to collect road traffic accidents occurring between 2013 and 2018 in Chongqing, Southwest China. For each accident, the environment-, vehicle-, and person- variables were analyzed and determined. The overall injury distribution and TBI patterns of four types of road users (driver, passenger, motorcyclist and pedestrian) were compared. The environmental and time distribution of accidents with TBI were shown by bar and pie chart. The risks of severe brain injury whether motorcyclist wearing helmets or not were compared and the risk factors of severe TBI in pedestrian were determined by odds ratio analysis. Results : This study enrolled 2131 accidents with 2741 persons of all kind of traffic participants, 1149 of them suffered AIS1+ head injury and 1598(58%) died in 7 days. The most common cause of deaths is due to head injury with 714(85%) and 1266(79%) persons died within 2 hours. Among 423 persons suffered both skull fracture and intracranial injury, 102 (24.1%) have an intracranial injury but no skull fractures, while none of the skull fractures without intracranial injury was found. Besides, motorcyclists without a helmet were at higher risks for all the brain injury categories. The risk of pedestrian suffering severe TBI at an impact speed of more than 70 km/h is 100 times higher than that with an impact speed of less than 40 km/h. Conclusion : It is urgently needed to develop a more reliable brain injury evaluation criterion for better protection of the road users. We believe that strengthening the emergency care to head injury at the scene is the most effective way to reduce traffic fatality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous thermal-catalytic CO2 hydrogenation to alcohols using renewable energy is a highly attractive approach for recycling greenhouse gases into high-value chemicals and fuels, thereby reducing the dependence on fossil fuels, while simultaneously mitigating the CO2 emission and environmental problems. Currently, great advances have been made on the heterogeneous catalysts, but an in-depth and more comprehensive understanding to further promote this reaction process is still lacking. Herein, we highlight the thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of CO2 hydrogenation reaction firstly. Then, various reaction pathways for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol and higher alcohols (C2+ alcohols) have been discussed in detail, respectively, by combining the experimental studies and density functional theory calculations. On this basis, the key factors influencing the reaction performance, such as metal dispersion, support modification, promoter addition and their structural optimization, are summarized on the metal-based and metal-oxide-based catalysts. In addition, the catalytic performance of CO2 hydrogenation to alcohols and the relationship between structure and properties are mainly summarized and analyzed in the past five years. To conclude, the current challenges and potential strategies in catalyst design, structural characterization and reaction mechanisms are presented for CO2 hydrogenation to alcohols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which encompasses ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), is a complicated, uncontrolled, and multifactorial disorder characterized by chronic, relapsing, or progressive inflammatory conditions that may involve the entire gastrointestinal tract. The protracted nature has imposed enormous economic burdens on patients with IBD, and the treatment is far from optimal due to the currently limited comprehension of IBD pathogenesis. In spite of the exact etiology still remaining an enigma, four identified components, including personal genetic susceptibility, external environment, internal gut microbiota, and the host immune response, are responsible for IBD pathogenesis, and compelling evidence has suggested that IBD may be triggered by aberrant and continuing immune responses to gut microbiota in genetically susceptibility individuals. The past decade has witnessed the flourishing of research on genetics, gut microbiota, and immunity in patients with IBD. Therefore, in this review, we will comprehensively exhibit a series of novel findings and update the major advances regarding these three fields. Undoubtedly, these novel findings have opened a new horizon and shed bright light on the causality research of IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past thirty years, molecular simulation techniques centred on density functional theory (DFT) calculations have quickly become a powerful research and technology development instrument. In particular, the knowledge and theory gained from DFT-based techniques have effectively transformed our understanding of the fundamental surface science, catalysis, and materials science. This review aims to provide a pedagogical narrative of the fundamentals of DFT and relevant computational methods applied for surface chemistry, catalytic reactions, particularly in the realm of heterogeneous and electrochemical catalysis. Several representative case studies in relation to energy and chemicals production are introduced, and relevant computationally driven catalyst design principles are discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of structure and size of nickel nanocatalysts on hydrogen production via water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) were investigated using a first-principles-based kinetic model. Using periodic density functional theory and statistical calculations, thermochemistry and kinetics of the WGSR and competing methanation was calculated on Ni(111), Ni(100), and Ni(211) facets. The kinetics of the elementary reactions involving C H, O H, and C O bond was found to fit to a general Brønsted–Evans–Polanyi (BEP) type linear relationship on all Ni facets considered. A mechanism describing the competition between the hydrogen and methane formation routes is constructed for further microkinetic modeling. The hydrogen production turnover frequency (TOF) via the WGSR route suggests the preference to the low-coordinated surface sites with the reaction activities following the order of Ni(211) > Ni(100) > Ni(111) using a simulated feed gas with a molar ratio of CO:H 2 O = 1:2. Due to the methanation, the TOF of methane production follows the same trend of hydrogen production. Consequently, the TOF of hydrogen production decreases with increasing particle diameters, due to the decreasing fractions of low-coordinated surface nickel atoms. It is also found that the presence of H 2 in feed gas can largely enhance the methanation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used periodic DFT calculations to investigate the effect of alkali promoter on the selectivity of the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) explicitly on the Ni(111) surface. On clean Ni(111), the WGSR redox and carboxyl pathways are both kinetically competitive. The selectivity of the WGSR can be affected by methanation on Ni, in which the C¢O bond cleavage pathway of CHO is the most competitive. A Ni(111) surface modified with K adatoms was used to further understand the promoter effects on the WGSR selectivity. A combined energetic and kinetic analysis from DFT calculations indicates that the K adatom stabilizes certain reactive intermediates (e.g., H2O, CO) thermodynamically but is energetically neutral or even repulsive toward other intermediates. As a result, WGSR pathways benefit from the presence of K adatoms compared to the competing methanation pathway. This study thus confirmed the promoting effects of alkali metals on the WGSR with DFTbased mechanistic insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mounting evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs play a critical role in the occurrence and development of human malignancies. Nonetheless, it remains unknown whether Gamma-Butyrobetaine Hydroxylase 1-Antisense RNA 1 (BBOX1-AS1) participates in the regulation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) carcinogenesis. Herein, we validated that BBOX1-AS1 was notably overexpressed in ESCC tissues compared to the adjacent non-tumor tissues and significantly correlated with tumor sizes. BBOX1-AS1 enhanced the malignant behavior of ESCC cells in vitro, such as cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, knockdown of BBOX1-AS1 augmented the proportion of apoptotic cells in ESCC cells. Mechanistically, BBOX1-AS1 regulated HOXB7 expression, and rescue experiments indicated that silencing of HOXB7 could abolish the malignant phenotypes mediated by BBOX1-AS1 to a certain extent. Moreover, HOXB7 participated in the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In summary, our findings substantiated that BBOX1-AS1 could activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by upregulating HOXB7 expression to promote ESCC progression, providing a rationale to develop novel therapeutic approaches. • LncRNA BBOX1-AS1 was remarkably upregulated in ESCC tissues. • BBOX1-AS1 facilitated ESCC growth and metastasis by regulating HOXB7/β-catenin axis. • Targeting β-catenin or HOXB7 retarded BBOX1-AS1-mediated ESCC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiwifruit canker, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), is a destructive pathogen that globally threatens the kiwifruit industry. Understanding the molecular mechanism of plant-pathogen interaction can accelerate applying resistance breeding and controlling plant diseases. All known effectors secreted by pathogens play an important role in plant-pathogen interaction. However, the effectors in Psa and their function mechanism remain largely unclear. Here, we successfully identified a T3SS effector HopAU1 which had no virulence contribution to Psa, but could, however, induce cell death and activate a series of immune responses by agroinfiltration in Nicotiana benthamiana, including elevated transcripts of immune-related genes, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and callose deposition. We found that HopAU1 interacted with a calcium sensing receptor in N. benthamiana (NbCaS) as well as its close homologue in kiwifruit (AcCaS). More importantly, silencing CaS by RNAi in N. benthamiana greatly attenuated HopAU1-triggered cell death, suggesting CaS is a crucial component for HopAU1 detection. Further researches showed that overexpression of NbCaS in N. benthamiana significantly enhanced plant resistance against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Phytophthora capsici, indicating that CaS serves as a promising resistance-related gene for disease resistance breeding. We concluded that HopAU1 is an immune elicitor that targets CaS to trigger plant immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has filled a gap in our knowledge regarding the prevention of CoVs. Swine coronavirus (CoV) is a significant pathogen that causes huge economic losses to the global swine industry. Until now, anti-CoV prevention and control have been challenging due to the rapidly generated variants. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with excellent antimicrobial activity have attracted great interest for biosafety prevention and control applications. In this study, we synthesized chitosan-modified AgNPs (Chi-AgNPs) with good biocompatibility to investigate their antiviral effects on swine CoVs. In vitro assays showed that Chi-AgNPs could significantly impaired viral entry. The direct interaction between Chi-AgNPs and CoVs can destroy the viral surface spike (S) protein secondary structure associated with viral membrane fusion, which is caused by the cleavage of disulfide bonds in the S protein. Moreover, the mechanism showed that Chi-AgNPs reduced the virus-induced apoptosis of Vero cells via the ROS/p53 signaling activation pathway. Our data suggest that Chi-AgNPs can serve as a preventive strategy for CoVs infection and provide a molecular basis for the viricidal effect of Chi-AgNPs on CoVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The T-2 toxin (T2) poses a major threat to the health and productivity of animals. The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of Nrf2 derived from broilers against T2-induced oxidative damage. DF-1 cells, including those with normal characteristics, as well as those overexpressing or with a knockout of specific components, were exposed to a 24 h treatment of 50 nM T2. The primary objective was to evaluate the indicators associated with oxidative stress and the expression of downstream antioxidant factors regulated by the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, at both the mRNA and protein levels. The findings of this study demonstrated a noteworthy relationship between the up-regulation of the Nrf2 protein and a considerable reduction in the oxidative stress levels within DF-1 cells (p < 0.05). Furthermore, this up-regulation was associated with a notable increase in the mRNA and protein levels of antioxidant factors downstream of the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway (p < 0.05). Conversely, the down-regulation of the Nrf2 protein was linked to a marked elevation in oxidative stress levels in DF-1 cells (p < 0.05). Additionally, this down-regulation resulted in a significant decrease in both the mRNA and protein expression of antioxidant factors (p < 0.05). This experiment lays a theoretical foundation for investigating the detrimental impacts of T2 on broiler chickens. It also establishes a research framework for employing the Nrf2 protein in broiler chicken production and breeding. Moreover, it introduces novel insights for the prospective management of oxidative stress-related ailments in the livestock and poultry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a common endocrine malignant neoplasm, and its incidence increases continuously worldwide in the recent years. However, efficient clinical biomarkers were still deficient; the present research is aimed at exploring significant core genes of PTC. Methods. We integrated three cohorts to identify hub genes and pathways associated with PTC by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. Expression profiles GSE33630, GSE35570, and GSE60542, including 114 PTC tissues and 126 normal tissues, were enrolled in this research. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were utilized to search for the crucial biological behaviors and pathways involved in PTC carcinogenesis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and significant modules were deeply studied. Results. A total of 831 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were discovered, comprising 410 upregulated and 421 downregulated genes in PTC tissues compared to normal thyroid tissues. PPI network analysis demonstrated the interactions between those DEGs, and top 10 pivotal genes (TGFB1, CXCL8, LRRK2, CD44, CCND1, JUN, DCN, BCL2, ACACB, and CXCL12) with highest degree of connectivity were extracted from the network and verified by TCGA dataset and RT-PCR experiment of PTC samples. Four of the hub genes (CXCL8, DCN, BCL2, and ACACB) were linked to the prognosis of PTC patients and considered as clinically relevant core genes via survival analysis. Conclusion. In conclusion, we propose a series of key genes associated with PTC development and these genes could serve as the diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets in the future treatment for PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, animal feeds are frequently contaminated with a range of mycotoxins, with Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and T-2 toxin (T-2) being two highly toxic mycotoxins. This study investigates the combined nephrotoxicity of AFB1 and T-2 on PK15 cells and murine renal tissues and their related oxidative stress mechanisms. PK15 cells were treated with the respective toxin concentrations for 24 h, and oxidative stress-related indicators were assessed. The results showed that the combination of AFB1 and T-2 led to more severe cellular damage and oxidative stress compared to exposure to the individual toxins (p < 0.05). In the in vivo study, pathological examination revealed that the kidney tissue of mice exposed to the combined toxins showed signs of glomerular atrophy. The contents of oxidative stress-related indicators were significantly increased in the kidney tissue (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the combined toxins cause significant oxidative damage to mouse kidneys. The study highlights the importance of considering the combined effects of mycotoxins in animal feed, particularly AFB1 and T-2, which can lead to severe nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in PK15 cells and mouse kidneys. The findings have important implications for animal feed safety and regulatory policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic values of liver stiffness (LS) measured by 2D-SWE, fibrosis index based on the four factors (FIB-4), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and GGT to PLT ratio (GPR) for assessing liver fibrosis and high-risk esophageal varices (EVs) in patients with autoimmune hepatitis-primary biliary cholangitis (AIH-PBC) overlap syndrome. Methods: Data of 141 patients were retrospectively collected. Liver fibrosis was staged according to the Scheuer scoring system. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic performance. Results: LS and FIB-4 were positively correlated with the fibrosis stage (r = 0.555 and 0.198, respectively). LS had significantly higher areas under the ROC curves (AUROCs) values than FIB-4 for predicting advanced fibrosis (0.818 vs. 0.567, P < 0.001), cirrhosis (0.879 vs. 0.637, P < 0.001), whereas LS and FIB-4 similarly predicted significant fibrosis (0.748 vs. 0.638, P = 0.071) and high-risk EVs (0.731 vs. 0.659, P = 0.303). The optimal cut-off values of 2D-SWE for detecting significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis, and high-risk EVs were 8.7 kPa, 12.8 kPa, 14.0 kPa, and 11.0 kPa, respectively. LS values were influenced by fibrosis stage, serum GGT, albumin, and total bilirubin levels. The overall concordance rate of the liver stiffness vs. Scheuer stages was 49.65%. Conclusions: 2D-SWE shows significantly greater diagnostic accuracy than serum fibrosis indexes for diagnosing advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with AIH-PBC overlap syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Approach for anchoring of Pt atoms on isolated Sn4+ is introduced. • Using this approach PtSn/SiO 2 (hexagonal mesoporous silica) catalysts were prepared. • Pt-Sn/atoms/sub nanoclusters were identified on the surface of catalysts. • The catalysts are active, selective, and stable in C 3 H 8 dehydrogenation to C 3 H 6. • Sn is essential to enhance H 2 desorption from Pt that is the rate-limiting step. Owing to propane availability in shale gas and the growing demand for propene, non-oxidative dehydrogenation of this alkane has attracted much attention. Although, catalysts with supported PtSn species are applied on the large scale, a further increase in their activity without loss in propene selectivity at low Pt content would certainly improve process economy. Herein, we introduce a molecularly defined strategy for controlling catalyst activity through anchoring of Pt atoms on isolated Sn4+ firmly confined in the framework of hexagonal mesoporous silica. In addition to the dispersion of Pt species, the presence of Sn4+ in close contact with Pt is essential for increasing the rate of propane dehydrogenation through enhancing H 2 desorption, which is the rate-limiting step. As the anchored Pt atoms/sub nanoclusters do not sinter under reducing conditions, the developed catalysts show high on-stream stability and propene selectivity of above 99 % under industrially relevant conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Highly dispersed VO x species showed high apparent TOF value but low C 3 H 6 selectivity. • VO x species in low-polyvanadate form are deemed to be more active and stable in PDH. • VO x -C 3 H 5 species was speculated to be the important intermedia during PDH. • H 2 formation is deemed as the rate-limiting step over as-prepared V-HMS. Vanadium was introduced to hexagonal mesoporous SiO 2 (HMS) to prepare supported vanadium-based catalysts (V-HMS). Their catalytic performance in the non-oxidative propane dehydrogenation to propylene (PDH) was modulated with V surface density varying from 0.12 to 15.08V atom·nm−2. VO x species with different structure were analyzed by UV–vis spectroscopy, NH 3 -TPD, H 2 -TPR and XPS. High propylene space time yield of 0.73 kg·h−1·kg cat −1 and excellent regeneration behavior were achieved. Correlating VO x polymerization degree with catalytic performance, VO x aggregates, mainly in low-polyvanadate form, were established to reveal high intrinsic activity and stability in comparison with their counterparts, including isolated or/and highly polymerized VO x as well as V 2 O 5. Temporal analysis of products (TAP) identified hydrogen formation as the rate-limiting step in the PDH reaction. In-situ DRIFTS was employed to investigate the reaction mechanism. V species containing C=C bond, i.e., VO x -C 3 H 5 , was proposed to be an intermediate of gas-phase propylene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in advanced oxidation technology is hindered by the low Fe(II)→Fe(III)→Fe(II) cycle efficiency. Herein, we report a Fe(II)/decahedral monoclinic BiVO 4 composite photocatalyst with a highly exposed (010) facet prepared by a hydrothermal method combined with a wet impregnation strategy. The numerous photogenerated electrons on the (010) facet promote the cycling of Fe(II)→Fe(III)→Fe(II) process, thereby significantly enhancing the PMS activation rate. The charge transfer mode of 1% Fe(II)/BiVO 4 was inferred from in situ X-ray photoelectron spectra. The composite catalyst exhibits significantly higher activity (96.7%) than the pristine BiVO 4 without facet regulation (56%). Controlling the crystal facets can effectively separate the photogenerated carriers of BiVO 4 ; the photogenerated electrons catalyze the cyclic transformation of Fe(III)/Fe(II) to efficiently activate PMS and degrade antibiotics. This work confirms the synergistic effect of facet engineering and the photocatalytic PMS activation system and provides a new perspective for the degradation of antibiotics. [Display omitted] • Fe(II)/highly exposed (010) facet BiVO 4 photocatalyst is successfully prepared. • The degradation rate of tetracycline achieves 96.7% in 30 min under visible light. • The selectively loading Fe(II) on the (010) reduction facet of BiVO 4. • The formation of Fe(II).→Fe(III)→Fe(II) redox cycle in the reaction system. • It continuously activates PMS to produce strong oxidation ability active radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain tumors are the deadliest and most difficult to treat of all forms of cancer. Preoperative classification of brain tumors is conducive to the development of corresponding treatment plan. Take pituitary tumors as an example. Precisely judging the image data of pituitary tumor texture before surgery can provide a basis for the selection of surgical plan and prognosis. However, the existing methods require manual intervention, and the efficiency and accuracy are not high. In this paper, we proposed an automatic brain tumor texture diagnosis method for uneven sequence image data. First, for the small sample of pituitary tumor MRI image data, the T1 and T2 sequence data are uneven or missing; we used the CycleGAN model to perform data conversion between different domains to obtain a completely sampled MRI spatial sequence. Then, we used texture analysis+pseudo-label learning to label pituitary tumor data of some unknown labels. After that, we used the improved U-Net model based on CBAM to optimize feature extraction for pituitary tumor image data. Finally, we used the CRNN model to classify the degree of pituitary tumor texture based on the advantages of sequence data. The entire process only needs to provide labels for the entire sequence data, and the efficiency is greatly improved, with an accuracy rate of 94.23%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MgO(111) surfaces are more active for ketone condensation than MgO(100). • Hydroxyls promote surface mediated proton transfer that lower energy barrier. • MgO(111) was treated with deuterated water for 3 min to 24 h to track stability. • Water exposure for 1 h formed hydroxide that reduced surface area and activity. • Thermal regeneration of 24-h sample restored majority of surface area and activity. Nanomaterials derived from earth-abundant metal oxides have gained tremendous interest as catalysts; although, water stability remains a challenge. This study examines MgO(111) surfaces for 2-pentanone condensation and their evolution during D 2 O hydration. Catalyst screening confirmed the high activity of fresh MgO(111) for 2-pentanone condensation relative to conventionally prepared MgO(100). Computational modeling suggests that the (111) surface is readily hydroxylated, and that surface hydroxyls help stabilize the surface and reduce the barrier for 2-pentanone condensation. Vapor-phase D 2 O hydration after 3 min increased MgO(111) hydroxyls and retained surface area and activity; however, after 1 h, deuteroxide formation reduced the surface area and activity by >30 %. After 24 h, deuteroxide growth slowed down, and surface area and activity remained stable. This suggests MgO(111)-derived hydroxide may be the dominant surface responsible for 2-pentanone condensation following water exposure. Thermal regeneration of the 24-h sample restored 86 % of the surface area and 94 % of the activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The performance of Mn-Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts in CL-OCM can be significantly improved by cofed water. • Water does not alter the scheme of product formation but influences their kinetics. • Water facilitates the releasability of lattice oxygen. • The role of MnO x and Na 2 WO 4 is shown by in situ XRD and UV–vis spectroscopy. The oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to C 2 H 6 and C 2 H 4 (C 2 -hydrocarbons) is an industrially attractive reaction, which has not yet been commercialized. Apart from the low selectivity to C 2 -hydrocarbons at high degrees of CH 4 conversion, another substantial drawback is the necessity to use pure O 2 when this oxidant and methane are cofed. Original OCM studies used an approach called chemical looping OCM (CL-OCM) that consists of alternating feeding of methane and air for product formation and catalyst reoxidation, respectively. The developed catalysts, however, suffer from their low ability to provide lattice oxygen for the desired reaction. Herein, we demonstrate that this catalyst property can be significantly improved when performing CL-OCM over Mn-Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts in the presence of water. In comparison to water-free CL-OCM, both methane conversion and C 2 -hydrocarbons selectivity increase resulting in at least doubling of the yield of these products. The selectivity to ethylene of about 53 % was obtained at about 24 % CH 4 conversion. The total selectivity to C 2 -hydrocarbons was about 76 %. The analysis of selectivity-conversion relationships for C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 , CO and CO 2 proved that water does not alter their general formation pathways but influences the kinetics of their formation. In situ X-ray diffraction, in situ UV–vis spectroscopic, and temperature-programmed tests (H 2 -TPR and O 2 -TPD with or without cofed H 2 O) showed that Mn 2 O 3 acts as the oxygen carrier in CL-OCM. In-situ DRIFTS proved the presence of O 2 – and O 2 2–. They can interact with water yielding OH radicals that accelerate CH 4 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study proposed to access the clinical outcome of avulsion fractures around joints of extremities using the hook plate.Methods: A total of 60 patients with avulsion fractures of joints admitted in our hospital between January 2011 and June 2016 were performed the surgery of hook plate fixation. Functional recovery was evaluated using the Lysholm knee score, Kaikkonen ankle injury score, Mayo elbow and wrist function score, and Neer shoulder function score.Results: All the patients were healed within 3 months after surgery with stage I healing incision without vascular or nerve injuries. The average follow-up period was 18.1 months. At the last follow-up, no instability of joints, looseness of internal fixation or traumatic arthritis was observed. Mild joint fibrosis occurred in 5 cases. A total of 57 patients were well recovered with the excellent and good rate of 95%. Three patients with humeral avulsion fracture of the greater tuberosity had shoulder joint adhesion and peri humeral inflammation at the last follow-up due to the poor cooperation for early rehabilitation exercise. In the last follow-ups, the functional score of the affected limb was markedly greater than that in the 3-month follow-ups (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Hook plate fixation has the therapeutic effect on treating avulsion fractures around joints of extremities with the advantages of reliable fixation, early rehabilitation after operation, high recovery rates of joint function, wide indications, and convenient uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysulfides (LiPSs) shuttling significantly impedes the real application of lithium-sulfur (Li–S) batteries. Herein, nitrogen (N), vanadium (V)-co-doped MXene with N-doped carbon coating layer (denoted as CNVM) is prepared and then used as the interlayer material between cathode and commercial separator to suppress the shuttle effect of LiPSs. The doped heteroatoms alter the structure of MXene, enhancing the adsorption ability by providing enormous chemisorption sites for LiPSs and also accelerating the electron transfer. Meanwhile, the N-doped carbon coating further improves the electrical conductivity and raises the chemical affinity to LiPSs. Finally, enhanced electrochemical reaction kinetics and accelerated polysulfide conversion are obtained. Thus, the as-assembled Li–S batteries using the CNVM interlayer display high discharge capacity of 1373 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, outstanding rate performance of discharge capacity up to 723 mAh g−1 at 3 C, long cycling life, as well as low average capacity degradation of 0.075% per cycle. Also, the practical application of the multifunctional CNVM-based interlayer is further manifested by the stable electrochemical performance even under a high sulfur loading of 7.2 mg cm−2 and decent service states of the as-assembled pouch cells. A multifunctional interlayer is developed by using N, V-co-doped MXene with N-doped carbon coating layer. By combining strong chemical adsorption and rich active sites as the result of the doped heteroatoms as well as high electronic conductivity due to the N-doped carbon coating layer, enhanced polysulfide conversion kinetics is achieved. Finally, the Li–S batteries with the CNVM-based interlayer show effective polysulfide shuttling inhibition and improved electrochemical properties. [Display omitted] • N, V-co-doped MXene with N-doped carbon coating layer is designed to constructed an interlayer. • The doping enhances chemisorption for polysulfides and facilitates polysulfide conversion. • The N-doped carbon coating layer further accelerates the polysulfide conversion kinetics. • The Li–S cells with such an interlayer exhibit improved electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible mechanisms and biomarkers of BE. To identify the differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and genes (DEGs) in BE, the miRNA expression profile GSE20099 and the gene expression profiles GSE26886, GSE13083 and GSE34619 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. DEGs and DEmiRNAs were screened for using the GEO2R tool. Using DAVID, functional and pathway enrichment analysis was performed to explore the biological function of identified DEGs. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was detected using STRING and constructed by Cytoscape software. Furthermore, targets of identified DEmiRNAs were predicted by the miRecords database, then integrated with the identified DEGs to obtain key genes involved in BE. In total, 311 DEGs were identified. These genes were significantly enriched in the pancreatic secretion, metabolic pathways and cytochrome P450 drug metabolism pathways. In the PPI network, 16 hub genes, including keratin 16, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, involucrin, protein kinase C a and cadherin 17 were identified. Following integration of the predicted target genes of DEmiRNAs with DEGs, three key BE genes were identified: PRKCA, CDH17 and epiregulin. In conclusion, a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of identified DEGs and DEmiRNAs was performed to elucidate potential pathways and biomarkers involved in the development of BE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N7-methylguanosine (m7G) methylation, one of the most common RNA modifications in eukaryotes, has recently gained considerable attention. The biological functions of m7G modification in RNAs, including tRNA, rRNA, mRNA, and miRNA, remain largely unknown in human diseases. Owing to rapid advances in high-throughput technologies, increasing evidence suggests that m7G modification plays a critical role in cancer initiation and progression. As m7G modification and hallmarks of cancer are inextricably linked together, targeting m7G regulators may provide new possibilities for future cancer diagnoses and potential intervention targets. This review summarizes various detection methods for m7G modification, recent advances in m7G modification and tumor biology regarding their interplay and regulatory mechanisms. We conclude with an outlook on the future of diagnosing and treating m7G-related diseases. • Owing to continued development of sequencing technologies, m7G detection methods achieve higher sensitivity and specificity. • m7G methyltransferases add m7G modifications to various target RNAs to influence critical biological processes. • m7G modifications are closely associated with the hallmarks of cancer. • Crystal structures of METTL1-WDR4-tRNA reveal the active site in multiple states and elucidate the catalytic mechanism. • Targeting m7G modifications may provide novel treatment strategies for cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Metallic Co0 species in situ formed are suggested to be the main active sites for PDH. • CoO x but not Co0 is responsible for the formation of undesired products. • Transformation of CoO x to Co0 depends on the strength of CoO x -support interactions. • Co/Silicalite-1 showed the C 3 H 6 space time yield of 1.50 kg·h−1·kg cat −1 at 550 °C. Although Co-containing catalysts show attractive performance in the non-oxidative propane dehydrogenation to propylene (PDH), their tailored development is hindered by the ambiguity in the kind of active sites (Co0 or Co2+O x) responsible for selective and unselective pathways. Herein, we demonstrate that supported CoO x species expends its lattice oxygen through oxidation of C 3 H 8 to CO 2 /C 3 H 6 and are accordingly transformed into Co0 species. The latter are decisive for the selective dehydrogenation of propane to propylene with high activity. The ability of CoO x to in situ form Co0 is affected by metal-oxide-support interactions (MOSI). In addition to the kind of support, defective OH groups (OH nests) in ZSM-5-type zeolites seem to be relevant for the MOSI effect. In comparison with previous studies highlighting the importance of the size of CoO x species and their acidity for coke formation, we could not establish any direct correlation. Nevertheless, the presence of CoO x seems to be relevant for this undesired reaction because the formation of coke is hindered when CoO x species are transformed to Co0 species. Catalyst acidic sites are responsible for cracking reactions. Thus, the derived mechanistic insights reveal the nature of active sites both for selective and unselective pathways and provide fundamentals for catalyst development. From an industrial viewpoint, the developed Co/Silicalite-1 (Co/S-1) catalyst with the weakest MOSI and accordingly highest fraction of Co0 showed the space time yield of propylene formation of 1.50 kg·h−1·kg cat −1 at 67 % equilibrium propane conversion and propylene selectivity of 95.3 % and the Co-related TOF value of 0.145 s−1 at 550 °C. These both activity values exceed those of the state-of-the-art Co-containing catalysts. The productivity of Co/S-1 is comparable or even higher than that of industrially relevant Pt- or Cr-containing catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A sensitive and reliable method was developed and validated for the analysis of ractopamine in swine tissues. The sample preparation procedure was based on hydrolysis overnight, extraction with ethyl acetate, and solid-phase extraction cleanup. The target compound was determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The average recoveries ranged between 93.3% and 106.5%, with relative standard deviations of 7.2–12.8%. The detection and quantification limits were 0.2 and 0.5μg/kg, respectively. The depletion profile of ractopamine was studied in healthy pigs after oral administration of feed containing 20mg/kg ractopamine for 30 consecutive days. Ractopamine residues were still detected 11days post-medication in all tissues examined with the exception of muscle. The highest ractopamine level was found in lung tissue. The developed method has been successfully applied to the depletion study of ractopamine in swine tissues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Th17 cells are known to exert pathogenic and non-pathogenic functions. Although the cytokine transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is instrumental for Th17 cell differentiation, it is dispensable for generation of pathogenic Th17 cells. Here, we examined the T cell-intrinsic role of Activin-A, a TGF-β superfamily member closely related to TGF-β1, in pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation. Activin-A expression was increased in individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Stimulation with interleukin-6 and Activin-A induced a molecular program that mirrored that of pathogenic Th17 cells and was inhibited by blocking Activin-A signaling. Genetic disruption of Activin-A and its receptor ALK4 in T cells impaired pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, which was essential for pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation, was suppressed by TGF-β1-ALK5 but not Activin-A-ALK4 signaling. Thus, Activin-A drives pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation, implicating the Activin-A-ALK4-ERK axis as a therapeutic target for Th17 cell-related diseases. • Activin-A expression is induced in T cells in autoimmunity and inflammation • Autocrine Activin-A-ALK4 signal is essential for pathogenic Th17 cell response • Activin-A+IL-6 promote pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation • Activin-A permits ERK activation to endow Th17 cells with pathogenic function Identifying factors controlling pathogenic Th17 cells is critical because of their roles in disease and autoimmunity. Wu et al. demonstrate that T cell-intrinsic Activin-A signaling, but not the closely related TGF-β1, drives pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation and function during autoimmunity. This points to Activin-A as a potential therapeutic target in pathogenic Th17 cell-mediated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]