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Objective: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a clinical syndrome caused by pathological changes in small vessels. Anxiety is a common symptom of CSVD. Previous studies have reported the association between inflammatory factors and anxiety in other diseases, but this association in patients with CSVD remains uncovered. Our study aimed to investigate whether serum inflammatory factors correlated with anxiety in patients with CSVD. Methods: A total of 245 CSVD patients confirmed using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were recruited from December 2019 to December 2021. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) was used to assess the anxiety symptoms of CSVD patients. Patients with HAMA scores ≥7 were considered to have anxiety symptoms. The serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2R, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were detected. We compared levels of inflammatory factors between the anxiety and non-anxiety groups. Logistic regression analyses examined the correlation between inflammatory factors and anxiety symptoms. We further performed a gender subgroup analysis to investigate whether this association differed by gender. Results: In the fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis model, we found that lower levels of IL-8 were linked to a higher risk of anxiety symptoms. Moreover, higher levels of SAA were linked to a lower risk of anxiety symptoms. Our study identified sex-specific effects, and the correlation between IL-8 and anxiety symptoms remained significant among males, while the correlation between SAA and anxiety symptoms remained significant among females. Conclusions: In this study, we found a suggestive association between IL-8, SAA, and anxiety symptoms in CSVD participants. Furthermore, IL-8 and SAA may have a sex-specific relationship with anxiety symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: DNA methyltransferase (DMT) genes contribute to plant stress responses and development by de novo establishment and subsequent maintenance of DNA methylation during replication. The photoperiod and/or temperature-sensitive genic male sterile (P/TGMS) lines play an important role in hybrid seed production of wheat. However, only a few studies have reported on the effect of DMT genes on temperature-sensitive male sterility of wheat. Although DMT genes have been investigated in some plant species, the identification and analysis of DMT genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) based on genome-wide levels have not been reported. Results: In this study, a detailed overview of phylogeny of 52 wheat DMT (TaDMT) genes was presented. Homoeolog retention for TaDMT genes was significantly above the average retention rate for whole-wheat genes, indicating the functional importance of many DMT homoeologs. We found that the strikingly high number of TaDMT genes resulted mainly from the significant expansion of the TaDRM subfamily. Intriguingly, all 5 paralogs belonged to the wheat DRM subfamily, and we speculated that tandem duplications might play a crucial role in the TaDRM subfamily expansion. Through the transcriptional analysis of TaDMT genes in a TGMS line BS366 and its hybrids with the other six fertile lines under sterile and fertile conditions, we concluded that TaCMT-D2, TaMET1-B1, and TaDRM-U6 might be involved in male sterility in BS366. Furthermore, a correlation analysis showed that TaMET1-B1 might negatively regulate the expression of TaRAFTIN1A, an important gene for pollen development, so we speculated regarding an epigenetic regulatory mechanism underlying the male sterility of BS366 via the interaction between TaMET1-B1 and TaRAFTIN1A. Conclusions: Our findings presented a detailed phylogenic overview of the DMT genes and could provide novel insights into the effects of DMT genes on TGMS wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study of the 1st order vibration improvement at engine idle condition of a malfunctional vehicle in development is presented in this work. Firstly, the generation mechanism of the vehicle 1st order vibration problem at engine idle is analyzed based on theoretical analysis. Then, experiments are designed to derive the possible vibration excitation source and transfer path through comprehensive analysis. The powertrain rotational system imbalance exceeding a limit is determined to be the main reason for the vehicle 1st order abnormal vibration. The resonance of the mounting system excited by the powertrain rotational system intensifies the 1st order abnormal vibration. Experimental analyses show that the clutch imbalance severely exceeds the prescribed limit, which confirms the diagnosis of the excitation source, and a significant improvement of about 87% of the 1st order vibration can be achieved by adjusting the clutch imbalance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study of preferential adsorption sites of H2O on NaX and BaX zeolites was carried out after adsorption/desorption of carbon dioxide (CO2bbbbbbb). The profiles of CO2bbbbbbb desorption revealed two distinct zones. The first one, at low temperature (T<533 K), corresponding to physisorbed CO2bbbbbbb where BaX zeolite has an energy of adsorption higher than that of NaX as well as strong interactions of adsorbent/adsorbate. The second one (533-623 K) corresponds to the chemisorbed CO2bbbbbbb. The presence of water influences CO2bbbbbbb adsorption. The effect is more important for NaX than for BaX. For NaX, water occupies the adsorption sites of CO2bbbbbbb between 373 and 483 K. In contrast, BaX preserves a majority of adsorption sites of physisorbed CO2bbbbbbb in the presence of water, in particular the adsorption sites located in the interval of temperature 423-533 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the hypothesis that a discrepancy of Al binding in cell wall constituents determines Al mobility in root border cells (RBCs) of pea (Pisum sativum), which provides protection for RBCs and root apices under Al toxicity. Plants of pea (P. sativum L. 'Zhongwan no. 6') were subjected to Al treatments under mist culture. The concentration of Al in RBCs was much higher than that in the root apex. The Al content in RBCs surrounding one root apex (104 RBCs) was approximately 24.5% of the total Al in the root apex (0-2.5 mm), indicating a shielding role of RBCs for the root apex under Al toxicity. Cell wall analysis showed that Al accumulated predominantly in alkalisoluble pectin (pectin 2) of RBCs. This could be attributed to a significant increase of uronic acids under Al toxicity, higher capacity of Al adsorption in pectin 2 [5.3-fold higher than that of chelate-soluble pectin (pectin 1)], and lower ratio of Al desorption from pectin 2 (8.5%) compared with pectin 1 (68.5%). These results indicate that pectin 2 is the primary target of Al immobilization in RBCs of pea, which impairs Al access to the intracellular space of RBCs and mobility to root apices, and therefore protects root apices and RBCs from Al toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Splash erosion is an important process of hillslope erosion. However, there is little information available in the literature to show how rainfall physical parameters affect the directional components of splash erosion. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of rainfall physical parameters (rainfall intensity [RI], raindrop kinetic energy [KE], and raindrop diameter) on the directional components (upslope, lateral, downslope) of splash erosion characteristics in the Chinese Mollisol region. A specially designed soil pan, which can measure the directional components of splash erosion, was subjected to designed rainfall intensities of 50 and 100 mm h-1 and varying raindrop KE. The results showed that the total splash erosion (downslope plus upslope plus lateral splash erosion), directional components of splash erosion and net splash erosion (downslope minus upslope erosion) on hillslopes significantly increased as RI and raindrop KE increased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, splash erosion from downslope, lateral slope, and upslope contributed 32.2, 26.3, and 14.5%, respectively, of total splash erosion. Additionally, raindrop KE and raindrop median volume diameter (D50) were the key indicators affecting both total and net splash erosion. The equations between total and net splash erosion with both parameters of raindrop KE and raindrop D50 were fitted. The cross validation results showed that the two equations had acceptable accuracy. Therefore, preventing raindrop impact by using conservation tillage methods, such as retaining crop residue or mulch cover, can effectively reduce splash erosion in the Mollisol region of Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF or T) antigen, Galβ1-3GalNAcα1-O-Ser/Thr, is the core 1 structure of O-linked mucin type glycans appearing in tumor-associated glycosylation. The TF antigen occurs in about 90% of human cancer cells and is a potential ligand for the human endogenous galectins. It has been reported that human galectin-1 (Gal-1) and galectin-3 (Gal-3) can perform their cancer-related functions via specifically recognizing TF antigen. However, the detailed binding properties have not been clarified and structurally characterized. In this work, first we identified the distinct TF-binding abilities of Gal-1 and Gal-3. The affinity to TF antigen for Gal-3 is two orders of magnitude higher than that for Gal-1. The structures of Gal-3 carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) complexed with TF antigen and derivatives, TFN and GM1, were then determined. These structures show a unique Glu-water-Arg-water motif-based mode as previously observed in the mushroom galectin AAL. The observation demonstrates that this recognition mode is commonly adopted by TF-binding galectins, either as endogenous or exogenous ones. The detailed structural comparisons between Gal-1 and Gal-3 CRD and mutagenesis experiments reveal that a pentad residue motif (51AHGDA55) at the loop (g1-L4) connecting β-strands 4 and 5 of Gal-1 produces a serious steric hindrance for TF binding. This motif is the main structural basis for Gal-1 with the low affinity to TF antigen. These findings provide the intrinsic structural elements for regulating the TF-binding activity of Gal-1 in some special conditions and also show certain target and approach for mediating some tumor-related bioactivities of human galectins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weedy rice represents an important resource for rice improvement. The F1 hybrid between the japonica wide compatibility rice cultivar 02428 and a weedy rice accession from Yunnan province (SW China) suffered from pollen sterility. Pollen abortion in the hybrid occurred at the early bicellular pollen stage, as a result of mitotic failure in the microspore, although the tapetum developed normally. Genetic mapping in a BC1F1 population (02428//Yunnan weedy rice (YWR)/02428) showed that a major QTL for hybrid pollen sterility ( qPS-1) was present on chromosome 1. qPS-1 was fine-mapped to a 110 kb region known to contain the hybrid pollen sterility gene Sa, making it likely that qPS-1 is either identical to, or allelic with Sa. Interestingly, F1 hybrid indicated that Dular and IR36 were assumed to carry the sterility-neutral allele, Sa n. Re-sequencing SaM and SaF, the two component genes present at Sa, suggested that variation for IR36 and Dular may be responsible for the loss of male sterility, and the qPS-1 sequence might be derived from wild rice or indica cultivars. A phylogenetic analysis based on microsatellite genotyping suggested that the YWR accession is more closely related to wild rice and indica type cultivars than to japonica types. Thus it is probable that the YWR accession evolved from a spontaneous hybrid between wild rice and an ancient cultivated strain of domesticated rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hierarchical flower-like TiO2 has been achieved by using a simple solvothermal process without any surfactants or colloidal crystals as a template. The structures of the products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis. The relationship between hierarchical structure and photocatalytic performance has been presented based on detailed characterizations. It was found that the hierarchical flower-like structure was a benefit for light absorption and significantly enhanced the photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform Bi2WO6 spheres with high visible light activity were prepared via a solvothermal route. A variety of techniques including transmission electron micrographs (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption, FT-IR spectra, and UV–Vis spectra were employed to characterize the structure of the Bi2WO6 materials so obtained. The results show that the sphere-like Bi2WO6 samples were successfully prepared. And, under the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B, the samples demonstrated high activity, three times higher than that of a sample from the solid-state method. Moreover, the uniform structure made the sample easy to separate from the reaction solution, providing an intrinsic advantage to the normal Bi2WO6 samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pcp2(L7) is a Purkinje cell-specific GoLoco domain protein that modulates activation of Gαi/o proteins by G protein-coupled receptors. A likely downstream effector of this pathway is the P-type Ca2+ channel, and thereby, the intrinsic electrophysiology of Purkinje cells could be modulated by Pcp2(L7). It has long been known that the Pcp2(L7) mRNA is abundantly localized in dendrites, suggesting the possibility of distal synthesis and local changes in levels of the protein. As a first step to uncover the trafficking and translational mechanisms for this mRNA, we have begun identifying the cis-acting sequences important for its localization in dendrites. Using expression of modified transgenes in vivo, we show that the 3′UTR, only 65 bases long, is necessary in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper firstly works out basic differential equations of piezoelectric materials expressed in terms of potential functions, which are introduced in the very beginning. These equations are primarily solved through Laplace transformation, semi-infinite Fourier sine transformation and cosine transformation. Secondly, dual equations of dynamic cracks problem in 2D piezoelectric materials are established with the help of Fourier reverse transformation and the introduction of boundary conditions. Finally, according to the character of the Bessel function and by making full use of the Abel integral equation and its reverse transform, the dual equations are changed into the second type of Fredholm integral equations. The investigation indicates that the study approach taken is feasible and has potential to be an effective method to do research on issues of this kind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the investigation on fracture mechanics, the potential function was introduced, and the moving differential equation was constructed. By making Laplace and Fourier transformation as well as sine and cosine transformation to moving differential equations and various responses, the dual equation which is constructed from boundary conditions lastly was solved. This method of investigating dynamic crack has become a more systematic one that is used widely. Some problems are encountered when the dynamic crack is studied. After the large investigation on the problems, it is discovered that during the process of mathematic derivation, the method is short of precision, and the derived results in this method are accidental and have no credibility. A model for example is taken to explain the problems existing in initial deriving process of the integral-transformation method of dynamic crack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]