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The present work investigates the contribution of dislocation cell to the yield strength of additively manufactured (AM) 316L steel through nanoindentation technique. The nano-mechanical response of the AM sample is properly compared to the heat-treated (HT) one without dislocation cell. The nanoindentation size effect is observed in both samples. Although the nanohardness of HT sample is comparable to that of AM sample at low indentation depth, the former is obviously lower than the later at depth where the indentation impression is similar or larger than that of dislocation cell. Utilizing Nix–Gao model and Tabor equation, the contribution of dislocation cell to the yield strength is estimated to be ~ 169 MPa, which is about 54% of the improved yield strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far too long, people have been working hard to develop fire prevention measures to deal with lithium ion battery (LIB) fires. LIB fires have a high calorific value, a rapid burning and spread speed and a high risk of re-ignition and explosion. Under thermal runaway, LIB fires develop from the inside out, preventing fire extinguishing agents from entering the interior of LIB, thus resulting in low extinguishing efficiency or even failure of the extinguishing agents. Based on the principle of 'isolation and stifling', fire-blocking blanket can effectively inhibit the spread of fire, suppress the combustion intensity and reduce the smoke emission. This paper digs into the detailed performance requirements of fire blanket to block LIB fires. By conducting laboratory tests to mimic LIB fires, the candidate materials including fiber materials, woven textile and woven fabrics with organic coatings are systematically investigated. Performance of the materials are evaluated, including fire resistance, thermal insulation, tensile strength at break and blast resistance, respectively. The testing results help to screen out the best material for LIB fire blanket, and high-silica glass fiber coated by polyurethane has the best thermal and mechanical properties among all materials tested. This paper also presents a three-layer structured design of blanket, which can pass all the tests proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both NO and GAs are essential for regulating various physiological processes and stress responses in plants. However, the interaction between these two molecules remains unclear.We investigated the distinct response patterns of Arabidopsis thaliana Col‐0 and GA synthesis functional deficiency mutants to NO by measuring root length. To investigate underlying mechanisms, we detected bioactive GA content using UHPLC–ESI‐MS/MS, assessed the accumulation of ROS by chemical staining Arabidopsis roots. We also conducted RNA‐seq analysis and compared results between Col‐0 and ga3ox1, with and without SNP (as NO donor) treatment.Phenotypic results revealed that the inhibitory effect of NO on primary roots of Arabidopsis was primarily mediated by GA3‐oxidase, rather than GA20‐oxidase or GA2‐oxidase. The content of GA3 decreased in Col‐0 treated with SNP, whereas this decrease was not observed in ga3ox1. The deficiency of GA3‐oxidase alleviated the buildup of H2O2 in roots when treated with SNP. We identified 222 DEGs. GO annotation of these DEGs revealed that all top 20 GO terms were related to stress responses. Moreover, three DEGs were annotated to GA‐related processes (DDF1, DDF2, EXPA1), and seven DEGs were associated with root development (RAV1, RGF2, ERF71, ZAT6, MYB77, XT1, and DTX50).In summary, NO inhibits primary root growth partially by repressing GA3‐oxidase catalysed GA3 synthesis in Arabidopsis. ROS, Ca2+, DDF1, DDF2, EXPA1 and seven root development‐related genes may be involved in crosstalk between NO and GAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Probiotics may be an effective alternative to traditional drug therapy for constipation in the elderly. Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of probiotics in managing constipation among the elderly. Methods: Eight databases were queried for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating probiotics' efficacy in addressing constipation among the elderly until January 2023. The meta-analysis was conducted employing R software version 4.2.2. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was utilized to evaluate the risk of bias, and the GRADE approach was employed to assess the credibility of the evidence concerning the efficacy of probiotics in treating constipation in older individuals. Results: A total of six RCTs involving 444 patients were included. Two studies were rated as low risk of bias. The meta-analysis findings revealed that probiotics, when compared to a placebo, led to an increase in stool frequency (MD = 1.02,95% CI [0.21, 2.07], p<0.05, very low quality), the probiotic group exhibited a notable impact on ameliorating symptoms associated with constipation (OR = 11.28, 95%CI [7.21, 17.64], p < 0.05, very low quality), no significant disparities were observed in terms of efforts to evacuate, manual maneuvers, and the incidence of adverse events (p>0.05). Conclusion: The available evidence indicates a degree of uncertainty, ranging from low-to-very low, suggesting the efficacy of probiotics in augmenting bowel frequency and ameliorating constipation-related symptoms among elderly patients with constipation. Nevertheless, given the quality of the studies included, it is advisable to conduct further well-designed investigations with substantial sample sizes to substantiate the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the regulation mechanism of terpenoid biosynthesis in the leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, the content of volatiles in eucalyptus leaves and the transcriptome databases of young and mature leaves were analyzed. The results showed that E. camaldulensis contains 92 and 89 kinds of volatile substances in the young and mature leaves, respectively. Among them, the content of 1,8-cineole, ß-pinene, and other substances was significantly different in young and mature leaves. A total of 99 802 unigenes were obtained from the transcriptome database of young and mature leaves of E. camaldulensis and 18 441 genes displayed obviously differential expressions during both developmental stages. There were 6 982 up-regulated unigenes and 11 461 down-regulated unigenes in the young leaf stage compared to the mature leaf stage. The key genes for terpenoid biosynthesis, including limonene synthase-10, limonene synthase-11, myrcene synthase-1, a-pinene synthase-2, and 1,8-cineole synthase-2, were selected for further analysis to explore the mechanism of gene regulation and genetic transformation. The expressions of key genes were validated by RTqPCR, and their expressions were consistent with RNA-seq data. WRKY, MYB, NAC, and bHLH transcription factors (TFs) displayed important regulatory effects on the above key genes. Thus, a regulatory network model of terpenoid biosynthesis was constructed using target genes and TFs during leaf development in E. camaldulensis. These results provide theoretical evidence for understanding the terpenoid biosynthesis in plants and reference for terpenoids utilization by genetic engineering methods in E. camaldulensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work focuses on the mechanical behavior of single austenite grain with different orientations in a twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) steel by nanoindentation test. Deformation twins can be found in [0 0 1]-orientated grains after nanoindentation, while they are absent in grains with [1 1 1] orientation. This inconformity can be ascribed to a larger Schmid factor for leading partial dislocations compared to trailing partial dislocations on the primary slip system in [0 0 1]-orientated grains during compression. Different from deformation twins, high-density dislocations can be found in both [0 0 1] and [1 1 1]-orientated grains after nanoindentation. The present work suggests that the density of deformation twins can be enhanced by controlling crystal orientation through texture engineering or by deformation along different directions such as cross-rolling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case report Dyskeratosis congenita is a short telomere disorder caused by several gene mutations, with an estimated prevalence of 1/1 000 000 over the world.[1] It is usually characterized by multisystem features, such as mucocutaneous lesions, bone marrow failure and cancer predisposition. Herein, we reported a patient who presented idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in dyskeratosis congenita with the telomere length disorder and rare variant of NHP2. Learning points for clinicians NHP2 is a rare autosomal recessive mutation in short telomere disorder, and only few variants have been identified. [Extracted from the article]

The nanotwinned alloys produced during the previous decades are generally single-phased. Here we propose a nanotwinned steel with dual-phase microstructure. Such dual-phase nanotwinned steel can be fabricated by a deformation and annealing process. A medium Mn steel with both transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) and twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) effects during deformation is used as a starting material. The yield strength of the dual-phase nanotwinned steel is 1.2 GPa, with a total tensile elongation of 15 pct. However, it is found that the recovery annealing process reduces the tensile ductility, which could be due to the formation of the coarse cementite precipitates during annealing at 400 °C. The design of dual-phase nanotwinned structure can also be applied to other alloy systems such as high entropy alloy with both TRIP and TWIP effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the regulation mechanism of terpenoid biosynthesis in the leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, the content of volatiles in eucalyptus leaves and the transcriptome databases of young and mature leaves were analyzed. The results showed that E. camaldulensis contains 92 and 89 kinds of volatile substances in the young and mature leaves, respectively. Among them, the content of 1,8-cineole, ß-pinene, and other substances was significantly different in young and mature leaves. A total of 99 802 unigenes were obtained from the transcriptome database of young and mature leaves of E. camaldulensis and 18 441 genes displayed obviously differential expressions during both developmental stages. There were 6 982 up-regulated unigenes and 11 461 down-regulated unigenes in the young leaf stage compared to the mature leaf stage. The key genes for terpenoid biosynthesis, including limonene synthase-10, limonene synthase-11, myrcene synthase-1, a-pinene synthase-2, and 1,8-cineole synthase-2, were selected for further analysis to explore the mechanism of gene regulation and genetic transformation. The expressions of key genes were validated by RTqPCR, and their expressions were consistent with RNA-seq data. WRKY, MYB, NAC, and bHLH transcription factors (TFs) displayed important regulatory effects on the above key genes. Thus, a regulatory network model of terpenoid biosynthesis was constructed using target genes and TFs during leaf development in E. camaldulensis. These results provide theoretical evidence for understanding the terpenoid biosynthesis in plants and reference for terpenoids utilization by genetic engineering methods in E. camaldulensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, annealing treatment is frequently used to recover the ductility of high/medium entropy alloys after deformation. However, the present work demonstrates that the ductility of a CoCrNiVC medium entropy alloy could be substantially reduced after the tempering process, which is similar to the tempering embrittlement in some steels. Numerous carbides with chromium enrichment are formed at the shear bands and grain boundaries during tempering at 700 °C for 30 min. The carbides embedded at grain boundaries result in a localized strain concentration during plastic deformation, facilitating the nucleation of the micro-cracks. The segregation of carbon at the grain boundary decreases its cohesion energy, accelerating the propagation of cracks and the development of intergranular fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, the formation of martensite in the metastable austenite grains in steels during nanoindentation investigations is believed to be induced by strain as the plastic deformation of austenite takes place prior to the martensitic transformation. However, it is not clear whether the formation of martensite occurs without the prior initiation of plasticity (stress-induced martensitic transformation) during nanoindentation measurement. The present work demonstrates that the martensitic transformation can be triggered during elastic deformation of austenite under an ultralow load when the indenter is close to the annealing twin boundaries. The indentation pressure interacts with the martensite transformation strain, providing the mechanical interaction energy to overcome the nucleation barrier of the martensite embryo. The present work suggests that the annealing twin boundaries can also serve as the nucleation sites of martensite and the stress-induced martensitic transformation is possible during nanoindentation investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the creep behaviour of aluminium to aluminium adhesively bonded joints reinforced with different amount of graphene nano-platelets (up to 0.5 wt %) was investigated experimentally and numerically. The mechanical properties of the neat and reinforced epoxy adhesive, as well as their creep behaviour were obtained by tensile tests and creep tests in three stress levels, respectively. The nonlinear Norton-Bailey creep model was used to obtain the creep behaviour of the neat adhesive. The effect of graphene content, up to 0.5 wt%, on the creep behaviour of the reinforced adhesive was also simulated by a new function, called graphene function. It was observed that the presence of graphene up to 0.5 wt% continuously reduced the creep strain of the epoxy adhesive. In the next step, the aluminium to aluminium single lap joints (SLJs) bonded by the neat and reinforced adhesive were subjected to simple tensiles and creep tests. It was observed that the optimum graphene content to increase the tensile strength and the creep resistance of the SLJs were 0.1 wt% and 0.25 wt%, respectively. Finally, the creep behaviour of the SLJs with various graphene content was analysed by finite element method (FEM) using the new creep model developed in this paper. The results show that the numerical creep displacement of the SLJs boned by the neat and graphene reinforced adhesive up to 0.25 wt% are in good agreement with experimental ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To train inexperienced workers for the construction, production, and maintenance of subsea production systems, a virtual reality simulation platform was developed. The entire framework, software, and hardware platforms of the system were designed and introduced. A multi-person collaborative simulation was achieved based on the high-level architecture protocol. The real-time dynamic calculation software Vortex was used to add physical properties to each geometrical model and set collision detections and motion constraints so that the VR system can reflect the real motion response of the structures in real-time during virtual simulation. Visual simulation software Vega Prime and Vortex were integrated to realise the real-time rendering and drawing of virtual ocean engineering scenes. Thus, a virtual simulation system with large-scale complex scenes based on real-time dynamic calculation and multi-person collaborative operation was established. A typical ocean engineering case of subsea manifold installation was simulated using the virtual simulation system, and the detailed simulation flow was explained. A multibody dynamics system of the ship-cable-subsea manifold was established using Orcaflex to obtain the accurate motion response of the subsea manifold during lowering. In the virtual simulation process, the obtained hydrodynamic calculation results can provide an important guideline and reference to the operators. The developed simulation system is a suitable tool for training ocean engineering workers and realistically simulating ocean operation cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of an educational exercise designed to introduce school students to the technique of single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and enhance their understanding of primary and secondary bonding, a group of nine secondary school students was given the opportunity to prepare new compounds and to solve and refine data collected on the crystalline materials they had prepared. Their investigation of the alkali metal salts of 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid (H2hba) yielded nine new compounds and their structures are described in this article. Whilst the salts might be expected to have similar atomic arrangements, there are significant differences in their structures. Although H2hba is a relatively simple organic molecule, it displays remarkable coordinative flexibility, forming ionic solids containing the uncharged molecule, the monoanion Hhba− or the dianion hba2−. A common feature of the structures is their layered arrangement: alternating hydrophilic layers made up of closely packed metal–oxygen polyhedra separated by the hydrophobic component of the hydroxybenzoate linking units. Close packing of these units seems to be a dominant influence in determining the overall structure. The hydroxybenzoate units are usually both parallel and antiparallel with their immediate neighbours, with packing that can be edge‐to‐face, face‐to‐face or a mixture of the two. Hydrogen bonding plays a key role in the structure of most compounds and a short strong hydrogen bond (SSHB) is observed in two of the networks. The compounds of 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid, C7H6O3, described here are: poly[di‐μ‐aqua‐μ‐4‐oxidobenzoato‐dilithium], [Li2(C7H4O3)(H2O)2]n, 1, poly[triaqua‐μ‐4‐oxidobenzoato‐dilithium], [Li2(C7H4O3)(H2O)3]n, 2, poly[μ‐4‐hydroxybenzoato‐lithium], [Li(C7H5O3)]n, 3, catena‐poly[4‐hydroxybenzoate [[diaquasodium]‐di‐μ‐aqua]], {[Na(H2O)4](C7H5O3)}n, 4, poly[di‐μ‐aqua‐aqua‐μ‐4‐hydroxybenzoato‐potassium], [K(C7H5O3)(H2O)3]n, 5, poly[μ‐aqua‐μ‐4‐hydroxybenzoato‐potassium], [K(C7H5O3)(H2O)]n, 6, poly[aqua‐μ‐4‐hydroxybenzoato‐rubidium], [Rb(C7H5O3)(H2O)]n, 7, poly[aqua‐μ‐4‐hydroxybenzoato‐caesium], [Cs(C7H5O3)(H2O)]n, 8, poly[[μ‐aqua‐aqua(μ‐4‐hydroxybenzoato)(4‐hydroxybenzoic acid)sodium] monohydrate], {[Na(C7H5O3)(C7H6O3)(H2O)2]·H2O}n, 9, poly[[(μ‐4‐hydroxybenzoato)(μ‐4‐hydroxybenzoic acid)rubidium] monohydrate], {[K(C7H5O3)(C7H6O3)]·H2O}n, 10, and poly[[(μ‐4‐hydroxybenzoato)(μ‐4‐hydroxybenzoic acid)rubidium] monohydrate], {[Rb(C7H5O3)(C7H6O3)]·H2O}n, 11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior of INCONEL 690 (IN690) alloy was studied using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy. Isothermal compression tests were performed on a Gleeble-3500 simulator under temperatures 950-1100 °C, strain rates 0.01-1 s−1, and the maximum true strain 0.8. An Avrami-type model was developed to investigate the DRX behavior of IN690; it was found to be extremely sensitive to the processing parameters of temperature, strain rate, and true strain. As temperature increased and strain rate decreased, the activation energy increased, thus accelerating movement of dislocation and migration of grain boundaries, causing DRX behavior acceleration. The DRX behavior is accompanied by dislocation rearrangement and annihilation. The DRX mechanism of IN690 is dominated by discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) and supplemented by continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX). A key characteristic of DDRX is grain-boundary bulges, while CDRX features progressive sub-grain rotation, leading to migration of low-angle grain boundaries to high-angle grain boundaries. A series of constitutive models were embedded into finite-element method software to study the DRX behavior of IN690. The results show that the microstructure evolution regularity obtained by the simulation method is consistent with the experimental values, which provides a basis for computer simulations of the hot machining process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How non-governmental organisations (NGOs) craft accountability and legitimacy in authoritarian states is poorly understood. We put forward a framework of analysis for capturing the processes of making accountability and legitimacy. We introduce the ideas of first- and second-order accountability and stocks of accountability capital. In authoritarian regimes, building second-order accountability through the accumulation of stocks of accountability is crucial for NGOs' survival and organisational development and as a path towards gaining first-order accountability. Drawing on a decade of fieldwork on child welfare NGOs in China from 2007 to 2017, we select three case studies with long operational trajectories to illustrate processes of crafting legitimacy and accountability. The research contributes empirically and theoretically to the understanding of accountability in NGOs in authoritarian states through the novel analytic framework and case study of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on mechanical instability of individual shear transformation zones (STZs), a quantitative link between the microplastic instability and macroscopic deformation behavior of metallic glasses was proposed. Our analysis confirms that macroscopic metallic glasses comprise a statistical distribution of STZ embryos with distributed values of activation energy, and the microplastic instability of all the individual STZs dictates the macroscopic deformation behavior of amorphous solids. The statistical model presented in this paper can successfully reproduce the macroscopic stress-strain curves determined experimentally and readily be used to predict strain-rate effects on the macroscopic responses with the availability of the material parameters at a certain strain rate, which offer new insights into understanding the actual deformation mechanism in amorphous solids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the tip field of the carbon nanotube (CNT) or CNT array standing upright on a cathode plane, we proposed a model in which the long CNT is replaced by a floating top segment at the cathode potential. Using the fictitious charge and image method, a simple approximate formula for the field enhancement factor of a single CNT linear with the height-to-radius ratio has been deduced. This result is evidently improved compared to that from the floating sphere model. The normalized field strength distribution on the top hemisphere is also calculated and plotted, with the result depending slightly on the height-to-radius ratio. An estimation shows that the field emission intensity on the cylindrical surface of CNT is negligible compared to that on the top hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the apex field-enhancement factor associated with an array of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on a planar cathode surface, the model of the floating spheres between parallel anode and cathode plates was proposed. An approximate formula for the enhancement factor was derived showing that the intertube distance of a CNT array critically affects the field emission. When the intertube distance is less than the height of the tube, the enhancement factor decreases rapidly with decreasing distance in qualitative agreement with the numerical simulation. Considering the field-emission current density, the field emission can be optimized when the intertube distance is comparable with the tube height, in accordance with the results from the experiments. Finally, the influence of the anode-cathode distance on the enhancement factor was also discussed, showing that the anode-cathode distance has little effect on the field emission from a CNT array. Thus, we can reduce the theshold voltage to some extent by decreasing the anode-cathode distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of bonding for joining composite materials in high-performance structures has increased significantly, as this joining method offers improved stress distributions and capability of joining dissimilar materials. However, the use of adhesive bonding for this purpose might lead to delamination failure, caused by peel stresses acting on the generally weaker transverse direction of the composite adherends. This work focused on improving the resistance to delamination of composite adhesive joints by using a novel composite with a reinforced high toughness resin on the surfaces. Single-lap joints using the novel composite material as adherends, were found to have 22% higher failure loads when compared with the specimens using carbon fiber reinforced polymer only adherends, with the failure mode changing from delamination of the adherends to cohesive failure in the adhesive. The lap shear strength was also close to that attained when using high strength steel adherends. A finite element analysis, using cohesive elements, was performed with the objective of reproducing the experimental results and better understanding the failure mechanism. Using this model, it has been determined that the change of failure mode and the plasticity on the surface layers are the two key factors underlying the increase in strength obtained with the novel adherends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) have essential roles in various biological processes, including proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle progression and apoptosis. It is considered that miRNA de-regulation contributes to tumor progression and metastasis in various cancers, and MiR-203a has been identified as a tumor suppressor in cancers, such as glioma, gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, we established that miR-203a expression is significantly lower in bladder cancer tissues than in adjacent normal tissues, and that low miR-203a expression is associated with poor patient outcome. The over-expression of miR-203a inhibited bladder cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT in vitro, and its up-regulation led to bladder cancer cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. This over-expression also inhibited the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Bioinformatics prediction software and luciferase reporter assay then confirmed that SIX4 is a direct target of miR-203a. We established negative correlation between SIX4 expression and miR-203a expression in bladder cancer tissues, and SIX4 silencing caused effects similar to miR-203a up-regulation Furthermore, SIX4 over-expression diminished the effects of miR-203a on bladder cancer cells in vitro. In summary, our study determined that miR-203a down-regulation is closely related to tumorigenesis in bladder cancer; thus suggesting that miR-203a is a potential prognostic marker and a potential target in bladder cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain high performance coating materials a Fe5Cr5SiTiCoNbMoW high entropy alloy coating was prepared for deposition onto 6542# and Q235 tool steel by CO2 laser cladding. The microstructure, microhardness, corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the coatings were investigated. The experimental results showed that the Fe5Cr5SiTiCoNbMoW high entropy alloy is mainly composed of body-centred cubic (BCC) phase accompanied with a few metal carbides. The microstructure was dendritic crystal. The hardness and wear resistance of the Fe5Cr5SiTi-CoNbMoW high entropy alloy coated 6542# tool steel with high C content was higher than those of the Fe5Cr5SiTiCoNbMoW high entropy alloy coated Q235 tool steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factor family participates in responses to various kinds of environmental stimuli in plants. However, the roles of NAC protein in cold resistance, especially in the cold resistance of tomatoes, are not completely understood. This study examined the roles of a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) NAC transcription factor (SlNAC35) in resisting chilling using transgenic tomatoes. GUS staining and expression analysis revealed that SlNAC35 expression was induced at 4 °C, thereby suggesting its involvement in plant responses to chilling stress. Moreover, transgenic lines over-expressing SlNAC35 exhibited high chlorophyll content, fresh mass, and low accumulation of reactive oxygen species and membrane damage under chilling stress. These results indicated that SlNAC35 overexpression enhanced the chilling tolerance of transgenic tomatoes. High expressions of cold tolerance markers SlCOR518 and SlCOR413IM1 were observed under chilling stress in transgenic lines. This observation suggested that SlNAC35 overexpression enhanced the chilling tolerance of transgenic lines by involving the c-repeat binding factor-cold stress response (CBF-COR) signaling pathway and by regulating SlCOR expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, we assessed the therapeutic effects of fosfomycin tromethamine (FT) in a bacterial prostatitis (BP) rat model. The BP model was induced by Escherichia coli and was demonstrated after 7 days microbiologically and histologically. Then, 25 BP rats selected were randomly divided into five treatment groups: model group, positive group, FT‐3 day group, FT‐7 day group and FT‐14 day group. Ventral lobes of prostate from all animals were removed, and the serum samples were collected at the end of the experiments. Microbiological cultures and histological findings of the prostate samples demonstrated reduced bacterial growth and improved inflammatory responses in FT‐treatment groups compared with the model group, indicating that FT against prostatic infection induced by E. coli showed good antibacterial effects. Moreover, plasma pharmacokinetics and prostatic distribution of fosfomycin were studied and compared in BP and normal rats. The concentrations of fosfomycin in samples were analysed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. There were no differences in plasma pharmacokinetic parameters between two groups. But significantly higher penetration of fosfomycin into prostatic tissues was found in BP rats. We therefore suggested that FT had a good therapeutic effect on BP and it might be used in curing masculine reproductive system diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The Griffiths Mental Development Scales (GMDS) are used in many countries to assess the development of children from birth to 8 years. There is a need for accurate and culturally appropriate developmental assessment tools for Chinese children. Here, we adapted the GMDS for use in Chinese children and compare the developmental trajectories between Chinese and British children. Methods: Children with typical development were recruited from 7 urban cities in China between 2009 and 2013. The Griffiths Mental Development Scales‐Chinese (GDS‐C) were adapted and used to assess the development of urban Chinese children. Developmental curves were computed for 6 subscales using learning management system methods and compare against the British curves from the Griffiths Mental Development Scales‐Extended Revised (GMDS‐ER). Results: The GDS‐C were used to assess the developmental status of 815 Chinese children. Plots of the 1st, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th, and 99th percentiles, and full percentile tables were obtained, which showed similar trends to data from the British GMDS‐ER. Conclusions: The Chinese developmental curves obtained from the GDS‐C showed similarities and differences to the developmental curves from the British GMDS‐ER. The development of urban Chinese children should be assessed with the culturally appropriate GDS‐C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in Ctenopharyngodon idella toll‐like receptor 7 (citlr7) gene, containing two in the 5′‐flanking region, three within the single intron and six distributed in the coding sequence (CDS), were identified. A case–control study of 73 susceptible individuals and 67 resistant individuals was conducted to test the SNPs‐based susceptibility–resistance association and mRNA expression of citlr7 to grass carp reovirus (GCRV), showing that both 820 A/G and 1726 A/G were significantly correlative sites in genotype (P < 0·05). Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis suggested the exertion of antiviral effects of 820 A/G might rely on SNPs interactions of citlr7 and C. idella toll‐like receptor 8 (citlr8). Combining the mortality rate and citlr7 mRNA expression, it was suggested that 1726 GG‐genotyped individuals might be more resistant than 1726 A/G genotyped individuals, indicating the selection on synonymous mutations in 1726 A/G might be susceptibility–resistance‐type specific. In addition, haplotype analysis uncovered no significantly correlative haplotypes in citlr7. These findings may provide an in‐depth insight for the further functional research of citlr7. The potential genetic markers identified may contribute to the molecular and transgenic breeding of C. idella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a strategy to introduce a reactive electrophile into proteins through the conversion of a chemically inert group into a bioreactive group in response to an inducer molecule. This strategy was demonstrated by oxidation-induced and proximity-enhanced protein–protein crosslinking in the presence of a large excess of free nucleophile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testosterone deficiency and metabolism syndrome (MetS) are universal among ageing males, and they have been suggested responsible for poorer quality of life (QoL). We aimed to evaluate the relative contributions of reproductive hormones and components of MetS at the risk of reduced QoL among Chinese mid-aged and elderly men. A cross-sectional study recruited 2,364 males aged 40-79 years, and 2,165 was included for analysis eventually. The Chinese version of ageing male symptoms scale, 36-item Short Form and Beck Depression Inventory were applied to assess QoL. Bivariate correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess the relative contributions of reproductive hormones and components of MetS at the risk of reduced QoL. Testosterone deficiency and MetS contributed to poorer QoL, of which higher fasting blood glucose made the primary contribution, lower total testosterone mainly contributed to poorer physical functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of asthenozoospermia remains unclear. The knowledge of the metabolism of fatty acids in seminal plasma is important and meaningful for the pathological study of asthenozoospermia. We present an optimised assay of extraction and derivatisation followed by GC/ MS to analyse metabolites, especially fatty acids, in seminal plasma from healthy and asthenozoospermic men. Eighty-nine peaks including 17 kinds of fatty acids were analysed and identified in the chromatogram. The GC/ MS data were analysed using t test, fold change and partial least squares discriminant analysis to explore the potential biomarkers of asthenozoospermia. Seven metabolites in asthenozoospermic group were found to be significantly different from those in the normal group (with p < .05, fold change >1.2 and variable importance for projection >1). Of which, high levels of oleic acid and palmitic acid in seminal plasma from asthenozoospermic men may indicate a membrane metabolism disorder in spermatozoa and the lack of valine in the asthenozoospermic group may contribute to poor sperm motility. The results may facilitate the understanding of the role of fatty acids and amino acids in asthenozoospermia and provide solid foundation for further pathological study of asthenozoospermia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have identified an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pair for the efficient and site-specific incorporation of a cyclobutene-containing amino acid into proteins in response to an amber nonsense codon. Fast and fluorescent labeling of purified proteins and intact proteins in live cells was demonstrated using the inverse electron demand Diels–Alder reaction with a tetrazine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This article describes a fourth-order 3-D printed combline filter with a Chebyshev response, operating at central frequency 3 GHz and having a 3% fractional bandwidth. The filter is designed using the coupling matrix theory, fabricated, and experimental results are presented. Comparison between simulations and measurements shows good agreement. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 59:1388-1390, 2017 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of acute hepatitis recently occurred in a nursing home in Zhejiang Province, China. The objectives of this study were to confirm the outbreak and identify the aetiology, source and transmission patterns. All residents and staff in or near the nursing home during the period from 1 October 2014 to 21 May 2015 were investigated regarding hygiene and for epidemiological information including water and food (eating meat especially pork products). Serum and stool specimens were collected for detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies using ELISA and RNA using RT–PCR. Samples that were RNA positive were genotyped. Of 185 senior residents and 24 staff in the nursing home, there were 37 laboratory-confirmed cases during the outbreak. Of these cases, 12 patients (three deaths) were symptomatic with jaundice, a common clinical symptom for hepatitis E infection. HEV strains were isolated from three cases and they formed a single cluster within genotype 4d. A case-control study was conducted to investigate potential risk factors for the outbreak and the results revealed that cases more often washed their dishes and rinsed their mouths using tap water than the controls (P < 0·05). Based on hygiene investigation and meteorological information, it is likely that HEV-infected sewage and faeces contaminated the water network on rainy days. Collectively, these results suggest that the outbreak of HEV genotype 4 infection was most likely caused by contaminated tap water rather than food. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Time-domain electromagnetic system can implement great depth detection. As for the electromagnetic system, the receiver utilized an air coil sensor, and the matching mode of the sensor employed the resistance matching method. By using the resistance matching method, the vibration of the coil in the time domain can be effectively controlled. However, the noise of the sensor, especially the noise at the resonance frequency, will be increased as well. In this paper, a novel design of a low noise induction coil sensor is proposed, and the experimental data and noise characteristics are provided. The sensor is designed based on the principle that the amplified voltage will be converted to current under the influence of the feedback resistance of the coil. The feedback loop around the induction coil exerts a magnetic field and sends the negative feedback signal to the sensor. The paper analyses the influence of the closed magnetic feedback loop on both the bandwidth and the noise of the sensor. The signal-to-noise ratio is improved dramatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low testosterone is associated with late-onset hypogonadism ( LOH) and obesity. Recently, studies have shown that four single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs), rs12150660, rs727428, rs5934505, and rs10822184, are associated with testosterone levels in populations of European descent. Therefore, we investigated whether the SNP loci are related to low testosterone, LOH, or obesity in a Chinese Han population. Ruling out co-morbidities, DNA was prepared from 409 men (aged 40-65 years) with low serum testosterone (defined as total testosterone <11.6 nmol/L) and 1 : 1 normal controls (matched age, body mass index ( BMI), and the same living area) who were selected from 6898 males. According to the same standards, 310 men with LOH and 1 : 1 normal controls were selected from 6898 males. Excluding the cases with an unreliable sequencing result, genetic analyses were performed. The minor allele frequencies of the SNP loci rs12150660, rs727428, rs5934505, and rs10822184 were 0.1%, 44.6%, 18.7%, and 38.9%, respectively. rs5934505 was associated with the serum total testosterone and calculated free testosterone (CFT) levels ( p = 0.045 and p = 0.021). rs5934505 (C>T) was associated with an increased risk of low total testosterone, low CFT, and LOH and adjusted for other factors, with an odds ratio ( OR) of 2.01 (1.34-3.01), 2.14 (1.42-3.20), and 1.64 (1.04-2.58). rs10822184 was significantly correlated with weight and BMI ( p = 0.035 and p = 0.027). rs10822184 (T>C) was associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity. We adjusted for other factors, with odds ratios ( ORs) of 1.94 (1.36-2.78) and 1.56 (1.00-2.43). In summary, our study provided convincing evidence that rs5934505 (C>T) was associated with the risk of low testosterone and LOH in Chinese populations. We were the first to find that rs10822184 (T>C) was significantly correlated with the risk of overweight and obesity in Chinese populations. However, further large and functional studies are warranted to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obolodiplosis robiniae is native to North America and is an important introduced insect pest that forms leaf margin roll galls on species of genus Robinia (Fabaceae) in China. It was first detected in China in 2004, but subsequently spread and provoked local outbreaks. An analysis of a 676-bp sequence of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I was conducted in 560 individuals from 28 populations, in order to (1) assess population genetic structuring and (2) explore possible explanations for the rapid spread and invasion success of O. robiniae. Yet, only four haplotypes were identified and the nucleotide diversity was low (π = 0.00005) and among the 560 specimens studied, only ten showed haplotypic variation involving no more than three substitutions. The result showed a low degree of genetic diversity among populations of the successful invasive gall midge, which suggested that the pest experienced a severe genetic bottleneck and a loss of genetic diversity after its introduction. The successful establishment and spread of O. robiniae in China is attributed to the wide distribution of its host plant, thus allowing ample opportunities for gene flow in the pest species, and to the advantageous life history characteristics of O. robiniae. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We compared the epidemiological and clinical features of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infections in the population in Zhejiang province, China, between March and April 2013 (first wave) and October 2013 and February 2014 (second wave). No statistical difference was found for age, sex, occupation, presence of underlying conditions, exposure history, white blood cell count, lymphocyte percentage and illness timeline and duration (all P > 0.05). The virus spread to 30 new counties compared to the first wave. The case-fatality rate was 22% in the first wave and 42% in the second (P = 0.023). Of those infected, 66% in the first wave and 62% in the second wave had underlying conditions. The proportion of those exposed to live poultry markets were 80% and 66%, respectively. We recommend permanent closure of live poultry markets and reformation of poultry supply and sales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No published studies have discussed details of the prognosis and survival of patients with severe avian influenza A(H7N9) infection. In this study we analysed 128 laboratory-confirmed cases of severe H7N9 infection in Zhejiang province, the most affected region during the H7N9 epidemic in mainland China. We found that an increase in patient age by 5 years was associated with a 1·41 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1·19–1·67] times odds ratio for fatality. In addition, the time interval between the first clinical visit after symptom onset and hospital admission was inversely associated with survival time since admission. Of the 47 patients who died of the disease, when the time interval between the first clinical visit and hospital admission increased by 1 day, the duration of survival was 0·78 times (95% CI 0·62–0·98) as long. Our results suggest that patients with severe influenza H7N9 infection at older ages were at a higher risk of fatality, and that a delay in hospital admission was associated with more rapid death. More studies are required to corroborate our major findings. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We compared the epidemiological and clinical features of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infections in the population in Zhejiang province, China, between March and April 2013 (first wave) and October 2013 and February 2014 (second wave). No statistical difference was found for age, sex, occupation, presence of underlying conditions, exposure history, white blood cell count, lymphocyte percentage and illness timeline and duration (all P > 0·05). The virus spread to 30 new counties compared to the first wave. The case-fatality rate was 22% in the first wave and 42% in the second (P = 0·023). Of those infected, 66% in the first wave and 62% in the second wave had underlying conditions. The proportion of those exposed to live poultry markets were 80% and 66%, respectively. We recommend permanent closure of live poultry markets and reformation of poultry supply and sales. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Phenotypic variations in α-thalassemia mainly depend on the defective α-globin gene number. Genetic modifiers of the phenotype of Hemoglobin H ( HbH) disease were poorly reported, apart from β-thalassemia allele that was identified ameliorating the severity of α-thalassemia. Because erythroid Krüppel-like factor ( KLF1) mutations can modulate the red blood phenotype, we evaluated its effect on the α-thalassemia phenotype. Overall, we identified 72 subjects with five different KLF1 heterozygous mutations in 1468 individuals, including 65 out of 432 α-thalassemia carriers with fetal hemoglobin ( HbF) levels ≥1%, 0 out of 310 carriers with HbF levels <1% and 7 out of 726 HbH disease patients. We firstly established the link between KLF1 mutations and relatively elevated hemoglobin A2 ( HbA2) and HbF levels, along with lower mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) values in a group of α-thalassemia carriers. However, we concluded that KLF1 mutations were not significantly linked to HbH disease severity. On the basis of HBA or HBB genotype and gender, clinical severity of patients with HbH disease was correctly predicted in 73.3% cases. It may improve the screening and diagnostic assessment of α-thalassemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]