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Sepsis, a life-threatening condition, involves complex interactions among metabolic alterations, inflammatory mediators, and host responses. This study utilized a bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach to investigate the causal relationships between 1400 metabolites and sepsis, and the mediating role of inflammatory factors. We identified 36 metabolites significantly associated with sepsis (p < 0.05), with AXIN1, FGF-19, FGF-23, IL-4, and OSM showing an inverse association, suggesting a protective role, while IL-2 exhibited a positive correlation, indicating a potential risk factor. Among these metabolites, Piperine and 9-Hydroxystearate demonstrated particularly interesting protective effects against sepsis. Piperine's protective effect was mediated through its interaction with AXIN1, contributing to a 16.296% reduction in sepsis risk. This suggests a potential pathway where Piperine influences sepsis outcomes by modulating AXIN1 levels. 9-Hydroxystearate also exhibited a protective role against sepsis, mediated through its positive association with FGF-19 and negative association with IL-2, contributing 9.436% and 12.565%, respectively, to its protective effect. Experimental validation confirmed significantly elevated IL-2 levels and reduced FGF-19, AXIN1, piperine, and 9-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid levels in sepsis patients compared to healthy controls. Piperine levels positively correlated with AXIN1, while 9-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid levels negatively correlated with IL-2 and positively correlated with FGF-19, supporting the Mendelian randomization findings. Our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of sepsis, highlighting the unique roles and contributions of specific metabolites and their interactions with inflammatory mediators. This study enhances our understanding of sepsis pathophysiology and opens avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions and biomarker development for sepsis management. However, further research is essential to validate these pathways across diverse populations and fully explore the roles of these metabolites in sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction resulting from a dysregulated host response to infection, yet the potential causal relationship between the immunophenotype and sepsis remains unclear. Methods: Genetic variants associated with the immunophenotype served as instrumental variables (IVs) in Mendelian randomization (MR) to elucidate the causal impact of the immunophenotype on three sepsis outcomes. Additionally, a two-step MR analysis was conducted to identify significant potential mediators between the immunophenotype and three sepsis outcomes. Results: Our MR analysis demonstrated a significant association between the immunophenotype and sepsis outcome, with 36, 36, and 45 the immunophenotype associated with the susceptibility, severity, and mortality of sepsis, respectively. Specifically, our analysis highlighted the CD14+ CD16+ monocyte phenotype as a significant factor across all three sepsis outcomes, with odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) indicating its impact on sepsis (OR = 1.047, CI: 1.001-1.096), sepsis in Critical Care Units (OR = 1.139, CI: 1.014-1.279), and sepsis-related 28-day mortality (OR = 1.218, CI: 1.104-1.334). Mediation analyses identified seven cytokines as significant mediators among 91 potential cytokines, including interleukin-5 (IL-5), S100A12, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), T-cell surface glycoprotein CD6 isoform, cystatin D, interleukin-18 (IL-18), and urokinasetype plasminogen activator (uPA). Furthermore, reverse MR analysis revealed no causal effect of sepsis outcomes on the immunophenotype. Conclusion: Our MR study suggests that the immunophenotype is significantly associated with the susceptibility, severity, and mortality of patient with sepsis, providing, for the first time, robust evidence of significant associations between immune traits and their potential risks. This information is invaluable for clinicians and patients in making informed decisions and merits further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinidia arguta (A. arguta, kiwiberry) is a perennial deciduous vine with a strong overwintering ability. We hypothesized that trehalose metabolism, which plays a pivotal role in the stress tolerance of plants, may be involved in the cold acclimatization of A. arguta. Transcriptome analysis showed that the expression of AaTPPA, which encodes a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP), was upregulated in response to low temperatures. AaTPPA expression levels were much higher in lateral buds, roots, and stem cambia than in leaves in autumn. In AaTPPA-overexpressing (OE) Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana), trehalose levels were 8–11 times higher than that of the wild type (WT) and showed different phenotypic characteristics from WT and OtsB (Escherichia coli TPP) overexpressing lines. AaTPPA-OE A. thaliana exhibited significantly higher freezing tolerance than WT and OtsB-OE lines. Transient overexpression of AaTPPA in A. arguta leaves increased the scavenging ability of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the soluble sugar and proline contents. AaERF64, an ethylene-responsive transcription factor, was induced by ethylene treatment and bound to the GCC-box of the AaTPPA promoter to activate its expression. AaTPPA expression was also induced by abscisic acid. In summary, the temperature decrease in autumn is likely to induce AaERF64 expression through an ethylene-dependent pathway, which consequently upregulates AaTPPA expression, leading to the accumulation of osmotic protectants such as soluble sugars and proline in the overwintering tissues of A. arguta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration is a significant factor in triggering global warming. CO2 is essential for plant photosynthesis, but excessive CO2 can negatively impact photosynthesis and its associated physiological and biochemical processes. The tetraploid Robinia pseudoacacia L., a superior and improved variety, exhibits high tolerance to abiotic stress. In this study, we investigated the physiological and proteomic response mechanisms of the tetraploid R. pseudoacacia under high CO2 treatment. The results of our physiological and biochemical analyses revealed that a 5% high concentration of CO2 hindered the growth and development of the tetraploid R. pseudoacacia and caused severe damage to the leaves. Additionally, it significantly reduced photosynthetic parameters such as Pn, Gs, Tr, and Ci, as well as respiration. The levels of chlorophyll (Chl a and b) and the fluorescent parameters of chlorophyll (Fm, Fv/Fm, qP, and ETR) also significantly decreased. Conversely, the levels of ROS (H2O2 and O2·−) were significantly increased, while the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GR, and APX) were significantly decreased. Furthermore, high CO2 induced stomatal closure by promoting the accumulation of ROS and NO in guard cells. Through a proteomic analysis, we identified a total of 1652 DAPs after high CO2 treatment. GO functional annotation revealed that these DAPs were mainly associated with redox activity, catalytic activity, and ion binding. KEGG analysis showed an enrichment of DAPs in metabolic pathways, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, amino acid biosynthesis, and photosynthetic pathways. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the adaptation mechanisms of the tetraploid R. pseudoacacia to high CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cupressus gigantea W. C. Cheng & L. K. Fu is an endemic conifer tree species that is distributed widely along the northern portion of the deep gorge of the Yarlung Tsangbo River on the Tibetan Plateau. However, as a key plant species growing on the Tibetan plateau, C. gigantea has since become an endangered species due to habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation, and other factors. It has been listed as a first-grade national protected wild plant species in China. Accordingly, to conserve this plant species, we should obtain more information on its genetic structure. In this study, the genetic diversity and structure among 67 samples were evaluated by the inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) technique. Overall, 78 bands were produced with a molecular length of 200 bp to 3100 bp using 10 ISSR primers. The mean values for the average number of alleles (Na), effective number of alleles (Ne), Nei's gene diversity (H), and Shannon's information index (I) were 1.529, 1.348, 0.199, and 0.293, respectively. Additionally, the number of polymorphic loci (NPLs) and percentage of polymorphic loci (PPLs) averaged 41.25 and 52.90, respectively. Further, total variation among populations was 14.2%, while that within populations was 85.8%; accordingly, the within-population genetic differentiation was found to be significant (p < 0.001). These results demonstrated that a genetic structure model with K = 3 fitted the data best, which agreed with the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) cluster and the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). These findings are beneficial for ensuring the development and genetic protection of C. gigantea populations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe digestive system disorder with a significant risk of progressing to sepsis, a major cause of mortality. Unraveling the immunological pathways in AP is essential for developing effective treatments, particularly understanding the role of specific immune cell traits in this progression. Methods: Employing a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach, this study first examined the causal relationship between AP and 731 immune cell traits to identify those significantly associated with AP. Subsequently, we explored the causal associations between 731 immune cell traits and sepsis. The analysis utilized extensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary datasets, with a focus on identifying common immune cell traits with statistically significant causal associations between AP and sepsis. Results: Our investigation identified 44 immune cell traits unidirectionally associated with AP and 36 traits unidirectionally associated with sepsis. Among these, CD127 on CD28+ CD45RA- CD8+ T cells emerged as a common mediator, accounting for 5.296% of the increased risk of sepsis in AP patients. This finding highlights the significant role of specific memory CD8+ T cells in the pathophysiology of AP and its progression to sepsis. Conclusion: This study elucidates the critical role of specific immune cell traits, particularly CD127hi memory CD8+ T cells, in the progression of AP to sepsis. Our findings provide a foundation for future research into targeted immune-modulatory therapies, potentially improving patient outcomes in AP-related sepsis and offering new insights into the complex immunological dynamics of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme environmental stress significantly impacts plant growth. Drought stress is one of the most important abiotic stresses, adversely affecting plant development and agricultural productivity. Prunus mira is an exceptionally drought-tolerant plant. However, there are a limited number studies on the drought resistance of it. Here, we isolated and identified nascent polypeptide-associated complex subunit alpha-like protein 1 of P. mira (PmNACA1). PmNACA1 comprises 201 amino acids and contains an NAC domain at its N-terminal. It was localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. PmNACA1 was primarily expressed in leaves, and was induced by drought. PmNACA1 overexpression Arabidopsis thaliana increased germination and root elongation. Histochemical staining revealed that the overexpression lines accumulated less ROS under mannitol-induced osmotic stress. Under drought stress, overexpression lines exhibited an elevation in the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, and GR and a rise in the levels of GSH and GSSG. In addition, the overexpression lines exhibited relatively lower levels of H2O2, O2.−, MDA, and electrical conductivity than control plants. PmNACA1 induced the expression of drought- and ABA-related genes after drought treatment. PmNACA1 scavenged H2O2, DPPH radicals, and hydroxyl radicals in vitro. In summary, we conclude that PmNACA1 plays an active role in drought stress response by scavenging ROS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bleeding is as particularly a serious phenomenon in Actinidia arguta and has important effects on this plant's growth and development. Here we used A. arguta to study the effects of bleeding on the growth and development of leaves and fruits after a bleeding episode. We detect and analyze physiological indices of leaves and fruit after bleeding. The result revealed that the relative electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) of leaves increased in treatment. Nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) and 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining revealed the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in leaves after bleeding. The chlorophyll content and photosynthetic parameter of plants were also decreased. In fruits, pulp and seed water content decreased after the damage, as did fruit vitamin C (Vc), soluble sugar content, and soluble solids content (SSC); the titratable acid content did not change significantly. We therefore conclude that bleeding affects the physiological indices of A. arguta. Our study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the physiological changes of A. arguta after bleeding episodes and laying a timely foundation for advancing research on A. arguta bleeding and long-term field studies should be executed in order to gain insights into underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distinguishing the respective contributions of various microbes to methylmercury (MeHg) production is critical for predicting MeHg bioaccumulation and exposure risk. Metabolic inhibitors have been commonly used to block the activity of specific microbial groups and identify primary Hg methylating microbes. By reviewing literatures and our empirical data, we demonstrate how multiple factors, including (1) the addition of inappropriate amounts of inhibitors, (2) a tendency to overlook microbial syntrophy, and (3) the absence of comprehensive proxy systems of Hg methylation, would impact result interpretation of this approach. We thus suggest that the design of inhibition assays should consider the environmental properties, e.g., background levels of electron acceptors, concentrations of metabolic substrates, and abundances of Hg methylating microbes. We also recommend that inhibitors should be added at multiple concentrations and that observed changes in Hg methylation should be assessed with comprehensive indicators. Revealing the key factors responsible for the improper usage of this method and inadequate interpretation of the results would help optimize inhibition assays for robust predictions of MeHg production in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senescence is the final stage of plant growth and development, and is a highly regulated process at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. When triggered by age, hormonal, or environmental cues, plants actively adjust their metabolism and gene expression to execute the progression of senescence. Regulation of senescence is vital for the reallocation of nutrients to sink organs, to ensure reproductive success and adaptations to stresses. Identification and characterization of hallmarks of leaf senescence are of great importance for understanding the molecular regulatory mechanisms of plant senescence, and breeding future crops with more desirable senescence traits. Tremendous progress has been made in elucidating the genetic network underpinning the metabolic and cellular changes in leaf senescence. In this review, we focus on three hallmarks of leaf senescence – chlorophyll and chloroplast degradation, loss of proteostasis, and activation of senescence-associated genes (SAG s), and discuss recent findings of the molecular players and the crosstalk of senescence pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lectins are natural proteins in animals, plants, and microorganisms and can be divided into 12 families. These lectins play important roles in various environmental stresses. Some polyploid plants show tolerance to environmental stresses and to insect pests. However, the mechanism of stress tolerance is unclear. Tetraploid Robinia pseudoacacia (4×) under salt stress showed higher tolerance than diploid R. pseudoacacia (2×). As lectin can improve stress tolerance, it was questioned whether the stress resistance of polyploid plants was related to the lectin protein. In this study, salt resistance of lectin gene TRpL1 was verified by its over-expression in plants. In addition, salt resistance of lectin protein by E. coli strains was detected. The data revealed that the over-expression transgenic plants of TRpL1 showed better salt tolerance than control plants under salt stress, and the TRpL1-expressing strain also grew better in the medium with added NaCl. Therefore, tetraploid plants can resist salt stress through TRpL1 protein regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we propose a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (CNN) + long short-term memory (LSTM) model optimised by L1 regularisation and the dropout method to solve the problem of acquiring both computational speed and accuracy in a deformation prediction analysis model of a super-high arch dam's first impoundment. The calculation results of one class (OC) + LSTM, traditional LSTM, optimised LSTM, CNN + LSTM and multilayer perceptron are compared with the actual measurement results using deformation monitoring data from the first impoundment of a super-high arch dam in southwest China. The results show that the proposed OC-LSTM model can reduce the computational time without sacrificing computational accuracy, providing a new computational model for super-high arch dam deformation prediction during the first impoundment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide (SiC), as a typical representative of the third-generation semiconductor material, has performance advantages in wide band gap, high thermal conductivity, high breakdown electric field and large electron drift velocity, etc., and is considered to be one of the ideal materials for high temperature, high frequency, high power and high voltage devices. SiC can effectively break through the physical limits of traditional Si-based power semiconductor devices, known as a green energy device that drives the "new energy revolution". As the core material for the manufacture of power devices, the growth of SiC single crystal substrate is very important, especially the preparation of single 4H-SiC polytype. Due to the better crystallographic compatibility and similar formation free energy among different polytypes, the grown SiC bulk crystals are prone to produce polytype inclusions and then seriously affect the device performance. Therefore, in this paper, the basic principle, growth process and existing problems of SiC crystal prepared by physical vapor transport (PVT) method are summarized firstly. Then the possible inducing factors for the formation of polytype inclusions were given and the relevant mechanisms are also discussed. In addition, the common identification methods of SiC polytype structures are further introduced. Finally, a prospect for the research of SiC single crystal are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury sulfides (HgS), one of the largest Hg sinks in the lithosphere, has long been considered to be highly inert. Recently, several HgS speciation (e.g., nano- or micro-sized HgS particles) in paddy soils have been found to be reactive and bioavailable, increasing the possibility of methylation and bioaccumulation and posing a potential risk to humans. However, a simple and uniform method for investigating HgS bioavailability is still lacking. To address this issue, we extracted dissolved Hg from HgS particles by sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) in paddy soils and analyzed the correlation between extracted Hg and soil methylmercury (MeHg). Results showed that the amounts of Hg extracted by Na2S2O3 had a strong positive correlation with the levels of soil MeHg (R2adj = 0.893, p < 0.05). It is suggested that Na2S2O3 extraction may be a good method of predicting Hg bioavailability in paddy soils. Our results would help to give clues in better predicting Hg risk in natural environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the hallmarks of plant senescence is the global transcriptional reprogramming coordinated by a plethora of transcription factors (TFs). However, mechanisms underlying the interactions between different TFs in modulating senescence remain obscure. Previously, we discovered that plant ABS3 subfamily MATE transporter genes regulate senescence and senescence‐associated transcriptional changes. In a genetic screen for mutants suppressing the accelerated senescence phenotype of the gain‐of‐function mutant abs3‐1D, AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 2 (ARF2) and PHYTOCHROME‐INTERACTING FACTOR 5 (PIF5) were identified as key TFs responsible for transcriptional regulation in the ABS3‐mediated senescence pathway. ARF2 and PIF5 (as well as PIF4) interact directly and function interdependently to promote senescence, and they share common target genes such as key senescence promoting genes ORESARA 1 (ORE1) and STAY‐GREEN 1 (SGR1) in the ABS3‐mediated senescence pathway. In addition, we discovered reciprocal regulation between ABS3‐subfamily MATEs and the ARF2 and PIF5/4 TFs. Taken together, our findings reveal a regulatory paradigm in which the ARF2‐PIF5/4 functional module facilitates the transcriptional reprogramming in the ABS3‐mediated senescence pathway. Synopsis: The late endosome‐localized ABS3 subfamily of MATE transporters regulates senescence and senescence‐associated gene expression through mechanisms which are not well understood. Here, developmental transcription factors ARF2 and PIF5/4 are found to interact to control transcriptional regulation in the ABS3‐mediated senescence pathway.Mutations in ARF2 and PIF5 suppress precocious senescence caused by abs3‐1D, a gain‐of‐function mutant allele of ABS3.ARF2 and PIF5/4 can regulate senescence both together and independently.ARF2 and PIF5 physically interact and share common target genes, such as the key senescence‐promoting genes ORE1 and SGR1.ABS3‐subfamily MATEs and the ARF2‐PIF5/4 functional module regulate each other's activity to fine‐tune senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrow space characteristic is a common structural feature of aircraft assembly, which puts forward higher requirements for the end-effector of a robot drilling system. This paper proposed a new robotic simple and fast drilling system for aircraft automatic assembly. The robot drilling system and control scheme are designed. The end-effector is designed and calculated theoretically. The workflow of the whole system is designed and analyzed. Besides, a new calibration method is proposed for the system calibration includes the calibration of the robot end-effector and the calibration of the robot system relative to the machined parts. Finally, some drilling experiments are designed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed system. The results show that the newly designed robotic drilling system can meet the requirements of aircraft part drilling, such as the drilling accuracy is better than 0.5 mm, the drilling process is more stable, and the rigidity of the system is better. The drilling error of the hole diameter of this system can be controlled below 0.1 mm. The relative distances between holes in the X and Y direction and the hole edge distance meet the technical requirements, and all errors can be controlled to less than 0.5 mm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress is one of the main abiotic factors affecting castor yield. Wild castor resources can provide important insights for cultivated castor breeding. However, little is known about how wild castor responds or adapts to salt stress. To understand the physiological mechanisms for salt tolerance in castor, the morphological and physiological responses of two varieties, wild and cultivated castor, with contrasted salt tolerance were characterized under salt stress. Seedlings were exposed to 0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl. The results showed that salt application significantly inhibited the increase in chlorophyll content and relative water content of cultivated castor. The degree of electrolyte leakage of wild castor under salt stress was significantly less than that of cultivated castor. In addition, the WT showed a lower content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the salt stress compared to CT. The activities of antioxidant enzymes like SOD, APX, GR, and MDHAR in the leaves of WT showed higher accumulation compared to those of CT under salt stress. The ratio of ASA/DHA and GSH/GSSG in leaves of WT showed a distinct increase compared to CT. In summary, our results revealed the salt stress resistance characteristics of wild castor. Wild castor also has the potential to be used as parental material in a breeding program. These results will be valuable for salt resistance breeding of cultivated castor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxide-metal-oxide (OMO) multilayer film has attracted increasing interest due to its high performance, including the high optical transparency and low electric resistivity, and has been considered a promising substitute for the conventional indium tin oxide (ITO) film. In this work, we studied the role of growth parameters for the performance of sputtered ITO/Ag/ITO multilayer film. ITO/Ag/ITO film with superior properties of transmittance of 89.1% and sheet resistance of 8 Ω/□ was prepared. The effects of deviation of film thickness on the optical and properties were investigated systematically. Ultrathin ITO1−x film with thickness of less than 5 nm covers the active Ag surface to avoid Ag oxidation effectively, resulting in both high transmittance and conductivity. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profile analysis indicates the role of ultrathin ITO1−x film on Ag surface oxidation. This work provides a guideline to fabricate high-quality OMO-based films and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress can dramatically impair woody plant growth and restrict the geographical distribution of many tree species. To better understand the dynamics between the response and mechanism of Cupressus gigantea to drought and post-drought recovery, a comparative analysis was performed, relying on physiological measurements, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) proteins. In this study, the analyses revealed that photosynthesis was seriously inhibited, while osmolyte contents, antioxidant enzyme activity and non-enzymatic antioxidant contents were all increased under drought stress in seedlings. Re-watering led to a recovery in most of the parameters analyzed, mainly the photosynthetic parameters and osmolyte contents. Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling suggested that most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were specifically altered, and a few were consistently altered. Drought induced a common reduction in the level of DEGs and DEPs associated with photosynthesis. Notably, DEGs and DEPs involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, such as ascorbate oxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD), showed an inverse pattern under desiccation. This study may improve our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of drought resistance in C. gigantea and paves the way for more detailed molecular analysis of the candidate genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various environmental stresses strongly influence plant development. Among these stresses is drought, which is a serious threat that can reduce agricultural productivity and obstruct plant growth. Although the mechanism of plants in response to drought has been studied extensively, the adaptive strategies of Amygdalus mira (Koehne) Yü et Lu grown in drought and rewatered habitats remain undefined. Amygdalus mira from the Tibetan Plateau has outstanding nutritional and medicinal values and can thrive in extreme drought. In this study, the physiological and proteomic responses in leaves of A. mira were investigated during drought and recovery period. The changes in plant growth, photosynthesis, enzymes, and non-enzymatic antioxidant under drought and rewatering were also analyzed in leaves. Compared with controls, A. mira showed stronger adaptive and resistant characteristics to drought. In addition, the proteomic technique was also used to study drought tolerance mechanisms in A. mira leaves. Differentially expressed proteins were identified using mass spectrometry. Accordingly, 103 proteins involved in 10 functional categories: cytoskeleton dynamics, energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, photosynthesis, transcription and translation, transport, stress and defense, molecular chaperones, other materials metabolism, and unknown function were identified. These results showed that an increase of stress-defense-related proteins in leaves after drought treatment contributed to coping with drought. Importantly, A. mira developed an adaptive mechanism to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), including enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and non-enzymatic antioxidant contents, reducing energy, and adjusting the efficiency of gas exchanges. These results may help to understand the acclimation of A. mira to drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke activates microglia pro-inflammatory response that not only induces the early neuronal injuries but also causes the secondary brain infarction. Yet, the underlying mechanisms for how microglia become activated in stroke are still unknown. Here, using the next-generation of RNA sequencing we find a total of 778 genes increasingly expressed in brain of stroke mice. Of these, we identified Hmgb2 as a microglia proinflammatory mediator by promoting the transcription of Ctss. Inhibition of either Hmgb2 or Ctss blocks microglia pro-inflammatory response and protects against brain damages and improves the neurological functions of stroke mice. This study uncovers Hmgb2 and Ctss as the major microglia inflammatory response mediators in stroke and hence warrants the promising targets for stroke therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO:Al films were prepared by magnetron sputtering at room temperature. During the growth process, H radicals produced by radio frequency power sources were in situ introduced into ZnO:Al films. By injecting H radicals, the content of Al in ZnO:Al films increased from 3.4 at. % to 6.1 at. %, which could be ascribed to the reaction between H radicals and ZnO as well as the resputtering of the Zn element. Surface morphologies of ZnO:Al films were tuned from smooth shape to sunflower seed-like. Furthermore, ZnO:Al films without injecting H radicals showed highly c-axis preferential orientation and then nearly became amorphous with the addition of H radicals, which corresponds to the results of Raman spectra. The grain boundary potentials decreased due to the removal of oxygen at grain boundaries and an amount of Vo was produced, which was proved by Raman and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results. The optimal resistivity of as-grown ZnO:Al films co-doped with H radicals was 1.5 × 10−3 Ω cm at an H2 ratio of 2.3%. The variation of the carrier concentration for annealed ZnO:Al films at different H2 ratios supported the existence of H interstitials and Vo. The optical bandgap varied from 3.44 eV to 3.71 eV with increasing H radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yttrium oxide film is an important dielectric material, which has been widely used in the scientific and engineering fields. The microstructures of yttrium oxide films can be modified effectively by adjusting the substrate temperature and bias voltage, which also have effects on dielectric properties of yttrium oxide films. In this work, the dielectric properties of yttrium oxide films grown on Pt film, which exhibit the distinct microstructures with cubic-phase and monoclinic-phase domination manipulated by different substrate temperatures and bias voltages, have been investigated systematically. High substrate temperature as well as large bias voltage can decrease the loss tangent and enhance the dielectric constants up to 56 and 40, respectively. Furthermore, the driven force of temperature is more favorable than that of bias voltage for enhanced dielectric constant due to fewer defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of water quality has frequently been delayed due to high recycling rates of nutrients across the sediment–water interface in a reservoir. Diffusive fluxes and annual loads of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) and phosphate (PO43−-P) in sediments from Guanting Reservoir (GTR) were estimated according to their vertical distribution. The average contents of NH4+-N and PO43−-P in surface pore water were higher by factors of 6.9 – 11.7 and 1.3 – 6.4 than those in overlying water, respectively. The ranges of fluxes were 1.59 – 13.0 (mg m2 d−1) for NH4+-N, and 0.002 – 0.196 (mg m2 d−1) for PO43−-P. The annual load contributions from sediments of GTR were 659 t a−1 for NH4+-N and 4.83 t a−1 for PO43−-P. Notably, the upstream of GTR accounted for 50.7% annual loads for NH4+-N, while the downstream contributed 71.2% loads to PO43−-P. This study will better inform future environmental management for the reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The study aims to investigate the performance of a metagenomic next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based diagnostic technique for the identifi cation of potential bacterial and viral infections and eff ects of concomitant viral infection on the survival rate of intensive care unit (ICU) sepsis patients. METHODS: A total of 74 ICU patients with sepsis who were admitted to our institution from February 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 were enrolled. Separate blood samples were collected from patients for blood cultures and metagenomic NGS when the patients' body temperature was higher than 38 °C. Patients' demographic data, including gender, age, ICU duration, ICU scores, and laboratory results, were recorded. The correlations between pathogen types and sepsis severity and survival rate were evaluated. RESULTS: NGS produced higher positive results (105 of 118; 88.98%) than blood cultures (18 of 118; 15.25%) over the whole study period. Concomitant viral infection correlated closely with sepsis severity and had the negative effect on the survival of patients with sepsis. However, correlation analysis indicated that the bacterial variety did not correlate with the severity of sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent viral load correlates closely with the severity of sepsis and the survival rate of the ICU sepsis patients. This suggests that prophylactic administration of antiviral drugs combined with antibiotics may be benefi cial to ICU sepsis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hearing is considered the primary sensory modality of cetaceans and enables their vital life functions. Information on the hearing sensitivity variability within a species obtained in a biologically relevant wild context is fundamental to evaluating potential noise impact and population-relevant management. Here, non-invasive auditory evoked-potential methods were adopted to describe the audiograms (11.2–152 kHz) of a group of four wild Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) during a capture-and-release health assessment project in Poyang Lake, China. All audiograms presented a U shape, generally similar to those of other delphinids and phocoenids. The lowest auditory threshold (51–55 dB re 1 µPa) was identified at a test frequency of 76 kHz, which was higher than that observed in aquarium porpoises (54 kHz). The good hearing range (within 20 dB of the best hearing sensitivity) was from approximately 20 to 145 kHz, and the low- and high-frequency hearing cut-offs (threshold > 120 dB re l μPa) were 5.6 and 170 kHz, respectively. Compared with aquarium porpoises, wild porpoises have significantly better hearing sensitivity at 32 and 76 kHz and worse sensitivity at 54, 108 and 140 kHz. The audiograms of this group can provide a basis for better understanding the potential impact of anthropogenic noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely acknowledged that dams affect sediment transport and water quality. To support water management of reservoirs, it is useful to explore how the fractions of phosphorus (P) in sediments were changed after the dam was built. The aim of this study was to assess the spatial and temporal trends of the P fractions in sediments from the Miyun Reservoir, a pivotal drinking water supply for Beijing City, the capital of China. Nine surface sediment samples, together with a sediment core, were collected. The concentrations of total P (TP) and their fractions were then determined by using a sequential extraction method. The results showed that the reservoir was classified into three areas spatially based on the TP concentrations, i.e., high (Baihe area), medium (transitional area), and low (Chaohe area) concentrations. The concentrations of iron-bound P (BD-P) and metal oxide–bound P (NaOH-P) were higher in the Baihe and Chaohe regions than those in the transitional area and tended to increase with water depth. Dam construction can lead to the concentrations of P increased in sediments and further increase the potential of internal P loadings. This study revealed the effect of dam construction on sedimentary P accumulation. The results will be helpful in better understanding the mobility and bioavailability of P in the aquatic ecosystem, which aim to achieve a more highly targeted environmental management for this important region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpetospermum caudigerum (Ser.) Baillis is an endangered species found in high altitude regions of Tibet in China. In this work, its genetic diversity and genetic structure were investigated based on nuclear and chloroplast DNA. A total of 426 fragments were scored using 10 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer combinations, and from these, 256 fragments (60.7%) were polymorphic and could differentiate these populations. The dendrogram revealed that populations from different altitude have rich genetic diversities (Ht = 0.156, Hs = 0.111, Gst = 0.287 and Nm = 1.618). The averages of the number of alleles (Na), effective number of alleles (Ne), Nei's genetic diversity (H) and Shannon's index (I) were 1.352, 1.188, 0.111 and 0.168, respectively. In addition, 5 P03-trnL-trnF-300 haplotypes and 3 P02-trnL-trnF-396 haplotypes were identified among the 4 populations, and 7 haplotypes were identified based on the combined fragments. The non-coding region P03-trnL-trnF-300 exhibited higher polymorphisms with the number of haplotypes, the abundant haplotype (gene) diversity and the nucleotide diversity. Tajima's test showed that all Tajima's D values were statistically significant at P < 0.05, indicating that natural selection has an effect on mutations in these fragments. Our results from H. caudigerum cpDNA indicated a high genetic diversity fixation index (Fst = 0.968) and showed greater genetic differentiation among populations (96.7%, P < 0.01) than analysis of nDNA (63.72%, P < 0.01). These results could lay the foundation for further understanding and conservation of H. caudigerum germplasm resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations, sources and risk of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in surface sediments from 19 representative tributaries in a regional scale of Chongqing City. The total concentration of 16 PAHs (ΣPAHs) ranged from 221 to 3205 ng g−1 with a mean of 1055 ng g−1. Most tributaries of the Jialing River exhibited significantly higher ΣPAHs concentrations (mean 1864 ng g−1) compared to those flowing into the Yangtze River (mean 787 ng g−1). Isomeric ratio and hierarchical clustering analysis showed combustion may impact sedimentary PAHs at most center sites of the City, while PAHs at most sites were mixed of petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. Toxicity equivalency concentration for carcinogenic PAH were 2–4 times more than the Dutch limit. More comprehensive assessment of safety is suggested to reduce environmental risk of PAHs in sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, China unveiled "The Implementation Plan for the National Ecological Civilization Zone", which recognizes ecosystems as a community of life and fosters such things as environmental restoration, ecological restoration, and watershed management. In addition, this section explores the environmental state and heavy metal contamination in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, North China; (3) The final section, including 1 research article and 2 review papers, highlights the aspects of environmental mechanisms and application technologies for metal-contaminated sites. [Extracted from the article]

Research on fast-growing microbes holds promise for many industrial applications, including shortening test and trial times in research and development stages and reducing the operation costs for production. Such microbes can be obtained either by selecting naturally occurring variants or via metabolic engineering approaches, either eliminating 'unnecessary' or adding necessary pathways affecting growth speed in the cell. Here, we review recent research and development of engineered fastgrowing strains in industrial biotechology, with a special focus on vaccine production using (synthetic biology) engineered pathogenic strains. We will discuss whether this represents a security concern and whether the industrial biotech sector needs to pay more attention to issues of Gain-of-Function (GoF) while developing and harnessing these fast-growing microbes. We will also shed a light on the use of in-built biosafety circuits as a way to control the propagation of fast-growing strains, including their capacity to survive in the environment. Other possible GoF concerns raised by the publication of research results in this field will be also addressed. In conclusion, judging from the current development from the field, assessing the potential GoF risks on engineered fast-growing microbes does not lead to a clear generalized outcome. We argue that fast growing strains need to be evaluated in combination with their wild type and engineered characteristics, and require always a case-by-case assessment. Monitoring the progress of the field and proactively raising awareness on the GoF issues among the scientists are important for the further development of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boundary recognition is an important research of natural language processing, and it provides a basis for the application of Chinese word segmentation, chunk analysis, named entity recognition, etc. Based on ambiguity in boundary recognition of Chinese punctuation marks, this paper proposes grammar testing methods for boundary recognition of slight-pause marks and then calculates the annotation consistency of these methods. The statistical results show that grammar testing methods can greatly improve the annotation consistency of slight-pause marks boundary recognition. The consistency during the second time is 0.030 3 higher than during the first, which will help guarantee the consistency of large-scale corpus annotation and improve the quality of corpus annotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choline acetyltransferase neurons in the vertical diagonal band of Broca (vChATs) degenerate in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we report that vChATs directly innervate newly generated immature neurons (NGIs) in the dorsal hippocampus (dNGIs) of adult mice and regulate both the dNGIs survival and spatial pattern separation. In a mouse model that exhibits amyloid-β plaques similar to AD patients, cholinergic synaptic transmission, dNGI survival and spatial pattern separation are impaired. Activation of vChATs with theta burst stimulation (TBS) that alleviates the decay in cholinergic synaptic transmission effectively protects against spatial pattern separation impairments in the AD mice and this protection was completely abolished by inhibiting the dNGIs survival. Thus, the impairments of pattern separation-associated spatial memory in AD mice are in part caused by degeneration of cholinergic synaptic transmission that modulates the dNGIs survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical sagittal alignment plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), but there are limited studies on the cervical sagittal parameters in CSM patients and their correlations with myelopathy. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlations among the preoperative cervical sagittal alignment parameters and their correlations with the development of myelopathy in patients with CSM. Methods: We retrospectively collected 212 patients with CSM who underwent surgical interventions. Gender, age, modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score (mJOA), cervical lordosis (CL), C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (C2-C7 SVA), T1 slope (T1S), neck tilt (NT) and thoracic inlet angle (TIA) were collected before operation. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were calculated for all measurements (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC). Data were analyzed with Pearson and Spearman correlation tests and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: A total of 212 patients with CSM were included in this study (male: 136, female: 76) with an average age of 54.5 ± 10.1 years old. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability for all included radiographic parameters presented good to excellent agreement (ICC > 0.7). No significant differences in demographic and radiological parameters have been observed between males and females (P > 0.05). We found statistically significant correlations among the following parameters: age with CL (r = 0.135, P = 0.049), age with T1S (r = 0.222, P = 0.001), CL with T1S (r = 0.291, P < 0.001), CL with C2-C7 SVA (r = - 0.395, P < 0.001), mJOA with age (r = - 0.274, P < 0.001), mJOA with C2-C7 SVA (r = - 0.219, P < 0.001) and mJOA with T1S(r = - 0.171, p = 0.013). Linear regression analysis showed that C2-C7 SVA was the predictor of CL (adjusted R² = 0.152, P < 0.001) and multiple linear regression showed that age combined with C2-C7 SVA was a sensitive predictor of mJOA (adjusted R² = 0.106, P < 0.001). Discussion: There were significant correlations among certain preoperative cervical sagittal parameters in CSM patients. CL was the only predictor of C2-C7 SVA. Age combined with C2-C7 SVA could predict the severity of myelopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia is known to be induced by vascular dementia and certain neurodegenerative diseases. The presenting features of disordered memory, intellect and personality often result in referral to a neurologist initially. Septum pellucidum cyst (SPC) is a rare clinical finding and defined as a cystic structure between the lateral ventricles. SPC induced memory disorder and dementia has been seldom reported in which the clinical features are atypical and can be misdiagnosed. The main difficulty is to establish a correlation between symptoms and the cyst. When indicated, the treatment is essentially surgical and the ideal operative technique is also a matter of debate. Here, we reported a 58-year-male Chinese patient who presented with memory impairment 1 year ago. Both the physical and laboratory examinations were performed to evaluate the general conditions of the patient. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was applied to observe SPC and the neighboring brain structures. Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were used to assess cognitive function. The results of the patient's laboratory examinations were normal. However, the patient exhibited severe sleeplessness along with cognitive deteriorations despite short-term (less than 2 weeks) use of benzodiazepines with regular dose. MRI fulfills the consensus criteria for clinical diagnosis of SPC. Furthermore, the results of MMSE and MoCA were showed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) before the treatment of SPC. After neuroendoscopic fenestration of SPC, the patient's syndromes were disappeared, and his cognitive function was improved. In conclusion, the patient's symptoms were due to a secondary lesion attributed to the cyst. Comprehensive clinical evaluation and MRI help diagnose SPC induced dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the dosimetric and efficiency differences for left-sided breast cancer radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery among three different planning techniques: double-arc volumetric-modulate arc therapy (VMAT), step-shoot intensity-modulated radiotherapy (sIMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT).Materials and Methods: A total of 17 female patients with left-sided breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving surgery were selected; the prescription doses were 50 Gy in 25 fractions. For every patient VMAT, sIMRT and 3D-CRT plans were generated within the Monaco treatment planning system for an Axesse™ accelerator equipped with the Agility MLC. The Conformity Index (CI), the Homogeneity Index (HI), the dose volume histogram (DVH) parameters for the organs at risk and the delivery efficiency were evaluated.Results: The VMAT plans showed on average higher CI of PTV (0.77 ± 0.03) than both sIMRT (0.68 ± 0.02) and 3D-CRT (0.55 ± 0.04) plans (P< 0.05). The HI values in the VMAT, sIMRT and 3D-CRT plans were 0.10 ± 0.01 0.09 ± 0.01 and 0.13 ± 0.01 (P> 0.05), respectively, and the differences among the three techniques were not statistically significant. In the ipsilateral lung, the VMAT plans showed lower Dmean, V30, V20, and V10 than the sIMRT and 3D-CRT (P< 0.05); however, there was no significant difference in V5. In the heart, the VMAT plans had lower V30 and V20 than the sIMRT and 3D-CRT plans (P< 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the Dmean and V5. In the contralateral lung, the VMAT plans showed higher Dmean and V5 than sIMRT and 3D-CRT (P< 0.05). In the contralateral breast, the VMAT plans had a higher V5 than the sIMRT and 3D-CRT plans (P< 0.05). The VMAT plans had higher MU's than sIMRT and 3D-CRT, while the treatment times were lower than that of sIMRT.Conclusion: For left-sided breast cancer radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery, the VMAT plans had a better CI than the sIMRT and 3D-CRT plans. The VMAT and the sIMRT plans had better HI than the 3D-CRT plans, but no significant difference was observed between VMAT and sIMRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machining process is usually needed to fettle the assembly interfaces of large-scale component before the final assembly. There are several issues that make the process time and effort consuming, such as hard-to-machine material, difficulties in positioning and alignment, errors between as-built component, and as-designed model. Shop floor optimization is essential for machining this kind of large and complex workpiece but is limited by information loss from CAD/CAM to CNC (Computer Numerical Control) using traditional G&M codes. STEP-NC has been proven to perform excellently in data exchange between CAD/CAM and CNC but it does not support some special processes in machining the assembly interfaces. To solve these matters, this paper proposes a closed-loop machining system based on extended STEP-NC data models which cover aligning and laser tracker measuring process. The system consists of: (1) a STEP-NC compliant CAD/CAM system which exports STEP-NC programs, (2) a STEP-NC high-level process controller which translates STEP-NC programs and makes closed-loop optimization, and (3) CNCs and mechanical systems which perform machining and measuring tasks. In the end, a vertical tail of a large passenger plane is used as a study case to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed data models and systems. This paper contributes to machining the assembly interfaces of large-scale components, and the future development of STEP-NC in large-scale manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate PHEX gene mutations in 2 patients with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) and their families and to clarify the genetic etiology. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of two patients with XLH. High-throughput sequencing was used to detect the PHEX gene, a pathogenic gene of XLH. PCR-Sanger sequencing was used to verify the distribution of mutations in families. Results Both patients had novel mutations in the PHEX gene; one patient had a frameshift mutation, c.931dupC, which caused early termination of translation and produced the truncated protein p.Gln311Profs*13; the other patient had a splice site mutation, IVS14+1G>A, which caused the skipping of exon 15 and produced an incomplete amino acid chain. Their parents had normal gene phenotypes. Conclusions c.931dupC and IVS14+1G>A are two novel mutations of the PHEX gene and might be the new pathogenic mutations of XLH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroinflammation has been identified as a causative factor of multiple neurological diseases. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-, leucine-rich repeat- and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a subcellular multiprotein complex that is abundantly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), can sense and be activated by a wide range of exogenous and endogenous stimuli such as microbes, aggregated and misfolded proteins, and adenosine triphosphate, which results in activation of caspase-1. Activated caspase-1 subsequently leads to the processing of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediates rapid cell death. IL-1α and IL-18 drive inflammatory responses through diverse downstream signaling pathways, leading to neuronal damage. Thus, the NLRP3 inflammasome is considered a key contributor to the development of neuroinflammation. In this review article, we briefly discuss the structure and activation the NLRP3 inflammasome and address the involvement of the NLRP3 inflammasome in several neurological disorders, such as brain infection, acute brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, we review a series of promising therapeutic approaches that target the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling including anti-IL-1 therapy, small molecule NLRP3 inhibitors and other compounds, however, these approaches are still experimental in neurological diseases. At present, it is plausible to generate cell-specific conditional NLRP3 knockout (KO) mice via the Cre system to investigate the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which may be instrumental in the development of novel pharmacologic investigations for neuroinflammation-associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

xMAP technology is applicable for high-throughput, multiplex and simultaneous detection of different analytes within a single complex sample. xMAP multiplex assays are currently available in various nucleic acid and immunoassay formats, enabling simultaneous detection and typing of pathogenic viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi and also antigen or antibody interception. As an open architecture platform, the xMAP technology is beneficial to end users and therefore it is used in various pharmaceutical, clinical and research laboratories. The main aim of this review is to summarize the latest findings and applications in the field of pathogen detection using microsphere-based multiplex assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pore water plays a more significant role than do sediments in pollutant cycling dynamics. Also, concentrations of pollutants in pore water provide important information about their bioavailability or eco-toxicity; however, very few studies have focused on this topic. In this study, four duplicate sediment cores from three typical northern bays as well as the central part of Taihu Lake were collected to investigate the distribution, diffusive fluxes, and toxicity of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in pore water profiles, which will be good in understanding the mobility and toxicity of these toxic pollutants and achieving better environmental management. The diffusive fluxes of heavy metals across the sediment-water interface was estimated through Fick's First Law, and the toxicity of heavy metals and PAHs in pore water was assessed by applying a water quality index (interstitial water toxicity criteria unit, IWCTU) and a hazard index (HI), respectively. The average concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in surface pore water were 18.8, 23.4, 12.0, 13.5, and 42.5 μg L, respectively. Also, concentrations of the selected heavy metals in both overlying water and pore water from Taihu Lake were all lower than the standard values of the environmental quality standards for surface water. The concentrations as the pore water depth increased, and the highest detected concentrations of heavy metals were recorded between 3 and 5 cm below the sediment surface. The average diffusive fluxes of these metals were 27.3, 24.8, 7.03, 7.81, and −3.32 μg (m day), respectively, indicating export from sediment into overlying water, with the exception of Zn. There was a potential risk of toxicity, mainly from Pb and Cu, indicating that heavy metals in pore water had slight to moderate impact on sediment-dwelling organisms by values of the IWCTU and the Nemeraw index. The total PAH concentrations in pore water were higher than those in overlying water, and such gradient implies a potential flux of PAHs from pore water to overlying water. The average HI value of PAHs in surface pore water showed no or low ecological risk. While there may be occasional risk due to the HI values in some sites being greater than 1, the dominant contributors were carcinogenic PAHs. Because of their potential biological impact, heavy metals and PAHs and their comprehensive toxic effects in pore water should be given priority attention to keep the safety of Taihu Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excitatory pyramidal neurons in the entorhinal cortical layer II region (ECIIPN) form functional excitatory synapses with CA1 parvalbumin inhibitory neurons (CA1PV) and undergo selective degeneration in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we show that death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) is selectively activated in ECIIPN of AD mice. Inhibition of DAPK1 by deleting a catalytic domain or a death domain of DAPK1 rescues the ECIIPN-CA1PV synaptic loss and improves spatial learning and memory in AD mice. This study demonstrates that activation of DAPK1 in ECIIPN contributes to a memory loss in AD and hence warrants a promising target for the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sputtered amorphous carbon thin films were explored as corrosion resistant coatings on aluminum thin films to be incorporated into x-ray detector windows. The requirements for this application include high corrosion resistance, low intrinsic stress, high strains at failure, and high x-ray transmission. Low temperature sputtering was used because of its compatibility with the rest of the window fabrication process. Corrosion resistance was tested by exposure of carbon coated and uncoated Al thin films to humidity. Substrate curvature and bulge testing measurements were used to determine intrinsic stress and ultimate strain at failure. The composition and bonding of the carbon films were further characterized by electron energy loss spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen elemental analyses. Samples had low compressive stress (down to.08GPa), a high strain at failure (3%), and a low fraction of sp³ carbon-carbon bonds (less than 5%). The high breaking strain and excellent x-ray transmission of these sputtered carbon films indicate that they will work well as corrosion barriers in this application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]