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In this work, we proposed to utilize three-dimensional porous copper foam (CF) as conductive substrate and precursor of in-situ growth CuO nanowires (NWs) for fabricating electrochemical nonenzymatic glucose sensors. The CF supplied high surface area due to its unique three-dimensional porous foam structure, and thus resulted in high sensitivity for glucose detection. The CuO NWs/CF based nonenzymatic sensors presented reliable selectivity, good repeatability, reproducibility, and stability. In addition, the CuO NWs/CF based nonenzymatic sensors have been employed for practical applications, and the glucose concentration in human serum was measured to be 4.96 ± 0.06 mM, agreed well with the value measured from the commercial available glucose sensor in hospital, and the glucose concentration in saliva was also estimated to be 0.91 ± 0.04 mM, which indicated that the CuO NWs/CF owned the possibility for noninvasive glucose detection. The rational design of CuO NWs/CF provided an efficient strategy for fabricating of electrochemical nonenzymatic biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish a prognostic model based on immune-related microRNA (miRNA) for pancreatic carcinoma. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed using the "WGCNA" package to find the key module genes involved in pancreatic carcinoma. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to screen immune-related miRNAs. Uni- and multi-variate COX regression analyses were carried out to identify miRNAs prognostic for overall survival (OS) of pancreatic carcinoma, which were then combined to generate a prognostic model. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, distribution plot of survival status in patients and regression analysis were collectively performed to study the accuracy of the model in prognosis. Target genes of the miRNAs in the model were intersected with the key module genes, and a miRNA–mRNA network was generated and visualized by Cytoscape3.8.0. TIMER analysis was conducted to study the abundance of immune infiltrates in tumor microenvironment of pancreatic carcinoma. Expression levels of immune checkpoint genes in subgroups stratified by the model were compared by Wilcoxon test. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed to analyze the enriched signaling pathways between subgroups. Differential analysis revealed 1826 genes differentially up-regulated in pancreatic carcinoma and 1276 genes differentially down-regulated. A total of 700 immune-related miRNAs were obtained, of which 7 miRNAs were significantly associated with OS of patients and used to establish a prognostic model with accurate predictive performance. There were 99 mRNAs overlapped from the 318 target genes of the 7 miRNAs and the key modules genes analyzed by WGCNA. Patient samples were categorized as high or low risk according to the prognostic model, which were significantly associated with dendritic cell infiltration and expression of immune checkpoint genes (TNFSF9, TNFRSF9, KIR3DL1, HAVCR2, CD276 and CD80). GSEA showed remarkably enriched signaling pathways in the two subgroups. This study identified an immune-related 7-miRNA based prognostic model for pancreatic carcinoma, which could be used as a reliable tool for prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have compromised mandibular bone architecture/quality, which markedly increase the risks of tooth loosening, tooth loss, and failure of dental implantation. However, it remains lacks effective and safe countermeasures against T2DM-related mandibular bone deterioration. Herein, we studied the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on mandibular bone microstructure/quality and relevant regulatory mechanisms in T2DM db/db mice. PEMF exposure (20 Gs, 15 Hz) for 12 weeks preserved trabecular bone architecture, increased cortical bone thickness, improved material properties and stimulated bone anabolism in mandibles of db/db mice. PEMF also upregulated the expression of canonical Wnt3a ligand (but not Wnt1 or Wnt5a) and its downstream β-catenin. PEMF improved the viability and differentiation of primary osteoblasts isolated from the db/db mouse mandible, and stimulated the specific activation of Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling. These positive effects of PEMF on mandibular osteoblasts of db/db mice were almost totally abolished after Wnt3a silencing in vitro, which were equivalent to the effects following blockade of canonical Wnt signaling using the broad-spectrum antagonist DKK1. Injection with Wnt3a siRNA abrogated the therapeutic effects of PEMF on mandibular bone quantity/quality and bone anabolism in db/db mice. Our study indicates that PEMF might become a non-invasive and safe treatment alternative resisting mandibular bone deterioration in T2DM patients, which is helpful for protecting teeth from loosening/loss and securing the dental implant stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the severity of the disease in outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Hunan Province, China and use the subgroup analysis to evaluate the reliability of the new comprehensive evaluation of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). COPD outpatients from 12 medical centers in Hunan Province, China were stratified into groups A–D, and group D patients were further stratified into subgroups D1–D3 according to the GOLD 2016 and 2019 comprehensive assessment. Demography, clinical characteristics and medications were compared among groups. In 1017 COPD outpatients, the distribution from group A to D and subgroup D1 to D3 was 41 (4.0%), 249 (24.5%), 17 (1.7%), 710 (69.8%) and 214 (30.2%), 204 (28.7%), 292 (41.1%), according to GOLD 2016. In terms of demographic and clinical characteristics related to A–D groups, there was a significant difference in COPD assessment test (CAT), modified Medical British Research Council (mMRC), the clinical COPD questionnaire(CCQ), age, BMI, education level, smoking history, comorbidities, the course of chronic bronchitis/emphysema, number of exacerbations/hospitalisations in the previous year, treatment protocols, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) % predicted, and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) (p < 0.01). Furthermore, some patients in groups C–D regrouped to groups A–B were all C1 and D1 subgroups according to GOLD 2019. Comparing subgroup D1 with group B, subgroup D2 and subgroup D3, it was found that the demography, clinical characteristics and medications of subgroup D1 were the closest to group B, according to GOLD 2016 (p < 0.01). The disease severity of outpatients with COPD in Hunan Province was more pronounced in group B and D and patients in groups A–D had different demography, clinical characteristics and medications. Subgroup analysis can explain to a certain extent that GOLD2019's new comprehensive assessment is more reliable than GOLD 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), clinically presenting as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Not all DVT patients carry the same risk of developing acute pulmonary embolism (APE). To develop and validate a prediction model to estimate risk of APE in DVT patients combined with past medical history, clinical symptoms, physical signs, and the sign of the electrocardiogram. We analyzed data from a retrospective cohort of patients who were diagnosed as symptomatic VTE from 2013 to 2018 (n = 1582). Among them, 122 patients were excluded. All enrolled patients confirmed by pulmonary angiography or computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and compression venous ultrasonography. Using the LASSO and logistics regression, we derived a predictive model with 16 candidate variables to predict the risk of APE and completed internal validation. Overall, 52.9% patients had DVT + APE (773 vs 1460), 47.1% patients only had DVT (687 vs 1460). The APE risk prediction model included one pre-existing disease or condition (respiratory failure), one risk factors (infection), three symptoms (dyspnea, hemoptysis and syncope), five signs (skin cold clammy, tachycardia, diminished respiration, pulmonary rales and accentuation/splitting of P2), and six ECG indicators (SIQIIITIII, right axis deviation, left axis deviation, S1S2S3, T wave inversion and Q/q wave), of which all were positively associated with APE. The ROC curves of the model showed AUC of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.77–0.82) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.76–0.84) in the training set and testing set. The model showed good predictive accuracy (calibration slope, 0.83 and Brier score, 0.18). Based on a retrospective single-center population study, we developed a novel prediction model to identify patients with different risks for APE in DVT patients, which may be useful for quickly estimating the probability of APE before obtaining definitive test results and speeding up emergency management processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the status of diagnostic delay and to clarify its potentially influencing factors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Chinese tertiary hospital between July 2019 and February 2020. A total of 408 eligible outpatients with COPD were recruited, and relevant data were collected in the form of questionnaires. Diagnostic delay was compared among different characteristics using the Wilcoxon test and Kruskal–Wallis H test. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to determine the factors related to diagnostic delay. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) duration of diagnostic delay was 230 (50–720) days. The proportions of COPD patients who chose tertiary, secondary, and first-level hospitals for the first visit were 53.7%, 29.9%, and 16.4%, respectively. Additionally, the proportions of patients who underwent pulmonary function tests for the first visit in tertiary, secondary, and first-level hospitals were 74.0%, 24.6%, and 1.5% (p < 0.001), respectively. In terms of characteristics related to diagnostic delay, there was a significant difference in residence, resident manner, COPD assessment test (CAT) score, modified Medical British Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, age, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) % predicted, and years of education (all p < 0.01). Linear regression analysis showed that significant predictors of diagnostic delay included FEV1% predicted (p < 0.05), resident manner (p < 0.001), and years of education (p < 0.01). Our study indicates that varying degrees of diagnostic delay may exist in patients with COPD. Measures are needed to intervene in the potential factors associated with diagnostic delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect olfaction system plays a key role in the foraging food, pollination, mating, oviposition, reproduction and other insect physiological behavior. Odorant binding protein are widely found in the various olfactory sensilla of different insect antennae and involved in chemical signals discrimination from natural environment. In this study, a novel OBP gene, MvitOBP3 is identified from the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, which it mainly harms important legume vegetables including cowpea, soybean and lablab bean. Real-time PCR results demonstrated that MvitOBP3 gene was abundantly expressed in the antennal tissue of M. vitrata, while low levels were distributed in the head, thorax, abdomen, leg and wing of adult moths. The recombinant OBP3 protein was purified using the prokaryotic expression and affinity chromatography system. Fluorescence competitive binding experiments indicated that that MvitOBP3 protein exhibited greater binding affinities with host-plant flower volatiles including Butanoic acid butyl ester, Limonene, 1H-indol-4-ol and 2-methyl-3-phenylpropanal, highlighting they may have attractant activities for the oviposition of female moths on the legume vegetables. Moreover, protein homology modeling and molecular docking analysis revealed that there are six amino acid sites of MvitOBP3 involved in the binding of the host-plant volatiles. These findings will further promote to understand the key role of odorant binding protein during host perception and oviposition of M. vitrata moths, which improve the efficiency of semiochemical-based prevention and monitoring for this pest in the legume vegetables field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the prevalence of bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) and its relationship with delayed elimination communication (EC) in children. A cross-sectional study was carried out in kindergartens and primary schools in mainland China. A total of 10,166 children ranging from 4 to 10 years old were included. A total of 10,166 valid questionnaires were collected, and 409 children were diagnosed with BBD. The overall prevalence was 4.02% (409/10,166) and decreased with age, from 6.19% at age 4 to 1.96% at age 10. With the prolonged use of disposable diapers (DDs), the commencement of usage of EC in a child was significantly put off or delayed by parents, and the prevalence of BBD amongst these children increased (P < 0.001). The prevalence of BBD among children who stopped using DDs within the first 12 months and after more than 24 months was 2.79% and 4.38% respectively. Additionally, the prevalence among children who started EC within 12 months after birth and those who never engaged in EC was 1.36% and 15.71% respectively. Early introduction of EC and weaning of DD usage has a positive correlation with lower prevalence of BBD in children in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water holding capacity (WHC) is an important sensory attribute that greatly influences meat quality. However, the molecular mechanism that regulates the beef WHC remains to be elucidated. In this study, the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles of 49 Chinese Simmental beef cattle were measured for meat quality traits and subjected to RNA sequencing. WHC had significant correlation with 35 kg water loss (r = − 0.99, p < 0.01) and IMF content (r = 0.31, p < 0.05), but not with SF (r = − 0.20, p = 0.18) and pH (r = 0.11, p = 0.44). Eight individuals with the highest WHC (H-WHC) and the lowest WHC (L-WHC) were selected for transcriptome analysis. A total of 865 genes were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two groups, of which 633 genes were up-regulated and 232 genes were down-regulated. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment revealed that DEGs were significantly enriched in 15 GO terms and 96 pathways. Additionally, based on protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, animal QTL database (QTLdb), and relevant literature, the study not only confirmed seven genes (HSPA12A, HSPA13, PPARγ, MYL2, MYPN, TPI, and ATP2A1) influenced WHC in accordance with previous studies, but also identified ATP2B4, ACTN1, ITGAV, TGFBR1, THBS1, and TEK as the most promising novel candidate genes affecting the WHC. These findings could offer important insight for exploring the molecular mechanism underlying the WHC trait and facilitate the improvement of beef quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcatheter embolization is an important treatment method in clinical therapy, and vascular embolization material plays a key role in embolization. The temperature-sensitive p(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-butyl methylacrylate) (PIB) nanogel is a novel embolic agent. To evaluate the feasibility of the nanogel as a blood vessel embolization agent, we aimed to assess the effect of embolization with PIB nanogels in the rabbit renal artery by non-invasive computed tomography (CT) perfusion, macroscopic and histological examination. Ten healthy adult Japanese rabbits were used to implement RAE of PIB nanogels in their right kidneys. CT perfusion scans were performed pre- and post-treatment at various time-points (1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks). Two rabbits were euthanized and histologically examined at each time-point, and the remaining rabbits were euthanized at 12 weeks after embolization. The RAE efficacy of the nanogels was further confirmed by macroscopic and histological examination. The renal volume and renal blood flow (BF) of the right kidney were significantly decreased post-treatment compared with those pre-treatment (volume: pre, 9278 ± 1736 mm3; post 1 week, 5155 ± 979 mm3, P < 0.0001; post 4 weeks, 3952 ± 846 mm3, P < 0.0001; post 8 weeks, 3226 ± 556 mm3, P < 0.0001; post 12 weeks, 2064 ± 507 mm3, P < 0.0001. BF: pre, 530.81 ± 51.50 ml/min/100 ml; post 1 week, 0 ml/min/100 ml, P < 0.0001; post 4 weeks, 0 ml/min/100 ml, P < 0.0001; post 8 weeks, 0 ml/min/100 ml, P < 0.0001; post 12 weeks, 0 ml/min/100 ml, P < 0.0001). No revascularization or collateral circulation was observed on histological examination during this period, and PIB nanogels were dispersed in all levels of the renal arteries. Twelve weeks after embolization, CT perfusion showed no BF in the right renal artery and renal tissue, a finding that was consistent with histological examination showing complete embolization of the right renal artery with a lack of formation of collateral vessels. The effect of embolization on PIB was adequate, with good dispersion and permanency, and could be evaluated by non-invasive and quantitative CT perfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomically challenging genus Amaranthus (Family Amaranthaceae) includes important agricultural weed species that are being spread globally as grain contaminants. We hypothesized that the ALS gene will help resolve these taxonomic challenges and identify potentially harmful resistant biotypes. We obtained 153 samples representing 26 species from three Amaranthus subgenera and included in that incorporated ITS, ALS (domains C, A and D) and ALS (domains B and E) sequences. Subgen. Albersia was well supported, but subgen. Amaranthus and subgen. Acnida were not. Amaranthus tuberculatus, A. palmeri and A. spinosus all showed different genetic structuring. Unique SNPs in ALS offered reliable diagnostics for most of the sampled Amaranthus species. Resistant ALS alleles were detected in sixteen A. tuberculatus samples (55.2%), eight A. palmeri (27.6%) and one A. arenicola (100%). These involved Ala122Asn, Pro197Ser/Thr/Ile, Trp574Leu, and Ser653Thr/Asn/Lys substitutions, with Ala122Asn, Pro197Thr/Ile and Ser653Lys being reported in Amaranthus for the first time. Moreover, different resistant mutations were present in different A. tuberculatus populations. In conclusion, the ALS gene is important for species identification, investigating population genetic diversity and understanding resistant evolution within the genus Amaranthus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progression of hepatocellular carcinoma involves multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations that promote cancer invasion and metastasis. Our recent study revealed that hyperphosphorylation of ezrin promotes intrahepatic metastasis in vivo and cell migration in vitro. Celastrol is a natural product from traditional Chinese medicine which has been used in treating liver cancer. However, the mechanism of action underlying celastrol treatment was less clear. Here we show that ROCK2 is a novel target of celastrol and inhibition of ROCK2 suppresses elicited ezrin activation and liver cancer cell migration. Using cell monolayer wound healing, we carried out a phenotype-based screen of natural products and discovered the efficacy of celastrol in inhibiting cell migration. The molecular target of celastrol was identified as ROCK2 using celastrol affinity pull-down assay. Our molecular docking analyses indicated celastrol binds to the active site of ROCK2 kinase. Mechanistically, celastrol inhibits the ROCK2-mediated phosphorylation of ezrin at Thr567 which harnesses liver cancer cell migration. Our findings suggest that targeting ROCK2-ezrin signaling is a potential therapeutic niche for celastrol-based intervention of cancer progression in hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the two-dimensional Bose-Fermi mixture on square lattice at finite temperature by using the determinant quantum Monte Carlo method within the weakly interacting regime. Here we consider the attractive Bose-Hubbard model and free spinless fermions. In the absence of boson-fermion interactions, we obtain the boundary of the collapsed state of the attractive bosons. In the presence of boson-fermion interactions, an effective p-wave interaction between fermions will be induced as far as the bosons are in a superfluid state. Moreover, we find the emergence of the composite fermion pairs at low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the Pb(II) sorption capacity of jujube pit biochar (JPB) in aqueous solution, which was derived from jujube pit by pyrolysis and used as a promising and economical adsorbent. More importantly, the utilization of JPB could realize the recycling of agricultural residues. The JPB was characterized using conventional science technologies, including SEM, BET and FT-IR, and the sorption capacity of JPB for lead ions was investigated according to different adsorption parameters, such as the kinetics data, solution pH, isotherms data, coexisting ions of Na+ and K+, desorption and reusability, and solution temperature. The results of kinetics data suggested that the lead ion adsorption process by JPB could be fast to reach equilibrium within 30 min. Additionally, the adsorption capacity of JPB for Pb(II) was calculated to be maximum for 137.1 mg/g at pH 6.0. More importantly, after five cycles of desorption and reuse, the JPB still reached 70% of its original adsorption capacity. All the results suggested that JPB had a broad application prospect for the purification of lead ions in practical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of chemical signal including volatile odorants and pheromones is very important in the olfactory physiological behaviors of insects, such as avoiding predators, seeking food and mating partners. The sugarcane borer, Tryporyza intacta is the most harmful insect in sugarcane region in Southeast Asia and Southern China, however, the study of their molecular biology and physiology was limited. Here we demonstrated that the sex pheromone (E11-16:Ald: Z11-16:Ald = 7:3) were most effective to T. intacta. In addition, compared the traditional rubber lure, a new microsphere formulation lure can optimize the trapping effect and might be widely used in the sugarcane growing area. To obtain a better understanding of the olfactory molecular mechanism of pheromone-based mate recognition system, we have cloned the full-length gene of the TintPBP4 and expressed in Escherichia coli. Our phylogenetic analysis highlighted that the TintPBP4 was highly conserved among diverse species of Lepidoptera. Furthermore, the results of QRT-PCR demonstrated that TintPBP4 transcripts were abundantly expressed in the antennae of T. intacta, especially in the male adults. The fluorescence binding experiments showed the TintPBP4 exhibited strong binding capacities to the sex pheromone components. These results will not only provide more understanding for the functional analysis of olfactory proteins from T. intacta, but also assist in the exploitation and development of sex pheromones in the integrated biological control of this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qiutao Zhang was incorrectly affiliated with 'The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China' and 'Africa Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, US'. Department of General Surgery, Wujin Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University and The Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China. Additionally, Yunjie Lu was incorrectly affiliated with 'Department of General Surgery, Wujin Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University and The Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China'. [Extracted from the article]

Few studies have examined the possible pregnancy-related risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)-associated deaths during infancy. Infant death due to NEC in preterm babies was identified from the US Linked Livebirth and Infant Death records between 2000 and 2004. The average number of cigarettes per day reported by the mothers who were smoking during pregnancy was classified in three categories: non-smoking, light smoking (<10 cigarettes/day) and heavy smoking (≥10 cigarettes/day). Logistic regression analyses examined the association between prenatal smoking and NEC-associated infant mortality rates with adjustment for potential confounders. Compared with non-smoking mothers, light and heavy smoking mothers have a higher risk of NEC-associated infant mortality [light smoking: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.43; heavy smoking: aOR = 1.30, 95% CI, 1.12-1.52], respectively. Moreover, the association was stronger among white race (light smoking: aOR = 1.69, 95% CI, 1.34-2.13; heavy smoking: aOR = 1.44, 95% CI, 1.18-1.75) and female babies (light smoking: aOR = 1.31, 95% CI, 1.02-1.69; heavy smoking: aOR = 1.62, 95% CI, 1.29-2.02). Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of infant mortality due to NEC in preterm babies, especially in white race and female babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distant metastasis is the primary failure pattern of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) in intensity-modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) era. This study was conducted to find the impact of genetic variations in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/phosphatase and tensin homologue(PTEN)/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homologue(AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) pathway on the risk of distant metastasis in NPC. We genotyped 16 single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in five core genes in this pathway from 496 patients treated by IMRT with or without chemotherapy. The relationships between genetic polymorphisms and distant progression were evaluated. We observed that two loci in the AKT1 gene(rs3803300 and rs2494738 alone or combined) were associated with prognosis, with patients carrying at least one variant allele had significantly reduced risk of distant failure, especially in N2-3 group. In addition, we found that genetic variation may had some joint effect with N classification in recursive-partitioning analysis(RPA) analysis, with which patients were stratified into four different risk subgroups (RPA model): RPA1(low risk), RPA2(moderate risk), RPA3(high risk) and RPA4(highest risk). Our findings suggested that genetic variations within the PI3K signaling pathway modulate the development and invasion of NPC patients. Further research is needed to replicate the study in other centers and races, and to unravel the functional significance of these polymorphisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clear understanding the mechanism of resistive switching is the important prerequisite for the realization of high performance nonvolatile resistive random access memory. In this paper, binary metal oxide MoOx layer sandwiched by ITO and Pt electrodes was taken as a model system, reversible transition of abnormal and normal bipolar resistive switching (BRS) in dependence on the maximum voltage was observed. At room temperature, below a critical maximum voltage of 2.6 V, butterfly shaped I-V curves of abnormal BRS has been observed with low resistance state (LRS) to high resistance state (HRS) transition in both polarities and always LRS at zero field. Above 2.6 V, normal BRS was observed, and HRS to LRS transition happened with increasing negative voltage applied. Temperature dependent I-V measurements showed that the critical maximum voltage increased with decreasing temperature, suggesting the thermal activated motion of oxygen vacancies. Abnormal BRS has been explained by the partial compensation of electric field from the induced dipoles opposite to the applied voltage, which has been demonstrated by the clear amplitude-voltage and phase-voltage hysteresis loops observed by piezoelectric force microscopy. The normal BRS was due to the barrier modification at Pt/MoOx interface by the accumulation and depletion of oxygen vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Origami-inspired engineering design is increasingly used in the development of self-folding structures. The majority of existing self-folding structures either use a bespoke crease pattern to form a single structure, or a universal crease pattern capable of forming numerous structures with multiple folding steps. This paper presents a new approach whereby multiple distinct, rigid-foldable crease patterns are superimposed in the same sheet such that kinematic independence and 1-DOF mobility of each individual pattern is preserved. This is enabled by the cross-crease vertex, a special configuration consisting of two pairs of collinear crease lines, which is proven here by means of a kinematic analysis to contain two independent 1-DOF rigid-foldable states. This enables many new origami-inspired engineering design possibilities, with two explored in depth: the compact folding of non-flat-foldable structures and sequent folding origami that can transform between multiple states without unfolding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality protein crystals of suitable size are an important prerequisite for applying X-ray crystallography to determine the 3-dimensional structure of proteins. However, it is often difficult to obtain protein crystals of appropriate size and quality because nucleation and growth processes can be unsuccessful. Here, we show that by adsorbing proteins onto porous polystyrene-divinylbenzene microspheres (SDB) floating on the surface of the crystallisation solution, a localised high supersaturation region at the surface of the microspheres and a low supersaturation region below the microspheres can coexist in a single solution. The crystals will easily nucleate in the region of high supersaturation, but when they grow to a certain size, they will sediment to the region of low supersaturation and continue to grow. In this way, the probability of crystallisation and crystal quality can be simultaneously increased in a single solution without changing other crystallisation parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) is a water-soluble protein that governs photoprotection in many cyanobacteria. The 35 kDa OCP is structurally and functionally modular, consisting of an N-terminal effector domain (NTD) and a C-terminal regulatory domain (CTD); a carotenoid spans the two domains. The CTD is a member of the ubiquitous Nuclear Transport Factor-2 (NTF2) superfamily (pfam02136). With the increasing availability of cyanobacterial genomes, bioinformatic analysis has revealed the existence of a new family of proteins, homologs to the CTD, the C-terminal domain-like carotenoid proteins (CCPs). Here we purify holo-CCP2 directly from cyanobacteria and establish that it natively binds canthaxanthin (CAN). We use small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to characterize the structure of this carotenoprotein in two distinct oligomeric states. A single carotenoid molecule spans the two CCPs in the dimer. Our analysis with X-ray footprinting-mass spectrometry (XFMS) identifies critical residues for carotenoid binding that likely contribute to the extreme red shift (ca. 80 nm) of the absorption maximum of the carotenoid bound by the CCP2 dimer and a further 10 nm shift in the tetramer form. These data provide the first structural description of carotenoid binding by a protein consisting of only an NTF2 domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays can be used to explore homozygosity segments, where two haplotypes inherited from the parents are identical. In this study, we identified a total of 27,358 runs of homozygosity (ROH) with an average of 153 ROH events per animal in Chinese local cattle. The sizes of ROH events varied considerably ranging from 0.5 to 66 Mb, with an average length of 1.22 Mb. The highest average proportion of the genome covered by ROH (~11.54% of the cattle genome) was found in Nanda cattle (NDC) from South China, whereas the lowest average proportion (~3.1%) was observed in Yanhuang cattle (YHC). The average estimated FROH ranged from 0.03 in YHC to 0.12 in NDC. For each of three ROH classes with different sizes (Small 0.5–1 Mb, Medium 1–5 Mb and Large >5 Mb), the numbers and total lengths of ROH per individual showed considerable differences across breeds. Moreover, we obtained 993 to 3603 ROH hotspots (which were defined where ROH frequency at a SNP within each breed exceeded the 1% threshold) among eight cattle breeds. Our results also revealed several candidate genes embedded with ROH hotspots which may be related to environmental conditions and local adaptation. In conclusion, we generated baselines for homozygosity patterns in diverse Chinese cattle breeds. Our results suggested that selection has, at least partially, played a role with other factors in shaping the genomic patterns of ROH in Chinese local cattle and might provide valuable insights for understanding the genetic basis of economic and adaptive traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transdifferentiation of other cell type into human neuronal cells (hNCs) provides a platform for neural disease modeling, drug screening and potential cell-based therapies. Among all of the cell donor sources, human urine cells (hUCs) are convenient to obtain without invasive harvest procedure. Here, we report a novel approach for the transdifferentiation of hUCs into hNCs. Our study demonstrated that a combination of seven small molecules (CAYTFVB) cocktail induced transdifferentiation of hUCs into hNCs. These chemical-induced neuronal cells (CiNCs) exhibited typical neuron-like morphology and expressed mature neuronal markers. The neuronal-like morphology revealed in day 1, and the Tuj1-positive CiNCs reached to about 58% in day 5 and 38.36% Tuj1+/MAP2+ double positive cells in day 12. Partial electrophysiological properties of CiNCs was obtained using patch clamp. Most of the CiNCs generated using our protocol were glutamatergic neuron populations, whereas motor neurons, GABAergic or dopaminergic neurons were merely detected. hUCs derived from different donors were converted into CiNCs in this work. This method may provide a feasible and noninvasive approach for reprogramming hNCs from hUCs for disease models and drug screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous silica nanoscale microsphere (MSNM), with a special morphology, high porosity, large pore volume and specific surface area, was successfully prepared and used as the matrix material of lauric acid (LA) to prepare a favorable shape-stabilized phase change material (LA/MSNM). The porous network structure of MSNM is effective to prevent the leakage and enhance the thermal stability of LA/MSNM. For comparison, shape-stabilized phase change material of LA/AC, which contained commercially purchased active carbon (AC) and LA, was prepared by the same method. Characterizations of LA/MSNM and LA/AC, such as chemical properties, structure, thermal properties and crystallization properties were studied. The mechanisms of interaction between LA molecules and MSNM or AC were explicated. The results of TGA test showed that the LA/MSNM and LA/AC had superior thermal stability, and however, the melting and solidification enthalpies of LA/MSNM were much higher than that of LA/AC, which was attributed that the loading capacity of MSNM was better than that of LA/AC. All of the study results demonstrated that the mesoporous silica nanoscale microspheres of MSNM synthesized in this study possessed the potential for practical applications as a suitable supporter of organic phase change materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a typical air pollutant and has adverse health effects across the world, especially in the rapidly developing China due to significant air pollution. The PM2.5 pollution varies with time and space, and is dominated by the locations owing to the differences in geographical conditions including topography and meteorology, the land use and the characteristics of urbanization and industrialization, all of which control the pollution formation by influencing the various sources and transport of PM2.5. To characterize these parameters and mechanisms, the 5-year PM2.5 pollution patterns of Jiangsu province in eastern China with high-resolution was investigated. The Kriging interpolation method of geostatistical analysis (GIS) and the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model were conducted to study the spatial and temporal distribution of air pollution at 110 sites from national air quality monitoring network covering 13 cities. The PM2.5 pollution of the studied region was obvious, although the annual average concentration decreased from previous 72 to recent 50 μg m−3. Evident temporal variations showed high PM2.5 level in winter and low in summer. Spatially, PM2.5 level was higher in northern (inland, heavy industry) than that in eastern (costal, plain) regions. Industrial sources contributed highest to the air pollution. Backward trajectory clustering and potential source contribution factor (PSCF) analysis indicated that the typical monsoon climate played an important role in the aerosol transport. In summer, the air mass in Jiangsu was mainly affected by the updraft from near region, which accounted for about 60% of the total number of trajectories, while in winter, the long-distance transport from the northwest had a significant impact on air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to remove Pb(II) ions efficiently from aqueous solutions, a new effective adsorbent of norepinephrine-functionalised nanoflower-like organic silica (NE-NFOS) was synthesised by a biomimetic method. Biomimetic functionalization with norepinephrine has the advantages of environment-friendly and easy operation. Characterization of the NE-NFOS using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the NFOS was modified successfully by norepinephrine. Furthermore, the influences of different parameters including adsorption kinetics, solution pH, adsorption isotherms, concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, desorption and reusability were studied. The adsorption experiments showed that the capacity of NE-NFOS to adsorb Pb(II) ions improved greatly after functionalisation and adsorption equilibrium was attained within 90 min at a pH of 6.0. The Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ concentrations had little influence on the adsorption, and after recycling for five times, the Pb(II) ion removal efficiency of the adsorbent was more than 79% of its initial value. Thus, it was demonstrated that the NE-NFOS with excellent adsorption performance could be a suitable adsorbent for Pb(II) ions removal in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calorie restriction (CR) extends lifespan and elicits numerous effects beneficial to health and metabolism in various model organisms, but the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Gut microbiota has been reported to be associated with the beneficial effects of CR; however, it is unknown whether these effects of CR are causally mediated by gut microbiota. In this study, we employed an antibiotic-induced microbiota-depleted mouse model to investigate the functional role of gut microbiota in CR. Depletion of gut microbiota rendered mice resistant to CR-induced loss of body weight, accompanied by the increase in fat mass, the reduction in lean mass and the decline in metabolic rate. Depletion of gut microbiota led to increases in fasting blood glucose and cholesterol levels independent of CR. A few metabolism-modulating hormones including leptin and insulin were altered by CR and/or gut microbiota depletion. In addition, CR altered the composition of gut microbiota with significant increases in major probiotic genera such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, together with the decrease of Helicobacter. In addition, we performed fecal microbiota transplantation in mice fed with high-fat diet. Mice with transferred microbiota from calorie-restricted mice resisted high fat diet-induced obesity and exhibited metabolic improvement such as alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation. Collectively, these data indicate that CR-induced metabolic improvement especially in body weight reduction is mediated by intestinal microbiota to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose two generalized Haldane models on laser-coupling optical lattices. Laser-assisted nearest neighbour tunnelings generate artificial staggered magnetic flux, facilitating the realization of topological nontrivial band structures. As generalizations of Haldane model, these models support topological insulator and semimetal phases featuring high Chern numbers. We show simple rules for computing Chern numbers of our models and display the phase diagrams. Moreover, numerical calculations of energy spectra are in perfect agreement with our theoretical expectations. Our models may serve as two new family members for generalizing Haldane model on optical lattices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shell matrix proteins (SMPs) have important functions in biomineralization. In the past decades, the roles of SMPs were gradually revealed. In 2015, our group identified 72 unique SMPs in Pinctada fucata, among which Alveoline-like (Alv) protein was reported to have homologous genes in Pinctada maxima and Pinctada margaritifera. In this study, the full-length cDNA sequence of Alv and the functional analysis of Alv protein during shell formation were explored. The deduced protein (Alv), which has a molecular mass of 24.9 kDa and an isoelectric point of 11.34, was characterized, and the functional analyses was explored in vivo and in vitro. The Alv gene has high expression in mantle and could response to notching damage. The functional inhibition of Alv protein in vivo by injecting recombinant Alv (rAlv) antibodies destroyed prism structure but accelerated nacre growth. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining showed that native Alv exists in the EDTA-insoluble matrix of both prismatic and nacreous layers and has different distribution patterns in the inner or outer prismatic layer. Taken together, the characterization and functional analyses of matrix protein Alv could expand our understanding of basic matrix proteins and their functions during shell formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron is an essential nutrient for bacterial survival and thus higher iron levels may precipitate bacterial infections. We investigated the association between the serum iron level and prognosis in patients with sepsis by using the single-centre Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. Sepsis patients with iron parameters measured on ICU admission were included and stratified according to quartiles of serum iron levels. A total of 1,891 patients diagnosed with sepsis according to the Sepsis-3 criteria were included in this study, 324 of whom were septic shock. After adjusting for confounding variables, higher iron quartile was associated with an increase in 90-day mortality in the Cox regression analysis. Moreover, a stepwise increase in the risk of 90-day mortality was observed as the quartiles of serum iron levels increased in the patients with sepsis. In conclusion, higher serum iron levels were independently associated with increased 90-day mortality in this large cohort of patients with sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, environmentally friendly and cost-effective nonsurfactant template method was used to synthesize tannic-acid-templated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (TMSNs), and then dopamine functionalized TMSNs (Dop-TMSNs) which was synthesized by a facile and biomimetic coating strategy, was developed as a new sorbent for the removal of Cu2+ from aqueous solution. The Dop-TMSNs were thoroughly characterized by SEM, TEM, BET, FT-IR and TGA, and the effects of contact time, initial pH, K+ and Na+ concentrations, co-existing polyvalent metal ions and adsorption-desorption cycle times on the sorption capacity of Dop-TMSNs were studied. It was demonstrated that the maximum adsorption capacity of Cu2+ by Dop-TMSNs was 58.7 mg/g at pH 5.5, and the sorption reached equilibrium within 180 min. Moreover, the K+ and Na+ concentrations had a very slight influence on the sorption process and the adsorption capacity of the Dop-TMSNs still remained 89.2% after recycling for four times. All the results indicated that the Dop-TMSNs could be utilized as an excellent sorbent for the sequestration of Cu2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) WTe2 and MoTe2 with orthorhombic Td phase, being potential candidates as type-II Weyl semimetals, are attracted much attention recently. Here we synthesized a series of miscible Mo1−xWxTe2 single crystals by bromine vapor transport method. Composition-dependent X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, as well as composition and temperature-dependent resistivity prove that the tunable crystal structure (from hexagonal (2H), monoclinic (β) to orthorhombic (Td) phase) can be realized by increasing W content in Mo1−xWxTe2. Simultaneously the electrical property gradually evolves from semiconductor to semimetal behavior. Temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy proves that temperature also can induce the structural phase transition from β to Td phase in Mo1−xWxTe2 crystals. Based on aforementioned characterizations, we map out the temperature and composition dependent phase diagram of Mo1−xWxTe2 system. In addition, a series of electrical parameters, such as carrier type, carrier concentration and mobility, have also been presented. This work offers a scheme to accurately control structural phase in Mo1−xWxTe2 system, which can be used to explore type-II Weyl semimetal, as well as temperature/composition controlled topological phase transition therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early diagnosis and severity grading for acute pancreatitis (AP) are difficult to determine because of the complexity and differences in disease process. To date, few studies have investigated the role of lymphocyte ratio (LR) in AP. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of LR as an indicator in AP, as well as determine an optimal cut-off value for the severity prediction. There were two hundred four patients involved in this study, ninety-two of whom had severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). The LR was analyzed on admission and correlated with severity, which was determined using the Atlanta classification. The optimal cut-off value for LR was generated using receiving operator characteristic (ROC) curves. The results showed that the LR in the SAP group decreased significantly compared to the mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) group (8.82 vs. 13.43). The optimal cut-off value obtained from ROC curves was 0.081, with a sensitivity of 80.4%, a specificity of 53.3%, a positive likelihood ratio of 1.722, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.368. In conclusion, the LR is obviously related to the condition of AP patients and is valuable for the differential diagnosis of SAP in early stages of AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imbalance of neurotransmitters and excessive oxidative stress responses contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. In this study, we determined whether blockade of p44/42 MAPK pathway in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) ameliorates the development of hypertension through modulating neurotransmitters and attenuating oxidative stress. Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rats received a high-salt diet (HS, 8% NaCl) or a normal-salt diet (NS, 0.3% NaCl) for 6 weeks and were treated with bilateral PVN infusion of PD-98059 (0.025 μg/h), a p44/42 MAPK inhibitor, or vehicle via osmotic minipump. HS resulted in higher mean arterial pressure (MAP) and Fra-like (Fra-LI) activity, and plasma and PVN levels of norepinephrine (NE), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), NOX2 and NOX4, lower PVN levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) and the 67-kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67), as compared with NS group. PD-98059 infusion reduced NE, TH, NOX2 and NOX4 in the PVN, and induced Cu/Zn-SOD and GAD67 in the PVN. It suggests that PVN blockade of p44/42 MAPK attenuates hypertension through modulating neurotransmitters and attenuating oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently there has been a more focus on the development of an efficient technique for detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), due to their significance in prognosis and therapy of metastatic cancer. However, it remains a challenge because of the low count of CTCs in the blood. Herein, a rapid and high-sensitivity approach for CTCs detection using an integrated microfluidic system, consisting of a deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) isolating structure, an automatic purifying device with CD45-labeled immunomagnetic beads and a capturing platform coated with rat-tail collagen was reported. We observed high capture rate of 90%, purity of about 50% and viability of more than 90% at the high throughput of 1 mL/min by capturing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive cells from blood. Further capturing of CTCs from metastatic cancers patients revealed a positive capture rate of 83.3%. Furthermore, our device was compared with CellSearch system via parallel analysis of 30 cancer patients, to find no significant difference between the capture efficiency of both methods. However, our device displayed advantage in terms of time, sample volume and cost for analysis. Thus, our integrated device with sterile environment and convenient use will be a promising platform for CTCs detection with potential clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively triggers cancer cell death via its association with death receptors on the cell membrane, but exerts negligible side effects on normal cells. However, some non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients exhibited resistance to TRAIL treatment in clinical trials, and the mechanism varies. In this study, we described for the first time that toosendanin (TSN), a triterpenoid derivative used in Chinese medicine for pain management, could significantly sensitize human primary NSCLC cells or NSCLC cell lines to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo, while showing low toxicity against human primary cells or tissues. The underlying apoptotic mechanisms involved upregulation of death receptor 5 (DR5) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein, which is related to the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, and is further associated with reactive oxygen species generation and Ca2+ accumulation. Surprisingly, TSN also induced autophagy in NSCLC cells, which recruited membrane DR5, and subsequently antagonized the apoptosis-sensitizing effect of TSN. Taken together, TSN can be used to sensitize tumors and the combination of TRAIL and TSN may represent a useful strategy for NSCLC therapy; moreover, autophagy serves as an important drug resistance mechanism for TSN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality broadband ultrasound transducers yield superior imaging performance in biomedical ultrasonography. However, proper design to perfectly bridge the energy between the active piezoelectric material and the target medium over the operating spectrum is still lacking. Here, we demonstrate a new anisotropic cone-structured acoustic metamaterial matching layer that acts as an inhomogeneous material with gradient acoustic impedance along the ultrasound propagation direction. When sandwiched between the piezoelectric material unit and the target medium, the acoustic metamaterial matching layer provides a broadband window to support extraordinary transmission of ultrasound over a wide frequency range. We fabricated the matching layer by etching the peeled silica optical fibre bundles with hydrofluoric acid solution. The experimental measurement of an ultrasound transducer equipped with this acoustic metamaterial matching layer shows that the corresponding −6 dB bandwidth is able to reach over 100%. This new material fully enables new high-end piezoelectric materials in the construction of high-performance ultrasound transducers and probes, leading to considerably improved resolutions in biomedical ultrasonography and compact harmonic imaging systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-marker genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a convenient strategy of genetic analysis that has been successful in detecting the association of a number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with quantitative traits. However, analysis of individual SNPs can only account for a small proportion of genetic variation and offers only limited knowledge of complex traits. This inadequacy may be overcome by employing a gene-based GWAS analytic approach, which can be considered complementary to the single-SNP association analysis. Here we performed an initial single-SNP GWAS for bone weight (BW) and meat pH value with a total of 770,000 SNPs in 1141 Simmental cattle. Additionally, 21836 cattle genes collected from the Ensembl Genes 83 database were analyzed to find supplementary evidence to support the importance of gene-based association study. Results of the single SNP-based association study showed that there were 11 SNPs significantly associated with bone weight (BW) and two SNPs associated with meat pH value. Interestingly, all of these SNPs were located in genes detected by the gene-based association study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dopmine functionalized mesoporous onion-like silica (DPMS) was synthesized via a biomimetic coating, and lipase Candida sp. 99-125 (LCS) was immobilized in DPMS (LCS@DPMS) by physical adsorption in this study. The DPMS was characterized by SEM, TEM, BET and FT-IR, and it was shown that the DPMS had clear multishell structures with large surface area of 419 m2/g. The activity, pH stability, thermal stability, storage stability, and reusability of the LCS@DPMS were investigated in detail. The stabilities of LCS@DPMS were improved significantly compared to the free lipase and LCS@MS (LCS immobilized in unfunctionalized mesoporous onion-like silica by physical adsorption). All the results indicated that the DPMS had high efficiency and improved stability for lipase immobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Average daily gain (ADG) is the most economically important trait in beef cattle industry. Using genome-wide association study (GWAS) approaches, previous studies have identified several causal variants within the PLAG1, NCAPG and LCORL genes for ADG in cattle. Multi-strategy GWASs were implemented in this study to improve detection and to explore the causal genes and regions. In this study, we conducted GWASs based on the genotypes of 1,173 Simmental cattle. In the SNP-based GWAS, the most significant SNPs (rs109303784 and rs110058857, P = 1.78 × 10−7) were identified in the NCAPG intron on BTA6 and explained 4.01% of the phenotypic variance, and the independent and significant SNP (rs110406669, P = 5.18 × 10−6) explained 3.32% of the phenotypic variance. Similarly, in the haplotype-based GWAS, the most significant haplotype block, Hap-6-N1416 (P = 2.56 × 10−8), spanned 12.7 kb on BTA6 and explained 4.85% of the phenotypic variance. Also, in the gene-based GWAS, seven significant genes were obtained which included DCAF16 and NCAPG. Moreover, analysis of the transcript levels confirmed that transcripts abundance of NCAPG (P = 0.046) and DCAF16 (P = 0.046) were significantly correlated with the ADG trait. Overall, our results from the multi-strategy GWASs revealed the DCAF16-NCAPG region to be a susceptibility locus for ADG in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease, which has led to millions of clinical cases and hundreds of deaths every year in China. This study aimed to exploring the effects on HFMD transmission of children's caregivers and public area, as well as trying to locate the potential reservoirs of infections in primary cases. Total children's 257 samples (98 children's caregivers and 159 environmental samples) were tested for the presence of universal enterovirus, enterovirus 71, coxsackie virus A6 and A16 by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). 5.84% (15/257, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.98%, 8.70%) of total samples had positive results of enterovirus. The enterovirus positive rates of children's caregiver samples and environmental samples were respectively 7.14% (7/98, 95% CI: 2.04%, 12.24%), and 5.03% (8/159, 95% CI: 1.63%, 8.43%); 7.61% (7/92, 95% CI: 2.21%, 13.01%) of wiping samples from playgrounds and 1.49% (1/67, 95% CI: 0, 7.00%) of air samples in indoor market places had positive result of enterovirus. High positive rates of enterovirus in children's caregivers and from playgrounds indicated that they would be potential reservoirs of HFMD infection, as children might be infected via contacting with asymptomatic-infected individuals or exposure of contaminated surface of public facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]