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Wet chemical and pyrolytic process is used to reduce zirconium oxide uniformly distributed in liquidic polysilazane preceramic precursor via sodium borohydride and zirconium n-propoxide to form zirconium oxide embedded silicon carbonitride (ZrO 2 -SiCN(O)) ceramic composite film. Its average hardness (H*) and modulus of elasticity (E *) achieve 11.54 GPa and 101.2 GPa, respectively. Its index of elastic strain to failure, H* /E * and fracture toughness index, H* 3 /E * 2 can reach 0.114 and 0.115 GPa. The average hardness and reduced modulus of elasticity are enhanced 25.2% and 30.2% as ZrO 2 embedded in SiCN(O) ceramic film. The copper foam is coated with SiCN(O) ceramic film as the working electrode whose corrosion potential achieve 0.52 V that is 23 times higher than that of the pure copper foam. Its lowest current density is 7.42 × 10−7 A m−2 that is one hundredth of the pure copper foam as the working electrode. [Display omitted] • Strong electrochemical-mechanical coating, ZrO 2 -SiCN(O) is developed. • Its average hardness and modulus of ZrO-SiCN(O) coating achieve 11.54 and 101.2 GPa. • Its average hardness and modulus are enhanced 25.2% and 30.2% as ZrO embedded. • Corrosion potential and rate of SiCN(O)/Cu are 0.52 V and 7.56μmyear−1,respectively • The lowest current density of SiCN(O)/Cu electrode is 7.42 × 10−7Am−2via Tafel curve [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To facilitate the realization of biological functions, proteins are often organized into complexes. While computational techniques are used to predict these complexes, detailed understanding of their organization remains inadequate. Apart from complexes that reside in very dense regions of a protein interaction network in which most algorithms are able to identify, we observe that many other complexes, while not residing in very dense regions, reside in regions with low neighborhood density. We develop an algorithm for identifying protein complexes by considering these two types of complexes separately. We test our algorithm on a few yeast protein interaction networks, and show that our algorithm is able to identify complexes more accurately than existing algorithms. A software program NDComplex for implementing the algorithm is available at . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We take a new look at the multicut problem in trees, denoted multicut on trees henceforth, through the eyes of the vertex cover problem. This connection, together with other techniques that we develop, allows us to give an upper bound of on the kernel size for multicut on trees, significantly improving the upper bound given by Bousquet et al. We exploit this connection further to present a parameterized algorithm for multicut on trees that runs in time , where . This improves the previous (time) upper bound of , given by Guo and Niedermeier, for the problem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Males of the Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) are highly attracted to, and compulsively feed, on methyl eugenol (ME). ME is converted into 2-allyl-4,5-dimethoxyphenol (DMP) and (E)-coniferyl alcohol (E-CF), which are temporarily sequestered in the fly's rectal gland prior to being released at dusk. Previous research initially confirmed that DMP is a relatively strong lure to B. dorsalis males. However, the characteristics of males' response to DMP and toxicology of DMP remains largely unclear. In our study, we demonstrated that DMP was more attractive to sexually mature males than E-CF tested in laboratory bioassays. Interestingly, the responsiveness of mature males to DMP was not uniform throughout the day, eliciting the highest response during the day and dropping to a low level at night. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the olfactory responses of virgin and mated mature males to DMP. No obvious signs of toxic symptom and deaths were observed in mice during a 14-day acute oral toxicity testing. Further, toxicologically significant changes were not observed in body weight, water intake, food consumption, and absolute and relative organ weights between control and treated groups, implying DMP could be regarded as nontoxic. Lastly, the cytotoxicity data of DMP on cells showed that it exhibited no significant cytotoxicity to normal human and mouse cells. Taken together, results from both the acute and cellular toxicity experiments demonstrated the nontoxic nature of DMP. In conclusion, DMP shows promise as an effective and eco-friendly lure for B. dorsalis males, and may contribute to controlling B. dorsalis in the flied. [Display omitted] • Mature Bactrocera dorsalis males showed significant positive chemotaxis to DMP. • No mortality and toxic response to DMP were observed in treatment mice. • DMP exhibited no significant cytotoxicity on normal human and mouse cells. • DMP shows promise as an effective and eco-friendly attractant for B. dorsalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous studies have shown that multiple inhibitory genes play an important role in HBV-specific CD8 + T cell exhaustion and dysfunction in the setting of chronic HBV infection. Polymorphic variants of these genes are thought to be predisposing factors for HBV susceptibility, clearance, and disease progression. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify variants affecting chronic HBV infection in a Chinese Han population. Methods We chose 28 tgSNPs from HapMap data on 5 key genes. They were genotyped on a total of 858 chronic HBV patients, 429 patients who underwent spontaneous recovery, and 239 healthy controls. We evaluated the correlation between the polymorphisms and HBV susceptibility, spontaneous clearance, and disease progression. Results The association of rs3827537 of BIM genotype TA and allele A was significantly different (P = 0.016, OR = 2.049; P = 0.031, OR = 1.925) between HBV patients and healthy controls. The rs36084323 of PD-1 , as well as rs3766377, rs485618, rs4656942 of CD244 showed significant associations with the risk for HBV-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (P = 0.009, OR = 0.482; P = 0.009, OR = 4.573; P = 0.015, OR = 0.580; P = 0.028, OR = 2.855). MDR analysis revealed that the four SNPs (rs36084323, rs3766377, rs485618, rs4656942) modulated the predisposition to cirrhosis and HCC in patients with chronic HBV infection (P = 0.006). Using a luciferase reporter assay, we demonstrated that various alleles of rs3766377 had differential effects, and rs3766377 and rs485618 might have interactive effects. Conclusions The present study reveals genetic associations among PD-1 and CD244 variants that may be involved in the development of cirrhosis and HCC in patients with chronic HBV infection. The BIM variant was associated with HBV susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is usually aggressive and accompanied by a poor prognosis. The molecular biological mechanism of TNBC pathogenesis is still unclear, and requires more detailed research. The aim of this study was to screen and verify potential biomarkers of TNBC, and provide new clues for the treatment and diagnosis of TNBC., Methods: In this work, GSE76250 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and included 165 TNBC samples and 33 paired normal breast tissues. The R software and its related software package were used for data processing and analysis. Compared with normal tissues, genes with a false discovery rate (FDR) <0.01 and log fold change (logFC) ≥1 or ≤-1 were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by limma package. Survival prognoses were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier plotter database., Results: In total, 160 up-regulated and 180 down-regulated genes were identified. The biological mechanism of enrichment analysis presented that DEGs were significantly enriched in chromosome segregation, extracellular matrix, and extracellular matrix structural constituent, among others. A total of 8 hub genes ( CCNB1, CDK1, TOP2A, MKI67, TTK, CCNA2, BUB1, and PLK1 ) were identified by the protein-protein interaction network (PPIN) and Cytoscape software. Survival prognosis of these hub genes showed that they were negatively correlated with overall survival., Conclusions: The 8 hub genes and pathways that were identified might be involved in tumorigenesis and become new candidate biomarkers for TNBC treatment., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/gs-21-17). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2021 Gland Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background/aims: The recognition of a correlation between patatin-like phospholipase domain containing-protein 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 (C>G) and the severity of liver steatosis or fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has not reached a consensus. This meta-analysis sought to investigate with accuracy the association between the PNPLA3 rs738409 (C>G) polymorphism and liver steatosis and advanced fibrosis in CHC patients., Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search from the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases up to December 31, 2014. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata 12.0 software., Results: The meta-analysis revealed the severity of liver fibrosis was significantly higher in CHC patients with PNPLA3 rs738409 GG in Caucasians (versus CC+CG OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.57 to 3.35; p<0.05) but not Asian populations. In Caucasians, liver steatosis was also more severe in CHC patients with rs738409 GG (versus CC+CG; OR, 4.33; 95% CI, 2.59 to 7.22; p<0.05). The sensitivity analysis indicated the results of this meta-analysis were stable and no publication bias was detected., Conclusions: PNPLA3 rs738409 (C>G) was associated with the risk of both advanced liver fibrosis and steatosis in patients with CHC, especially among Caucasian populations.