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[Display omitted] Sanhan Huashi granules (SHG) demonstrated therapeutic effects against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in observational studies. In order to compare the effectiveness and safety of SHG and nirmatrelvir–ritonavir in treating adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, we conducted a randomized, active-controlled, open-label, multi-center trial conducted between February and July in 2023. The patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the SHG group and the nirmatrelvir–ritonavir group. A total of 400 participants were randomized, among which 200 participants ultimately received SHG and 198 received nirmatrelvir–ritonavir. The primary outcome was time to sustained clinical recovery through day 28. SHG significantly shortened the median time to sustained clinical recovery compared to nirmatrelvir–ritonavir (6.0 (95% CI, 5.0 to 6.0) vs. 8.0 (95% CI, 6.0 to 9.0) d; P = 0.001), particularly for individual symptoms including fever, sore throat, cough and fatigue. No participants in either group died and incidence of severe COVID-19 showed no difference between two groups. Participants who received nirmatrelvir–ritonavir demonstrated a higher rate of virus clearance on day 5 compared to those received SHG (46.4% (95% CI, 39.1 to 53.7) vs. 65.6% (95% CI, 58.3 to 72.4); P < 0.001). Most adverse events were mild in both groups. In summary, SHG was superior to nirmatrelvir–ritonavir in shortening the time to sustained clinical recovery in participants with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, despite a lower virus clearance rate observed after 5 d of treatment (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2300067872). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasite that mainly infects the heart and pulmonary arteries of rats and causes human eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis in certain geographical areas. Current diagnostic methods include detection of the parasite in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and eosinophilic immune examination after lumbar puncture, which may be risky and produce false-positive results. 18F- Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), a Positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, has been used to assess different pathological or inflammatory changes in the brains of patients. In this study, we hypothesized that A. cantonensis infection-induced inflammatory and immunomodulatory factors of eosinophils result in localized pathological changes in the brains of non-permissive hosts, which could be analyzed using in vivo18F-FDG PET imaging. Methodology/Findings: Non-permissive host ICR mice and permissive host SD rats were infected with A. cantonensis, and the effects of the resulting inflammation on 18F-FDG uptake were characterized using PET imaging. We also quantitatively measured the distributed uptake values of different brain regions to build an evaluated imaging model of localized neuropathological damage caused by eosinophilic inflammation. Our results showed that the uptake of 18F-FDG increased in the cerebellum, brainstem, and limbic system of mice at three weeks post-infection, whereas the uptake in the rat brain was not significant. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting revealed that Iba-1, a microglia-specific marker, significantly increased in the hippocampus and its surrounding area in mice after three weeks of infection, and then became pronounced after four weeks of infection; while YM-1, an eosinophilic chemotactic factor, in the hippocampus and midbrain, increased significantly from two weeks post-infection, sharply escalated after three weeks of infection, and peaked after four weeks of infection. Cytometric bead array (CBA) analysis revealed that the expression of TNF in the serum of mice increased concomitantly with the prolongation of infection duration. Furthermore, IFN-γ and IL-4 in rat serum were significantly higher than in mouse serum at two weeks post-infection, indicating significantly different immune responses in the brains of rats and mice. We suggest that 18F-FDG uptake in the host brain may be attributed to the accumulation of large numbers of immune cells, especially the metabolic burst of activated eosinophils, which are attracted to and induced by activated microglia in the brain. Conclusions: An in vivo18F-FDG/PET imaging model can be used to evaluate live neuroinflammatory pathological changes in the brains of A. cantonensis-infected mice and rats. Author summary: Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in humans can cause brain inflammation, and there is currently no effective diagnostic method to clarify the pathological changes in the brain. Current diagnostic methods include CSF detection and eosinophilia immune examination after lumbar puncture, but these protocols are risky and may produce false-positive responses. Non-invasive medical imaging techniques might allow for the circumvention of these problems. The effective use of 18F-FDG PET imaging as a diagnostic tool for parasitic infections has been reported. In this study, we hypothesize that the A. cantonensis infection-induced inflammatory and immunomodulatory factors of eosinophils have an impact on the localized pathological changes in the brains of non-permissive hosts. These changes can be analyzed using live in vivo18F -FDG PET medical imaging. A. Cantonensis was infected in non-permissive ICR mice and permissive SD rats, after which the effects of the resulting inflammation on energy metabolism were characterized via nuclear medicine imaging. We also quantitatively measured the distributed uptake values of different brain regions, to build an evaluated imaging model of localized neuropathological damages caused by eosinophil-inflammation. Through the completion of this study, we intend to develop a specific radiological medical imaging analysis model of angiostrongyliasis for important endemic zoonotic parasitic diseases. We are trying to develop a cross-disciplinary research project combining parasitology and nuclear medicine and to establish an imaging model for analyzing angiostrongyliasis that can be applied to clinical evaluation and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of data-driven analytics and intelligent monitoring systems is radically transforming the world of competitive sports. However, robust real-time activity recognition remains elusive for rapid-paced sports like table tennis due to the complexity of strokes and quick maneuvering. This paper tries to overcome this challenge through an innovative cloud-supported system integrating the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, and wearable sensors for automated analysis of table tennis gameplay. We strategically set up a multi-camera IoT system around a table tennis court to compile a rich labeled image dataset encapsulating over 15,000 frames. To improve model generalization, the images captured various playing styles, lighting conditions, and camera angles. We developed tailored SVM and CNN architectures optimized for table tennis activity classification. The models were trained on GPU-accelerated platforms using the curated dataset. After hyperparameter tuning and cross-validation, the CNN model achieved 96.2% accuracy, a precision value of 96.3%, a recall value of 95.2%, and an F1-score of 96.3% in classifying standard strokes and serves. Additionally, the models exhibited impressive processing speeds of 22–34 fps, enabling real-time utilization. Our proposed model outperformed the latest models in this field with higher accuracy, recall values, F1-score, and precision. While expanding the dataset diversity and testing variations of deep network architectures could further enhance performance, this paper demonstrates a crucial leap toward helping real-time analytics in table tennis using an AI-powered computer vision approach. The hybrid system combining IoT, wearables, and machine learning establishes a framework to transform data into actionable and timely insights for table tennis players and coaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical properties and termite and decay resistance performance of wood-based panel used in wooden houses were evaluated. The physical and mechanical properties, along with the resistance levels, of commonly used wood-based panels, including oriented strand board, structural particleboard, and particleboard for use in interior, were compared. The structural particleboard complied with the physical, mechanical, and formaldehyde emission standards of the International Organization for Standardization and Japanese Industrial Standard, surpassing the requirements for oriented strand board. The structural particleboard exhibited excellent water resistance and a consistent performance. Decay tests classified the particleboard and structural particleboard as "Resistant," with mass losses of 7.82 to 12.72% (white rot) and 14.69 to 16.55% (brown rot). Pine (Pinus densiflora) and oriented strand board exhibited no decay resistance, with mass losses exceeding 45%. The particleboard and structural particleboard demonstrated superior termite resistance, resulting in 100% termite mortality in three days without chemical treatment. The structural particleboard exhibited excellent water, decay, and termite resistance, which can be an advantage in wooden-house construction in terms of maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal finishing materials for large auditoriums or public facilities are regulated in South Korea to ensure their flame-retardant performance. Flame-retardant treatment of low-density fiberboard (LDF), an eco-friendly material, was performed to expand its use as a sound absorber by improving its fire safety. In this study, an LDF with a target density of 0.15 g/cm3 was prepared from radiata pine wood fibers and melamine–urea– formaldehyde resin, and recommended amounts of commercially available flame retardants (liquid type) were applied immediately after hot pressing. A powder-type flame retardant was blended with the resin used in LDF manufacture. The surface color and material changed partially depending on the flame-retardant type. The external application method slightly increased the moisture content and density, but it did not affect the physical properties of the LDF. The flame-retardant treatment reduced the emission of formaldehyde, as a scavenger. After treatment, the char area and char length of the LDFs decreased significantly to 9.42–23.64%, and 6.11–11.91%, respectively. The sound absorption performance of the flame-retardant-treated LDFs improved 4.08–9.11%, while their thermal-insulation performance remained unaffected. The flame-retardant-treated LDFs satisfy the regulation of flame retardancy, while maintaining sound absorption and thermal insulation functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The androgen-dependent or -independent pathways are regarded as primary therapeutic targets for the neoplasm of the prostate. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1 (MALT1) acting as a paracaspase in the regulation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signal transduction plays a central role in inflammation and oncogenesis in cancers. This study confirmed the potential linkages between androgen and NF-κB activation by inducing MALT1 in the androgen receptor-full length (ARFL)-positive LNCaP and 22Rv1 prostate cancer cells. Although androgen did not stimulate MALT1 expression in AR-null or ectopic ARFL-overexpressed PC-3 cells, the ectopic overexpression of the AR splicing variant 7 (ARv7) upregulated MALT1 to activate NF-κB activities in 22Rv1 and PC-3 cells. Since the nuclear translocation of p50 and p65 was facilitated by ARv7 to motivate NF-κB activity, the expressions of MALT1, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and N-myc downstream regulated 1 (NDRG1) were therefore induced in ectopic ARv7-overexpressed prostate cancer cells. Ectopic ARv7 overexpression not only enhanced 22Rv1 or PC-3 cell growth and invasion in vitro but also the tumor growth of PC-3 cells in vivo. These results indicate that an androgen receptor induces MALT1 expression androgen-dependently and -independently in ARFL- or ARv7-overexpressed prostate cancer cells, suggesting a novel ARv7/MALT1/NF-κB-signaling pathway may exist in the cells of prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mortality rate of red-tide dinoflagellates owing to predation is a major parameter that affects their population dynamics. The dinoflagellates Ansanella granifera and Ansanella sp. occasionally cause red tides. To understand the interactions between common heterotrophic protists and A. granifera, we explored the feeding occurrence of nine heterotrophic protists on A. granifera and the growth and ingestion rates of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Gyrodinium dominans on A. granifera as a function of prey concentration and those of Oxyrrhis marina at a single high prey concentration. The heterotrophic dinoflagellates Aduncodinium glandula, G. dominans, Gyrodinium moestrupii, Luciella masanensis, Oblea rotunda, O. marina, Polykrikos kofoidii, and Pfiesteria piscicida and the naked ciliate Strombidium sp. were able to feed on A. granifera. With increasing mean prey concentrations, the growth and ingestion rates of G. dominans feeding on A. granifera rapidly increased and became saturated or slowly increased. The maximum growth and ingestion rates of G. dominans on A. granifera were 0.305 d-1 and 0.42 ng C predator-1 d-1 (3.8 cells predator-1 d-1), respectively. Furthermore, the growth and ingestion rates of O. marina on A. granifera at 1,700 ng C mL-1 (15,454 cells mL-1) were 0.037 d-1 and 0.19 ng C predator-1 d-1 (1.7 cells predator-1 d-1), respectively. The growth and ingestion rates of G. dominans and O. marina feeding on A. granifera were almost the lowest among those on the dinoflagellate prey species. Therefore, G. dominans and O. marina may prefer A. granifera less than other dinoflagellate prey species. The low mortality rate of A. granifera may positively affect its bloom formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[99mTc]Tc TRODAT-1 is a widely used single photon emission tomography (SPECT) radiopharmaceutical in Asian practice for early detection of central dopaminergic disorders. However, its imaging quality remains sub-optimal. To overcome this problem, mannitol, an osmotic agent was used to observe its effect on improving striatal [99mTc]Tc TRODAT-1 uptake in rat brain by titrated human dosages to investigate a clinically feasible way to improve human imaging quality. [99mTc]Tc TRODAT-1 synthesis and quality control were performed as described. Sprague–Dawley rats were used for this study. The animal in vivo nanoSPECT/CT and ex vivo autoradiography were employed to observe and verify the striatal [99mTc]Tc TRODAT-1 uptake in rat brains using clinically equivalent doses (i.e., 0, 1 and 2 mL groups, each n = 5) of mannitol (20% w/v, equivalent to 200 mg/mL) by an intravenous administration. Specific binding ratios (SBRs) were calculated to express the central striatal uptake in different experimental groups. In the NanoSPECT/CT imaging, the highest SBRs of striatal [99mTc]Tc TRODAT-1 were reached at 75–90 min post-injection. The averaged striatal SBRs were 0.85 ± 0.13 (2 mL normal saline, the control group), 0.94 ± 0.26 (1 mL mannitol group) and 1.36 ± 0.12 (2 mL mannitol group, p < 0.01 which were significantly different than the control as well as 1 mL mannitol groups (p < 0.05). The SBRs from ex vivo autoradiography also showed a comparable trend of the striatal [99mTc]Tc TRODAT-1 uptake in the 2 mL, 1 mL mannitol and the control groups (1.76 ± 0.52, 0.91 ± 0.29, and 0.21 ± 0.03, respectively, p < 0.05). No remarkable changes of vital signs were found in the mannitol groups and the controls. Pre-treated mannitol revealed a significant increase of the central striatal [99mTc]Tc TRODAT-1 uptake in a rat model which not only enabled us to perform pre-clinical studies of dopaminergic related disorders but also provided a potential way to further optimize image quality in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), a member of the connective tissue growth factor family, plays a crucial role in several important cellular functions in a highly tissue-specific manner. Results of a RT-qPCR indicated that WISP1 expressed only in cells of the human prostate fibroblasts, HPrF and WPMY-1, but not the prostate carcinoma cells in vitro. Two major isoforms (WISP1v1 and WISP1v2) were identified in the HPrF cells determined by RT-PCR and immunoblot assays. The knock-down of a WISP1 blocked cell proliferation and contraction, while treating respectively with the conditioned medium from the ectopic WISP1v1- and WISPv2-overexpressed 293T cells enhanced the migration of HPrF cells. The TNFα induced WISP1 secretion and cell contraction while the knock-down of WISP1 attenuated these effects, although TNFα did not affect the proliferation of the HPrF cells. The ectopic overexpression of WISP1v1 but not WISP1v2 downregulated the N-myc downstream regulated 1 (NDRG1) while upregulating N-cadherin, slug, snail, and vimentin gene expressions which induced not only the cell proliferation and invasion in vitro but also tumor growth of prostate carcinoma cells in vivo. The results confirmed that WISP1 is a stroma-specific secreting protein, enhancing the cell migration and contraction of prostate fibroblasts, as well as the proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth of prostate carcinoma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a blockchain-enabled energy trading method is proposed to deal with the inefficiency and security issues in energy trading for electric vehicles in smart grids. It includes the design of a smart contract and the excitation mechanism of energy sharing. The credit points of each vehicle as a node are considered in the design of the smart contract, which is used to supervise the process of energy trading. A strategy to estimate the credit points of each node and describe the excitation mechanism is illustrated. The connection between the credit points and the probability that a node would be accepted for energy trading has been established. To control the energy trading access, a double auction method is used to choose the part of the nodes participating in energy trading. Only selected nodes with winning bids can supply or request energy from the blockchain-based platform. Then it reaches the conclusion that the higher the credit points they have, the more trading initiative they would have during the energy transaction and transmission. The smart contract design and the excitation mechanism proposed in this paper would reward the vehicles that perform well and punish the beguiling vehicles for regulating the trading process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a simple electrospinning approach for fabricating poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) semiconductive nanofiber mat triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Measurements of the electrical properties of the P3HT/PVDF-HFP semiconductive nanofiber TENGs revealed that the output voltage could be enhanced up to 78 V with an output current of 7 μA. The output power of the device reached 0.55 mW, sufficient to power 500 red light-emitting diodes instantaneously, as well as a digital watch. The P3HT/PVDF-HFP semiconductive nanofiber TENG could be used not only as a self-powered device but also as a sensor for monitoring human action. Furthermore, it displayed good durability when subjected to 20,000 cycles of an external force test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromyograms (EMG signals) may be contaminated by electrocardiographic (ECG) signals that cannot be easily separated with traditional filters, because both signals have some overlapping spectral components. Therefore, the first challenge encountered in signal processing is to extract the ECG noise from the EMG signal. In this study, the EMG, mixed with different degrees of noise (ECG), is simulated to investigate the variations of the EMG features. Simulated data were derived from the MIT-BIH Noise Stress Test (NSTD) Database. Two EMG and four ECG data were composed with four EMG/ECG SNR to 32 simulated signals. Following Pan-Tompkins R-peak detection, four ECG removal methods were used to remove ECG with different compensation algorithms to obtain the denoised EMG signal. A total of 13 time-domain and four frequency-domain EMG features were calculated from the denoised EMG. In addition, the similarity of denoised EMG features compared to clean EMG was also evaluated. Our results showed that with the ratio EMG/ECG SNR = 10 and 20, the ECG can be almost ignored, and the similarity of EMG features is close to 1. When EMG/ECG SNR = 1 and 2, there is a large variation of EMG features. The results of our simulation study would be beneficial for understanding the variations of EMG features upon the different EMG/ECG SNR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging molecular and precision medicine makes nuclear medicine a de facto choice of imaging, especially in the era of target-oriented medical care. Nuclear medicine is minimally invasive, four-dimensional (space and time or dynamic space), and functional imaging using radioactive biochemical tracers in evaluating human diseases on an anatomically configured image. Many radiopharmaceuticals are also used in therapies. However, there have been concerns over the emission of radiation from the radionuclides, resulting in wrongly neglecting the potential benefits against little or any risks at all of imaging to the patients. The sound concepts of radiation and radiation protection are critical for promoting the optimal use of radiopharmaceuticals to patients, and alleviating concerns from caregivers, nuclear medicine staff, medical colleagues, and the public alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Polymyxin-associated nephrotoxicity remains a major concern in the clinical setting • The overall incidence of AKI was 33.5% among 14 Chinese teaching hospitals • Loading dose and use of multiple nephrotoxic drugs are independent risk factors for AKI • Severity of AKI may be higher in patients with elevated baseline creatinine levels This study aimed to assess the current incidence and risk factors for polymyxin B-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) in Chinese hospitals for a more effective clinical use for polymyxin B. This multicenter, retrospective cohort study included patients from 14 Chinese teaching hospitals who received polymyxin B therapy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with polymyxin B-associated incident AKI. Furthermore, a multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the independent risk factors for AKI. A total of 251 patients were included in the analysis. The overall incidence of AKI was 33.5%. A multivariate logistic regression model identified the loading dose (hazard ratio (HR), 1.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–3.38; P = 0.0491) and the use of two or more nephrotoxic drugs (HR, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.55–8.18; P = 0.0029) as independent risk factors for the occurrence of AKI. Meanwhile, the estimated glomerular filtration rate had a protective effect (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98–0.99; P = 0.0006) on the occurrence of AKI. The daily dose, cumulative dose, and treatment duration of polymyxin B did not affect the occurrence of AKI. The use of polymyxin B loading doses and the combined use of multiple nephrotoxic drugs are independent risk factors for polymyxin B-associated AKI. The severity of AKI may be higher in patients with elevated baseline creatinine levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV), an RNA virus with two forms of the delta antigen (HDAg), relies on hepatitis B virus (HBV) for envelope proteins essential for hepatocyte entry. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks third in global cancer deaths, yet HDV's involvement remains uncertain. Among 300 HBV-associated HCC serum samples from Taiwan's National Health Research Institutes, 2.7% (8/300) tested anti-HDV positive, with 62.7% (5/8) of these also HDV RNA positive. Genotyping revealed HDV-2 in one sample, HDV-4 in two, and two samples showed mixed HDV-2/HDV-4 infection with RNA recombination. A mixed-genotype infection revealed novel mutations at the polyadenylation signal, coinciding with the ochre termination codon for the L-HDAg. To delve deeper into the possible oncogenic properties of HDV-2, the predominant genotype in Taiwan, which was previously thought to be less associated with severe disease outcomes, an HDV-2 cDNA clone was isolated from HCC for study. It demonstrated a replication level reaching up to 74% of that observed for a widely used HDV-1 strain in transfected cultured cells. Surprisingly, both forms of HDV-2 HDAg promoted cell migration and invasion, affecting the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton and the expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition markers. In summary, this study underscores the prevalence of HDV-2, HDV-4, and their mixed infections in HCC, highlighting the genetic diversity in HCC as well as the potential role of both forms of the HDAg in HCC oncogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dicentric chromosome assay (DCA), the gold standard for radiation biodosimetry, evaluates an individual absorbed radiation dose by the analysis of DNA damage in human lymphocytes. The conventional (C-DCA) and QuickScan (QS-DCA) scoring methods are sensitive for estimating radiation dose. The Biodosimetry Laboratory at Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER), Taiwan, participated in intercomparison exercises conducted by Health Canada (HC) in 2014, 2015 and 2018 to validate the laboratory's accuracy and performance. Blood samples for the conventional dose response curve for Taiwan were irradiated with 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Gy. Ten blind blood samples were provided by HC. Either or both of two methods of conventional (C) or QuickScan (QS) scoring could be chosen for the HC's intercomparison. For C-DCA triage scoring, only cells with 46 centromeres were counted and each scorer recorded the number of dicentrics in the first 50 metaphases or stopped scoring when 30 dicentrics were reached. Scorers also recorded how much time it took to analyze 10, 20, and 50 cells. Subsequently, the data were entered into the Dose Estimate software (DoseEstimate_v5.1) and dose estimates were calculated. With QS-DCA scoring, a minimum of 50 metaphase cells (or 30 dicentrics) were scored in apparently complete metaphases without verification of exactly 46 centromeres. For the blinded blood samples irradiated at HC and shipped to INER, the mean absolute deviation (MAD) derived after scoring 50 cells for C-DCA and QS-DCA was <0.5 Gy for all three intercomparisons, meeting the criteria for acceptance. The results indicated that the Biodosimetry Laboratory at INER can provide reliable dose estimates in the case of a large-scale radiation accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia can indeed impact the survival of protists, which play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. To better understand the protistan community structure and species that can thrive in hypoxic waters, we collected samples from both the surface and bottom waters during the hypoxic period in Jinhae and Masan Bays and the non-hypoxic period in Jinhae Bay. Subsequently, we utilized metabarcoding techniques to identify the protistan species. During hypoxia, with dissolved oxygen concentrations of 0.8 mg -1 in Jinhae Bay and 1.8 mg -1 in Masan Bay within the bottom waters, the phylum Dinoflagellata exhibited the highest amplicon sequence variants richness among the identified protist phyla. Following the Dinoflagellata, Ochrophyta and Ciliophora also displayed notable presence. In hypoxic waters of Jinhae and Masan Bays, we identified a total of 36 dinoflagellate species that exhibited various trophic modes. These included one autotrophic species, 14 mixotrophic species, 9 phototrophic species with undetermined trophic modes (either autotrophic or mixotrophic), 2 kleptoplastidic species, and 10 heterotrophic species. Furthermore, the hypoxic bottom water exhibited a greater number of heterotrophic dinoflagellate species compared to the non-hypoxic surface water within the same water column or the non-hypoxic bottom water. Therefore, feeding by mixotrophic and heterotrophic dinoflagellates may be partially responsible for their dominance in terms of the number of species surviving in hypoxic waters. This study not only introduces the initial documentation of 26 dinoflagellate species surviving in hypoxic conditions but also establishes a foundation for a more comprehensive understanding of the ecophysiology of dinoflagellates in hypoxic marine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Although hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) can produce community-acquired infections that are fatal in young and adult hosts, such as pyogenic liver abscess, endophthalmitis, and meningitis, it has historically been susceptible to antibiotics. Carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) is usually associated with urinary tract infections acquired in hospitals, pneumonia, septicemias, and soft tissue infections. Outbreaks and quick spread of CRKP in hospitals have become a major challenge in public health due to the lack of effective antibacterial treatments. In the early stages of K. pneumoniae development, HvKP and CRKP first appear as distinct routes. However, the lines dividing the two pathotypes are vanishing currently, and the advent of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (CR-hvKP) is devastating as it is simultaneously multidrug-resistant, hypervirulent, and highly transmissible. Most CR-hvKP cases have been reported in Asian clinical settings, particularly in China. Typically, CR-hvKP develops when hvKP or CRKP acquires plasmids that carry either the carbapenem-resistance gene or the virulence gene. Alternatively, classic K. pneumoniae (cKP) may acquire a hybrid plasmid carrying both genes. In this review, we provide an overview of the key antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, virulence factors, clinical presentations, and outcomes associated with CR-hvKP infection. Additionally, we discuss the possible evolutionary processes and prevalence of CR-hvKP in China. Given the wide occurrence of CR-hvKP, continued surveillance and control measures of such organisms should be assigned a higher priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixotrophic dinoflagellates act as primary producers, prey, and predators in marine planktonic food webs, whereas exclusively autotrophic dinoflagellates are primary producers and prey. Species of the dinoflagellate genus Scrippsiella are commonly found in marine ecosystems and sometimes cause harmful red tides. Among the 28 formally described Scrippsiella species, S. acuminata has been found to be mixotrophic and two unidentified species have been found to be mixotrophic. To determine whether the other species in this genus are similarly mixotrophic, the mixotrophic ability of S. donghaiensis SDGJ1703, S. lachrymosa SLBS1703, S. masanensis SSMS0908, S. plana SSSH1009A, and S. ramonii VGO1053 was explored using 15 potential prey items, including 2-µm fluorescently labeled microspheres (FLM) and heterotrophic bacteria (FLB), the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp., and various microalgal prey species. The ability of S. acuminata to feed on FLM and FLB was also investigated. We found that S. donghaiensis, S. lachrymosa, S. masanensis, S. plana, and S. ramonii did not feed on any potential prey tested in this study, indicating a lack of mixotrophy. However, S. acuminata fed on both FLM and FLB, confirming its mixotrophic ability. These results lowered the proportion of mixotrophic species relative to the total number of tested Scrippsiella species for mixotrophy from 100% to 29-38%. Owing to its mixotrophic ability, S. acuminata occupies an ecological niche that is distinct from that of S. donghaiensis, S. lachrymosa, S. masanensis, S. plana, and S. ramonii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on prostate cancer has not been thoroughly explored. CAPE downregulated the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1 (MALT1) but enhanced that of p53, thus decreasing androgen-induced activation of MALT1 and prostate-specific antigen expressions in AR-positive prostate carcinoma cells. CAPE inhibited the activity of NF-κB in p53- and AR-negative prostate carcinoma cells. Although CAPE induced the ERK/JNK/p38/AMPKα1/2 signaling pathways, pretreatment with the corresponding inhibitors of MAPK or AMPK1/2 did not inhibit the CAPE effect on MALT1 blocking. Our results reveal that CAPE blocks the expression of the MALT1 gene to decrease the cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth of prostate carcinoma cells via the p53 and NF-κB signaling pathways, and they further verify that CAPE is an effective antitumor agent for human androgen-dependent and -independent prostate carcinoma cells by inhibiting MALT1 expression in vitro and in vivo. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a honeybee propolis-derived bioactive ingredient, has not been extensively elucidated regarding its effect on prostate cancer and associated mechanisms. The mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1 gene (MALT1) modulates NF-κB signal transduction in lymphoma and non-lymphoma cells. We investigated the functions and regulatory mechanisms of CAPE in relation to MALT1 in prostate carcinoma cells. In p53- and androgen receptor (AR)-positive prostate carcinoma cells, CAPE downregulated AR and MALT1 expression but enhanced that of p53, thus decreasing androgen-induced activation of MALT1 and prostate-specific antigen expressions. p53 downregulated the expression of MALT in prostate carcinoma cells through the putative consensus and nonconsensus p53 response elements. CAPE downregulated MALT1 expression and thus inhibited NF-κB activity in p53- and AR-negative prostate carcinoma PC-3 cells, eventually reducing cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. CAPE induced the ERK/JNK/p38/AMPKα1/2 signaling pathways; however, pretreatment with the corresponding inhibitors of MAPK or AMPK1/2 did not inhibit the CAPE effect on MALT1 blocking in PC-3 cells. Our findings verify that CAPE is an effective antitumor agent for human androgen-dependent and -independent prostate carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo through the inhibition of MALT1 expression via the AR/p53/NF-κB signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water temperature affects plankton survival and growth. The dinoflagellate Shimiella gracilenta survives using the plastids of ingested prey, indicating kleptoplastidy. However, studies on the effects of water temperature on kleptoplastidic dinoflagellates are lacking. We explored the growth and ingestion rates of S. gracilenta as a function of water temperature. Furthermore, using data on its spatiotemporal distribution in Korean coastal waters during 2015-2018, we predicted its distribution under elevated temperature conditions of +2, +4, and +6°C. Growth rates of S. gracilenta with and without Teleaulax amphioxeia prey as well as ingestion rates were significantly affected by water temperature. Growth rates of S. gracilenta with and without prey were positive or zero at 5-25°C but were negative at =30°C. The maximum growth rate of S. gracilenta with T. amphioxeia was 0.85 d-1, achieved at 25°C, and 0.21 d-1 at 20°C without prey. The ingestion rate of S. gracilenta on T. amphioxeia at 25°C (0.05 ng C predator-1 d-1) was greater than that at 20°C (0.04 ng C predator-1 d-1). Thus, feeding may shift the optimal temperature for the maximum growth rate of S. gracilenta from 20 to 25°C. In spring and winter, the distributions of S. gracilenta under elevated temperature conditions were predicted not to differ from those during 2015-2018. However, S. gracilenta was predicted not to survive at some additional stations under elevated temperature conditions of +2, +4, and +6°C in summer or under elevated temperature conditions of +6°C in autumn. Therefore, global warming may affect the distribution of S. gracilenta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many dinoflagellates produce bioluminescence. To estimate the intensity of bioluminescence produced by populations of the heterotrophic dinoflagellates Noctiluca scintillans and Polykrikos kofoidii and autotrophic dinoflagellate Alexandrium mediterraneum in Korean waters, we measured cellular bioluminescence intensity as a function of water temperature and calculated population bioluminescence intensity with cell abundances and water temperature. The mean 200-second-integrated bioluminescence intensity per cell (BLcell) of N. scintillans satiated with the chlorophyte Dunaliella salina decreased continuously with increasing water temperature from 5 to 25°C. However, the BLcell of P. kofoidii satiated with the mixotrophic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum continuously increased from 5 to 15°C but decreased at temperatures exceeding this (to 30°C). Similarly, the BLcell of A. mediterraneum continuously increased from 10 to 20°C but decreased between 20 and 30°C. The difference between highest and lowest BLcell of N. scintillans, P. kofoidii, and A. mediterraneum at the tested water temperatures was 3.5, 11.8, and 21.0 times, respectively, indicating that water temperature clearly affected BLcell. The highest estimated population bioluminescence intensity (BLpopul) of N. scintillans in Korean waters in 1998-2022 was 4.22 × 1013 relative light unit per liter (RLU L-1), which was 1,850 and 554,000 times greater than that of P. kofoidii and A. mediterraneum, respectively. This indicates that N. scintillans populations produced much brighter bioluminescence in Korean waters than the populations of P. kofoidii or A. mediterraneum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the ecophysiological characteristics of the kleptoplastidic dinoflagellate Shimiella gracilenta, we determined its spatiotemporal distribution in Korean coastal waters and growth and ingestion rates as a function of prey concentration. The abundance of S. gracilenta at 28 stations from 2015 to 2018 was measured using quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction. Cells of S. gracilenta were detected at least once at all the stations and in each season, when temperature and salinity were 1.7--26.4°C and 9.9--35.6, respectively. Moreover, among the 28 potential prey species tested, S. gracilenta SGJH1904 fed on diverse prey taxa. However, the highest abundance of S. gracilenta was only 3 cells mL-1 during the study period. The threshold Teleaulax amphioxeia concentration for S. gracilenta growth was 5,618 cells mL-1, which was much higher than the highest abundance of T. amphioxeia (667 cells mL-1). Thus, T. amphioxeia was not likely to support the growth of S. gracilenta in the field during the study period. However, the maximum specific growth and ingestion rates of S. gracilenta on T. amphioxeia, the optimal prey species, were 1.36 d-1 and 0.04 ng C predator- 1 d-1, respectively. Thus, if the abundance of T. amphioxeia was much higher than 5,618 cells mL-1, the abundance of S. gracilenta could be much higher than the highest abundance observed in this study. Eurythermal and euryhaline characteristics of S. gracilenta and its ability to feed on diverse prey species and conduct kleptoplastidy are likely to be responsible for its common spatiotemporal distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the neurobiological causes of anxiety disorders have suggested that the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system increases synaptic concentrations and enhances the affinity of GABAA (type A) receptors for benzodiazepine ligands. Flumazenil antagonizes the benzodiazepine-binding site of the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) complex in the central nervous system (CNS). The investigation of flumazenil metabolites using liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometry will provide a complete understanding of the in vivo metabolism of flumazenil and accelerate radiopharmaceutical inspection and registration. The main goal of this study was to investigate the use of reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (PR-HPLC), coupled with electrospray ionization triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-QqQ MS), to identify flumazenil and its metabolites in the hepatic matrix. Carrier-free nucleophilic fluorination with an automatic synthesizer for [18F]flumazenil, combined with nano-positron emission tomography (NanoPET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging, was used to predict the biodistribution in normal rats. The study showed that 50% of the flumazenil was biotransformed by the rat liver homogenate in 60 min, whereas one metabolite (M1) was a methyl transesterification product of flumazenil. In the rat liver microsomal system, two metabolites were identified (M2 and M3), as their carboxylic acid and hydroxylated ethyl ester forms between 10 and 120 min, respectively. A total of 10–30 min post-injection of [18F]flumazenil showed an immediate decreased in the distribution ratio observed in the plasma. Nevertheless, a higher ratio of the complete [18F]flumazenil compound could be used for subsequent animal studies. [18F] According to in vivo nanoPET/CT imaging and ex vivo biodistribution assays, flumazenil also showed significant effects on GABAA receptor availability in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, cortex, and hippocampus in the rat brain, indicating the formation of metabolites. We reported the completion of the biotransformation of flumazenil by the hepatic system, as well as [18F]flumazenil's potential as an ideal ligand and PET agent for the determination of the GABAA/BZR complex for multiplex neurological syndromes at the clinical stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical studies have demonstrated that the γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor complex plays a central role in the modulation of anxiety. Conditioned fear and anxiety-like behaviors have many similarities at the neuroanatomical and pharmacological levels. The radioactive GABA/BZR receptor antagonist, fluorine-18-labeled flumazenil, [18F]flumazenil, behaves as a potential PET imaging agent for the evaluation of cortical damage of the brain in stroke, alcoholism, and for Alzheimer disease investigation. The main goal of our study was to investigate a fully automated nucleophilic fluorination system, with solid extraction purification, developed to replace traditional preparation methods, and to detect underlying expressions of contextual fear and characterize the distribution of GABAA receptors in fear-conditioned rats by [18F]flumazenil. A carrier-free nucleophilic fluorination method using an automatic synthesizer with direct labeling of a nitro-flumazenil precursor was implemented. The semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification method (RCY = 15–20%) was applied to obtain high purity [18F]flumazenil. Nano-positron emission tomography (NanoPET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging and ex vivo autoradiography were used to analyze the fear conditioning of rats trained with 1–10 tone-foot-shock pairings. The anxiety rats had a significantly lower cerebral accumulation (in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, cortex, and hippocampus) of fear conditioning. Our rat autoradiography results also supported the findings of PET imaging. Key findings were obtained by developing straightforward labeling and purification procedures that can be easily adapted to commercially available modules for the high radiochemical purity of [18F]flumazenil. The use of an automatic synthesizer with semi-preparative HPLC purification would be a suitable reference method for new drug studies of GABAA/BZR receptors in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring mixotrophy of dinoflagellate species is critical to understanding red-tide dynamics and dinoflagellate evolution. Some species in the dinoflagellate genus Karenia have caused harmful algal blooms. Among 10 Karenia species, the mixotrophic ability of only two species, Karenia mikimotoi and Karenia brevis, has been investigated. These species have been revealed to be mixotrophic; however, the mixotrophy of the other species should be explored. Moreover, although K. mikimotoi was previously known to be mixotrophic, only a few potential prey species have been tested. We explored the mixotrophic ability of Karenia bicuneiformis, Karenia papilionacea, and Karenia selliformis and the prey spectrum of K. mikimotoi by incubating them with 16 potential prey species, including a cyanobacterium, diatom, prymnesiophyte, prasinophyte, raphidophyte, cryptophytes, and dinoflagellates. Cells of K. bicuneiformis, K. papilionacea, and K. selliformis did not feed on any tested potential prey species, indicating a lack of mixotrophy. The present study newly discovered that K. mikimotoi was able to feed on the common cryptophyte Teleaulax amphioxeia. The phylogenetic tree based on the large subunit ribosomal DNA showed that the mixotrophic species K. mikimotoi and K. brevis belonged to the same clade, but K. bicuneiformis, K. papilionacea, and K. selliformis were divided into different clades. Therefore, the presence or lack of a mixotrophic ability in this genus may be partially related to genetic characterizations. The results of this study suggest that Karenia species are not all mixotrophic, varying from the results of previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding balance ability and assessing the risk of possible falls are very important for elderly rehabilitation. The Mini-Balanced Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest) is an important survey for older adults to evaluate subject balance, but it is not easy to complete due to various limitations of physical activities, including occasional fear of injury. A center of pressure (CoP) signal can be extracted from a force pressure plate with a short recording time, and it is relatively achievable to ask subjects to stand on a force pressure plate in a clinical environment. The goal of this study is to estimate the cutoff score of Mini-BESTest scores from CoP data. Methods: CoP signals from a human balance evaluation database with data from 75 people were used. Time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear domain parameters of 60 s CoP signals were extracted to classify different cutoff point scores for both linear regression and a decision tree algorithm. Classification performances were evaluated by accuracy and area under a receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The correlation coefficient between real and estimated Mini-BESTest scores by linear regression is 0.16. Instead of linear regression, binary classification accuracy above or below a cutoff point score was developed to examine the CoP classification performance for Mini-BESTest scores. The decision tree algorithm is superior to regression analysis among scores from 16 to 20. The highest area under the curve is 0.76 at a cutoff point score of 21 for the CoP measurement condition of eyes opened on the foam, and the corresponding classification accuracy is 76.15%. Conclusions: CoP measurement is a potential tool to estimate corresponding balance and fall survey scores for elderly rehabilitation and is useful for clinical users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensification of global climate change has led to a widespread consensus on carbon reduction, with the power industry being the principal contributor to carbon emissions necessitating an inevitable transition of its energy structure. Concomitantly, the escalating frequency of natural disasters caused by extreme weather presents formidable challenges to both secure power supply and the low-carbon transition of the power system. To fulfill the developmental requirements of a low-carbon power system and address the carbon emission risks imposed by natural disasters, this paper proposes a bi-level model for generation expansion planning (GEP) that incorporates constraints on the carbon emission trajectory and the influence of natural disasters. The planning-level model optimizes investment costs of various generation technologies and energy storage (ES), as well as the overall operational expenses over the planning period, with an objective to minimize them. It incorporates carbon emission trajectory constraints and policy constraints, such as carbon peaking, carbon neutrality and renewable energy (RE) penetration rates, in order to optimize the planning installed capacity of power sources. The operational-level model aims to minimize typical daily operating costs while also simulating power unit outputs in routine and disaster scenarios. A case study is conducted in a disaster-prone province in southern China to analyze the power generation expansion planning and the trajectory of carbon emissions from 2020 to 2060 under different scenarios. The simulation results show that compared to thermal power, the planning scheme mainly focused on RE with ES is better suited to achieve the goal of a low-carbon transition of the power grid. Moreover, after considering natural disasters, the cost and carbon emissions of power system planning are higher, and the risk of carbon emissions increases with the severity of disasters. • A multi-time scale bi-level low-carbon GEP model is proposed. • Natural disaster scenarios and low-carbon policy constraints are considered in the GEP model. • Carbon emission trajectory of the planned power system is estimated and introduced as a constraint into the GEP model. • Evaluation indicators that comprehensively consider low-carbon performance and economic feasibility are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noctiluca scintillans is a heterotrophic dinoflagellate that causes red-colored oceans during the day (red tides) and glowing oceans at night (bioluminescence). This species feeds on diverse prey, including phytoplankton, heterotrophic protists, and eggs of metazoans. Thus, many scientists have conducted studies on the ecophysiology of this species. It is easy to cultivate N. scintillans at a scale of <1 L, but it is difficult to cultivate them at a scale of >100 L because N. scintillans cells usually stay near the surface, while prey cells stay below the surface in large water tanks. To obtain mass-cultured N. scintillans cells, we developed an automatic system for cultivating N. scintillans on a scale of 100 L. The system consisted of four tanks containing fresh nutrients, the chlorophyte Dunaliella salina as prey, N. scintillans for growth, and N. scintillans for storage, respectively. The light intensities supporting the high growth rates of D. salina and N. scintillans were 300 and 20 µmol photons m-2 s-1, respectively. Twenty liters of D. salina culture from the prey culture tank were transferred to the predator culture tank, and subsequently 20 L of nutrients from the nutrient tank were transferred to the prey culture tank every 2 d. When the volume of N. scintillans in the predator culture tank reached 90 L 6 d later, 70 L of the culture were transferred to the predator storage tank. To prevent N. scintillans cells from being separated from D. salina cells in the predator culture tank, the culture was mixed using an air pump, a sparger, and a stirrer. The highest abundance of N. scintillans in the predator culture tank was 45 cells mL-1, which was more than twice the highest abundance when this dinoflagellate was cultivated manually. This automatic system supplies 100 L of N. scintillans pure culture with a high density every 10 d for diverse experiments on N. scintillans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium diformate (KDF) is a kind of formate, which possesses the advantages of antimicrobial activity, growth promotion and preventing diarrhea in weaned piglets. However, the researches of KDF in animal production mostly focused on apparent indexes such as growth performance and the mechanisms of KDF on intestinal health have not been reported. Thus, porcine small intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) infected with Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) was used to investigate the role of KDF on alleviating intestinal inflammation in this study. The 0.125 mg/mL KDF treated IPEC-J2 cells for 6 h and IPEC-J2 cells challenged with 5 × 107 CFU/mL EHEC for 4 h were confirmed as the optimum concentration and time for the following experiment. The subsequent experiment was divided into four groups: control group (CON), EHEC group, KDF group, KDF+EHEC group. The results showed that KDF increased the cell viability and the gene expression levels of SGLT3 and TGF-β , while decreased the content of IL-1β compared with the CON group. The cell viability and the gene expressions of SGLT1 , SGLT3 , GLUT2 , Claudin-1 , Occludin and TGF-β , and the protein expression of ZO-1 in EHEC group were lower than those in CON group, whereas the gene expressions of IL-1β , TNF , IL-8 and TLR4 , and the level of phosphorylation NF-кB protein were increased. Pretreatment with KDF reduced the content of IgM and IL-1β, the gene expressions of IL-1β , TNF , IL-8 and TLR4 and the level of phosphorylation NF-кB protein, and increased the gene expression of TGF-β and the protein expression of Occludin in IPEC-J2 cells infected EHEC. In conclusion, 0.125 mg/mL KDF on IPEC-J2 cells for 6 h had the beneficial effects on ameliorating the intestinal inflammation because of reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhanced anti-inflammatory cytokines through regulating NF-кB signaling pathway under the EHEC challenge. • The mechanism of potassium diformate (KDF) alleviating intestinal injury caused by EHEC was elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some species in the dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium are bioluminescent. Of the 33 formally described Alexandrium species, the bioluminescence capability of only nine species have been tested, and eight have been reported to be bioluminescent. The present study investigated the bioluminescence capability of seven Alexandrium species that had not been tested. Alexandrium mediterraneum, A. pohangense, and A. tamutum were bioluminescent, but A. andersonii, A. hiranoi, A. insuetum, and A. pseudogonyaulax were not. We also measured the bioluminescent intensity of A. affine, A. fraterculus, A. mediterraneum, A. ostenfeldii, A. pacificum, A. pohangense, A. tamarense, and A. tamutum. The mean 200-second-integrated bioluminescence intensity per cell ranged from 0.02 to 32.2 χ 104 relative luminescence unit per cell (RLU cell-1), and the mean maximum bioluminescence intensity per cell per second (BLMax) ranged from 0.01 to 10.3 χ 104 RLU cell-1 s-1. BLMax was significantly correlated with the maximum growth rates of Alexandrium species, except for A. tamarense. A phylogenetic tree based on large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) showed that the bioluminescent species A. affine, A. catenella, A. fraterculus, A. mediterraneum, A. pacificum, and A. tamarense formed a large clade. However, the toxicity or mixotrophic capability of these species was split. Thus, their bioluminescence capability in this clade was more consistent than their toxicity or mixotrophic capability. Phylogenetic trees based on LSU rDNA and the luciferase gene of Alexandrium were consistent except for A. pohangense. The results of the present study can provide a basis for understanding the interspecific diversity in bioluminescence of Alexandrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclone separators are widely used to eliminate particles flowing through pipelines in equipment from various industrial processes. Unlike general filters, cyclone separators can constantly and effectively eliminate foreign substances present in the fluid flowing through the equipment. In this study, we fabricated mini-hydrocyclone separators using the 3D printing method for application in the steam and water analysis system (SWAS) in a thermal power plant instead of the conventional strainer filter. The gravimetric method was used to measure the separation efficiency of the hydrocyclone separators and compare the weights of the sludge discharged from the underflow and overflow outlets. The outlet flow ratio was optimized by adjusting the diameters of the spigot and vortex finder of the separators, which influenced the outlet flow rate. To apply the gravimetric method more objectively, the optimum values of the diameters of the vortex finder and spigot with an outlet flow ratio of 1 were determined using full factorial design (FFD) in the design of experiments (DOE). The obtained values were verified through numerical analysis using the ANSYS Fluent software. Furthermore, after fabrication of the mini-hydrocyclone separators using an SLA-type 3D printer, we conducted a numerical analysis, and the results were compared with that of the actual experiment. It was observed that the use of FFD can effectively optimize the desired outlet flow ratio in the mini-hydrocyclone separator. In addition, the changes in the outlet flow ratio do not affect the separation efficiency of the cyclone separators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-inflammatory role of lutein has been widely recognized, however, the underlying mechanism is still not fully elucidated. Hence, the effects of lutein on the intestinal health and growth performance of broilers and the action of mechanism were investigated. 288 male yellow-feathered broilers (1-day old) were randomly allocated to 3 treatment groups with 8 replicates of 12 birds each, and the control group was fed a broken rice-soybean basal diet, while the test groups were fed a basal diet added with 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg of lutein (LU20, LU40), respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 21 d. The results showed that 40 mg/kg lutein supplementation tended to increase ADFI (P = 0.10) and ADG (P = 0.08) of broilers. Moreover, the addition of lutein caused a decreasing trend of gene expression and concentration of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β (P = 0.08, P = 0.10, respectively) and IL-6 (P = 0.06, P = 0.06, respectively) and also tended to decrease the gene expression of TLR4 (P = 0.09) and MyD88 (P = 0.07) while increasing gene expression and concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 (P < 0.05) in the jejunum mucosa of broilers. Additionally, lutein supplementation increased the jejunal villi height of broilers (P < 0.05) and reduced villi damage. The experiment in vitro showed that lutein treatment reduced the gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ in chicken intestinal epithelial cells (P < 0.05). However, this effect was diminished after knock-down of TLR4 or MyD88 genes using RNAi technology. In conclusion, lutein can inhibit the expression and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in the jejunum mucosa and promote intestinal development of broilers, and the anti-inflammatory effect may be achieved by regulating TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broilers are frequently exposed to various immunological stresses, which lead to intestinal damage, weakened immunity, and even growth retardation. Lutein, as a kind of carotenoid, possesses antioxidant and immunomodulatory functions. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of lutein on jejunal mucosal barrier function and inflammatory responses of yellow-feather broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of two hundred eight-eight 1-day-old yellow-feather broilers were randomly allocated to 3 groups with 8 replicate cages containing 12 birds each. Birds were fed broken-rice-soybean basal diet containing 0, 20 and 40 mg/kg lutein (CON, LU20 and LU40) for 26 d. On days 21, 23, and 25 of the trial, broilers were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (1 mg/kg body weight). The results showed that, compared with CON group, LU40 supplementations significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG) of broilers at 1 to 21 and 22 to 26 d of age (P < 0.05), significantly decreased the ratio of feed to gain (F/G) of broilers at 22 to 26 d of age (P < 0.05). LU20 and LU40 supplementations increased goblet cell density in jejunum of broilers under LPS challenge, and LU20 supplementation elevated the villus area (P < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy of jejunal mucosa revealed significant villi damage, while transmission electron microscopy demonstrated severe enterocyte damage and loss of cellular integrity in CON group. In particular, mitochondria were morphologically altered, appearing irregular or swollen. Apical junctional complexes between adjacent enterocytes were obviously shorter and saccular in CON group. LU20 and LU40 supplementations increased the mRNA expressions of Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1 in the jejunal mucosa of broilers under LPS challenge (P < 0.05), restrained TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway activation in the jejunal mucosa, decreased the mRNA expressions of IL-1β and IL-6, and strengthened the mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10 (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the protein expressions of p38 and JNK in LU40 group were lower than CON group (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that 40 mg/kg lutein supplementation improved LPS-induced jejunal mucosal barrier function and tamed inflammation of yellow-feather broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-organized, independent nanoscale binary metal oxides exhibit high electrical conductivity and good ion transportability. In this study, a nickel-cobalt oxide (NiCo 2 O 4) nanoparticle electrode was synthesized on Ni foam with a large surface area. Such a composite material is valuable as a binder-free and excellent current-carrying electrode material. Hence, it is particularly attractive for high-performance energy storage systems. NiCo 2 O 4 nanowires were fabricated via a simple chemical bath deposition process. Consequently, the NiCo 2 O 4 electrodes exhibited a remarkable specific capacity of 342.5 mA h g−1 at the current density of 3 A g−1 and cycling stability of 80.7%, which was maintained following 10,000 long-cycles at 5 A g−1. In addition, an asymmetric supercapacitor (NiCo 2 O 4 //graphite) device comprising of NiCo 2 O 4 as a positive electrode and graphite as a negative electrode was fabricated. The NiCo 2 O 4 //graphite asymmetric supercapacitor has the highest energy density of 45.8 W h kg−1, and an excellent power density of approximately 5689 W h kg−1. Furthermore, NiCo 2 O 4 //graphite device delivered sufficient capacitive power to enlighten a red LED indicator. The excellent electrochemical performance of the asymmetric supercapacitor device can be attributed to the high specific surface area of the cathode electrode material and its enriched redox kinetics. This paper presents an easy and environmentally-friendly procedure for fabricating a compound electrode material for an asymmetric supercapacitor. It is expected that this novel high-performance electrode can stimulate new directions in the development of efficient energy storage. • The NiCo 2 O 4 composite synthesized via a chemical bath deposition method. • The NiCo 2 O 4 nanowire structure plays an important role in achieving good electrical performance. • The transition metal-based composites have been widely studied as electrodes for high-energy storage device. • The NiCo 2 O 4 //graphite asymmetric supercapacitor indicates that this device has sufficient energy to emit light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In bladder cancer, urothelial carcinoma is the most common histologic subtype, accounting for more than 90% of cases. Pathogenic effects due to the dysbiosis of gut microbiota are localized not only in the colon, but also in regulating bladder cancer distally. Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut microbial metabolism, is mainly studied in colon diseases. Therefore, the resolution of the anti-cancer effects of butyrate-producing microbes on bladder urothelial cells and knowledge of the butyrate-responsive molecules must have clinical significance. Here, we demonstrate a correlation between urothelial cancer of the bladder and Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum. This butyrate-producing microbe or their metabolite, butyrate, mediated anti-cancer effects on bladder urothelial cells by regulating cell cycle, cell growth, apoptosis, and gene expression. For example, a tumor suppressor against urothelial cancer of the bladder, bladder cancer-associated protein, was induced in butyrate-treated HT1376 cells, a human urinary bladder cancer cell line. In conclusion, urothelial cancer of the bladder is a significant health problem. To improve the health of bladder urothelial cells, supplementation of B. pullicaecorum may be necessary and can further regulate butyrate-responsive molecular signatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]