Search

Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) is an RF-amide neuropeptide that binds and activates its cognate G protein-coupled receptor, prolactin-releasing peptide receptor (PrRPR), also known as GPR10. PrRP and PrRPR are highly conserved across mammals and involved in regulating a range of physiological processes, including stress response, appetite regulation, pain modulation, cardiovascular function, and potentially reproductive functions. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of PrRP-bound PrRPR coupled to Gq or Gi heterotrimer, unveiling distinct molecular determinants underlying the specific recognition of the ligand's C-terminal RF-amide motif. We identify a conserved polar pocket that accommodates the C-terminal amide shared by RF-amide peptides. Structural comparison with neuropeptide Y receptors reveals both similarities and differences in engaging the essential RF/RY-amide motifs. Our findings demonstrate the general mechanism governing RF-amide motif recognition by PrRPR and RF-amide peptide receptors, and provide a foundation for elucidating activation mechanisms and developing selective drugs targeting this important peptide–receptor system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid hormone has been shown to have both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing actions, which has led to significant debate over its involvement in the development of cancer. Proliferation, apoptosis, invasiveness, and angiogenesis are all aspects of cancer that are affected by the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, according to research conducted in animal models and in vitro experiments. The effects of thyroid hormones on cancer cells are mediated by many non-genomic mechanisms, one of which involves the activation of the plasma membrane receptor integrin αvβ3. Typically, abnormal amounts of thyroid hormones are linked to a higher occurrence of cancer. Both benign and malignant thyroid disorders were found to be associated with an increased risk of extra-thyroidal malignancies, specifically colon, breast, prostate, melanoma, and lung cancers. The purpose of this review was to shed light on this link to define which types of cancer are sensitive to thyroid hormones and, as a result, are anticipated to respond favorably to treatment of the thyroid hormone axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfides are promising electrolyte materials for all-solid-state Li metal batteries due to their high ionic conductivity and machinability. However, compatibility issues at the negative electrode/sulfide electrolyte interface hinder their practical implementation. Despite previous studies have proposed considerable strategies to improve the negative electrode/sulfide electrolyte interfacial stability, industrial-scale engineering solutions remain elusive. Here, we introduce a scalable Li-Al-Cl stratified structure, formed through the strain-activated separating behavior of thermodynamically unfavorable Li/Li9Al4 and Li/LiCl interfaces, to stabilize the negative electrode/sulfide electrolyte interface. In the Li-Al-Cl stratified structure, Li9Al4 and LiCl are enriched at the surface to serve as a robust solid electrolyte interphase and are diluted in bulk by Li metal to construct a skeleton. Enabled by its unique structural characteristic, the Li-Al-Cl stratified structure significantly enhances the stability of negative electrode/sulfide electrolyte interface. This work reports a strain-activated phase separation phenomenon and proposes a practical pathway for negative electrode/sulfide electrolyte interface engineering. Sulfide electrolytes' incompatibility with Li metal hinders their use in all-solid-state Li metal batteries. Here, the authors propose a scalable Li-Al-Cl stratified structure, formed via strain-activated phase separation, to effectively stabilize the negative electrode/electrolyte interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction land expansion is a key driver of urbanization and industrialization, yet it poses the risk of losing farmland and cascading impacts on food supply. The spatial characteristics of farmland occupied by construction land and its association with grain yield in China were unclear. We analyzed the characteristics of farmland converted into construction land, and its relationship with grain yield in China for 2000–2020. Construction land increased in area in central and western regions of China, and farmland decreased in area in southeastern China. The expansion of construction land in the North China Plain, Northeast China Plain, and the Loess Plateau, occurred at the expense of farmland. Except the southeast coast of China, grain yield increase was only weakly dependent on farmland area. Patterns in which farmland was converted into construction land and grain-yield change were highly coupled in southeastern coastal China, Sichuan Basin, Shandong Peninsula, and the Hu Huanyong Line. It should be noted that expansion in construction land area does have some influence on grain production; ultimately it is greatly affected by yield per unit area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfide electrolytes represent a crucial category of superionic conductors for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries. Among sulfide electrolytes, glassy sulfide is highly promising due to its long-range disorder and grain-boundary-free nature. However, the lack of comprehension regarding glass formation chemistry has hindered their progress. Herein, we propose interstitial volume as the decisive factor influencing halogen dopant solubility within a glass matrix. We engineer a Li3PS4-Li4SiS4 complex structure within the sulfide glassy network to facilitate the release of interstitial volume. Consequently, we increase the dissolution capacity of LiI to 40 mol% in 75Li2S-25P2S5 glass. The synthesized glass exhibits one of the highest ionic conductivities among reported glass sulfides. Furthermore, we develop a glassy/crystalline composite electrolyte to mitigate the shortcomings of argyrodite-type sulfides by utilizing our synthesized glass as the filler. The composite electrolytes effectively mitigate Li intrusion. This work unveils a protocol for the dissolution of halogen dopants in glass electrolytes. Glass sulfide electrolytes are promising materials for solid-state Li metal batteries, yet limited understanding hinders their progress. Here, the authors decipher the dissolution process of halogen dopants in glass and introduce a synthetic strategy to increase halogen dopant's dissolution capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree-ring chronologies were developed for Sabina saltuaria and Abies faxoniana in mixed forests in the Qionglai Mountains of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Climate-growth relationship analysis indicated that the two co-existing species reponded similarly to climate factors, although S. saltuaria was more sensitive than A. faxoniana. The strongest correlation was between S. saltuaria chronology and regional mean temperatures from June to November. Based on this relationship, a regional mean temperature from June to November for the period 1605–2016 was constructed. Reconstruction explained 37.3% of the temperature variance during th period 1961–2016. Six major warm periods and five major cold periods were identified. Spectral analysis detected significant interannual and multi-decadal cycles. Reconstruction also revealed the influence of the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation, confirming its importance on climate change on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pathogens highlights the urgent need to approach this global burden with alternative strategies. Cefiderocol (Fetroja®) is a clinically-used sideromycin, that is utilized for the treatment of severe drug-resistant infections, caused by Gram-negative bacteria; there is evidence of cefiderocol-resistance occurring in bacterial strains however. To increase the efficacy and extend the life-span of sideromycins, we demonstrate strong synergisms between cefiderocol and metallodrugs (e.g., colloidal bismuth citrate (CBS)), against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia. Moreover, CBS enhances cefiderocol efficacy against biofilm formation, suppresses the resistance development in P. aeruginosa and resensitizes clinically isolated resistant P. aeruginosa to cefiderocol. Notably, the co-therapy of CBS and cefiderocol significantly increases the survival rate of mice and decreases bacterial loads in the lung in a murine acute pneumonia model. The observed phenomena are partially attributable to the competitive binding of Bi3+ to cefiderocol with Fe3+, leading to enhanced uptake of Bi3+ and reduced levels of Fe3+ in cells. Our studies provide insight into the antimicrobial potential of metallo-sideromycins. Here, the authors utilise cefiderocol, a sideromycin, in complex with colloidal bismuth citrate, to demonstrate antimicrobial efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green development behavior of construction enterprises is an environmental behavior that contributes evidence from construction enterprises to the field of resource recycling and environmental protection. Revealing the mechanism of green development behavior of construction enterprises has become the key to guide construction enterprises to adopt green development behavior and improve the level of green development. However, existing studies on the mechanistic discussion of green development behavior of construction enterprises do not reach a consensus. In order to reveal the mechanism of the green development behavior of construction enterprises, this study examines how the green development behavior of construction enterprises is influenced by factors based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), this study analyzed 306 questionnaire data points from construction enterprises in 28 provinces (cities) across China. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) Attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control have significant positive effects on the green development behavioral intentions of construction enterprises, with attitudes being the strongest predictor. (2) Intention intermediates the relationships between attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and the green development behavior of construction enterprises to varying degrees. (3) Regional green development level and enterprise size positively moderate the four groups of the relationship between attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention and green development behavior of construction enterprises. This study provides theoretical guidance for promoting green transformation and upgrading construction enterprises and helps the construction industry achieve a balanced mode of development that supports both economic growth and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Zhejiang University: Science B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The 'Belt and Road' (B&R) Initiative has received attention from environmental researchers. However, there are no studies explaining the impact of the B&R policy on the green development (GD) of construction enterprises. We aim to find a mechanism for how the B&R policy impacts the GD level of construction enterprises. Consequently, on the basis of a fixed effects model, we consider the B&R policy and the background of GD in the construction industry and construct a model of the GD level of construction enterprises. Meanwhile, we use panel data for 28 provincial administrative regions of the Chinese government from 2010 to 2020 and analyse the implications of the B&R policy on the GD level of construction enterprises using Stata 16.0. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) A positive promotion effect is evident in the planned focus areas of the B&R policy on construction enterprises' GD levels. (2) Research and development (R&D), regional development, education, labour productivity and investment in sewage treatment significantly affect the intensity of CO2 emissions of regional construction enterprises, thus increasing and hindering the GD of construction enterprises. Taking the findings of this study into account, this study contributes to the econometrics of construction enterprises in the area of sustainable development. Additionally, it provides policy ideas for the government to further build a green B&R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many previous studies have used performance evaluation to explore the impact of environmental regulation on the green development of enterprises. However, there are few studies on the process by which enterprises adopt green development behavior. Here, we aim to simulate the whole process by which Chinese construction enterprises adopt green development. We also consider impact of environmental regulation and industry clusters in this process. Using agent-based modeling, we construct a computational experimental simulation model for the adoption of green development behavior by construction enterprises. The model considers the organizational behavior characteristics of construction enterprises and the evolutionary characteristics of the renewable construction materials market. Our results show that in terms of renewable building materials, construction enterprises that actively adopt green development behavior are more sustainable than those that do not. Moreover, with the implementation of sustainable environmental regulations, more enterprises are passively adopting green development behaviors. However, unsustainable environmental regulations do not have a positive effect. The formation of industrial clusters is also conducive to promoting companies' adoption of green development behaviors. Therefore, construction enterprises should take the initiative to adopt green development behavior and migrate to industrial agglomerations. This practice is not only beneficial to the sustainable operation of the enterprise and the expansion of the enterprise scale, it will also have an optimization effect on the external environment. Here, we take construction enterprises as the breakthrough point and expand research on enterprise green development. We also provide a theoretical basis and insights for enterprises with environmental responsibility to engage in green development behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry occupies a high proportion of the global economy. However, with the energy consumption of construction enterprises, it still brings a series of serious environmental problems. Construction enterprises should take active green development behavior to respond. Based on enterprises' green development behavior, this paper explores the influencing factors of green development behavior adopted by construction enterprises in China. Through literature analysis, this paper identifies that construction enterprises' adoption of green development behaviors is influenced by technological, organizational and environmental factors. Then this paper constructs an index system of the influencing factors of green development behaviors adopted by enterprises. According to the data of construction enterprises from 2000 to 2020 of National Bureau of Statistics, an artificial neural network is used to construct the prediction model of influencing factors of green development behavior adopted by construction enterprises. The conclusions are as follows. (1) Construction enterprises' adoption of green development behavior shows an upward trend over time. (2) Market share of construction enterprises is the most important factor to promote construction enterprises' adoption of green development behavior. (3) The prediction model of influencing factors constructed in this paper is verified to be effective by the technology-organization-environment framework. This paper provides a reference for construction enterprises and the government to promote enterprises to adopt green development behavior, which is beneficial for construction enterprises to achieve green development faster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the size effects on the dispersion relation of the transverse waves propagating through micro-beam metamaterial covered by piezoelectric patches that are connected with external shunted circuits. Based on the modified couple stress theory and Hamilton's principle, the transfer matrix model is established for determining the complex band structure which incorporates the length scaling effect and the electromechanical resonance. Numerical results show the size-dependent behavior of the complex band structure in terms of the location, the range, and the decaying level. The differences are indicated between the results obtained by the non-classical model and the classical elasticity-based model and the effects of Poisson's ratio. The connection modes of the piezoelectric layers on the characteristics of transverse wave propagation and attenuation are also examined. Further, the tunable nature is demonstrated via investigating the influences of the unit cell length, the circuit parameters, and the distribution of piezoelectric materials on the attenuation diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: A number of potential genes and pathways involved in tepal trichome development were identified in a natural lily mutant by transcriptome analysis and were confirmed with trichome and trichomeless species. Trichome is a specialized structure found on the surface of the plant with an important function in survival against abiotic and biotic stress. It is also an important economic trait in crop breeding. Extensive research has investigated the foliar trichome in model plants (Arabidopsis and tomato). However, the developmental mechanism of tepal trichome remains elusive. Liliumpumilum is an edible ornamental bulb and a good breeding parent possessing cold and salt-alkali resistance. Here, we found a natural mutant of Liliumpumilum grown on a highland whose tepals are covered by trichomes. Our data indicate that trichomes of the mutant are multicellular and branchless. Notably, stomata are also developed on the tepal of the mutant as well, suggesting there may be a correlation between trichome and stomata regulation. Furthermore, we isolated 27 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing the transcriptome profiling between the natural mutant and the wild type. These 27 genes belong to 4 groups: epidermal cell cycle and division, trichome morphogenesis, stress response, and transcription factors. Quantitative real-time PCR in Liliumpumilum (natural mutant and the wild type) and other lily species (Liliumleichtlinii var. maximowiczii/trichome; Liliumdavidii var. willmottiae/, trichomeless) confirmed the validation of RNA-seq data and identified several trichome-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To gain a complete view on the unique spatial attenuation phenomenon arising from the periodicity and the material viscoelasticity of the two-dimensional phononic crystals with finite out-of-plane extension, this paper presents a theoretical study of the viscoelastic phononic crystal slabs to investigate the wave transmission characteristics in terms of the dispersion relations for the propagating, evanescent, and complex modes. A numerical approach based on the theory of three-dimensional elasticity is proposed to eliminate the restrictions of plane analysis and to obtain the complex band diagrams using the wave expansion functions combined with the finite discretization technique. This formulation allows one to perform the simulations associated with the nonlinear frequency-dependent viscoelastic property which is accurately described by a generalized Maxwell model in this work. Numerical results are presented to show the validity of the established model and to reveal the dissipation mechanisms inside and outside the band gaps as well as to investigate the effects induced by the material viscoelasticity on the attenuation diagrams. Furthermore, the influences of the out-of-plane extension, the geometrical size and the shape of the etcfhed holes are detailed discussed to obtain thorough understandings of such a finite solid viscoelastic periodic lattice which is indispensable to practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Proper taste-masking formulation design is a critical issue for instant-dissolving tablets (IDTs). The purpose of this study is to use the electronic tongue to design the additives of the 3D printed IDTs to improve palatability. Methods: A binder jet 3D printer was used to prepare IDTs of levetiracetam. A texture analyzer and dissolution apparatus were used to predict the oral dispersion time and in vitro drug release of IDTs, respectively. The palatability of different formulations was investigated using the ASTREE electronic tongue in combination with the design of experiment and a model for masking bitter taste. Human gustatory sensation tests were conducted to further evaluate the credibility of the results. Results: The 3D printed tablets exhibited rapid dispersion (<30 s) and drug release (2.5 min > 90%). The electronic tongue had an excellent ability of taste discrimination, and levetiracetam had a good linear sensing performance based on a partial least square regression analysis. The principal component analysis was used to analyze the signal intensities of different formulations and showed that 2% sucralose and 0.5% spearmint flavoring masked the bitterness well and resembled the taste of corresponding placebo. The results of human gustatory sensation test were consistent with the trend of the electronic tongue evaluation. Conclusions: Owing to its objectivity and reproducibility, this technique is suitable for the design and evaluation of palatability in 3D printed IDT development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defibrillation is accomplished by the passage of sufficient current through the heart to terminate ventricular fibrillation (VF). Although current-based defibrillation has been shown to be superior to energy-based defibrillation with monophasic waveforms, defibrillators with biphasic waveforms still use energy as a therapeutic dosage. In the present study, we propose a novel framework of current-based, biphasic defibrillation grounded in transthoracic impedance (TTI) measurements: adjusting the charging voltage to deliver the desired current based on the energy setting and measured pre-shock TTI; and adjusting the pulse duration to deliver the desired energy based on the output current and intra-shock TTI. The defibrillation efficacy of current-based defibrillation was compared with that of energy-based defibrillation in a simulated high impedance rabbit model of VF. Cardiac arrest was induced by pacing the right ventricle for 60 s in 24 New Zealand rabbits (10 males). A defibrillatory shock was applied with one of the two defibrillators after 90 s of VF. The defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) at different pathway impedances were determined utilizing a 5-step up-and-down protocol. The procedure was repeated after an interval of 5 min. A total of 30 fibrillation events and defibrillation attempts were investigated for each animal. The pulse duration was significantly shorter, and the waveform tilt was much lower for the current-based defibrillator. Compared with energy-based defibrillation, the energy, peak voltage, and peak current DFT were markedly lower when the pathway impedance was > 120 Ω, but there were no differences in DFT values when the pathway impedance was between 80 and 120 Ω for current-based defibrillation. Additionally, peak voltage and the peak current DFT were significantly lower for current-based defibrillation when the pathway impedance was < 80 Ω. In sum, a framework of adjusting the charging voltage and shock duration to deliver constant energy for low impedance and constant current for high impedance via pre-shock and intra-shock impedance measurements, greatly improved the defibrillation efficacy of high impedance by lowering the energy DFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, nanosizing is becoming increasingly prevalent as an efficient way for the improvement of oral drug absorption. This study mainly focuses on two points, namely the crystal properties, and the in vitro and in vivo characterizations of drug crystals during the nanosizing process. We used glyburide, an oral type 2 diabetes (T2D) medication, as our model drug. We sought to reduce the crystalline size of this drug and evaluate its absorption properties by comparing it with the original coarse drug because of previous reports about its gastrointestinal absorption insufficiency. Glyburide crystals, ranging from 237.6 to 4473 nm were prepared successfully by jet milling and media milling. The particle sizes and the crystal morphology were analyzed by characterization of the solid states, equilibrium solubility, and dissolution behavior. Additionally, pharmacokinetic study was performed in SD rats. The solid state results indicated a loss in crystallinity, amide-imidic acid interconversion, and partial amorphization during nanosizing. Further, in in vitro tests, nanocrystal formulations remarkably increased the solubility and dissolution of the drug (compared to microcrystals). In the in vivo test, reducing the particle size from 601.3 to 312.5 nm showed no improvement on the C and AUC values, while a profound slowing of the drug elimination occurred with reduction of particle size. Further reduction from 312.5 to 237.6 nm lead to a significant increase ( p < 0.001) of the AUC from 6857.8 ± 369.3 ng mL h to 12,928.3 ± 1591.4 ng mL h, respectively, in rats. Our present study confirmed that nanosizing has a tremendous impact on promoting the oral absorption of glyburide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac arrest leads to sudden cessation of oxygen supply and cerebral hypoxia occurs when there is not sufficient oxygen supplied to the brain. Current Guidelines for adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiovascular care recommend the use of 100% oxygen during resuscitative efforts to maximize the probability of achieving the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). However, the optimal strategy for oxygen management after ROSC is still debatable. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the duration of post-resuscitation hyperoxic ventilation on neurological outcomes in asphyxial cardiac arrest rats treated with targeted temperature management (TTM). Asphyxia was induced by blocking the endotracheal tube in 80 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. CPR begun after 7 min of untreated cardiac arrest. Animals were randomized to either the normoxic control under normothermia (NNC) group or to one of the 4 experimental groups (n = 16 each) immediately after ROSC: ventilated with 100% oxygen for 0 (O2_0h), 1 (O2_1h), 3 (O2_3h), or 5 (O2_5h) h and ventilated with room air thereafter under TTM. Physiological variables were recorded at baseline and during the 6 h postresuscitation monitoring period. Animals were closely observed for 96 h to assess neurologic recovery and survival. There were no significant differences in baseline measurements between groups, and all animals were successfully resuscitated. There were significant interactions between the duration of 100% oxygen administration and hemodynamics as well as, myocardial and cerebral injuries. Among all the durations of hyperoxic ventilation investigated, significantly lower neurological deficit scores and higher survival rates were observed in the O2_3h group than in the NNC group. In conclusion, postresuscitation hyperoxic ventilation leads to improved PaO2, PaCO2, hemodynamic, myocardial and cerebral recovery in asphyxial cardiac arrest rats treated with TTM. However, the beneficial effects of high concentration-oxygen are duration dependent and ventilation with 100% oxygen during induced hypothermia contributes to improved neurological recovery and survival after 96 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]