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The spectral lags of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been viewed as the most promising probes of the possible violations of Lorentz invariance (LIV). However, these constraints usually depend on the assumption of the unknown intrinsic time lag in different energy bands and the use of a single highest-energy photon. A new approach to test the LIV effects has been proposed by directly fitting the spectral-lag behavior of a GRB with a well-defined transition from positive lags to negative lags. This method simultaneously provides a reasonable formulation of the intrinsic time lag and robust lower limits on the quantum-gravity energy scales (EQG). In this work, we perform a global fitting to the spectral-lag data of GRB 190114C by considering the possible LIV effects based on a Bayesian approach. We then derive limits on EQG and the coefficients of the standard model extension. The Bayes factor output in our analysis shows very strong evidence for the spectral-lag transition in GRB 190114C. Our constraints on a variety of isotropic and anisotropic coefficients for LIV are somewhat weaker than existing bounds, but they can be viewed as comparatively robust and have the promise to complement existing LIV constraints. The observations of GRBs with higher-energy emissions and higher temporal resolutions will contribute to a better formulation of the intrinsic time lag and more rigorous LIV constraints in the dispersive photon sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the critical behavior is important for classifying different configuration states. Recently, machine learning is capable of discriminating polymer states in the presence of human supervision. Here, we introduce an unsupervised approach based on the self-organizing map (SOM) and the autoencoder network to locate critical phase transitions from raw configuration without the necessity for manual feature engineering. High-dimensional configuration data can be encoded to low-dimensional codes by employing neural network of multilayer restrictive Boltzmann machines and the intermediate code can also be reconstructed to high-dimensional input vector. And then the codes are used to cluster different configuration states for polymers adsorbed on the homogeneous and the stripe-patterned surface by the SOM network and K-Means method. This work presents an unusual tool to identify polymer configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are a mysterious astrophysical phenomenon of bright pulses emitted at radio frequencies, and they are expected to be frequently detected in the future. The dispersion measures of FRBs are related to cosmological parameters, thus FRBs have the potential to be developed into a new cosmological probe if their data can be largely accumulated in the future. In this work, we study the capability of future FRB data to improve cosmological parameter estimation in two dynamical dark energy models. We find that the simulated FRB data can break the parameter degeneracies inherent in the current cosmic microwave background (CMB) data. Therefore, the combination of CMB and FRB data can significantly improve the constraints on the Hubble constant and dark energy parameters, compared to those using CMB or FRB alone. If 10,000 FRB events with known redshifts are detected in the future, they would perform better than the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) data in breaking the parameter degeneracies inherent in the CMB data. We also find that the combination of FRB and gravitational-wave (GW) standard siren data provides an independent low-redshift probe to verify the results from the CMB and BAO data. For the data combination of CMB, GW, and FRB, it is found that the main contribution to the constraints comes from the CMB and GW data, but the inclusion of the FRB data still can evidently improve the constraint on the baryon density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Police employees undertake challenging duties which may adversely impact their health. This study explored the prevalence of and risk factors for probable mental disorders amongst a representative sample of UK police employees. The association between mental illness and alterations in blood pressure was also explored. Methods: Data were used from the Airwave Health Monitoring Study which was established to monitor the possible physical health impacts of a new communication system on police employees. Data included sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and blood pressure. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the prevalence of probable mental disorders and associated factors. Stepwise linear regression was conducted, controlling for confounding variables, to examine associations between mental disorders and blood pressure. Results: The sample included 40,299 police staff, police constable/sergeants and inspectors or above. Probable depression was most frequently reported (9.8%), followed by anxiety (8.5%) and PTSD (3.9%). Groups at risk for probable mental disorders included police staff, and police employees who reported drinking heavily. Police employees exposed to traumatic incidents in the past six months had a doubling in rates of anxiety or depression and a six-fold increase in PTSD compared to those with no recent trauma exposure. Adjusted logistic regression models did not reveal any significant association between probable mental disorders and systolic blood pressure but significantly elevated diastolic blood pressure (≈1mmHg) was found across mental disorders. Conclusions: These results show lower rates of probable mental disorders, especially PTSD, than reported in other studies focusing on police employees. Although mental ill health was associated with increased diastolic blood pressure, this was unlikely to be clinically significant. These findings highlight the importance of continued health monitoring of members of the UK police forces, focusing on employees recently exposed to traumatic incidents, heavy drinkers and police staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LIGO/Virgo and Fermi collaborations recently reported a possible joint detection of a subthreshold gravitational-wave (GW) event and a subthreshold gamma-ray burst (GRB), GBM-190816, that occurred 1.57 s after the merger. We perform an independent analysis of the publicly available data and investigate the physical implications of this potential association. By carefully studying the following properties of GBM-190816 using Fermi/GBM data, including signal-to-noise ratio, duration, f-parameter, spectral properties, energetic properties, and its compliance with some GRB statistical correlations, we confirm that this event is likely a typical short GRB. Assuming its association with the subthreshold GW event, the inferred luminosity is erg s−1. Based on the available information of the subthreshold GW event, we infer the mass ratio q of the compact binary as (90% confidence interval) according to the reported range of luminosity distance. If the heavier compact object has a mass >3 solar masses, q can be further constrained to. The leading physical scenario invokes an NS–BH merger system with the NS tidally disrupted. Within this scenario, we constrain the physical properties of such a system (including mass ratio q, the spin parameters, and the observer's viewing angle) to produce a GRB. The GW data may also allow an NS–BH system with no tidal disruption of the NS (the plunge events) or a BH–BH merger. We apply the charged compact binary coalescence theory (for both a constant charge and an increasing charge for the merging members) to derive the model parameters to account for GBM-190816 and found that the required parameters are extreme. Finally, we argue that the fact that the observed GW–GRB delay timescale is comparable to that of GW170817/GRB 170817A suggests that the GW–GRB time delay of these two cases is mainly defined by the timescale for the jet to propagate to the energy dissipation/GRB emission site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Transparent wood was endowed with ultraviolet radiation absorption. • The photoresponsive wood composite possessed excellent photoluminescence process with short response time. • The sample possessed great optical properties, dimensional stability, and thermal stability. Transparent wood has received much attention for construction applications due to its good mechanical properties, optical properties, and ideal thermal insulation. Since ultraviolet light is one of the most significant environmental stress agents for human skin, ultraviolet absorbing transparent wood composite will be highly desirable. Herein, ultraviolet absorbing photoluminescence wood composite was obtained by immersing wood templates into photoresponsive polymer. The injected substances were well polymerized in wood cell lumen, resulting in good dimensional stability, mechanical properties, and thermal stability. In addition, the sample displayed a good photoluminescence process, during which it could intercept and absorb high-intensity ultraviolet light. The unique properties of the ultraviolet absorbing photoluminescence wood composite could potentially be applied in building, furniture, windows, sensor, and security materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore the viewing angle effect on black hole–neutron star (BH–NS) merger kilonova lightcurves. We extrapolate the fitting formulae for the mass and velocity of dynamical ejecta across a wide mass ratio range validated with 66 simulations and use them in kilonova lightcurve calculations. The calculated peak luminosity of a BH–NS merger kilonova is typically about a few times 1041 erg s−1, which is always ≲4.5 × 1041 erg s−1. This corresponds to AB absolute magnitudes fainter than ∼−15 mag in the optical and ∼−16 mag in the infrared. The dynamical ejecta usually contribute to the majority of the kilonova emission, as its projected photosphere area is much larger than that of the disk wind outflows. The fitted blackbody temperature and the observed multiband lightcurve shape are insensitive to the line of sight. The peak time of the observed multiband lightcurves, affected by the light-propagation effect, is related to the relative motion direction between the dynamical ejecta and the observer. The predicted peak luminosity, which changes with the projected photosphere area, only varies by a factor of ∼(2–3) (or by ∼1 mag) for different viewing angles. When taking the short-duration gamma-ray burst afterglow into account, for an on-axis geometry, the kilonova emission is usually outshone by the afterglow emission and can only be observed in the redder bands, especially in the K band at late times. Compared with GW 170817/AT 2017gfo, BH–NS merger kilonovae are optically dim but possibly infrared bright, and have lower fitting temperature at the same epoch after the merger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Markers of biological aging have potential utility in primary care and public health. We developed a model of age based on untargeted metabolic profiling across multiple platforms, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry in urine and serum, within a large sample (N = 2,239) from the UK Airwave cohort. We validated a subset of model predictors in a Finnish cohort including repeat measurements from 2,144 individuals. We investigated the determinants of accelerated aging, including lifestyle and psychological risk factors for premature mortality. The metabolomic age model was well correlated with chronological age (mean r =.86 across independent test sets). Increased metabolomic age acceleration (mAA) was associated after false discovery rate (FDR) correction with overweight/obesity, diabetes, heavy alcohol use and depression. DNA methylation age acceleration measures were uncorrelated with mAA. Increased DNA methylation phenotypic age acceleration (N = 1,110) was associated after FDR correction with heavy alcohol use, hypertension and low income. In conclusion, metabolomics is a promising approach for the assessment of biological age and appears complementary to established epigenetic clocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep quantification and automatic scoring of sleep stages via electroencephalogram (EEG) signals has been a challenge for years. It is crucial to investigate the correlation of brain waves by sleep EEG analysis due to the association between rhythmic oscillations of neuronal activity and neocortical synchronization. Multiscale joint permutation entropy (MJPE) had been proven to be capable of measuring the correlation between time series from the view of multiple time scales and thus can be a promising approach to address the challenge. Instead of simulation, we tested the MJPE method on a widely used open dataset of sleep EEG time series from healthy subjects and found that the correlation index obtained by MJPE had the capability of quantifying the brain wave correlations under different sleep stages, reflecting the typical sleep patterns and indicating the weakened correlation with aging. A higher level of correlation was found as the sleep stage advanced. The findings based on the MJPE results were in accordance with previous studies and existing knowledge in sleep medicine. In the second part of the study, we applied MJPE on sleep EEGs from subjects under pathological conditions (sleep apnea and sleep at high altitude). Likewise, the correlation index also properly revealed their sleep architectures, with consistent trends of the correlation through the nights. The effectiveness and practicability of the MJPE method had been verified on sleep EEGs. Therefore, the MJPE method should be encouraged to be widely used for analyzing large-scale sleep EEGs under various pathological conditions to provide insight into the mechanisms of the sleep process and neuron synchronization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kilonova explosions typically release ∼1050–51 erg in kinetic energy, which is sufficient to constitute a kilonova remnant (KNR); however, it has not yet been confirmed. In this work, we investigate the probable association between G4.8+6.2 and the guest star of AD 1163, which is recorded by the Korean ancient astronomers. Although the evidence available is insufficient to draw a definite conclusion, it is at least theoretically self-consistent that the guest star of AD 1163 was a historical kilonova associated with G4.8+6.2, considering the possible short visible timescale of AD 1163, the relatively high Galactic latitude of G4.8+6.2, and that G4.8+6.2 is spatially coincident with the guest star of AD 1163. Further observation of G4.8+6.2 is needed to test our hypothesis. If our interpretation is correct, our results indicate that young KNRs should have a large diameter and low surface brightness, unlike other young supernova remnants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) is a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes that is prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries and has four serotypes (DENV1-4). Aedes aegypti, as the main transmission vector of DENV, exhibits strong infectivity and transmission. With the aim of obtaining a better understanding of the Ae. aegypti-DENV interaction, the transcriptome changes in DENV-2-infected Aag2 cells were studied to describe the immune responses of mosquitoes using the Ae. aegypti Aag2 cell line as a model. Methods: RNAseq technology was used to sequence the transcripts of the Ae. aegypti Aag2 cell line before and after infection with DENV-2. A bioinformatics analysis was then performed to assess the biological functions of the differentially expressed genes, and the sequencing data were verified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: The transcriptome analysis generated 8866 unigenes that were found in both groups, 225 unigenes that were only found in the infection group, and 683 unigenes that only existed in the control group. A total of 1199 differentially expressed genes, including 1014 upregulated and 185 downregulated genes, were identified. The bioinformatics analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in the longevity regulating pathway, circadian rhythm, DNA replication, and peroxisome, purine, pyrimidine, and drug metabolism. The qRT-PCR verification results showed the same trend, which confirmed that the expression of the differentially expressed genes had changed, and that the transcriptome sequencing data were reliable. Conclusions: This study investigated the changes in the transcriptome levels in the DENV-2-infected Ae. aegypti Aag2 cell line, which provides a faster and effective method for discovering genes related to Ae. aegypti pathogen susceptibility. The findings provide basic data and directions for further research on the complex mechanism underlying host-pathogen interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yu, Z.; Wang, W.X.; Gao, H., and Liang, D.X., 2020. The application of preparation of titanium dioxide by microwave technology for water and wastewater treatment. In: Bai, X. and Zhou, H. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 115, pp. 297-301. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. To solve the problems of agglomeration and low efficiency caused by heating in the traditional preparation of titanium dioxide, in this research, nanometer Titanium is prepared by microwave technology. First of all, the experimental materials, the equipment needed for the experiment, and the principles and characteristics of microwave technology are introduced in this study. The results show that the mesoporous titanium dioxide prepared by microwave technology in this research not only has a rough surface, but also has a large surface area and pore volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yu, Z.; Wang, W.X.; Gao, H., and Liang, D.X., 2020. The application of preparation of titanium dioxide by microwave technology for water and wastewater treatment. In: Bai, X. and Zhou, H. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 115, pp. 297-301. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. To solve the problems of agglomeration and low efficiency caused by heating in the traditional preparation of titanium dioxide, in this research, nanometer Titanium is prepared by microwave technology. First of all, the experimental materials, the equipment needed for the experiment, and the principles and characteristics of microwave technology are introduced in this study. The results show that the mesoporous titanium dioxide prepared by microwave technology in this research not only has a rough surface, but also has a large surface area and pore volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safe and efficient delivery of drugs is regarded as a fundamental strategy for enhancing the low effectiveness of cancer treatments. Herein, a simple preparation approach for a multifunctional drug delivery system was reported. The novel structure of spiropyran (SP), 1-(6 ´-bromo-hexyl)−3,3-dimethyl indoline-6 ´ -methoxy benzopyran, was used to modify sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) for controlling drug release. SP has a heightened sensitivity to variations in pH, with a linear response range of.2–5.5. The elevated drug loading (31.68 %) can be attributed to the hydrophobic interaction of SP and the adsorption of NaCMC. Porous materials composed of zinc ions and dimethylimidazole (ZIF-8) as an embedded shell, which serves as a barrier that effectively reduces drug leakage from 20 % to 12 %, thus mitigating the side effects of camptothecin (CPT) in alkaline conditions. In acidic conditions, the collapse of ZIF-8 provides zinc ions that act as crosslinking agents for NaCMC, thereby improving the channel of drug release and enhancing the release amount from 51.9 % to 66.7 % compared with SP-grafted NaCMC micelles. The inherent biological adhesion of NaCMC ensures sustained drug release for a period of up to 40 h. These pH-responsive carriers hold great promise in the safe and effective treatment of cancer in the gastrointestinal tract, with CPT emerging as a highly promising candidate. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of a new structure of spiropyran with high sensitivity and a wide response range to hydrogen ions. • The resulting SP-CMC micelles exhibited a high grafting efficiency and drug-loading capacity. • The incorporation of ZIF-8 prevents the early leakage of camptothecin to reduce the associated side effects of the drug. • Zinc ions provided by ZIF-8 improve the drug release amount and maintain good drug release performance for over 40 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Accurate assessment of green infrastructures value will be helpful for future market transactions. • Ecological thermodynamics provides a theoretical basis for the ecological value monetization evaluation. • There is the spatial correlation between housing price and ecosystem services. • The improvement of each unit of ESV will increase the housing price by 806.28 yuan per m2 in Beijing. • Small and micro parks have a more positive impact on housing prices than medium and large parks. Urban greenspace provides a variety of ecosystem services. A reasonable evaluation of such services, both from an environmental and from an economic point of view, can deliver a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of urban greenspace value and might be helpful for possible future market transactions. There seems to be a spatial correlation between housing price and ecosystem services. The hedonic price model takes into account also the greenspace around the residences. This study proposed a methodological framework combining the emergy accounting method and statistical model, taking Beijing as a case study. The relationship between housing prices and ecosystem services is explored, and the different types of urban ecosystem service are evaluated, taking into account the heterogeneity of different size, distance and perception of greenspaces. Ecological thermodynamics was applied to the housing price characteristic model, accounting for the ecological value embedded in the housing price, and provided a theoretical basis for the ecological value monetization evaluation and urban ecological planning. The results show that the improvement of each unit of ecosystem services value measured by means of the emergy accounting method will increase the housing price by 806.28 yuan per square meter. Small and micro parks have a more positive impact on housing prices than medium and large parks; The positive impact of grassland on housing price is greater than that of woodland, wetland and shrubs; Carbon sequestration has the largest positive impact on housing prices of other kind of ecosystem services. The methodological framework proposed in this study is helpful to further explore the ecosystem services provided by urban greenspace. The quantitative pricing results of different ecosystem services can be used as reference for relevant ecological trading and compensation policies. Qualitative analysis of parks and different ecosystems can provide value for urban greenspace planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Vibrio cholerae , the lysogenic bacteriophage CTXΦ carries the cholera toxin genes ctxAB , which can be transferred from toxigenic strains to nontoxigenic strains through infection and lysogenic conversion of CTXΦ. This phage also has the precursor genome which does not harbor ctxAB , named pre-CTXΦ. Based on the sequences of the transcriptional regulator-encoding gene rstR alleles in CTXΦ/pre-CTXΦ, multiple types of these prophages have been classified and identified in toxigenic and nontoxigenic V. cholerae strains. In this study, by combining the short-read and long-read sequencing approaches of next generation sequencing, we obtained the complete genome sequence of the studied V. cholerae toxigenic serogroup O139 strain and identified the CTXΦ and a pre-CTXΦ genome type encoding a novel rstR allele, pre-CTXZHJΦ. This pre-CTX prophage integrates into the small chromosome of the V. cholerae host strain and coexists with a typical CTXETΦ prophage present in the large chromosome, which is commonly present in the seventh pandemic serogroup O1 and toxigenic serogroup O139 strains. RstRZHJ could bind to the ig-2 region in the RstAB promotor in the pre-CTXZHJΦ genome, and could repress the expression of its own rstAB genes but could not repress rstAB expression in CTXETΦ and CTXclassΦ, suggesting that the V. cholerae strains carrying the pre-CTXZHJΦ prophage cannot prevent the infection of these epidemic CTXΦs, hence have the potentiality to become toxigenic by acquiring and lysogenic conversion of CTXΦs. Our study identified a novel pre-CTXΦ type, and presents the new evidence for the complexity and diversity of the CTXΦ/pre-CTXΦ family in V. cholerae. • A novel pre-CTXΦ phage genome is identified in Vibrio cholerae serogroup O139 strain. • The immunity to CTXΦ superinfection mediated by the rstR allele of this pre-CTXΦ is phage type specific. • New evidence for the complexity and diversity of the CTXΦ/pre-CTXΦ family in V. cholerae was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) are a group of rare tumors that are increasing in prevalence. The complex tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) plays an important role in tumor development and the response to immunotherapy but is poorly understood. In this review, the components of the TIME are described in detail, including discussion about infiltrating immune cells, the immune checkpoint system, the cytokine and chemokine milieu, and immunomodulatory factors. Moreover, a comparison between TIMEs among different types of GEP-NENs and the interplay among the TIME, tumor cells, and the stromal microenvironment is described. Novel treatment options for GEP-NENs and potential biomarkers for the immune response are also characterized. We provide a comprehensive generalized review of the TIME that can inform GEP-NEN treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of environmental and endogenous cues at plant shoot meristems determines the timing of flowering and reproductive development. The MADS box transcription factor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) of Arabidopsis thaliana is an important repressor of floral transition, which blocks flowering until plants are exposed to winter cold. However, the target genes of FLC have not been thoroughly described, and our understanding of the mechanisms by which FLC represses transcription of these targets and how this repression is overcome during floral transition is still fragmentary. Here, we identify and characterize TARGET OF FLC AND SVP1 (TFS1), a novel target gene of FLC and its interacting protein SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP). TFS1 encodes a B3-type transcription factor, and we show that tfs1 mutants are later flowering than wild-type, particularly under short days. FLC and SVP repress TFS1 transcription leading to deposition of trimethylation of Iysine 27 of histone 3 (H3K27me3) by the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 at the TFS1 locus. During floral transition, after downregulation of FLC by cold, TFS1 transcription is promoted by SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1 (SOC1), a MADS box protein encoded by another target of FLC/SVP. SOC1 opposes PRC function at TFS1 through recruitment of the histone demethylase RELATIVE OF EARLY FLOWERING 6 (REF6) and the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler ATPase BRAHMA (BRM). This recruitment of BRM is also strictly required for SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 9 (SPL9) binding at TFS1 to coordinate RNAPII recruitment through the Mediator complex. Thus, we show that antagonistic chromatin modifications mediated by different MADS box transcription factor complexes play a crucial role in defining the temporal and spatial patterns of transcription of genes within a network of interactions downstream of FLC/SVP during floral transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Over physically mixed CuO-Pd/C furfural hydrogenation was performed with formic acid. • CuO firstly dissolved into Cu2+ by formic acid, then Cu2+ was reduced by the Pd-H. • Pd promoted the furfural conversion and Cu improved the furfuryl alcohol selectivity. • Cu-Pd alloys functioned well in this reaction with 98.1% furfuryl alcohol yield. • In-situ prepared Cu-Pd/C exhibited an excellent recycle stability. Abstract Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of bio-derived furfural (FF) to furfuryl alcohol (FFA) was performed using the physically mixed CuO-Pd/C as catalyst and formic acid (FA) as hydrogen donor. The evolution investigation of Cu showed the precursor CuO firstly dissolved into Cu2+ by FA and then formed coordination polymer-copper(II), which uniformly dispersed in reaction solution of 1, 4-dioxane. Subsequently the Cu2+ was in-situ reduced and Cu-Pd alloys formed simultaneously. The in-situ prepared nano Cu-Pd/C catalyst exhibited the best performance with a complete FF conversion and FFA selectivity of 98.1%. Reaction conditions test suggested that the FFA selectivity was greatly dependent on the Cu content. The underlying mechanism revealed that the Pd in Cu-Pd alloys mainly promoted the FF conversion by enhancing hydrogen adsorption, while the nano Cu for increasing FFA selectivity; the Cu-Pd alloys functioned in synergistic way. Leaching and recycling tests demonstrated an excellent stability of the Cu-Pd/C catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The Airwave Health Monitoring Study aims to investigate the possible long-term health effects of Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) use among the police forces in Great Britain. Here, we investigate whether objective data from the network operator could be used to correct for misreporting in self-reported data and expand the radio usage availability in our cohort. Methods We estimated average monthly usage of personal radio in the 12 months prior to enrolment from a missing value imputation model and evaluated its performance against objective and self-reported data. Factors associated with TETRA radio usage variables were investigated using Chi-square tests and analysis of variance. Results The imputed data were better correlated with objective than self-reported usage (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.72 vs. 0. 52 and kappa 0.56 [95% confidence interval 0.55, 0.56] vs. 0.46 [0.45, 0.47]), although the imputation model tended to under-estimate use for higher users. Participants with higher personal radio usage were more likely to be younger, men vs. women and officer vs. staff. The median average monthly usage level for the entire cohort was estimated to be 29.3 min (95% CI: [7.2, 66.6]). Conclusion The availability of objective personal radio records for a large proportion of users allowed us to develop a robust imputation model and hence obtain personal radio usage estimates for ~50,000 participants. This substantially reduced exposure misclassification compared to using self-reported data and will allow us to carry out analyses of TETRA usage for the entire cohort in future work. Highlights • Operator-derived records alongside self-reported information to estimate radio use as a proxy for RF-EMF exposure. • Imputed average TETRA radio usage correlates better with objective data than self-reported use. • Higher personal radio usage seen in younger and male participants as well as in police officers compared with staff. • The first large observational study with an estimate of monthly average personal radio usage for all participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We evaluated whether the increasing number of genetic loci for coronary artery disease (CAD) identified in the general population could be used to predict the risk of major CAD events (MCE) among participants with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk.Research Design and Methods: A weighted genetic risk score (GRS) derived from 204 variants representative of all the 160 CAD loci identified in the general population as of December 2017 was calculated in 5,360 and 1,931 white participants in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) and Outcome Reduction With Initial Glargine Intervention (ORIGIN) studies, respectively. The association between GRS and MCE (combining fatal CAD events, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and unstable angina) was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression.Results: The GRS was associated with MCE risk in both ACCORD and ORIGIN (hazard ratio [HR] per SD 1.27, 95% CI 1.18-1.37, P = 4 × 10-10, and HR per SD 1.35, 95% CI 1.16-1.58, P = 2 × 10-4, respectively). This association was independent from interventions tested in the trials and persisted, though attenuated, after adjustment for classic cardiovascular risk predictors. Adding the GRS to clinical predictors improved incident MCE risk classification (relative integrated discrimination improvement +8%, P = 7 × 10-4). The performance of this GRS was superior to that of GRS based on the smaller number of CAD loci available in previous years.Conclusions: When combined into a GRS, CAD loci identified in the general population are associated with CAD also in type 2 diabetes. This GRS provides a significant improvement in the ability to correctly predict future MCE, which may increase further with the discovery of new CAD loci. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metformin is the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although widely prescribed, the glucose-lowering mechanism for metformin is incompletely understood. Here, we used a genome-wide association approach in a diverse group of individuals with T2D from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) clinical trial to identify common and rare variants associated with HbA1c response to metformin treatment and followed up these findings in four replication cohorts. Common variants in PRPF31 and CPA6 were associated with worse and better metformin response, respectively (P < 5 × 10-6), and meta-analysis in independent cohorts displayed similar associations with metformin response (P = 1.2 × 10-8 and P = 0.005, respectively). Previous studies have shown that PRPF31(+/-) knockout mice have increased total body fat (P = 1.78 × 10-6) and increased fasted circulating glucose (P = 5.73 × 10-6). Furthermore, rare variants in STAT3 associated with worse metformin response (q <0.1). STAT3 is a ubiquitously expressed pleiotropic transcriptional activator that participates in the regulation of metabolism and feeding behavior. Here, we provide novel evidence for associations of common and rare variants in PRPF31, CPA6, and STAT3 with metformin response that may provide insight into mechanisms important for metformin efficacy in T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Both heritable and lifestyle risk factors contribute to elevated BP levels. We aimed to investigate the extent to which lifestyle factors could offset the effect of an adverse BP genetic profile and its effect on CVD risk.Methods: We constructed a genetic risk score for high BP by using 314 published BP loci in 277 005 individuals without previous CVD from the UK Biobank study, a prospective cohort of individuals aged 40 to 69 years, with a median of 6.11 years of follow-up. We scored participants according to their lifestyle factors including body mass index, healthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption, smoking, and urinary sodium excretion levels measured at recruitment. We examined the association between tertiles of genetic risk and tertiles of lifestyle score with BP levels and incident CVD by using linear regression and Cox regression models, respectively.Results: Healthy lifestyle score was strongly associated with BP (P<10-320) for systolic and diastolic BP and CVD events regardless of the underlying BP genetic risk. Participants with a favorable in comparison with an unfavorable lifestyle (bottom versus top tertile lifestyle score) had 3.6, 3.5, and 3.6 mm Hg lower systolic BP in low, middle, and high genetic risk groups, respectively (P for interaction=0.0006). Similarly, favorable in comparison with unfavorable lifestyle showed 30%, 33%, and 31% lower risk of CVD among participants in low, middle, and high genetic risk groups, respectively (P for interaction=0.99).Conclusions: Our data further support population-wide efforts to lower BP in the population via lifestyle modification. The advantages and disadvantages of disclosing genetic predisposition to high BP for risk stratification needs careful evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides MP-A, MP-U and MP-C were extracted from Mesona chinensis Benth by hot-alkali extraction (HAE), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and cellulose-enzyme assisted extraction (CAE), respectively. The yields, physicochemical properties and antioxidant of polysaccharides were investigated. Results showed that the yields of MP-A (11.14%), MP-U (10.62%) and MP-C (9.70%) were similar, and they were all heteropolysaccharides with average molecular weights of 1.9 × 10 5 Da, 1.5 × 10 5 Da, 1.4 × 10 5 Da. Glucose, galactose, and galacturonic acid were the main monosaccharides in MP-A, MP-U and MP-C with molar ratios of 1.00:1.34:0.25, 1.00:2.49:0.19 and 1.00:2.95:0.84, respectively. MP-C extracted by CAE exhibited higher antioxidant activities in FRAP, DPPH, hydroxyl radical assays and the H 2 O 2 -induced injury cell model. The three extraction methods had only slight effects on chemical composition, while MP-C extracted by CAE exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, which could potentially be used for an addition ingredient as it was previously shown to have good gelling property in food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio parahaemolyticus expresses one major virulence determinant T6SS2, which is constituted into three putative operons, i.e., VPA1027-1024, VPA1043-1028, and VPA1044-1046. CalR, a LysR-type transcriptional regulator, was originally identified as a repressor of the swarming motility and T3SS1 gene expression. As shown in this study, CalR binds to the promoter-proximal region of each of the three operons to activate their transcription, and moreover, CalR activates the adhesion of V. parahaemolyticus to HeLa cells. In addition, competitive EMSAs demonstrated that CalR acts as an antagonist of H-NS in V. parahaemolyticus. Collectively, these studies confirmed a new physiological role for CalR in V. parahaemolyticus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon Photo-Multipliers (SiPM) are regarded as novel photo-detectors to replace conventional Photo-Multiplier Tubes (PMTs). However, the breakdown voltage dependence on the ambient temperature results in a gain variation of ∼3%/°C. This severely limits the application of this device in experiments with wide range of operating temperature, especially in space missions. An experimental setup was established to investigate the temperature and bias voltage dependence of gain for the Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC). The gain and breakdown voltage dependence on operating temperature of an MPPC can be approximated by a linear function, which is similar to the behavior of a zener diode. The measured temperature coefficient of the breakdown voltage is (59.4±0.4 mV)/°C. According to this fact, an analog power supply based on two zener diodes and an operational amplifier was designed with a positive temperature coefficient. The measured temperature dependence for the designed power supply is between 63.65–64.61 mV/°C at different output voltages. The designed power supply can bias the MPPC at an over-voltage with a temperature variation of ∼5 mV/°C. The gain variation of the MPPC biased at over-voltage of 2 V was reduced from 2.8 % / ° C to 0.3 % / ° C when biased the MPPC with the designed power supply for gain control. Detailed design and performance of the analog power supply in the temperature range from − 42.7 ° C to 20.9 ° C will be discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzyme is a green, efficient and easily degradable substance. In the present investigation, the papain and 100-c enzyme instead of part of surfactants were used in degreasing process. The results indicated that when wet-blue sheepleather was treated by the enzymatic compound, protein content in the effluent was about 9 times more than that of the non-ionic degreasing agent with less damage to collagen. Moreover, the degreasing rate for enzyme degreasing was 40.1% which was much higher than that of non-ionic degreasing agent. Mechanical properties of the crust leather treated by enzymatic compound were matchable to those treated by non-ionic degreasing agent. Color difference values of the leather indicated that the wet-blue sheepleather was easy to be dyed after being treated by enzymatic compound. The K/S value of the leather treated by enzymatic compound was much higher than that treated by non-ionic degreasing agent. Histological analysis of wet-blues visually showed efficient fat removal by enzymatic compound. Enzymatic compound used in degreasing of greasy wet-blues could improve the leather’ quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of two combination drying methods as well as two single drying methods on the quality of papaya chips were studied. The longest drying time was found in freeze drying (FD), while the shortest drying time was found in hot-air-explosion puffing drying (HA-EPD). The papaya chips dried by FD exhibited the lowest shrinkage, while the highest shrinkage was found in the hot-air drying (HAD) dried sample. The lowest and highest total color differences (△E) were found in the FD and FD-EPD. The FD dehydrated papaya chips showed the highest retention of ascorbic acid and total carotenoids. The fastest rehydration rate was also observed in samples dried by FD. The worst rehydration capacity was found in FD-EPD, which related to the collapsed porous microstructure. Papaya chips prepared by FD-EPD showed crispier texture, which were in line with their expanded porous microstructures. In conclusion, the application of combining with EPD may improve the retention of nutrition of papaya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify genetic determinants of increased cardiovascular mortality among subjects with type 2 diabetes who underwent intensive glycemic therapy in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial.Research Design and Methods: A total of 6.8 million common variants were analyzed for genome-wide association with cardiovascular mortality among 2,667 self-reported white subjects in the ACCORD intensive treatment arm. Significant loci were examined in the entire ACCORD white genetic dataset (n = 5,360) for their modulation of cardiovascular responses to glycemic treatment assignment and in a Joslin Clinic cohort (n = 422) for their interaction with long-term glycemic control on cardiovascular mortality.Results: Two loci, at 10q26 and 5q13, attained genome-wide significance as determinants of cardiovascular mortality in the ACCORD intensive arm (P = 9.8 × 10-9 and P = 2 × 10-8, respectively). A genetic risk score (GRS) defined by the two variants was a significant modulator of cardiovascular mortality response to treatment assignment in the entire ACCORD white genetic dataset. Participants with GRS = 0 experienced a fourfold reduction in cardiovascular mortality in response to intensive treatment (hazard ratio [HR] 0.24 [95% CI 0.07-0.86]), those with GRS = 1 experienced no difference (HR 0.92 [95% CI 0.54-1.56]), and those with GRS ≥2 experienced a threefold increase (HR 3.08 [95% CI 1.82-5.21]). The modulatory effect of the GRS on the association between glycemic control and cardiovascular mortality was confirmed in the Joslin cohort (P = 0.029).Conclusions: Two genetic variants predict the cardiovascular effects of intensive glycemic control in ACCORD. Further studies are warranted to determine whether these findings can be translated into new strategies to prevent cardiovascular complications of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal protection system (TPS) is crucial for hypersonic flight vehicles to effectively protect them against the aerothermal effect imposed on them during flying with high Mach number. A novel hybrid ablation thermal protection coatings (FHMP-ATPCs) on the surface of stainless steel substrate were prepared by doping iron trioxide (Fe 2 O 3) powder, hollow glass microspheres (HGM) and mica powder (MP) into hydroxyl-terminated silicone oligomer-bridged epoxy resins (PSG) copolymer. The thermal insulation and structural reliability of the FHMP-ATPCs were investigated by a novel aerothermal-vibration coupling test system. During the test, the heat flux of the surface of coatings ranged from 400 kW/m2 to 700 kW/m2. Meanwhile, the vibration load was a random vibration with frequency range of 20–2000 Hz and root mean square of total acceleration (Grms) of 10.8 g. The maximum surface and back-face temperature reached 714.9 °C and 141.3 °C, respectively. Compared with epoxy resin based coatings，the PSG-based coatings showed excellent structural reliability during the test. This study demonstrates the robust effect of strategy of modifying epoxy resin with organosilicon in improving thermal insulation performance yet maintaining the structural reliability of the ablation thermal protection coatings, providing a promising route to achieve high-performance coatings. [Display omitted] • An aerothermal-vibration coupling test system was constructed to simultaneously load aerothermal and vibration loads. • The thermal insulation and anti-vibration properties of the quaternary ATPCs were tested using the coupling test system. • The FHMP-ATPCs provides excellent thermal insulation with a temperature difference of 701.2 °C. • Compared with FHMD-ATPCs, the FHMP-ATPCs showed excellent anti-vibration properties during the test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High-frequency rTMS of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) could reduce cue-induced craving for methamphetamine. • High-frequency rTMS of left DLPFC could improve decision-making function of methamphetamine use disorders. • The subjects of the study were patients with methamphetamine use disorder, reducing craving and improve decision-making function might be a strategy to help prevent relapse and treat methamphetamine use disorder. Methamphetamine abuse is escalating worldwide. Its strong and irreversible neurotoxicity generally causes structural and functional changes in the brain. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a non-invasive tool can be used to modulate neuronal activity, cortical excitability, and dopaminergic neurotransmission. This study aims to explore the efficacy of high-frequency rTMS in reducing drug craving and increasing decision-making ability for methamphetamine use disorder patients. Sixty-four methamphetamine use disorder patients were randomized to sham rTMS group and 10-Hz rTMS group. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Iowa game test (IGT) were used to evaluate drug craving and cognitive decision-making ability before and after treatment. Before the treatment, the two groups had no differences in the scores of VAS and IGT. After the intervention, VAS scores of 10-Hz rTMS group were significantly lower than that of sham rTMS group. In addition, the two groups had significant differences in the net score of IGT on block 4 and block 5, which favoured the 10-Hz rTMS group. Taken together, the present results suggest that High-frequency rTMS can be used to reduce drug craving and improve decision-making function for methamphetamine use disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AphA and OpaR are the master regulators of quorum sensing in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and there is reciprocal negative regulation between AphA and OpaR. The histone-like nucleoid structure (H-NS) protein is a global transcriptional repressor of horizontally transferred genes, but a few prokaryotic genes, for example flagella genes, are stimulated by H-NS. The regulation of opaR by H-NS was investigated using the following methods: primer extension, LacZ fusion, quantitative RT-PCR, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. One transcription start site located at 74 bp upstream of opaR was detected and its activity was induced by H-NS. Therefore, a single H-NS-dependent promoter was transcribed for opaR in V. parahaemolyticus. Because the H-NS protein could not bind to the upstream region of opaR and H-NS does not regulate aphA, indirect activation of the transcription of opaR by H-NS cannot be mediated by the AphA repressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uppermost internode is one of the fastest elongating organs in rice, and is expected to require an adequate supply of cell-wall materials and enzymes to the cell surface to enhance mechanical strength. Although it has been reported that the phenotype of shortened uppermost internode 1 (sui1) is caused by mutations in PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE SYNTHASE (OsPSS), the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here we show that the OsPSS-1, as a gene expressed predominantly in elongating cells, regulates post-Golgi vesicle secretion to intercellular spaces. Mutation of OsPSS-1 leads to compromised delivery of CESA4 and secGFP towards the cell surface, resulting in weakened intercellular adhesion and disorganized cell arrangement in parenchyma. The phenotype of sui1-4 is caused largely by the reduction in cellulose contents in the whole plant and detrimental delivery of pectins in the uppermost internode. We found that OsPSS-1 and its potential product PS (phosphatidylserine) localized to organelles associated with exocytosis. These results together suggest that OsPSS-1 plays a potential role in mediating cell expansion by regulating secretion of cell wall components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A mechanical lattice model of second-order elastic topological insulator is established to predict edge and corner states. • The corner states can be selectively activated by engineering the positions of the valley. • An extra type of corner states with anti-symmetric polarization is firstly observed in either acoustic or elastic system. • The topological corner states are tested robust enough against the disorders. Second-order elastic topological insulators (SETIs) with topologically protected corner states offer new routes for the realization of the robust manipulation of elastic waves in lower dimensions, providing the unprecedented ways for integrated ultrasound sensors and energy harvesting devices. However, traditional SETIs lack the flexibility of turning on and off the corner states on demand. Herein, we proposed a type of SETIs possessing the valley-selective topological corner states, endowing the capability of activating corner states by engineering the valley positions. An extra type of corner states with anti-symmetric displacement profile is also observed in the proposed SETIs, which is attributed to the enhanced long-range effect. The discrete mechanical model is firstly investigated and then expanded into the PC plate, in which the theory of Wannier center can well elucidate the corner states with valley-selectivity. The experimental results validate the existing corner states with valley-selectivity and anti-symmetric displacement profile. The proposed discrete model acts as a versatile platform presenting the relevant topological effects. The achieved valley-selectivity and multi-polarization features hosted in the designed SETI may contribute to their practicality and reconfigurability in elastic energy trapping, detecting, and harvesting device. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bit-patterned media (BPM) for magnetic recording provides a route to thermally stable data recording at >1 Tb/in ^\mathrm \mathbf 2 and circumvents many of the challenges associated with extending conventional granular media technology. Instead of recording a bit on an ensemble of random grains, BPM comprises a well-ordered array of lithographically patterned isolated magnetic islands, each of which stores 1 bit. Fabrication of BPM is viewed as the greatest challenge for its commercialization. In this paper, we describe a BPM fabrication method that combines rotary-stage e-beam lithography, directed self-assembly of block copolymers, self-aligned double patterning, nanoimprint lithography, and ion milling to generate BPM based on CoCrPt alloy materials at densities up to 1.6 Td/in ^\mathrm \mathbf 2 . This combination of novel fabrication technologies achieves feature sizes of <10 nm, which is significantly smaller than what conventional nanofabrication methods used in semiconductor manufacturing can achieve. In contrast to earlier work that used hexagonal arrays of round islands, our latest approach creates BPM with rectangular bit cells, which are advantageous for the integration of BPM with existing hard disk drive technology. The advantages of rectangular bits are analyzed from a theoretical and modeling point of view, and system integration requirements, such as provision of servo patterns, implementation of write synchronization, and providing for a stable head–disk interface, are addressed in the context of experimental results. Optimization of magnetic alloy materials for thermal stability, writeability, and tight switching field distribution is discussed, and a new method for growing BPM islands from a specially patterned underlayer—referred to as templated growth—is presented. New recording results at 1.6 Td/in ^\mathrm \mathbf 2 (roughly equivalent to 1.3 Tb/in ^\mathrm \mathbf 2) demonstrate a raw error rate < 10^\mathrm \mathbf -2 , which is consistent with the recording system requirements of modern hard drives. Extendibility of BPM to higher densities and its eventual combination with energy-assisted recording are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient iodine–DMSO catalyzed system for the synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives was developed. The construction of this quinoxaline system went through a one-pot oxidation/cyclization process. The reaction afforded a variety of products in good to excellent yields. This methodology has potential applications in the synthesis of biologically and medicinally relevant compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) is a well-known acidic endonuclease that catalyses the degradation of DNA into oligonucleotides. Only one or a few genes encoding DNase II have been observed in the genomes of many species. 125 DNase II-like protein family genes were predicted in the Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) genome; however, none have been confirmed. DNase II is a monomeric nuclease that contains two copies of a variant HKD motif in the N- and C-termini. Of these 125 genes, only plancitoxin-1 (1095 bp, GenBank accession no. XM_003370715.1) contains the HKD motif in its C-terminus domain. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we cloned and characterised the plancitoxin-1 gene. However, the sequences of plancitoxin-1 cloned from T. spiralis were shorter than the predicted sequences in GenBank. Intriguingly, there were two HKD motifs in the N- and C-termini in the cloned sequences. Therefore, the gene with shorter sequences was named after plancitoxin-1-like (Ts-Pt, 885 bp) and has been deposited in GenBank under accession number KF984291. The recombinant protein (rTs-Pt) was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Western blot analysis showed that rTs-Pt was recognised by serum from T. spiralis-infected mice; the anti-rTs-Pt serum recognised crude antigens but not ES antigens. The Ts-Pt gene was examined at all T. spiralis developmental stages by real-time quantitative PCR. Immunolocalisation analysis showed that Ts-Pt was distributed throughout newborn larvae (NBL), the tegument of adults (Ad) and muscle larvae (ML). As demonstrated by DNase zymography, the expressed proteins displayed cation-independent DNase activity. rTs-Pt had a narrow optimum pH range in slightly acidic conditions (pH 4 and pH 5), and its optimum temperature was 25°C, 30°C, and 37°C. Conclusions: This study indicated that Ts-Pt was classified as a somatic protein in different T. spiralis developmental stages, and demonstrated for the first time that an expressed DNase II protein from T. spiralis had nuclease activity. Author Summary: Deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) is classified into a unique family of nucleases and mediates the degradation of DNA associated with apoptosis. Although DNase II activity was first observed in 1947, and has been studied biochemically and enzymatically since the 1960s, only recently has genetic information on the enzyme been reported. Compared with enzymes from other species, including C. elegans, the DNase II-like protein family of the parasitic nematode T. spiralis has expanded remarkably, with an estimated 125 genes found in the draft genome of T. spiralis. However, none of these proteins have been confirmed by biochemical studies. This study describes Ts-Pt, a DNase II protein that is expressed in different T. spiralis developmental stages. The recombinant protein purified via a prokaryotic expression system displayed in vitro nuclease activity, as determined by DNase zymography. The exact function and mechanisms of Ts-Pt should be further explored in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) is a well-known acidic endonuclease that catalyses the degradation of DNA into oligonucleotides. Only one or a few genes encoding DNase II have been observed in the genomes of many species. 125 DNase II-like protein family genes were predicted in the Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) genome; however, none have been confirmed. DNase II is a monomeric nuclease that contains two copies of a variant HKD motif in the N- and C-termini. Of these 125 genes, only plancitoxin-1 (1095 bp, GenBank accession no. XM_003370715.1) contains the HKD motif in its C-terminus domain. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we cloned and characterised the plancitoxin-1 gene. However, the sequences of plancitoxin-1 cloned from T. spiralis were shorter than the predicted sequences in GenBank. Intriguingly, there were two HKD motifs in the N- and C-termini in the cloned sequences. Therefore, the gene with shorter sequences was named after plancitoxin-1-like (Ts-Pt, 885 bp) and has been deposited in GenBank under accession number KF984291. The recombinant protein (rTs-Pt) was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Western blot analysis showed that rTs-Pt was recognised by serum from T. spiralis-infected mice; the anti-rTs-Pt serum recognised crude antigens but not ES antigens. The Ts-Pt gene was examined at all T. spiralis developmental stages by real-time quantitative PCR. Immunolocalisation analysis showed that Ts-Pt was distributed throughout newborn larvae (NBL), the tegument of adults (Ad) and muscle larvae (ML). As demonstrated by DNase zymography, the expressed proteins displayed cation-independent DNase activity. rTs-Pt had a narrow optimum pH range in slightly acidic conditions (pH 4 and pH 5), and its optimum temperature was 25°C, 30°C, and 37°C. Conclusions: This study indicated that Ts-Pt was classified as a somatic protein in different T. spiralis developmental stages, and demonstrated for the first time that an expressed DNase II protein from T. spiralis had nuclease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heading date is a key determinant of regional and seasonal adaptation in rice ( Oryza sativa L.). A minor-effect quantitative trait locus (QTL), QTL for D ays t o h eading 12a ( qDTH- 12a), with unknown genetic action was previously coarsely detected in a recombinant inbred line population. The study reported here was designed to better define the qDTH- 12a locus (designated as DTH12) in advanced segregating populations. DTH12 was initially verified in chromosome segment substitution line CSSL84. A CSSL84/Asominori//Asominori BCF population was then developed, and a near-isogenic line (NIL), NIL( DTH12), was subsequently selected from this population using marker-assisted tracking that headed 8 days later than Asominori under long-day (LD) conditions but which was not significantly different in heading date in short-day environments. Using 358 Asominori/NIL( DTH12) F families grown under LD conditions, we were able to initially map DTH12 to a 26-cM interval between markers InDel12-1 and RM6296. F individuals heterozygous for the DTH12 regions were then chosen, and 2,388 F families were used for fine mapping. DTH12 was finally dissected as a single gene and delimited to a 153-kb genomic region with 32 open reading frames. Compared with Asominori, NIL( DTH12) showed reduced transcription of the florigen genes Heading date 3a and RICE FLOWERING LOCUS T 1, suggesting that DTH12 functions as an up-regulator of florigen genes during floral induction under LD conditions. DTH12 was also found to have an important role in rice adaptation and breeding for precise control of seed maturity. These findings provide a firm basis for cloning this minor-effect QTL involved in rice flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The solvatochromism of SPC is attributed to intramolecular hydrogen bonds. • Mcc showed a visualized, sensitive and selective response to Pb2+. • The complex Mcc - Pb2+ can stably exist under visible light conditions. • The established test strips can be applied for detection of Pb2+ in real samples. 1′-(4′-carboxybutyl) −3′, 3′-dimethyl-6-nitro-8-hydroxylspiro [chromene-2, 2′-indoline] (SPC) is a visual, selective, and sensitive detector to lead (Pb2+) ions. The presence of 8 -hydroxyl in pyran ring makes SPC have a remarkable solvatochromism in polar solvents (SPC can isomerize to the ring-opening body (Mcc) spontaneously under visible light conditions), ascribed to the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The color and spectrum of the Mcc solution could be changed instantly and significantly by addition of Pb2+, and Mcc showed excellent selectivity to Pb2+ in the simulated lead–zinc ore leachate. The complex Mcc - Pb2+, with a stoichiometry ratio of 1:1, can stably exist under visible light conditions, which is attributed to the interaction between Pb2+ and the deprotonated carboxy (–COO—), phenolic oxygen atom and 8-hydroxyl of the Mcc, and the whole process does not need UV irradiation, avoiding the serious photo-degradation of spiropyran derivatives. The low limit of detection (0.61 μM) and the established test strips indicate that SPC has the potential to be applied in the quantitative detection of Pb2+ in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Interest in lysosomal storage diseases in newborn screening programs has increased in recent years. Two techniques, fluorescence (4-MU) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) methods are frequently used. We report a pilot study of large scale newborn screening for Fabry, Pompe, Gaucher, and MPS I diseases by using the MS/MS method in Taiwan and compared the performance of the MS/MS with 4-MU methods. Methods: More than 100,000 dried blood spots (DBSs) were collected consecutively as part of the national Taiwan newborn screening programs. The enzyme activities were detected by the MS/MS method from a DBS punch. Mutation analysis was further performed for newborns with detected enzyme deficiency. Results: The DNA sequence analysis for suspected cases revealed 64 newborns with confirmed Fabry mutations, 16 were classified as infantile or late-onset Pompe disease, and 1 was characterized as Gaucher disease. The positive predict value increased from 4.0% to 7.1% in the Pompe study, and from 61.0% to 95.5% in the Fabry study by the MS/MS method compared to 4-MU assay. Conclusions: The MS/MS method has been validated as a more specific, powerful and efficient tool than the 4-MU assay. It also provided a multiplex solution of newborn screening for lysosomal storage diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Strigolactones (SLs), a newly discovered class of carotenoid-derived phytohormones, are essential for developmental processes that shape plant architecture and interactions with parasitic weeds and symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Despite the rapid progress in elucidating the SL biosynthetic pathway, the perception and signalling mechanisms of SL remain poorly understood. Here we show that DWARF 53 (D53) acts as a repressor of SL signalling and that SLs induce its degradation. We find that the rice (Oryza sativa) d53 mutant, which produces an exaggerated number of tillers compared to wild-type plants, is caused by a gain-of-function mutation and is insensitive to exogenous SL treatment. The D53 gene product shares predicted features with the class I Clp ATPase proteins and can form a complex with the α/β hydrolase protein DWARF 14 (D14) and the F-box protein DWARF 3 (D3), two previously identified signalling components potentially responsible for SL perception. We demonstrate that, in a D14- and D3-dependent manner, SLs induce D53 degradation by the proteasome and abrogate its activity in promoting axillary bud outgrowth. Our combined genetic and biochemical data reveal that D53 acts as a repressor of the SL signalling pathway, whose hormone-induced degradation represents a key molecular link between SL perception and responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A distortion correction method that is independent of camera parameters is proposed based on projective invariability and separate model. Cross ratio and collinearity of feature points in a single target image are utilized as geometrical invariability, and the separate model constraint for distorted points is also considered. Distortion coefficients and corrected points are acquired by non-linear optimization algorithm simultaneously under the mentioned constraint conditions. Only one view of the chessboard target image is needed to determine the complete distortion coefficients. Subsequently, the distorted points in multiple images are all corrected by means of the calibrated distortion model and the camera intrinsic parameters are calculated linearly according to the mapping relationship between two sets of points. Performance of the proposed method is comprehensively compared with the existing methods under the circumstances of different lens distortion degree. Simulative and real experiments show that the correction performance of the method presented in this article is advantageous in terms of the calibration accuracy. The proposed method is simple and feasible for machine vision system, since the correction results can be applied directly to the subsequent camera calibration process resulting in a satisfactory precision. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Camera calibration plays an important role in the field of machine vision applications. The popularly used calibration approach based on 2D planar target sometimes fails to give reliable and accurate results due to the inaccurate or incorrect localization of feature points. To solve this problem, an accurate and robust estimation method for camera parameters based on RANSAC algorithm is proposed to detect the unreliability and provide the corresponding solutions. Through this method, most of the outliers are removed and the calibration errors that are the main factors influencing measurement accuracy are reduced. Both simulative and real experiments have been carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed method and the results show that the proposed method is robust under large noise condition and quite efficient to improve the calibration accuracy compared with the original state. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bit patterned media (BPM) provide an alternative to conventional granular thin film recording media, circumventing the challenges of managing grain size and its associated noise and thermal stability issues in granular media. A viable fabrication strategy involves creation of a master pattern by rotary-stage e-beam lithography and directed self-assembly of block copolymers, followed by pattern replication via UV-cure nanoimprint lithography and pattern transfer to a magnetic thin film by ion beam etching. These steps have been demonstrated for 150 Gdot/cm^2 (1 Tdot/in^2) hcp patterns, achieving a dot placement tolerance of 1.2 nm 1\sigma and a defect rate of <10^-3. Media samples fabricated in this manner from continuous CoCrPt alloy films have achieved a 1\sigma switching field distribution of 4% of \mbi H\mmb c. A 2T medium SNR of nearly 14 dB and a write bit error rate of 2\,\times\,10^-3 have been shown using a static tester with a conventional product read/write head. Modeling and experiment suggest that higher recording density can be achieved using BPM with a bit aspect ratio (BAR) > 1. A master pattern generation generation strategy for BAR > 1 with rectangular islands is shown using intersecting lines generated by directed self-assembly of lamellar block copolymers in combination with spacer-defined line doubling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of elderly cancer patients is complicated by many factors. We sought to assess the uptake and tolerance of chemotherapy among patients 75 years and older diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in years 2004-2008 in Alberta, Canada, and assess their survival. All patients who met the above criteria and had an oncologist-consult were included. Data were obtained from the Alberta Cancer Registry and chart review. A total of 171 patients were included in the study, 117 (68%) of whom began chemotherapy. Of those, 52% completed all cycles, 66% did not have any dose reductions, and 31% completed all cycles at the recommended dose. The risk of death for patients who did not complete all cycles of chemotherapy was 2.72 (95% CI: 1.52-4.87) and for those who completed all cycles but with a reduced dose was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.57-1.82) relative to those who completed chemotherapy at full dose after adjusting for several demographic/clinical factors. Our results suggest that a significant proportion of elderly patients are able to tolerate chemotherapy and receive a survival benefit from it while those who experience toxicity may receive a survival benefit from a reduction in chemotherapy dose as opposed to stopping treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) causes the blockage of the glutamic acid (Glu) receptors in the central nervous system that are involved in pain transmission. However, the mechanism of action of MK-801 in pain-related neurons is not clear, and it is still unknown whether Glu is involved in the modulation of this processing. This study examines the effect of MK-801, Glu on the pain-evoked response of pain-excitation neurons (PENs) and pain-inhibition neurons (PINs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of rats. The trains of electric impulses applied to the sciatic nerve were used as noxious stimulation. The electrical activities of PENs or PINs in NAc were recorded by a glass microelectrode. Our results revealed that the lateral ventricle injection of Glu increased the discharged frequency and shortened the discharged latency of PEN, and decreased the discharged frequency and prolonged the discharged inhibitory duration (ID) of PIN in NAc of rats evoked by the noxious stimulation, while intra-NAc administration of MK-801 produced the opposite response. On the basis of above findings we can deduce that Glu, MK-801 and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor are involved in the modulation of nociceptive information transmission in NAc. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading cause of seafood-associated bacterial gastroenteritis and is a moderately halophilic, salt-requiring bacterium. Global gene expression profiles of V. parahaemolyticus grown under 2% and 0.66% NaCl were compared to define the low-salt stimulon. The ectABC-lysC operon for synthesis of the compatible solute ectoine, as well as three compatible solute transport systems, namely ProU (glycine betaine), OpuD1 (glycine betaine) and Pot2 (spermidine), was up-regulated under 2% NaCl relative to 0.66% NaCl. The 2% NaCl condition favored the inducible expression of OmpW, OmpN and OmpA2, while repressed the expression of OmpA1, OmpU and VP1008. These results indicated that, to master the hyperosmotic stress of saline environments, V. parahaemolyticus might not only accumulate osmoprotectants through uptake or endogenous synthesis of compatible solutes, but also remodel its profiles of outer membrane protein to restore its cell membrane. The above differentially regulated genes will provide novel candidates for the further investigation of the molecular mechanisms of osmoadaptation in V. parahaemolyticus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]