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We report a facile Stöber approach to prepare polyphenol-based resin polymer spheres using tannic acid and formaldehyde as reactants. The tannic acid-formaldehyde (TAF) spheres directly convert into carbon spheres with monodispersity and structural integrity. In addition, TAF-Fe complex spheres are carbonized into Fe nanoparticles (NPs) decorated carbon spheres (TAF-C@Fe), which are successfully applied as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. The electrocatalyst exhibits similar catalytic activity but better methanol tolerance performance to 20% commercial Pt/C in alkaline media. This feasible strategy presents a novel precursor for fabricating and tailoring the structure, composition, and size of polyphenol resin and derived carbon-based materials for energy conversion and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Three types of phenylurea indole derivatives as ABCG2 inhibitors were synthesized. • The synthesis of phenylurea indole derivatives is simple and efficient. • Pi-system extended phenylurea indole derivatives 3c-3f effectively inhibit ABCG2. • The mechanism of 3c and 3f against ABCG2-mediated MDR was investigated. Three series of phenylurea indole derivatives were synthesized with potent inhibitory activities on ABCG2 with simple and efficient synthetic routes. Among these compounds, four phenylurea indole derivatives 3c-3f with extended π system were discovered as the most potent ABCG2 inhibitors, while these compounds showed no inhibition on ABCB1. Compounds 3c and 3f were selected for further investigation to explore the mechanisms of action on reversing ABCG2-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR). The results revealed that compounds 3c and 3f increased the accumulation of mitoxantrone (MX) in ABCG2-overexpressing cells, but they did not alter the expression level or localization of ABCG2 in cells. In addition, both 3c and 3f significantly stimulated the ATP hydrolysis of ABCG2 transporter indicating that they can be competitive substrates of ABCG2 transporter, and thereby increase the accumulation of mitoxantrone in ABCG2-overexpressing H460/MX20 cells. Both 3c and 3f was docked into the drug-binding site of the human ABCG2 transporter protein (PDB 6FFC) with high affinities. This study showed that extending the π system of phenylurea indole derivatives enhanced their inhibitory activities on ABCG2, which may provide a clue for the further research to discover more potent ABCG2 inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-cost mussel inspired approach was developed to produce anti-corrosion coating on copper substrate. Catechol (CA) and polyamine (PA) were spontaneously polymerized to form adhesive coating of poly(cetechol/polyamine) (P(CA/PA)) onto copper surface and then P(CA/PA) was grafted by 1-dodecanethiol. The SEM, contact angle, XPS, FTIR and TG results demonstrated the formation of uniform, compact and thermal stable coatings through multiple interactions and chemically grafting. Electrochemical tests indicated of Cu-P(CA/PA)-SH possessed a highest corrosion potential of −81 mV, a lowest corrosion current density of 0.15 μA/cm 2 , and a highest coating resistance of 57.19 kΩ cm 2 , and also exhibit great long-term stability whether in solution immersion or salt spray tests. The remarkable anti-corrosion capability of Cu-P(CA/PA)-SH could be ascribed to the synergistic effect of the hydrophobicity, good stability, and strong wet adhesion of the mussel-inspired coating. This study provides an effective and cheap way for material protection and may give inspiration in the fields of material, biology and medicine relating to surface and interface engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, the current situation is that people under indirect threat from unprotected lead-zinc mining tends to oppose it, whereas people under direct threat are likely to ‘sail close to the wind’. To understand this puzzle-like phenomenon, we surveyed 220 residents in a lead-zinc mining area located in Fenghuang County of China. We found that: 1) The degree of risk perception of villagers living around the mining site correlated inversely with their degree of involvement in mining risk. We refer to this as the ‘‘involvement’’ version of the psychological typhoon eye effect. 2) Perceived benefit and perceived harm provided a satisfactory explanation for this ‘‘involvement’’ version of the psychological typhoon eye effect. 3) Risk perception was negatively related to support for the relevant policy which we viewed as constituting a sort of voting behavior. The results may have implications for better understanding how benefited individuals respond to environmental health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the synthesis and multifunctional utilization of core-satellite carbon-Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles to serve as the enabling platform for a range of applications including oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and magnetic adsorbent. Starting from polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles and Fe(NO 3 ) 3 , carbon-Fe 3 O 4 core–satellite nanospheres are synthesized through successive steps of impregnation, ammoniation and carbonization. The synergistic combination of Fe 3 O 4 and N-doped carbon endows the nanocomposite with high electrochemical activity in ORR and mainly four electrons transferred in reaction process. Furthermore, carbon-Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles used as magnetic adsorbent exhibit the efficient removal of Rhodamine B from an aqueous solution. The recovery and reuse of the adsorbent is demonstrated 5 times without any detectible loss in activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate how the structural connectivity altered in combined antiretroviral therapy-treated (cART+) HIV patients and cART-naive (cART-) HIV patients by conducting Network analysis of Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) data. We enrolled 22 cART-, 23 cART+ and 28 normal controls (NC) in our current study. Firstly, the DTI imaging data pre-processing was conducted and the asymmetric 90 × 90 matrix for each participant from their DTI data was obtained with the use of PANDA. Then, we applied a graph-theoretical network analysis toolkit, GRETNA v2.0, to calculate metrics such as small-"worldness," characteristic path length, clustering coefficient, global efficiency, local efficiency, and nodal "betweenness". Finally, we took comparisons among the three groups to investigate topological alterations. Results (1) the regional characteristics (nodal efficiency) were altered in cART- and cART+ patients predominantly in the frontal cortical regions; (2) changes in various network properties in cART+treat and cART-patients were associated with the performance of behavior functions; (3) Hubs redistributed in HIV subjects especially in cART+ patients. The regional characteristics (nodal efficiency) were altered in cART- and cART+ patients predominantly in the frontal cortical region, and changes in various network properties in cART- and cART+ patients were associated with the performance of behavior functions. In addition, Hubs redistributed in HIV subjects especially in cART+ patients. • This study combined the DTI and topological methods to elucidate the possible pathological mechanism underlying the neurocognitive disorders of HIV patients. • The current study was divided into three groups, Healthy control, HIV patients with regular cART, therapy, and HIV patients without cART. • This study also investigate the relationships between regional characteristics and neurocognitive tests, which can help with the exploration of the mechanism of HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serine palmitoyltransferase long chain-1 (SPTLC1), which is the rate-limiting enzyme for sphingolipid biosynthesis, has been indicated to be essential for carcinoma cell survival and proliferation in recent, but its role in the regulation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unknown. In the present study, we found that SPTLC1 expression was significantly decreased in RCC tissues compared to non-tumor tissues, and low SPTLC1 expression was associated with poor overall survival of RCC patients. In addition, our results revealed that forced expression of SPTLC1 could significantly inhibit cell growth in vitro and in vivo via, at least in part, modulating Akt/FOXO1 signaling pathway, thus representing a novel role of SPTLC1 in the regulation of tumor growth in RCC for the first time. • SPTLC1 expression was decreased in RCC tissues and predicts poor overall survival of RCC patients. • SPTLC1 could inhibit the cell growth of RCC cells in vitro and in vivo. • SPTLC1 inhibits the cell growth via modulating Akt/FOXO1 signal pathway in RCC cells. • SPTLC1 increases the activity and expression of FOXO1 in an Akt-depended manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuCo 2 S 4 is regarded as a promising electrode material for supercapacitor, but has inferior conductivity and poor cyclic stability which restrict its wide-range applications. In this work, hierarchically hybrid composite of CuCo 2 S 4 /carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was synthesized using a facile hydrothermal and sulfuration process. The embedded CNTs in the CuCo 2 S 4 matrix provided numerous effective paths for electron transfer and ion diffusion, and thus promoted the faradaic reactions of the CuCo 2 S 4 electrode in the energy storage processes. The CuCo 2 S 4 /CNTs-3.2% electrode exhibited a significantly increased specific capacitance of 557.5 F g−1 compared with those of the pristine CuCo 2 S 4 electrode (373.4 F g−1) and CuO/Co 3 O 4 /CNTs-3.2% electrode (356.5 F g−1) at a current density of 1 A g−1. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was assembled using the CuCo 2 S 4 /CNTs-3.2% as the positive electrode and the active carbon as the negative electrode, which exhibited an energy density of 23.2 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 402.7 W kg−1. Moreover, the residual specific capacitance of this ASC device retained 85.7% of its original value after tested for 10,000 cycles, indicating its excellent cycle stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study on phase equilibria at 328.15 K in the system (Na + , K + //Cl − , SO 4 2− -(CH 2 OH) 2 -H 2 O) and its subsystem (Na + , K + //SO 4 2− -(CH 2 OH) 2 -H 2 O) was carried out by the method of isothermal solution saturation. In these systems, the initial mass fraction of ethylene glycol is 30% in the salt-free binary solvent (water + ethylene glycol). The solubilities, densities, viscosities, and refractive indices of saturated solutions have been measured for the two systems. According to the experimental results, solubility curves and physical properties ( ρ , η , n D ) curves are plotted. In the subsystem (Na + , K + //SO 4 2− -(CH 2 OH) 2 -H 2 O), there are two invariant points, three invariant curves, and three fields of crystallization corresponding to K 2 SO 4 , Na 2 SO 4 . 3K 2 SO 4 , Na 2 SO 4 . In the system (Na + , K + //Cl − , SO 4 2− -(CH 2 OH) 2 -H 2 O), there are five crystallization fields, seven univariant curves, and three eutonic points corresponding to three salts, that is (K 2 SO 4 + Na 2 SO 4 . 3K 2 SO 4 + KCl), (Na 2 SO 4 + Na 2 SO 4 . 3K 2 SO 4 + KCl) and (Na 2 SO 4 + NaCl + KCl), respectively. No solvate phases with ethylene glycol are observed and no solid solutions are found. All the physical properties ( ρ , η , n D ) of both systems change regularly with concentration change of the liquid phase. In comparison with the phase diagram of the system (Na + , K + //Cl − , SO 4 2− -(CH 2 OH) 2 -H 2 O) at 328.15 K and this quaternary system (Na + , K + //Cl − , SO 4 2− -H 2 O) at 323.15 K, the size of the salt crystallization fields changes significantly. The experimental results reveal that the presence of ethylene glycol significantly reduces the solubility of the salts in the aqueous solution. These changes between phase diagrams at different solvents and temperatures will be very useful for extracting the salts. According to this work, the measured values and phase equilibrium diagrams can be used for a new technology to design and optimize the production of K 2 SO 4 by the conversion process with industrial KCl and mirabilite aqueous mixtures, and provide fundamental data support for chemical industry development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wrinkles exist widely in nature and our life. In this paper, wrinkles on polydopamine (PDA)/polystyrene (PS) bilayer films were formed by thermal annealing due to the different thermal coefficients of expansion of each layer. The factors that influenced the dimensions of wrinkles were studied. We found that oriented wrinkles could be formed if the bilayer films were patterned with micro-grooves, and the degree of the orientation depended on the thickness of the PDA and the dimensions of the grooves. Combined with the strong adhesion, biocompatibility and reactivity of PDA, the oriented wrinkles on PDA/PS patterned bilayers may find potential application in diffraction gratings, optical sensors and microfluidic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, β-arrestin1 was indicated as a tumor promoter in prostate cancer, but its exact role in cancer metastasis still have not been well clarified. Here, our data revealed that β-arrestin1 could promote the migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells via initiating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanically, β-arrestin1 could increase the transcriptional activity and expression of β-catenin, together with Akt activity, whereas decrease the activities of GSK-3β and PP2A. In addition, β-arrestin1 could function as a scaffold protein in modulating the interactions between PP2A, Akt, GSK-3β and β-catenin. These results reveal a novel mechanism of β-arrestin1 in modulating EMT and GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling in prostate cancer, thereby suggest that assessment of β-arrestin1 may provide a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androgen deprivation therapy is the gold standard regimen for advanced Prostate cancer (PCa) patients, nevertheless, patients eventually develop into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Currently only a few chemotherapeutics are available for CRPC. Therefore, it is critical for identifying a new drug. In this study, we will explore a new agent, Saikosaponin-d (SSd), for CRPC therapy based on its mechanism of action. DU145 and CWR22Rv1 cells representing CRPC were employed in this study. A series of cell, biochemical, and molecular biologic assays such as Immunofluorescence, Zymography, Sphere formation, Colony formation, and MTT were used. Finally, we find SSd can significantly inhibit the growth of PCa cells in both dose- and time-dependent and suppress the colony formation during a long-term drug administration, it also can inhibit their migration and invasion abilities, which was accompanied by reverse the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and suppress MMP2/9 expression as well as activities. Furthermore, SSd can suppress cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotypes such as self-renewal ability. Mechanistically, SSd blocks Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by decreasing GSK3β phosphorylation to affect EMT and CSC. These findings demonstrate the mechanism of anti-cancer activity of SSd in targeting EMT and CSC, suggesting SSd can be a potent agent for CRPC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The tropical elements occupied the Indochina Peninsula during the early Eocene. • The subtropical elements were transformed from the tropical elements during Miocene cooling and the onset of the EASM. • The EASM started at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary and intensified between the late Miocene and the Pliocene. • Subtropical China is vital to conservation planning. The complexity of global biodiversity in the tropical Indochina Peninsula and subtropical China bioregions has fascinated biologists for decades, but little is known about the spatiotemporal patterns in these regions. Accordingly, the aims of present study were to investigate the evolutionary and distribution patterns of Engelhardia in these regions and establish a model for examining biogeographic patterns and geological events throughout the tropical Indochina Peninsula and subtropical China. The effects of geological events occurring in the area between the Indochina Peninsula and subtropical China bioregions on the two trees species (i.e., E. roxburghiana and E. fenzelii) were evaluated. A robust phylogenetic framework of 884 individuals from 79 populations was used to generate time-calibrated cytoplasmic and nuclear phylogenetic frameworks based on cpDNA, nrDNA, and nSSR data, respectively. When considered along with ancestral area reconstructions, the genetic data were also used to assess and reconstruct the species' population genetic structure and diversity. These analyses yielded important information about the (1) historical distribution relationships between the tropical and subtropical flora of China; (2) effects of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) on the evolutionary history of Asia's plants; and (3) importance of biogeography in conservation planning. Although cytoplasmic-nuclear discordance indicated cpDNA and nrDNA were subject to distinct evolutionary mechanisms that reflected respective evolutionary histories of the plastid and nuclear genomes of prior demographic and biogeographic events. The tropical elements of Engelhardia occupied the Indochina Peninsula during the early Eocene, whereas the subtropical elements were transformed from the tropical elements during Miocene cooling and the onset of the EASM at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary, intensified during the late Miocene and Pliocene, facilitating the transformation of Engelhardia from the tropical Indochina Peninsula to subtropical China. Demographic history provided insights into prominent planning frameworks in conservation biology, namely that subtropical China functioned as a refugium during past climate oscillations and will continue to serve in this capacity in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major causative agent of respiratory tract infection necessitating hospitalization in children. A rapid diagnostic method would facilitate early detection of RSV infection and timely implementation of special treatment. Here, a reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) assay combined with lateral flow dipstick (LFD) was evaluated for rapid visual detection of RSV. The primers were designed to target the conserved L gene. The RT-RPA-LFD assay could simultaneously detect RSV subtype A and B with the same detection limit of 10 copies of a given RNA molecule. Moreover, the assay showed no cross-reactivity with other common human pathogens. The performance of the RT-RPA-LFD assay was evaluated by testing 136 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs). The agreement of the detection results between RT-RPA-LFD and qRT-PCR was 100% (34 positive and 102 negative cases). In summary, the developed RT-RPA-LFD assay had good performance in detecting RSV in clinical specimens, thus providing a novel alternative solution for the detection of RSV under field conditions. • The RT-RPA-LFD assay was established for rapid detection of RSV. • The RT-RPA-LFD assay could simultaneously detect RSV subtype A and B with the same detection limit. • The RT-RPA-LFD assay had the potential to apply in resource-limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]