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As one of short-chain fatty acids, butyrate is an important metabolite of dietary fiber by the fermentation of gut commensals. Our recent study uncovered that butyrate promoted IL-22 production in fish macrophages to augment the host defense. In the current study, we further explored the underlying signaling pathways in butyrate-induced IL-22 production in fish macrophages. Our results showed that butyrate augmented the IL-22 expression in head kidney macrophages (HKMs) of turbot through binding to G-protein receptor 41 (GPR41) and GPR43. Moreover, histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) inhibition apparently up-regulated the butyrate-enhanced IL-22 generation, indicating HDACs were engaged in butyrate-regulated IL-22 secretion. In addition, butyrate triggered the STAT3/HIF-1α signaling to elevate the IL-22 expression in HKMs. Importantly, the evidence in vitro and in vivo was provided that butyrate activated autophagy in fish macrophages via IL-22 signaling, which contributing to the elimination of invading bacteria. In conclusion, we clarified in the current study that butyrate induced STAT3/HIF-1α/IL-22 signaling pathway via GPCR binding and HDAC3 inhibition in fish macrophages to activate autophagy that was involved in pathogen clearance in fish macrophages. • Butyrate induces IL-22 production by macrophages both in teleost fish and in mammals. • Butyrate promotes IL-22 production via GPR41/43 and HDAC3 inhibition. • STAT3 is involved in butyrate-induced HIF-1α/IL-22 in HKMs. • Butyrate activates IL-22 signaling to trigger autophagy, contributing to the clearance of pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the structural response of bridges is extremely important for highway asset management and bridge structural health monitoring. Instrumenting every bridge in a road network and maintaining the monitoring instrumentation over decades of service can be financially infeasible. Mechanical intuition suggests a significant relationship exists between responses of two sets of bridges reasonably similar in design exposed to an identical load. This study explores the use of data-driven models to forecast the response of one bridge to a given truck load using the response of another bridge to the same loading profile. By deploying a modern monitoring system in multiple bridges in the same highway corridor integrated in a cyber-physical systems (CPS) framework, and utilizing advanced computer vision algorithms, the authors have gathered a unique dataset consisting of pairs of bridge responses to the same truck load from live traffic moving across a 32.2 km (20 miles) stretch of the I-275 highway in southeast Michigan. Signal processing techniques have been employed to isolate the response of the bridges to a single truck load in a time series of recorded responses. Then, a deep-learning-based time series forecasting framework using the encoder-decoder architecture with gated recurrent unit (GRU) and long short-term memory (LSTM) cells has been used for bridge response forecasting. Baseline models based on linear time series models are also developed to which the deep-learning forecasting models can be compared. After training the models, it is observed that deep-learning-based models can accurately forecast the response of one bridge using the response of another and reduce the forecasting root-mean-squared error (RMSE) by at least 20% relative to baseline linear models. The forecasting capabilities of the encoder-decoder architecture proposed herein outperform traditional approaches to response forecasting. Trained versions of the encoder-decoder forecasting model can be used to provide reliable estimates of bridge response using a single instrumented bridge in a corridor, thereby enhancing the value of data from instrumented bridges for asset management of bridge networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OGG1 is the first enzyme in the base excision repair pathway (BER) responsible for repairing 8-oxoguanine DNA lesions. Recent studies found that OGG1 may also be involved in epigenetic regulation. In this study, we focused on the roles of OGG1 in histone modification. First, to study the effects of OGG1 on histone modification, the protein levels of symmetric dimethylation of histone H4 arginine-3 (H4R3me2s) were determined by western blot analysis following the knockdown or overexpression of OGG1. Second, the molecular mechanisms by which OGG1 regulates H4R3me2s were assessed by co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) assays in mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) wild-type (WT) and Ogg −/− cells. Finally, to verify the regulation of H4R3me2s by OGG1 on specific genes, chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) was performed on MEF WT and Ogg −/− cells. We found that OGG1 affects PRMT5 binding on histone H4 and the formation of H4R3me2s via PRMT5. The methylation level of H4R3me2s was dramatically decreased in MEF Ogg −/− cells compared to WT cells. Knockdown of OGG1 by siRNA led to a decrease in H4R3me2s, while overexpression of OGG1 increased the level of H4R3me2s. OGG1 also interacted with PRMT5 and histone H4, and the interaction between PRMT5 and histone H4 was reduced in MEF Ogg −/− cells. Our data not only illustrate the important roles of OGG1 in histone modification, but also reveal the mechanism by which OGG1 affects PRMT5 binding on H4R3 resulting in the symmetrical dimethylation of histone H4 arginine-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IL-22 has been characterized as a critical cytokine in maintaining barrier integrity and host immunity. So far, it has been known that IL-22 is mainly produced by lymphoid lineage cells. In the present study, we have thoroughly investigated butyrate-induced production and function of IL-22 in fish macrophages. Our results demonstrated that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), major microbiota-derived metabolites, promoted the expression of IL-22 in head kidney macrophages (HKMs) of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). Interestingly, butyrate-mediated intracellular bacterial killing in HKMs diminished when IL-22 expression was interfered. Furthermore, the turbot fed the diet containing sodium butyrate (NaB) exhibited significantly lower mortality after bacterial infection, compared to the fish fed a basal diet. At the meantime, a higher level of IL-22 expression and bactericidal activity was detected in HKMs from the turbot fed NaB-supplemented diet. In addition, NaB treatment promoted the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) β-defensins in zebrafish (Danio rerio). However, butyrate-induced expression of AMPs was reduced in IL-22 mutant zebrafish compared to wild-type (WT) fish. Meanwhile, NaB treatment was incapable to protect IL-22 mutant fish from bacterial infection as it did in WT zebrafish. Importantly, our results demonstrated that IL-22 expression was remarkably suppressed in macrophage-depleted zebrafish, indicating that macrophage might be a cell source of IL-22 production in vivo. In conclusion, all these findings collectively revealed that SCFAs regulated the production and function of IL-22 in fish macrophages, which facilitated host resistance to bacterial invasion. • Butyrate induces IL-22 production in fish macrophages. • HIF-1α is involved in butyrate-induced IL-22 expression in head kidney macrophages. • IL-22 promotes the secretion of antibacterial components in macrophages to eliminate pathogens. • Fish macrophages could be a cell source for IL-22 in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a malignant tumor with a high mortality rate. Methylation modifications acted a crucial role to affect cancer progression. The current study aimed to explore the potential role of methylase regulators in PAAD prognosis and immune microenvironment. PubMed and TCGA databases were used to systematically analyze methylase regulators in PAAD. We identified three methylase clusters based on RNA methylase transcriptome data and obtained three gene clusters based on methylase modification-related differently expressed genes using principal component analysis (PCA) analysis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) biological processes were performed to explore the processes enriched in the different subgroups and single sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used to analyze the relationship between subgroups and immune infiltration in PAAD. We systematically screened 43 methylase regulators in PAAD samples and identified three methylase clusters with different clinical outcomes, as well as detected a significant relationship between methylase clusters and tumor immune infiltration. The top ten mutated genes include TP53, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), titin gene (TTN), mucin 16 (MUC16), SMAD4, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2a (CDKN2A), Ryanodine receptor isoform-1 (RYR1), ring finger 43 (RNF43), protocadherin-15 (PCDH15), and AT-rich interacting domain-containing protein 1 A gene (ARID1A). The current study constructed an m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G modulator genes and explored methylase modification-related genes, which were related to the prognosis of PAAD patients and the immune checkpoint point cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4). These findings may provide prognostic predictors and direction for immunotherapy strategies for the treatment of PAAD. • Study identified profile the gene signatures of methylase-related regulators in PAAD. • Different methylase modification patterns acted a crucial role in the complexity of TME. • The methylase scores and TMB were associated with patients' prognoses. • Methylase modification-related DEGs are correlated with immune checkpoint therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of a simple method for preparation of stable open tubular (OT) columns for proteins separation by capillary electrochromatography is still challenging. In this work, the titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles coated OT column was successfully prepared for separation of proteins by capillary electrochromatography. The polydopamine (PDA) film was first formed in the inner surface of a fused-silica capillary by the self-polymerization of dopamine under alkaline conditions. Then the TiO 2 coating was deposited onto the surface of pre-modified capillary with PDA by a liquid phase deposition process. The plentifully active hydroxyl groups in PDA coating can chelate with Ti 4+ to boost the nucleation and growth of TiO 2 film. The as-prepared TiO 2 coated OT column was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and measurement of electroosmotic flow. Furthermore, the influence of liquid phase deposition time on the TiO 2 coating was investigated. The TiO 2 coated OT column was used for successful separation of two variants of β-lactoglobulin and eight glycoisoforms of ovalbumin. The column demonstrated good repeatability and stability. The relative standard deviations of migration times of proteins representing run-to-run, day-to-day, and column-to-column were less than 3.7%. Moreover, the application of the column was verified by successful separation of acidic proteins in egg white. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this meta-analysis was to explore associations between polymorphisms in CTLA-4/IL-18 and chronic liver diseases by combing the results of all relevant studies. Eligible studies were searched from Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane library. We used Review Manager to combine the results of eligible studies. Sixty-seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. Combined results revealed that CTLA-4 rs231775 (dominant, recessive and allele comparisons), IL-18 rs1946518 (dominant, recessive and allele comparisons) and IL-18 rs187238 (dominant, over-dominant and allele comparisons) polymorphisms were all significantly associated with chronic liver diseases in the overall population. We also obtained similar positive results for rs231775, rs5742909, rs3087243, rs1946518 and rs187238 polymorphisms in subgroup analyses by ethnicity and type of disease. This meta-analysis demonstrated that CTLA-4 rs231775, CTLA-4 rs5742909, CTLA-4 rs3087243, IL-18 rs1946518 and IL-18 rs187238 polymorphisms may confer susceptibility to certain types of chronic liver diseases. • This is a comprehensive meta-analysis about CTLA-4/IL-18 polymorphisms and chronic liver diseases. • We found that rs231775, rs5742909 and rs3087243 polymorphisms were significantly associated with chronic liver diseases. • We found that rs1946518 and rs187238 polymorphisms were also significantly associated with chronic liver diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dysregulation of neuronal networks contributes to the etiology of psychiatric diseases, including anxiety. However, the neural circuits underlying anxiety symptoms remain unidentified. We observed acute restraint stress activating excitatory neurons in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT). Activation of PVT neurons caused anxious behaviors, whereas suppression of PVT neuronal activity induced an anxiolytic effect, achieved by using a chemogenetic method. Moreover, we found that the PVT neurons showed plentiful neuronal projections to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). Activation of PVT-BNST neural projections increased the susceptibility of stress-induced anxiety-related behaviors, and inhibition of this neural circuit produced anxiolysis. The insular cortex (IC) is an important upstream region projecting to PVT. Activation of IC-PVT neuronal projections enhanced susceptibility to stress induced anxious behaviors. Inhibiting this neural circuit suppressed anxious behaviors. Moreover, anterograde monosynaptic tracing results showed that the IC exerts strong neuronal projections to PVT, forming synaptic connections with its neurons, and these neurons throw extensive neuronal fibers to form synapse with BNST neurons. Finally, our results showed that ablation of neurons in PVT receiving monosynaptic input from IC attenuated the anxiety-related phenotypes induced by activating IC neurons. Lesions of the neurons in BNST synaptic origination from PVT blocked the anxiety-related phenotypes induced by activating PVT neurons. Our findings indicate that the PVT is a crucial anxiety-regulating nucleus, and the IC-PVT-BNST neural projection is an essential pathway affecting anxiety morbidity and treatment. • Acute restraint stress activates the excitatory neurons in PVT. • Activation or suppression of PVT neurons causes or reduces anxiety-related behaviors. • The PVT neurons show strong neural projections to BNST, and receive extensive neural input from IC. • Activation of PVT-BNST or IC-PVT neural circuit causes enhanced susceptibility to anxious behaviors. • Suppression of PVT-BNST or IC-PVT neuronal projection produces anxiolytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The MnO 2 @ZIF-8 core–shell nanoparticles for highly efficient dye degradation have been synthesized with a green method. ZIF-8 crystals with controlled morphology and size are first synthesized by using peptide to modulate the crystal growth. MnO 2 is then coated on ZIF-8 via in situ reaction. The surface MnO 2 density can be controlled by the dosage of KMnO 4. The MnO 2 @ZIF-8 nanoparticles work as photocatalyst to degrade rhodamine B in a Fenton-like process, giving a degradation ratio of > 96.0%. The degradation kinetics comply well with the Pseudo-second-order model and the experimental equilibrium data meet the Langmuir model best. The specific hierarchical structure of MnO 2 @ZIF-8 assures a synergistic enhancement of the catalytic degradation performance from several aspects. First, anchoring of the MnO 2 nanoparticles on ZIF-8 allows their well disperse to provide more active surface area. Second, highly porous ZIF-8 can adsorb dye molecules to accumulate them at the surface reactive sites. Third, the MnO 2 /ZIF-8 nano-heterojunctions enhance charge carrier transfer and accelerate the production of free oxidative radicals. The study demonstrates a green method for fabrication of hierarchical hybrid structures, paving the way for designing novel photocatalysts with potential applications for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of ultrasonic treatment on the fermentation capability, water distribution of dough, and gluten's structural characteristics were investigated. Results suggest that the ultrasound works best under plate mode with the treatment duration and the power density being 6 min and 105 W/L, respectively. With the increment of power density, the bound water and free SH group content increased first and then decreased. Moreover, under ultrasound treatment, the β-sheet and random coil increased, while α-helix and β-turn decreased. Enhanced power density also caused the particle diameter and Young's modulus to plummet then increase. Free SH and Young's modulus correlated with H m significantly (P < 0.05). Besides, SH, bound water, and the immobilized water displayed a strong correlation with T x (P < 0.05). The results show that the appropriate ultrasound pretreatment can improve dough's gas retention capacity and enhance the gluten network structure's mechanical properties. [Display omitted] • The fermentation capability under different ultrasound operating parameters was evaluated. • Ultrasound treatment improved the water holding capacity of fermented dough. • The appropriate ultrasonic pretreatment enhanced the Nano-mechanical properties of the gluten network structure. • The relationship between the fermentation capability, moisture distribution and protein structure was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common, serious, debilitating mental illness. Protein phosphatase Mg2+/Mn2+-dependent 1F (PPM1F), a serine/threonine phosphatase, has been reported to have multiple biological and cellular functions. However, the effects of PPM1F and its neuronal substrates on depressive behaviors remain largely unknown. Here, we showed that PPM1F is widely distributed in the hippocampus, and chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) can induce increased expression of PPM1F in the hippocampus, which was correlated with depression-associated behaviors. Overexpression of PPM1F mediated by adeno-associated virus (AAV) in the dentate gyrus (DG) produced depression-related behaviors and enhanced susceptibility to subthreshold CUS (SCUS) in both male and female mice, while, knockout of PPM1F in DG produced antidepressant phonotypes under stress conditions. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that overexpression of PPM1F increased the neuronal excitability of the granule cells in the DG. Consistent with neuronal hyperexcitability, overexpression of PPM1F regulated the expression of certain ion channel genes and induced decreased phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CAMKII) and Adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in hippocampus. These results suggest that PPM1F in the DG regulates depression-related behaviors by modulating neuronal excitability, which might be an important pathological gene for depression or other mental diseases. • CUS induces depression-related behaviors and increases the expression of PPM1F in hippocampus. • Overexpression of PPM1F in hippocampal DG produces depression-related behaviors. • Knockout of PPM1F in hippocampal DG produces antidepressant phonotypes. • Manipulation of PPM1F affects the excitability of DG granule cells, the expression of ion channel genes, and phosphorylation levels of CAMKII and AMPK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of high-speed water flow induced structural vibration during the flood discharge process of hydraulic structures has received increasing attention. This study reveals that the amplitude of the vibration response during flood discharge in the vibration test of a prototype overflow dam pier at a hydropower station varies significantly over time, indicating the existence of impact-type beat vibration, which can easily induce strong vibration of the structure and even cause damage. A beat vibration analysis model for the overflow dam pier based on adaptive variational modal decomposition (VMD) and automatic operational modal analysis is proposed to further analyze the mechanism of beat vibration generation. First, a mathematical model of beat vibration is developed to investigate the production conditions of beat vibration. Secondly, based on adaptive VMD and automatic operational modal analysis method, the main working modal shapes, frequency ratio and amplitude ratio of dam piers are determined, and the main vibration components causing beat vibration are quantitatively extracted to analyze the internal cause of beat vibration. Finally, the external cause of beat vibration were analyzed from the perspective of hydrodynamic load characteristics by combining the hydraulic and hydroelastic physical model tests of the overflow dam pier. The results show that the proposed beat vibration analysis model can effectively explain the occurrence mechanism of beat vibration and determining and extracting the main vibration modal shapes that cause beat vibration, which can provide a theoretical basis for its structural vibration reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) closely regulate the whole lifecycle of most RNA molecules, from the very early stage of transcription to RNA decay. Dysregulation of RBPs significantly affects the fate of cancer-related transcripts. Therefore, it is imperative to fully understand the complicated RBP-RNA regulatory networks in malignant diseases and to explore novel therapeutic targets. The RBP DAZAP1 (deleted in azoospermia-associated protein 1), originally identified as an important protein in spermatogenesis, had rarely been studied in the context of carcinogenesis. The role of DAZAP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was unveiled in this study. The relative expression of DAZAP1 was significantly upregulated in HCC and was positively associated with several key malignant characteristics and poor postoperative survival in patients. DAZAP1 knockdown by small interfering RNA markedly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, DAZAP1 significantly reduced cellular sensitivity to sorafenib (SF), which had been proven to be an inducer of ferroptosis by targeting the system Xc− (composed of a light chain, xCT/SLC7A11, and a heavy chain, 4F2 heavy chain). At the mechanistic level, DAZAP1 was identified as a potent inhibitor of ferroptosis and an efficient binding partner of SLC7A1 1 mRNA. Further study revealed that DAZAP1 interacted with the 3′UTR (untranslated region) of SLC7A1 1 mRNA and positively regulated its stability. In our work, we clarified novel functions of DAZAP1 and preliminarily revealed its underlying mechanism in ferroptosis, which may be conducive to the exploration of biomarkers and therapeutic targets in HCC patients. • DAZAP1 effectively promotes HCC progression. • DAZAP1 negatively regulates ferroptosis in HCC cells. • DAZAP1 interacts with SLC7A1 1 mRNA, and positively regulates its stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we successfully prepared high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) with 78%–90% oil phase based on pumpkin seed oil bodies (PSOBs) extracted by neutral extraction at 2800× g to 31000× g. There were no effects on the protein compositions and contents of PSOBs by different centrifugal forces. PSOBs included oleosin (14.5 kDa) and extrinsic proteins (22 kDa, 27 kDa, 33 kDa, 45 kDa). The HIPE-PSOB with 78% oil phase had relatively spherical droplets, which was similar to the PSOB with 72% oil phase extracted at 1000× g , while 83%–90% of the oil phase displayed polygonal droplets. All HIPEs-PSOB had gel-like properties, and HIPEs-PSOB with a higher oil phase had a better storage modulus. With the increase in the oil phase, the particle sizes increased, and the gel network structure, viscoelasticity, freeze‒thaw stability and oxidation stability improved, while the thermal stability worsened. This study offers guidance for expanding the application of OBs in food. • High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) are prepared by pumpkin seed oil body (PSOB). • Higher oil phase increased particle size, decreased thermal stability of HIPEs-PSOB. • Higher oil phase improved freeze-thaw and oxidation stability of HIPEs-PSOB. • HIPE-PSOB with 90% oil phase had better gel properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Many multi-center epidemiological studies have robustly examined the acute health effects of exposure to low concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) on cardiovascular mortality in developed counties. However, data limitations have resulted in few related studies being conducted in developing counties with high levels of PM 2.5 exposure. In recent years, people in China with a heavy cardiovascular disease burden have been exposed to particularly high levels of PM 2.5 . Objective We conducted a multi-county time series study investigating the acute effects of PM 2.5 on the increased risk of cardiovascular death across China, and explored subpopulations susceptible to PM 2.5 exposure. Methods Appling a county-specific Poisson regression in 30 Chinese counties, we estimated PM 2.5 effects on all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality of cardiovascular health for 2013–2015. We also considered PM 2.5 effects on several subpopulations, including males, females, and three age groups (< 65, 65–74 and > 74 years old). We pooled the county-specific results across China using a random effects meta-analysis by cause and by subpopulation. Results We found a 0.13% (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.04–0.22) increase in all-cause mortality, a 0.12% increase (95% CI, 0.001–0.25) increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD), a 0.42% (95% CI, 0.03–0.81) increase in AMI, a 0.17% (95% CI, −0.04–0.40) increase in coronary heart disease, and a 0.13% (95% CI, −0.12–0.33) increase in stroke in association with a 10-μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 concentrations on the same day. The magnitudes of the associations were less than those reported in developed counties with lower PM 2.5 levels. A vulnerable effect on all-cause mortality was observed in the elderly population (older than 65 years) and on CVD in males. Conclusions This study showed the positive magnitude of PM 2.5 effects with high exposure on all natural, CVD, and cause-specific mortality and on the susceptible populations in China. The findings complemented evidence related to exposure-mortality relationships at the higher end of short-term exposure to PM 2.5 on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is characterized by a slow-growing infiltrative neoplasm that is often unresectable by traditional methods because of strong adhesions and invasion to adjacent structures. We present our experience with liver autotransplantation and retrohepatic inferior vena cava (RHIVC) reconstruction using autogenous veins in patients with this end-stage parasitic disease. Methods Twelve patients with hepatic AE and extensive RHIVC, hepatic vein, and/or hilar invasion underwent ex vivo liver resection and RHIVC reconstruction using autogenous veins followed by autotransplantation in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2013 to 2016. Results The mean weight of the harvested liver graft was 537 g (range: 390-900 g), the mean anhepatic time was 216 min (range, 120-310 min), and the mean operation time was 13.6 h (range, 10.5-19.5 h). The main postoperative complication was bile leakage. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 16.4 d (range, 10.0-37.0 d), and the median follow-up time was 15.5 mo (range, 1.0-32.0 mo). All patients were alive at the latest follow-up. The vascular patency rate was 100%, and no residual disease, recurrence, or metastasis was detected. Conclusions To our knowledge, liver autotransplantation and RHIVC reconstruction using autogenous veins are rarely performed for patients with end-stage hepatic AE. This technique requires no organ donor, allogeneic, or artificial vessel implantation, postoperative immunosuppressive therapy, or long-term postoperative anticoagulant treatment. These benefits may make the treatment of select end-stage hepatic AE patients more affordable and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the fermentation properties and quality attributes of fresh and ultrasonicated dough and the hierarchical structure of starches isolated from ultrasonicated dough were evaluated to understand the causal relations. It can be observed that ultrasound treatment could improve the dough fermentation performance, including the maximum height, total CO 2 volume, and CO 2 retention volume, by controlling the irradiation time (within 20 min), consequently enhancing the specific volume of steamed bread and decreasing its hardness. And these changes may be attributed to the pores and cracks that emerged on granular structure, relatively polydisperse semicrystalline lamellae, lessened amounts of crystallites, reduced short-range ordered degree and double helix fractions, which facilitated the interaction between yeast and starch granules, eventually improving the dough fermentation performance and developing high-quality steamed bread. These results indicate that ultrasound treatment is beneficial for designing steamed bread with tailored quality through rationally controlling the intrinsic starch structure in dough. [Display omitted] • Ultrasound treatment improved the fermentation performance of dough. • Ultrasound treatment enhanced quality attributes of steamed bread. • Ultrasound treatment resulted in disordering for starch hierarchical structures. • Structural destructions facilitated the CO 2 production during dough fermentation. • Relationship between fermentation properties and starch structure was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The role of splenectomy on prophylaxis against hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) for HBV-related end-stage liver diseases with severe hypersplenism and splenomegaly remains unclear today. Methods: A total of 510 consecutive patients with HBV-related end-stage liver diseases who underwent LT in Liver Transplantation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) between June 1999 and October 2009 were studied retrospectively in this study. Patients were divided into three groups in this study: splenectomized group (group A, n =137), including preoperatively splenectomized subgroup (group A1, n =48) and intraoperatively splenectomized subgroup (group A2, n =89); nonsplenectomized group with severe hypersplenism (group B, n =95); and nonsplenectomized group without severe hypersplenism (group C, n =278). The incidence of posttransplant rejection, posttransplant infection, posttransplant hepatic cell carcinoma recurrence rate, and HBV recurrence rate were recorded. The end of the follow-up period was October 2010. Results: In this study, six patients with HBV recurrence were found in group A, 15 cases in group B, and 13 cases in group C during the follow-up period. (1) The incidence of posttransplant rejection in patients of group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P =0.0023) and also the HBV recurrence rates in group A markedly decreased (P =0.004). (2) The incidence of posttransplant rejection in group A was significantly lower than that in group C (P =0.0433); however, the incidence of posttransplant infection in group A largely increased compared with that in group C (P =0.0233). The HBV recurrence rates between group A and group C had no significant difference (P =0.804). (3) The HBV recurrence rates in group B were significantly higher than that in group C (P =0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that splenectomy could significantly reduce the incidence of posttransplant rejection and HBV recurrence rate for the patients undergoing LT for HBV-related end-stage liver diseases with severe hypersplenism and splenomegaly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The growing gap between the number of patients waiting for transplantation and available organs is still the main issue facing the transplant community. The major limitation of adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is the small-for-size problem because of the concern of donor safety. We report preliminary experiences for preventing small-for-size syndrome using dual grafts from one right lobe without the middle hepatic vein and one left lateral segment in adult-to-adult LDLT. Methods: One hundred ten cases of adult-to-adult LDLT were performed in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2002 to August 2007, and there were 16 small-for-size (SFS) grafts in all grafts. Dual grafts LDLT was performed for six patients with end-stage liver disease, consisting of five cases from one right lobe without the middle hepatic vein and one left lateral segment, and one case from two left lobes. Results: All living donors underwent a full recovery from the operation without persistent complications. Four recipients died of sepsis, one recipient received re-transplantation, and three recipients received transplenic artery embolization in the recipients with SFS grafts. All recipients with dual grafts displayed good graft function and a majority of grafts showed normal triangular-shape regeneration of their respective liver grafts. Only in one left lateral segment atrophy occurred, graft hepatectomy was not required. Conclusion: Dual grafts from one right lobe without the middle hepatic vein and one left lateral segment in adult-to-adult LDLT can prevent the small-for-size problem and yet secure the safety of the donors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease, which characterized by deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, neuronal loss, and accompanied by neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammatory processes are well acknowledged to contribute to the progression of AD pathology. Histamine H3 receptor (H3R) is a presynaptic autoreceptor regulating histamine release via negative feedback way. Recently, studies show that H3R are highly expressed not only in neurons but also in microglia and astrocytes. H3R antagonist has been reported to have anti-inflammatory efficacy. However, whether inhibition of H3R is responsible for the anti-neuroinflammation in glial cells and neuroprotection on APPswe, PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1 Tg) mice remain unclear. In this study, we found that inhibition of H3R by thioperamide reduced the gliosis and induced a phenotypical switch from A1 to A2 in astrocytes, and ultimately attenuated neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 Tg mice. Additionally, thioperamide rescued the decrease of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and suppressed the phosphorylated P65 nuclear factor kappa B (p-P65 NF-κB) in APP/PS1 Tg mice. H89, an inhibitor of CREB signaling, abolished these effects of thioperamide to suppress gliosis and proinflammatory cytokine release. Lastly, thioperamide alleviated the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) and cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice, which were both reversed by administration of H89. Taken together, these results suggested the H3R antagonist thioperamide improved cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 Tg mice via modulation of the CREB-mediated gliosis and inflammation inhibiting, which contributed to Aβ clearance. This study uncovered a novel mechanism involving inflammatory regulating behind the therapeutic effect of thioperamide in AD. • Thioperamide suppresses glial activation and neuroinflammation in AD. • Thioperamide ameliorates Aβ deposition and cognitive impairments in AD. • Thioperamide activates cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in AD. • Thioperamide-mediated effects are abolished by CREB inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there are seldom researches on the application of potassium carbonate in dough. In this paper, the influence mechanism of potassium carbonate on the rheological properties of dough was analyzed by exploring effect of potassium carbonate on the structure and physicochemical properties of starch and protein in the dough. Compared with the control group, the disulfide bond, guache-guache-guache conformation, and β-sheet increased by 1.46 μmol/g, 9.02%, and 5.11%, respectively, when the addition amount of potassium carbonate was 0.6%. It showed that potassium carbonate induced protein aggregation and interaction in the dough which was the main reason for the increase of elasticity and the decrease of extensibility. The results also showed that potassium carbonate (>0.2%) destroyed the ordered structure in starch of dough. Nevertheless, the potassium carbonate had no influence on the crystal form of starch in the dough. [Display omitted] • Potassium carbonate significantly changed the rheological properties of dough. •Potassium carbonate (0.6%) induced protein aggregation best. •Potassium carbonate (>0.2%) destroyed the order of starch molecules. •Potassium carbonate had application potential in flour products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A right liver graft without the middle hepatic vein (MHV) trunk is now commonly used in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), but it is unclear whether hepatic venous collaterals would develop in clinical patient just after occlusion of hepatic veins. Between January 2005 and October 2006, 56 consecutive adult patients underwent LDLT using right lobe grafts without MHV in our center. Twenty-four patients (42.9%) had MHV tributaries reconstruction. Vascular flow in the graft and interposition vein graft patency was checked by Doppler ultrasonography (US) daily during hospital stay and monthly follow-up after discharge for 2 y. Among 24 cases with MHV reconstruction, interpositional graft block occurred in one case within 7 d after transplantation. A reversed flow in MHV tributaries and collaterals between MHV and right hepatic vein (RHV) was detected by Doppler US. Vessel graft blocks were found in 10 of 22 cases of MHV tributaries reconstruction between 4 to 9 mo after transplantation. Collaterals formation between MHV and RHV developed in 4 of 10 cases of vessel graft block, and their graft function did not deteriorate. In conclusion, nearly half of the patients needed reconstruction of MHV tributaries when a right lobe graft without MHV was used in LDLT. The authors thought that the reconstruction of MHV tributaries should be established when the congested area was dominant by the clamping test or when the diameter of the tributaries was >5 mm. It was found that there may not be any problems if reconstructed vessel graft obstruction was found 3 mo after transplantation, as intrahepatic venous collaterals between MHV and RHV could develop. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Fenton-like process has been regarded as a clean and efficient approach to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to deal with the ever-growing environmental pollution. However, developing improved catalysts with adequate activity and stability remains a long-term goal for practical application. Herein, crystalline carbon nanotubes (CNTs) interconnected Fe/Fe 3 C-doped nanoporous carbonitride (Fe-NC) was easily prepared by the pyrolysis of ZIF-8 confined with Fe3+. The obtained Fe–NCs possessed high degrees of graphitic carbon and nitrogen. Such Fe–NCs can enhance the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the removal of multiple organic contaminants. The optimized Fe-NC/PMS system exhibited impressive catalytic performance, with a TOF as high as 4.43 min−1 for 3BF degradation, and the removal efficiency of other dyes, phenols and antibiotics was up to 96.2% within 10 min. The removal efficiency of 3BF was 93.4% within 10 min with extremely low iron ions leaching (<0.052 mg/L) even after five cycles. In addition, the effects of pH on the catalytic performance demonstrated that the decomposition of 3BF exceeded 95.6% even when the initial pH varied from 5 to 10. We confirmed that SO 4 -, OH, O 2 - and 1O 2 were generated in the catalytic system of Fe-NC/PMS, which played a critical role in degrading the organics. These findings provide new insights into the design of environmental-friendly Fenton-like catalysts with high efficiency and favorable stability in environmental remediation. [Display omitted] • Carbon nanotubes interconnected Fe/Fe 3 C-doped carbonitride was facilely prepared. • This Fe-based catalyst possessed high graphitic carbon and nitrogen degree. • The Fe-NC/PMS system exhibited excellent performance for the removal of organics. • The degradation of pollutants was due to the generated SO 4 -, OH, O 2 - and 1O 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to expand application scope of pea protein isolate by improving its emulsification. Pea protein isolate was ground for different time, and changes in its structure and emulsification properties were studied, and then revealed the influence mechanism of grinding on emulsification. It was found that the β-sheet of protein decreased from 39.92% to 31.47% after grinding for 20 min, and the pea protein was converted from a solid ball to a hollow ball. So the emulsion flocculation index decreased from 1.01% to 0.29% and the amount of protein adsorbed increased by 4.5%, which showed that the emulsion stability of the pea protein was significantly improved. Within a short grinding time (2.5–5 min), the viscosity of the emulsion was increased. Studies had shown that proper grinding treatment made pea protein isolate possess greater potential for an excellent emulsifier. Image 1 • The pea protein isolate was treated with different dry grinding time. • Grinding disrupted the secondary structure of pea protein isolate. • Proper grinding could improve the stability of the emulsion. • Grinding affected the shear resistance of the emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal eutrophication has become a serious ecological problem in China and around the world. Examining biogeochemical nitrogen cycles may help to provide insights into the mechanism of the problem. Here, we mapped the spatial and temporal characteristics of the dual stable isotopes of nitrate (δN18O 3 − and δ15NO 3 −), nitrogen isotopes within particulates, and the hydrological parameters and nutrients in the South Yellow Sea during spring, summer and autumn. We further considered the nitrogen biogeochemical processes that are revealed by these nutrient and isotope signals in the area of the Yellow Sea cold water mass (YSCWM). The results indicated that nitrate assimilation was the main biogeochemical process in the upper layer of the YSCWM area. Nitrification was the main process that occurred at the interior of the YSCWM, which resulted in increasing concentrations of nitrate and decreasing values of δ15NO 3 − in the bottom layer from spring to autumn. The values of δN18O 3 − and the calculation of the apparent oxygen utilization (AOU)-nitrate stoichiometry relationship indicated that, in addition to nitrification, nitrate losses also occurred in the interior of the YSCWM, particularly from summer to autumn. Through field observation and theoretical calculations, we observed that the stable nitrogen isotope values from samples of surface particulate nitrogen in spring (δ15N p) mirrored the bottom δ15NO 3 − signatures that regenerated in autumn and winter, taking into consideration the shift due to uptake fractionation (ε = 4.92‰). This relationship supports the hypothesis that several key nitrogen processes in the YSCWM have important ecological effects. Specifically, as the YSCWM became weak in winter and the vertical mixture takes place thoroughly, nitrate generated from nitrification in the interior of the YSCWM is mixed upwards to the surface and becomes an important source, providing nutrients for primary production in the upper layers, especially in the following spring. This research provided a new perspective for primary production and its nutrient sources, especially in a coastal area where a typical water mass was located. Image 1 • Characterized a full seasonal variations of nitrogen processes of the YSCWM area. • Firstly observed that YSCWM provided nutrient for upper primary production. • New perspective of coastal nutrient sources when a typical water mass existed. • Conclusion is helpful in managing coastal eutrophication in China and other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]