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The identification of bacteriophage proteins in the host subcellular localization could provide important clues for understanding the interaction between phage and host bacteria as well as antibacterial drug design. To date, computational methods have been reported to identify bacteriophage proteins located in the host cell. However, there is still space for improving the prediction accuracy. The existing methods considering the sequence order correlation and the physicochemical property of protein provide us insights to construct an integrated descriptor based on sequence for phage proteins. Meanwhile, we proposed a feature selection technique to obtain the optimal features. In the jackknife test, the prediction accuracies are 86.7% and 97.9%, respectively for discrimination between PH proteins and non-PH proteins as well as PHM proteins and PHC proteins. Based on our model, we updated the web server PHPred to version 2.0 which can be freely accessed from http://lin-group.cn/server/PHPred2.0 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common degenerative disease among the elderly population. In addition to cognitive impairment, AD is often accompanied by behavioral manifestations. However, little attention has been paid to changes in bone metabolism and related mechanisms in patients with AD. We found that AD mice (APPswe/PS1dE9) had reduced bone density, weakened bone strength, and amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition in the bone tissue. It was further found that targeting autophagy receptors Optineurin (OPTN) and Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) increased bone density and bone strength in AD mice, promoted the clearance of Aβ in the bone tissue, and maintained bone homeostasis. Our study suggests that abnormal Aβ deposition may be the co-pathogenesis of AD and osteoporosis (OP). Targeting OPTN and SQSTM1 has a dual-functional effect of alleviating both AD and OP through selective autophagy that specifically targets Aβ for clearance. Therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy may help guide the treatment of patients with AD complicated with OP. • Alzheimer's disease is often accompanied by behavioral manifestations. • Aβ deposition may be the co-pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. • Selective autophagy contributes to the clearance of abnormally deposited Aβ. • Targeting autophagy is beneficial for Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional quantitative PCR (qPCR) are unable to differentiate DNA of viable Staphylococcus aureus cells from dead ones. The aim of this study was to use sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and propidium monoazide (PMA) coupled with lysostaphin to detect viable Staph. aureus. The cell suspensions were treated with SDS and PMA before DNA extraction. The SDS is an anionic surfactant, which can increase the permeability of dead cells to PMA without compromising the viability of live cells. The lysostaphin was applied to improve the effectiveness of DNA extraction. The reliability and specificity of this method were further determined by the detection of Staph. aureus in spiked milk. The results showed that there were significant differences between the SDS-PMA-qPCR and qPCR when a final concentration of 200 μg/mL of lysostaphin was added in DNA extraction. The viable Staph. aureus could be effectively detected when SDS and PMA concentrations were 100 µg/mL and 40 μM, respectively. Compared with conventional qPCR, the SDS-PMA-qPCR assay coupled with lysostaphin was more specific and sensitive. Therefore, this method could accurately detect the number of viable Staph. aureus cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report the new insight into lanthanide complexes with “shell-type” protection by the natural macrocyclic cavity. A family of mononuclear Ln(III) complexes 1 – 6 based on a 21-membered [1 + 1] Schiff-base macrocyclic ligand H 2 L, originating from extended dialdehyde H 2 pdd and 1,2-bis(2-aminoethoxy)ethane precursors, have been obtained by the template synthesis method. Crystal structure analysis reveals that each Ln(III) ion, coordinated to one macrocycle H 2 L and two nitrates, is successfully capsulated by macrocyclic cavity forming the “lasso-type” architecture. Meanwhile, the photophysical measurements are studied for all six complexes in CH 3 OH, showing characteristic luminescence peaks of the Sm(III) ion in the visible band range for complexes 3 which are attributed to efficient energy transfer from macrocyclic sensitizer H 2 L. This strong luminescence of Sm(III) complex 3 is also quantitatively evidenced and its quantum yield is as high as 0.35% in CH 3 OH at room temperature. Comparing other reported examples these lanthanide complexes support another reliable method to shield Ln(III) ions from quenchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Individuals with certain medical conditions are at substantially increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to assess COVID-19 vaccination among U.S. adults with reported medical conditions.Methods: Data from the National Immunization Survey-Adult COVID Module collected during August 1-September 25, 2021 were analyzed in 2022 to assess COVID-19 vaccination status, intent, vaccine confidence, behavior, and experience among adults with reported medical conditions. Unadjusted and age-adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs and APRs) were generated using logistic regression and predictive marginals.Results: Overall, COVID-19 vaccination coverage with ≥1 dose was 81.8% among adults with reported medical conditions, and coverage was significantly higher compared with those without such conditions (70.3%) Among adults aged ≥18 years with medical conditions, COVID-19 vaccination coverage was significantly higher among those with a provider recommendation (86.5%) than those without (76.5%). Among all respondents, 9.2% of unvaccinated adults with medical conditions reported they were willing or open to vaccination. Adults who reported high risk medical conditions were more likely to report receiving a provider recommendation, often or always wearing masks during the last 7 days, concerning about getting COVID-19, thinking the vaccine is safe, and believing a COVID-19 vaccine is important for protection from COVID-19 infection than those without such conditions.Conclusions: Approximately 18.0% of those with reported medical conditions were unvaccinated. Receiving a provider recommendation was significantly associated with vaccination, reinforcing that provider recommendation is an important approach to increase vaccination coverage. Ensuring access to vaccine, addressing vaccination barriers, and increasing vaccine confidence can improve vaccination coverage among unvaccinated adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and accumulating evidence suggested that proteostatic imbalance is a key feature of the disease. Traditional Chinese medicine exhibits a multi-target therapeutic effect, making it highly suitable for addressing protein homeostasis imbalance in AD. Dendrobium officinale is a traditional Chinese herbs commonly used as tonic agent in China. In this study, we investigated protection effects of D. officinale phenolic extract (SH-F) and examined its underlying mechanisms by using transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans models. We found that treatment with SH-F (50 μg/mL) alleviated Aβ and tau protein toxicity in worms, and also reduced aggregation of polyglutamine proteins to help maintain proteostasis. RNA sequencing results showed that SH-F treatment significantly affected the proteolytic process and autophagy–lysosomal pathway. Furthermore, we confirmed that SH-F showing maintainance of proteostasis was dependent on bec-1 by qRT-PCR analysis and RNAi methods. Finally, we identified active components of SH-F by LC-MS method, and found the five major compounds including koaburaside, tyramine dihydroferulate, N-p-trans-coumaroyltyramine, naringenin and isolariciresinol are the main bioactive components responsible for the anti-AD activity of SH-F. Our findings provide new insights to develop a treatment strategy for AD by targeting proteostasis, and SH-F could be an alternative drug for the treatment of AD. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoporous Ni Cu P amorphous alloy (NPA NiCuP) and nanoporous Ni Cu crystalline alloy (NP NiCu) have been prepared by potentiostatic etching of copper from the electroless Ni Cu P and Ni Cu alloy platings, respectively. The results of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersion Spectrum (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) indicate that the NPA–NiCuP alloy is amorphous structure and shows a porous network structure with the pore size of 100–300 nm. The electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine in alkaline media is investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and double potential step chronoamperometry (DPSCA). The results suggest that the proton diffusion coefficient of redox species and the reaction rate constant of the NPA–NiCuP alloy electrode in KOH solution are higher than those of the smooth electroless Ni Cu P amorphous (SA–NiCuP) and NP–NiCu alloy electrodes. In addition, the NPA–NiCuP electrode has higher anodic oxidation peak current density and lower onset oxidation potential of hydrazine in KOH solution than the SA–NiCuP and NP–NiCu electrodes. Finally, the CV measurement suggests that the NPA–NiCuP electrode has a relatively stable redox behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cell wall lipids phthiocerol dimycocerosates (PDIMs) and its structurally-related compound, phenolic glycolipids (PGLs) are major virulence factors of mycobacterium, as shown by the reduced growth of PDIMs/PGLs deficient mutants in various animal models. PDIMs/PGLs play active roles in modulating host immune responses. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of how PDIMs/PGLs deficient mutant was eliminated in vivo are still elusive. Our aim was to investigate what host immune responses have effect on mycobacterium elimination in vivo. Using microarray, we find PDIMs/PGLs modulate divergent host responses, including chemotaxis and focal adhesion's downstream pathway and apoptosis. We examine these two host responses by Diff-Quik stain, coupled with transmission electron microscopy and TUNEL stain respectively. The ultrastructure observation showed that eosinophils appeared in WT-infected zebrafish at day 1, however eosinophils arrived was delayed to day 7 in PDIMs/PGLs-deficient mutant-infected animals. More intriguingly, apoptosis was markedly increased in PDIMs/PGLs-mutant infected zebrafish at day 1 after infection, compared to WT-infected fishes at this time. However, apoptosis trend was fully reversed by day 7, with increased apoptosis were detected in WT-infected zebrafish compared with the PDIMs/PGLs-deficient mutant, especially more apoptosis within the granuloma. This study shows that the anti-apoptotic effects of PDIMs/PGLs and the recruitment of eosinophils in tissue during the early infection in zebrafish might promote bacterium growth in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoporous Ni-Cu-P amorphous alloy (NP-NiCuP) and nanoporous Ni-Cu crystalline alloy (NP-NiCu) are prepared by the linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) etching of copper from the electroless Ni-Cu-P and Ni-Cu alloy coatings, respectively. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis show that the nanoporous Ni-Cu-P alloy is amorphous structure. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrates the NP-NiCuP shows a 3-D bi-continuous porous structure with the pore size of 150–200 nm and the ligament size of around 100 nm. Electrochemical performances are measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). The results prove that the NP-NiCuP electrode exhibits higher the proton diffusion coefficient ( D 0 ) of Ni(OH) 2 and surface coverage ( Γ * ) of the redox species than those on smooth electroless Ni-Cu-P amorphous alloy (S-NiCuP) and NP-NiCu electrodes in alkaline solution obviously. Moreover, electro-oxidation of methanol suggests that the NP-NiCuP electrode holds higher anodic current density and lower onset potential than the S-NiCuP and NP-NiCu electrodes. Finally, the NP-NiCuP electrode has stable redox behavior and superior catalytic stability for methanol oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The ballistic performances of different UHMWPE/Airbag structures are analyzed. • A material model for TPU is established and used for simulation, considering the strain rate effect. • The effects of stress dispersion and deformation restraint on ballistic performance are discussed. • Enhancing ballistic protection through the interaction of two materials is highlighted. A series of flexible structures incorporating an airbag and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber panels were designed as temporary architectures to offer both ballistic protective functions and lightweight constructions. Three primary structural configurations, monolithic structures (airbag or UHMWPE panel alone), bi-layer structures (airbag/ UHMWPE panel and UHMWPE panel/airbag), and sandwich structures (UHMWPE panel/airbag/ UHMWPE panel) were tested. A T12A carbon tool steel sphere with the diameter of 12.7 mm was utilized as the ballistic threat within an impact velocity range of 0–500 m/s. Investigations into the effect of stacking order on ballistic performance were carried out experimentally and numerically. The failure characteristics, ballistic limits, energy dissipations, impact processes and interaction effects of these structures are discussed. To facilitate the establishment of numerical models for impact analysis using ABAQUS, a material constitutive model of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) including strain rate effect was developed. The numerical models of the monolithic single-sheet UHMWPE panel and airbag for impact analysis were subsequently verified by experiments in terms of impact processes and ballistic limits. The results reveal that arranging a few layers of UHMWPE panels in front of the airbag can improve the collapse ballistic limit while maintaining the failure ballistic limit. The inclusion of an airbag reduces the energy dissipation efficiency of composite structures. The potential to enhance ballistic protection through the combination of airbags and UHMWPE panels is highlighted. Stress dispersion and deformation restraint are identified as significant factors influencing the ballistic performance of the composite structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• G-CSF to WBRT + ICIs as a first-line treatment prolonged OS of NSCLC brain metastases. • G-CSF may improve neurological symptoms in patients undergoing WBRT. • G-CSF effectively reduced the incidence of neutropenia after ICIs, further preventing severe infections. To evaluate the therapeutic advantage of G-CSF to whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in combination with immunotherapy as a first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastases (BMs). In this retrospective study, 117 patients (37 in G-CSF group and 80 in no G-CSF group) who underwent first-line WBRT combined with immunotherapy were enrolled. Their survival, intracranial response, BM-related symptoms and toxicity were evaluated. The overall survival (OS) of patients in G-CSF group was significantly improved compared to patients no G-CSF group (median time: 14.8 vs 10.2 months; HR: 0.61, 95 % CI: 0.38–0.97, p = 0.035). However, there were no significant differences in intracranial responses between the two groups (p > 0.05). The G-CSF group exhibited a significantly higher rate of relief from BM-related symptoms compared to the no G-CSF group (91.7 % vs 59.5 %, p = 0.037). Cox proportional hazards regression analyses indicated that after-treatment ALC > 0.9 × 10^9/L (HR 0.57, 95 % CI 0.32–0.99, p = 0.046) and Hb > 110 g/dL (HR 0.41, 95 % CI 0.24–0.71, p = 0.001) were significant potential factors associated with extended OS. The addition of G-CSF was well tolerated and effectively reduced the incidence of neutropenia (0 % vs 5.0 %, p = 0.17). Integrating G-CSF with WBRT and immunotherapy as a first-line treatment for NSCLC-BMs has exhibited significant efficacy and favorable tolerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust events are frequent in the Tarim Basin because of its underlying desert surface; moreover, meteorological conditions under the influence of the surrounding high terrains, especially the Tibetan Plateau, may also trigger dust events. However, the terrain effect of the Tibetan Plateau on the dust aerosol distribution over the Tarim Basin remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the Tibetan Plateau terrain on the dust aerosol variations in three dust events over the Tarim Basin using the Weather Research and Forecasting Chemistry model. With decreasing altitude of the Tibetan Plateau, dust concentration (DC) decreased in the upper layers and increased in the low layers. The DC within the entire atmospheric layers increased by 8.52%, 24.03%, and 43.05% on average during three dust events at Tibetan Plateau altitudes of 3000 m, 2000 m, and 1000 m, respectively, thereby indicating that the DC in the lower layers increasingly dominated the entire atmospheric layers as the Tibetan Plateau altitude decreased. Low-elevation terrain enhanced the planetary boundary layer height, near-surface wind speed, and surface air temperature, but weakened atmospheric stratification stability, all of which are beneficial for strengthening dust emissions and vertical mixing in the lower layers of the Tarim Basin. Furthermore, a decrease in the Tibetan Plateau altitude led to forming a vertical circulation, with the south to rise and the north to sink over the Tarim Basin. Meteorological field and vertical circulation could adequately explain the changes in the distribution of dust aerosols over the Tarim Basin. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the effect of the Tibetan Plateau terrain on changes in the dust aerosol in the Tarim Basin and surrounding central Asian regions. [Display omitted] • Tibetan Plateau altitude decreased leads to less DC of the upper layers and more DC in the low layers over the Tarim Basim; • DC in the lower layers increasingly dominated the entire atmospheric layers with the Tibetan Plateau altitude decreased. • Meteorological field and vertical circulation commonly cause the change of dust aerosols distribution over the Tarim Basim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiscale piezoelectric materials and structures have shown their promising potential of applications in sensor, energy harvester, actuator and so on. However, the large complexity of such materials and structures poses a significant challenge to the accurate and efficient prediction of their piezoelectric behavior which is significant for guiding and optimizing their applications. In this paper, a Direct FE 2 method was proposed for concurrent multilevel modeling of the coupled electromechanical behavior of multiscale piezoelectric materials and structures. The energy equilibrium and kinematic constraints between macro- and meso-scales were satisfied by prescribing periodic boundary conditions for both displacement and electric potential, which were derived from the governing equation of FEM. Another boundary condition was prescribed to the center node of each RVE, to prevent rigid motion and shifting of electric potential of meso-scale RVEs. All these boundary conditions can be easily prescribed to the Direct FE 2 using multiple points constraints (MPCs), a commonly used feature in most commercial software. The accuracy, computational efficiency and ease of numerical implementation of the proposed Direct FE 2 method were validated using a series of multiscale simulations, including the quasi-static response of homogeneous piezoelectric panels, an arc honeycomb structure, a regular honeycomb structure and a piezoelectric composite panel, as well as the dynamic response of the piezoelectric composite panel. It shows that the proposed Direct FE 2 method will be valuable for large-scale simulations of complicated multiscale piezoelectric materials and structures. • A Direct FE 2 method is proposed for concurrent multilevel modeling of multiscale piezoelectric materials and structures. • The proposed methods can accurately capture the coupled electromechanical response of piezoelectric materials and structures. • The computational efficiency of the proposed method is 9 times higher than traditional FE simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertical distribution and transport properties of dust aerosols play a key role in regional and even global climate and environmental changes. However, there are still gaps in understanding the optical properties, transport mechanisms, and topographic effects on dust in the dust-prone area-southern margin of the Tarim Basin. In this study, we use the Ground-Based Aerosol Lidar (GBQL-01) installed in Hotan and Minfeng in cooperation with the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) to synthesize and analyze the dust formation process at the southern margin of the basin once, and to test the reliability of the ground-based aerosol lidar. The variability characteristics of meteorological elements during this dust process will be discussed. Furthermore, the Weather Research and Forecasting Model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) was used to reproduce this dust process. The results show that the vertical transport of dust particles reaches about 4 km and 3 km in Hotan and Minfeng, respectively, and the dust aerosol stratification intensity is obvious within 1 km height in both places, and there is a dust aerosol layer at 3 km height in both places. The high winds are blocked by the large topography of the Tianshan Mountains and the northern slopes of the Tibet Plateau, and they change to northeasterly winds, triggering dusty weather outbreaks at the southern margin of the Tarim Basin. When the dusty weather subsided, dust aerosols with concentrations of 300–400 μg m−3 were still present at an altitude of 4 km, and a clear suspended dust phenomenon was formed. Meanwhile, the increase of wind speed and relative humidity, as well as the decrease of temperature, easily contribute to the occurrence of dusty weather and the transport of particulate matter. This work provides a useful reference for the study of regional climate change, topographic effects and "suspended dust". • The evaluation of the ground-based aerosol lidar's performance was conducted in an integrated manner using CALIPSO and particulate matter data. This assessment is essential for future studies. • Data on the height of dust stratification in the southern margin of the Tarim Basin (Hotan and Minfeng) was collected, confirming the presence of a stable aerosol layer at an altitude of 3 km. • The analysis using the WRF-Chem model clearly demonstrates the influence of topographic effects on dust aerosols. Additionally, this study confirms the occurrence of a unique phenomenon known as "suspended dust.". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare stroke subtype, which has many overlapping symptoms with non-thrombotic cerebral venous sinus stenosis (CVSS) in the acute phase. Despite these similarities, their therapeutic regimens and outcomes are entirely different, and treatment delay is life-threatening. This study aims to address their clinical differences to help promote proper patient care. Methods: 34 cases of CVST and 34 cases of non-thrombotic CVSS diagnosed with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the acute phase (symptoms onset within 7days) were consecutively enrolled in this prospective non-randomized and controlled study. Differences between CVST and CVSS in their clinical manifestation, plasma biomarkers, and MR or DSA imaging were compared. Results: CVST and CVSS overlap in many ways, but differ in their respective medical histories and neurological deficits. However, 20.6% of CVST and 64.7% of CVSS occur without a definitive medical history, and 70.6% of CVST and 64.7% of CVSS occur without focal neurologic deficits. In the acute phase of CVST, d-dimer and fibrinogen are found to be abnormally elevated in 94.1% and 73.5% of cases, respectively. In the CVSS group, d-dimer and fibrinogen are only elevated in 17.6% and 5.9% of cases, respectively (binary logistic regressions test, all P <0.001). In the CVST group, the predominant features in MRI/MRV and DSA imaging include local brain lesions, flow void signal loss, non-visualization, and a local filling defect sign at the involved sinus. Conversely, in the CVSS group, imaging revealed symmetrically small bilateral ventricles and the spread of cerebral edema in MRI/MRV. DSA imaging in the CVSS group revealed external compression and a narrow sinus with disproportionate venous engorgement. Despite these findings, positive imaging only appears in a minority of patients in the two groups during the acute phase (Table 4). Conclusions: DSA may be beneficial to diagnose CVST in ambiguous patients suspected to have either CVST or CVSS. Clinically useful biomarkers (d-dimer and fibrinogen) may predict CVST in the emergency room in the ambiguous patients with or without equivocal MRI/MRV imaging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Reaction of U‐shaped flexible bis(amidopyridine) ligand L with CoCl2·6H2O in DMF produced a 2D coordination polymer [Co(L)2Cl2] n ·4nDMF (1) with 1D channels guesting DMF molecules [L=N,N′-bis((pyridin-3-yl)methyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, DMF=N,N′-dimethylformamide]. Complex 1 has corrugated flexible grid-like layers of a (4,4)-connected topology which consists of left- and right-handed helical chains sharing the common Co atoms. Investigation on the thermal stability and porosity shows that the porous network of 1 is rather stable up to 300°C and has obvious adsorption for N2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A micro-mechanics model is established to evaluate the effective properties of a layered composite with piezoelectric and piezomagnetic components. In the approach the mechanical and electromagnetic continuity conditions across an interface of two dissimilar media is incorporated, decomposing those quantities such as the stress/strain, electric displacement, electric field intensity, magnetic induction, and magnetic field intensity into two orthogonal complementary parts. Accordingly, the linear coupling effect between elasticity, electricity and magnetism of the composite is derived. Numerical results for a BaTiO3–CoFe2O4 composite with 2-2 connectivity are obtained using the model, and some interesting results are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• At the steady state, the stress assessment of the reactor vessel in CiADS satisfies the requirements of ASME Code. • Adding a thermal insulation layer outside the reactor vessel may reduce the stress on vessel. • During the postulated ULOF accidents, the reactor vessel will not experience plastic deformation. • During the postulated UTOP accidents, the limit reactivity insertion to protect the reactor vessel from plastic deformation is 400 pcm. The China Initiative Accelerator Driven System (CiADS) was proposed by China Academy of Science since 2015. The subcritical reactor in CiADS is a liquid Lead Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) cooled fast reactor. When the reactor core is in operation, the LBE coolant will directly contact and corrode the inner surface of reactor vessel. Due to the high temperature, the corrosion will be more severe. If the stress on the reactor vessel exceeds the limit, the plastic deformation will occur, leading to the generation and expansion of defects and cracks, and the safety of the reactor will be affected. Therefore, evaluating the stress field of the reactor vessel under different operating conditions is a very important research project. In this paper, the finite element analysis software ADINA was applied to analyze the reactor vessel in CiADS, and the ASME Code was used as stress assessment standards. We can preliminarily prove that the stress assessments of the vessel during the postulated Unprotected Loss of Flow (ULOF) accidents satisfy the requirements of ASME Code. The limit reactivity insertion to protect the vessel from plastic deformation is 0.58$ in the postulated Unprotected Transient over Power (UTOP) accidents based on our current results. Therefore, we can preliminarily conclude that the current material selection and structural design of the reactor vessel in CiADS could survive most of the postulated transient accidents considering the stress effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Migration of fission product tellurium in bcc iron was studied by first-principles method. • The lattice diffusions of tellurium are affected due to their strong binding with vacancy. • The diffusion coefficients of tellurium are higher when compared to other alloying elements. The migration behavior of fission product tellurium in bcc iron is investigated by using the first-principles method. The tellurium energetically prefers to stay at the substitutional site, and strong attractive interactions between tellurium and monovacancies are found. The more introduced vacancy does not affect their migration barriers significantly. For their diffusivities in iron, it shows that the migration energy barriers of tellurium are highly affected with relatively larger atomic size of tellurium and strong binding with vacancy. Tellurium exhibits relatively higher diffusivity when compared to that of iron self-diffusion and common alloying elements in stainless steels (e.g. Cr, Mo, Nb, Ti, Al, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, and W). This study can provide theoretical guidance to understand the vacancy-assisted lattice diffusion mechanisms for tellurium as well as typical alloy elements in iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial dysfunction has long been implicated in the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's disease (PD); however, it is unclear how mitochondrial impairment and a-synuclein pathology are coupled. Using specific mitochondrial inhibitors, EM analysis, and biochemical assays, we report here that intramitochondrial protein homeostasis plays a major role in a-synuclein aggregation. We found that interference with intramitochondrial proteases, such as HtrA2 and Lon protease, and mitochondrial protein import significantly aggravates a-synuclein seeding. In contrast, direct inhibition of mitochondrial complex I, an increase in intracellular calcium concentration, or formation of reactive oxygen species, all of which have been associated with mitochondrial stress, did not affect a-synuclein pathology. We further demonstrate that similar mechanisms are involved in amyloid-b 1-42 (Ab42) aggregation. Our results suggest that, in addition to other protein quality control pathways, such as the ubiq proteasome system, mitochondria per se can influence protein homeostasis of cytosolic aggregation-prone proteins. We propose that approaches that seek to maintain mitochondrial fitness, rather than target downstream mitochondrial dysfunction, may aid in the search for therapeutic strategies to manage PD and related neuropathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is a serious worldwide disease that threatens women's health. Particularly, the morbidity of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is higher than that of other BC types due to its high molecular heterogeneity, metastatic potential and poor prognosis. TNBC lacks of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), so there are still no effective treatment methods for TNBC. Here, we reviewed the classification of TNBC, its molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis, treatment methods and prognosis. Finding effective targets is critical for the treatment of TNBC. Also, refining the classification of TNBC is benefited to choose the treatment of TNBC, because the sensitivity of chemotherapy is different in different TNBC. Some new treatment methods have been proposed in recent years, such as nutritional therapy and noncoding RNA treatment methods. There are some disadvantages, such as the side effect on normal cells after nutrient deprivation, low specificity and instability of noncoding RNA. More studies are necessary to improve the treatment of TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based profiling of microbial metabolites has been a challenging task due to their diverse physicochemical properties and wide concentration ranges. This study is aimed to develop a systematic platform for the broad-scale profiling of microbial metabolites by integrating aqueous-lipophilic biphasic extractions and chemical derivatizations with a data-dependent automatable metabolite annotation algorithm. This complementary strategy of detection will not only largely expand the metabolite coverage, but also facilitate the drawing out of interested submetabolome using designed chemical derivatizations. Then, the data-dependent metabolite annotation algorithm is able to automatically match the raw MS/MS data with those of compounds in the self-collected databases. The performance of this platform is illustrated through the analysis of two representative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and intestinal contents samples from experimental colitis mice. As a result, 292 metabolites corresponding to 875 annotated features distributing over 25 chemical families were putatively annotated in a short time. Of these metabolites, 197 and 218 are respectively from the bacteria and intestinal contents, and 107 are identified in all three biological samples. This systematic platform could be used to accomplete high-coverage detection and high-quality data processing of microbial metabolites. At the same time, chemical derivatization design and the establishment of self-collected databases will facilitate self-driven untargeted analysis. Image 1 • Self-collected MS/MS database of microbial metabolites is established. • Microbial metabolites are detected by integrating aqueous-lipophilic biphasic extractions with chemical derivatizations. • Data-dependent automatable metabolite annotation package is developed for annotation of raw MS/MS data. • This platform gives a support to characterize microbial metabolites in biosamples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization rate of proteins can be effectively improved through the interaction between proteins and polyphenols. In this study, non-covalent and covalent whey protein concentrate (WPC)-quercetin (Q) complexes were prepared. The binding principle between WPC and Q and the structural and functional properties alteration of WPC on binding with different concentrations of Q were evaluated. Fluorescence spectroscopy results demonstrated significant structural alterations of WPC characterised by fluorescence quenching and a red-shifted maximum wavelength of emission peak after the interaction between WPC and Q, and a significant decrease in β-sheet and a remarkable increase in random curl content with the increase of Q concentration in fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, WPC and Q were more likely to form covalent complexes rather than non-covalent ones, which was featured with higher Q binding quantity and lower sulfhydryl group content at the same Q content. The binding sites number under covalent interaction mode was about 4.75 times that of the non-covalent counterparts. Combination of Q to WPC decreased surface hydrophobicity and improved foaming capability and emulsifying activity as well as antioxidant capability both for non-covalent and covalent interaction. However, non-covalent binding increased foam stability and emulsifying stability and decreased the protein solubility characterised by protein aggregation, while opposite trends were found for covalent interaction. The interfacial stability index variations were explained by the changes of zeta-potential of complexes with the increase of Q concentration. This study provides clarifies the principle behind the binding of WPC with Q and the possible application of WPC-Q complexes in food. [Display omitted] • Whey protein concentrate (WPC)-quercetin complex characteristics were studied. • Secondary structural variations had similar trends via the two interaction modes. • WPC and quercetin were more likely to form stable covalent complexes. • Covalent interaction improved WPC solubility while non-covalent impaired it. • Interfacial stability was related to zeta-potential and depended on interaction type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We have developed a self-powered integration system consisting of a -Si:H solar cells as the energy generation device, CoS x hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) as the energy storage device and ZnO photodetectors as the energy consumption device. The CoS x HSC plays a crucial role in determining the system performances. By elaborately designing hierachical 3D CoS x nanonets as the faradic electrode, the specific capacity reaches 225 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.6 A g−1. The HSCs assembled with the CoS x faradic electrode and active carbon capacitive electrode have a high energy density of 32 Wh kg−1, high power density of 6.61 kW kg−1 and long-term cycling lifetime. The CoS x HSC can be charged to 0.85 V by the a -Si:H solar cell under AM 1.5 G illumination and serves as a stable power supply for driving ZnO photodetector. The CoS x HSC not only acts as a buffer to diminish the solar energy fluctuations, but also provides a strategy for designing self-powered detector systems. The integration system exhibits a stable photoelectric conversion, excellent storage characteristic and sensitive photoelectric response, verifying the feasibility and potential applications. This study is expected to offer a basic guideline for designing self-powered and environment-friendly systems. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Integration system was developed with solar cells, HSCs and photodetectors. • CoS x hybrid supercapacitors demonstrated high electrochemical performances. • CoS x HSCs are charged by a -Si:H solar cells for stably driving ZnO photodetectors. • Integration system is self-powered with acceptable operation behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The porous lamellar rGO/NiCo 2 S 4 was prepared using simple ZIF-9 templating method. • Bimetallic sulfides have more active pseudocapacitors than monometallic sulfides. • rGO/NiCo 2 S 4 inherits the high specific surface area of the ZIF template and the high pseudocapacitance of the sulfide. • High specific capacity of 1242.4 F g−1 were achieved at the current density of 1 A g−1. Transition metal sulfide is considered as one of the best materials for high-performance supercapacitors because of its excellent conductivity, high theoretical specific capacitance and good thermal stability. Herein, the reduction graphene oxide supported NiCo 2 S 4 (rGO/NiCo 2 S 4) nanomaterial was successfully fabricated at ambient temperature via a facile strategy. Three-dimensional ZIF-9 was used as a tem-plate, graphene oxide was used as the supporting material and Ni(NO 3) 2 was used as both etchant and Nickel source. As a result, the prepared materials shows a high specific capacitance of 1242.2 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. Besides, the assembled active carbon (AC)//rGO/NiCo 2 S 4 asymmetric supercapacitor delivered a high energy density of 79.87 Wh kg−1 with a power density of 750 W kg−1 and a capacity retention of 58.5% after 5000 cycles. This work demonstrates an simple design pathway to manufacture bimetallic sulfide and provides basic research for the application of bimetallic sulfide with high surface area and high electrochemical activity used in supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor eating habits, especially high-fat and -glucose diets intake, can lead to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in islet β-cells, insulin resistance, and islet β-cell dysfunction and cause islet β-cell apoptosis, which leads to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Taurine is a crucial amino acid in the human body. In this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism through which taurine reduces glycolipid toxicity. INS-1 islet β-cell lines were cultured with a high concentration of fat and glucose. SD rats were fed a high-fat and -glucose diet. MTS, Transmission electron microscopy, Flow cytometry, Hematoxylin-eosin, TUNEL, Western blotting analysis and other methods were used to detect relevant indicators. The research found that taurine increases the cell activity, reduces the apoptosis rate, alleviates the structural changes of ER under high-fat and -glucose exposure models. In addition, taurine improves blood lipid content and islets pathological changes, regulates the relative protein expression in ER stress and apoptosis, increases the insulin sensitivity index (HOMA-IS), and reduces the insulin resistance index (HOMAC-IR) of SD rats fed with a high-fat and -glucose diet. • Taurine can prevent T2DM caused by excessive high-fat and -glucose diets. • Apoptosis induced by HFHG diets are alleviated by taurine through inhibiting ER stress signalling pathway in islet β-cells. • Taurine can reduce the weight gain, blood sugar and insulin resistance caused by glycolipid toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global carbon balance is a core issue in climate change research and a focus of international policy concern [[1]]. Through the close relationships between CO SB 2 sb flux and soil temperature, combined with historical soil temperature data in the study area at 0 and 10 cm every hour between 2004 and 2017, we estimated the total amount of CO SB 2 sb exchange per year in the TD shifting sand (Fig. An average of 6.71 × 10 SP 6 sp t of CO SB 2 sb per year was released to the atmosphere through the physical process of thermal expansion of soil air containing CO SB 2 sb in the TD shifting sand during 2004-2017. Besides, the combined action of the remaining components (salt/alkali + moisture + microbes) led the TD shifting sand to absorb atmospheric CO SB 2 sb , with an average absorption rate of 8.31 × 10 SP 6 sp t a SP -1 sp during 2004-2017. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives The serum levels of C-peptide, an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), increase with age. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum C-peptide and increased risk for CVD with altered lipid metabolism in the elderly. Methods This was a population-based cross-sectional study that included 3091 elderly participants aged ≥65 years. Serum C-peptide and lipid levels were measured according to standard protocols. Sampling weights were used to estimate the characteristics of study participants. Stratified analysis of covariance was used to evaluate the changes in the serum lipid levels according to quartiles of serum C-peptide levels, and the linear trend was assessed using a linear model. The logistic regression model was carried out to determine the association between the serum C-peptide levels and serum lipid levels. Results The results of the analysis of covariance stratified by sex and serum insulin level showed that the serum triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly associated with changes in the serum C-peptide levels, independent of the serum insulin level. The logistic regression analyses indicated that the serum C-peptide levels were positively associated with the serum TG levels, and negatively associated with the serum HDL-C levels. A significant dose-response association was obtained in both men and women. Conclusions Serum C-peptide levels were strongly associated with increased serum TG and reduced HDL-C levels in the elderly. Our results suggest that serum C-peptide increases the risk of CVD via a pathway that increases TG or decreases HDL-C levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Chronic pain affects approximately 100 million Americans, but little is known about the factors associated with pain frequency.Objectives: This article examines participants' sociodemographics, medical history, health care access and utilization, self-management barriers, and social support associated with pain frequency among a sample of middle-aged and older adults with one or more chronic condition.Methods: Data were from the National Council on Aging Chronic Care Survey. An ordinal regression model was fitted to examine factors associated with self-reported pain frequency.Results: Having more chronic conditions (P < 0.001), taking more medication daily (P < 0.001), and visiting the physician five or more times a year (P = 0.011) were associated with more frequent pain. Always getting the help and support needed to manage their health problems was associated with less frequent pain (P < 0.001).Conclusion: More attention should be given to pain management during interactions with health care providers. Providing resources and support for disease self-management may help reduce pain frequency and self-management in middle-aged and older adults with chronic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Chronic conditions are pervasive among middle-aged and older adults. This study identified: (1) factors associated with participants reporting difficulties self-managing their chronic condition(s); and (2) factors associated with participants' reliance on external sources for ongoing help and support to improve their health and manage their health conditions.Study Design: Cross-sectional data were collected using the National Council on Aging Chronic Care Survey, a nationally representative telephone survey of adults aged 45 years and older with at least one chronic condition.Main Outcome Measures: Self-care difficulties among middle-aged and older adults with one or more chronic conditions and factors associated with reliance on ongoing help and support were examined.Results: Among 731 middle-aged and older adults with one or more chronic conditions, 31% of participants reported their health condition(s) made it difficult for them to care for themselves. Participants who were Hispanic (OR=3.08, P=0.009), had three or more chronic conditions (OR=3.05, P <0.001), took more medications daily (OR=1.07, P=0.046), and experienced certain healthcare-related frustrations (P≤0.023) were more likely to report difficulties self-managing their chronic condition(s). Participants relied on healthcare providers (40%), friends/relatives (20%), internet (9%), people with similar problems (6%), and community groups (3%) for help and support. Reliance on sources of support varied with participants' sociodemographic factors as well as healthcare and medication use.Conclusions: Simultaneously considering patients' disease profiles, patient characteristics, difficulties managing their chronic conditions at home, and interactions with the healthcare system can inform tailored approaches and strategies to enhance patient education and resource identification, and can support service linkages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation of complexes via interactions between proteins and polyphenols has become one of the methods to effectively improve utilization of proteins. In this study, the structural and functional characteristics modification of casein treated with different concentrations of quercetin (10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 μmol/g protein) via covalent and non-covalent interactions were investigated. Results revealed that covalent complexes had lower sulfhydryl group content and higher quercetin binding capacity than non-covalent ones at the same quercetin concentration. This was consistent with the results of fluorescence spectroscopy which revealed higher fluorescence quenching constant and binding sites number for the covalent complexes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated similar secondary structural changing trend for covalent and non-covalent complexes. The α-helix, β-turn and random coil contents increased with increasing quercetin concentration while β-sheet content decreased. Addition of quercetin decreased surface hydrophobicity of the complexes, regardless of covalent or non-covalent interactions. Casein solubility was improved in covalent interaction, while the non-covalent interaction impaired it. Quercetin treatment improved foaming activity, emulsifying activity and antioxidant activity while decreasing foaming stability and emulsifying stability. The results could provide a theoretical foundation for potential applications of casein-quercetin complexes in the food industry. [Display omitted] • Properties of covalent and non-covalent complexes of casein-quercetin were studied. • Secondary structural alterations have similar trends via the two interaction modes. • Covalent interaction between casein and quercetin was stronger than non-covalent. • Covalent interaction improved casein solubility while non-covalent impaired it. • Quercetin treatment improved FA, EAI and antioxidant activity but decreased FS and ESI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• • Slc7a5 knockdown results in 34 differentially regulated genes. • • B1a but not B2 cells are depleted when Slc7a5 is knocked down in adult mice. • • Slc7a5-deficient bone marrow B1a cells fail to develop due to dysregulation of the mTOR signaling pathway. Slc7a5 is an important amino acid transporter that is highly expressed in metabolically active and rapidly proliferating cells. To explore the effect of Slc7a5 on adult B cell development, we conditionally deleted Slc7a5 in murine B cells and observed a significant reduction of B1a cells. In contrast to PI3K-Akt pathway activation, activity of the mTOR pathway was decreased. This may result from intracellular amino acid starvation in Slc7a5 knockdown (Slc7a5 KD) bone marrow B cells, thereby dampening B1a development. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated increased translation and reduced proliferation in Slc7a5 KD bone marrow B cells. Overall, the results of our study highlight the importance of Slc7a5 in peritoneal B1a cell development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Layered porous nanomaterial rGO/Cr 2 ZnS 4 was prepared by etching GO/ZIF-8. • Go-based GrZn bimetallic sulfide exhibits excellent energy storage properties. • The electrochemical performance of rGO/Cr 2 ZnS 4 -2h is much better than that of rGO/ZnS. • The specific capacitance of rGO/Cr 2 ZnS 4 -2h can reach 958.6 F g−1 (Current density: 1 A g−1). • AC//rGO/Cr 2 ZnS 4 -2h asymmetric supercapacitor can provide a high energy density of 47.7 Wh kg−1. In this work, rGO/Cr 2 ZnS 4 composites was composited with reduced GO using ZIF-8 as the template. Firstly, GO/ZIF-8 was obtained by in-situ synthesis strategy, and then ZIF-8 was etched by chromium nitrate to obtain CrZn-LDH. Finally, rGO/Cr 2 ZnS 4 was successfully synthesized after calcination and sulfuration. Due to the synergistic effect between Cr 2 ZnS 4 and rGO, the hybrid electrode has significantly improved energy storage capacity in terms of the high specific capacitance of 958.6 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and good cycling stability after 10,000 cycles (63.1 % of the initial value under 10 A g−1) in a three-electrode system. Meanwhile, the asymmetric supercapacitor was prepared using rGO/Cr 2 ZnS 4 composite as the positive electrode and AC (active carbon) as the negative electrode. The fabricated asymmetric supercapacitor has high energy density of 47.7 Wh kg−1 at power density of 749.54 W kg−1 and capacity retention of 50 % after 5000 cycles. This work offers a promising approach for designing advanced hybrid materials of transition metal sulfides for high energy density supercapacitors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new strategy combining mass spectrometric (MS) techniques with partial least squares regression (PLSR) was proposed to identify and quantify closely related adulterant herbal materials. This strategy involved preparation of adulterated samples, data acquisition and establishment of PLSR model. The approach was accurate, sensitive, durable and universal, and validation of the model was done by detecting the presence of Fritillaria Ussuriensis Bulbus in the adulteration of the bulbs of Fritillaria unibracteata. Herein, three different MS techniques, namely wooden-tip electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (wooden-tip ESI/MS), ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) and UPLC-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-TQ/MS), were applied to obtain MS profiles for establishing PLSR models. All three models afforded good linearity and good accuracy of prediction, with correlation coefficient of prediction ( r p 2 ) of 0.9072, 0.9922 and 0.9904, respectively, and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.1004, 0.0290 and 0.0323, respectively. Thus, this strategy is very promising in tracking the supply chain of herb-based pharmaceutical industry, especially for identifying adulteration of medicinal materials from their closely related herbal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a type of chronic autoimmune-mediated inflammatory skin condition in which clinical manifestations are characterized by erythema and scaly changes, with complex pathogenesis and ease of relapse, and it is difficult to cure. Lenalidomide (Len) is a structural analog of thalidomide, which belongs to the second generation of immunomodulators and has the functions of tumor killing, immune regulation, anti-angiogenesis and regulation of the myeloma microenvironment. In the current experiment, we investigated the therapeutic effect of transdermal application of Len on the pathological changes of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced skin irritations and inflammation in psoriatic-like mice. The in vivo results revealed that Len nanoemulsion-based gels markedly reduced the IMQ-induced Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score, spleen-to-body weight index and CD4 protein expression in the derma of mice and improved IMQ-induced skin inflammatory cell infiltration. Transcriptome sequencing was intended to obtain the differentially expressed genes among the skin of Con mice and the skin of IMQ mice, and then, the GO enrichment classification and KEGG pathway analysis of the significant genes was executed to obtain major signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of the psoriasis mouse model. It was found that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was a major pathway in the pathogenesis of psoriasis in a mouse model induced by IMQ. The immunohistochemical results confirmed that Len could modulate the protein expression of AKT and NF-κB in skin. In conclusion, the protective effect of transdermal administration of Len may be related to the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and its downstream NF-κB pathway against IMQ-induced psoriasis in mice. [Display omitted] • The network pharmacology is applied to predict the therapeutic effect of Len on psoriasis. • Transcriptomic is applied to analyse the differentially expressed genes between Con group and IMQ group. • The Len nanoemulsion-based gels were first prepared and it is effective for the psoriasis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The etiology of epilepsy remains undefined in two-thirds of patients. Here, we identified a de novo variant of ATP1A2 (c.2426 T > G, p.Leu809Arg), which encodes the α2 subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase, from a family with idiopathic epilepsy. This variant caused epilepsy with hemiplegic migraine in the study patients. We generated the point variant mouse model Atp1a2 L809R , which recapitulated the epilepsy observed in the study patients. In Atp1a2 L809R/WT mice, convulsions were observed and cognitive and memory function was impaired. This variant affected the potassium binding function of the protein, disabling its ion transport ability, thereby increasing the frequency of nerve impulses. Valproate (VPA) and Carbamazepine (CBZ) have limited therapeutic efficacy in ameliorating the epileptic syndromes of Atp1a2 L809R/WT mice. Our work revealed that ATP1A2 L809R variants cause a predisposition to epilepsy. Moreover, we provide a point variant mouse model for epilepsy research and drug screening. ● ATP1A2 L809R is an epilepsy-causing variant. ● The Na+/K+ pump current is lower in the L809R variant, which caused neuronal hyperexcitation. ● A new genetic epilepsy mouse model with a single point variant is generated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel tetralignan, tatarinan T ( 1 ) with the rare C8-C7′ linkage pattern, along with a known monolignan ( 2 ) were isolated from the roots of Acorus tatarinowii Schott. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and X-ray diffraction analysis. We evaluated the protective effects of two rare lignans against β-amyloid toxicity by using CL4176 transgenic C. elegans model for the first time, and found that they significantly delayed paralysis of worms at the concentration of 100 μM. Compound 2 exhibited the more potential protective effect against β-amyloid toxicity, its value of PT 50 extended up to 62.3% at 100 μM compared with control, especially, it still has 30.8% extension at 10 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the differences in morphological characteristics and muscle nutritional quality between largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) cultured in an aquaculture system using land-based container with recycling water (C-RAS) and those cultured in a traditional pond system (TP), largemouth bass with no significant difference in body weight were selected. Results showed that the largemouth bass cultured in C-RAS had a significantly longer body and significantly lower condition factor and viscerosomatic index than those cultured in the TP (P < 0.01). In terms of muscle characteristics, the water loss and muscle fibre diameter were significantly lower in the C-RAS group than those in the TP group (P < 0.05), whereas the firmness, chewiness, springiness, and shear force in the C-RAS group were significantly higher than those in the TP group (P < 0.01). The crude protein content was significantly higher in the muscles of largemouth bass cultured in C-RAS than in those cultured in the TP (P < 0.05). The crude lipid content was significantly lower in the C-RAS group than that in the TP group (P < 0.01). Among fatty acids, the levels of DHA, Σn-3, and Σn-6 were significantly higher in the C-RAS group than those in the TP group (P < 0.01), moreover, delicious amino acid (DAA) levels were significantly higher in the C-RAS group than those in the TP group (P < 0.05). The levels of elements such as K and Na were significantly higher in the muscles of largemouth bass cultured in C-RAS than in those cultured in the TP (P < 0.01); however, the Se content was significantly lower in the C-RAS group than that in the TP group (P < 0.05). Levels of volatile substances such as 2-butanone, benzaldehyde, and pentanal were significantly higher (P < 0.05), whereas the levels of nonanal, octanal, and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine were significantly lower (P < 0.05), in the muscles of largemouth bass cultured in C-RAS than in those cultured in the TP. These results suggest that the culture system significantly affected largemouth bass' morphological and muscular characteristics as well as levels of nutritional components, mineral elements, and volatile substances in the muscle. • We compared the morphology and nutritional value of largemouth bass cultured in C-RAS and TP for the first time. • C-RAS can improve the meat yield of largemouth bass. • C-RAS can prolong the shelf life of largemouth bass muscle. • The muscle of largemouth bass cultured in C-RAS is more compact and delicious. • C-RAS can improve the nutritional value of largemouth bass muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Heat treatment intensity can increase the endotoxin in bovine milk. • TBC of raw bovine milk directly affects the endotoxin content of dairy products. • Endotoxin content of commercial dairy products is significantly different. Endotoxin in dairy products may pose risks to consumers' health, but the effects of raw-milk total bacterial count (TBC) and thermal treatment temperature on endotoxin content of dairy products are not clear. In this study, TBC of raw milk and processed milk with different thermal treatment temperatures were detected by pilot processing experiment. We then verified it by detecting the endotoxin content of commercial dairy products. TBC was determined by conventional culture method, and the changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) activities in bovine milk before and after heat treatment were determined. The levels of fatty acids in bovine milk were detected by gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). In the pilot experiment, raw milk was treated at 72, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, and 120 °C for 15 s. After that, the raw milk was stored at 20 °C for 24 h and 48 h to greatly increase the TBC, and treated at 75 °C for 15 s and 90 °C for 15 s. The results show that the endotoxin content of sterilized milk increased with the increase in TBC and thermal treatment temperature. With the increase in thermal treatment temperature, the activities of ALP and LPO with endotoxin inhibition decreased. In addition, a total of 226 dairy samples were tested. The endotoxin content of 37 commercial PM milk samples were 6 EU/ml to 231 EU/ml, with 31 EU/ml to 1437 EU/ml for 40 commercial UHT milk samples, and 6 EU/ml to 9080 EU/ml for 149 reconstituted IFM samples. There was a significant difference in the endotoxin content of different dairy products (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between domestic and imported IFM (P > 0.05). This study found that TBC and thermal treatment temperature of raw milk could affect the endotoxin content of dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To compare 2 beam arrangements, sectored (beam entry over ipsilateral hemithorax) vs circumferential (beam entry over both ipsilateral and contralateral lungs), for static-gantry intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) delivery techniques with respect to target and organs-at-risk (OAR) dose-volume metrics, as well as treatment delivery efficiency. Data from 60 consecutive patients treated using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for primary non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) formed the basis of this study. Four treatment plans were generated per data set: IMRT/VMAT plans using sectored (-s) and circumferential (-c) configurations. The prescribed dose (PD) was 60Gy in 5 fractions to 95% of the planning target volume (PTV) (maximum PTV dose ~ 150% PD) for a 6-MV photon beam. Plan conformality, R50 (ratio of volume circumscribed by the 50% isodose line and the PTV), and D2cm (Dmax at a distance ≥2cm beyond the PTV) were evaluated. For lungs, mean doses (mean lung dose [MLD]) and percent V30/V20/V10/V5 Gy were assessed. Spinal cord and esophagus Dmax and D5/D50 were computed. Chest wall (CW) Dmax and absolute V30/V20/V10/V5Gy were reported. Sectored SBRT planning resulted in significant decrease in contralateral MLD and V10/V5Gy, as well as contralateral CW Dmax and V10/V5Gy (all p < 0.001). Nominal reductions of Dmax and D5/D50 for the spinal cord with sectored planning did not reach statistical significance for static-gantry IMRT, although VMAT metrics did show a statistically significant decrease (all p < 0.001). The respective measures for esophageal doses were significantly lower with sectored planning (p < 0.001). Despite comparable dose conformality, irrespective of planning configuration, R50 significantly improved with IMRT-s/VMAT-c (p < 0.001/p = 0.008), whereas D2cm significantly improved with VMAT-c (p < 0.001). Plan delivery efficiency improved with sectored technique (p < 0.001); mean monitor unit (MU)/cGy of PD decreased from 5.8 ± 1.9 vs 5.3 ± 1.7 (IMRT) and 2.7 ± 0.4 vs 2.4 ± 0.3 (VMAT). The sectored configuration achieves unambiguous dosimetric advantages over circumferential arrangement in terms of esophageal, contralateral CW, and contralateral lung sparing, in addition to being more efficient at delivery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Oral ALP can attenuate LPS induced inflammation. • ALP cannot directly inhibit liver inflammation. • ALP attenuates inflammation by regulating mir146a. • ALP of raw milk has protective effect on consumers. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can remain in dairy products after the sterilization of milk powder and may pose a threat to the health of infants and young children. There is a large amount of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in raw milk, which can remove the phosphate bond of LPS, thus, detoxifying it. ALP is regarded as an indicator of the success of milk sterilization due to its strong heat resistance. ALP can alleviate the toxicity of LPS in enteritis and nephritis models, but the mechanism by which oral-intake of ALP protects liver tissue from LPS stimulation is unclear. In this study, an in vivo acute mouse liver injury model was induced by C. sakazakii LPS (200 μg/kg) and used to verify the protective mechanism of ALP (200 U/kg) on mice livers. The related pathways were also verified by in vitro cell culture. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting were used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors at the protein level and RNA level, and to confirm the inflammation of liver tissue caused by LPS. ALP was found to alleviate acute liver injury in vitro by activating miR-146a. We found that ALP could up-regulate the level of miR146a and subsequently alleviates the expression of TLR4, TNF-α, matured IL-1β, and NF-κB in mouse liver tissue and hepatocytes; thus, reducing liver inflammation. Herein, we demonstrated for the first time that oral-intake of ALP protected liver tissue by up-regulating the expression of miR-146a and alleviating inflammatory reactions; thus, providing a research basis for the proper processing of milk. This study also suggests that producers should improve the awareness of the protective effects of bioactive proteins in raw milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fracture healing is a complicated process affected by many factors, such as inflammatory responses and angiogenesis. Omentin-1 is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory properties, but whether omentin-1 affects the fracture healing process is still unknown. Here, by using global omentin-1 knockout (omentin-1 −/− ) mice, we demonstrated that omentin-1 deficiency resulted in delayed fracture healing in mice, accompanied by increased inflammation and osteoclast formation, and decreased production of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and osteogenesis-promoting vessels that are strongly positive for CD31 and Endomucin (CD31hiEmcnhi) in the fracture area. In vitro , omentin-1 treatment suppressed the ability of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-activated macrophages to stimulate multi-nuclear osteoclast formation, resulting in a significant increase in the generation of mono-nuclear preosteoclasts and PDGF-BB, a pro-angiogenic protein that is abundantly secreted by preosteoclasts. PDGF-BB significantly augmented endothelial cell proliferation, tube formation and migration, whereas direct treatment with omentin-1 did not induce obvious effects on angiogenesis activities of endothelial cells. Our study suggests a positive role of omentin-1 in fracture healing, which may be associated with the inhibition of inflammation and stimulation of preosteoclast PDGF-BB-mediated promotion of CD31hiEmcnhi vessel formation. • Omentin-1 can promote the recovery of mechanical properties during fracture healing. • Omentin-1 can promote the formation of CD31hiEmcnhi vessels during fracture healing. • Omentin-1 can promote fracture healing by inhibiting excessive inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scheme 1. Schematic illustration of Sialic acid-PEG-modified MPDA induces tumor vessel normalization to enhance PDT. After combining with E-selectins, the exposed nanoparticles demonstrated considerable accumulation into tumor tissue. Then the conjugated ICG facilitated PDT and reduced the concentration of O 2 , leading to the overexpression of VEGF. The released 3PO normalized tumor vessels by increasing laminin and pericyte coverage via VEGF-VE-cadherinin-mediated pathway, improving the anti-tumor effects. [Display omitted] • Mesoporous polydopamine had high drug loading efficiency and efficient PTT. • ICG-engineered polydopamine induced hypoxia condition with overexpression of VEGF. • PFKFB3 kinase inhibitor-based nanoplatforms normalized tumor vessels to enhance PDT. Tumor hypoxia do harm to the therapeutic efficiency of photodynamic therapy (PDT) since sufficient local O 2 concentration is necessary for the generation of toxic singlet O 2 (1O 2). Herein, a sialic acid-PEG-modified mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticle dual loaded with indocyanine green and 3PO-loaded (SPMI/3) was fabricated. Owing to the specific combination between sialic acid and E-selectin overexpressed on the inflammatory endothelial cells around tumors, SPMI/3 demonstrated a 1.39-fold higher accumulation than that of the PMI/3-treated group. After laser irradiation, SPMI/3 revealed a potent anti-tumor efficacy due to the combination therapy of PDT and photothermal therapy in the early stage of treatment. Later, thanks to the overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor induced by PDT, the slowly released 3PO from SPMI/3 reduced by 65.20% endocytosis of VE-cadherin compared to the PBS group. Accordingly, SPMI/3 normalized tumor vessels by increasing laminin and pericyte coverage, contributing to the decreased vascular permeability and improved tissue hypoxia. All these improvements contributed to the normalized tumor vasculature and inhibition of metastasis. In conclusion, this finding provides a novel strategy to enhance PDT therapy via tumor vessel normalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Shifting sand in the Taklimakan Desert can sequester CO 2 at an uptake rate of 7.11 g m−2·a−1. • Soil respiration in the desert is dominated by soil air expansion/contraction and salt/alkali effects. • The carbon sink rate of shifting sand in Taklimakan Desert will decrease in the future. An understanding of the global terrestrial carbon cycle is crucial to predict future climate change. Deserts are an important part of the terrestrial ecosystem, but their role in the terrestrial carbon cycle has long been neglected. Recent studies have shown that deserts may sequester enormous volumes of CO 2 and play a pivotal role as a carbon sink. As the world's second-largest shifting desert, the Taklimakan Desert (TD) contributes substantially to the global desert carbon sink. However, the contributions of the internal processes of the TD to its carbon sink and the long-term trend of the carbon sink under climate change are still unclear. Based on an observational study, we determined that both the expansion/contraction of soil air containing CO 2 caused by heat fluctuation in shifting sand and the salt/alkali chemistry control the release/absorption processes of soil respiration in shifting sand. Besides, the mutual offset of these processes indicates that the shifting sand in the TD acts as a stable carbon sink at present, with an annual average CO 2 uptake rate of 7.11 g m−2. However, an increase in soil temperature difference will stimulate soil air expansion and release more CO 2 into the atmosphere under climate change, gradually lessening the carbon sink rate of shifting sand in TD in the future. These processes will be accelerated by a positive feedback loop, where this effect triggered by climate change will enhance regional warming. Our results highlight the status of deserts in the global carbon cycle and provide crucial information regarding the world's missing carbon sink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertical distributions of sand-dust aerosols (SDAs) over the Taklimakan Desert (TD; 37°N–41°N, 78°E−88°E) that occurred during the spring are essential for both long-range transport and climate effects, apart from the living environment and health. In this study, we investigated the optical properties of SDAs and evaluated the correlation between optical properties and meteorological factors over the TD area located in the northwest of China. For this, we have utilized the A-train multiple-satellite remote sensing data provided quasi-synchronized observations by the Cloud-aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO), CloudSat, and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments for the study period during 2007–2010. Besides, we have verified the meteorological factors observed from the CALIPSO to know the applicability and reliability with the Radiosonde sounding data. We found that the cloud–aerosol discrimination (CAD) algorithm can accurately identify clouds and SDAs over the TD area, especially during blowing dust/floating dust (BD/FD). Overall, it is revealed that the total depolarization ratio of SDAs is below 0.5. Besides, the temperature (T) and pressure (P) of CALIPSO satellite products data are in excellent agreement with the radiosonde sounding measured data over the TD area. Further, most data points during the DS (BD/FD) event spread towards lower (higher) relative humidity (RH) ranged between 0.0386 and 0.6306 (0.1079 and 1.00). Our analysis provides the observational evidence from the CALIOP that the optical properties of vertical dust particles and meteorological elements over the TD have distinct variability below and above 4 km height for DS and BD/FD events. The results obtained will provide not only reliable reference values for the improvement of the CAD algorithm used in the CALIPSO but also provide critical information for model evaluation and enhancement of CALIPSO products. Image 1 • We have investigated the optical properties of sand dust aerosols (SDAs) over the Taklimakan Desert from radiosonde and A-train satellite datasets. • We have evaluated the correlation between SDAs and meteorological factors during spring. • The meteorological factors observed from the CALIPSO are verified using the radiosonde data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are increasingly found in dairy products. To ensure consumer safety, rapid screening methods which are accurate and cost-effective are highly in demand. A multiplexed detection technology was tested for quantification of these four kinds of antibiotics simultaneously in milk. The visual microarray technology based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays was utilized in this method, which can detect multiple target molecules simultaneously. This colorimetric technology provides direct results that can be detected using common commercial microplate scanners. The limit of detection (LOD) were calculated as 3.30, 3.39, 2.42 and 4.88 μg kg−1 for quinolones, tetracycline, lincomycin and streptomycin, respectively. The limits of quantity (LOQ) were defined as 8.97, 8.43, 5.36 and 10.97 μg kg−1 for quinolones, tetracycline, lincomycin and streptomycin, respectively. The accuracy of method was also adequate for these four substances with the recovery rates ranging from 77.6% to 116.4% were obtained for the detection of practical samples. According to our evaluation, this methodology can be used for rapid screening of antibiotics in internal quality control programs in dairy industry. • The multiplexed detection method for testing veterinary antibiotics in milk were evaluation. • The ELISA-based visualization microarray chip technique using 96-well microplate. • The limit of detection are less than the MRL established in China, the CAC and the EU. • The accuracy of method was adequate for these four veterinary antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]