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This study is to obtain precise data on iron physiological requirements in Chinese children using single stable isotope tracer technique. Thirty boys (10.6 ± 0.2 years) and 27 girls (10.4 ± 0.2 years) were received oral 6 mg 57Fe each day for 5 consecutive days. Venous blood samples were subsequently drawn to examine the change of total iron concentration and 57Fe abundance at day 0, 14, 28, 60, 90, 180, 360, 450, 540, 630, 720. The iron physiological requirement was calculated by iron loss combined with iron circulation rate once 57Fe abundance stabilized in human body. The iron physiological requirement was significantly lower in boys than those values in girls (16.88 ± 7.12 vs. 18.40 ± 8.81 μg/kg per day, P < 0.05). Correspondingly, the values were calculated as 722.46 ± 8.43 μg/day for boys and 708.40 ± 7.55 μg/day for girls, respectively. Considering nearly 10% iron absorption rate, the estimated average iron physiological requirement was 6.0 mg/day in boys and 6.2 mg/day in girls. This study indicate that iron physiological requirement could require more daily iron intake in girls as compare with the values in boys having the same body weight. These findings would be facilitate to the new revised dietary reference intakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the rate of erythrocyte iron incorporation and provided guidance for the iron nutrition for prepubertal children. Fifty-seven prepubertal children of Beijing were involved in this study and each subject was orally administered 3 mg of 57Fe twice daily to obtain a total of 30 mg 57Fe after a 5-d period. The stable isotope ratios in RBCs were determined in 14th day, 28th day, 60th day, and 90th day. The erythrocyte incorporation rate in children was calculated using the stable isotope ratios, blood volume and body iron mass. The percentage of erythrocyte 57Fe incorporation increased starting 14 th day, reached a peak at 60 d (boys: 19.67% ± 0.56%, girls: 21.33% ± 0.59%) and then decreased. The erythrocyte incorporation rates of 57Fe obtained for girls in 60th day was significantly higher than those obtained for boys (P < 0.0001). The oral administration of 57Fe to children can be used to obtain erythrocyte iron incorporation within 90 d. Prepubertal girls should begin to increase the intake of iron and further studies should pay more attention to the iron status in prepubertal children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine the dietary zinc absorption in a Chinese elderly population and provide the basic data for the setting of zinc (Zn) recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) for Chinese elderly people. Methods A total of 24 elderly people were recruited for this study and were administered oral doses of 3 mg 67 Zn and 1.2 mg dysprosium on the fourth day. The primary macronutrients, energy, and phytic acid in the representative diet were examined based on the Chinese National Standard Methods. Fecal samples were collected during the experimental period and analyzed for zinc content, 67 Zn isotope ratio, and dysprosium content. Results The mean (± SD) zinc intake from the representative Chinese diet was 10.6 ± 1.5 mg/d. The phytic acid-to-zinc molar ratio in the diet was 6.4. The absorption rate of 67 Zn was 27.9% ± 9.2%. The RNI of zinc, which were calculated by the absorption rate in elderly men and women, were 10.4 and 9.2 mg/d, respectively. Conclusion This study got the dietary Zn absorption in a Chinese elderly population. We found that Zn absorption was higher in elderly men than in elderly women. The current RNI in elderly female is lower than our finding, which indicates that more attention is needed regarding elderly females' zinc status and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Placental dysfunction characterized by vascular endothelial inflammation is one of the most notable responses to fetal cardiac bypass. Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) is an important regulator of inflammatory responses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential post-transcriptional modulators of gene expression, and miRNA-34a (miR-34a) was showed to activate vascular endothelial inflammation. We hypothesized that miR-34a may be a key regulator of placental dysfunction after fetal cardiac bypass.Methods: We evaluated miRNA expression in goat placentas via small RNA sequencing, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization. Expression of miRNA target genes was determined via bioinformatics analyses and dual luciferase reporter assays. Furthermore, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with miR-34a or a control sequence. The RCAN1, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATC1) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) levels in HUVECs and placentas were evaluated via Western blot and qRT-PCR.Results: We demonstrated that miR-34a was highly enriched in goat placenta after cardiopulmonary bypass. Moreover, RCAN1 was identified as a novel direct target of miR-34a. Transfection of miR-34a led to decreased RCAN1 expression and increased NFATC1 and NF-κB expression in HUVECs. Conversely, inhibition of miR-34a rescued RCAN1 expression and reduced NFATC1 and NF-κB expression in HUVECs.Conclusions: We demonstrated a remarkable role of miR-34a as a regulator of NFATC1-associated placental inflammation through direct targeting of RCAN1. MiR-34a could serve as a novel therapeutic target for limiting the progression of placental inflammation after fetal cardiac bypass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation affected soybean yield. [•] Pod number was the most responsible yield component. [•] Seed size reduction was due to cotyledon cell number. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An air–earth (rock)–tunnel system has often been used for building energy saving. A computing model of the air–earth (rock) heat exchanger is necessary to predict the thermal performance. A numerical simulating model has been developed for the deeply buried air–earth (rock)–tunnel system, in which a 1-D implicit transient convection-diffusion sub-model describes the air temperature and humidity, and a 1-D transient explicit heat conduction sub-model computes the rock temperature. Based on an appropriate discrete scheme, a sequential computing algorithm has been given for solving the air sub-model and the rock sub-model respectively. The accuracy of this numerical model has been verified by comparisons of temperatures of the air and rock and the relative humidity between numerical results and the test data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Increasing evidence shows that some cardiac defects may benefit from fetal interventions, including fetal cardiac surgery. We attempted to develop an in vivo animal model of fetal cardiopulmonary bypass with cardioplegic arrest. Methods: Operations were performed on 14 pregnant goats. The extracorporeal circulation circuit consisted of a centrifugal pump, silicone tubings with an inner diameter of 6 mm, a roller pump, and a reservoir. The placenta was the sole oxygenator. Cardiopulmonary bypass was maintained at a mean flow rate of 344 ± 68 mL/kg/min, including 30 minutes of cardiac arrest and 15 minutes of reperfusion. Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were monitored. Arterial blood samples were analyzed. The pulse index and resistance index of the fetal umbilical artery were monitored. Results: Experiments were completed in 11 cases (79%), with the fetuses weighing 0.65 to 1.8 kg. Fetal mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate remained stable throughout the experiments. A decrease in partial pressure of oxygen with concomitant increase in carbon dioxide partial pressure was noted, but trends were relatively stable. Metabolic acidosis was recognized during and after cardiac bypass. The pulse index and resistance index of the umbilical artery increased significantly after 2 hours off bypass. Conclusions: We confirmed the technical feasibility of establishing an in vivo model of fetal cardiac bypass with cardioplegic arrest. This fetal goat model provides reproducible data and is suitable to study clinically relevant problems related to fetal cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial protection, and hemodynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under investigation in this manuscript is the coupled Hirota equations, which describe the propagation of ultrashort optical pulses in a birefringent fiber or collision of the two waves arisen by severe weather in deep ocean. Based on the generalized Darboux transformation derived before, we obtain the semirational solutions, and properties of the solitons are discussed in detail: Elastic collisions between/among the two/three solitons on the zero-intensity background are shown in figures, which means that the solitons propagate with the stable amplitudes and velocities during the collisions. Also, inelastic collisions between/among the two/three solitons are illustrated, and some of the solitons travel with amplitudes changed. Furthermore, the bound states among the three solitons are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A primary factor regulating the composition of the microbial community in the rhizosphere is carbon (C) efflux from root systems, which fundamentally influences microbial functions in the rhizosphere, such as biodegradation, plant growth, and rhizosphere signalling. However, information regarding the incorporation of plant-C by the bacterial community in the rhizosphere is limited, particularly in soybean. Soybean plants were grown in rhizo-boxes containing low- or high-organic C (C org ) Mollisols and labelled with 13 CO 2 at the flowering stage. After soil DNA was extracted from the rhizosphere, 13 C-DNA was separated from 12 C-DNA using the stable isotope probing method, followed by pyrosequencing analysis. Between soils, significant differences in the abundance of genera incorporating 13 C in the rhizosphere were observed, with Aquincola , Dechloromonas , Massilia , Amycolatopsis , Delftia , Magnetospirillum , Psychrobacter , Ochrobactrum , Pseudoxanthomonas and Niastella showing greater relative abundances in low-C org soil ( p < 0.05) compared to high-C org soil. However, the opposite trend was observed for Enhydrobacter , Flavisolibacter , Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus. Correspondingly, the number of operational taxonomic units in each genus varied between soils. Soil type greatly affected the flow of plant-C into rhizospheric bacterial community. The plant-C metabolizing bacteria may contribute to the transformation of rhizodeposits in the soil and soil C sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Liver graft injury and tumor recurrence are the major challenges of liver transplantation for the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we aimed to explore the role and mechanism of liver graft injury mobilizing regulatory T cells (Tregs), which lead to late phase tumor recurrence after liver transplantation. Methods The correlation among tumor recurrence, liver graft injury and Tregs mobilization were studied in 257 liver transplant recipients with HCC and orthotopic rat liver transplantation models. The direct roles of CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling on Tregs mobilization and tumor recurrence were investigated in CXCL10 −/− and CXCR3 −/− mice models with hepatic IR injury. Results Clinically, patients received the graft with graft weight ratio (GWR) <60% had higher HCC recurrence after liver transplantation than the recipients with GWR ⩾60% graft. More circulating Tregs and higher intragraft TLR4/CXCL10/CXCR3 levels were detected in recipients with GWR <60% graft. These results were further validated in rat transplantation model. Foxp3 + cells and expressions of TLR4, CXCL10, TGFβ, CTLA-4 and CD274 were increased in rat liver tumor tissues from small-for-size graft group. In mouse model, the mobilization and recruitment of Tregs were decreased in TLR4 −/− , CXCL10 −/− and CXCR3 −/− mice compared to wild-type mice. Moreover, less CXCR3 + Tregs were recruited into liver in CXCL10 −/− mice after hepatic IR injury. The knockout of CXCL10 and depletion of Tregs inhibited tumor recurrence after hepatic IR injury. Conclusion CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling upregulated at liver graft injury directly induced the mobilization and intragraft recruitment of Tregs, which further promoted HCC recurrence after transplantation. Lay summary There were positive correlation among tumor recurrence, circulating Tregs and liver graft injury after human transplantation for HCC patients. The knockout of CXCL10 decreased hepatic recruitment of CXCR3 + Tregs and late phase tumor recurrence after hepatic IR injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide with a poor prognosis of limited survival. The role of regulatory B cell (Breg), a new important B cell subset, in HCC progression remains unclear. We firstly found that the percentage of B cells at tumor margin was significantly higher than that in tumor and non-tumor regions. Especially, increased intrahepatic B cells at tumor margin were positively associated with tumor invasive features and more tumor recurrence. Besides, HCC patients had a significantly higher percentage of circulating Bregs than healthy people. Increased circulating Bregs were correlated with advanced tumor staging, tumor multiplicity and venous infiltration. Next, we firstly revealed that human Bregs promoted HCC tumor growth independent of Tregs in SCID mice. The migration of Bregs from blood into tumor was also confirmed in mice. Finally, we further explored the molecular mechanism of Bregs promoting proliferation and migration of HCC cells in vitro . Bregs promoted HCC growth and invasiveness by directly interacting with liver cancer cells through the CD40/CD154 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving living donor liver transplantation appear to possess significantly higher tumor recurrence than the recipients receiving deceased donor liver transplantation. The underlying mechanism for HCC recurrence after transplantation remains unclear. Here, we aim to investigate the impact of small-for-size liver graft injury on HCC recurrence after transplantation. Methods: The correlation between tumor recurrence, liver graft injury, CXCL10 expression and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) mobilization was studied in 115 liver transplant recipients and rat orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) models. The direct role of CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling on EPC mobilization was investigated in CXCL10 −/− mice and CXCR3 −/− mice. The role of EPCs on tumor growth and angiogenesis was further investigated in an orthotopic liver tumor model. Results: Clinically, patients with small-for-size liver grafts (<60% of standard liver weight, SLW) had significantly higher HCC recurrence (p =0.04), accompanied by more circulating EPCs and higher early-phase intragraft and plasma CXCL10 levels, than the recipients with large grafts (⩾60% of SLW), which were further validated in rat OLT models. Circulatory EPC mobilization was reduced after liver injury both in CXCL10 −/− mice and CXCR3 −/− mice in comparison to wild-type controls. CXCL10 recruited EPCs in dose-dependent and CXCR3-dependent manners in vitro. Early-phase EPC/CXCL10 injection enhanced orthotopic liver tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis in nude mice. Conclusions: Post-transplant enhanced CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling in small-for-size liver grafts directly induced EPC mobilization, differentiation and neovessel formation, which further promotes tumor growth. Targeting CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling may attenuate early-phase liver graft injury and prevent late-phase tumor recurrence/metastasis after transplantation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with a high potential of tumor recurrence and metastasis, leading to poor prognosis. Cell motility is an important factor in the progression and metastasis of cancers. Recently, Fascin has been linked to tumor progression by induction of cell motility. However, the precise roles of Fascin in OSCC have not been elucidated clearly. The aim of this study was to analyze the roles of Fascin in OSCC progression using OSCC clinical samples. We demonstrated that Fascin over-expression was found in OSCC clinical samples and its expression was significantly associated with nodal metastasis (p =0.027), tumor recurrence (p <0.001) and poor patients’ overall survival (p =0.013). Consistently, Fascin proteins were detected in all OSCC cell lines with the expression level corresponding to the invasion ability. To specifically investigate the mechanism of Fascin in OSCC, we examined the E-cadherin expression in the same set of OSCC specimens. Fascin was negatively correlated with E-cadherin expression (p =0.018, r =−0.513). In conclusion, our findings suggested that Fascin over-expression might enhance OSCC aggressiveness, possibly by interacting with E-cadherin expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Because of the unique layered structure, black phosphorus (BP) provides a possibility of relatively independent control in electrical and thermal conductivity for thermoelectrical applications. It is therefore of great interest to realize high-performance BP-based thermoelectrics as flexible non-toxic and ultralight devices in spite of the low energy conversion efficiency and structural instability of the bulk BP. In this work, we systematically study the thermoelectric properties for the two-dimensional BP from mono-layer up to quad-layer by first-principles calculations and Boltzmann transport theory. It can be concluded from the calculations that the thermoelectric performance of BP nanosheets can be effectively optimized by tuning the layer thickness. We reveal that the maximum ZT values at 300 and 500 K can reach up to 0.45 and 0.90 in p -type bi-layer BP along armchair direction, respectively, around 5 times higher than that of the bulk at room temperature. The high performance in bi-layer BP is mainly attributed to its highly anisotropic and degenerate carrier pockets. Accordingly, we further propose that the formation of BP/h-BN heterostructure can enhance ZT up to 1.2 at 500 K, which facilitates the real application of thin BP for flexible and eco-friendly thermoelectrics. • Black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets can be effectively optimized by tuning the layer thickness. • An obviously improved ZT of around 1.0 is predicted in bi-layer BP, compared with the bulk counterpart. • High ZT of bi-layer BP is mainly attributed to its unique anisotropic and highly degenerate band structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]