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Decreasing the particle size of Li 2 CO 3 powder is beneficial for advancing its applications in the manufacturing of different materials and drug delivery. Therefore, in this study, a novel bottom-up process based on freezing is proposed for the production of nanoparticles. Herein, two methods of explosive nucleation were used: addition of an anti-solvent and rapid freezing. Explosive nucleation of Li 2 CO 3 occurred during the initial stage of anti-solvent addition; in contrast, in the freezing method, it occurred at a stage when the solute, which had not migrated, was extruded to the solid–liquid interface. Li 2 CO 3 concentration had an effect on both the crystal grain and particle size. The controlled preparation of Li 2 CO 3 nanoparticles was achieved within a certain range of A/B ratio; when the ratio decreased from 10/0 to 10/20 v/v, the controlled synthesis of Li 2 CO 3 nanoparticles was achieved. A lower concentration of Li 2 CO 3 decreased the size of the crystal grain and increased the size of the particles, as observed via transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. When the A/B ratio (where A is saturated Li 2 CO 3 solution and B is deionised water) was decreased below 10/20 v/v, the crystal grain size of Li 2 CO 3 did not reduce significantly. To further understand the nucleation, freezing was carried out at two temperatures, i.e. 223 ± 2 K and 267 ± 2 K. The lower freezing temperature resulted in a smaller crystal grain size and more concentrated distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six multi-component rare earth phosphate materials were prepared by chemical co-precipitation, which are (La 0.2 Nd 0.2 Sm 0.2 Eu 0.2 Gd 0.2)PO 4 , (La 0 · 2 Ce 0.2 Nd 0.2 Sm 0.2 Eu 0.2)PO 4 , (Ce 0.2 Nd 0.2 Sm 0.2 Eu 0.2 Gd 0.2)PO 4 , (La 0.5 Nd 0.5)PO 4 , (La 0.5 Gd 0.5)PO 4 and (Nd 0.5 Gd 0.5)PO 4. Hot corrosion behavior tests were conducted in molten V 2 O 5 salt at 900 °C and 1000 °C for 20 h and 40 h, respectively. The results show that the corrosion temperature and the heat treatment time have little effect on the type of corrosion products. Among these materials prepared in this study, the material containing Gd element and the material without Gd element exhibit different hot corrosion behavior. For the multi-component rare earth phosphate materials containing Gd element, the corrosion product is ReVO 4 (Re Sm, Eu, Gd) xenotime, and a reaction layer is formed on the surface of the bulk. For the multi-component rare earth phosphate materials without Gd element, the corrosion product is Re(P,V)O 4 (Re La, Ce, Nd) solid solution and the amount of product is very small, the corrosion reaction is extremely weak and no reaction layer is formed. Although the molten salt mainly penetrates, the original structure of the bulk has not been damaged, which indicates that its hot corrosion resistance is good. The hot corrosion mechanisms of these six multi-component rare earth phosphates are studied based on the crystallographic characteristics of rare earth phosphates/vanadates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient separation and enrichment of uranium from radioactive effluents is of strategic significance for sustainable development of nuclear energy and environmental protection. Macropore structure of adsorbent is conducive to accessibility of the pore and transport of the adsorbate during dynamic adsorption. However, the low specific surface area results in fewer ligand sites and subsequently reduces the adsorption capacity. Herein, we present a novel strategy for efficient dynamic uranium enrichment using polyphosphonate-segmented macroporous organosilicon frameworks (PMOFs). PMOFs are constructed through the copolymerization of diethyl vinylphosphonate and triethoxyvinylsilane, followed by hydrolysis and condensation of the oligomers. The introduction of polyphosphonate segments into the frameworks endows PMOFs with a macroporous structure (31 µm) and a high ligand content (up to 72 wt%). Consequently, the optimized PMOF-3 demonstrated an ultrahigh dynamic adsorption capacity of 114.8 mg/g among covalently conjugated silicon-based materials. Additionally, PMOF-3 achieves a high enrichment factor (120) in the dynamic enrichment of uranium on a fixed bed column, which can be in-situ regenerated with 1 M NaHCO 3 as the eluent. This work presents a new strategy for efficient dynamic enrichment of nuclides, which can be extended to the separation of other specific pollutants, shedding new light on adsorbent design and technical innovation. [Display omitted] • Polyphosphonate-segmented macroporous framework is prepared for dynamic enrichment. • There are high ligand density and abundant macropores in the framework. • High static and dynamic adsorption capacities are obtained for uranium. • A high enrichment factor (120) for uranium is obtained in a fixed bed column. • The framework has good regeneration performance, irradiation and salt resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An investigation has been carried out for arsenic removal from a silver–copper ore. The copper ore was roasted in air, in nitrogen atmosphere and in vacuum at high temperature. It was found that arsenic was more easily removed in vacuum at lower temperature with shorter time. By suitably adjusting the main reaction conditions, almost 98.97% arsenic could be removed, while most of the sulfur was particularly retained in the copper ore. It was illustrated that arsenic could be completely removed on anaerobic conditions. After arsenic was removed, the copper ore with higher economic value could be used for feeding to the smelter. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Alumina based ceramic materials, such as LaMgAl 11 O 19 (LMA) containing amounts of Al, usually resist the CMAS corrosion through forming a compact layer of the CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8. In this work, the LMA/CeO 2 mixed powders in mole ratios of 5:5 (L5C5), 7:3 (L7C3) and 9:1 (L9C1) were pressed and sintered to prepare the ceramic bulks. The resistance to CMAS corrosion of the LMA/CeO 2 , the CeO 2 and the LMA ceramic bulks were tested and compared at 1250ºC and 1350ºC for 1 h, 5 h and 10 h. Results showed that the added CeO 2 in the LMA can decrease the porosity and improve the resistance to CMAS corrosion. The combined effects of the LMA and CeO 2 promoted the formation of the CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8. The L5C5 and the L9C1 with appropriate composition have good resistance to CMAS corrosion at 1250ºC, and the L9C1 can alleviate CMAS infiltration compared with the LMA and other proportional materials at 1350ºC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between saturated fatty acids (SFA) and bladder cancer (BC) risk has been conflicting. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between erythrocyte membrane SFA and BC risk. A total of 404 participants were enrolled in the study (including 112 cases and 292 controls). A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the food intake. The constitutive composition of fatty acids in the erythrocyte membrane was measured by gas chromatography. After adjustment for BC risk factors, SFA had no significant association with BC risk. However, C18:0 was positively linked with BC risk with an odds ratio (OR; 95% CI) of 2.99 (1.37–6.53). In contrast, very-long-chain saturated fatty acids (VLCSFA), especially C24:0, were negatively related to BC risk with an OR (95% CI) of 0.28 (0.12–0.65) for VLCSFA and 0.33 (0.15–0.75) for C24:0. Higher total odd-chain SFA (C15:0 and C17:0) were associated with a lower risk of BC with OR (95% CI) of 0.18 (0.076–0.44), 0.18 (0.068–0.47), 0.34 (0.14–0.81), respectively. After subgroup analysis, the protective effects C15:0 and C17:0 were still remained. Receiver operating characteristic analysis displayed that the combination of C15:0 and C17:0 indexes increased the accurate predictive rate of BC risk. Further mediation effect analysis showed that C15:0 and C17:0 could be used as partial mediation effectors for milk and dairy products and bladder carcinogenesis. Overall, the combination of odd-chain SFA (C15:0 and C17:0) in the erythrocyte membrane could serve as a reliable mediator and predictor, indicating a relationship between a high intake of milk and dairy products and a lower risk of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, we analyzed four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs10491734, rs2228622, rs301430 and rs301443) of the solute carrier family 1 gene (SLC1A1) in a set of 616 schizophrenia patients and 638 matched healthy controls of Han Chinese descent. No significant differences of genotype or allele distribution were identified between the patients and controls. Our data suggest that SLC1A1 is unlikely to be a major susceptibility gene for schizophrenia in Han Chinese. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Alumina based rare earth oxides ceramic materials, with the good performance against the CMAS corrosion, were widely used as the thermal/environmental barrier coatings. In this work, three Y 2 O 3 –Al 2 O 3 binary ceramic bulks, which were the Y 3 Al 5 O 12 , YAlO 3 and Y 4 Al 2 O 9 , were prepared by high temperature solid state reaction using the Y 2 O 3 and Al 2 O 3 as the raw materials. The resistances to CMAS corrosion of these materials at 1250 °C and 1350 °C were compared fully. The compositions and structures of the samples before and after corrosion were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that the different chemical compositions of the materials resulted in the different optical basicity (OB) values which can decide the reactivity of the material with the CMAS melts. The Y 3 Al 5 O 12 ceramic material was inert to the CMAS for its low OB value of 0.75 and damaged seriously by the CMAS through physical penetration. The YAlO 3 and Y 4 Al 2 O 9 with the high OB values of 0.80 and 0.87 reacted with the CMAS to form the Ca 4 Y 6 (SiO 4) 6 O. The YAlO 3 ceramic bulk exhibited the good performance against the CMAS corrosion benefitting from the formation of the Ca 4 Y 6 (SiO 4) 6 O and the CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium-magnesium-alumina-silicate (CMAS) attack is a major challenge for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) during the application. In this work, four rare earth phosphates materials including (La 0.2 Nd 0.2 Sm 0.2 Eu 0.2 Gd 0.2)PO 4 , (La 0.5 Nd 0.5)PO 4 , (La 0.5 Gd 0.5)PO 4 and (Nd 0.5 Gd 0.5)PO 4 were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation. The resistance behaviors to CMAS of the materials were investigated at 1250 °C and 1350 °C for 5 h, 10 h and 20 h, respectively. Results show that the main corrosion products are the apatite compounds (Ca 2+ x Re 8- x (PO 4) x (SiO 4) 6- x O 2) and the Ca 3 (PO 4) 2. Increasing the corrosion temperature from 1250 °C to 1350 °C will promote the penetration of the melted CMAS. It would not lead to the more serious corrosion by prolonging the corrosion time at 1250 °C and 1350 °C. The P–Ca layer composed by the Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 , which relates to the rare earth elements compositions, prevent the CMAS corrosion to the materials effectively. Preparing multi-components rare earth phosphates and optimizing their element compositions will be a new way to improve the resistance to the CMAS for these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaO–MgO–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 (CMAS) corrosion poses serious hidden dangers for the application of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). In this study, LaMgAl 11 O 19 (LMA) and GdPO 4 were mixed at molar ratios of 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2 to prepare LMA/GdPO 4 materials, and the CMAS corrosion behaviours of these materials were investigated at 1300°C–1500 °C for 20 h and 40 h. It was demonstrated that temperature was the main factor influencing the corrosion behaviours and products. The materials were damaged at 1300 °C by the crystallization of CMAS melts to form CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8. In contrast, the materials were corroded by CMAS melts via the reaction between CMAS and GdPO 4 at 1500 °C. These results indicate that the addition of GdPO 4 to LMA can improve the resistance of the LMA material to CMAS corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food-derived bioactive peptides, as potential ingredients in health-promoting functional foods targeting diet-related chronic diseases, have attracted increasing attention because of their high biological activities, low toxicity, and easy of metabolism in human body. However, conventional methods for analyzing the bioactive peptides are not only expensive but also time-consuming; these drawbacks limited detailed studies and rapid development of bioactive peptides. Emerging bioinformatics approaches may overcome these problems to enable bioactive peptide research. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of research progress in the bioinformatics methods used for identifying, characterizing, elaborating bioactive mechanisms of, and producing food-derived bioactive peptides, and also to present an effective workflow. The workflow has been integrated in silico and traditional methods to predict, validate, and modify bioactive peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is one of the major complications in patients exposed to accidental radiation and radiotherapy for thoracic malignancies. However, there is no reliable radioprotector for effective clinical treatment of RILI so far. Herein, a novel Crocin-loaded chitosan microsphere is developed for lung targeting and attenuation of RILI. The chitosan microspheres are modified with 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid and loaded with the natural antioxidant Crocin-I to give the drug-loaded microspheres (~10 μm). The microspheres possess good biocompatibility in vivo and in vitro. In a mouse model, they exhibit effective passive targeting performance and a long retention time in the lung after intravenous administration. Furthermore, they improve the radioprotective effect of Crocin-I for the treatment of RILI by reducing the level of inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and by regulating oxidative stress in lung tissues. The targeted agents significantly improved the bioavailability and radioprotection of Crocin-I by the outstanding passive targeting effect. This work may provide a promising strategy for efficient radioprotection on RILI using passive lung targeting microspheres. [Display omitted] • The work provides a new strategy for attenuation of radiation-induced lung injury. • The chitosan-based microspheres exhibited effective passive targeting performance. • The bioavailability and radioprotection of Crocin-I were improved in the lung. • The drug-loaded microsphere has good stability, degradability and biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effluents from paper mills are highly toxic and are a major source of aquatic pollution. In this study, we collected water and sediment samples to examine the microbial communities using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and identified bacterial taxa greatly affected by paper mill pollution using next-generation sequencing data. Our results indicated that bacterial communities in downstream sediments were similar to those in paper mill discharge sites, indicating obvious effects of pollution, while bacterial communities in downstream water samples showed similar profiles to those in upstream sites, both being quite different from the bacterial communities in paper mill discharge sites. This was possibly because of the short contact period. In addition, bacterial communities in the estuary were quite different from those in other water and sediment samples, which was owing to the special habitat type. Considering the storage of paper mill pollutants in sediment and the significant effect on shifts in bacterial communities, we selected Clostridia and Epsilonproteobacteria at the class level and Fusibacter and Desulfobulbus at the genus level as bacterial indicators of paper mill pollution. To monitor the remediation of polluted aquatic environments, we propose Sphingobacteria , Alphaproteobacteria , Actinobacteria , Subdivision3 , Planctomycetacia and Verrucomicrobiae at the class level and Bacillus , Steroidobacter , Nocardioides , Terrimonas , Pirellula and Methylibium at the genus level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in medicine have led to continuous enhancements and innovations in wound dressing materials, making them pivotal in medical care. We used natural biological macromolecules, γ-polyglutamic acid and gum arabic as primary raw materials to create nanofibers laden with curcumin by blending electrostatic spinning technology in the current investigation. These nanofibers were meticulously characterized using fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Our comprehensive analyses confirmed the successful encapsulation of curcumin within the nanofiber carrier and it has uniform diameter, good water absorption and mechanical properties. Subsequently, we evaluated the antimicrobial effects of these curcumin-loaded nanofibers against Staphylococcus aureus through an oscillating flask method. We created a mouse model with acute full-thickness skin defects to further investigate the wound healing potential. We conducted various biochemical assays to elucidate the mechanism of action. The results revealed that curcumin nanofibers profoundly impacted wound healing. They bolstered the expression of TGF-β1 and VEGF and reduced the expression of inflammatory factors, leading to an accelerated re-epithelialization process, enhanced wound contraction, and increased regeneration of new blood vessels and hair follicles. Furthermore, these nanofibers positively influenced the proportion of three different collagen types. This comprehensive study underscores the remarkable potential of curcumin-loaded nanofibers to facilitate wound healing and lays a robust experimental foundation for developing innovative, natural product-based wound dressings. • The nanofiber contains polyglutamic acid and gum arabic; both are natural biopolymers found in human tissues. • Curcumin encapsulation success was ensured via comprehensive characterization, enabling precise drug delivery system control • The nanofiber has good antibacterial ability against Staphylococcus aureus and certain biocompatibility. • Nanofiber sped up re-epithelialization, boosted wound contraction, and stimulated new blood vessel and hair follicle growth. • The nanofiber bolstered the expression of TGF-β1 and VEGF and concurrently reduced the expression of inflammatory factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study reports the fabrication of (1- x) Y 3 Al 5 O 12 / x LaPO 4 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) composites and their evaluation against molten V 2 O 5 corrosion at 900 °C and 1000 °C for 20 h. The phase compositions and microstructures of the samples were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), both before and after the corrosion tests. The yttrium aluminium garnet (Y 3 Al 5 O 12 , YAG) was easily corroded by molten V 2 O 5 , with the primary product being YVO 4. While LaPO 4 exhibited perfect resistance to the molten V 2 O 5 corrosion, it was ineffective at improving the corrosion resistance of the YAG/LaPO 4 composite materials. However, the LaPO 4 /YAG double layers materials prepared with LaPO 4 coated on the surface of YAG exhibit excellent resistance to molten V 2 O 5 , owing to the formation of the P diffusion layer at the interface between the LaPO 4 and YAG, which acts as a sealing layer, preventing the molten V 2 O 5 from penetrating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fine structure of sweet tea polysaccharide (STP-60a) has been characterized. However, the biological activity of STP-60a has not been extensively explored. This study aims to evaluate the anti-aging activity of STP-60a using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. 400 μg/mL of STP-60a increased the mean lifespan of C. elegans by 22.88%, reduced the lipofuscin content by 33.01%, and improved the survival rate under heat stress and oxidative stress by 32.33% and 27.63%, respectively. Further research in lifespan-related mutants revealed that STP-60a exerted anti-aging effects mainly through insulin and mitochondrial signaling pathways. Through qRT-PCR and microscopic imaging of transgenic nematodes, we found that 400 μg/mL of STP-60a increased the expression of daf-16 , skn-1 , and hsf-1 downstream of the insulin pathway by 1.68-fold, 1.88-fold, and 1.03-fold, respectively, and promoted the accumulation of daf-16 and skn-1 in the nucleus. STP-60a also significantly regulated the function of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and unfolded protein recovery system. Furthermore, STP-60a activated the autophagy level in C. elegans , and the mutation of daf-2 or clk-1 inhibited the upregulation of autophagy genes by STP-60a, suggesting that autophagy acted as an effector of the insulin and mitochondrial pathways during STP-60a antiaging. • STP-60a improved multiple health parameters of C. elegans. • STP-60a exerted anti-aging effects mainly through insulin and mitochondrial pathways. • STP-60a activated the autophagy level of C. elegans. • Autophagy acted as an effector of insulin and mitochondrial pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cercis chinensis Bunge is a valuable industrial crop with extensive medicinal and biological activities. To develop efficient tyrosinase inhibitors, condensed tannins were isolated from Cercis chinensis Bunge flowers. Thiolysis high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization full mass spectrometry analyses revealed that the primary components in condensed tannins were prodelphinidins with gallic catechin/epigallocatechin (GC/EGC) as a structural unit with a small number of procyanidins and high level of galloylation. Enzyme kinetic analysis revealed that Cercis chinensis Bunge flower condensed tannins (CBCT) exhibited strong tyrosinase (TYR) monophenolase and diphenolase inhibitory activities, and their IC50 values were 38.9 and 15.3 μg/mL, respectively. CBCT belongs to a reversible mixed-type inhibitor of diphenolase. The UV spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching assays showed that CBCT inhibited the activity of TYR by binding to the two copper ion active centers of TYR and masking tryptophan activity. The TYR formed stable hydrogen bonds with GC/EGC through residues Lys70, Thr324, and Glu340 through molecular simulations. In addition, CBCT exhibited strong antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and could efficiently preserve fresh-cut lotus roots. Therefore, CBCT is a non-toxic natural product with antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and antibacterial properties and has the potential to be developed as a new type of fruit and vegetable preservative. • The Cercis chinensis Bunge flower condensed tannins has anti-tyrosinase activities. • Condensed tannins exhibited strong antioxidant, antibacterial properties. • Condensed tannins may become a new type of vegetable preservative [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Abietic acid with an excellent assembly profile is used to stabilize curcumin. • The bioavailability of curcumin can be improved with loading by abietic acid. • Abietic acid and curcumin have synergistic antioxidant activity. This research constructed composite nanoparticles (NP s) using abietic acid (AA) as a carrier for significantly enhancing the bioavailability of curcumin (CCM). CCM -loaded AA NPs were synthesized using a low-energy microemulsification method, and the obtained nanoparticles had a spherical morphology with an average diameter of 458.66 nm, a narrow size distribution and a negative surface charge of −19.13 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of CCM was 17.98 %, while its solubility was 20-fold that of free curcumin. FITR, UV, and MD revealed hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic forces between AA and CCM. The in-vitro release profile showed sustainable release of CCM in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids up to 2 h at 37 °C. In cellular studies, CCM -loaded AA NPs with the same CCM concentration exhibited greater bioaccessibility and bioavailability than free CCM. These data suggested a possible utilization of AA NPs in improving water solubility, bioavailability and activity of lipophilic bioactive food factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The optimal process for ultrasound-assisted extraction of Imperata cylindrica polysaccharide was determined; • The physicochemical properties and activities of polysaccharide extracted by different methods were evaluated; • Ultrasound-assisted extraction of polysaccharide exhibited significant amelioration of cell damage stimulated by uric acid. An efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly ultrasound-assisted hot water method for Imperata cylindrica polysaccharide (ICPs) extraction was developed. According to the response surface results, the optimal ultrasonic time was 85 min, ultrasonic power was 192.75 W, temperature was 90.74 °C, liquid–solid ratio was 26.1, and polysaccharide yield was 28.50 %. The polysaccharide mainly consisted of arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), and glucose (Glc), with a molecular weight of 62.3 kDa. Ultrasound-assisted extraction of Imperata cylindrica polysaccharide (UICP) exhibited stronger anti-oxidant activity and ability to ameliorate cellular damage due to uric acid stimulation compared with traditional hot water extraction of Imperata cylindrica polysaccharide (ICPC-b). It also exhibited higher thermal stability, indicating its potential value for applications in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel 3D anisotropic random porous structure based on anisotropic Voronoi diagrams with high strength and high stiffness. • The parallel 3D anisotropic Voronoi diagram algorithm which eliminates the need for iterative calculations and is applicable to complex 3D shapes, including intricate concave shapes and structures with non-zero genus. • The stress driven strategy in which the distribution of Voronoi cells is related with the spatial distribution of stress magnitudes, while the cell orientations are controlled by the direction of stress tensor. Porous structures exhibit excellent mechanical properties and are widely utilized in engineering design. However, there is still substantial potential for enhancing the mechanical performance of these structure. By customizing the anisotropic design of each pore in the porous structure, the strength and stiffness of the structure can be significantly enhanced. In this work, we present a novel method for designing 3D anisotropic Voronoi porous structures (AVPSs). To construct these structures, we propose a novel algorithm for generating 3D anisotropic Voronoi diagrams (AVDs) based on Riemannian distance. The geometries of Voronoi cells are controlled to conform with both the stress distribution and the principal stress directions. The distribution of Voronoi cells are graded using a stress-based site sampling strategy, the orientation of Voronoi cells are modified by introducing stress-mapped Riemann tensor fields. The AVPSs are then modeled by computing implicit surfaces based on AVDs. The AVPSs conform closely to the geometric profile of the input model by clipping AVDs using the tetrahedral mesh. Furthermore, the results obtained from numerical simulations and experimental tests indicate that the AVPSs possess both high strength and high stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deployment of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are of vital importance for the mitigation of fossil energy shortage and environment pollution. A significant amount of Pt on cathode is highly needed to accelerate the process of sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and maintains a stable long-term performance. During ORR, the yield of undesirable hydrogen peroxide through a two-electron pathway not only decreases outer power but also weakens the long-term stability. Herein, Pt-prussian blue (PB) composite, featuring around structure, is firstly proposed and facilely fabricated via electrostatic self-assembly strategy. Pt 1 PB 0.25 /C shows 50% higher activity than commercial Pt/C, rationally ascribed to modulated electronic structure and higher selectivity towards four-electron pathway. Moreover, in contrast with the striking 38% loss in mass activity for Pt/C after accelerated degradation tests (ADTs), Pt 1 PB 0.25 /C shows only a 15% decrease possibly due to the elimination of hydrogen oxide and the anchor interaction between Pt and PB. The employment of PB with a synergy role paves an efficient way for the fabrication of brand-new Pt-based catalysts with high activity and stability. • Fabrication of Pt-Prussian blue composite via electrostatic self-assembly. • High active and stable Pt-Prussian blue for oxygen reduction reaction in acidic media. • Ligand effect and synergy effect for enhancement of performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the hot corrosion behaviours of La 1- x Gd x MgAl 11 O 19 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) bulk ceramics and ceramic coatings. The hot corrosion resistance of the ceramic coating was inferior to that of the bulk ceramic, owing to the formation of an amorphous phase during the plasma spraying process. The smaller size of Gd3+ in comparison with La3+ facilitated the ready combination of Gd3+ with V O 4 3 − . LaVO 4 was obtained as the corrosion product in the LaMgAl 11 O 19 (LMA) sample. Upon doping the LMA with Gd 2 O 3 , the LaVO 4 was almost entirely replaced by GdVO 4. Therefore, the sacrificial action of GdMgAl 11 O 19 protected the LMA from hot corrosion, while also providing a new method for modifying the corrosion resistance of molten slag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R. suavissimus (Rubus suavissimus S. Lee), also known as Chinese sweet tea, is a deciduous shrub of the genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae in China. R. suavissimus leaves contain various chemical components with excellent physiological functions, making them both drinkable as tea and medicinal. Moreover, rubusoside, regarded as the main sweet component in R. suavissimus , is an ideal sweetener with the characteristics of high sweetness and low-calorie. However, less attention has been paid to R. suavissimus , which hinders its popularization and application. This paper comprehensively summarizes the research progress on the nutritional components of R. suavissimus leaves, including chemical structure, extraction methods, health benefits, and mechanism of action, as well as expounds on the application status of R. suavissimus. Additionally, the production of rubusoside through biotransformation and biosynthesis is concerned. R. suavissimus leaves are rich in nutrients such as rubusoside, polyphenols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, which can resist allergies, reduce inflammation, prevent dental caries, regulate glucose and lipid metabolism, and are widely applied in the fields of food, beverages, medicine, and skincare. As the main sweet component, rubusoside is expected to be a natural green substitute for sweeteners such as sucrose. In addition to being extracted from R. suavissimus , rubusoside can also be produced in large quantities through biotransformation and biosynthesis. Overall, R. suavissimus leaves have three major functions of "tea, sugar and medicine", and are a kind of health care product and sweetener with great development value. • The chemical components of R. suavissimus are comprehensively summarized. • The health benefits of R. suavissimus are emphasized. • The application status of R. suavissimus is elaborated. • The production methods of rubusoside through biotransformation and biosynthesis are concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a toughening agent, LaPO 4 has been used to improve several properties of ceramics. In such applications, its compatibility with the matrix material should be considered first. In this study, the compatibility of LaPO 4 and magnesium lanthanum hexa-aluminate (LaMgAl 11 O 19 , LMA) was elucidated at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 1600 °C. The compositions, thermal stabilities, thermal conductivities and microstructures of the above-mentioned materials were analysed using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry, thermal conductivity tester and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the two materials maintained a good compatibility at temperatures lower than 1600 °C. At 1600 °C, the diffusion of La was observed to alter the chemical composition of LaPO 4 and accelerate its reaction with LMA, leading to the formation of LaAlO 3 and magnesium lanthanum aluminium oxide, resulting in the increase of thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a disease of aging, characterized by a decrease in bone quality and a reduction in bone strength. Promoting the activity of osteoblasts is a useful strategy for combating the progression of osteoporosis. As a novel bone growth factor, lactoferrin plays a role in the anabolic activity in bone by inducing the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and inhibiting the formation of osteoclasts. However, potential peptides with osteogenic activity from lactoferrin have not been identified. In the present study, a peptide with osteogenic activity—LFP-C, fragment residues 624 to 632, derived from lactoferrin hydrolysates—was identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and screened using molecular docking analysis. The LFP-C peptide significantly increased the proliferation of mouse cell line MC3T3-E1 and had a promoting effect on alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition. Moreover, LFP-C increased the proportion of osteoblasts in the G 2 and M phases. The osteogenic mechanism of LFP-C was also studied by molecular docking. We found that LFP-C could bind to the key domain (Lys13-Thr15-Gln16-Leu17-Gly18-Asp22) of epidermal growth factor receptor, a vital receptor tyrosine kinase that leads to the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The main interaction forces were interpolated charge, hydrophobicity, and hydrogen bonding. Results indicated that LFP-C may play an osteogenic role in a similar way to lactoferrin, by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. The findings of this in vitro experiment also demonstrated that the molecular docking method could play a role in the screening process; this in silico approach allowed for faster and cheaper identification of a promising bioactive component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ICPC-a was from the Imperata cylindrica with a molecular weight of 45 kDa, which was composed of α-D-1,3-Glc p and α-D-1,6-Glc p. The ICPC-a showed thermal stability, maintaining its structural integrity up to 220°C. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed its amorphous nature, while scanning electron microscopy revealed a layered morphology. ICPC-a significantly ameliorated uric acid stimulation-induced HK-2 cell injury and apoptosis and reduced uric acid levels in mice with hyperuricemic nephropathy. ICPC-a protected against renal injury by inhibiting lipid peroxidation levels, increasing antioxidant damage and defense levels, inhibiting secretion of pro-inflammatory factors, regulating purine metabolism, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, inflammatory bowel disease, mTOR signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. These findings indicate that ICPC-a is a promising natural substance with multiple targets, multiple pathways of action, and without toxicity, making it a valuable subject for further research and development. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A water-soluble polysaccharide was isolated from marine green algae Ulva pertusa and then chelated with iron to prepare the polysaccharide‑iron (III) complex. The immunomodulatory activities of sulfated polysaccharide and polysaccharide‑iron (III) complex were investigated through a mice immune-deficiency model. Cyclophosphamide (Cy) was utilized to establish mice immunodeficiency model. Both polysaccharide and polysaccharide‑iron (III) complex were proved to promote the proliferation of lymphocyte and enhance the activities of mice macrophages. In mice serum, the levels of cytokines including TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-10 restored and the contents of hemolysin were also found elevated after treatment with polysaccharide and its iron complex. Besides, it has been shown that both polysaccharide and polysaccharide‑iron (III) complex increased the contents of Hb, RBC and HCT in mice blood, and the effect of iron complex was better. All these results suggested that Ulva pertusa polysaccharide could be developed as a healthy function food. It was also noteworthy that the polysaccharide‑iron (III) complex showed no negative effect upon the immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharide. Instead, the polysaccharide‑iron (III) complex showed excellent hematopoietic capacity perhaps due to the supplement of iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) was very attractive for using as bone implant material for a long period due to the close similarity with natural bone in composition and osteoconductive properties. In this study, three kinds of natural HAP (nHAP) derived from rainbow trout ( Onchorynchus mkiss ), cod ( Gadus ) and salmon ( Oncorhynchus keta ) bones were prepared using thermal calcination method for the first time. Resultant nHAPs were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Biocompatibility of calcined nHAP was evaluated through MTT cell viability assay and alkaline phosphatase activity experiment using mouse preosteoblast MC3T3-E1. Results of cell experiment indicated that the nHAP originated from rainbow trout and salmon bones showed better biological compatibility compared with the nHAP originated from cod bone and chemical synthetic HAP (cHAP). This is most likely attributed to the different element composition in nHAP, i.e., the nHAP derived from rainbow trout and salmon bones showed the presence of CO 3 2– and Mg 2+ . Therefore, the nHAP originated from rainbow trout and salmon bones have a great potential for application as implant material substitute in bone tissue engineering and the natural waste fish bone product can be used for hydroxyapatite synthesis as a part of bio-waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various bioactive peptides are continuously being identified from casein hydrolysates. In this work, a novel angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory (ACEI) peptide, NMAINPSKENLCSTFCK, derived from the α s2 -casein fragment residues 25–41, was screened and identified by UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS from tryptic casein hydrolysate. The IC 50 value of the peptide, determined by an HPLC method, was 129.07 μM. The Lineweaver-Burk plot showed that this peptide acted as a mixed-type inhibitor against ACE, which might be attributed to the peptide being susceptible to degradation by ACE, indicating that the mixed-type inhibition could partly be a result of newly generated peptide fragments. The physicochemical characteristics and the secondary structure were evaluated by circular dichroism analysis and online prediction software (Expasy, PepDraw, and ProtParam) to identify the basic characteristics of this peptide. Moreover, molecular docking was simulated by Discovery Studio 2017 R2 software to provide the potential mechanisms underlying the ACEI activity of the peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the effect of sweet tea polysaccharide (STP) on the physicochemical and structural properties of heat-induced whey protein isolate (WPI) gels, and explored the potential mechanism. The results indicated that STP promoted the unfolding and cross-linking of WPI to form a stable three-dimensional network structure, and significantly improved the strength, water-holding capacity and viscoelasticity of WPI gels. However, the addition of STP was limited to 2 %, too much STP would loosen the gel network and affect the gel properties. The results of FTIR and fluorescence spectroscopy suggested that STP affected the secondary and tertiary structures of WPI, promoted the movement of aromatic amino acids to the protein surface and the conversion of α-helix to β-sheet. In addition, STP reduced the surface hydrophobicity of the gel, increased the free sulfhydryl content, and enhanced the hydrogen bonding, disulfide bonding, and hydrophobic interactions between protein molecules. These findings can provide a reference for the application of STP as a gel modifier in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-layer associated proteins (SLAP) of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei M5-L and Lactobacillus casei Q8-L were examined to identify the functional basis for their protection within intestinal epithelial cells. The results showed that SLAP of M5-L and Q8-L remained active in a trypsin solution and retained a 45- kDa protein band, similar to that observed in controls. In contrast, under conditions of simulated gastric juice, the SLAP were partially degraded. Inhibitory effects of SLAP on adherence of Shigella sonnei to HT-29 cells were assessed with use of exclusion, competition, and replacement assays. In response to M5-L at 50 µg/mL SLAP, an inhibition ratio of 33% was obtained, while for Q8-L at 400 µg/mL SLAP, the inhibition ratio was 48%. Hoechst 33258 test results showed that cells infected with S. sonnei and co-incubated with SLAP of M5-L and Q8-L were only partially apoptotic, with apoptosis rates of 37.67 and 43.67%, respectively. These levels of apoptosis were substantially lower than that observed with cells infected with S. sonnei alone. In addition, the SLAP of Q8-L and M5-L reduced downstream caspase-1 activity and further modified apoptotic cell damage. Finally, SLAP of M5-L and Q8-L were also able to prevent S. sonnei-induced membrane damage by inhibiting delocalization of zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and reducing the amount of occludin produced by S. sonnei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diosmin is the aglycone moiety of diosmetin (3′,5,7 trihydroxy-4′methoxy radicals flavonoids), a naturally occurring flavone glycoside, whose antithrombotic effect was studied in rats. This study was designed to find the protein changes of venous thrombosis in Wistar rats comparing conditions with and without Diosmin treatment by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), and investigate the effect of a crucial protein known as CEP350 on human vascular endothelial cell growth. Through prior chromatographic purification with macroporous absorption resin (AB-8) and polyamide, Diosmin was isolated from Galium verum L. by solvent extraction, then purified to 98% purity using HPLC. Wistar rats were divided into control group, model group, and prevention group. And their venous thrombosis tissue segments were dissected and prepared for histopathological examination and detection of plasma protein C (PC). Next, proteomic analysis was performed with the samples. Low-abundance proteins of the three groups were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). 2-DE analysis revealed that 191 protein spots were differentially expressed among those three groups. For protein identification, we selected six spots to use matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) detection, and then do the homology search in NCBI database. Considering characteristics of these proteins, we proposed CEP350 is related to spindle assembly. Furthermore, we used Lipofectamine 2000 to transfect HUVECs with CEP350 siRNA and evaluated the extent of silencing using real time–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cells were stained for immunofluorescence with tubulin-tracker red, and structural changes were analyzed using laser scanning confocal microscope. We concluded that CEP350 depletion decreased microtubule stability. Dosmin could modulate the assemble of spindle from unevenly distributing and protect body from varicose veins by regulating CEP350. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactoferrin (LF) has been recently recognized as a promising new novel bone growth factor for the beneficial effects on bone cells and promotion of bone growth. Currently, it has been attracted wide attention in bone regeneration as functional food additives or a potential bioactive protein in bone tissue engineering. The present study investigated the possibility that hydroxyapatite (HAP) particles, a widely used bone substitute material for high biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, functionalized with lactoferrin as a composite material are applied to bone tissue engineering. Two kinds of hydroxyapatite samples with different sizes, including nanorods and microspheres particles, were functionalized with lactoferrin molecules, respectively. A detailed characterization of as-prepared HAP-LF complex is presented, combining thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Zeta potential and the analysis of electrostatic surface potential of lactoferrin were carried to reveal the mechanism of adsorption. The effects of HAP-LF complex on MC3T3-E1 osteoblast proliferation and morphology were systematically evaluated at different culture time. Interestingly, results showed that cell viability of HAP-LF group was significantly higher than HAP group indicating that the HAP-LF can improve the biocompatibility of HAP, which mainly originated from a combination of HAP-LF interaction. These results indicated that hydroxyapatite particles can work as a controlled releasing carrier of lactoferrin successfully, and lactoferrin showed better potentiality on using in the field of bone regeneration by coupling with hydroxyapatite. This study would provide a new biomaterial and might offer a new insight for enhancement of bone regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although the treatment guidelines of bipolar disorders (BPD) have spread more than a decade, the concordance with evidence-based guidelines was typically low in routine clinical practice. This study is to present the data on the maintenance treatment of BPD in mainland China. Methods One thousand and twenty-three patients who had experienced a euthymia were eligible for entry into this survey on the maintenance treatment of BPD. Guidelines disconcordance was determined by comparing the medication(s) that patients were prescribed with the recommendations in the guidelines of the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments. Results Three hundred and sixty-four patients (35.6%) had not been prescribed with the maintenance treatment as guidelines recommendations, and 208 patients (20.3%) were prescribed with the antidepressants. A longer duration of BPD, a depressive episode at first onset, and a recent depressive or mixed episode significantly increased the risk for guidelines disconcordance and prescribing antidepressant. In contrast, a hospitalization history due to manic episode was associated with a significant decrease in the risk for guidelines disconcordance and prescribing antidepressant. Limitation This study was a cross-sectional and retrospective investigation based on medical records. Conclusions Considering the potentially hazardous effects of inappropriate treatment, individualized psychoeducational strategies for subjects with BPD are necessary to enhance treatment adherence and close the gap between guidelines and clinical practice in mainland China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an inulin-type fructan (PGPI-1-a) was isolated from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum. PGPI-1-a was composed of (2 → 1)-linked β-D-fructofuranose (Fruf) and a terminal α- d -glucopyranose (Glcp) with a molecular weight of 12.1 kDa. PM2.5 exposure has brought a great threat to human health in recent years. Therefore, this study explored the effect of PGPI-1-a on the intestinal microbial community structure of rats exposed to PM2.5 using the animal model of PM2.5 inhalation exposure. The results showed that PGPI-1-a could regulate the intestinal microbiota by partly restoring the perturbed levels of Peptoniphilaceae_[G-2] and Lachnospiraceae_[G-2] caused by PM2.5 exposure. In addition, the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio , a butyric acid-producing genera, significantly increased after PGPI-1-a intervention. These results indicated that PGPI-1-a could improve the imbalance of intestinal microbiota due to PM2.5 exposure to a certain extent. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological studies have indicated that both maternal bacterial and viral infections during pregnancy increase the risk of schizophrenia among offspring, but to date there is not clear explanation for this increased risk. Previously, the decreased C4b-binding protein (C4BP), a potent circulating soluble inhibitor of the classical and lectin pathways of complement, was reported to be associated with risk of schizophrenia. Here, we analyzed 4 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of C4BPB and 5 SNPs of C4BPA in a group of 556 schizophrenia patients and a matched group of 610 healthy controls to see if the genes C4BPB and C4BPA, which encode C4BP, may confer a susceptibility to schizophrenia. Comparing the genotype and allele frequencies of those SNPs between cases and controls, we found no association between the C4BPB / C4BPA variants and schizophrenia. Our results provided preliminary evidence that C4BPB / C4BPA may not confer susceptibility to schizophrenia among Han Chinese. Further genetic studies from large-scale population are required to obtain more conclusive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet tea (Rubus Suavissmus S. Lee) is consumed as herbal tea in southwestern China, which has multiple functions such as relieving cough, alleviating allergic responses, and clearing away heat. Here we report the structure and lipid-lowering activity of a sweet tea polysaccharide (STP-60a). STP-60a is a homogeneous heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 9.16 × 104 Da, and composed of rhamnose, arabinose, glucose, galactose and glucuronic acid. The main backbone of STP-60a consists of β-L-Rha p -(1→, →3)-β-D-Gal p -(1→, →4)-β-D-Glc p -UA-(1→, →3,6)-β-D-Gal p -(1→, →6)-β-D-Gal p -(1→, →3)-4-OAc-β-L-Ara p -(1→, →3)-α-L-Ara f -(1→ and the side chain are α-L-Ara f -(1→ and →3)-α-D-Glc p -(1→. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in a high-sugar diet as a model, we found that STP-60a significantly reduced the fat accumulation in the intestine of C. elegans , and extensively affected lipolysis, fatty acid synthesis and β-oxidation processes. In addition, sbp-1 and nhr-49 were essential for STP-60a to exert a lipid-lowering effect. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A two-stage study aimed at identifying association of LRRK2 with schizophrenia. [•] 12 LRRK2 SNPs were analyzed in Han Chinese with and without schizophrenia. [•] Genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies were compared between cases and controls. [•] None of the 12 analyzed SNPs showed a positive association with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Neuropsychological endophenotype approach is an emerging strategy in schizophrenia research to understand and identify the functional importance of genetically transmitted, brain-based deficits present in this disorder. Accumulating evidence indicated that working memory deficit is a core neuropsychological dysfunction in schizophrenia and a primary endophenotype indexing the liability to develop schizophrenia. Genetic variation in ankyrin 3 gene (ANK3) is likely to have widespread cognitive effects. Our previous study has identified a significant association of ANK3 SNPs and schizophrenia. In this study, we aimed to examine whether the schizophrenia-risk SNPs within ANK3 may affect working memory deficits in schizophrenia patients. Herein, we assess the working memory performance in 163 patients with first-episode, antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia and 42 sex, age-matched healthy subjects using N-back task. Two SNPs rs10761482 and rs10994336 were genotyped among the patients and 209 controls. Our results showed that schizophrenia patients showed significantly poorer performance than healthy controls on N-back task (ps<0.01). After adjusting for the scores of intelligence quotient, memory quotient and the demographic factors, there was a significant genotype effect of the rs10994336 on the accuracy rate and reaction time of 2-back item (p =0.048 and 0.024, respectively). Post-hoc analyses showed that patients with rs10994336T/T genotype had significantly lower accuracy rate and more reaction time at 2-back task than those with T/C and C/C genotypes. The association of SNP rs10994336 with schizophrenia was replicated in our sample (genotypic p =0.024 and allelic p =0.006). However, we did not find any significant association of rs10761482 with schizophrenia and parameters in N-back task. Our results indicated that genetic variation within ANK3 may exert gene-specific modulating effects on working memory deficits in schizophrenia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Polysaccharides with different molecular weights were extracted from Ulva pertusa and fractionated by ultrafiltration. Iron(III) complex of the low molecular-weight U. pertusa polysaccharides were synthesized. Atomic absorption spectrum showed that the iron content of iron(III)–polysaccharide complex was 27.4%. The comparison between U. pertusa polysaccharides and their iron(III) complex showed that iron chelating altered the structural characteristics of the polysaccharides. The bioactivity analysis showed that polysaccharide with low molecular weight was more effective than polysaccharide with high molecular weight in protecting mice from radiation induced damages on bone marrow cells and immune system. Results also proved that the anti-radiation and anti-oxidative activity of iron(III) complex of low molecular-weight polysaccharides were not less than that of low molecular-weight polysaccharides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Impaired interaction between prediction and sensory processes in schizophrenia. • Long-term regularity biases auditory perception in patients with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs). • Short-term repetition influences auditory perception more in patients without AVHs. • The impaired weighting between top-down predictions and bottom-up sensory processes can extend to tonal features. • Predictions at multiple timescales differentially modulate perception in schizophrenia. Cognitive models postulate that impaired source monitoring incorrectly weights the top-down prediction and bottom-up sensory processes and causes hallucinations. However, the underlying mechanisms of the interaction, such as whether the incorrectly weighting is ubiquitously on all levels of sensory features and whether different top-down processes have distinct effects in subgroups of schizophrenia are still unclear. This study investigates how multi-scale predictions influence perception of basic tonal features in schizophrenia. Sixty-three schizophrenia patients with and without symptoms of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs), and thirty healthy controls identified target tones in noise at the end of tone sequences. Predictions of different timescales were manipulated by either an alternating pattern in the preceding tone sequences (long-term regularity) or a repetition between the target tone and the tone immediately before (short-term repetition). The sensitivity index, d prime (d'), was obtained to assess the modulation of predictions on tone identification. Patients with AVHs showed higher d' when the target tones conformed to the long-term regularity of alternating pattern in the preceding tone sequence than when the target tones were inconsistent with the pattern. Whereas, the short-term repetition modulated the tone identification in patients without AVHs. Predictions did not influence tone identification in healthy controls. Our results suggest that impaired source monitoring in schizophrenia patients with AVHs heavily weights top-down predictions over bottom-up perceptual processes to form incorrect perception. The weighting function in source monitoring can extend to the processes of basic tonal features, and predictions at multiple timescales could differentially modulate perception in different clinical populations. The impaired interaction between top-down and bottom-up processes might underlie the development of hallucination symptoms in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel polysaccharide UPP was isolated from Ulva Pertusa. • The structural characterization of UPP was identified by NMR. • UPP was a semi-crystalline polymer without triple-helical structure. A new water-soluble polysaccharide UPP was obtained from Ulva Pertusa and its structure was studied. The structural analysis results showed that UPP was composed of eight residues. The bone structure of UPP was →4)-β-D-Xylp-(1→4)-α-L-Rhap3S(1→3,4)-β-L-Arap(1→3)-α-L-Rhap(1→2,4)-α-L-Rhap(1→4)-α-D-Galp(1→ and there were two main branches. The branch structure at the 3-position of 1,3,4-β-L-Arap was →3,4)-β-L-Arap(1→4)-β-D-Glcp3Me(1→4)- β-D-GlcpA(1→ and the branch structure at 2-position of 1,2,4-α-L-Rhap was →4)-β-D-GlcpA(1→4)-β-D-Xylp(1→. In addition, the physicochemical property analysis showed that UPP was a semi-crystalline polymer and there was no triple-helical structure. This structure analysis of UPP will be beneficial for future research on the algal polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been widely reported in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. We aimed to investigate the association between matrilineal structures of Han Chinese populations and Alzheimer's disease (AD) by a 2-stage case-control study: A total of 341 AD patients and 435 normal individuals from Southwest China were analyzed for mitochondrial DNA sequence variations and were classified into respective haplogroups. A total of 371 AD patients and 470 normal individuals from East China, as validation samples, were genotyped for the variants defining the risk haplogroup. Haplogroup B5 had a significantly higher frequency in AD patients (7.33%) than in control subjects (3.68%) from Southwest China, and we found a similar pattern of higher frequency of B5 in patients in the case-control sample from East China. In the combined population, association of haplogroup B5 with AD risk was strengthened ( p = 0.02; odds ratio = 1.74; 95% confidence interval = 1.10–2.76). In lymphoblastoid cell lines belonging to haplogroup B5a, we observed significantly increased reactive oxygen species and decreased mitochondrial mass. Hela cells with stable expression of the MT-ATP6 gene with B5-defining variant m.8584G>A also showed a significantly decreased mitochondrial function. Taken together, our results indicated that haplogroup B5 conferred genetic susceptibility to AD in Han Chinese, and this effect was most likely mediated by ancient variant m.8584G>A. The predisposing effect of B5 to AD is consistent with the ancestral-susceptibility model of complex diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The leucine-rich repeat kinase–2 (LRRK2) gene has been regarded as 1 of the most common genetic causes of Parkinson's disease (PD). We hypothesized that LRRK2-susceptible allele(s) for PD might pose a risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we screened 12 LRRK2 gene variants in 2 independent cohorts from southwestern China (341 AD patients and 435 normal individuals) and eastern China (297 AD patients and 384 normal individuals), to discern the potential association between this gene and AD. No variant was identified to be associated with AD in either case-control sample. As both of the cohorts were of Han Chinese origin, we combined the LRRK2 variant data for the 2 sample sets together (a total of 638 AD patients and 819 normal individuals) and still found no association between the LRRK2 gene and AD, suggesting that LRRK2 gene variants may not affect the development of AD in Han Chinese individuals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]