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Ammonium persulphate (APS) was used as a novel additive for blending modification of Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) membrane in this study. The addition of APS changed the macroscopic and micro-structure of membrane, as the small scaly aggregates appeared and hydrophilicity increased slightly. Comparing with blank membrane, the specific surface area of PVDF membrane was reduced from 19.98 m 2 /g to 7.95 m 2 /g, and the total adsorption average pore size of membrane was increased from 89.82 nm to 253.58 nm when 0.7% of APS was added. During the short term filtration, the pure water flux of blank membrane was reduced by 61% and 81% after the first and second testing cycle, respectively. As a comparison, it was only reduced by 39% and 60% for 0.7% APS modified membrane. The effluent turbidity values of those modified membranes were all lower than that of blank membrane. During the long term operation in MBR, the filtration time of 0.7% APS modified membrane lasted for 21 days including 2 operational cycles. Comparing with modified membrane, the filtration time of blank membrane only lasted for 19 days, which included 3 times of membrane cleaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, nanosized ZnFe 2 O 4 with different morphologies were prepared by electrospinning method. The choice of initial parameters, such as PVP concentration, metal salt concentration, electrostatic voltage, calcination temperature and calcination rate, were investigated to prepare desired morphologies. The as-prepared samples exhibited various shapes of nano-particle, nano-rods, nano-beads and nano-fiber. The relationship between microstructure and electromagnetic properties was discussed in detail. It has been found that the saturation magnetization of ZnFe 2 O 4 ferrite not changed significantly with the various morphologies and the values were nearly 13 emu/g. However, the coercivity was varied with the different morphologies, and the maximum value of 48.79 Oe was observed in the ZnFe 2 O 4 nano-fiber. Moreover, the magnetic loss capacity of ZnFe 2 O 4 was improved with the enhancement of the morphology anisotropy. The various shaped ZnFe 2 O 4 can be promising lightweight microwave absorbers and it is significant to develop novel microwave absorption mechanism of ZnFe 2 O 4 ferrite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the structure of potato oxidized hydroxypropyl starch (OHS) was analyzed. Carrageenan (CA) was used as a reinforcing agent for the development of biodegradable food packaging materials. Broccoli leaf polyphenol/soybean protein isolate/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose composite nanoparticles (SPH NPs) were used to reinforce OHS/CA (OC) films, and their physicochemical, structural, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and biodegradable properties were characterized. The OHS had high transparency, low gelatinization temperature (GT), and easy film formation. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds were formed between the SPH NPs and the OC film matrix, but did not change the crystal structure of the matrix. Furthermore, the incorporation of SPH NPs improved the smoothness, densification, and thermal stability of the OC films. Since SPH NPs occupied the pores of the film matrix, the degree of swelling, light, and moisture-blocking properties were improved, causing the films to gradually turn red, yellow and dark. Notably, the tensile strength of the film was significantly increased from 11.06 MPa to 13.61 MPa at a concentration of 3% SPH NPs. The SPH NP 3 -loaded films showed scavenging activity up to 67.62% and 75.45% against DPPH and ABTS free radicals, with good inhibitory activity against S. aureus and E. coli. More importantly, the composite film was almost completely degraded after 45 d of burial in the soil, and it can regulate the soil microbial community. Consequently, OHS composites can be used as a potentially versatile and environmentally friendly film-forming material for food packaging. [Display omitted] • Oxidized hydroxypropyl starch had high transparency and easy film formation. • The composite films exhibited strong robust, water-resistant, UV-blocking, thermal stability. • Electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding were formed between nanoparticles and film matrix. • The composite films displayed strong antibacterial, antioxidant and biodegradable properties. • The composite nanoparticle film offers eco-friendly strategy for the preparation of active packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine herpesvirus 1(BoHV-1) is an important bovine pathogen that causes great economic loss to cattle farms worldwide. The virus-productive infection in bovine kidney (MDBK) cells results in ATP depletion. The mechanisms are not well understood. Mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) is an important energy source in many tissues with high energy demand. Since carnitine palmitoyl-transferase 1 A (CPT1A) is the rate-limiting enzyme of FAO, we investigated the interactions between virus-productive infection and CPT1A signaling. Here, we found that virus-productive infection at the later stage significantly decreased CPT1A protein levels in all the detected cells, including MDBK, A549, and Neuro-2A cells, differentially altered the accumulation of CPT1A proteins in the nucleus and cytosol, and re-localized the protein in the nucleus. Etomoxir (ETO), an irreversible inhibitor of CPT1A, inhibited viral replication and partially interfered with the ability of BoHV-1 to alter CPT1A accumulation in the nucleus but not in the cytosol. Furthermore, ETO consistently reduced RNA levels of two viral regulatory proteins (bICP0 and bICP22) and protein expression of virion-associated proteins during productive infection, further supporting the important roles of CPT1A signaling in BoHV-1 productive infection. These data, for the first time, suggest that CPT1A is potentially involved in BoHV-1 productive infection. • BoHV-1 productive infection has effects on CPT1A protein expression and subcellular localization. • CPT1A signaling plays an important role in BoHV-1 productive infection. • BoHV-1 infection-induced nuclear accumulation of CPT1A was iterupted by CPT1A-specific inhibitor Etomoxir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aims Enhanced hepatic gluconeogenesis is an important cause of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying disordered hepatic gluconeogenesis remains largely unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential role of hepatic neuregulin 4 (Nrg4) in the regulation of gluconeogenesis in mice. Main methods Microarray analysis was performed in primary mouse hepatocytes treated with or without 8-Br-cAMP. Primary mouse hepatocytes transfected with Nrg4 overexpressing or shRNA adenovirus were used to detect the expressions of the key gluconeogenic genes and glucose output. Hepatic Nrg4 expression levels were measured in fasted C57/BL6 mice, obese ob / ob mice, diabetic db / db mice and Goto-Kakisaki (GK) rats. Pyruvate tolerance test was performed and gluconeogenic gene expressions were detected 7 days after Nrg4 shRNA adenovirus was injected into male C57BL/6 and db / db mice. Key findings Microarray analysis revealed that Nrg4 expression was significantly induced by 8-Br-cAMP in primary mouse hepatocytes, along with the upregulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase). Adenovirus-mediated overexpression or knockdown of Nrg4 in primary mouse hepatocytes increased or decreased PEPCK and G6Pase expressions as well as hepatic glucose production. Hepatic Nrg4 expression was induced by fasting in normal C57/BL6 mice, and markedly upregulated in obese ob / ob mice, diabetic db / db mice and GK rats. Hepatic Nrg4 knockdown in C57BL/6 and db / db mice improved pyruvate tolerance, with the downregulation of PEPCK, G6Pase, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α). Significance Hepatic Nrg4 plays a crucial role in the regulation of gluconeogenesis and may be a therapeutic target of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) play an important role in the progression and recurrence of malignant glioblastoma because of their potential for self-renewal, multilineage differentiation and tumor initiation. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) is responsible for the proteolytic cleavage of Notch within its extracellular domain leading to the activation of Notch signaling, which is involved in the formation and maintenance of GSCs. Here, we show that glioma cells expressing the stem cell marker CD133 coexpress higher levels of ADAM17 than matched CD133-glioma cells. Knockdown of the ADAM17 gene in U87 GSCs down-regulated the expression of CD133, inhibited secondary neurosphere formation and induced multi-lineage differentiation. Furthermore, knockdown of ADAM17 inhibited Hes1 and Hes5 and activated Notch1 expression, which may explain the ADAM17 shRNA-induced suppression of self-renewal and differentiation of U87 GSCs. Our results suggest that ADAM17 may maintain the stemness of GSCs by promoting their self-renewal and inhibiting their differentiation via Notch signaling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]