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An environmental friendly fluorescence resonance energy transfer probe for determination of glucose has been developed. The natural pigment, 3-hydroxyflavone, can enter the hydrophobic cavity of beta-cyclodextrin functionalized ZnS quantum dots, forming a fluorescence resonance energy transfer system with beta-cyclodextrin modified ZnS quantum dots as energy donor and 3-hydroxyflavone as energy acceptors. Glucose can be oxidized with assistance of the glucose oxidase to quantitatively produce hydrogen peroxide, which could rapidly quench the fluorescence intensity of the 3-hydroxyflavone in the probe by catalysis of horseradish peroxidase. The probe was successfully applied to determination of glucose in human serum and urine samples, and the results indicated that the average spiking recoveries of glucose ranged from 102 to 113%, with relative standard deviations below 15%. The developed approach were simple and possessed high sensitivity and selective for glucose, and this work provides a new clue for developing fluorescent probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the self-care behavior, hope, and social support in patients awaiting heart transplantation and to explore all the correlative and related factors. Methods: In total, 45 participants who met the selection criteria were selected by purposive sampling from four medical centers in Taiwan. The three instruments Self-Care Behavior Scale, Herth Hope Index (HHI), and Social Support Inventory were used for data collection. Results: Significant, positive correlations among self-care behavior, hope, and social support were observed. Social support was the best predictive factor for both self-care behavior and hope. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study can help medical care personnel better understand the self-care behavior, hope, and social support in patients awaiting heart transplantation and can also serve as a reference when developing relevant interventions for these patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the present paper, we give the derivation algebra Der g and the holomorph h(g) of the finite dimensional Heisenberg superalgebra g over the complex field C. We also give the derivation algebra Der h(g) of h(g). We prove that Der g is a simple complete Lie superalgebra, h(g) is not a complete Lie superalgebra, but its derivation algebra Der h(g) is a simple complete Lie superalgebra. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A Lie superalgebra g is called a complete if C(g)=0 and Der g=ad g. This paper provides sufficient conditions for a Lie superalgebra to be complete and uses this result to construct families of such algebras. The basic results are a generalization of D.J. Meng [Commun. Algebra 22 (1994) 5509]. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, the effect of the enrichment of rice starch with metal ions on its capability to generate free radicals during microwave processing was investigated. The underlying mechanism was explored from two aspects: dielectric and thermal properties. Rice starch was modified with ions of iron, copper, manganese and calcium. The modified starches were analyzed in terms of dielectric properties, activation energy (Ea) and thermodynamic characteristics of gelatinization. The quantity and character of the free radicals were analyzed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The results showed that the metal ions could change the dielectric property and inter structure of rice starch, thus influencing the ability of rice starch to generate radicals under microwave irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Developing a virus-based CRISPR-Cas9 system for efficient knockout of Cdk5 in M2 in vivo. • Cdk5 is required for neuronal dendrite maintenance and proper synaptic transmission of pyramidal neurons in cortex M2 area. • Cdk5 deletion impacted on the long-range projections to the M2 from the thalamus/prefrontal cortex and claustrum. • The deficiency of Cdk5 in M2 promoted repressive effects on motor behaviors performance in adult mice. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a regulator of axon growth and radial neuronal migration in the developing mouse brain, and it plays critical roles in cortical structure formation and brain function. However, the function of Cdk5 in cortico-cortical and cortico-sensorimotor networks in the adult remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the function of Cdk5 in the rostral secondary motor cortex (M2) in the male mouse using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and somatic brain transgenesis, to produce M2-specific knockdown of Cdk5 in neurons in the male mouse. Mouse deficient in Cdk5 in the M2 exhibited a reduction in both the number of functional synapses and the total basal dendritic length, as well as motor dysfunction. Furthermore, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in layer V green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tag pyramidal neurons revealed a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of miniature EPSCs and miniature IPSCs, as well as a reduction in the population synaptic responses (fEPSPs) in these mice. Specifically, retrograde labeling showed that Cdk5 knockdown in the M2 caused a reduction in long-range projections to the M2 from the thalamus/prefrontal cortex and claustrum. Collectively, our findings show a new regulatory role of Cdk5 in neural circuit maintenance, and that the changes in neural transmission and circuits in the mice with Cdk5 knockdown in the M2 likely contribute to the motor dysfunction in these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine-like 1 (SPARCL1) regulates synaptic stability with upregulation throughout axonal regeneration. Our study aims to determine the correlation of serum SPARCL1 concentrations with the severity and in-hospital mortality of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). Methods A total of 102 consecutively recruited patients admitted for sTBI and 102 randomly selected healthy controls were included in this observational prospective study. Serum SPARCL1 concentrations were measured and correlated with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores and in-hospital mortality using multivariate analysis. Results Compared with controls (median, 0.22 ng/ml; interquartile range, 0.19–0.41 ng/ml), patients had significantly higher SPARCL1 concentrations (median, 3.29 ng/ml; interquartile range, 1.88–4.37; P < 0.001). There was an independently correlation between SPARCL1 concentrations and GCS scores (t = −7.011, P < 0.001). We found a high area under receiver operating curve (AUC) of serum SPARCL1 concentrations to predict in-hospital mortality (AUC, 0.822; 95% confidence interval, 0.734–0.891). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, serum SPARCL1 concentrations >3.29 ng/ml was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio = 10.052, 95% confidence interval = 1.918–52.686, P = 0.006). Conclusions The novel findings of our study are that sTBI patients had an increase of serum SPARCL1 concentrations, and that there is an association between high serum SPARCL1 concentrations and sTBI mortality or trauma severity. Highlights • Serum SPARCL1 levels are raised after head trauma. • Serum SPARCL1 levels might accurately reflect trauma severity. • Serum SPARCL1 might be a potential prognostic biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The interaction mechanism of 3,7-dihydroxyflavone (3,7-diHF) and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence quenching, fluorescence enhancement, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence emission and UV–vis absorption spectrometry. The binding site of 3,7-diHF on protein was determined by investigating the spectroscopic properties of 3,7-diHF–HSA complex at pH 7.4 and pH 3.5 individually, and confirmed by the site marker competitive experiments. The binding parameters of 3,7-diHF–HSA complex were estimated by fluorescence quenching experiments, and the data were in good agreement with the results obtained from fluorescence enhancement measurements. A remarkable increase in the fluorescence anisotropy values suggested that 3,7-diHF bound at a motional restricted pocket on HSA. The results indicated that 3,7-diHF, in anionic form, was bound within the hydrophobic pockets of the subdomain IIA of HSA (site I), and stabilised mainly by electrostatic force and ionic interactions. The binding mode of drug–protein was discussed based on above experimental results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]