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Water vapor plays an important role in climate change; thus, studying the spatial distribution and temporal variation of precipitable water vapor (PWV) in the coastal regions of China would help researchers to understand the climate characteristics of those regions. In this paper, 6-year 1-h interval PWV were derived from 27 Global Positioning System stations observations of Chinese coastal GPS observation network, surface meteorological data and European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ERA-Interim) reanalysis products. The present study provides the use of these data to investigate the spatial-temporal variability of water vapor throughout the coastal regions of China. Latitude is the main factor affecting the spatial distribution of GPS-derived PWV; that is, PWV decreased by about 1.5 mm for each 1° increase of latitude. For regions at the same latitude, a region that is relatively close to the ocean will have a higher content of PWV. The PWV in the southeastern and southwestern coastal regions of China is significantly higher in summer; this may be influenced by the southeastern and southwestern water vapor inflow corridors. The PWV obviously varies monthly, reaching a minimum in January; however, the timing of the maximum varied but usually appeared in June, July or August and was affected by the monsoons. The PWV varies largely between summer and winter with a larger gradient of change in PWV with latitude in winter than in summer. The positive correlation coefficient between PWV and the surface temperature varied in different seasons; this is related to the changes of temperature and the horizontal motion of water vapor. Use of the Fast Fourier Transform method showed that the PWV time series data have multi-scale characteristics. The amplitude and phase of the PWV time series in annual, semiannual, four month and seasonal cycles were extracted through harmonic wave analysis. The amplitude of four month and seasonal cycles did not pass significance testing. The maximum amplitude of the annual PWV cycle is located in mid-latitudes with 22.09 mm, which gradually decreases towards high latitude and equator area. The peak time of annual PWV cycle occurs in July, which does not agree with the timing of the maximum monthly average PWV. The semiannual cycle amplitudes is between 0.42 and 6.32 mm, with no significant correlation between their distribution and latitude. The peak time of semiannual PWV cycles is during about January–March and July–September, and the peak time gradually becomes late from north to south. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the first calibration results for the Jason-2 and the SARAL/AltiKa altimetric missions by using the permanent calibration facilities on the Qianli Yan islet (China). Qianli Yan is located in the Yellow Sea and only ∼3 km from the Jason-2 and SARAL/AltiKa crossover point. Analysis of the Jason-2 and SARAL/AltiKa waveform data and geophysical data over the Qianli Yan calibration area has proven that the altimeters and microwave radiometers are not contaminated by the mainland or the islet. The accuracies of the regional geoid model, provided by the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), State Oceanic Administration of China, and the DTU10 MSS model were assessed by a GNSS buoy experiment. The results indicated that the FIO model is suitable for altimeter calibration in the Qianli Yan area. From the observations and the geoid model, the absolute biases for the Jason-2 and SARAL/AltiKa altimeters (2013–2014) were determined as 21.0 ± 5.9 and −44.0 ± 7.3 mm, respectively. The 2 years’ results indicated that the Jason-2 bias had no trend. However, the SARAL/AltiKa bias presented a downward trend that was more stable in 2014 than in 2013. The Qianli Yan results are consistent with those determined by other international dedicated calibration sites and crossover analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, absolute calibration of the Chinese HY-2 satellite altimetry mission is carried out, employing Pass No. 280 and the calibration facility, CRS1, located in the Southwest end of the island of Crete, Greece. Satellite Pass No. 280 is descending and follows a ground track almost parallel to the west coast of Crete. It comes close to the coast, at a distance of about 9 km from the CRS1 calibration site, and finally goes away south of Crete. The HY-2 sensor geophysical data records (S-GDR) have been incorporated into the calibration procedures and processing has taken place for cycles No. 54–62, at 20 Hz data rate. Some peculiarities in the HY-2 satellite altimeter data, as delivered and depicted in the I-GDR and S-GDR data, have also been noticed. All calibration results have been determined using a regional, precise and detailed geoid, along with a good knowledge of local ocean circulation and site characteristics and a well-defined sea-surface calibration methodology. The first preliminary results for the HY-2 altimeter calibration have shown that the initial cycles, up to No. 51, display an erratic behavior. After those cycles, the altimeter range bias values seem to be stable and reach a value of B = −45.6 cm ± 4.4 cm, when applying the net instrument corrections as provided in the GDR. If the relativistic effects of the satellite clocks are properly applied for the net instrument corrections, then the altimeter range bias goes down to B = −27 cm ± 3 cm. Also, preliminary cross-over analysis with the SARAL/AliKa and Jason-2 satellites show a bias of B = −23 cm, and B = −28.5 cm, respectively. The performance of the HY-2 on-board radiometer has also been examined in terms of the wet troposphere corrections and shows a mean difference of −1 cm ± 0.1 cm with respect to in-situ GNSS-derived corrections. Finally, the ionosphere path corrections of the HY-2 satellite show a difference of +1 cm ± 1.1 cm, when compared against the GNSS-derived ionosphere values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis involves inflammation and immune reactions. Low-density lipoproteins accumulate and are oxidized (oxLDL) in the arterial intima during hypercholesterolemia, leading to activation of endothelial cells, macrophages and T cells. We have previously found that severe hypercholesterolemia can induce a switch of autoimmune responses from T helper (Th)1 to Th2 effector type in atherosclerotic apoE knockout (E0) mice. The present study was performed to investigate whether Th3 immune effector responses and their inducing cytokine, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) are affected by hypercholesterolemia. Methods and results: In E0 mice fed with high cholesterol diet and in C57BL/6J mice treated with poloxamer P-407, an agent that elevates plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, severe hypercholesterolemia led to elevated circulating TGF-β1 levels, increased TGF-β1+CD4+ Th3 cells in lesions and spleen, and increased Th3 dependent IgG2b antibodies to oxLDL. A positive correlation was observed between plasma TGF-β1 and cholesterol levels and between plasma TGF-β1 and IgG2b anti-oxLDL. Conclusions: Such elevation of TGF-β may increase the stability of plaques by inhibiting T cell responses and macrophage activation and by stimulating collagen synthesis. This new finding could be important in the regulation of immune activity, inflammation and fibrosis in the atherosclerotic plaque. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bisphenol S (BPS) has been gradually used in all kinds of productions. Our previous study has demonstrated that BPS increases the obesogenic effects of a high-glucose diet through regulating lipid metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Whether the effects pass on to the next generations remains uncovered. In the present study, C. elegans was selected as the model organism to investigate the effects of BPS on lipid metabolism in multiple generations. Oil Red O staining and triglyceride assays showed that multi-generational exposure to BPS in C. elegans significantly increased the fat accumulation in wild type worms, while not in the daf-16 gene-deficient worms. In addition, BPS affected the expressions of fat-7 and acs-2 in four generations of C. elegans. Furthermore, BPS promotes fat storage in C. elegans of multiple generations by the daf-16/nhr-49 -mediated signaling pathway. BPS induce the fat accumulation in C. elegans depending on the expression of daf-16/nhr-49. [Display omitted] • BPS at the concentration of 0.01 μM induced fat accumulation in multigeneration of C. elegans. • BPS promoted fat synthesis depending on daf-16 and fat-7 in multi-generation of C. elegans. • BPS inhibited the lipid metabolism of C. elegans via nhr-49 and acs-2 in multi-generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. T lymphocytes, occurring concomitantly with macrophages, are found in atherosclerotic lesions with substantial numbers in all stages. Most of the T cells in the lesions are CD4+ T cells. The finding of activated T cells and macrophages in lesions and cloning of T cells specific for modified low-density lipoproteins from lesions suggest that a cell-mediated immune reaction is taking place in atherosclerosis. This review provides an overview of our current understanding of the roles of CD4+ T cell subpopulations in atherosclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study analyzed and explored the relationship between isthmic spondylolisthesis and disc degeneration by comparing the degree of disc degeneration in patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis, lumbar disc herniation, and asymptomatic healthy individuals. This study included a total of 138 cases, consisting of L5-S1 single segment lesion patients and a normal lumbar spine population. The cases were divided into 3 groups based on the type of disease: fifty eight cases in the isthmic spondylolisthesis (IS) group, 50 cases in the lumbar disc herniation (LDH) group, and 30 cases in the normal lumbar vertebrae (NLV) group. The research findings indicate that the proportion of intervertebral disc degeneration in the LDH group is significantly higher than that in the IS group and NLV group (65.3% vs. 33.3% vs. 25.8%, P < 0.05). The Pfirrmann grades of lumbar intervertebral discs (L1-L4) in the LDH group are significantly higher than those in the IS group and NLV group (P < 0.05), and the intervertebral height index (IHI) (L1-L4) of lumbar vertebrae in the LDH group is significantly lower than that in the IS group and NLV group (P < 0.05). The results showed that the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis was lighter than that in patients with LDH, and even similar to that in healthy individuals. The occurrence of IS may have slowed down the degeneration of nonaffected segment intervertebral discs through certain factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease elicited by a lipid metabolic disturbance at sites of hemodynamic strain. Careful clinical and histopathological studies in humans as well as investigations in experimental models have identified all these phenomena, i.e. inflammation, metabolism, and hemodynamics, as playing key roles in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. While in-depth research into the regulation of cholesterol metabolism and blood pressure has led to new therapies against atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, our understanding of the inflammatory component of atherosclerosis remains incomplete and will require further research before new therapeutic or preventive strategies can be developed. This brief review will discuss new data regarding the regulation of proatherosclerotic, adaptive immunity, which is a strong driving force for the inflammatory process in the atherosclerotic plaque. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

β-glucan is an important functional active component with relatively high content in barley. It is reported to possess various biological activities, including anti-oxidative stress, but its mechanism of action remains obscure. In the current study, C. elegans was used as an in vivo animal model to explore its anti-oxidative stress mechanism. We found that both RBG (raw barley β-glucan) and FBG (fermented barley β-glucan) could significantly reduce the ROS level in C. elegans under oxidative emergency conditions. In addition, both FBG and RBG had positive effects on SOD and CAT enzyme activity, and FBG treatment obviously reduced the MDA content in nematodes under oxidative stress. Moreover, FBG and RBG pretreatment could extend the median lifespan of C. elegans under oxidative stress. The CB1370 and CF1038 mutants further confirmed that daf-2 and daf-16 were necessary for FBG or RBG to participate in anti-oxidative stress, and the RT-PCR results also evidenced that β-glucans resist oxidative stress in C. elegans partially through the daf-2 / daf-16 pathway. In summary, barley β-glucan has high potential to defense oxidative stress as a natural polysaccharide. [Display omitted] • RBG and FBG could increase the average survival rate of C. elegans under acute oxidative stress. • FBG and RBG reduce the level of ROS and MDA in C. elegans under oxidative stress. • FBG and RBG prolong the average lifespan of C. elegans under oxidative stress conditions without affecting the normal lifespan. • FBG and RBG change the expression of related oxidative stress genes in C. elegans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study achieves automated qualitative and quantitative assessment of weld quality. • Optimal parameters of the ultrasonic sensor can be obtained through numerical simulation. • Ultrasound B-scan images carry information from growth to solidification of liquid nugget. • Diameter of weld nugget is measured by fitting curve between B-scan and C-scan. The inspection of resistance spot welding (RSW) quality is crucial in the sheet metal joining industries. This paper proposes an enhanced approach for the automated real-time measurement of weld nugget diameter in welded joints, utilizing an ultrasonic probe integrated within the electrode. The ultrasonic signals received by the probe are sequentially arranged to generate consecutive ultrasonic B-scan images, which effectively capture the entire weld nugget growth and solidification process. The corresponding maximum time of flight (TOF) for the liquid nugget is extracted from the B-scan image. In the condition of qualified welding quality, a mathematic equation between maximum TOF and weld nugget diameter is established, while the opposite is alarmed. The on-line quality inspection of RSW can autonomously determine the qualification of welding quality, as well as quantitatively evaluate the weld nugget diameter in qualified weld joints. The research is applicable to various processing and manufacturing fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation and application of aptamer-functionalized chitosan magnetic nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4 @CTS@Apt nanoparticles) for selective extraction and determination ochratoxin A (OTA) were described in this study. Magnetic nanoparticle was synthesized by the coprecipitation method followed by coating with chitosan to improve its stability and biocompatibility. Further characterization was performed by scan electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and magnetic property measurement, and the results clearly indicated that the obtained magnetic chitosan nanoparticle was composed of magnetic core and chitosan coating layer. Aptamers specific to OTA were coupled onto the magnetic chitosan nanoparticles, and an extraction procedure was developed by optimization. When challenged with food samples fortified with OTA at 5 and 10 μg/kg, recoveries ranging from 91.3% to 99.1% with relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤ 4.2% were achieved by aptamer-functionalized magnetic extraction, which is very close to the results obtained by immunoaffinity chromatography extraction, indicating that this magnetic adsorbent could be hopefully used to achieve a fast and efficient extraction and detection of OTA in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depth and breadth of knowledges on genetic variation are growing exponentially. At the same time, the latest web API technology revamps the way we collect, manage and publish the fast-growing variant annotations. First, users can fetch annotation data from web APIs with much lower latency compared to downloading and analyzing data sources separately. Second, web APIs return data in standard formats (e.g., JSON or XML), which enables easy integration with other applications such as knowledge discoveries. These benefits reduce the burden of data wrangling on researchers and therefore accelerate their research. Here we represent MyVariant.info, a high-performance, scalable web API for variant annotations. Currently, it integrates variant annotation from 21 data sources (including ClinGen, Clinvar, dbSNP, dbNSFP, CIViC, Geno2MP, GRASP, gnomAD and Wellderly). All data are parsed to JSON format and merged by shared HGVS IDs. To provide superior query performance and rich query syntax, MyVariant.info leverages ElasticSearch to index the JSON data. With the standard JSON format and highly usable query interface, MyVariant.info can easily contribute to downstream studies such as drug repurposing, gene regulatory networks, and pathway analyses. With the latest release in Jan. 2023, MyVariant.info is holding 1.42 billion annotation documents for variants in hg19, and 1.45 billion for hg38. We proudly receive 2.6 million monthly requests and serve more than 2,000 unique IP addresses with 99.99% uptime. MyVariant.info is accessible at https://myvariant.info ; its source code is hosted at GitHub, https://github.com/biothings/myvariant.info , under the Apache License, Version 2.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease involving activation of adaptive and innate immune responses to modified lipoproteins. Dendritic cells (DCs), which are professional antigen-presenting cells that activate T cells, are present in atherosclerotic lesions but their role for atherosclerosis-related immunity is unclear. Methods and results: To evaluate the role of DC in atherosclerosis, DCs pulsed with malondialdehyde modified low density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) were transferred into Apoe −/− mice. The extent of disease was measured in the aortic root and was compared to that in animals treated with Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) pulsed DCs and to untreated animals. Mice receiving MDA-LDL pulsed DCs showed significantly larger atherosclerotic lesions compared to controls, with increased inflammation in the lesions and antigen-specific immune responses. Furthermore, MDA-LDL administration in complete Freund''s adjuvant, which is atheroprotective, led to the induction of regulatory T cells whereas MDA-LDL-DCs treatment did not, suggesting that modulation of immune properties can result in different effects on atherosclerosis. Conclusions: DCs presenting components of LDL promote specific immunity to their antigen, increase lesion inflammation and accelerate atherosclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chitosan has wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity but knowledge of its antifungal mechanism is still incomplete. In this study, transcriptome of Penicillium expansum upon chitosan treatment was analyzed by RNA-Seq. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that endocytosis as well as other physiological pathways was regulated by chitosan treatment. Clathrin adaptor protein mu-subunit (PeCAM) gene, which encodes a protein associated with clathrin-dependent endocytosis, was up-regulated after chitosan treatment. Deletion of PeCAM resulted in changes of conidial, hyphal and colonial morphology. Confocal microscopy images of the distribution of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled chitosan confirmed cellular internalization of chitosan. However, deletion of PeCAM almost completely blocked uptake of chitosan into fungal cells and Δ PeCAM mutant exhibited less sensitivity to chitosan compared with wild type, suggesting that chitosan uptake is mediated by clathrin-dependent endocytosis and internalized chitosan also plays an important role in its antifungal activity. Collectively, our results provide a new insight into the antifungal mechanism of chitosan. • RNA-Seq reveals chitosan-regulated biological pathways in Penicillium expansum. • Chitosan enters into Penicillium expansum through clathrin-dependent endocytosis. • Internalized chitosan plays an important role in its antifungal action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• BPS significantly induced fat accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. • BPS promoted fat synthesis depending on daf-16, fat-5, fat-6 and fat-7. • BPS inhibited fatty acid oxidation via nhr-49 and acs-2. Bisphenol S (BPS), a structural analog of Bisphenol A (BPA), has been widely used as a substitute for epoxy resin, food packaging materials, and other products due to the limited application of BPA. Studies in vivo and in vitro have indicated that BPA could induce fat accumulation like an obesogen. The main goal of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of BPS in lipid metabolism using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model. Results showed that both the overall fat deposition and the triglyceride level were significantly increased in a non-monotonically increasing trend, and the low dose of BPS (0.01 μM) exhibited a stronger influence. Additionally, BPS enhanced fat synthesis depending on daf-16 , fat-5 , fat-6 and fat-7 , and inhibited fatty acid oxidation via nhr-49 and acs-2. This study further indicate that fat accumulation induced by BPS requires nhr-49 , which also mediated the nuclear hormone signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• β-glucan extracted from fermented barley showed lower molecular weight. • The glycosidic bond ratio and structure of β-glucan altered after barley fermented. • Fermentation process changed the effects of β-glucan on physiological activities. The effects of fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 on the main structural changes of barley β-glucan and their in vitro activities were studied. Molecular characteristics, infrared spectroscopy, monosaccharide composition, methylation, 1D and 2D-NMR analyses and scanning electron microscopy revealed that both (raw barley β-glucan) RBG and fermented barley β-glucan (FBG) are polysaccharides predominanted by β-(1→3) and β-(1→4) linked glucose. However, different molecular weight (decreasing from 1.13×105 D to 6.35×104 D), the ratio of the β-(1→3) residues to the β-(1→4) residues (ranging from 1:1.98-1:2.50 to 1:1.8-1:2.24) and microstructure features (transforming from a rod-like to sheet-like structure) were observed. Bioassay results showed that FBG exhibited improved inhibitory activities of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and lipase, as well as the adsorption of cholesterol under acidic conditions compared to RBG. These results suggested that fermentation may enhance in vitro physiological activities of barley β-glucan, especially related to glucose and lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]