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As a newly emerging pathogen, Candida auris has spread rapidly and caused a serious invasive infection. Candida auris often appeared high resistance to classical antifungal drugs. Drug combination therapy is emerging as an effective and well-established strategy to relieve drug resistance problems. The objective of present work was to examine the activity of fluconazole in combination with chlorhexidine acetate against Candida auris isolates.Antiplanktonic activity was studied using the EUCAST methodology and growth curve assay. Antibiofilm effectiveness was determined by the crystal violet method, checkerboard microdilution assay, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy.The results indicated that the 80% minimal inhibitory concentrations for fluconazole alone against Candida auris were 2-32 mg/L and for chlorhexidine acetate were 2-8 mg/L. The combination of fluconazole with chlorhexidine acetate exhibited synergism with the growth curve assay. In addition, the checkerboard microdilution assay presented that fluconazole was strongly synergistic with chlorhexidine acetate (sFICI0.1875) in inhibiting the growth of Candida auris biofilms. The scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy further exhibited the alteration of morphology of the cells and architecture of the biofilms.The combination therapy of fluconazole and chlorhexidine acetate provides a new potential strategy for the treatment of clinical Candida auris infection.

Mathematical morphology operations are widely used in image processing such as defect analysis in semiconductor manufacturing and medical image analysis. These data-intensive applications have high requirements during hardware implementation that are challenging for conventional hardware platforms such as central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs). Computation-in-memory (CIM) provides a possible solution for highly efficient morphology operations. In this study, we demonstrate the application of morphology operation with a novel memristor-based auto-detection architecture and demonstrate non-neuromorphic computation on a multi-array-based memristor system. Pixel-by-pixel logic computations with low parallelism are converted to parallel operations using memristors. Moreover, hardware-implemented computer-integrated manufacturing was used to experimentally demonstrate typical defect detection tasks in integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing and medical image analysis. In addition, we developed a new implementation scheme employing a four-layer network to realize small-object detection with high parallelism. The system benchmark based on the hardware measurement results showed significant improvement in the energy efficiency by approximately 358 times and 32 times more than when a CPU and GPU were employed, respectively, exhibiting the advantage of the proposed memristor-based morphology operation.

The dual hesitant fuzzy set(DHFS) is a useful tool to deal with situations in which people are hesitant about providing their satisfaction degree and dissatisfaction degree. In this paper, we introduce the concepts of weighted dual hesitant fuzzy set(WDHFS) and weighted dual hesitant fuzzy element(WDHFE). Furthermore, we introduce some basic operations such as union, intersection, complement, multiplication and power operation of weighted dual hesitant fuzzy elements, investigate their operation properties, propose the score function and the accuracy function of WDHFE to compare two weighted dual hesitant fuzzy elements, and present two kinds of aggregation operators such as WDHFWA operator and WDHFWG operator to fuse weighted dual hesitant fuzzy information. Besides, we introduce the concept of hesitance degree of WDHFE, and propose a distance measure between weighted dual hesitant fuzzy elements based on the feature vector of WDHFE, which satisfies the four properties including triangle inequality. In addition, we develop an approach to group decision making based on the weighted dual hesitant fuzzy environment. Finally, two numerical examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness and practicality of our proposed approach.

Small object detection in crowded scene aims to find those tiny targets with very limited resolution from crowded scenes. Due to very little information available on tiny objects, it is often not suitable to detect them merely based on the information presented inside their bounding boxes, resulting low accuracy. In this paper, we propose to exploit the semantic similarity among all predicted objects’ candidates to boost the performance of detectors when handling tiny objects. For this purpose, we construct a pairwise constraint to depict such semantic similarity and propose a new framework based on Discriminative Learning and Graph-Cut techniques. Experiments conducted on three widely used benchmark datasets demonstrate the improvement over the state-of-the-art approaches gained by applying this idea.

Pyrolysis of 1,2,4-trimethylcyclohexane (T124MCH) at 30 and 760 Torr has been investigated by using VUV-synchrotron photoionization molecular-beam mass spectrometry. In general, the ambient pressure leads to peak-shaped profiles of light hydrocarbons, while the monotonically increasing curves are observed for light hydrocarbons and aromatics in pyrolysis of T124MCH at low pressure. A detailed mechanism involving 530 species and 3160 reactions developed by the authors previously was used for the simulation of T124MCH with reasonable predictions. The consumption of T124MCH followed similar patterns at both pressures, namely the H-abstractions on the first, secondary, and tertiary carbon atoms are the main consumption reactions of T124MCH. The isomerization reactions transform the C9H17 radicals to branch-chain hydrocarbons, which are the precursors of light hydrocarbons such as ethane and propene. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the CH3 consumption reactions are the most significant promoting reactions at both pressures. Isomerization reactions of T124MCH tend to play significant inhibiting effect on T124MCH pyrolysis. Compared to T124MCH oxidation, T124MCH pyrolysis tends to produce large quantities of benzene and toluene. These results will improve the understanding of the combustion and soot formation of T124MCH as a potential aviation surrogate fuel.

This study aims to investigate the co-combustion mechanism of coal and corn residue on a fixed-bed reactor at low temperature, the decomposition characteristics were studied by advanced vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry (PI−TOFMS). The mass spectra and evolution profiles of combustion products (from 300 to 800 °C) were measured. As reaction temperature increased, the relative ion intensities of typical combustion products were investigated, and the difference with previous pyrolysis study was also discussed. The results reveal that cellulose and lignin in corn residue is faster to react than hemicellulose. Coal has an influence on the lignin rather than cellulose and hemicellulose of corn residue in blend. Coal has no effect on the production of furfuryl alcohol obtained from coal-corn residue blend. The current study on the co-combustion mechanism is beneficial to optimize the product distribution and improve combustion efficiency.

In consideration of the severe hazards of radioactive uranium pollution, the rapid assessment of uranium in field and in vivo are urgently needed. In this work a novel biocompatible and sensitive visual fluorescent sensor based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was designed for onsite detection of UO

Mitochondria play a key role in placental growth and development, and mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with inflammation in pregnancy pathologies. However, the mechanisms whereby placental mitochondria sense inflammatory signals are unknown. Mitochondrial nuclear retrograde regulator 1 (MNRR1) is a bi-organellar protein responsible for mitochondrial function, including optimal induction of cellular stress-responsive signaling pathways. Here, in a lipopolysaccharide-induced model of systemic placental inflammation, we show that MNRR1 levels are reduced both in mouse placental tissues

Pyrolysis study of iso-propylbenzene (IPB) at 30 and 760 torr was carried out by using synchrotron photoionization and molecular beam mass spectrometry techniques. 0.5%IPB was diluted by helium and heated to 798–1148 K in a flow tube. Styrene was the most abundant aromatic intermediate at both pressures. Several polycyclic aromatics were only observed at 760 torr, such as 2-ethenyl-1, 4-dimethyl-benzene, fluorene, anthracene, phenanthrene, 2-methyl-anthracene and pyrene, while fulvene, 1, 3-cyclohexadiene, and 5-ethenylidene-1, 3-cyclopentadiene were only detected at 30 torr. A detail mechanism involving 306 species and 1990 reactions was developed by updating ipso-addition and unimolecular dissociation reactions of IPB as well as reactions related to styrene, indene and naphthalene. The mechanism could predict the pyrolysis of IPB and production of other intermediates well. Rate-of-production analysis shows that the formations of 2-phenethyl, 1-iso-phenylpropyl and 2-iso-phenylpropyl radicals are the main consumption reactions of IPB independent of pressure. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the unimolecular dissociation of IPB forming 2-phenethyl radical is the most significant promoting reaction at both pressures. H-abstraction reaction forming 1-iso-phenylpropyl radical tends to play a significant inhibiting effect on IPB consumption at 30 torr, while the most inhibiting reaction is self-combination of methyl radicals at 760 torr. Compared to n-propylbenzene experiments reported by Liu et al. (Combustion and Flame, 191 (2018) 53–65) and Yuan et al. (Combustion and Flame,186 (2017) 178–192.), IPB tends to produce larger quantities of benzene, styrene and indene under pyrolysis and oxidation conditions. These results will improve the understanding of the combustion and soot formation of IPB as a potential aviation surrogate fuel.

Activation of the apelin receptor, or APJ, by apelin is considered a therapeutic avenue for cardiovascular disease, including heart failure. Recently, a novel endogenous ligand for APJ named Elabela (ELA) has been discovered and is known to possess anti-heart failure activity in animal models. However, the short in vivo half-life of ELA constrains its clinical potential. To extend its half-life in vivo, we attempted to make IgG-Fc-ELA fusion proteins. We found that Fc-ELA-32 fusion proteins are cleaved during protein production, whereas Fc-ELA-21 fusion proteins are expressed intact, so we focused our studies on the latter. The Fc-ELA-21 fusion protein retained its functionality in vitro and had a half-life of approximately 44 h in circulation in mice after subcutaneous injection. Daily injection of the fusion protein in MI rats for 4 weeks significantly mitigated heart dysfunction with respect to hemodynamics. At the cellular and tissue levels, treatment of Fc-ELA-21 fusion protein significantly increased angiogenesis, promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation and reduced apoptosis and heart fibrosis near the infarct area. In comparison, ELA-21 had a half-life of 13 min and showed no significant cardioprotective activities. These data suggest that Fc-ELA-21 may be a potential therapeutic for heart failure.

Triptolide (TP) isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (TWHF) shows extensive anti-inflammation, immunosuppression and anti-tumor properties. However, its therapeutic potential is limited by its severe side effects, especially the nephrotoxicity. This study intended to explore the role of the GSK-3β/Fyn pathway in TP-induced oxidative damage and the potential mechanism of Nrf2 protein downregulation. Our data showed that TP induced oxidative stress and cell damage in the rat renal tubular epithelial cell line NRK-52E cells by activation of GSK-3β and nuclear translocation of Fyn, which resulted in decreased Nrf2 nuclear translocation. Moreover, TP significantly induced Nrf2 degradation by ubiquitination, which was blocked by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. In addition, cotreatment with a typical GSK-3β inhibitor, lithium chloride, promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and decreased the nuclear translocation of Fyn, which led to reduced cell damage, LDH leakage, glutathione depletion and cell apoptosis. Collectively, our results indicated that TP induced oxidative damage in NRK-52E cells by facilitating Nrf2 degradation by ubiquitination via the GSK-3β/Fyn pathway.

Rapidly removing oil from emulsified produced water has become one of the most common problems that needs to be urgently resolved as gas-field exploitation enters its later stages, and an effective technique has not yet been established thus far. This paper introduces experimental research and further industrial application of a novel combined fibrous coalescer in the treatment of produced water in an offshore gas-field. Metal and oleophilic polymer fibers were combined at a certain proportion and woven into a fibrous bed with specific structural and geometric properties, which was used as the core separation component of the coalescer. The industrial operation results showed that the oil pollutant concentration of the produced water treated with the novel coalescer was reduced from 1200 to 25 mg/L, well below the 45 mg/L national discharge standard, under a residence time of 180 s and pressure drop of 30 psi. This is the first successful and significant industrial application of the technique in an offshore gas-field, providing a promising alternative for resolving the difficulty of produced water treatment in similar gas-fields, promoting further applications of the technique, and contributing to cleaner production and marine conservation.

A comparison study of the oxidation of n-propylbenzene (NPB), iso-propylbenzene (IPB), 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (T135MB), 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (T124MB) in a same jet-stirred reactor was performed to find a most suitable transport fuel as a surrogate component. The experimental results show that IPB with the weakest C H bond tends to be the most active fuel among the four C9H12 fuels, while T135MB is the slowest. Ten common intermediates detected in all experiments and eight characteristic intermediates were comprehensively compared, including hydrocarbons, aromatics and oxygenated species. NPB and IPB tend to produce more hydrocarbons and benzene, while T124MB and T135MB generate more toluene and acrolein. Based on the previous studies, an universal mechanism was presented by involving the four sub-mechanisms with good prediction on the measured results. The rate-of-production analysis shows that H-abstraction on the methyl or propyl is the dominant consumption pathway of C9H12 fuels, while C9H11 radicals maintains bigger differences than the initial reactions. Sensitivity analysis shows that CH3 is the key intermediate in the consumption of propylbenzenes, and OH plays similar role in the oxidation of trimethylbenzenes. Moreover, the production pathways of the aldehydes and PAHs in the oxidation were also discussed to understand the pollutant formations. Benzyl and styrene are believed to be the main precursors of aldehydes and PAHs, respectively. In general, these results provide better understanding of the oxidation and combustion of C9H12 fuels as potential surrogate fuel constituents for kerosene and diesel. Furthermore, the comprehensive experimental and modeling studies of C9H12 fuels could also offer the guidance function for the surrogate component selection.

The pyrolysis and oxidation of nitromethane (NM) were studied in a plug flow reactor over the temperature range of 735–1476 K at 5 Torr and in a jet-stirred reactor over the temperature range of 600–875 K at atmospheric pressure, respectively. Mole fraction profiles of major products and intermediates were identified with tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization and molecular-beam mass spectrometry. The current study represents the first comprehensive characterization of NM conversion under these conditions. The experimental results were compared to predictions with a detailed chemical kinetic model involving 364 species and 2389 reactions. The rate constants for significant dissociation reactions CH3NO2 = CH3 + NO2 and CH3NO2 = HCNO + H2O were calculated by the RRKM/Master Equation method using Variflex program in this work. The model provided an overall reasonable agreement with the measured data, but for pyrolysis conditions future work is required to improve predictions of some intermediates. Rate-of-production analysis indicates that the primary decomposition pathways of NM are different for pyrolysis and oxidation due to the effects of C N bond fission and roaming mediated isomerization. From the sensitivity analysis, the two pathways mentioned above have promoting effects on NM consumption for all the studied conditions, while the reaction of CH3+NO2 CH3O+NO with inhibiting effect at Φ=2.0 shows promoting effects for Φ=0.4 and pyrolysis. This work extends the experimental database and helps to improve the understanding of low temperature chemistry of NM.

The low-temperature oxidation (LTO) of pyridine was studied in a jet-stirred reactor over the temperature range of 700–1000 K at atmospheric pressure and equivalence ratio of 2.0. Mole fraction profiles of the reaction products were obtained based on molecular beam mass spectrometry and tunable vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron photoionization techniques. Hydrogen peroxide, methanamine, acetylenamine, ethenamine, acetaldimine, ethylamine, allyamine, and methylformamide were newly identified compared with previous studies of pyridine flame and pyrolysis. HCN was found to be the dominant N-containing species of pyridine LTO. Pyrrole, acrylonitrile, acetonitrile, and ammonia were also found at the same level of N2O and NO. Based on the new measurements and updated rate constants of several reactions including the H-abstractions of pyridine as well as the oxidation of ortho-pyridyl using density functional theory calculations, a new pyridine LTO kinetic model consisting of 588 species and 3516 reactions was developed with a reasonable agreement with the experimental results. In general, the predictions of the predominant species have been improved compared with the existing model. Rate-of-production analysis indicates that pyridine mainly consumes via C5H5N→C5H4N→C5H4NO2→HCN+CO+ C H 2 CH C ˙ O , and C5H5N→C5H5NO→C2H2+HCN+CH2CO. Sensitivity analysis shows that C5H4N+O2=>C5H4NO2, and C5H5N+OH C5H4N+H2O have significant promoting effect on pyridine consumption, while the reverse of C5H4N+HO2 C5H4NO+OH has strong inhibiting effect. The results will enrich the understanding of pyridine low-temperature oxidation mechanism, which can be applied to the fields of coal pre-treatment, staged combustion and mild combustion.

Penicillium digitatum is the most common cause of postharvest decay in citrus fruits around the world. Previous studies revealed that the bZIP gene family plays crucial roles in development, stress adaptation, and pathogenicity in fungi. However, little is known about the bZIP genes in P. digitatum. In this study, we systematically identified the bZIP family in 23 Penicillium species and analyzed their evolutionary relationships. We found that gene loss and gene duplication shaped the evolution of the Penicillium bZIP family. P. digitatum experienced 3 bZIP gene loss events, but with no gene duplication. We subsequently characterized the biological functions of one important member, PdatfA in P. digitatum by constructing the deletion mutant. Results showed that ΔPdatfA exhibited a moderate growth defect, reduced pigmentation, and slightly increased resistance to fungicides iprodione and fludioxonil. However, ΔPdatfA displayed similar rot symptoms to that of the wild-type. The ΔPdatfA mycelia were not affected in response to oxidative stress while its conidia showed enhanced resistance due to the upregulation of catalases. Our results provide new insights into the evolution and functions of the bZIP gene family in Penicillium.

To explore the clinicopathological features and analyze the relevant risk factors and short-term renal outcomes of acute tubular injury (ATI) patients.A total of 83 patients with biopsy-proven ATI were included in this retrospective cohort study. Clinical characteristic and histological feature data were collected, and renal recovery at 1 month postbiopsy was recorded.The severity of renal dysfunction, percentage of acute tubular lesions, interstitial inflammation and fibrosis of oliguric ATI patients were all significantly higher than those of nonoliguric patients. In the subgroup analysis of the oliguric patients, the serum creatinine and urinary microalbumin levels, severity of epithelial cell degeneration and cast formation of patients in the polyuric phase at biopsy were significantly lower than those of patients in the oliguric phase. A total of 59 patients had 1-month follow-up records, and complete renal recovery was observed in 42 patients. In the multivariate analysis, the total acute tubular injury area at biopsy was the most important independent risk factor for poor renal outcomes.Oliguric ATI patients had severe clinicopathological conditions. The severity of tubular lesions seriously influenced renal function recovery, demonstrating the importance of renal biopsy in assessing the prognosis of patients with kidney disease.

Immunologic dysfunction is one of the most important mechanisms underlying the initiation and development of JORRP. The study aimed to explore whether HPV-specific T-cell response was impaired in JORRP patients. We found JORRP patients had a Th2-biased cytokine profile correlated with disease severity in peripheral system. JORRP patients had an increased memory T cells and a reduced naive T cells in circulation. Upon HPV6/11 antigens stimulation, T cells from JORRP patients exhibited a greater activation profile. Of note, JORRP patients presented with a greater number of IL-10- and IL-4-secreting HPV6/11 antigen responding cells than that of IFN-γ and TNF-α secreting responders. Furthermore, in response to HPV6/11 antigen stimulation, JORRP patients showed a reduced level of cell proliferation, an increased level of apoptosis and higher percentage of the differentiated T cells expressing the replicative senescent cell marker CD57. Impaired HPV-specific T-cell responses could be partly responsible for JORRP development.