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Perovskite oxides (POs) are emerging as a class of highly efficient catalysts for reducing oxygen to H2O. Although a rich variety of POs-based catalysts have been developed by tuning the complex composition, a highly efficient PO catalyst that is able to alter the reaction pathway from a 4e− process to a 2e− process for H2O2 production has rarely been achieved. We modified the structure and composition of a Ca- and Nb-based PO material by realizing a uniform two-dimensional (2D) morphology and varied Ta doping, resulting in the 2D Ca 2 Nb 3 − x Ta x O 10 − (x = 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5) monolayer catalysts. The obtained catalysts exhibit a dominant 2e− pathway and show exceptional H2O2 production efficiency. The typical Ca 2 Nb 2.5 Ta 0.5 O 10 − nanoflakes showed an onset potential of 0.735 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), a remarkably high selectivity over 95% across a wide range of 0.3–0.7 V, an impressively high Faradaic efficiency of 94%, and a notable H2O2 productivity of 1571 mmol ⋅ g cat − 1 ⋅ h − 1 . These findings highlight the great potential of 2D perovskite oxide nanoflakes as advanced electrocatalysts for 2e− oxygen reduction reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decompensated cardiac hypertrophy is accompanied by impaired mitochondrial homeostasis, whether histone acetylation is involved in this process is yet to be determined. The role of HDAC1-mediated NRF1 histone deacetylation was investigated in transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced hypertrophy in rats and phenylephrine (PE)-induced hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. Administration of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an inhibitor of HDAC1, restored cardiac function, decreased heart/body weight and fibrosis, increased the ratio of mtDNA/nDNA and the percentage of LysoTracker+ CMs in TAC, compared with TAC without receiving EGCG. In PE-treated hypertrophic H9C2 cells, EGCG attenuated cell hypertrophy and increased LC3B II+MitoTracker+ puncta, as well as the ratio of mtDNA/nDNA. Interestingly, NRF1 but not PGC-1α expression was decreased in TAC- or PE-induced hypertrophic hearts or cells, respectively, while EGCG upregulated both NRF1 and PGC-1α in vitro. EGCG treatment also increased the interaction between PGC-1α and NRF1. In addition to inhibiting HDAC1 expression, EGCG decreased the binding of HDAC1 and increased the binding of acH3K9 or acH3K14 in the promotor regions of PGC-1α and NRF1. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, restored NRF1, TFAM and FUNDC1 were abolished by the overexpression of HDAC1. Collectively, data suggest that NRF1 reduction was averted by EGCG via inhibiting HDAC1-mediated histone deacetylation. Acetylation of NRF1 histone may play a key role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis associated with cardiac hypertrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The air health index (AHI) captures the combined effects of air pollution and non-optimal temperatures and helps assess the atmospheric environment's overall health risk. Shandong Province is a crucial industrial base in China, and the health effects of air pollution and non-optimal temperature cannot be ignored. To construct an AHI for Shandong Province and assess the district-level mortality burden due to AHI in the study area. Methods: Daily district-specific mortality, meteorological, and air pollution data over 2013–2018 were collected in Shandong Province, China. The AHI construction eventually incorporated PM2.5 and NO2, O3, and non-optimal temperatures. Attributable fraction (AF) and attributable number (AN) were used to estimate the district-specific mortality burden attributable to AHI. Results: The average AHI value observed in Shandong Province was 6. Our research revealed a positive association between the total AHI and total mortality, with an overall trend of a slow increase followed by a rapid increase. The exposure–response curves, when stratified by gender, age, and cause of death, were approximately consistent with the overall trend. The provincial attributable fraction (AF) was 5.31% (95% CI 4.58%, 5.91%), and the attributable number (AN) was 188,246 (95% CI 162,396, 209,533). Overall, higher ANs mainly appeared in the southwestern area, while higher values of AF were observed in the central-eastern and central-northern areas. Conclusions: The air health index performs well in predicting death burden and can convey health risks related to exposure to the ambient environment to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) improves glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. SNAP25 plays an essential role in GSIS. Clinical studies indicate that enhanced GLP-1 signaling is an important contributor to the improved β-cell function in T2D. We aimed to explore whether GLP-1-regulated SNAP25 is involved in the enhanced secretory function of β-cells in diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats after RYGB. Methods and Results: RYGB or sham surgery was conducted in GK rats. mRNA and protein expression of SNAP25 was assessed by qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Occupancy of CREB and acetyltransferase CBP and acetylation of histone H3 (ACH3) at the Snap25 promoter were determined using ChIP assay. RYGB led to increased SNAP25 expression and CREB phosphorylation in islets from GK rats. Increased SNAP25 improved GSIS in β-cells cultured in high glucose conditions. Consistent with increased plasma GLP-1 after RYGB, GLP-1R agonist exendin4 increased SNAP25 expression and CREB phosphorylation in β-cells. Mechanistically, exendin4 promoted the recruitment of CREB and CBP, thereby increasing ACH3 at the Snap25 promoter. Consistently, inhibition of CBP attenuated the effect of exendin4 on SNAP25 expression. Furthermore, the knockdown of SNAP25 diminished the increase of GSIS potentiated by chronic GLP-1 culture in INS-1 832/13 cells. Conclusions: Our findings unravel the novel mechanisms of RYGB-enhanced SNAP25 expression in β-cells, and SNAP25 may contribute to the improved β-cell secretory function induced by RYGB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the dynamic behavior of a class of delayed quaternion-valued neural networks (QVNNs) with impulses and parameter uncertainties. First, we assume that the activation function and connection matrices in the model are defined in the quaternion domain. Without decomposing the QVNNs into four equivalent neural networks in a real number domain or two equivalent neural networks in a complex number domain, the existence and uniqueness of the equilibrium point (EP) are studied based on the M-matrix and homeomorphism mapping theories. By combing the vector Lyapunov function with mathematical induction, theorems are given to ensure robust exponential stability of the system's EP. The results reflect the influence of connection matrices, delays, impulses, and the activation function on the convergence speed of the EP. Finally, the feasibility of the derived results is explained through three examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invisibility, robustness and payload are three indispensable and contradictory properties for any image watermarking systems. Recently, to achieve the tradeoff among above three requirements, statistical watermarking schemes have gained a lot of attention. Most existing approaches, however, often bear a number of drawbacks, in particular: (i) They all employ directly transform coefficients, which are always fragile to some attacks, for watermark embedding and statistical modeling; (ii) The adopted model cannot capture accurately the statistical distributions of the transform coefficients; (iii) Most of them simply use the linear function for watermark embedding, which often either miss higher capacity or may cause visible distortions. This has motivated us to introduce in this paper a novel non-linear statistical image watermark detector based on undecimated discrete wavelet transform (UDWT)-polar complex exponential transform (PCET) magnitude and the exponentiated Cauchy-Rayleigh distribution. We begin with a detailed study on the robustness and statistical characteristics of local UDWT-PCET magnitudes of natural images. This study reveals the strong robustness and highly non-Gaussian marginal statistics of local UDWT-PCET magnitudes. We also find that, with a small number of parameters, the new exponentiated Cauchy-Rayleigh model can capture accurately the statistical properties of the robust UDWT-PCET magnitudes of the image. Meanwhile, the statistical model parameters can be computed effectively by using the genetic simulated annealing (GSA)-based maximum likelihood (ML) estimation. Based on these findings, we finally develop a new non-linear statistical image watermark detector using the exponentiated Cauchy-Rayleigh PDF and locally most powerful (LMP) decision rule. Also, we use the exponentiated Cauchy-Rayleigh statistical model to derive the closed-form expressions for the watermark detector. Extensive experimental results show the superiority of the proposed blind watermark detector over most of the state-of-the-art methods recently proposed in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In comparison with the developing nano-carbon catalysts, some small organic molecules are also emerging as catalysts with typical features, however, their working mechanism is still unclear. Here, we synthesized a series of viologen-based heterogeneous catalysts with the same molecular skeleton but different substituent groups through anion exchange engineering. These viologen-based molecules were used as a model catalyst to investigate the underlying structure–function relationship for small molecules-based H2O2 electrosynthesis. Differing from the commonly reported carbon-based electrocatalysts, viologens can produce H2O2 in a synergistic manner, which means that viologens can not only directly catalyze oxygen reduction but also serve as a redox mediator. We found that the ring current and H2O2 selectivity of viologens deliver an increasing trend with the increase of the alkyl chain length of alkyl-substituted viologens and further increase when using benzyl as the substituent group. As a result, a benzyl-substituted viologen (BV) delivers the best electrocatalytic performance among the samples, including the highest H2O2 selectivity of 96.9% at 0.6 V and the largest ring current density of about 13.6 mA·mmol−1. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations disclose that the carbon atoms bonded with positively charged N are the active sites and the small highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy gap of BV is beneficial to the synergistic mechanism for H2O2 production. This work sheds new insight into the efficient H2O2 production in a synergistic manner for small molecules-based electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main characteristics of optical imaging systems is spatial resolution, which is restricted by the diffraction limit to approximately half the wavelength of the incident light. Along with the recently developed classical super-resolution techniques, which aim at breaking the diffraction limit in classical systems, there is a class of quantum super-resolution techniques which leverage the non-classical nature of the optical signals radiated by quantum emitters, the so-called antibunching super-resolution microscopy. This approach can ensure a factor of n improvement in the spatial resolution by measuring the n -th order autocorrelation function. The main bottleneck of the antibunching super-resolution microscopy is the time-consuming acquisition of multi-photon event histograms. We present a machine learning-assisted approach for the realization of rapid antibunching super-resolution imaging and demonstrate 12 times speed-up compared to conventional, fitting-based autocorrelation measurements. The developed framework paves the way to the practical realization of scalable quantum super-resolution imaging devices that can be compatible with various types of quantum emitters. Quantum super-resolution techniques take advantage of the non-classical nature of the quantum emitters, but are time-consuming. Here, the authors present a machine learning-assisted approach for fast antibunching-based super-resolution imaging, with a 12-fold speed up over the conventional approach [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective protection against X-ray is the premise of utilizing the X-ray, thus it is critical to develop novel X-ray shielding materials with both low density and high X-ray attenuation efficiency. As the even distribution of high-Z element components is of great significance for increasing the attenuation efficiency of X-ray shielding materials, in this study, the microfiber membrane (MFM), a type of synthetic leather featuring hierarchical structure was chosen to provide large surface area for the dispersion of rare earth (RE) element. Meanwhile, plant polyphenol was utilized to achieve the stable loading and uniform dispersion of the Ce or Er into MFM. Benefiting from the assistance of polyphenol and hierarchical structure of MFM, the even dispersion of RE element was successfully realized. The resultant shielding materials displayed approximately 10% superior X-ray attenuation efficiency compared to that without polyphenol, and an averagely 9% increment in X-ray attenuation efficiency than that without hierarchical structure. Moreover, the obtained composite with a thickness of 2.8 mm displayed superior X-ray shielding performance compared to 0.25 mm lead sheet in 16–83 keV and retained an ultralow density of 1.4 g cm–3. Our research results would shed new light on the manufacture of high-performance X-ray shielding materials with excellent X-ray shielding performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrated α-syn (nitro-α-syn) is a biomarker for Parkinson's desease (PD), and its sensitive detection in serum is of great importance for early PD diagnosis. Silver-coated copper MOF (Cu-MOF@Ag) with outstanding oxidase activity and electrochemical response property was designed and synthesized. Cu-MOF@Ag exhibited excellent oxidase activity with a low Km value (0.568 mM), avoiding the addition of strong oxidant to catalyze chromogenic substrate, which enhanced the colorimetric stability. Silver nanoparticles as an electrochemical signal reporter can be easily decorated on the surface of Cu-MOF with bifunctional groups (-SH and -NH2) material, which can increase the electrochemical signal output. The α-syn antibody modified Cu-MOF@Ag and nitro-α-syn modified magnetic nanoparticle were used as immunoprobes to specifically capture nitro-α-syn. A dual-modal immunosensor was fabricated for the simple and reliable detection of nitro-α-syn based on Cu-MOF@Ag. Combing colorimetric and electrochemical detection, nitro-α-syn can be determined quantitatively within a wide linear range (10–350 ng/mL) with low detection limit (0.5 ng/mL). The ability of the sensor with magnetic separation and dual signal analysis allowed to successfully detect nitro-α-syn and distinguish PD patients from healthy people (P < 0.005). Thanks to its excellent selectivity, stability, and the precision of 2.69%, the dual-modal sensor has potential clinical application for nitro-α-syn detection and paves a new way for PD diagnosis at its early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green finance sector is key to accelerating the green transformation of economic structures and promoting green economic growth. However, understanding how to effectively combine green finance and green innovation is still in the exploratory stage. Using the implementation of the Green Credit Guidelines (hereinafter Guidelines) in 2012 as a quasi-natural experiment, we examine the causal relationship between green finance and green innovation. According to our findings, the green innovation performance of green credit-restricted industries improved significantly after the implementation of the Guidelines, although quality improvements of green innovation were not evident. This was a result of improved management efficiency and investment efficiency. Additionally, the Guidelines appear to have a more positive impact on green innovation for firms with lower levels of managerial short-termism or firms in regions with stronger environmental law enforcement. Green innovation can significantly enhance the environmental and social performance of a company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is one of the most common malignancies and places a heavy burden on patients worldwide. HAUS augmin-like complex subunit 5 (HAUS5) is involved in the occurrence and development of various cancers. However, the functional role and significance of HAUS5 in LIHC remain unclear. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used to analyze the mRNA expression of HAUS5. The value of HAUS5 in predicting LIHC prognosis and the relationship between HAUS5 and clinicopathological features were assessed by the Kaplan–Meier plotter and UALCAN databases. Functional enrichment analyses and nomogram prediction model construction were performed with the R packages. The LinkedOmics database was searched to reveal co-expressed genes associated with HAUS5. The relationship between HAUS5 expression and immune infiltration was explored by searching the TISIDB database and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). The Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases were used to evaluate HAUS5 protein expression. Finally, the effect of HAUS5 on the proliferation of hepatoma cells was verified by CCK-8, colony formation and EdU assays. HAUS5 is aberrantly expressed and associated with a poor prognosis in most tumors, including LIHC. The expression of HAUS5 is significantly correlated with clinicopathological indicators in patients with LIHC. Functional enrichment analysis showed that HAUS5 was closely related to DNA replication, cell cycle and p53 signaling pathway. HAUS5 may serve as an independent risk factor for LIHC prognosis. The nomogram based on HAUS5 had area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.74 and 0.77 for predicting the 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) of LIHC patients. Immune correlation analysis showed that HAUS5 was significantly associated with immune infiltration. Finally, the results of in vitro experiments showed that when HAUS5 was knocked down, the proliferation of hepatoma cells was significantly decreased. The pan-oncogene HAUS5 is a positive regulator of LIHC progression and is closely associated with a poor prognosis in LIHC. Moreover, HAUS5 is involved in immune infiltration in LIHC. HAUS5 may be a new prognostic marker and therapeutic target for LIHC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine organisms cannot grow and reproduce without proper metabolic regulation. Within a metabolic network, problems with a given link will affect the normal life activities of the organism. Many metabolic mechanisms associated with behaviors of Amphioctopus fangsiao are still unclear. Moreover, as a factor affecting the normal growth of A. fangsiao, egg protection has rarely been considered in previous behavioral studies. In this research, we analyzed the transcriptome profile of gene expression in A. fangsiao egg-unprotected larvae and egg-protected larvae, and identified 818 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We used GO and KEGG enrichment analyses to search for metabolism-related DEGs. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed to examine the interactions between metabolism-related genes. Twenty hub genes with multiple protein-protein interaction relationships or that were involved in multiple KEGG signaling pathways were obtained and verified by quantitative RT-PCR. We first studied the effects of egg protection on the metabolism of A. fangsiao larvae by means of protein-protein interaction networks, and the results provide valuable gene resources for understanding the metabolism of invertebrate larvae. The data serve as a foundation for further research on the egg-protecting behavior of invertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although urban community food gardens have the capacity to strengthen and support neighborhoods in need, the benefits of such operations must be considered in tandem with the potential risks associated with urban environmental contamination. Therefore, research is needed to characterize existing community gardens in urban areas. In the present study, a survey of Houston, TX, community gardeners (N = 20) was conducted to better understand their risk-based knowledge and perceptions, current gardening practices, and willingness to implement risk mitigation measures. Soil samples collected from the beds (N = 22) and surrounding grounds (N = 24) of existing community garden sites in Houston, TX, were screened for trace and heavy metals using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The survey indicated that community gardeners had few concerns with regard to potential soilborne hazards and were generally willing to use diverse strategies to reduce potential hazards related to garden soil contamination. Ground and garden bed soil collected from community gardens were found to have excess concentrations of arsenic compared to federal health screening limits. The information provided here provides insight into possible discordance between community gardening risk perception and contamination risk that could be addressed through outreach, engagement, and remediation approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photonic band structures of waves in configuration-periodic equilateral polygonal networks (EPNs) are studied in the paper. The results indicate that comb-like optical transmission spectrum can be realized by EPNs.The number, width, and range of continuous equidistant frequency bands can be controlled conveniently by adjusting the waveguide length and the unit cell numbers of upper arm. Those comb-like frequency bands have potential in the design optical narrowband filters, multichannel filters, and optical switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tao Liang, Xiaohui Xu and Dongmei Ye are the first co-authors. The pancreas samples were collected on the 15th day. a Normal control; b model control; c 320 mg kg-1 d-1 of metformin; d 80 mg kg-1 d - 1 of PR. [Extracted from the article]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to play vital regulatory roles in human diseases. However, the functions of circRNAs in ischemic stroke (IS) are limited. In this study, we aimed to explore the functions and mechanisms of circRNA DLG associated protein 4 (circDLGAP4) in IS development. Oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD)-treated HCN-2 cells were used to mimic IS environment in vitro. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was used to detect the levels of circDLGAP4, microRNA-503-3p (miR-503-3p) and neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) mRNA. RNase R assay was conducted to analyze the stability of circDLGAP4. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry analysis were adopted for cell viability and death, respectively. Western blot assay was performed for protein levels. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to examine the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and RNA pull-down assay were employed to analyze the relationships among circDLGAP4, miR-503-3p and NEGR1. CircDLGAP4 level was declined in HCN-2 cells after OGD treatment. CircDLGAP4 overexpression promoted cell viability and suppressed cell death and inflammatory cytokine concentrations in OGD-treated HCN-2 cells. CircDLGAP4 acted as the sponge for miR-503-3p and the impacts of circDLGAP4 overexpression on cell viability, death and inflammation in OGD-treated HCN-2 cells were reversed by miR-503-3p elevation. Furthermore, NEGR1 was the target gene of miR-503-3p. MiR-503-3p inhibition ameliorated OGD-induced HCN-2 cell impairments, but NEGR1 knockdown abolished the effects. CircDLGAP4 alleviated OGD-induced HCN-2 cell damage by regulating miR-503-3p/NEGR1 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple ascending–dose study evaluated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of multiple doses of milvexian, an oral small-molecule FXIa inhibitor, in healthy Japanese participants. Participants received oral milvexian daily under fasted (50 mg and 200 mg) or fed conditions (500 mg) or placebo over 14 days; 24 participants (8/cohort: 6 milvexian; 2 placebo) were planned. Due to an unblinding event, participants in one cohort (200 mg daily) were discontinued, and a second cohort enrolled; 32 participants were included in safety and pharmacodynamic analyses, and 24/32 in pharmacokinetic analyses. Milvexian up to 500 mg daily for 14 days was generally well tolerated, with no deaths, serious adverse events, or discontinuations due to adverse events. Milvexian exposure increased between 50-mg and 200-mg doses. Median Tmax was similar with 50-mg and 200-mg doses (2.5–3.0 h) and delayed under fed conditions (500 mg, 7.0–8.0 h). Median T1/2 was similar across doses (8.9–11.9 h). Multiple oral milvexian administrations resulted in concentration-related prolongation of aPTT and decreased FXI clotting activity. Milvexian was generally safe and well tolerated. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of milvexian demonstrates suitability for further clinical development in Japanese participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background OsWRKY62 and OsWRKY76, two close members of WRKY transcription factors, function together as transcriptional repressors. OsWRKY62 is predominantly localized in the cytosol. What are the regulatory factors for OsWRKY62 nuclear translocation? Results In this study, we characterized the interaction of OsWRKY62 and OsWRKY76 with rice importin, OsIMα1a and OsIMα1b, for nuclear translocation. Chimeric OsWRKY62.1-GFP, which is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm, was translocated to the nucleus of Nicotiana benthamiana leaf cells in the presence of OsIMα1a or OsIMαΔIBB1a lacking the auto-inhibitory importin β-binding domain. OsIMαΔIBB1a interacted with the WRKY domain of OsWRKY62.1, which has specific bipartite positively charged concatenated amino acids functioning as a nuclear localization signal (NLS). Similarly, we found that OsIMαΔIBB1a interacted with the AvrPib effector of rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, which contains a scattered distribution of positively charged amino acids. Furthermore, we identified a nuclear export signal (NES) in OsWRKY62.1 that inhibited nuclear transportation. Overexpression of OsIMα1a or OsIMα1b enhanced resistance to M. oryzae, whereas knockout mutants decreased resistance to the pathogen. However, overexpressing both OsIMα1a and OsWRKY62.1 were slightly more susceptible to M. oryzae than OsWRKY62.1 alone. Ectopic overexpression of OsWRKY62.1-NES fused gene compromised the enhanced susceptibility of OsWRKY62.1 to M. oryzae. Conclusion These results revealed the existence of NLS and NES in OsWRKY62. OsWRKY62, OsWRKY76, and AvrPib effector translocate to nucleus in association with importin α1s through new types of nuclear localization signals for negatively regulating defense responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pilot study aimed to determine if a biophilic Green Therapy or Virtual Reality environment can decrease an oncology patient's pain and distress while receiving chemotherapy. A case-crossover pilot study was conducted in a comprehensive cancer infusion center. 33 participants with breast, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, pancreatic and prostate cancers were all included in three rooms in a random order at different cycles: control room, Green Therapy room, and Virtual Reality room to receive chemotherapy, respectively. Participants' pain, distress, heart rate, blood pressure, and saliva cortisol were measured before and after infusion in each room. No statistical significance differences were shown in the changes of heart rate, systolic, or diastolic blood pressure, saliva cortisol, pain, or distress before and after infusion between the control, Green Therapy, and Virtual Reality rooms. However, more patients reported the experience as "fun" and "enjoyable" when they were in Green Therapy or Virtual reality room as compared to in the control room. Additionally, since participating in the study, 14 patients reported spending at least 30 min or more outside in nature. In this study, we found that patients' heart rate, blood pressure, and self-reported distress levels were reduced after each biophilic intervention although results are not statistically significant. The study also suggested that biophilic interventions are safe and feasible and may complement the standard of care for oncology patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate reaction-diffusion complex-valued neural networks with mixed delays. The mixed delays include both time-varying and infinite distributed delays. Criteria are derived to ensure the existence, uniqueness, and exponential stability of the equilibrium state of the addressed system on the basis of the M-matrix properties and homeomorphism mapping theories as well as the vector Lyapunov function method. The results demonstrate the positive effect of reaction-diffusion on the stability, which further improves the existing conditions. Finally, the analysis of several examples is compared to the present results to verify the correctness and reduced conservatism of the primary results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haliotis discus hannai is an important marine economic species in China. Its egg color was found to be associated with economic traits, which provides a new idea for breeding. However, the molecular mechanism of the egg-color formation has not been reported. Thus, the pigment composition and comparative transcriptome analyses of H. discus hannai with green and gray egg color were conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and RNA-Seq methods. Results show that individuals with green and gray eggs both possess the fucoxanthin. Lutein existed in gray-egged individuals, but not in green-egged individuals. In transcriptome analysis, 272 310 unigenes were received from 461 162 transcripts with a mean length of 985 bp and N50 of 1 524 bp, respectively. A total of 185 unigenes were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The DEGs involved in "flavin-containing compound metabolic process", "melanosome", "glutathione metabolism", and "cytochrome b6f complex" were likely related to the formation of the egg color. Our results provide foundational information for the functional analysis of egg-color related genes and are beneficial to the selective breeding of H. discus hannai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: NRF2, a prime target of cellular defense against oxidative stress, has shown a dark side profile in cancer progression. GRIM-19, an essential subunit of the mitochondrial MRC complex I, was recently identified as a suppressive role in tumorigenesis of human gastric cancer (GC). However, little information is available on the role of GRIM-19 and its cross-talk with NRF2 in GC metastasis. Methods: Online GC database was used to investigate DNA methylation and survival outcomes of GRIM-19. CRISPR/Cas9 lentivirus-mediated gene editing, metastasis mice models and pharmacological intervention were applied to investigate the role of GRIM-19 deficiency in GC metastasis. Quantitative RT-PCR, FACS, Western blot, IHC, IF and reporter gene assay were performed to explore underlying mechanisms. Results: Low GRIM-19 is correlated with poor survival outcome of GC patients while DNA hypermethylation is associated with GRIM-19 downregulation. GRIM-19 deficiency facilitates GC metastasis and triggers aberrant oxidative stress as well as ROS-dependent NRF2-HO-1 activation. Experimental interventions of specific ROS, NRF2 or HO-1 inhibitor significantly abrogate GRIM-19 deficiency-driven GC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, HO-1 inhibition not only reverses GRIM-19 deficiency-driven NRF2 activation, but also feedback blocks NRF2 activator-induced NRF2 signaling, resulting in decreased metastasis-associated genes. Conclusions: Our data suggest that GRIM-19 deficiency accelerates GC metastasis through the oncogenic ROS-NRF2-HO-1 axis via a positive-feedback NRF2-HO-1 loop. Therefore, this study not only offers novel insights into the role of oncogenic NRF2 in tumor progression, but also provides new strategies to alleviate the dark side of NRF2 by targeting HO-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Aβ1–42-induced neurotoxicity has been considered as a possible mechanism to aggravate the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we aim to determine the protective effect of DMDD on the apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells induced by Aβ1–42 and elucidate potential mechanism of DMDD's protective function in apoptosis. Experimental approach: CCK-8, AnnexinV-FITC/PI flow cytometry, and transmission electron microscopy analysis were used to determine the protection of DMDD on Aβ1–42-evoked apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells. Cytochrome c release, JC-1 staining, and measuring the protein of Bcl-2 family by Western blot were applied to elucidate the mechanism of DMDD's protective function in apoptosis. Key results: Three concentration of DMDD (5 μmol/L, 10 μmol/L, and 20 μmol/L) rescues the cell viability loss and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells cultivated in Aβ1–42. The expressions of cleaved Caspase-3, -8, -9, the cytochrome c release, and mitochondrial membrane potential loss were inhibited by DMDD in Aβ1–42-insulted SH-SY5Y cells. The Western blot analysis showed that DMDD pretreatment clearly downregulated the protein of Bax and upregulated Bcl-2. Moreover, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was obviously decreased in cells only exposed to Aβ1–42, but, which was suppressed by treated with DMDD. Conclusion and implications: DMDD attenuated the apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells induced by Aβ1–42 through reversing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral ischemia represents a major cause of disability, yet its precise mechanism remains unknown. In addition, ischemia-reperfusion injury which occurs during the blood recovery process increases the risk of mortality, and is not adequately addressed with current treatment. To improve therapeutic options, it is important to explore the vital substances that play a pivotal role in ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study is the first to investigate the role of IL-32, a vital pro-inflammatory factor, in models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. The results showed that IL-32 was highly expressed in both in vivo and in vitro models. The proteins of the NOD/MAPK/NF-κB pathway were also up-regulated, indicating a potential signaling pathway mechanism. Inhibition of IL-32 and blocking of the NOD/MAPK/NF-κB pathway increased cell survival, decreased the level of inflammatory factors and inflammasomes, and attenuated nitrosative stress. Taken together, the results show that inhibition of IL-32 expression ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via the NOD/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. The findings in this study reveal that IL-32 is a vital target of ischemia-reperfusion injury, providing a new avenue for treatment development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)1–3 are known for their specific interactions with gas molecules4,5; this, combined with their rich and ordered porosity, makes them promising candidates for the photocatalytic conversion of gas molecules to useful products6. However, attempts to use MOFs or MOF-based composites for CO2 photoreduction6–13 usually result in far lower CO2 conversion efficiency than that obtained from state-of-the-art solid-state or molecular catalysts14–18, even when facilitated by sacrificial reagents. Here we create 'molecular compartments' inside MOF crystals by growing TiO2 inside different pores of a chromium terephthalate-based MOF (MIL-101) and its derivatives. This allows for synergy between the light-absorbing/electron-generating TiO2 units and the catalytic metal clusters in the backbones of MOFs, and therefore facilitates photocatalytic CO2 reduction, concurrent with production of O2. An apparent quantum efficiency for CO2 photoreduction of 11.3 per cent at a wavelength of 350 nanometres is observed in a composite that consists of 42 per cent TiO2 in a MIL-101 derivative, namely, 42%-TiO2-in-MIL-101-Cr-NO2. TiO2 units in one type of compartment in this composite are estimated to be 44 times more active than those in the other type, underlining the role of precise positioning of TiO2 in this system. Investigation of a chromium-based metal–organic framework shows that the location of added TiO2 inside specific mesopores strongly affects the ability of the material to catalyse photoreduction of CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancers. The purpose of this study is to screen cancer-related mutations in early LUAD in China through NGS technology, determine their correlation with clinical characteristics and provide basis for treatment decisions. Methods: In this study, we performed a 583 gene panel to detect the mutational spectrum of the tumors which were collected from 98 LUAD patients. The sequencing data and clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results: Mutations were identified in 94.9% of patients. EGFR had the highest mutation frequency which was detected in 66% of the patients and was significantly associated with female gender and non-smoking history. Other genes with high mutation frequency were TP53 (37%), ERBB2 (24%), BCOR (22%), ZFHX3 (19%), BTG1 (17%), ATR (16%), WWTR1 (15%), etc. TP53 mutations were significantly associated with medium and low differentiation of tumors; BCOR and BLM mutations with gender; WWTR1 mutations with age; and ATR mutations with visceral pleura invasion were observed. 61% of the patients harbored at less one actionable alteration associated with FDA-recognized or investigational drugs. Conclusion: Multiple mutations in LUAD patients in this study have not previously been reported in NSCLC. Moreover, mutations in driver genes including EGFR, TP53, BCOR, BLM, WWTR1, and ATR were significantly related to clinical features. The panel used in this study is an effective approach for molecular analysis and can be applied in personalized treatment decision-making and drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a degenerative disease of the optic nerve associated with one of three mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) m.3460G>A, m.11778G>A and m.14484T>C mutations. Although several procedures are available to genotype these mutations, quantitative approaches with rapid, low-cost and easy to handle advantages for three LHON mtDNA mutations are rarely reported. Here, we firstly developed a "one-step" tetra-primer amplification-refractory mutation system (T-ARMS) PCR for qualitative genotyping of three LHON mtDNA mutations. Subsequently, we established single, duplex and triplex TaqMan MGB probe-based fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to perform both qualitative and quantitative analyses of three LHON mtDNA mutations. Standard curves based on tenfold diluted plasmid standard exhibited high specificity and sensitivity, stable repeatability and reliable detectable ability of TaqMan probe qPCR assays without cross-reactivity upon probes combination. Moreover, by comparing with SYBR Green qPCR, we further validated the feasibility of the triplex-probe qPCR assay for the quantitative detection of mtDNA copy number in blood samples. In conclusion, our study describes a rapid, low-cost, easy to-handle, and high-throughput TaqMan-MGB probe qPCR assay to perform both qualitative and quantitative analysis of three primary LHON mtDNA mutations, offering a promising approach for genetic screening and testing of LHON mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: The last 15 years have witnessed a dramatic change in HIV-related epidemiology amidst improvements in treatment and care in China. With proper treatment, HIV is now considered a chronic disease. As a consequence, many people living with HIV (PLWH) now present age-related comorbidities. We reviewed 13 topical issues concerning the epidemiology of aging with HIV in mainland China. Results: Many of aging-related issues associated with the biological and physical aspects of living with HIV addressed in mainland China are consistent with the global literature. Greater prevalence of age-related comorbidities among PLWH was observed. Beyond biological mechanisms associated with HIV infection and traditional risk factors, other factors play a vital role in the aging process among PLWH. Summary: A stronger focus on screening, prevention, and management of non-HIV co-morbidities among PLWH is now warranted. Macro-social factors need to be integrated into next generation of clinical and/or behavioral HIV research to inform disease progression and management as well as prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: This review is intended to provide an overview of the evolution of HIV epidemiology over the past decade in China. Recent Findings: We provided a succinct overall view of the epidemic, followed by surveillance data, profiles of key populations, HIV molecular epidemiology, and drug resistance, as well as survival in the age of antiretroviral therapy usage. For each topical issue, we first reviewed the latest empirical evidence, followed by a brief summary assessment. We briefly addressed the challenges and opportunities of the next generation of HIV control and prevention efforts in China. Summary: Notably, macro-social factors need to be integrated into the next generation of clinical and/or behavioral HIV research to inform disease progression and management, as well as control and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although prostate cancer (PCa) screening is conducted before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), clinically occult PCa cases may exist. Methods: To evaluate whether the possible inclusion of occult PCa cases distorts the effect of TRT on risk of PCa, we followed 776 hypogonadal males (TRT = 400, non-TRT = 376) from a urology center in Germany from 2004 to 2016, with a mean follow-up period of 7 years. We assumed occult cases might take 1–2 years (latency period) to become clinically detectable after receiving TRT. We selected several latency periods (12/18/24 months) and compared the risk of PCa in the TRT and non-TRT group over the latency period, from the end of latency period till the end of follow-up, and over the whole follow-up time. Results: Overall, 26 PCa cases occurred in the non-TRT group vs 9 cases in the TRT group. Within 18 months of follow-up, 9 cases occurred in the TRT group vs 0 cases in the non-TRT group; from the end of 18 months till the end of follow-up, 26 cases occurred in the non-TRT group vs 0 cases in the TRT group. The adjusted table showed seemingly adverse effects of TRT on PCa development within 18 months (p = 0.0301) and beneficial effects from the end of 18 months till the end of follow-up (p = 0.0069). Similar patterns were observed for 12 or 24 months as the latency period. Conclusions: TRT may make occult PCa cases detectable within early phase of treatment and present a beneficial effect in the long run. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm findings from our exploratory analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic β cell damage is one of the crucial factors responsible for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Previous studies have suggested that puerarin (PR) could regulate the activities of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex in diabetic nephropathy (DN); however, whether PR can inhibit pancreatic β-cell apoptosis in T2DM remains to be elucidated. In the present study, T2DM mice induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ) injection were used as a working model to investigate the mechanism of PR on pancreatic β cell apoptosis. The results showed that PR decreased the serum fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels but significantly increased the fasting blood insulin (FINS) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Furthermore, decreased caspase-3, 8, 9 and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) proteins in the pancreas were detected by Western blot analysis. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining demonstrated that the pancreatic β cell apoptosis was inhibited by PR. Furthermore, PR improved the histopathological changes in pancreatic tissue in T2DM mice. Collectively, the data show that PR can protect the β cells from apoptotic death in a mouse model of T2DM through regulating the expression of apoptosis-related protein-AIF and caspase family proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of self-regulation is influenced by children’s experiences at home, with parenting styles and parenting stress being important contextual factors. However, little is known about how parenting styles and stress are related to the emotional (hot) and cognitive (cool) aspects of self-regulation. This study examined the relationships between different parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive) and children’s performance on hot and cool self-regulation tasks and the role of parenting stress in moderating this relationship in Chinese households. The participants included 310 preschoolers (51% girls/49% boys; Mage = 4.96 years; SD = 0.96) enrolled in four kindergartens in Beijing, China. The hierarchical regression results showed that after controlling for demographic variables, the level of authoritative parenting positively predicted children’s cognitive flexibility performance, while parenting stress moderated the relationship between authoritative parenting and children’s inhibitory control performance. The positive association between authoritative parenting and children’s inhibitory control was found only among children who experienced a lower level of parenting stress. Parenting styles were not associated with children’s hot self-regulation or working memory performance. These findings provide nuanced evidence on the relationships between parents’ parenting style, parenting stress, and children’s performance on hot and cool self-regulation. The implications for parenting education and future studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV-infected (HIV+) women may be more vulnerable to neurocognitive impairment (NCI) due to psychological and physiological factors but previous studies show mixed findings. We investigated the neurocognitive performances in HIV+ versus HIV− women and men. This cross-sectional analysis included 669 HIV+ patients (223 women) and 1338 HIV-uninfected (HIV−) controls (446 women) which were frequency matched on sex, education, and 5-year age categories. NCI was screened using the Mini-mental State Examination. Psychomotor speed was assessed using timed alternating hand sequence test. Prevalence of NCI was higher among women versus men in the HIV+ group (16.1% vs 10.5%) but not the HIV− group (4.3% vs 3.5%). HIV+ women performed worse compared to men on psychomotor speed, orientation, attention, and calculation, whereas HIV− women performed worse compared to men on attention and calculation. Adjusted interaction effects of HIV status × sex (women vs men) were significant on orientation, attention, and calculation, and marginally significant on psychomotor speed (p = 0.053). In multivariable models, among both HIV+ women and men, less years of education and depressive symptoms were associated with NCI. Waist-to-hip ratio above the cut-off was strongly associated with NCI among HIV+ women. HIV+ women perform worse on cognitive measures compared to HIV+ men. The association of central obesity with NCI in HIV+ women should be noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biogenic silica of sediment samples from Core CJ01-185 which is collected from the eastern India Ocean off the Sunda Strait is analyzed to evaluate the impact of the opening of the Sunda Strait on a paleoproductivity evolution. The new results indicate that the biogenic silica mass values of Core CJ01-185 show the lowest 0.86% in the last glacial period, and reach its maxima of 1.89% in the late Holocene. Furthermore, the biogenic silica mass accumulation rate (MARBSi) values also vary with much higher during the late Holocene than during the last glaciation. The input of additional terrigenous materials from the Java Sea has enhanced the paleoproductivity and increased the biogenic silica mass and MARBSi values after the opening of the Sunda Strait. It is suggested that the paleoproductivity in the study area is mainly influenced by the southeast monsoon and upwelling before the opening of the Sunda Strait. However, the paleoproductivity is dominated by the terrigenous materials input other than by the southeast monsoon or upwelling in the Holocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is a rare disease that causes primary infertility. However, the genetic causes for approximately half of MMAF cases are unknown. Whole exome sequencing analysis of the 27 patients with MMAF identified several CFAP44 mutations (3 homozygous: c.2935_2944del: p.D979*, c.T1769A: p.L590Q, c.2005_2006del: p.M669Vfs*13; and putative compound heterozygous: c.G3262A: p.G1088S and c.C1718A: p.P573H.) and CFAP43 acceptor splice-site deletion (c.3661-2A>-) mutations in 5 and 1 patients, respectively. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays also demonstrated that CFAP44 expression was very weak in patient (P)1 and P3, and CFAP43 expression was lower in P6 than in the control. Immunofluorescence analysis of CFAP43 showed lower CFAP43 protein expression levels in P6 than in the normal control. This study demonstrated that biallelic mutations in CFAP44 and CFAP43 cause MMAF. These results provide researchers with a new insight to understand the genetic etiology of MMAF and to identify new loci for genetic counselling of MMAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the first-principles calculations within density functional theory (DFT), we investigated magnetism, electronic structures, and half-metallicity stability of Heusler compound Co2Cr1−xTixAl. Besides, the origin of the half-metallic energy gap of Co2CrAl is also revealed. With Ti concentration increases, the magnetic moment of the Cr atom linearly increases, while that of Co and Cr atoms linearly decreases The total magnetic moment of Co2Cr1−x TixAl agrees with the Slater-Pauling rule very well. The Fermi level shifts from a low energy zone of the minority spin gap to a highenergy zone with increasing Ti concentration x, and it lies in the middle of the gap when x = 0.5. The corresponding doped compound Co2Cr0.5Ti0.5Al therefore possesses the most stable half metallicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to explore the potential application of biochar from distillers’ grains anaerobic digestion residue pyrolyzed at 700 °C (ADR-DG700) to ammonium (NH4+) adsorption from aqueous solution, as well as its effect on NH4+ leaching from an Ultisol. The adsorption kinetic of NH4+ on the ADR-DG700 could be described by an Elovich model (R2 = 0.995), and the combined Langmuir-Freundlich model (R2 = 0.997) fitted the isotherm data better than the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Temkin models with a maximum adsorption of 11.41 mg N g−1. The NH4+ adsorption on ADR-DG700 was mainly controlled by the cation exchange, the surface complexation with oxygen-containing functional groups of carboxyl C〓O (C▬O) and carbohydrate C▬OH, as well as the electrostatic interactions with Si▬O▬Si functional group. In addition, the ADR-DG700 soil application reduced 2.48-20.67% of NH4+-N leaching loss after nitrogen fertilizer application in an Ultisol. These results suggested that the ADR-DG700 could be a sorbent for NH4+-contaminated water as well as an inhibitor for soil NH4+ leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian prefrontal cortex comprises a set of highly specialized brain areas containing billions of cells and serves as the centre of the highest-order cognitive functions, such as memory, cognitive ability, decision-making and social behaviour. Although neural circuits are formed in the late stages of human embryonic development and even after birth, diverse classes of functional cells are generated and migrate to the appropriate locations earlier in development. Dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex contributes to cognitive deficits and the majority of neurodevelopmental disorders; there is therefore a need for detailed knowledge of the development of the prefrontal cortex. However, it is still difficult to identify cell types in the developing human prefrontal cortex and to distinguish their developmental features. Here we analyse more than 2,300 single cells in the developing human prefrontal cortex from gestational weeks 8 to 26 using RNA sequencing. We identify 35 subtypes of cells in six main classes and trace the developmental trajectories of these cells. Detailed analysis of neural progenitor cells highlights new marker genes and unique developmental features of intermediate progenitor cells. We also map the timeline of neurogenesis of excitatory neurons in the prefrontal cortex and detect the presence of interneuron progenitors in early developing prefrontal cortex. Moreover, we reveal the intrinsic development-dependent signals that regulate neuron generation and circuit formation using single-cell transcriptomic data analysis. Our screening and characterization approach provides a blueprint for understanding the development of the human prefrontal cortex in the early and mid-gestational stages in order to systematically dissect the cellular basis and molecular regulation of prefrontal cortex function in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we aim to solve the stabilization problem for a large class of fractional-order nonautonomous systems via linear state feedback control and adaptive control. By constructing quadratic Lyapunov functions and utilizing a new property for Caputo fractional derivative we derive some sufficient conditions for the global asymptotical stabilization of a class of fractional-order nonautonomous systems. We give two illustrative examples to validate the effectiveness of the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the association between early menarche and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012 were used to investigate the association between age at menarche and the risk of GDM at first birth among 5914 women. A growth mixture model was used to detect distinctive menarche onset patterns based on self-reported age at menarche. Logistic regression models were then used to examine the associations between menarche initiation patterns and GDM after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, family history of diabetes mellitus, lifetime greatest Body Mass Index, smoking status, and physical activity level. Results: Among the 5914 first-time mothers, 3.4 % had self-reported GDM. We detected three groups with heterogeneous menarche onset patterns, the Early, Normal, and Late Menarche Groups. The regression model shows that compared to the Normal Menarche Group, the Early Menarche Group had 1.75 (95 % CI 1.10, 2.79) times the odds of having GDM. No statistically significant difference was observed between the Normal and the Late Menarche Group. Conclusion: This study suggests that early menarche may be a risk factor of GDM. Future studies are warranted to examine and confirm this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Clinically relevant pharmacokinetic interactions exist between gastric acid-reducing agents and certain weakly basic drugs that rely on acidic environments for optimal oral absorption. In this study, we examine whether the administration of betaine hydrochloride under fed conditions can enhance the absorption of atazanavir, an HIV-1 protease inhibitor, during pharmacologically-induced hypochlorhydria. Methods: In this randomized, single-dose, 3 period, crossover study healthy volunteers received ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (atazanavir/ritonavir 300/100 mg) alone, following pretreatment with the proton pump inhibitor rabeprazole (20 mg twice daily), and with 1500 mg of betaine HCl after rabeprazole pretreatment. Atazanavir was administered with a light meal and gastric pH was monitored using the Heidelberg Capsule. Results: Pretreatment with rabeprazole resulted in significant reductions in atazanavir C ( p < 0.01) and AUC ( p < 0.001) (71 and 70%, respectively), and modest decreases in ritonavir C and AUC ( p < 0.01) (40% and 41%, respectively). The addition of betaine HCl restored 13% of ATV C and 12% of AUC lost due to rabeprazole. Conclusions: The co-administration of rabeprazole with atazanavir resulted in significant decreases in atazanavir exposure. The addition of betaine HCl did not sufficiently mitigate the loss of ATV exposure observed during RAB-induced hypochlorhydria. Meal effects lead to a marked difference in the outcome of betaine HCl on atazanavir exposure than we previously reported for dasatanib under fasting conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In order to maximise the utility of [C]-PBR28 for use in longitudinal studies and clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease (AD), there is a need to develop non-invasive metrics of tracer binding that do not require arterial cannulation. Recent work has suggested that standardised uptake value (SUV)-based methods may be sensitive to changes in translocator protein (TSPO) levels associated with neurodegeneration. However, the test-retest reliability of these approaches in AD over a time period relevant for clinical trials is unknown. In this study, the test-retest reliability of three SUV-based metrics was assessed in AD patients over 12 weeks. Methods: Five patients with mild AD and the high-affinity binding TSPO genotype underwent two [C]-PBR28 PET scans approximately 12 weeks apart. The test-retest reliability (TRR) of the unadjusted SUV, SUV relative to cerebellar grey matter (SUVR) and SUV normalised to whole brain activity (SUVR) in nine cortical and limbic regions of interest was assessed using the absolute variability and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: Of the three measures, SUVR performed best overall, showing low absolute variability (mean −0.13 %, SD 2.47 %) and high reliability (mean ICC = 0.83). Unadjusted SUV also performed well, with high reliability (ICC = 0.94) but also high variability (mean −1.24 %, SD 7.28 %). By comparison, the SUVR showed higher variability (mean −3.98 %, SD 7.07 %) and low reliability (ICC = 0.65). Conclusions: In this AD sample, we found that SUV-derived metrics of [C]-PBR28 binding showed high stability over 12 weeks. These results compare favourably with studies reporting TRR of absolute quantification of [C]-PBR28. Pending further validation of SUV-based measures of [C]-PBR28, semi-quantitative methods of [C]-PBR28 analysis may prove useful in longitudinal studies of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The free radical solution polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) with itaconic acid (IA) or methyl acrylate (MA) was carried out in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) using 2 2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. Based on the monomer conversion versus time data, the copolymerization rate was retarded by IA but promoted by MA. The monomer sequence distribution was characterized by C NMR to explain the significant difference in the copolymerization kinetics of the ANIA and AN-MA copolymers. The results of the copolymer composition curves and C NMR spectral analysis illustrated that the penultimate model was suitable for describing the copolymerization behavior of AN-IA, and the terminal and penultimate models were adequate for AN-MA. The penultimate reactivity ratios, r, were ~2 times higher than r, indicating that the reactivity of AN-terminated radical having MA as the preceding group was higher than that with IA. Then, the corresponding content of triads sequence AN-AN-AN (AAA) in the AN-MA copolymers was higher than those in the AN-IA copolymers. The appearance of new resonance signals of the quaternary and methyl carbon indicated a higher content of IA in copolymers. The higher IA concentrations the lower viscosity-average molecular weight of the polymers. The decrease in the molecular weight was correlated to the formation of the oligomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel continuous ovary cell line from barfin flounder ( Verasper moseri) (BFO cell line) was established with its primitive application in transgenic expression demonstrated in this study. Primarily cultured cells grew well at 22°C in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium/F12 medium (DMEM/F12, 1:1; pH 7.2) supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS), carboxymethyl chitooligosaccharide, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). The primary BFO cells in fibroblastic morphology proliferated into a confluent monolayer about 2 weeks later, and were able to be subcultured. Impacts of medium and temperature on the growth of the cells were examined. The optimum growth was found in DMEM/F12 with 20% FBS and at 22°C. The BFO cells can be continuously subcultured to Passage 120 steadily with a population doubling time of 32.7 h at Passage 60. Chromosome analysis revealed that 72% of BFO cells at Passage 60 maintained the normal diploid chromosome number (46) with a normal karyotype of 2st+44t. The results of gene transformation indicated that green fluorescence protein (GFP) positively expressed in these cells after being transformed with pcDNA3.1-GFP. Therefore, a continuous and transformable BFO cell line was successfully established, which may serve as a useful tool for cytotechnological manipulation and transgenic modification of this fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: As a haloalkaliphilic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, Thialkalivibrio versutus D301 can remove sulfide, thiosulfate and polysulfide in wastewater, we investigated how it might be reused when mixed with high concentrations of elemental sulfur. Results: A process is described to immobilize T. versutus cells by using superparamagnetic FeO nanoparticles (NPs) under haloalkaliphilic conditions (i.e. pH 9.5, 0.5 M Na). The saturation magnetization value (δ) of immobilized cells was 55.1 emu/g. The FeO NPs-coated cells had the similar sulfur oxidization activity to that of free cells, and they could be reused six batch cycles. Analysis of hydraulic diameters showed that bacterial cells were immobilized by FeO NPs due to the nano-size effects. Conclusions: Magnetic immobilization is a convenient technique for cell immobilization under haloalkaliphilic conditions and is a promising technology for large scale application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]