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The origin of propylitic fluids in intermediate sulfidation mineralization has not been investigated in detail. Here, we present an extensive petrographic, geochemical, and isotopic (O-H-Sr) study of propylitic epidote, chlorite, and calcite from the Zhengguang intermediate sulfidation epithermal Au-Zn deposit, NE China. Propylitic minerals can be divided into three main types based on their different textural occurrences, namely interstitial cement of clasts of hydrothermal breccia, replacement of primary plagioclase or hornblende, and vein infill of cracks, with late, minor calcite as amygdules in vesicles of andesite representing a fourth textural occurrence. The H-O isotope compositions and mass balance calculations suggest that most propylitic epidote records a dominant (> 50%) contribution of magmatic fluids. The decrease of the average δ18 O H 2 O values equilibrated with different types of epidote (cement 6.8 ± 0.7‰, replacement 5.1 ± 1.1‰, vein 4.5 ± 1.4‰, 1 SD), and the decreasing content of high-temperature elements (e.g., Cu-Mo) from cement, through replacement to vein epidote and chlorite, collectively indicates a decreasing role of magmatic fluids. Replacement epidote and chlorite are enriched in Sr-Mn-Y-Sb, whereas replacement epidote and calcite record similar (87Sr/86Sr)i values to the andesitic host rock, suggesting that replacement minerals inherit certain elements from plagioclase and hornblende, and the Sr isotope signature of the wall rocks. We highlight that propylitic alteration in epithermal deposits can involve significant proportions of magmatic fluids and texturally different alteration mineral types should be considered when using mineral isotopic or chemical compositions to track fluid sources or to vector towards the location of intrusive centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study on the use of targeted therapy with de-escalation chemotherapy for elderly patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). The study examined four cases of PCNSL patients over 60 years old and found that a combination of rituximab, orelabrutinib, and lenalidomide resulted in complete remission for all patients. The treatment also improved the patients' functional status and quality of life. The study suggests that this treatment option may be beneficial for PCNSL patients who cannot tolerate intensive chemotherapy. [Extracted from the article]

Context: In order to study the relationship between the sensitivity and pressure of energetic materials, six kinds of energetic materials were selected as the research object. The crystal structure, electronic, and phonon properties under hydrostatic pressure of 0 ~ 45 GPa were calculated by first principles. The calculation results show that the lattice parameters and band gap values of these six energetic materials decrease with the increase of pressure. The peak of the density of states decreases and moves to the low energy direction, and the electrons become more active. Meanwhile, the effect of pressure on the sensitivity of the energetic materials is analyzed based on the multi-phonon up-pumping theory. The number of doorway modes and integral of projected phonon density of states under high pressure is calculated. The results show that both of them increase with the increase of pressure. And the smaller the value of the band gap, the larger the number of doorway modes and integral of projected phonon density of states, and the more sensitive the energetic material is. Methods: All calculations are performed using the Materials Studio software based on density functional theory. The Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) functional of the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) is used to calculate the exchange correlation function, and the Grimme dispersion correction method is used to deal with the weak intermolecular interaction. The structure of the compound was optimized by BFGS algorithm. The linear response is used to calculate the phonon properties of energetic materials. The plane wave cutoff energy was set to 830 eV. The K-point grids of TATB, FOX-7, TNX, RDX, TNT, and HMX were chosen as 2 × 2 × 2, 2 × 2 × 1, 2 × 1 × 1, 1 × 1 × 1, 1 × 2 × 1, and 2 × 1 × 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the deposition of Ni-SiC composite nanocoatings (CNCs) on Q235 steel surface through different approaches, including direct current electrodeposition (DCE), pulse current electrodeposition (PCE), and ultrasonic-assisted pulse current electrodeposition (UPCE), respectively. The surface morphology, phase structure, SiC content, and microhardness of Ni-SiC CNCs were investigated via scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, microhardness tester, and wear tester respectively. The results indicated that Ni-SiC CNCs fabricated via DCE acquired a porous structure, whereas those fabricated via UPCE exhibited a smooth surface. The diffraction angles of Ni grain were observed at 44.6°, 52.2°, and 78.3°, while the SiC exhibited the diffraction peak at 34.2°, 41.6°, and 59.7°. The UPCE approach yielded the highest SiC content and microhardness values for Ni-SiC CNCs, at 853.6 HV and 8.91 wt.%, respectively. Furthermore, the Ni-SiC CNCs deposited using the UPCE technique had depths of only 14.3 μm, demonstrating the best abrasion resistance. Ni-SiC CNCs produced with UPCE had a compact and fine microstructure with an excellent microhardness value, which effectively prevented surface damage. This study can provide a new method for preparing the nickel-based nanocoatings with excellent wear resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unravelling biosphere feedback mechanisms is crucial for predicting the impacts of global warming. Soil priming, an effect of fresh plant-derived carbon (C) on native soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition, is a key feedback mechanism that could release large amounts of soil C into the atmosphere. However, the impacts of climate warming on soil priming remain elusive. Here, we show that experimental warming accelerates soil priming by 12.7% in a temperate grassland. Warming alters bacterial communities, with 38% of unique active phylotypes detected under warming. The functional genes essential for soil C decomposition are also stimulated, which could be linked to priming effects. We incorporate lab-derived information into an ecosystem model showing that model parameter uncertainty can be reduced by 32–37%. Model simulations from 2010 to 2016 indicate an increase in soil C decomposition under warming, with a 9.1% rise in priming-induced CO2 emissions. If our findings can be generalized to other ecosystems over an extended period of time, soil priming could play an important role in terrestrial C cycle feedbacks and climate change. Soil priming could release large amounts of soil C into the atmosphere. Here the authors show that experimental warming boosts soil priming and CO2 emissions in grasslands potentially due to microbial changes. Model accuracy could be improved by incorporating these mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Searching for life is one of the most important targets of Mars exploration missions. It has been considered that the Martian subsurface, away from the extreme surface environment, is a potentially habitable region for microbial growth. However, the distribution pattern of potential microbial habitats in the Martian subsurface has yet to be evaluated. Here, we investigate the subsurface habitats to depths of 20–60 cm from various landscapes, including slopes, gullies, channels, playas, and alluvial fans across the Mars-analog Qaidam Basin, NW China. We characterize subsurface niches by measuring microbial biomass and radiocarbon ages, and correlate them with soil properties including depth, moisture content, total organic carbon content, electric conductivity, pH, evaporite and clay mineral contents. We find more habitable niches for microbial colonization at depths of 5–25 cm as compared with the surface and deep subsurface across the hyperarid Qaidam Basin. Maximum biomass and biotic activity could be correlated with physical stability, limited radiation, and short-term moderate water availability in the shallow subsurface in hyperarid deserts. The findings of this study provide new perspectives on subsurface microbial habitats in Mars-analog hyperarid deserts and ongoing biosignature detection on Mars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous clinic models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) mainly focused on the overall survival, whereas a simple-to-use tool for predicting the response to the first TACE and the management of risk classification before TACE are lacking. Our aim was to develop a scoring system calculated manually for these patients. A total of 437 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent TACE treatment were carefully selected for analysis. They were then randomly divided into two groups: a training group comprising 350 patients and a validation group comprising 77 patients. Furthermore, 45 HCC patients who had recently undergone TACE treatment been included in the study to validate the model's efficacy and applicability. The factors selected for the predictive model were comprehensively based on the results of the LASSO, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The discrimination, calibration ability and clinic utility of models were evaluated in both the training and validation groups. A prediction model incorporated 3 objective imaging characteristics and 2 indicators of liver function. The model showed good discrimination, with AUROCs of 0.735, 0.706 and 0.884 and in the training group and validation groups, and good calibration. The model classified the patients into three groups based on the calculated score, including low risk, median risk and high-risk groups, with rates of no response to TACE of 26.3%, 40.2% and 76.8%, respectively. We derived and validated a model for predicting the response of patients with HCC before receiving the first TACE that had adequate performance and utility. This model may be a useful and layered management tool for patients with HCC undergoing TACE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The efficiency of de novo synthesis of hyaluronic acid (HA) using Pasteurella multocida hyaluronate synthase (PmHAS) is limited by its low catalytic activity during the initial reaction steps when monosaccharides are the acceptor substrates. In this study, we identified and characterized a β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase (EcGnT) derived from the O-antigen gene synthesis cluster of Escherichia coli O8:K48:H9. Recombinant β1,4 EcGnT effectively catalyzed the production of HA disaccharides when the glucuronic acid monosaccharide derivative 4-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucuronide (GlcA-pNP) was used as the acceptor. Compared with PmHAS, β1,4 EcGnT exhibited superior N-acetylglucosamine transfer activity (~ 12-fold) with GlcA-pNP as the acceptor, making it a better option for the initial step of de novo HA oligosaccharide synthesis. We then developed a biocatalytic approach for size-controlled HA oligosaccharide synthesis using the disaccharide produced by β1,4 EcGnT as a starting material, followed by stepwise PmHAS-catalyzed synthesis of longer oligosaccharides. Using this approach, we produced a series of HA chains of up to 10 sugar monomers. Overall, our study identifies a novel bacterial β1,4 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase and establishes a more efficient process for HA oligosaccharide synthesis that enables size-controlled production of HA oligosaccharides. Key points: • A novel β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase (EcGnT) from E. coli O8:K48:H9. • EcGnT is superior to PmHAS for enabling de novo HA oligosaccharide synthesis. • Size-controlled HA oligosaccharide synthesis relay using EcGnT and PmHAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Immunomodulatory Siglecs are controlled by their glycoprotein and glycolipid ligands. Siglec-glycolipid interactions are often studied outside the context of a lipid bilayer, missing the complex behaviors of glycolipids in a membrane. Through optimizing a liposomal formulation to dissect Siglec–glycolipid interactions, it is shown that Siglec-6 can recognize glycolipids independent of its canonical binding pocket, suggesting that Siglec-6 possesses a secondary binding pocket tailored for recognizing glycolipids in a bilayer. A panel of synthetic neoglycolipids is used to probe the specificity of this glycolipid binding pocket on Siglec-6, leading to the development of a neoglycolipid with higher avidity for Siglec-6 compared to natural glycolipids. This neoglycolipid facilitates the delivery of liposomes to Siglec-6 on human mast cells, memory B-cells and placental syncytiotrophoblasts. A physiological relevance for glycolipid recognition by Siglec-6 is revealed for the binding and internalization of extracellular vesicles. These results demonstrate a unique and physiologically relevant ability of Siglec-6 to recognize glycolipids in a membrane. Siglec-glycolipid interactions are often studied outside the context of a lipid bilayer. Here, the authors combine a variety of chemical biology techniques to demonstrate a unique and physiologically relevant ability of Siglec-6 to recognize glycolipids in a membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkanes are the most energy-rich form of carbon and are widely dispersed in the environment. Their transformation by microbes represents a key step in the global carbon cycle. Alkane monooxygenase (AlkB), a membrane-spanning metalloenzyme, converts straight chain alkanes to alcohols in the first step of the microbially-mediated degradation of alkanes, thereby playing a critical role in the global cycling of carbon and the bioremediation of oil. AlkB biodiversity is attributed to its ability to oxidize alkanes of various chain lengths, while individual AlkBs target a relatively narrow range. Mechanisms of substrate selectivity and catalytic activity remain elusive. Here we report the cryo-EM structure of AlkB, which provides a distinct architecture for membrane enzymes. Our structure and functional studies reveal an unexpected diiron center configuration and identify molecular determinants for substrate selectivity. These findings provide insight into the catalytic mechanism of AlkB and shed light on its function in alkane-degrading microorganisms. Alkane monooxygenase (AlkB) plays a key role in the global carbon cycle and remediation of oil spills. Here, the authors report the cryo-EM structure of AlkB to provide insight into the catalytic mechanism and substrate selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve large-scale linear least-squares problems, we propose a multi-step greedy randomized coordinate descent method based on the greedy randomized coordinate descent method. We also prove that the new method converges to the unique solution of the linear least-squares problem when the coefficient matrix is of full rank, and the number of rows is not less than the number of columns. Finally, some numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the multi-step greedy randomized coordinate descent method in solving linear least-squares problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copper is an essential trace element for living organisms. Copper enriched by yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regarded as the biologically available organic copper supplement with great potentiality for application. However, the lower uptake ratio of copper ions makes the production of copper enriched by yeast uneconomically and environmentally unfriendly. In this study, S. cerevisiae Cu-5 with higher copper tolerance and intracellular copper accumulation was obtained by screening of our yeast strains collection. To increase the uptake ratio of copper ions, the medium composition and cultivation conditions for strain Cu-5 were optimized systematically. A medium comprised of glucose, yeast extract, (NH4)2SO4, and inorganic salts was determined, then a novel cultivation strategy including pH control at 5.5 and increasing amounts of yeast extract for a higher concentration of copper ion in the medium was developed. The uptake ratios of copper ions were more than 90% after combining 50 to 100 mg/L copper ions with 3.5 to 5.0 g/L yeast extract, which is the highest until now and is conducive to the cost-effective and environmentally friendly production of bioactive copper in yeast-enriched form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is a well-known technique for controlled polymer synthesis. However, the ATRP usually employed toxic heavy metal ionas as the catalyst and was susceptible to molecular oxygen, which made it should be conducted under strictly anoxic condition. Conducting ATRP under ambient and biocompatible conditions is the major challenge. In this study, cytochrome C was explored as an efficient biocatalyst for ATRP under biocompatible conditions. The cytochrome C catalyzed ATRP showed a relatively low polymer dispersity index of 1.19. More interestingly, the cytochrome C catalyzed ATRP showed superior oxygen resistance as it could be performed under aerobic conditions with high dissolved oxygen level. Further analysis suggested that the Fe(II) embed in the cytochrome C might serve as the catalytic center and methyl radical was responsible for the ATRP catalysis. This work explored new biocompatible catalyst for aerobic ATRP, which might open new dimension for practical ATRP and application of cytochrome C protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase of railway mileage year by year, technologies such as vision and optical-fiber sensing are widely applied to automatic railway inspections. On-board track inspection system (OBTIS) is a vision-based system designed for automatic railway inspection. How to improve the defect detection accuracy of the images collected by the OBTIS is a practical problem. Images will inevitably be contaminated by noises in the process of acquisition. And noise will have a negative effect on the accuracy of defect detection. To reduce the influence of noise on defect detection, on the one hand, we model the noise in the images collected by OBTIS as region-adaptive (RA) Gaussian noise through the probability distribution characteristics of numerous images. On the other hand, based on weighted nuclear norm minimization (WNNM), we propose a denoising model named RA-WNNM to reduce the noise of images in OBTIS. RA-WNNM adopts the adaptation characteristic of noise into a weight matrix, which makes it have no analytical solution. The alternating direction method of multipliers framework is employed to decompose the RA-WNNM into several sub-problems with analytical solutions for iterative solution. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of RA-WNNM both in denoising and image classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient scarcity is pervasive for natural microbial communities, affecting species reproduction and co-existence. However, it remains unclear whether there are general rules of how microbial species abundances are shaped by biotic and abiotic factors. Here we show that the ribosomal RNA gene operon (rrn) copy number, a genomic trait related to bacterial growth rate and nutrient demand, decreases from the abundant to the rare biosphere in the nutrient-rich coastal sediment but exhibits the opposite pattern in the nutrient-scarce pelagic zone of the global ocean. Both patterns are underlain by positive correlations between community-level rrn copy number and nutrients. Furthermore, inter-species co-exclusion inferred by negative network associations is observed more in coastal sediment than in ocean water samples. Nutrient manipulation experiments yield effects of nutrient availability on rrn copy numbers and network associations that are consistent with our field observations. Based on these results, we propose a "hunger games" hypothesis to define microbial species abundance rules using the rrn copy number, ecological interaction, and nutrient availability. Environmental and biotic factors control ecological communities. Here, the authors study community ribosomal rRNA gene copy number in coastal sediment and ocean bacterial communities, and in microcosm nutrient addition experiments, to propose a conceptual framework of how nutrient supply and ecological interactions shape the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The acidic, corrosive effect of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) in poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) limits the stability of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/perovskite/PCBM/BCP/Ag structure. In this work, a poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) hole transport layer (HTL) with high hole mobility and good catalytic performance was prepared by electrochemical cyclic voltammetry (CV) method for inverted PSCs. By controlling the CV cycles (from 1 to 5 cycles) and EDOT monomer solution concentration (from 0.5 to 2.0 mmol·L−1) of electrochemical deposition, the thickness, morphology, optical and electrochemical properties of PEDOT could be accurately adjusted. The optimal photovoltaic performance with current density (Jsc) of 22.19 mA·cm−2, open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.94 V, fill factor (FF) of 0.65 and photoelectric conversion efficiency of 13.56% was obtained when deposition of PEDOT with 1 CV cycle and EDOT concentration of 0.5 mmol·L−1. At this point, the perovskite showed good crystallization, optimal optical, charge transport and recombination performance, resulting in better Voc and photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to the devices with higher CV cycle numbers and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) concentration. For comparison with spin-coated PEDOT:PSS, the device with electrodeposited PEDOT showed improved Jsc and comparable Voc, which may result from its better charge transport and catalytic ability. The device with spin-coated PEDOT:PSS showed photoelectric conversion efficiency of 12.25%, which was lower than that based on electrodeposited PEDOT (13.56%) with 1 CV cycles and 0.5 mmol·L−1 EDOT concentration. And the device with electrodeposited PEDOT as HTLs showed more excellent air stability. In ambient air ((32 ± 5) °C and RH: 70% ± 20%), it still maintained more than 80% of the initial photoelectric conversion efficiency after 1000 h. In comparison, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the device with PEDOT:PSS decreased to 20% of the initial value after storage for 500 h. From this study, a facial and low-cost way to prepare PEDOT HTL with high performances that better than the traditional PEDOT:PSS has been explored, which is expected to eliminate the acidic, corrosive effect of PSS in PEDOT:PSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the topological properties of a topological superconducting α-helical protein. It is shown that the Majorana zero modes can be formed at both ends of the topological superconducting α-helical protein with non-trivial phase. Our results indicate that the gate field can affect the topological phase. Employing Green’s function method, we investigate the Josephson current through a quantum dot side coupled to a topological superconducting α-helical protein. Due to leakage of the Majorana zero mode, the Josephson current shows a trivial/non-trivial phase transition. The results can be used to probe the existence of the Majorana zero mode in protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of gold from refractory gold ores (RGOs) without side reactions is an extremely promising endeavor. However, most RGOs contain large amounts of sulfide, such as pyrite. Thus, investigation of the influence of sulfide on the gold leaching process is important to maximize the utilization of RGOs. In this work, the effects of pyrite on the stability of the thiourea system were systematically investigated under different conditions. Results showed that the decomposition rate of thiourea was accelerated sharply in the presence of pyrite. The effect of pyrite on gold recovery in thiourea leaching systems was then confirmed via a series of experiments. The decomposition efficiency of thiourea decreased by 40% and the recovery efficiency of gold increased by 56% after the removal of sulfide by roasting. Under optimal conditions, the efficiency of the gold recovery system increased to 83.69% and only 57.92% of thiourea decomposition was observed. The high consumption of thiourea by the leaching system may be attributed to not only adsorption by mineral particles but also catalytic decomposition by some impurities in the ores, such as pyrite and soluble ferric oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A national surveillance system on hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) was launched in 2008 in China. Since then, millions of HFMD cases have been reported each year, with enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16), and coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) as the major causative pathogens. Long-term surveillance of viral infection rates and genetic changes is essential for understanding the disease epidemiology pattern. Here, we analyzed molecular surveillance data on CV-A16 covering a period of 12 years (2008-2019) in Guangdong, China, one of the regions reporting the largest number of HFMD cases. Full VP1 sequences of 456 strains were determined to examine the genetic diversity and changes in the distribution of CV-A16 variants. Our study revealed an irregular pattern of CV-A16 infections in Guangdong. Different from the cyclic epidemics observed in some Asia-Pacific regions, there was a continuously high CV-A16 infection rate from 2008 to 2014, and after a period of lower epidemic activity in 2015-2017, an upsurge of CV-A16 infection was observed in 2018-2019. Cocirculation of subgenotypes B1a and B1b was observed, but while subgenotype B1a was predominant from 2008 to 2012, it appears to have been replaced by B1b, which has circulated as the predominant subgenotype since 2013. Phylogenetic analysis showed that most of the circulating CV-A16 strains are endemic, with occasional transmission between neighboring regions. The re-emergence of B1a in 2016-2019 in Guangdong was likely the result of introduction(s) from Southeast Asia. These results highlight the importance of continuous molecular surveillance from different areas, which will improve our understanding of the origin of the epidemic and facilitate the development of strategies for HFMD disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 ceramic doped with MgO was prepared by a conventional solid state reaction method. The effects of Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 pre-sintering at different temperatures on the phase composition, microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of composite ceramics were studied. The effect of different pre-sintering temperatures on composite ceramics is mainly reflected in different ion diffusion degree. The results show that the different pre-sintered ceramics have two crystal phases of perovskite structure Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 and cubic phase MgO. As the pre-sintering temperature increases, the dielectric permittivity of the composite ceramic decreases, and the grain size decreases obviously. When the pre-sintering temperature rises above 1200 °C, the Curie peak of composite ceramic was strongly suppressed and broadened. The tunability at room temperature increases with the increase of the pre-sintering temperature of Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3, which is due to the lower ion diffusion weakens Tc movement to low temperature. In addition, the loss tangent of the samples at room temperature was kept at a low level. When the pre-sintering temperature of Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 is 1250 °C, the tunability is up to 29% (at 30 kV/cm), and the best Q value 132 (at 1.37 GHz) was generated which is the most obvious improvement in dielectric properties compared to other pre-sintering temperature. This indicates that with the decrease of ion diffusivity, the properties of the ferroelectric-dielectric composite ceramics were significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bloch oscillation (BO) and Wannier-Stark localization (WSL) are fundamental concepts about metal-insulator transitions in condensed matter physics. These phenomena have also been observed in semiconductor superlattices and simulated in platforms such as photonic waveguide arrays and cold atoms. Here, we report experimental investigation of BOs and WSL simulated with a 5-qubit programmable superconducting processor, of which the effective Hamiltonian is an isotropic XY spin chain. When applying a linear potential to the system by properly tuning all individual qubits, we observe that the propagation of a single spin on the chain is suppressed. It tends to oscillate near the neighborhood of their initial positions, which demonstrates the characteristics of BOs and WSL. We verify that the WSL length is inversely correlated to the potential gradient. Benefiting from the precise single-shot simultaneous readout of all qubits in our experiments, we can also investigate the thermal transport, which requires the joint measurement of more than one qubits. The experimental results show that, as an essential characteristic for BOs and WSL, the thermal transport is also blocked under a linear potential. Our experiment would be scalable to more superconducting qubits for simulating various of out-of-equilibrium problems in quantum many-body systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of studies have shown that Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii) is a promising anti-inflammatory bacterium that colonizes in the gut and that gut microbiota dysbiosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we report the gut microbiota profile of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis mice treated with F. prausnitzii and its supernatant on the basis of high-throughput sequencing. We interestingly found that both F. prausnitzii and its metabolites exerted protective effects against colitis in mice, which ameliorated gut dysbiosis, with an increase in bacterial diversity and the abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria and a decrease in serum TNF-α and the abundance of Proteinbacteria, Acidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. These findings will provide further evidence of the anti-inflammatory effect of F. prausnitzii, which presents therapeutic potential for IBD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the second-largest terrestrial carbon (C) flux, soil respiration (RS) has been stimulated by climate warming. However, the magnitude and dynamics of such stimulations of soil respiration are highly uncertain at the global scale, undermining our confidence in future climate projections. Here, we present an analysis of global RS observations from 1987–2016. RS increased (P < 0.001) at a rate of 27.66 g C m−2 yr−2 (equivalent to 0.161 Pg C yr−2) in 1987–1999 globally but became unchanged in 2000–2016, which were related to complex temporal variations of temperature anomalies and soil C stocks. However, global heterotrophic respiration (Rh) derived from microbial decomposition of soil C increased in 1987–2016 (P < 0.001), suggesting accumulated soil C losses. Given the warmest years on records after 2015, our modeling analysis shows a possible resuscitation of global RS rise. This study of naturally occurring shifts in RS over recent decades has provided invaluable insights for designing more effective policies addressing future climate challenges. Soils hold massive amounts of carbon that hangs in the balance of microbial respiration and climate warming. Here the authors analyze a global dataset starting in 1987 and find through modeling that though soil respiration change had flatlined, recently it has resumed increasing owing to global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to verify the reliability of ablation index (AI) for ablation lesion estimating with different settings for radiofrequency (RF) parameters: power, impedance, contact angles, irrigation rate, temperature of irrigation saline, and irrigation solution. RF ablations (N = 66) were performed on ex vivo porcine left ventricle submerged in 37 °C saline. The aforementioned ablation parameters were changed to measure whether the size of the ablation lesion was consistent at a fixed AI value of 500. The maximum lesion diameter (r = − 0.631, P = 0.028), depth (r = − 0.896, P < 0.001), and volume (r = − 0.745, P < 0.005) were significantly reduced with an increase of the impedance. The lesion depth (P < 0.05) and the lesion volume (P < 0.05) were significantly larger with glucose irrigation than saline irrigation. In conclusion, at a fixed AI value, impedance and irrigation solution have impact on the ablation lesions, which could affect the accuracy of AI formula to estimate ablation lesion size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery of rhenium from waste acid is an urgent issue due to low rhenium concentration and high sulfuric acidity. To solve the problem, novel coated solvent-impregnated resins consisting of inert resins LS-300, Alamine 304-1 and the PVA film (304-CSIRs) were prepared for the separation of Re(VII) from high sulfuric acid solutions. It was shown that the PVA film coated completely on the surfaces of LS-300 resins with a thickness of 5 μm, and Alamine 304-1 distributed completely inside the porous of LS-300 resins. The adsorption fitted well with Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order model with the saturation adsorption capacity of 139.40 mg·g−1. The maximum separation factor of Re(VII) versus Cu (II) was up to 483, and 304-CSIRs had no adsorptions for As(V). The adsorption capacity of Re(VII) onto 304-CSIRs maintained in 97.79% at the fifth adsorption–desorption cycle. 99.87% of rhenium was recovered by 304-CSIRs from waste acid generated from a copper smelter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Impact of body mass index (BMI) on all-cause mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients remains controversial. Methods: A total of 10,942 AF patients were prospectively enrolled and categorized into four BMI groups: underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI 18.5–24 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 24–28 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Different Cox proportional hazards models were performed to evaluate the association between BMI and all-cause mortality. Results: During a median follow-up of 30 months (IQR 18–48 months), 862 deaths events occurred. Compared to normal BMI, higher BMI was associated with a lower mortality risk (overweight: HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.61–0.81, P < 0.0001 and obesity: HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.44–0.67, P < 0.0001) and lower BMI was associated with a higher mortality risk (HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.67–2.97, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: A reversed relationship between BMI and all-cause mortality in AF patients was found. Higher risk of mortality was observed in underweight patients compared to patients with a normal BMI, while overweight and obese patients had a lower risk of all-cause mortality. Clinical trial registration: URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=5831. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-OCH-13003729. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For solving an augmented linear system, Njeru and Guo presented an accelerated SOR-like (ASOR) method in (P. N. Njeru and X.-P. Guo. Accelerated SOR-like method for augmented linear systems, BIT Numerical Mathematics. 56, 557–571 2016). By further accelerating the ASOR method, we introduce another parameter and propose a modified ASOR method. We first characterize properties about eigenpairs of the iteration matrix, then discuss the convergence of the modified ASOR method. Numerical experiments are given to show the effectiveness of the modified ASOR method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to examine the therapeutic effects of Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) on depression-like behaviors in mice and to explore the potential mechanisms. These results revealed that a single facial injection of BoNT/A induced a rapid and prolonged improvement of depression-like behaviors in naïve and space-restriction-stressed (SRS) mice, reflected by a decreased duration of immobility in behavioral despair tests. BoNT/A significantly increased the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in several brain regions, including the hippocampus and hypothalamus, in SRS mice. BoNT/A increased the expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits NR1 and NR2B in the hippocampus, which were significantly decreased in SRS mice. Furthermore, BoNT/A significantly increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala, which were decreased in SRS mice. Finally, BoNT/A transiently increased the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) and cAMP-response element binding protein (p-CREB), which were suppressed in the hippocampus of SRS mice. Collectively, these results demonstrated that BoNT/A treatment has anti-depressant-like activity in mice, and this is associated with increased 5-HT levels and the activation of BDNF/ERK/CREB pathways in the hippocampus, supporting further investigation of BoNT/A therapy in depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Zhejiang University: Science B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Undesirable flavor caused by excessive higher alcohols restrains the development of the wheat beer industry. To clarify the regulation mechanism of the metabolism of higher alcohols in wheat beer brewing by the top-fermenting yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae S17, the effect of temperature on the fermentation performance and transcriptional levels of relevant genes was investigated. The strain S17 produced 297.85 mg/L of higher alcohols at 20 °C, and the production did not increase at 25 °C, reaching about 297.43 mg/L. Metabolite analysis and transcriptome sequencing showed that the metabolic pathways of branched-chain amino acids, pyruvate, phenylalanine, and proline were the decisive factors that affected the formation of higher alcohols. Fourteen most promising genes were selected to evaluate the effects of single-gene deletions on the synthesis of higher alcohols. The total production of higher alcohols by the mutants Δtir1 and Δgap1 was reduced by 23.5 and 19.66% compared with the parent strain S17, respectively. The results confirmed that TIR1 and GAP1 are crucial regulatory genes in the metabolism of higher alcohols in the top-fermenting yeast. This study provides valuable knowledge on the metabolic pathways of higher alcohols and new strategies for reducing the amounts of higher alcohols in wheat beer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Studies of the effects of stem cell therapy on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have not reached consistent results. Our meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells (ABM-MNCs) on T2DM. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies published between 1980 and May 2018. Two researchers screened the literature independently following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of the pooled standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated based on either a fixed- or random-effects model. Results: We identified six studies with 206 participants investigating the effects of autologous bone marrow stem cell therapy on T2DM after screening 102 studies found after the initial search. According to the pooled estimates, compared with the control group, after 12-month follow-up the ABM-MNC therapy group had a lower level of HbA1c (MD, − 1.18; 95% CI, − 1.40 to 0.95) and lower required insulin dose (MD, − 2.05; 95% CI, − 3.55 to − 0.55). HbA1c decreased after ABM-MNC therapy compared with before (12 months: MD, − 1.22; 95% CI, − 1.43 to − 1.0). We also observed a significant decrease in insulin requirement after 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up in the ABM-MNC group, respectively. Conclusion: Autologous stem cell therapy showed a beneficial effect on T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]