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During the execution of tasks in a distributed computing system, the master needs to assign new workers to replace lagging workers that usually occur due to various issues such as network problems, hardware failures, software bugs, or high cluster load. If the completed part of tasks by lagging workers is not cached timely, new workers would need to recalculate it, leading to further delays. In the Spark platform, checkpointing allows for the preservation of intermediate results computed by workers in resilient distributed datasets (RDDs) by storing them in Hadoop distributed file system (HDFS). However, storing and retrieving data from HDFS still remains time-consuming. Traditional distributed cache strategies neglect to utilize both coding techniques and different lag probabilities of workers to reduce overhead of caching data. This paper introduces a distributed cache strategy based on Luby transform (LT) codes to enhance system's effectiveness and robustness. An optimization method is designed within prescribed cache limits to guide the selection of RDDs for caching. Additionally, a novel algorithm is proposed for determining the participation of specific partitions in encoding caching under consideration of worker failure probabilities and overhead of encoding and decoding. In the event of worker failure, intermediate data can be swiftly recovered through decoding, and then the standbys can rapidly take over stragglers' tasks, hence markedly mitigating overall task latency. Theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate that the LT code-based caching strategy exhibits more efficiency and lower latency compared to recomputation, HDFS-based and weight-based caching methods, and it saves much more memory overhead compared to Redis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional method for assessing the quality and maturity of loquats has disadvantages such as destructive sampling and being time-consuming. In this study, hyperspectral imaging technology was used to nondestructively predict and visualise the colour, firmness, and soluble solids content (SSC) of loquats and discriminate maturity. On comparison of the performance of different feature variables selection methods and the calibration models, the results indicated that the multiple linear regression (MLR) models combined with the competitive adaptive reweighting algorithm (CARS) yielded the best prediction performance for loquat quality. Particularly, CARS-MLR models with optimal prediction performance were obtained for the colour (R2P = 0.96, RMSEP = 0.45, RPD = 5.38), firmness (R2P = 0.87, RMSEP = 0.23, RPD = 2.81), and SSC (R2P = 0.84, RMSEP = 0.51, RPD = 2.54). Subsequently, distribution maps of the colour, firmness, and SSC of loquats were obtained based on the optimal CARS-MLR models combined with pseudo-colour technology. Finally, on comparison of different classification models for loquat maturity, the partial least square discrimination analysis model demonstrated the best performance, with classification accuracies of 98.19% and 97.99% for calibration and prediction sets, respectively. This study demonstrated that the hyperspectral imaging technique is promising for loquat quality assessment and maturity classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional method for assessing the quality and maturity of loquats has disadvantages such as destructive sampling and being time-consuming. In this study, hyperspectral imaging technology was used to nondestructively predict and visualise the colour, firmness, and soluble solids content (SSC) of loquats and discriminate maturity. On comparison of the performance of different feature variables selection methods and the calibration models, the results indicated that the multiple linear regression (MLR) models combined with the competitive adaptive reweighting algorithm (CARS) yielded the best prediction performance for loquat quality. Particularly, CARS-MLR models with optimal prediction performance were obtained for the colour (R2P = 0.96, RMSEP = 0.45, RPD = 5.38), firmness (R2P = 0.87, RMSEP = 0.23, RPD = 2.81), and SSC (R2P = 0.84, RMSEP = 0.51, RPD = 2.54). Subsequently, distribution maps of the colour, firmness, and SSC of loquats were obtained based on the optimal CARS-MLR models combined with pseudo-colour technology. Finally, on comparison of different classification models for loquat maturity, the partial least square discrimination analysis model demonstrated the best performance, with classification accuracies of 98.19% and 97.99% for calibration and prediction sets, respectively. This study demonstrated that the hyperspectral imaging technique is promising for loquat quality assessment and maturity classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a serious complication of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. However, there are limited data regarding the ability of the luteal GnRH antagonist cetrorelix to reduce the incidence of moderate and severe OHSS, and the mechanism remains unclear. Thus, we designed a study to assess the effectiveness of cetrorelix to prevent early moderate and severe OHSS in high-risk patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI.Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 105 patients with high-risk OHSS undergoing cryopreservation of all embryos were divided into two groups according to their personal choice. The cetrorelix group (n = 65) received 0.25 mg of cetrorelix by subcutaneous injection daily, from days 3 to 5 post-oocyte retrieval (POR); the control group (n = 40) received no drug. The primary outcome measures were the incidence and severity of early moderate and severe OHSS. Secondary measures included serum estradiol levels, ovarian volume, ascites volume, hematocrit values, and WBC count on days 3, 6, and 9 POR. VEGF and EGR-1 levels were assessed, and binary logistic regression analysis was applied to predict associations between clinical variables and OHSS.Results: Ninety-six patients were examined. The incidence of moderate and severe OHSS was significantly lower in the cetrorelix group than in the control group (18.03% and 37.14%, respectively; P = 0.037). Serum estradiol (P = 0.013), white blood cell count (P = 0.031), ascites volume (P = 0.036), EGR-1 (P = 0.025), and VEGF levels (P = 0.015) were significantly higher in the control group on day 6 POR than on day 3 POR, while no increase was observed between day 3 POR and day 6 POR in the cetrorelix group, indicating a faster regression of OHSS symptoms. Cetrorelix intervention was associated with the incidence and severity of OHSS (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11-0.78, P = 0.014).Conclusion: Cetrorelix effectively reduces the incidence of early moderate and severe OHSS in high-risk women and decreases serum VEGF levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the major pathogens causing serious soybean losses. Little is known about the genetic structure and evolutionary biology of the SMV population in southwestern China. In this study, 29 SMV isolates were obtained from Sichuan Province, and the genomic regions encoding the first protein (P1) and coat protein (CP) were sequenced. Combined with SMV isolates from the southeastern and northeastern regions of China, the genetic and molecular evolution of SMV was studied. Recombination analysis revealed that intraspecific and interspecific recombination had occurred in the SMV population. A phylogenetic tree based on the P1 gene reflected the geographic origin of the non-interspecific recombinant SMV (SMV-NI), while a tree based on the CP gene did not. Though frequent gene flow of the SMV-NI populations was found between the southeastern and northeastern populations, the southwestern population was relatively independent. Genetic differentiation was significant between the SMV interspecific recombinant (SMV-RI) and the non-interspecific recombinant (SMV-NI) populations. It was interesting to note that there was an almost identical recombination breakpoint in SMV-RI and Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV). Population dynamics showed that SMV-RI might be in an expanding state, while the SMV-NI population is relatively stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete genome sequence of a wild tomato mosaic virus (WTMV) isolate (named WTMV-Sn) was determined and identified in Solanum nigrum in China. The complete genome of WTMV-Sn is 9,659 nucleotides in length, excluding the poly(A) tail and encodes a polyprotein of 3,074 amino acids. This is the first report of WTMV infecting S. nigrum. Despite the high degree of sequence similarity between the WTMV-Sn and WTMV-XC-1 isolates, the 349 nucleotides at the 5′ terminus of WTMV-Sn appear to have originated by recombination with another isolate. The recombination parent remains unknown, but the recombination region shares 74.57% sequence identity with isolate WTMV-Laichau, which is below the species demarcation threshold for the genus Potyvirus. A pathogenicity test showed that WTMV-Sn can infect tobacco. This suggests that variation in the P1 cistron of WTMV-Sn may contribute to its ability to infect S. nigrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports an ISFET-based pH sensor utilizing a tantalum pentoxide (TaO) as the sensing layer. Commercial PET film for mass production of touch panel coated with TaO film is used as the extended gate electrode connecting to a MOSFET chip for H ion measurement. The low-cost and plug-and-sense PET sensing file makes the developed sensor is disposable. The high corrosion-resistance of TaO layer greatly extends the lifetime and the pH sensing range for the solid-state sensor. Theoretical Nernst response is adopted to evaluate the sensing performance of the developed pH sensor. Results show that the developed pH sensor exhibits high sensitivity of 24.18 mV/pH and good linearity of R = 0.9798 in the pH range from 1 to 13. In addition, the developed sensor also shows excellent sensing performance including ultra-fast response (<10 s), good repeatability (variation ~0.32 %) and good stability (variation <1 %). Moreover, the developed TaO-based pH sensor shows low interference response to the existence of sodium and potassium interference ions. The developed solid state pH sensor provides a low-cost yet high performance way for developing disposable pH sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new four-dimensional ab initio potential energy surface for He–CS2 that is constructed at the coupled cluster and doubles with noniterative inclusion of connected triple [CCSD(T)] level with augmented correlation-consistent quadruplet-zeta (aug-cc-pVQZ) basis set plus midpoint bond functions. The Q 1 and Q 3 normal modes for the ν 1 symmetric stretching vibration and ν 3 antisymmetric stretching vibration of CS2 are involved in the construction of the He–CS2 potential. Two vibrationally averaged potentials with CS2 at the vibrational ground and the ν 1 + ν 3 excited states are generated from the integration of the four-dimensional potential over the Q 1 and Q 3 coordinates. Each potential is found to have a T-shaped global minimum. The radial discrete variable representation/angular finite basis representation method is employed to calculate the rovibrational states without separating the inter- and intramolecular vibrations. The calculated shift of band origin (0.2270 cm−1) agrees well with the experimental value (0.2278 cm−1). The frequencies and line intensities of the rovibrational transitions in the ν 1 + ν 3 region of CS2 for the vdW vibrational ground state are also in good agreement with the observed infrared spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: ORM1 is a plasma drug binding protein. Its polymorphism rs17650 (* S>* F) has been reported to be an important factor affecting the binding ability and effect of antiretroviral protease inhibitors. The aim of this study was to determine whether the ORM1 rs17650 polymorphism also influences warfarin therapy. Methods: A total of 191 Chinese patients with steady-dose warfarin therapy were enrolled in this study. The patients were studied for warfarin maintenance dose, the ORM1 rs17650 polymorphism, and two polymorphisms previously demonstrated to affect warfarin response [ CYP2C9 rs1057910 (* 3) and VKORC1 rs7294 (− 1639 G> A)]. Results: Warfarin dose was partially correlated with the VKORC1 rs7294, CYP2C9 rs1057910 and ORM1 rs17650 polymorphisms. Patients carrying the wild-type of these three genes ( n = 96) took a mean dose of 3.0 ± 1.1 mg warfarin, which was significantly higher than that taken by the 52 * S patients (2.7 ± 0.7) and 11 * S* S patients (2.5 ± 0.6 mg) (p = 0.048). Conclusion: We identified ORM1 as another polymorphic gene affecting warfarin dose requirements. ORM1 * S carriers require lower maintenance doses to achieve and maintain an optimal level of anticoagulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-principles methods using the TPSS density functional level of theory with the basis set 6-31G** were applied to study (5-cyanotetrazolato-N) pentaammine cobalt (III) perchlorate (CP) and Ni, Fe and Zn analogues in the gas phase. The optimized lowest-energy geometry of CP was calculated from reported experimental structural data using the TPSS method. The calculated values are in good agreement with those measured by X-ray diffraction. Ni, Fe and Zn analogues were constructed and calculated on the same basis. NBO results showed that the metal-ligand interactions have covalent character. Donor-acceptor analyses predicted that the delocalization energy E decreases from Co to Zn, so the covalent nature of the complexes increases in the order Co>Fe>Ni>Zn. In addition, HOMO-LUMO composition was investigated to determine the stability of the title compounds. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) is an autosomal, recessively inherited disease caused by mutations in the MLC1 gene. Most of the previously published studies have been carried out in ethnic populations other than the Chinese. In this study, the analysis of clinical features and MLC1 mutation screening were performed in 13 Chinese patients for the first time. A total of 10 MLC1 mutations were identified in these patients, including five novel missense mutations (c.65G>A, p.R22Q; c.95C>T, p.A32V; c.218G>A, p.G73E; c.823G>A, p.A275T; c.832T>C, p.Y278H), one novel splicing mutation (c.772-1G>C in IVS9-1), one novel small deletion (c.907_930del, p.V303_L310del), one known nonsense mutation (c.593delCTCA, p.Y198X) and two known missense mutations (c.206C>T, p.S69L; c.353C>T, p.T118M). Mutation c.772-1G>C in IVS9-1, accounting for 27.3% (3/11) of the total number of genetically confirmed patients found in this study, is thus a putative hot-spot mutation in the present study group. The existence of a unique MLC1 mutation spectrum in Chinese MLC patients was shown. A systemic study to assess the mutation spectra in different populations should be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic browning is one of the crucial problems compromising the flavor and texture of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. In this study, an untargeted metabolomics approach based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) was used to explore the browning mechanism in fresh-cut eggplant. Metabolomics studies showed that with the increase of fresh-cut time, the contents of 946 metabolites changed dynamically. The metabolites having the same trend share common metabolic pathways. As an important browning substrate, the content of chlorogenic acid increased significantly, suggesting that may be more important to fresh-cut eggplant browning; all 119 common differential metabolites in 5 min/CK and 3 min/CK contrastive groups were mapped onto 31 KEGG pathways including phenylpropanol metabolism, glutathione metabolism pathway, et al. In physiological experiments, results showed that the Phenylpropanoid-Metabolism-Related enzymes (PAL, C4H, 4CL) were changed after fresh-cut treatment, the activities of three enzymes increased first and then decreased, and reached the maximum value at 5 min, indicating the accumulation of phenolic substances. At the same time, ROS were accumulated when plant tissue damaged by cutting, the activities of related antioxidant enzymes (SOD, APX and CAT) changed dynamically after oxidative damage. SOD and APX content increased significantly and reached the maximum value at 10 min after cutting, and then showed a downward trend. However, CAT activity increased sharply and reached the maximum value within 3 min after cutting, then maintained the same activity, and showed a downward trend after 30 min. These data fully demonstrated that the activities of browning related enzymes and gene expression increased with the prolonging of fresh cutting time. We explained the browning mechanism of fresh-cut eggplant by combining metabolomics and physiology, which may lay the foundation for better understanding the mechanism of browning during the fruits and vegetables during processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising computing paradigm, mobile edge computing (MEC) can assist Internet of Things (IoT) devices in processing computation-intensive tasks. However, because of the different locations, limited resources, and dynamic loads of IoT devices and edge servers, designing a distributed computation offloading approach for the IoT system is challenging. In this paper, considering the delay-sensitive tasks and the binary offloading mechanism, we focus on designing a collaborative offloading scheme between different IoT devices. In order to reduce the overall consumed energy of IoT devices based on guaranteeing the delay constraints of tasks, we propose a distributed offloading algorithm by utilizing the value-based multi-agent deep reinforcement learning (MADRL) method. Specifically, with the individual networks deployed locally and the collaborative network deployed at the edge, IoT devices can learn their offloading policies from expericence data, and then determine their offloading decisions independently. Compared with several baseline algorithms, the proposed algorithm can better achieve our optimiaztion goal, which is demonstrated by the experiment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of macromolecular structures and interactions is important but difficult, due to the facts that a macromolecules are of versatile conformations and aggregate states, which vary with environmental conditions and histories. In this work two polyamides with parallel or anti-parallel dipoles along the linear backbone, named as ABAB (parallel) and AABB (anti-parallel) have been studied. By using a combination of methods, the phase behaviors of the polymers during the aggregate and gelation, i.e., the forming or dissociation processes of nuclei and fibril, cluster of fibrils, and cluster-cluster aggregation have been revealed. Such abundant phase behaviors are dominated by the inter-chain interactions, including dispersion, polarity and hydrogen bonding, and correlatd with the solubility parameters of solvents, the temperature, and the polymer concentration. The results of X-ray diffraction and fast-mode dielectric relaxation indicate that AABB possesses more rigid conformation than ABAB, and because of that AABB aggregates are of long fibers while ABAB is of hairy fibril clusters, the gelation concentration in toluene is 1 w/v% for AABB, lower than the 3 w/v% for ABAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-cell immunoassays have become a valuable tool for protein expression analysis complementary to established assay formats. However, comprehensive molecular characterization of individual specimens has proven challenging and impractical due to, in part, a singleplex nature of reporter enzymes and technical complexity of alternative assay formats. Herein, we describe a simple and robust methodology for multiplexed protein expression profiling on the same intact specimen, employing a well-characterized enzyme alkaline phosphatase for accurate quantification of all targets of interest, while overcoming fundamental limitations of enzyme-based techniques by implementing the DNA-programmed release mechanism for segregation of sub-sets of target-bound reporters. In essence, this methodology converts same-sample multi-target labeling into a set of isolated singleplex measurements performed in a parallel self-consistent fashion. For a proof-of-principle, multiplexed detection of three model proteins was demonstrated on cultured HeLa cells, and two clinically-relevant markers of dementia, β-amyloid and PHF-tau, were profiled in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded brain tissue sections, uncovering correlated increase in abundance of both markers in the 'Alzheimer's disease' cohort. Featuring an analytically powerful yet technically simple and robust methodology, multiplexed in-cell immunoassay is expected to enable insightful same-sample protein profiling studies and become broadly adopted in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction of carbon dioxide (CO) using semiconductor photocatalysts has aroused a great deal of attention, and most studies have applied titanium dioxide (TiO) and modified TiO as photocatalysts in this process. In this study, we used Ti-substituted hydroxyapatite (TiHAP), an emerging photocatalytic material with a high adsorption capacity, as a novel photocatalyst to investigate the photocatalytic reduction of gaseous CO under ultraviolet (UV) light with water as the reductant. Powders of TiHAP and fluorine-doped TiHAP (TiFHAP) were prepared using a hydrothermal method, and their morphologies, structure, and composition were characterized via transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, photoluminescence fluorescent spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Compared to commercial P25-TiO, TiHAP provided enhanced photocatalytic reduction of CO into carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH), due to its higher conduction band position. Fluorine doping further facilitated the reaction activity of TiFHAP, with 5.6 wt% fluorine providing the optimal results. The relative humidity of the reaction system had a substantial effect on the CO reduction process. Higher relative humidity ensured greater participation of protons, which was confirmed by the increasing formation rates of CO and CH. Furthermore, a high CO formation rate always accompanied high CH formation selectivity, indicating that deep CO reduction can proceed rapidly over TiFHAP samples. This study supports the idea that TiHAP may be a novel and efficient photocatalyst for the reduction of CO. Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the aging resistance of epoxy resin insulation materials and the cost-effectiveness and reliability of power apparatuses, a novel silicone-modified aging-resistant epoxy resin insulation material was developed. The modification was achieved via chemical grating, using dihydroxydiphenylsilane, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyltriethoxysilane and dicyclohexylamine. Accelerated thermal aging test, accelerated hydrothermal aging test and electrical tree test were carried out to compare the aging resistance of the novel, existing silicone-modified epoxy resin and unmodified epoxy resin under high temperature, humid environment and strong electric fields. The results show that compared with the unmodified resin, the novel material has advantages in thermal, hydrothermal aging resistance and electrical tree resistance. More specifically, after modification, the dielectric strength of the novel material after thermal aging test was improved by 12%; its partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) after hydrothermal aging test was increased by 19.4% and the growth rate of electrical trees was 12.68% of that in unmodified resin. Compared with the existing silicone-modified epoxy resin, the novel silicone-modified epoxy resin sacrifices part of the hydrothermal properties, but showed better thermal stability, and the growth rate of electrical trees in the novel silicone-modified epoxy resin was 44.26% of that in the existing resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodic DFT method has been firstly used to calculate the bulk structure, electronic structure, electrical transferring and thermodynamic properties of crystalline 5-azido-1H-tetrazole (HCN) and its four different salts. The anion CN was included in all of the salts such as ammonium 5-azidotetrazolate ([NH][CN]), hydrazinium 5-azidotetrazolate ([NH][CN]), guanidinium 5-azidotetrazolate ([CHN][CN] · HO) and 1-aminoguanidinium 5- azidotetrazolate ([CHN][CN]). The simulation is in reasonable agreement with the experimental results. It is found the salts of HCN are more stable than itself because the band gap of the salts is larger. The density of state shows the p states of them (including HCN and its four salts) have played a very significant role in the reaction. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh-cut processing promotes enzymatic browning of fresh fruits and vegetables, which negatively affects the product appearance and impacts their nutrition. We used RNA-sequencing to analyze the transcriptomic changes occurring during the browning of fresh-cut eggplant fruit samples from both browning-sensitive and browning-resistant cultivars to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in browning. A total of 8347 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 62 genes were from six gene families (i.e., PPO, PAL, POD, CAT, APX, and GST) potentially associated with enzymatic browning. Furthermore, using qRT-PCR, we verified 231 differentially regulated transcription factors in fresh-cut eggplant fruits. The enzyme activities of PPO, POD, PAL, and CAT in '36' were significantly higher than those of 'F' fresh-cut for 15 min. Both PPO and POD play a major role in the browning of eggplant pulp and might therefore act synergistically in the browning process. Meanwhile, qPCR results of 18 browning related genes randomly screened in 15 eggplant materials with different browning tolerance showed variant-specific expression of genes. Lastly, gene regulatory networks were constructed to identify the browning-related genes. This work provides a basis for future molecular studies of eggplants, and lays a theoretical foundation for the development of browning-resistant fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple sol-gel synthesis method has been developed to synthesize uniform nanospheres of gold lithium-doped titanium dioxide in anatase phase (Au/Li-TiO2) with a well-defined core-shell structure with the Li-doped titania as shell and Au nanoparticles as core. The resulting core-shell nanoparticles have a high surface area (~494 m2/g) and uniform pore size (~3.5 nm) for the anatase shell. The synthesis of the gold nanoparticles refers to the classical Turkevich synthesis, and the diameter can be regulated by adjusting the amount of HAuCl4. The gold nanoparticles were first covered with citrate group and subsequently removed by thermal treatment. The catalytic performance of Au/Li-TiO2 was investigated using the degradation of rhodamine B in water for a model reaction using UVb and visible light. The high surface area of the anatase shells provides direct access for the reactant molecules to diffuse and subsequently interact with the gold cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco vein banding mosaic virus (TVBMV) is of increasing importance in tobacco production. Knowledge of the genetic structure and variability of the virus population is vital for developing sustainable management. In this study, 24 new TVBMV isolates from Sichuan Province together with 46 previous isolates were studied based on their coat protein sequences. Two distinguishable clades were supported by phylogenetic analysis. The summary statistics PS, AI and MC showed a strong TVBMV-geography association between the isolates from Southwest China (SW) and Mainland China (MC). Further analysis indicated that the spatial genetic structure of TVBMV populations is likely to have been caused by natural selection. Phylogeographic analysis provided strong support for spatial diffusion pathways between the Southwest and Northwest tobacco-producing regions. The TVBMV CP gene was found to be under negative selection, and no significant positive selection of amino acids was detected in the SW group; however, the isolates of the MC group experienced significant positive selection pressure at the first and third amino acid sites of CP. This study suggests that natural selection and habitat heterogeneity are important evolutionary mechanisms affecting the genetic structure of the TVBMV population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent literature reported the adverse effects of high-fat diet (HFD) on animal's emotional and cognitive function. An HFD-induced obesity/hyperlipidemia is accompanied by hormonal and neurochemical changes that can lead to depression. The important roles of gut-derived serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) during this processing have been increasingly focused. Hence, to determine the potential role of gut-derived serotonin, HFD model was established in C57BL/6 mice. At the 4th week of feeding, a pharmacologic inhibitor of gut-derived 5-HT synthesis LP533401 (12.5 mg/kg/day), simvastatin (SIM) (5 mg/kg/day) and benzafibrate (BZ) (75 mg/kg/day) were administered for two weeks by oral gavage. Then, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), open field test (OFT), tail suspension test (TST), forced swim test (FST), sucrose preference test (SPT) were used to evaluate metabolic and neurobehavioral performances. Immunohistochemical staining, real-time quantitative PCR and other methods were to explore possible mechanisms. It was found that HFD feeding and drug treatments had some significant effects on neurobehaviors and brain: (1) All administrations reduced the total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) parametric abnormality caused by HFD. LP533401 and SIM could significantly improve the impaired glucose tolerance, while BZ had no significant effect. (2) LP533401, SIM and BZ alleviated depression-like behavior of HFD mice in OFT, TST, FST and SPT. (3) LP533401 and SIM reversed the inhibition of Tryptophan Hydroxylase 2, Tph2 gene expression and the activation of Indoleamine 2,3-dioxy-Genase, IDO expression in HFD-treated brain, whereas BZ did not. (4) LP533401, SIM and BZ restored the inhibitory expression of 5-HT1A receptor in HFD hippocampus. Conclusions: Selective inhibition of intestinal 5-HT can attenuate depressive-like behavior, reduce 5-HT1AR impairment in hippocampus and correct abnormal 5-HT pathway in brain while ameliorating HFD-induced glucose intolerance. Further experiments are warranted to define the adequate strategy of targeting peripheral 5-HT for the treatment of such co-morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The receptor-like kinase ERECTA (ER) plays vital roles in plant adaptation under environmental stress including shade avoidance in Arabidopsis. In our previous study, we identified four ER paralogues in soybean (GmERs) that showed high similarities to Arabidopsis ER. Each GmER was predicted to generate diverse alternative splicing variants. However, whether soybean GmERs contribute to shade avoidance is unknown. Here we report our characterization of GmERs in response to shading. Promoter::GUS staining analysis shows that expression of GmER paralogous genes was differentially induced under shade stress. Further analyses show that GmERa.1 and GmERa.2 exhibit a larger distinction in length than the other GmER variants. GmERa.2 has the shortest length of amino acid with only 15 leucine-rich repeats which is the part of the extracellular domain of GmERa.1. Overexpression of GmERa.2 fully rescued the hypocotyl length, leaf area and petiole length, and the sensitivity of the hypocotyl of Arabidopsis mutant er-3 to shading, suggesting that the truncated extracellular domain of GmERa might contribute importantly to shade avoidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence has established that consumption of High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity is associated with deficits in hippocampus-dependent memory/learning and mood states. Nevertheless the link between obesity and emotional disorders still remains to be elucidated. This issue is of particular interest during adolescence, which is important period for shaping learning/memory and mood regulation that can be sensitive to the detrimental effects of HFD. Our present study is focused to investigate behavioral and metabolic influences of short-term HFD intake in adolescent C57BL/6 mice. HFD caused weight gain, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and depression-like behavior as early as after 3 weeks which was clearly proved by a decrease in number of groomings in the open field test (OFT) and an increase in immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST). In the 4th week HFD induced obese model was fully developed and above behavioral symptoms were more dominant (decrease in number of crossings and groomings and increase in immobility time in both FST and TST). At the end of 6th week hippocampal analysis revealed the differences in morphology (reduced Nissl positive neurons and decreased the 5-HT receptor expression), neuronal survival (increased cleaved caspase-3 expression), synaptic plasticity (down regulation of p-CREB and BDNF), and inflammatory responses (increase in expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decrease in expression of anti-inflammatory cyokines) in HFD mice. Our results demonstrate that, high-fat feeding of adolescent mice could provoke 'depression-like' behavior as early as 3 weeks and modulate structure, neuron survival and neuroinflammation in hippocampus as early as 6 weeks proving that adolescent age is much prone to adverse effects of HFD, which causes obesity, behavioral differences, memory and learning deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of iguratimod (T-614) in combination with methotrexate (MTX) for active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Sixty active RA patients were enrolled according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria, and were randomized into MTX + T-614 group and MTX group. T-614 was orally administered at a dosage of 50 mg/day (25 mg twice daily) for 24 weeks. MTX was orally administered to RA patients at a stable weekly dosage of 10 mg/week for the first 4 weeks and subsequent 12.5 mg/week for the later 20 weeks. Clinical features at baseline and efficacy endpoints of the ACR 20 % response (ACR20), ACR50, ACR70, and adverse events at 24 weeks were evaluated, respectively. After 24 weeks of treatment, clinical features at baseline, including counts for tender joints and swelling joints, visual analog scale for pain, patient's and physician's global assessment, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, disease activity score 28, health assessment questionnaire, simplified disease activity index, and ACR50 in the MTX + T-614 group, showed statistically significant differences comparing with the MTX group ( P < 0.05). There was no significant increase in adverse events in the MTX + T-614 group comparing with the MTX group ( P > 0.05). The combination of MTX and T-614 therapy appeared to have a good efficacy and safety for active RA and was superior to MTX-alone therapy after 24 weeks of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction of the diiron propanedithiolate complex [ μ-(SCH)CHOCCH]Fe(CO) ( A) with bis-(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) in the presence of MeNO·2HO in MeCN yielded a mono-substituted complex [ μ-(SCH)CHOCCH]Fe(CO)( κ-dppm) ( 1), whereas in refluxing xylene gave a bridged complex [ μ-(SCH)CHOCCH]Fe(CO)( μ-dppm) ( 2). The structures of both complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography. In solid state, one phosphine atom of dppm in complex 1 occupies an apical position of the square pyramidal geometries of the Fe center or two phosphine atoms of dppm in complex 2 bridge two Fe centers in a cisoid dibasal conformation. The cyclic voltammograms of both complexes in the presence of HBF were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropeptide substance P (SP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been demonstrated to play an important role in psychological stress-induced alteration of hair cycle, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The present study aims to investigate possible contribution of SP and ROS in chronic restraint stress (CRS, a chronic psychological stress model) induced abnormal of hair cycle and induction of autophagy. Mouse CRS model was applied for 18 days with or without treatment antioxidant Tempol (a free radical scavenger) or SP receptor (NK1) antagonist (RP67580). After CRS procedure, hair growth cycle, oxidative stress markers and skin tissue autophagy levels were analyzed by ELISA or western blot. Our results revealed that CRS reduced body weight gain, distance of movement and times of standing, affected hair cycle by prolonging the telogen stage and delaying subsequent anagen and catagen stage. In addition, CRS resulted in increase of lipid peroxidation levels and reduction of the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and increase of autophagy markers (microtubule-associated proteins, light chain 3-II, LC3-II, and Beclin-1) in mice skin. Treatment with Tempol restored GSH-Px activity, and significantly reduced increases of lipid peroxidation levels and LC3-II and Beclin-1 expressions, as well as normalized hair cycle. In addition; RP67580 also restored SOD and GSH-Px activities, and markedly reduced increases of lipid peroxidation levels and LC3-II and Beclin-1 expressions, and normalized hair cycle. Our study provides the first strong evidence for SP and ROS play a role not only in alteration of hair cycle but also in induction of autophagy in psychological stress model, suggesting autophagy may contribute to psychological stress-induced abnormal of hair cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction of the diiron propanedithiolate complex [ μ-(SCH)CHCH]Fe(CO) ( A) with 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphine)propane (dppp) in refluxing xylene yielded a chelated complex [( μ-SCH)CHCH]Fe(CO)(κ-dppp) ( 1) and a bridged isomer [( μ-SCH)CHCH]Fe(CO)( μ-dppp) ( 2), while in refluxing toluene or in hot MeCN in the presence of MeNO·2HO gave the chelated isomer 1 as the major or sole product. Protonation of complex 1 upon addition of HBF·EtO gave a bridging hydride ( μ-H)[( μ-SCH)CHCH]Fe(CO)(κ-dppp)(BF) ( 3). The structures of all complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and for complexes 1 and 2 by X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, the chelated complex adopts an apical-basal diphosphine arrangement and exhibits a six-membered ring in approximate chair conformation. The bridged isomer presents an expected cisoid dibasal geometry and the bond length of Fe-Fe is longer than that in chelated isomer, reaching to 2.61 Ǻ. The electrochemical investigation of both isomers in MeCN-[NBu][PF] in the presence of HBF showed that the catalytic efficiency of the bridged isomer is no less than that of the chelated isomer but better than that of the analogue [( μ-SCH)CHCH]Fe(CO)( μ-dppm). Interestingly, isomer 1 was converted to isomer 2 in refluxing xylene. An electron-transfer-catalyzed isomerization between one isomer and the other was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), a transcriptional factor essential for estrogen biosynthesis, is undetectable in endometrial stromal cells and aberrantly expressed in endometriotic stromal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Successful mouse embryo implantation requires a receptive uterus and an activated blastocyst. A large number of genes, cytokines, and other factors are involved in the process. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the expression of many genes, and previous studies have investigated the relationship between miRNA expression and embryo implantation. In this study, we show that mmu-microRNA-200a (mmu-miR-200a) is expressed in a spatiatemporal manner during implantation in mouse uterus and found that phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), SON, and programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4) are the target genes of mmu-miR-200a by bioinformatics analysis. In vitro gain and loss of function experiments confirm that PTEN, a critical gene for cell proliferation and apoptosis, is the target gene of mmu-miR-200a. Our experiments also show that injection of the uterine horn with mmu-miR-200a lentivirus leads to a decreased implantation rate. Collectively, our results suggest that mmu-miR-200a affects embryo implantation by regulating PTEN protein expression. Thus, clarifying the physiological functions of uterine miRNAs will help to elucidate the embryo implantation process and may even contribute to curing infertility and inventing new contraceptives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

From 1993 to 1995, with a conventional fluorescence spectrophotometer (CFS) (convenient) and working in a synchronous scan model (easy-to-use), Pasternack et al. proposed the resonance light-scattering (RLS) technique, to efficiently characterize self-assemblies or self-aggregations of chromophores with good electronic coupling. Incident wavelengths were specially considered within their absorption envelopes (rather unorthodox), and their amplified signals were observed (good sensitivity and selectivity). Due to these absorbing benefits, RLS technique, as a novel readout method, commenced on its exciting analytical tours soon after Liu et al. and especially Li et al., separately, set out their corresponding pioneering investigations from 1995 to 1997. From then on, it has received an increasing attention by analysts, as a consequence exhibiting more and more fascinating analytical applications. Moreover, various attractive RLS-derived techniques have been developed successively to improve it or to enlarge its possibilities. Later on, Liu et al. and Li et al., Tabak et al., Yguerabide et al., Huang et al., Lakowicz et al. and Fernández Band et al. have made their outstanding contributions. In this review, we concentrate on major achievements of RLS in analytical chemistry for over a decade, involving the developments and analytical applications of RLS derived techniques treated as an impacting progress of RLS technique in analytical chemistry. Finally, an indication of future directions of RLS technique in analytical chemistry is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Hydroxytryptamine (also known as 5-HT, serotonin) is one of the monoamine neurotransmitters which is distributed widely in plasma and brain of mammals and plays important roles in physiological manipulations. In the present method, we describe the development of a simple, efficient and rapid high performance liquid chromatographic method coupled with ultraviolet (HPLC–UV) detector for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of 5-HT in both cell extract and cell culture medium (RIN-14B). The experiments use repeated freeze–thaw cycles followed by centrifugation and direct injection of the supernatant into the chromatography. An analytical C18 column (Agilent Zorbax Extend, 4.6 × 250 mm, 5 μm.) was taken for chromatographic separation; the mobile phase was 0.05 mol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4)/acetonitrile (90:10 v/v). Isocratic elution is established at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The time required for this chromatographic run is 8 min. Over the concentration range of 0.1–10 μg/mL, the calibration curve is linear in this method. Other unique characteristics and advantages include high accuracy (92.02–103.28%) and high precision (intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation ≤ 4.69%). This method is applicable for the investigation of drug/condition–response relationships in the function of synthesis and secretion of 5-HT in cultured RIN-14B cells in various in vitro studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]