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Background: Newborn screening (NBS) is an important and successful public health program that helps improve the long-term clinical outcomes of newborns by providing early diagnosis and treatment of certain inborn diseases. The development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology provides new opportunities to expand current newborn screening methodologies. Methods: We designed a a newborn genetic screening (NBGS) panel targeting 135 genes associated with 75 inborn disorders by multiplex PCR combined with NGS. With this panel, a large-scale, multicenter, prospective multidisease analysis was conducted on dried blood spot (DBS) profiles from 21,442 neonates nationwide. Results: We presented the positive detection rate and carrier frequency of diseases and related variants in different regions; and 168 (0.78%) positive cases were detected. Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDD) and phenylketonuria (PKU) had higher prevalence rates, which were significantly different in different regions. The positive detection of G6PD variants was quite common in south China, whereas PAH variants were most commonly identified in north China. In addition, NBGS identified 3 cases with DUOX2 variants and one with SLC25A13 variants, which were normal in conventional NBS, but were confirmed later as abnormal in repeated biochemical testing after recall. Eighty percent of high-frequency gene carriers and 60% of high-frequency variant carriers had obvious regional differences. On the premise that there was no significant difference in birth weight and gestational age, the biochemical indicators of SLC22A5 c.1400C > G and ACADSB c.1165A > G carriers were significantly different from those of non-carriers. Conclusions: We demonstrated that NBGS is an effective strategy to identify neonates affected with treatable diseases as a supplement to current NBS methods. Our data also showed that the prevalence of diseases has significant regional characteristics, which provides a theoretical basis for screening diseases in different regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet tea is made from the leaves of Lithocarpus litseifolius (Hance) Chun, which is an herbal tea widely consumed in Chinese folk. In this study, five drying techniques were applied to dry sweet tea leaves, and the structural characteristics, antioxidant activities, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, and antiglycation activities of sweet tea polysaccharides (STPs) were systematically evaluated. The extraction yields of STPs ranged from 2.37 to 4.09%, and STPs prepared by hot-air drying had the highest extraction yield. The five polysaccharides exhibited the same constituent monosaccharides, similar preliminary structural characteristics, different molecular weights (Mw), and different molar ratios of constituent monosaccharides. Critically, five STPs solutions exhibited non-Newtonian behavior, and STPs obtained by hot-air drying had the highest Mw and apparent viscosity. Compared with other drying technologies, relatively high total phenolic content was measured in the STPs obtained by freeze-drying (31.32 ± 1.77 mg GAE/g) and hot-air drying (29.13 ± 1.36 mg GAE/g). Furthermore, five STPs exhibited excellent biological properties, including antioxidant activities, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, and antiglycation activities. Ultimately, the heat map analysis found that the bioactivities of STPs were related to their high Mw and high content of total phenolic. All results suggested that STPs, especially polysaccharides prepared by hot-air drying and freeze-drying, had good development prospects and application values as functional ingredients for the antidiabetic functional food development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to reveal the impacts of different extraction technologies on the physicochemical properties and in vitro biological functions of dandelion leaf polysaccharides (DLP). The results revealed that the yields (8.69–11.25%), contents of uronic acids (10.29–16.64%), contents of conjugated polyphenolics (26.56–57.67 mg GAE/g), and molecular weights (fraction 1, 4.36–7.68 × 104 Da; fraction 2, 3.22–4.56 × 104 Da) of DLP were notably affected by different extraction procedures, whereas the primary structures (rhamnogalacturonan I, homogalacturonan, and arabinogalactan segments) of DLP were overall stable according to the FT-IR and NMR analysis. Additionally, the in vitro biological functions of DLP were also obviously affected by different extraction procedures. More specifically, the strongest biological functions, including in vitro antioxidant capacities (ABTS, IC50 = 0.54 ± 0.01 mg/mL; DPPH, IC50 = 1.03 ± 0.02 mg/mL; Nitric oxide, IC50 = 0.21 ± 0.01 mg/mL), inhibitory effects on the formation of advanced glycation end products (IC50 = 1.46 ± 0.04 mg/mL), and inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase (IC50 = 14.28 ± 0.28 μg/mL), were found in DLP-P extracted by the pressurized hot water extraction among all selected technologies, which might be owing to its high contents of uronic acids and conjugated polyphenolics according to the heat map analysis. The findings can provide fundamental knowledge to select desirable extraction technologies for preparation of DLP. Indeed, the results are beneficial to well understanding the potential structure-function relationships of DLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of four kinds of extraction technologies and three solvents on the chemical and biological functions of water-soluble polysaccharides from lotus leaves (LLPs). Results revealed that the yields, basically chemical compositions, molecular weight distributions, compositional monosaccharides, FT-IR spectra, and apparent viscosities of LLPs varied by different technologies, especially by different solvents. All LLPs from lotus leaves possessed obvious biological properties, including antioxidant abilities and inhibitory effects against digestive enzymes. Especially, the lower molecular weight distribution and higher content of uronic acids were observed in polysaccharides extracted by deep eutectic solvent (DES) assisted extraction and DES-microwave assisted extraction, respectively, which might contribute to their stronger antioxidant abilities and inhibitory effects against digestive enzymes. Furthermore, the strong biological activities of alkali extracted polysaccharides were also closely associated with its low molecular weight and high content of proteins. Besides, polysaccharides extracted by pressurized water extraction exhibited strong bioactivities than that of LLPs extracted by other extraction technologies. These findings could provide fundamental knowledge to choose suitable processes for preparing LLPs with desired biological functions and extend the application of polysaccharides from lotus leaves in the functional food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the unique physical and chemical merits including excellent electrical conductivity, superior chemical stability, and tunable carbon framework, two-dimensional (2D) porous carbon nanosheets have drawn increasing research interest and demonstrated promising potentials in various applications. However, regulating the nanostructure of 2D porous carbon nanosheets by facile and efficient strategies remains a great challenge. Herein, we develop a new strategy to construct Fe, N-codoped hierarchical porous carbon nanosheets (Fe-N-HPCNS) by using 2D Fe-Zn layered double hydroxides (Fe-Zn-LDH) as multifunctional templates. Fe-Zn-LDH could functionalize not only as 2D structure directing agents but also as ternary hierarchical porogens for micro-, meso- and macropores and in situ Fe dopants. This multifunctional templating strategy toward 2D porous carbon nanosheets can improve the utilization of templates and shows great advantages against conventional procedures that additional porogens and/or dopants are often needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fragile X syndrome (FXS), caused by CGG-repeat expansion in FMR1 promoter, is one of the most common causes of mental retardation. Individuals with full mutation and premutation alleles have a high risk of psychophysiological disorder and of having affected offspring. Frequencies of FMR1 alleles in general newborns have been reported in Caucasians but have not been investigated in the large-scale population in the mainland of China. Methods: The sizes of FMR1 CGG-repeats were analyzed in 51,661 newborns (28,114 males and 23,547 females) and also in a cohort of 33 children diagnosed with developmental delay using GC-rich polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and triple repeat primed PCR. Results: The frequency of CGG repeats > 100 was 1/9371 in males and 1/5887 in females, and the frequency of CGG repeats > 54 was 1/1561 in males and 1/1624 in females. FMR1 full mutation and premutation were identified in 27.27% of children who had Ages and Stages Questionnaire scores less than two standard deviations from the cutoff value. Conclusions: Our study revealed the prevalence of FXS in China and improved the sample databases of FXS, suggesting that the prevalence of FXS in Chinese is higher than estimated previously and that FXS screening can be advised to high-risk families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food deprivation can rescue obesity and overweight-induced mood disorders, and promote mood performance in normal subjects. Animal studies and clinical research have revealed the antidepressant-like effect of calorie restriction, but little is known about the mechanism of calorie restriction-induced mood modification. Previous studies have found that astrocytes modulate depressive-like behaviors. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 (IP3R2) is the predominant isoform in mediating astrocyte Ca2+ signals and its genetic knockout mice are widely used to study astrocyte function invivo. In this study, we showed that deletion of IP3R2 blocked the antidepressant-like effect induced by calorie restriction. Invivo microdialysis experiments demonstrated that calorie restriction induced an increase in ATP level in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in naïve mice but this effect disappeared in IP3R2-knockout mice, suggesting a role of astrocytic ATP in the calorie restriction-induced antidepressant effect. Further experiments showed that systemic administration and local infusion of ATP into the mPFC induced an antidepressant effect, whereas decreasing ATP by Apyrase in the mPFC blocked calorie restriction-induced antidepressant regulation. Together, these findings support a role for astrocytic ATP in the antidepressant–like effect caused by calorie restriction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The weight percent SiO2 of rocks is a basic parameter for the classification of geological bodies and the analysis of genetic evolution, therefore, lots of rocks are collected in the field and analyzed to obtain their weight percent SiO2 in the laboratory. This method has always been one of the main working means for basic geological research and mineral exploration. Aiming at the disadvantages of long time and high cost of chemical analysis in the laboratory, the paper took thirty-one rocks with different weight percent SiO2 collected in the field as experimental samples, and carried out prediction method research of weight percent SiO2 of rocks based on the technology of thermal infrared remote sensing, then constructed three quantitative prediction models. By comprehensive accuracy evaluation of three models, it is concluded that the average accuracy of each model is higher than 80%, but the accuracy for the samples whose real weight percent SiO2 are higher than 60% is higher than 90%, and the accuracy is up to 99.98%. The results could provide a new technical means for geologists to obtain the weight percent SiO2 of rocks in the field quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. The mechanisms underlying ASD are unclear. Astrocyte alterations are noted in ASD patients and animal models. However, whether astrocyte dysfunction is causal or consequential to ASD-like phenotypes in mice is unresolved. Type 2 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 6 receptors (IP3R2)-mediated Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores results in the activation of astrocytes. Mutations of the IP3R2 gene are associated with ASD. Here, we show that both IP3R2-null mutant mice and astrocyte-specific IP3R2 conditional knockout mice display ASD-like behaviors, such as atypical social interaction and repetitive behavior. Furthermore, we show that astrocyte-derived ATP modulates ASD-like behavior through the P2X2 receptors in the prefrontal cortex and possibly through GABAergic synaptic transmission. These findings identify astrocyte-derived ATP as a potential molecular player in the pathophysiology of ASD. Astrocytes contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pathophysiology. Here, the authors show that IP3R2 conditional KO mice show ASD-like behaviours and identify astrocyte-derived ATP as a modulator of these behaviours in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of real-time and on-line quantitative composition analysis is desired for the products quality improvement in the metal producing and processing industries. Accuracy is still a challenge for classical calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopic (CF-LIBS) quantitative analysis due to the influence of the inaccurate plasma temperature calculations, uncertainties associated with Einstein coefficients and imprecise efficiency of spectral detection system. In this paper, we present an improving quantitative analysis for both major and minor elements in titanium alloys using the one-point calibration LIBS (OPC-LIBS) method. In OPC-LIBS, one matrix-matched standard sample of known composition was used to synchronously correct the essential experimental and spectroscopic parameters. A Saha–Boltzmann plot covering a large energy range was used to obtain more accurate plasma temperature and electron density values. From the comparison results, the OPC-LIBS method leads to a more accurate determination of the titanium alloy composition compared with the conventional CF-LIBS approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel diamine (3,6-CAPDA) bearing carbazole and amide group was prepared. On the basis of 3,6-CAPDA and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), a high-barrier polyimide (3,6-CAPPI) was obtained through a two-step polymerization method. The 3,6-CAPPI displays excellent barrier performances and thermal stability. Its oxygen permeability (OP) and water vapor permeability (WVP) are low to 2.63 cm3·mil·m−2·day−1 and 3.22 g·mil·m−2·day−1, respectively. The 5% weight-loss temperature (Td5%) and glass transition temperature (Tg) are up to 526 °C and 431 °C, respectively. Through a combination of molecular simulation, X-ray diffraction and positron annihilation test, the effet of polymer structure on the barrier properties are fully explored. The results demonstrate that the introduction of carbazole and amide groups not only improves the chain order and rigidity, but also enhances the interchain force of polyimide, which thereby bring about enhancement of crystallinity and decreases of free volume and chain movement of 3,6-CAPPI. These factors lower the gas diffusivity and solubility in polymer matrix. Simultaneous decreases of gas diffusivity and solubility give rise to the notable enhancement of gas barrier for 3,6-CAPPI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yolk-shell nanostructures have recently attracted tremendous research interests in various areas because of their unique structural merits. Currently, there is an urgent need for developing porous shells with multifunctional features to enhance their performance in various applications. Herein, advanced yolk-shell nanospheres have been facilely prepared by encapsulating silver nanoparticles with porous Janus polymer shells that consist of a hypercrosslinked polystyrene (xPS) outer layer and a tethered poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brush lining. The xPS outer layer possesses well-developed porosity as mass diffusion pathways. More importantly, the tethered PAA brushes with customized carboxyl groups exhibit great affinity toward specific species (e.g., cationic dyes), leading to their enrichment from the bulk solution into the interior cavity. The unusual combination of highly porous outer layers with customizable inbuilt polymer linings in the porous Janus shells endows them with great promise for synergistically catalytic degradation of cationic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mood disorder that affects almost 20% of the global population. In addition, much evidence has implicated altered function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) system in the pathophysiology of depression. Recent research has indicated that GABAB receptors (GABABRs) are an emerging therapeutic target in the treatment of stress-related disorders such as MDD. However, which cell types with GABABRs are involved in this process is unknown. As hippocampal dysfunction is implicated in MDD, we knocked down GABABRs in the hippocampus and found that knocking down these receptors in astrocytes, but not in GABAergic or pyramidal neurons, caused a decrease in immobility in the forced swimming test (FST) without affecting other anxiety- and depression-related behaviors. We also generated astrocyte-specific GABABR-knockout mice and found decreased immobility in the FST in these mice. Furthermore, the conditional knockout of GABABRs in astrocytes selectively increased the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein in hippocampal astrocytes, which controlled the decrease in immobility in the FST. Taken together, our findings contribute to the current understanding of which cell types expressing GABABRs modulate antidepressant activity in the FST, and they may provide new insights into the pathological mechanisms and potential targets for the treatment of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds are considered the main bioactive components in kiwifruit. In order to well understand the accumulation pattern of health-beneficial phenolics, and to obtain high-quality kiwifruits with health-promoting characteristics, the changes of physicochemical properties, phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacities, and inhibitory effects on digestive enzymes of "Donghong" kiwifruits during maturation were systematically investigated. Noticeable variations in physicochemical properties and phenolic profiles were observed throughout the maturation stages of "Donghong" kiwifruit. According to the HPLC analysis, phenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid, (−)-epicatechin, procyanidin B2, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, gallic acid, neochlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid, were found in "Donghong" kiwifruit, while chlorogenic acid was the most abundant phenolic compound. Considering the accumulation patterns of both total phenolics and soluble solids content, the optimum harvest time of kiwifruit with relatively high level of health-beneficial components was determined. Furthermore, "Donghong" kiwifruit exerted remarkable antioxidant capacities, and inhibitory effects on pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase. Indeed, the Pearson's correlation showed that chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, (−)-epicatechin, and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside could be major contributors to the antioxidant activity and inhibitory effects on digestive enzymes. Results are beneficial for better understanding of the accumulation patterns of health-beneficial phenolic compounds, which can aid in the targeting of specific developmental stages with an optimal phenolic profile for the production of health-beneficial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) CuO/TiO2 hybrid heterostructure nanorod arrays (NRs) with noble-metal-free composition, fabricated by template-assisted low-cost processes, were used as the photo-Fenton-like catalyst for dye degradation. Here, CuO NRs were deposited into anodic aluminum oxide templates by electrodeposition method annealed at various temperatures, followed by deposition of TiO2 thin films through E-gun evaporation, resulting in the formation of CuO/TiO2 p-n heterojunction. The distribution of elements and compositions of the CuO/TiO2 p-n heterojunction were analyzed by EDS mapping and EELS profiles, respectively. In the presence of H2O2, CuO/TiO2 hybrid structure performed more efficiently than CuO NRs for Rhodamine B degradation under the irradiation of 500-W mercury-xenon arc lamp. This study demonstrated the effect of length of CuO NRs, on the photo-degradation performance of CuO NRs as well as CuO/TiO2 heterostructure. The optimized CuO/TiO2 hybrid NR array structure exhibited the highest photo-degradation activity, and the mechanism and role of photo-Fenton acting as the catalyst in photo-degradation of dye was also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Homeobox B9 (HOXB9) is a homeodomain-containing transcription factor that participates in the progression of various malignancies. Nevertheless, the functional role of HOXB9 in prostate cancer cells is largely unknown. Hence, we aimed to address the effect of HOXB9 on the progression of prostate cancer cells. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) against HOXB9 was used to downregulate HOXB9 expression in PC3 and DU145 cells. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression levels of HOXB9 and other related proteins. Cell proliferation was tested by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry. Angiogenesis was examined using tube formation assays The Transwell assays were carried out to assess the migratory and invasive capacities of cells. Here, we found that HOXB9 knockdown significantly reduced cell proliferation via inducing cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. This treatment also reduced angiogenesis, migration and invasion abilities of PC3 and DU145 cells in vitro. We also found that HOXB9 knockdown inhibits the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells. In conclusion, our findings revealed that HOXB9 promotes prostate cancer progression and might be a novel and effective therapeutic target for human prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds are considered the main bioactive components in okra fruits. In order to well understand the accumulation pattern of phenolic compounds in okra fruits during maturation, and to obtain okra fruits with high level of health-beneficial phenolic compounds, physicochemical properties, phenolic profiles, antioxidant capacities, and inhibitory effects on digestive enzymes of okra fruits at different maturation stages were investigated. Noticeable variations in physicochemical properties and phenolic profiles of okra were observed at different maturation stages. Phenolic compounds, including quercetin-3-O-gentiobioside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), rutin, quercetin derivative, protocatechuic acid, and catechin derivative, were determined to be the major compounds in okra fruits, while quercetin-3-O-gentiobioside was the most abundant phenolic compound. Considering the accumulation patterns of fruit size, firmness, and total flavonoid content of okra fruits, the optimal harvest time of okra fruits with relatively high level of health-beneficial phenolic compounds was determined. Furthermore, okra fruits at different maturation stages exerted remarkable antioxidant capacities and inhibitory effects on the pancreatic lipase, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase. The Pearson's correlation showed that quercetin-3-O-gentiobioside was one of the major contributors to the antioxidant capacities and inhibitory effects on digestive enzymes. Results are beneficial for understanding of the accumulation pattern of phenolic compounds in okra fruits during maturation, and can aid in the targeting of specific maturation stages with an optimal phenolic profile for the production of health-beneficial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, laser triggered spark discharge was combined with laser-ablation under Air and Ar gases to investigate the characteristics of laser-ablated plasma emission. The experimental results show that the optical emission intensity is significantly enhanced by electric discharge compared to without discharge and the spectral emission time of plasma is much longer than that without discharge. The enhancement effect is more apparent in the presence of Ar ambient. In addition, the plasma temperature and electron density as well as limits of detections (LOD) have been determined. The better LOD can be attributed to the improvement of plasma. The higher plasma temperature and electron density indicate that the enhanced mechanism in emission intensity is predominated by the further excitation/ionization of the laser-ablated material by the spark discharge due to the energy deposition in the plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of different contents of Y, Zr and Er on microstmcture and properties of AI-5Cu-0.4Mn alloy was investigated. T6 heat treatment, OM, SEM and EDS methods were applied to the alloy. The results showed that fluidity and elongation of alloy adding Y, Zr and Er were improved, while with the increase of addition amounts, 0 phase increased and grains were trended to grow up gradually. The AI-5Cu-0.4Mn alloy presented the maxed style of ductile and brittle fracture. After T6 heat treatment, the precipitation amounts of 0 phase decreased dramatically and tensile strength and hardness significantly increased. Especially when addition contents were among 0.1-0.3wt.%, tensile strength and hardness of heat-treated alloy increased greatly, almost doubled as that of the as-cast state. The tensile strength reached its maximum of 378.43 MPa when the addition amount was 0.3wt.%. With the further increase of addition amounts, the elongation deteriorated and the proportion of ductile fracture reduced due to the limited dispersion strengthening effect of 0 phase and AI8Cu4Er. It demonstrated that addition of 0.1-0.3wt.% Y, Zr and Er would generate positive effects and influences on AI-5Cu-0.4Mn alloy, which is significant for optimizing components and improving properties of AI-5Cu-0.4Mn alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cripto-1 (CR-1) is a member of the epidermal growth factor-Cripto-1/FRL1/Cryptic gene family that plays a key role in the various malignant cancers. However, the role of CR-1 in prostate carcinoma (PCa) remains limited. The expression of CR-1 was down-regulated by small interfering RNA (siRNA). Western blot measured the expression levels of CR-1 and some related proteins. We performed Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assay and flow cytometry to detect the cellular proliferation and cycle. The transwell assay was used to observe cellular migration and invasion. The ability of angiogenesis was evaluated by tube formation assay. Our results showed that CR-1 knockdown markedly inhibited cell proliferation and induced cycle arrest in G1 phase, as p21 and p27 were up-regulated, whereas cyclin D1 and cyclin E1 were diminished. Moreover, silencing of CR-1 dramatically inhibited cell migration and invasion, repressed matrix metalloproteinases, and disturbed epithelial-mesenchymal transition. CR-1 siRNA suppressed the secreted level of vascular endothelial growth factor, and reduced protein level of Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. We further found that decreased CR-1 expression inhibited FAK/Src/PI3K and Wnt/β-catenin signalling in PCa cells. These results suggested CR-1 might be served as an effective therapeutic target in PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) is an architectural transcription factor that plays a crucial role in the development and progression of various malignant cancers. However, the function of HMGA2 in bladder cancer remains largely unknown. Therefore, we aim to investigate the effect of HMGA2 on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of bladder cancer cells. The expression of HMGA2 in human bladder cancer cells was downregulated by small interfering RNA (siRNA). The protein levels of HMGA2 and other related proteins were detected by Western blotting. The cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to assess the effect of HMGA2 on the migration and invasion ability of cells. In conclusion, we found that HMGA2 knockdown markedly inhibited cell proliferation; this reduced cell growth was due to the high apoptosis rate of cells, as Bcl-xl was diminished, whereas Bax was upregulated. Moreover, our results showed that silencing of HMGA2 in cancer cells greatly inhibited the cell migration and invasion, decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and affected the occurrence of EMT. We further found that decreased HMGA2 expression suppressed the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in bladder cancer cells. These results revealed that HMGA2 played an important role in the progression of bladder cancer and might be a novel target for therapy in human bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-mobility group nucleosome-binding domain 5 (HMGN5) is a new member of the high-mobility group N (HMGN) protein family that is involved in nucleosomal binding and transcriptional activation. It was first discovered in mouse, and recent studies found that the expressions of HMGN5 in many human cancers were also highly regulated, such as prostate, bladder, breast, and lung and clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Numerous reports have demonstrated that HMGN5 plays significant roles in many biological and pathological conditions, such as in developmental defects, hypersensitivity to stress, embryonic stem cell differentiation, and tumor progression. Importantly, deficiency of HMGN5 has been shown to be linked to cancer cell growth, cell cycle regulation, migration, invasion, and clinical outcomes, and it represents a promising therapeutic target for many malignant tumors. In the present review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge concerning the role of HMGN5 in cancer development and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhamsan gum is a type of water-soluble exopolysaccharide produced by species of Sphingomonas bacteria. The optimal fermentation medium for rhamsan gum production by Sphingomonas sp. CGMCC 6833 was explored definition. Single-factor experiments indicate that glucose, soybean meal, KHPO and MnSO compose the optimal medium along with and initial pH 7.5. To discover ideal cultural conditions for rhamsan gum production in a shake flask culture, response surface methodology was employed, from which the following optimal ratio was derived: 5.38 g/L soybean meal, 5.71 g/L KHPO and 0.32 g/L MnSO. Under ideal fermentation rhamsan gum yield reached 19.58 g/L ± 1.23 g/L, 42.09% higher than that of the initial medium (13.78 g/L ± 1.38 g/L). Optimizing the fermentation medium results in enhanced rhamsan gum production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A design method for light-emitting diode (LED) array is proposed to achieve a good uniform illumination distribution on target plane. By using random walk algorithm, the basic LED array modules are optimized firstly. The optimized basic arrays can generate uniform illumination distribution on their target plane. The optimized basic LED array modules can be integrated into a large LED array module with more than tens of LEDs. In the large array, we can select a sub-array with K LEDs ( K>7), which can produce the good uniform illumination distribution. By this way, we design two LED arrays which consist of 21 and 25 LEDs, respectively. The 21-LED array and 25-LED array can generate uniform illumination distributions with the uniformities of 95% and 90%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of environmental friendly emulsion paint is of great significance. Vacuum steam stripping of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) from cathodic electrophoretic emulsion was studied. The effects of mass ratio of vapor to feed ( V/ F), vacuum degree and feed temperature on removal rate of MIBK and MEK, emulsion size and solid volume fraction of the emulsion were investigated, and the removal of MIBK and MEK from cathodic electrophoretic emulsion by vacuum desorption was also studied. The results show that removal rates of both MIBK and MEK increase with the increase of V/ F, vacuum degree and feed temperature. Removal rates of MIBK and MEK are 98.3% and 93.6%, respectively, at the operating condition V/ F of 0.7, feed temperature of 27 °C and vacuum degree of 90 kPa. The emulsion size of cathodic electrophoretic emulsion increases slightly with feed temperature when temperature is below 42 °C, and increases rapidly with feed temperature when temperature is above 42 °C. Solid volume fraction increases by 10% as vacuum degree increases from 0 to 90 kPa at V/ F of 0.7 and feed temperature of 27 °C. Compared with vacuum desorption, vacuum steam stripping can get a higher removal rate of MIBK and MEK under the same feed flow, vacuum degree and feed temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that human ether-à-go-go-related potassium channel (hERG1) is highly expressed in many tumor cell lines, as well as in primary human cancers, and, hence, have a critical role in cell cycle progress and proliferation. In this study, hERG1 expression was investigated in gastric cancer by immunohistochemistry and/or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It was discovered that hERG1, which was negatively expressed in surrounding non-tumor tissues, switched to aberrantly positive expression in gastric cancer. Statistically, there were significant differences in hERG1 protein expression according to factors such as serosal invasion, venous invasion, lymph node metastases, other organ metastases, and stage. The mean survival time for the hERG1-positive expression group was significantly shorter than the negative group, the survival rates for the positive group were significantly lower than the negative group, and hERG1 expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor. In summary, hERG1 channel was proved to be a potential biomarker for gastric cancer invasion and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The c-kit protooncogene receptor and its ligand-stem cell factor regulating the proliferation and survival of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) have been described. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of c-kit mRNA and c-kit protein in the gallbladders in guinea pigs of high cholesterol diet (HCD). The gallbladder samples from 16 guinea pigs of HCD and from 16 guinea pigs of standard diet (StD) were used for this study. Expression of c-kit mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and expression of c-kit protein was detected by Western blot analysis. Serum total cholesterol (TC) (39 +/- 6 vs. 109 +/- 20 mg/dl), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (24 +/- 4 vs. 71 +/- 10 mg/dl), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (2.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 7.0 +/- 1.6 mg/dl), and triglyceride (TG) (58 +/- 8 vs. 118 +/- 23 mg/dl) concentrations were significantly higher in the HCD group than in the StD group of guinea pigs (P < 0.001, respectively). Decreased expression of c-kit mRNA was demonstrated in the HCD group compared with the StD group. The ratio of c-kit mRNA and GAPDH was 0.56 +/- 0.09 in controls and 0.50 +/- 0.07 in the HCD group (P = 0.033). C-kit protein expression significantly declined in the HCD group. The mean value of optical density was 129 +/- 25 in the StD group and 103 +/- 19 in the HCD group (P = 0.0009). The data indicate that the expression of c-kit mRNA and c-kit protein significantly decreased in the gallbladders in guinea pigs of HCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of nonlinear self-consistent equations in the electron guiding center coordinates is derived for the study of the behavior of the coaxial gyro-travelling-wave-tube(gyro-TWT) amplifier. It is found that the input signal grows faster and gets saturated earlier with the increasing of b/a (ratio of the inner to outer radius). Using an electron beam of 90kV, 10A and velocity ratio of 1.0 with 3% axial velocity spread, 275kW peak output power is obtained by calculation over the frequency range of 31.22-33.52GHz, the gain, efficiency and bandwidth are 47.4dB, 30.5% and 7.5%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of endovascular interventions in the emergent management of life-threatening hemorrhage associated with head and neck neoplasm. Over the past 5 years, 4 patients were subjected to emergent angiography to identify the sources of intractable bleeding and to endovascular interventions in an attempt to stop bleeding and salvage patient life. Selective bilateral CCA, ICA, and ECA arteriographies were initiated to document the underlying pathology and transcatheter arterial embolization with various embolic agents and stent deployment were carried out for cessation of intractable bleeding. The overall technical success rate is 75% (3/4). Two patients with buccal carcinoma were successfully treated with gelatin sponge pledgets and polyvinyl alcohol particles embolizations. One patient with a bulky ruptured RICA pseudoaneurysm associated with neurofibromatosis was successfully embolized with a 2–4 mm fibered platinum coil. The remaining patient with a wide-neck LCCA pseudoaneurysm resulted from IAIC for left buccal carcinoma was treated with two superimposing Easy Wallstents in the distal LCCA-LICA followed by 10 platinum coils embolizations due to non-availability of stent-graft (Covered stent). Unfortunately, despite sluggish flow leading to the pseudoaneurysm appreciated on fluoroscopy, the fragile pseudoaneurysm ruptured approximately 8 minutes thereafter while waiting for complete thrombosis. With the stents in place at LCCA-LICA, the vascular surgeon was able to ligate the LCCA and LICA to exclude the psendoaneurysm. No complications were encountered in all patients. Endovascular therapy with various embolic agents and stent deployments were feasible, safe, and efficacious in the acute management of intractable hemorrhage associated with head and neck neoplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four antifreeze proteins (AFPs) were purified from larvae of the beetle Dendroides canadensis. The AFPs are similar in amino acid compositions, having high contents of hydrophilic amino acids (45-55 mol%) and cysteine (∼16 mol% Cys). Approximately half of the Cys residues form disulfide bridges, and both the disulfide bridges and free sulfhydryls are essential for activity. The N-terminals of the AFPs are blocked. The pH optimum of the AFPs is ∼7.8, but major loss of activity occurred only at very high pH (12.0). The detergents SDS and Triton X-100 did not inactivate the AFPs. Circular dichroism spectra indicate the presence of both α and β secondary structures in the AFPs, in addition to a large random structure component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purified antifreeze proteins (AFPs) from the larvae of the beetle Dendroides canadensis do not produce the high levels of antifreeze activity seen in the hemolymph of overwintering larvae, even when the purified AFPs are assayed at very high concentrations. However, addition of certain proteins or agar (at concentrations sufficiently low that the gel state does not result) to the Dendroides AFP resulted in a 2-3-fold increase in activity. A 70-kDa protein with AFP-activating capabilities was purified from Dendroides larvae. Addition of this endogenous activator protein to a 4 mg·ml solution of AFP increased the activity of the AFPs to values comparable to those of the hemolymph of overwintering larvae. Data derived from a modified immunoblot technique demonstrate that the activators bind to the AFP, or vice versa. Formation of this association must allow the AFP to block ice crystal growth by binding to the surface of potential seed crystals in the normal fashion. However, because the AFP-activator complex is much larger than the AFP alone, the complex probably blocks a greater surface area of the crystal and is thus a more efficient antifreeze. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 100 patients with histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and were followed for more than 1 year and 10 months. Portal vein branch thrombosis was diagnosed in 14 patients, and extrahepatic metastasis was noted in 11 subjects. The embolization material used was iodized oil (0.1-0.2 ml/cm tumor area at its maximal diameter), which was prepared by pumping with contrast agent and then mixed with anticancer drugs; Gelfoam particles measuring 1-2 mm in size were subsequently injected. The overall cumulative 0.5- 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 81%, 57%, 31%, and 21%, respectively. Patients with an intact capsule and those with solitary lesions, especially when the tumor diameter was <5 cm, achieved a higher survival rate. In contrast, incomplete TACE, extrahepatic metastasis, and portal vein thrombosis were associated with the worst outcome. Patients with positive HBsAG and diffuse or multiple tumors also showed a poor outcome. Early diagnosis and early treatment of HCC are the keys for the achievement of better clinical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present data and analysis of the laser-induced ablation of pure tantalum (Ta, Z = 73 ). We have identified different physical regimes using a wide range of laser pulse durations. A comparison of the influence of strongly varying laser pulse parameters on high-Z materials is presented. The crater depth caused by three different laser systems of pulse duration Δ τ 1 = 5 ns and wavelength λ 1 = 1064 nm , Δ τ 2 = 35 ps , λ 2 = 355 nm and Δ τ 3 = 8.5 fs , λ 3 = 790 nm are analyzed via confocal microscopy as a function of laser fluence and intensity. The minimum laser fluence needed for ablation, called threshold fluence, decreases with shorter pulse duration from 1.10 J / cm 2 for the nanosecond laser to 0.17 J / cm 2 for the femtosecond laser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffusion and sorption of five gases (H2, N2, O2, CO2, CH4) in hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) have been investigated via molecular dynamics and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations. According to the simulation results, the diffusion coefficients of gas molecules in HNBR decrease in the penetrant order D(H2) > D(O2) > D(N2) > D(CH4) > D(CO2), which are well correlated with effective penetrant diameter except for CO2. The decrease of D(CO2) is due to the interaction between CO2 and HNBR and the linear shape of CO2. The sorption isotherms for H2, N2, O2 and CH4 in HNBR fit the Henry model, while that of CO2 matches well with dual sorption model. Solubility coefficients of gas molecules in HNBR decrease in the sequence S(CO2) > S(O2) > S(CH4) > S(N2) > S(H2), which are associated with the effective Lennard-Jones interaction constant (ε/k) apart from CH4. The weak interaction between CH4 with HNBR decreases S(CH4), while the high compressibility and strong interaction between CO2 with HNBR improve S(CO2). The permeability calculated using diffusion and solubility coefficients decrease in the order P(H2) > P(CO2) > P(O2) > P(CH4) > P(N2). The high permeabilities of H2 and CO2 are mainly resulted from the high diffusivity and solubility, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, three-dimensional (3D) CoMoSe4 nanosheet arrays on network fibers of a carbon cloth denoted as CoMoSe4@C converted directly from CoMoO4 nanosheet arrays prepared by a hydrothermal process followed by the plasma-assisted selenization at a low temperature of 450 °C as an anode for sodium-ion battery (SIB) were demonstrated for the first time. With the plasma-assisted treatment on the selenization process, oxygen (O) atoms can be replaced by selenium (Se) atoms without the degradation on morphology at a low selenization temperature of 450 °C. Owing to the high specific surface area from the well-defined 3D structure, high electron conductivity, and bi-metal electrochemical activity, the superior performance with a large sodium-ion storage of 475 mA h g−1 under 0.5–3 V potential range at 0.1 A g−1 was accomplished by using this CoMoSe4@C as the electrode. Additionally, the capacity retention was well maintained over 80 % from the second cycle, exhibiting a satisfied capacity of 301 mA h g−1 even after 50 cycles. The work delivered a new approach to prepare a binary transition metallic selenide and definitely enriches the possibilities for promising anode materials in SIBs with high performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strain Y1, with a notably high production of neutral protease, was isolated from naturally fermented broad beans and subsequently identified as Aspergillus oryzae, through the analysis of its morphology characteristics and 18S rDNA sequence. Naturally fermented broad beans are the main raw material in Sichuan broad-bean sauce. The neutral protease from Aspergillus oryzae Y1 was purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation and DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow chromatography, which resulted in a 10.0-fold increase in the specific activity (2264.3 U/mg) and a recovery rate of 21%. The estimated molecular mass of the purified protease was approximately 45 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature of the purified protease were 7.0 and 55 °C, respectively. The heat resistance of the purified protease was significantly higher than the commercial protease. The effect of metal ions on the activity of the purified protease approximated that of commercial neutral protease. Furthermore, the maximum hydrolysis rate (Vmax) and apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) values of the purified protease were 256.4103 μg/mL min and 20.0769 mg/mL, respectively. The purified protease had a higher affinity for the substrate than the commercial neutral protease. All the results suggest that this neutral protease exhibits the potential for application in industry due to its good resistance to high temperatures and wide range of acids and bases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural Cordyceps collected in Bhutan has been widely used as natural Cordyceps sinensis, an official species of Cordyceps used as Chinese medicines, around the world in recent years. However, whether Cordyceps from Bhutan could be really used as natural C. sinensis remains unknown. Therefore, DNA sequence, bioactive components including nucleosides and polysaccharides in twelve batches of Cordyceps from Bhutan were firstly investigated, and compared with natural C. sinensis. Results showed that the fungus of Cordyceps from Bhutan was C. sinensis and the host insect belonged to Hepialidae sp. In addition, nucleosides and their bases such as guanine, guanosine, hypoxanthine, uridine, inosine, thymidine, adenine, and adenosine, as well as compositional monosaccharides, partial acid or enzymatic hydrolysates, molecular weights and contents of polysaccharides in Cordyceps from Bhutan were all similar to those of natural C. sinensis. All data suggest that Cordyceps from Bhutan is a rational alternative of natural C. sinensis, which is beneficial for the improvement of their performance in health and medicinal food areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]