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Abstract The global pandemic has dramatically reshaped public discourse, with social media emerging as a pivotal platform for these discussions. This study delves into evolving sentiments, emotions, and prevalent topics in online discussions spanning the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, drawing from a dataset of 2.65 million tweets from the Twitter Platform. A multifaceted approach that combines quantitative and qualitative methods are developed for dissecting evolving discourses, with a particular focus on the lens of nationalism. The quantitative part disassembling sentiment & emotion, topics, and Co-Occurrence Network yields a nuanced understanding of the textual content. A qualitative theoretical analysis named Evolving Discourse Framework Analysis are designed to unravel the textual discourse. Study results in the development of an adaptable framework. Findings expose nationalist orientations and the framing elements present within online public discourse, which are categorized into three distinct frames: ‘feeling,’ ‘identity,’ and ‘action.’ Importantly, the ‘feeling’ frame interconnects with the ‘identity’ frame, ultimately shaping responses within the ‘action’ frame. The frames shine a light on a complex and interconnected web of nationalist narratives that exist within the online sphere, subtly influencing public opinion and behavior. This study serves as a reminder that beneath the surface of seemingly unified global discourse, there exists a segmented world, ripe for further exploration and understanding.

Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is among the most common complications of bariatric surgery. This study aimed to analyse the risk factors affecting the worsening of GERD symptoms after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), and to establish and validate a related nomogram model. Methods The study recruited 236 participants and randomly divided them into training and validation sets in a ratio of 7:3. LASSO regression technique was used to select the optimal predictive features, and multivariate logistic regression was used to construct the column line graphs. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated and validated by analyzing the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve. Results In this study, Lasso-logistic regression was applied to select 5 predictors from the relevant variables, which were body mass index (BMI), diabetes, hiatal hernia, GERD, and triglyceride levels. These 5 predictor variables constructed a model with moderate predictive power, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.779 for the training set and 0.796 for the validation set. Decision curve analysis showed that in external validation, if the risk thresholds were between 4 and 98% and 14–95%, then the nomogram can be applied to the clinic. Conclusions We have developed and validated a nomogram that effectively predicts the risk of worsening gastroesophageal reflux symptoms following LSG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with severe infection often require careful fluid management. Intravenous linezolid can increase the fluid volume, whereas oral linezolid can effectively limit the fluid volume. However, the differences in the treatment effect and incidence of thrombocytopenia between oral and intravenous linezolid in patients with severe infection remain unclear. Methods: Patients who received linezolid in the intensive care unit of PLA General Hospital from December 2010 to December 2020 were divided into an oral group and intravenous group according to the route of administration, and we further established the PO group and PO-match group by propensity score matching. The anti-infection effect of linezolid and incidence of thrombocytopenia were compared between the two groups. Results: In total, 177 patients were enrolled in the study (59 in PO group and 118 in PO-match group). The microbial clearance rate and clinical cure rate were similar between the two groups (70.0% vs. 79.3%, P = 0.293; 72.9% vs. 83.9%, P = 0.213). The 30-day mortality rate was slightly higher in the PO group than in the PO-match group, but the difference was not statistically significant (13.6% vs. 6.8%, P = 0.138). There was no difference in the incidence of thrombocytopenia between the two groups (62.7% vs. 65.3%, P = 0.739). Conclusions: There were no significant differences in the treatment effect or incidence of thrombocytopenia between oral and intravenous administration of linezolid in patients with severe infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global pandemic has dramatically reshaped public discourse, with social media emerging as a pivotal platform for these discussions. This study delves into evolving sentiments, emotions, and prevalent topics in online discussions spanning the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, drawing from a dataset of 2.65 million tweets from the Twitter Platform. A multifaceted approach that combines quantitative and qualitative methods are developed for dissecting evolving discourses, with a particular focus on the lens of nationalism. The quantitative part disassembling sentiment & emotion, topics, and Co-Occurrence Network yields a nuanced understanding of the textual content. A qualitative theoretical analysis named Evolving Discourse Framework Analysis are designed to unravel the textual discourse. Study results in the development of an adaptable framework. Findings expose nationalist orientations and the framing elements present within online public discourse, which are categorized into three distinct frames: 'feeling,' 'identity,' and 'action.' Importantly, the 'feeling' frame interconnects with the 'identity' frame, ultimately shaping responses within the 'action' frame. The frames shine a light on a complex and interconnected web of nationalist narratives that exist within the online sphere, subtly influencing public opinion and behavior. This study serves as a reminder that beneath the surface of seemingly unified global discourse, there exists a segmented world, ripe for further exploration and understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of changes in skeletal muscle and sarcopenia on outcomes during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACR) for patients with esophageal cancer remains controversial. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer who received NACR followed by esophagectomy between June 2013 and December 2021. The images at third lumbar vertebra were analyzed to measure the cross-sectional area and calculate skeletal muscle index (SMI) before and after NACR. SMI less than 52.4 cm2/m2 for men and less than 38.5 cm2/m2 for women were defined as sarcopenia. The nonlinearity of the effect of percent changes in SMI (ΔSMI%) to survival outcomes was assessed by restricted cubic splines. Results: Overall, data of 367 patients were analyzed. The survival outcomes between sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups had no significant differences before NACR. However, patients in post-NACR sarcopenia group showed poor overall survival (OS) benefit (P = 0.016) and poor disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.043). Severe postoperative complication rates were 11.9% in post-NACR sarcopenia group and 5.0% in post-NACR non-sarcopenia group (P = 0.019). There was a significant non-linear relationship between ΔSMI% and survival outcomes (P < 0.05 for non-linear). On the multivariable analysis of OS, ΔSMI% > 12% was the independent prognostic factor (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03–2.99, P = 0.039) and significant difference was also found on DFS analysis (P = 0.025). Conclusions: Patients with post-neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy sarcopenia have worse survival and adverse short-term outcomes. Moreover, greater loss in SMI is associated with increased risks of death and disease progression during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, with maximum impact noted with SMI loss greater than 12%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a numerical study on efficient mid-infrared Raman soliton generation in a tellurite microstructured optical fiber with femtosecond Tm-doped fiber laser pulses as the pump source. A tunable soliton exhibits a wavelength shift of up to 3.54 µm and a power conversion efficiency of up to 74.2% while consuming a pump peak power of no more than 1 kW at 1.96 µm, owing to the proper design of the dispersion and nonlinearity of the tellurite fiber. We investigated the effects of pump parameters on soliton properties and found that adjusting the pump pulse duration allows for a broader tuning range of up to 3.63 µm or a higher conversion efficiency of 94.5%. The study describes an effective means of constructing compact and efficient femtosecond tunable mid-infrared laser sources with low operation power, which will boost potential applications in the important region of above 2 µm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver fibrosis is a predisposing factor for liver cancer. This study will investigate the predictive role of the Triglyceride-glucose and Gamma-glutamyl transferase index (TyG-GGT) as a non-invasive indicator of advanced liver fibrosis in individuals with obesity or overweight. Method: We enrolled patients who underwent metabolic and bariatric surgery as well as intraoperative liver biopsies at Zhejiang provincial people's hospital from August 2020 to March 2023. Clinical characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory data, and pathological variables of patients were collected and analysed. Then, we conducted logistics regression model to compare the performance of the TyG-GGT index with other 4 non-invasive models. Results: A total of 65 patients were included in this study. 43(66.2%) of them were female, with the mean body mass index (BMI) of 39.0 ± 7.3 kg/m2. Meanwhile, 24(36.9%) patients were diagnosed with diabetes. Advanced liver fibrosis were observed in 16.9% of patients, while liver cirrhosis was found in 4.6% of patients. The multivariable logistics regression showed that TyG-GGT was an independent risk factor of advanced liver fibrosis (OR = 6.989, P = 0.049). Additionally, compared to another 4 non-invasive liver fibrosis models (NFS = 0.66, FIB4 = 0.65, METS-IR = 0.68, APRI = 0.65), TyG-GGT exhibits the highest AUC value of 0.75. Conclusions: More than one-third of patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery are afflicted with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and a significant proportion exhibit advanced fibrosis. TyG-GGT was a potentially reliable predictor for screening individuals with overweight or obesity at high risk of advanced liver fibrosis, thus providing clinical guidance for early intervention in this targeted group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current global context of environmental degradation and resource constraints, the pursuit of sustainable development has become an imperative. One avenue that holds promise for achieving this objective is the application of digital technologies, which have the potential to decouple economic growth from its carbon footprint. However, it is crucial to ensure that these technologies are designed and governed in a prudent manner, with a strong alignment to environmental priorities. This study focuses on exploring the potential roles of blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) in supply chain coordination and impact mitigation. Furthermore, they have the capacity to incentivize recycling and circular business models, as well as facilitate carbon accounting and offsetting. To fully realize these benefits, it is essential to deploy these technologies within inclusive collaborative frameworks that take into consideration social and ecological considerations. The study also offers policy recommendations that highlight key leverage points for digital innovation, enabling countries to embark on smart and green industrial transformation pathways. By harnessing the potential of blockchain and AI in supply chains, governments can promote transparency, traceability, and accountability, thereby fostering sustainable practices and reducing environmental impacts. Incorporating blockchain and AI technologies into supply chain approaches leads to a substantial improvement in efficiency, as demonstrated by a numerical analysis. In conclusion, the integration of innovative digital technologies offers significant opportunities to optimize production systems and economic activity while prioritizing sustainability objectives for the betterment of society and the environment. These technologies have the potential to mitigate environmental externalities by addressing information imbalances within global supply chains. However, it is essential to prioritize inclusive governance that emphasizes democratic participation to mitigate any unintended negative consequences, especially for vulnerable communities. By ensuring inclusive decision-making processes, we can maximize the positive impact of these technologies while minimizing potential harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence maximization problem is one of the most fundamental topics in social networks. However, most existing studies have focused on non-attributed networks, neglecting the consideration of users' properties during information propagation. Additionally, specific scenarios may involve external queries that target a particular subset of users, which has not been adequately addressed in prior research. To address these limitations, this study first formulates the customized influence maximization (CIM) problem in the context of attributed social networks. The node score and influence probability are derived by fully considering the user's attributes and the external queries. Then, we develop two algorithms to identify a group of most influential nodes in CIM. The first is a heuristic algorithm based on discounted degree, which is able to find relatively high-quality solutions in a short time. The second is a meta-heuristic algorithm, which makes several adjustments to the original ant colony algorithm to make it efficient to the CIM problem. Specifically, multiple CIM-related heuristics are derived, and a heuristic adaptation strategy is designed to automatically assign the heuristic information to ants according to the search environments and stages. Extensive experiments show the promising performance of our proposed algorithms in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical composition of the essential oil from Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. (syn. Bassia scoparia (L.) A. J. Scott) was analyzed in quality and quantity by GC–MS and GC–FID. Repellent activities of the essential oil from K. scoparia (KSEO) were evaluated against two common species of stored-product insects Tribolium castaneum Herbst and Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel. Results indicated that KSEO mainly consisted of eugenol, β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene, accounting for 75.6%, 8.2%, and 1.4% of the total oil, respectively. KSEO and the three major components were repellent to T. castaneum and L. bostrychophila adults. Notably, KSEO exerted significant effects, comparable to the positive control DEET at 2 and 4 h post-exposure. Eugenol at 63.17–2.53 nL/cm2 exhibited high percentage repellency ranging from 96 to 70% against L. bostrychophila during 4-h exposure. To gain further insights into the repellent activity, molecular docking simulation was performed with eugenol as the ligand and an odorant binding protein TcOBPC12 (gene: TcOBP10B) from the model insect T. castaneum as the receptor. Docking calculation results revealed that TcOBPC12 had binding affinity to eugenol (△G = − 4.52 kcal/mol) along with a hydrogen bond of 0.18 nm (1.8 Å) long forming between them, which could be an important target protein associated with identifying volatile repellent molecules. This work highlights the promising potential of KSEO as a botanical repellent for controlling stored-product insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas production is an essential metric to assess the gas production capacity and engineering development performance. Accurate gas production prediction is key to ensuring efficient production. To accurately predict gas production, a daily gas production prediction model developed by combining the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) and bi-directional long short-term memory using the attention mechanism (AM-BiLSTM) is proposed. First, the correlation between the daily gas production and discharge parameters is analyzed based on the discharge data of the Volve oilfield, and the importance is ranked by the LightGBM algorithm. Then, a daily gas production prediction model is created using the AM-BiLSTM algorithm. Finally, WOA is applied to optimize the hyperparameters of the network structure of the AM-BiLSTM model. The experimental results show that the comprehensive performance of the WOA—AM-BiLSTM model is better than that of the back-propagation neural network model (BP) and deep learning models (LSTM, BiLSTM, and AM-BiLSTM). The prediction curve obtained using the WOA—AM-BiLSTM model is closer to the measured Well logging curve and has better prediction accuracy. Therefore, the proposed method provides an effective method for predicting gas production and designating a reasonable drainage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Posthepatitic cirrhosis is one of the leading risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide, among which hepatitis B cirrhosis is the dominant one. This study explored whether laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (LSD) can reduce the risk of HCC among patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhotic portal hypertension (CPH). Methods: A total of 383 patients with HBV-related CPH diagnosed as gastroesophageal variceal bleeding and secondary hypersplenism were identified in our hepatobiliary pancreatic center between April 2012 and April 2022, and conducted an 11-year retrospective follow-up. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to correct for potential confounders, weighted Kaplan–Meier curves, and logistic regression to estimate survival and risk differences. Results: Patients were divided into two groups based on treatment method: LSD (n = 230) and endoscopic therapy (ET; n = 153) groups. Whether it was processed through IPTW or not, LSD group showed a higher survival benefit than ET group according to Kaplan–Meier analysis (P < 0.001). The incidence density of HCC was higher in the ET group compared to LSD group at the end of follow-up [32.1/1000 vs 8.0/1000 person-years; Rate ratio: 3.998, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.928–8.293]. Additionally, in logistic regression analyses weighted by IPTW, LSD was an independent protective predictor of HCC incidence compared to ET (odds ratio 0.516, 95% CI 0.343–0.776; P = 0.002). Conclusion: Considering the ability of LSD to improve postoperative survival and prevent HCC in HBV-related CPH patients with gastroesophageal variceal bleeding and secondary hypersplenism, it is worth promoting in the context of the shortage of liver donors. [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.)

Background: KIT is frequently mutated in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and the treatment of GISTs largely relies on targeting KIT currently. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of sprouty RTK signaling antagonist 4 (SPRY4) in GISTs and related mechanisms. Methods: Ba/F3 cells and GIST-T1 cell were used as cell models, and mice carrying germline KIT/V558A mutation were used as animal model. Gene expression was examined by qRT-PCR and western blot. Protein association was examined by immunoprecipitation. Results: Our study revealed that KIT increased the expression of SPRY4 in GISTs. SPRY4 was found to bind to both wild-type KIT and primary KIT mutants in GISTs, and inhibited KIT expression and activation, leading to decreased cell survival and proliferation mediated by KIT. We also observed that inhibition of SPRY4 expression in KITV558A/WT mice led to increased tumorigenesis of GISTs in vivo. Moreover, our results demonstrated that SPRY4 enhanced the inhibitory effect of imatinib on the activation of primary KIT mutants, as well as on cell proliferation and survival mediated by the primary KIT mutants. However, in contrast to this, SPRY4 did not affect the expression and activation of drug-resistant secondary KIT mutants, nor did it affect the sensitivity of secondary KIT mutants to imatinib. These findings suggested that secondary KIT mutants regulate a different downstream signaling cascade than primary KIT mutants. Conclusions: Our results suggested that SPRY4 acts as negative feedback of primary KIT mutants in GISTs by inhibiting KIT expression and activation. It can increase the sensitivity of primary KIT mutants to imatinib. In contrast, secondary KIT mutants are resistant to the inhibition of SPRY4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fracture characteristics have a significant effect on the mechanical and hydraulic properties of rock mass. In this paper, before modeling a discrete fracture network, the fracture is simplified as a non-similar ellipse. First, the multifactor coupling stereological relationship of the sampling trace length distribution is established, which proves that the trace length distribution is independent of the fracture occurrence distribution. Using the Volterra integral equation method, the stereological formula of the trace length is inversely solved to obtain the distribution expressions of the major axis and axial ratio of the elliptical fractures. The analytical solutions of the probability density function (PDF) of the characteristic size of the elliptical fractures are derived for cases in which the trace length follows a uniform distribution, fractal distribution, and polynomial distribution. Second, for cases in which the trace length conforms to a negative exponential distribution, gamma distribution, chi-square distribution, and lognormal distribution, the statistical eigenvalues of the major axis and axial ratio of the elliptical fractures are deduced. Finally, a Monte Carlo statistical simulation is performed using the Rock Mass Joint Network Simulation (RJNS3D) toolkit to verify the applicability of the derivation process and the correctness of fitting a polynomial function to the trace length distribution to solve the PDF of the characteristic size of the elliptical fractures. The proposed method can better predict the distribution of the required parameters, such as the major axis and axial ratio of the elliptical fractures, according to the typical two-dimensional data in the sampling windows. This method can be further applied to reconstruct fracture networks in practical engineering tasks and lay a foundation for the analysis of rock mass strength and deformation, representative elementary volume (REV), seepage, and surrounding rock stability. Highlights: A non-similar elliptical model is developed to simulate a fracture network in rock mass. The multifactor coupling stereological relationship of the sampling trace length distribution is established. The correct analytical solutions of the probability density function of the characteristic size of elliptical fractures are derived. Trace sampling in the sampling window is simulated by the Monte Carlo method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental study of logging petrophysical parameters is very important for the establishment of logging evaluation model of coalbed methane reservoir. The acoustic and resistivity measurements of coal rock samples taken from the southern Qinshui Basin in China were measured under dry and saturated conditions of different salinity solutions. The variation laws of acoustic velocity and waveform with saturated salinity were analyzed. The changes of resistivity with temperature and pressure conditions were also analyzed. With the increase in salinity, acoustic velocity showed parabolic attenuation characteristics. The fluid content of coal samples can be judged by the acoustic wave. The waveform of dry coal sample presented multiple excitation state, and the waveform had larger fluctuation and smaller amplitude. The waveform of saturated salinity coal sample presented stable and smooth fluctuation characteristics. The resistivity of coal rock decreased exponentially with the increase in pressure. The property of fluid in pores can be judged by the sensitivity of resistivity of coal rock to temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the characteristics of spontaneous combustion of Jurassic coal in northern Shaanxi with low metamorphic degree and high coke content, DSC differential scanning calorimeter and diffuse in situ infrared spectroscopy experiment were used to study and analyze the dynamic evolution law and interaction relationship between macroscopic thermal effect and microstructure in the spontaneous combustion process of different coal seams in northern Shaanxi. The results show that there are three characteristic temperature points in the heat flow curve during the spontaneous combustion of Jurassic coal in northern Shaanxi, which can be divided into four stages according to the characteristic temperature points. It was found that the consumption and production of functional groups in Jurassic coal oxidation process were mainly in the absorption bands of aliphatic hydrocarbon, aromatic hydrocarbon and oxygen-containing functional groups, and CH3, CH2, C–H, OH and C=O were the most active key functional groups in the process of coal oxidation. The dynamic correlation degree between heat flux intensity and key active groups is established by using dynamic grey correlation mathematics method. It is concluded that C=O bond has the highest correlation with heat flow intensity during coal oxidation, and has the greatest influence on heat flow intensity. The correlation values of the active groups CH3 and CH2 are second only to the C=O bond, and they are easy to react with oxygen, accompanied by the reaction heat. Although the correlation degree between C–H and OH bond is lower than that of C=O, CH3 and CH2 bond, the correlation degree value is also high, and has certain contribution to the coal reaction heat. These research results have important guiding significance for the development of targeted inhibitors for Jurassic coal spontaneous combustion disaster in northern Shaanxi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is one of the leading causes of death in critically ill patients. MODS is the result of a dysregulated inflammatory response that can be triggered by various causes. Owing to the lack of an effective treatment for patients with MODS, early identification and intervention are the most effective strategies. Therefore, we have developed a variety of early warning models whose prediction results can be interpreted by Kernel SHapley Additive exPlanations (Kernel-SHAP) and reversed by diverse counterfactual explanations (DiCE). So we can predict the probability of MODS 12 h in advance, quantify the risk factors, and automatically recommend relevant interventions. Methods: We used various machine learning algorithms to complete the early risk assessment of MODS, and used a stacked ensemble to improve the prediction performance. The kernel-SHAP algorithm was used to quantify the positive and minus factors corresponding to the individual prediction results, and finally, the DiCE method was used to automatically recommend interventions. We completed the model training and testing based on the MIMIC-III and MIMIC-IV databases, in which the sample features in the model training included the patients' vital signs, laboratory test results, test reports, and data related to the use of ventilators. Results: The customizable model called SuperLearner, which integrated multiple machine learning algorithms, had the highest authenticity of screening, and its Yordon index (YI), sensitivity, accuracy, and utility_score on the MIMIC-IV test set were 0.813, 0.884, 0.893, and 0.763, respectively, which were all maximum values of eleven models. The area under the curve of the deep–wide neural network (DWNN) model on the MIMIC-IV test set was 0.960, and the specificity was 0.935, which were both the maximum values of all these models. The Kernel-SHAP algorithm combined with SuperLearner was used to determine the minimum value of glasgow coma scale (GCS) in the current hour (OR = 0.609, 95% CI 0.606–0.612), maximum value of MODS score corresponding to GCS in the past 24 h (OR = 2.632, 95% CI 2.588–2.676), and maximum score of MODS corresponding to creatinine in the past 24 h (OR = 3.281, 95% CI 3.267–3.295) were generally the most influential factors. Conclusion: The MODS early warning model based on machine learning algorithms has considerable application value, and the prediction efficiency of SuperLearner is superior to those of SubSuperLearner, DWNN, and other eight common machine learning models. Considering that the attribution analysis of Kernel-SHAP is a static analysis of the prediction results, we introduce the DiCE algorithm to automatically recommend counterfactuals to reverse the prediction results, which will be an important step towards the practical application of automatic MODS early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem, increasingly becoming a serious concern of human health. Many studies have explored the biological effects of MPs on animal and plant life in recent years. However, information regarding the effects of MPs on aging and lifespan is completely lacking in vertebrate species to date. Here we first confirm the bioavailability of MPs by oral delivery in the annual fish N. guentheri. We then show for the first time that administration of MPs not only shortens the lifespan but also accelerates the development of age-related biomarkers in N. guentheri. We also demonstrate that administration of MPs induces oxidative stress, suppresses antioxidant enzymes, reduces digestive enzymes, and causes hepatic dysfunction. Therefore, we propose that administration of MPs reduces lifespan of N. guentheri via induction of both suppressed antioxidant system and digestive disturbance as well as hepatic damage. Our results also suggest that smaller MPs appear more toxic to digestion, metabolism and growth of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mefuparib (CVL218) is a novel second-generation poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor for cancer treatment. CVL218 can easily enter the brain. However, the transport mechanism by which CVL218 crosses the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is unknown. Methods: (1) [14C] CVL218 metabolism in rats was traced by a liquid scintillation counter and oxidative combustion. (2) Metabolic profiles and metabolites were identified by UHPLC-β-RAM/UHPLC-Fraction Collector and UHPLC-Q Exactive Plus MS. (3) The partition coefficient Kp,uu,brain value was simulated by two strategies. One strategy was using ACD and GastroPlus Software based on the results of intravenous administration pharmacokinetics and plasma protein-binding studies. The reliability was confirmed by comparison with another strategy (brain/plasma distribution study). Results: (1) Rapid drug elimination was observed 24 h after intragastric administration. The total cumulative excretion in urine and feces within 168 h accounted for 97.15% of the dose. The cumulative radioactive dose recovery in bile was 41.87% within 72 h. The drug-related substances were extensively distributed to the tissues within 48 h. (2) M8 was the major metabolite in plasma, urine, feces and bile. (3) CVL218 exhibited high brain protein-binding rate (88.16%). The Kp,uu,brain value (8.42) simulated by the simple software strategy was similar to that of the brain/plasma distribution study (7.01). Conclusions: CVL218 is a fast-metabolizing drug and is mainly excreted in feces. The B/P ratio prediction and observation data for CVL218 were consistent. Furthermore, the Kp,uu,brain value indicated that penetration through the BBB might be mediated by uptake transporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Krill oil (KO) extracted from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) mainly comprises phospholipids and triglycerides. KO has been shown to prolong the median lifespan of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, but to shorten the lifespan of long-lived F1 mice; therefore, it remains controversial over the life-extending property of KO. In this study, we clearly demonstrated that dietary intake of KO extended both the mean and maximum lifespans of aged male Nothobranchius guentheri (p < 0.05), reduced the accumulation of lipofuscin (LF) (p < 0.05) in the gills and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) (p < 0.05) in the caudal fins, and lowered the levels of protein oxidation (p < 0.05), lipid peroxidation (p < 0.01), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p < 0.01) in the muscles and livers, indicating that KO possesses rejuvenation and anti-aging activity. We also showed that KO enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) (p < 0.05), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p < 0.05), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) (p < 0.05) in aged male N. guentheri. In addition, KO administration effectively reversed histological lesions including inflammatory cell infiltration and structural collapse in the muscles and livers of aged N. guentheri and suppressed the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway (p < 0.05), a master regulator of inflammation. Altogether, our study indicates that KO has anti-aging and rejuvenation property. It also suggests that KO exerts its anti-aging and rejuvenation effects via enhancement of the antioxidant system and suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dinoflagellates Karenia mikimotoi and Prorocentrum donghaiense are both important causative species of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the East China Sea. The ichthyotoxic K. mikimotoi, which occasionally leads to large-scale HABs in the East China Sea, is difficult to be discriminated from other morphologically similar species in the family Kareniaceae by light microscope observation. To improve the accuracy and efficiency in detection of K. mikimotoi, a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was developed in this study. The qPCR assay has high specificity and sensitivity, which allows the detection of K. mikimotoi at the lower detection limit of one cell. The qPCR assay target K. mikimotoi, together with another qPCR assay previously developed for P. donghaiense, was applied to study a bloom of dinoflagellates in the coastal waters of Fujian province from April 25 to June 11 in 2019. Cells of K. mikimotoi were detected in about half of the samples, and the maximum abundance was lower than 30 cells L−1. Abundance of P. donghaiense cells (maximum abundance above 106 cells L−1) were determined using both qPCR assay and light microscope cell counting, and the results of the two methods were consistent with each other. The qPCR assays of the blooming dinoflagellates offer reliable and accurate approaches for the detection of HABs species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the excellent performances of nanocrystalline cellulose, sodium alginate, or K-carrageenan in Pb2+ adsorption, nanocrystalline cellulose/sodium alginate/K-carrageenan composite hydrogel beads were prepared to adsorb Pb(II) from aqueous solutions. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the excellent potential of the composite hydrogel beads for heavy metal ion adsorption. We successfully prepared ecofriendly Fe-modified nanocrystalline cellulose/sodium alginate/K-carrageenan composite hydrogel beads and characterized them. The structure and adsorption mechanism were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the optimal adsorption conditions were determined. The tricomponent hydrogel beads were robust and exhibited improved adsorption capacity for Pb2+ and good reusability. The adsorption results could be fitted well with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption model. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained by fitting was 351.04 mg g−1. Recycling experiments revealed that the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent remained high after five cycles of reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface modification of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) is essential for improving their reactivity and adsorption capacity. Oxidation, as a conventional modification method of CNC, has strong reaction conditions, which may partially destroy the structure of CNCs. Herein, we propose a mild cellulose modification method, in which diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DPTA) was grafted onto CNC with an aminosilane coupling agent. To facilitate the enrichment and recovery of adsorbents, we prepared magnetic CNC before grafting DPTA, and finally obtained magnetic carboxylic functionalized CNC (MCNC-DPTA). The effects of the reaction parameters on the adsorption process were systematically studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Vibration sample magnetometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Additionally, the effects of the solution pH, the initial concentration of Pb, and the adsorption time on the adsorption properties of the materials were evaluated. Furthermore, the structure, morphology, and thermal properties of the solution were systematically studied. After 6 cycle tests, the adsorption amount of Pb(II) by MCNC-DPTA was only reduced by 7%. These results show that MCNC-DPTA is an environment-friendly adsorption material with an excellent Pb(II) removal effect. [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.)

This paper investigated the effects of variable jetting nozzle angles on the cross-flow suppression and heat transfer enhancement of swirl cooling in gas turbine leading edge. The swirl chamber with vertical jet nozzles was set as the baseline, and its flow fields and heat transfer characteristics were analyzed by 3D steady state Reynolds-averaged numerical methods to reveal the mechanism of cross-flow weakening the downstream jets and heat transfer. On this basis, the flow structure on different cross sections and heat transfer characteristics of swirl chamber with variable jetting nozzle angels were compared with the baseline swirl chamber. The results indicated that for the baseline swirl chamber the circumferential velocity gradually decreased and the axial velocity gradually increased, and the cross-flow gradually formed. The cross-flow deflected the downstream jets and drawn them to the center of the chamber, thus weakening the heat transfer. For swirl chamber with variable jetting nozzle angles, the air axial velocity is axial upstream, opposite to the mainstream, so that the impact effects of cross-flow on the jets were reduced, and the heat transfer was enhanced. Furthermore, with the increase of axial velocity along the swirl chamber, the jetting nozzle angle also gradually increased, as well as the effect of cross-flow suppression, which formed a relative balance. For all swirl chambers with variable jet nozzle angles, the thermal performance factors were all larger than 1, which indicated the heat transfer was enhanced with less friction increment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Liquid-liquid phase separation promotes the formation of membraneless condensates that mediate diverse cellular functions, including autophagy of misfolded proteins. However, how phase separation participates in autophagy of dysfunctional mitochondria (mitophagy) remains obscure. We previously discovered that nuclear receptor Nur77 (also called TR3, NGFI-B, or NR4A1) translocates from the nucleus to mitochondria to mediate celastrol-induced mitophagy through interaction with p62/SQSTM1. Here, we show that the ubiquitinated mitochondrial Nur77 forms membraneless condensates capable of sequestrating damaged mitochondria by interacting with the UBA domain of p62/SQSTM1. However, tethering clustered mitochondria to the autophagy machinery requires an additional interaction mediated by the N-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of Nur77 and the N-terminal PB1 domain of p62/SQSTM1, which confers Nur77-p62/SQSTM1 condensates with the magnitude and liquidity. Our results demonstrate how composite multivalent interaction between Nur77 and p62/SQSTM1 coordinates to sequester damaged mitochondria and to connect targeted cargo mitochondria for autophagy, providing mechanistic insight into mitophagy. How phase separation participates in mitophagy remains unclear. Here the authors show that Nur77 and p62/SQSTM1 through "head-to-head" and "tail-to-tail" interactions form membraneless condensates capable of sequestering dysfunctional mitochondria and tethering them to autolysosome for degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key messages: We reported an NBS-LRR gene, PsoRPM3, is highly expressed following RKN infection, initiating an HR response that promotes plant resistance. Meloidogyne spp. are root-knot nematodes (RKNs) that cause substantial economic losses worldwide. Screening for resistant tree resources and identifying plant resistance genes is currently the most effective way to prevent RKN infestations. Here, we cloned a novel TIR-NB-LRR-type resistance gene, PsoRPM3, from Xinjiang wild myrobalan plum (Prunus sogdiana Vassilcz.) and demonstrated that its protein product localized to the nucleus. In response to Meloidogyne incognita infection, PsoRPM3 gene expression levels were significantly higher in resistant myrobalan plum plants compared to susceptible plants. We investigated this difference, discovering that the − 309 to − 19 bp region of the susceptible PsoRPM3 promoter was highly methylated. Indeed, heterologous expression of PsoRPM3 significantly enhanced the resistance of susceptible tobacco plants to M. incognita. Moreover, transient expression of PsoRPM3 induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco, whereas RNAi-mediated silencing of PsoRPM3 in transgenic tobacco reduced this hypersensitive response. Several hypersensitive response marker genes were considerably up-regulated in resistant myrobalan plum plants when compared with susceptible counterparts inoculated with M. incognita. PsoPR1a (a SA marker gene), PsoPR2 (a JA marker gene), and PsoACS6 (an ET signaling marker gene) were all more highly expressed in resistant than in susceptible plants. Together, these results support a model in which PsoRPM3 is highly expressed following RKN infection, initiating an HR response that promotes plant resistance through activated salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The paradoxical roles of transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling and nuclear receptor Nur77 in colon cancer development are known but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Inhibitor of differentiation 1 (ID1) is a target gene of TGFβ and a key promoter for colon cancer progression. Here, we show that Nur77 enhances TGFβ/Smad3-induced ID1 mRNA expression through hindering Smurf2-mediated Smad3 mono-ubiquitylation, resulting in ID1 upregulation. In the absence of TGFβ, however, Nur77 destabilizes ID1 protein by promoting Smurf2-mediated ID1 poly-ubiquitylation, resulting in ID1 downregulation. Interestingly, TGFβ stabilizes ID1 protein by switching Nur77 interaction partners to inhibit ID1 ubiquitylation. This also endows TGFβ with an active pro-tumorigenic action in Smad4-deficient colon cancers. Thus, TGFβ converts Nur77's role from destabilizing ID1 protein and cancer inhibition to inducing ID1 mRNA expression and cancer promotion, which is highly relevant to colon cancer stemness, metastasis and oxaliplatin resistance. Our data therefore define the integrated duality of Nur77 and TGFβ signaling in regulating ID1 expression and provide mechanistic insights into the paradoxical roles of TGFβ and Nur77 in colon cancer progression. Inhibitor of Differentiation 1 (ID1) is an oncogene for colorectal cancer. Here, the authors show a complex interplay between nuclear receptor Nur77 and Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGFβ) to regulate ID1 expression at both transcriptional and post-translational levels which is relevant to colon cancer stemness, metastasis and resistance to oxaliplatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arrestins recognize different receptor phosphorylation patterns and convert this information to selective arrestin functions to expand the functional diversity of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamilies. However, the principles governing arrestin-phospho-receptor interactions, as well as the contribution of each single phospho-interaction to selective arrestin structural and functional states, are undefined. Here, we determined the crystal structures of arrestin2 in complex with four different phosphopeptides derived from the vasopressin receptor-2 (V2R) C-tail. A comparison of these four crystal structures with previously solved Arrestin2 structures demonstrated that a single phospho-interaction change results in measurable conformational changes at remote sites in the complex. This conformational bias introduced by specific phosphorylation patterns was further inspected by FRET and 1H NMR spectrum analysis facilitated via genetic code expansion. Moreover, an interdependent phospho-binding mechanism of phospho-receptor-arrestin interactions between different phospho-interaction sites was unexpectedly revealed. Taken together, our results provide evidence showing that phospho-interaction changes at different arrestin sites can elicit changes in affinity and structural states at remote sites, which correlate with selective arrestin functions. The interaction between a GPCR, such as the vasopressin receptor-2 (V2R), and arrestin depends on the receptors' phosphorylation pattern. Here authors use FRET and NMR to analyze the phosphorylation patterns of the V2R-arrestin complex and show that phospho-interactions are the key determinants of selective arrestin conformational states and correlated functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell-based screening of a privileged small molecule library led to the discovery of 9-sulfonyl-9(H)-purine as new scaffold for hepatitis C virus (HCV) inhibitors. Structure–activity relationship study with respect to the 2-, 6- and 9-positions in the purine core resulted in the identification of several active compounds with moderate potency against the HCV genotype 1b. Subsequent stability studies demonstrated that HCV inhibitors of this type were unstable in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM) and plasma, as well as glutathione-containing water, and their instability was closely related to their HCV inhibitory activity. A preliminary study of the mechanism of action showed that the sulfonamide bond at the 9-position of purine would be the primary degradation site and the resulting sulfonylation degradation species would mediate the anti-HCV activity of 9-sulfonyl-9(H)-purines. Results of this study demonstrated that 9-sulfonyl-9(H)-purine is an unstable scaffold for HCV inhibitors and further detailed analysis of the degradation species is needed to determine the main active components and direct target for this type of molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) induces a change in serum HIF-1α level in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the prognostic value of change in serum HIF-1α following TACE treatment in HCC patients. A total of 61 hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with TACE were included. Peripheral blood samples were collected within 1 week before and after TACE to determine the serum levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum HIF-1α change was calculated as follows: ∆HIF-1α = (HIF-1α (pre-TACE) − HIF-1α (post-TACE))/HIF-1α (pre-TACE). Likewise, serum VEG-F change was calculated as follows: ∆VEG-F = (VEG-F (pre-TACE) − VEG-F(post-TACE))/VEG-F (pre-TACE). Based on the cutoffs (0.25) determined by the maximum Youden's index in receiver operating characteristic analysis, the patients were grouped into the low ∆HIF-1α group (< 0.25) and the high ∆HIF-1α group (> 0.25). After TACE treatment, HIF-1α was significantly decreased (pre-TACE 1901.62 vs. post-TACE 621.82 pg/ml, P < 0.01) but VEGF-A was significantly increased (pre-TACE 60.80 vs. post-TACE 143.81 pg/ml, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that ∆HIF-1α was a prognostic factor (OR = 58.09, 95% CI: 1.59–2127.32, P = 0.027) for the TACE treatment response. Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that ∆HIF-1α was a prognostic factor for progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.14–0.66, P = 0.003) and overall survival (OS) (estimated HR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.16–0.93, P = 0.034). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that the high ∆HIF-1α group was more likely to have longer PFS (log-rank test, P = 0.004) and OS (log-rank test, P = 0.002) than the low ∆HIF-1α group. The change in serum HIF-1α level following TACE is a prognostic factor associated with the TACE treatment response, PFS, and OS in HCC patients following TACE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorophore–antibody conjugates with high photobleaching resistance, high chemical stability, and Fc-specific attachment is a great advantage for immunofluorescence imaging. Here, an Fc-binding protein (Z-domain) carrying a photo-cross-linker (p-benzoylphenylalanine, Bpa) fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), namely photoactivatable ZBpa–EGFP recombinant, was directly generated using the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/suppressor tRNA technique without any further modification. By employing the photoactivatable ZBpa–EGFP, an optimal approach was successfully developed which enabled EGFP to site-selectively and covalently attach to native antibody (IgG) with approximately 90% conjugation efficiency. After characterizing the Fc-specific and covalent manner of the EGFP-photoconjugated antibody, its excellent photobleaching resistance for immunofluorescence imaging was demonstrated in a model study by monitoring the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression in HepG2 cells. The proposed approach here for the preparation of a novel fluorescent antibody is available and reliable, which would play an important role in fluorescence immunoassay, and is expected to be extended to the generation of other biomolecule-photoconjugated antibodies, such as other fluorescent proteins for multiplex immunofluorescence imaging or reporter enzymes for highly sensitive enzyme immunoassays. Graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are highly invasive plant parasites that establish permanent feeding sites within the roots of the host plant. Successful establishment of the feeding site is essential for the survival of RKN. The formation and development of the feeding cell, also called giant cell, involve both cell division and endoreduplication. Here, we examined giant cell development and endoreduplication in Prunus sogdiana infected with the RKN. We found that feeding sites were established 3–5 days post inoculation (dpi) and matured at 21–28 dpi. The giant cells began to form 5 dpi and continued to increase in size from 7 to 21 dpi. The large numbers of dividing nuclei were observed in giant cells from 7 to 14 dpi. However, nuclear division was rarely observed after 28 days. RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analyses revealed that PsoCCS52A was abundantly expressed at 7–21 dpi and the PsoCCS52A signal observed in giant cell nucleus at 7–14 dpi. The PsoCCS52B is highly expressed at 14 dpi, and the hybridization signal was mainly in the cytoplasm of giant cells. The PsoDEL1 expression was lowest 7–21 dip, with negligible transcript detected in the giant cells. This indicates that the PsoCCS52A plays a role in the process of cell division, while the CCS52B plays a role in the development of giant cells. The PsoDEL1 plays a negative regulatory role in megakaryocyte nuclear replication. These data suggest that an increased expression of PsoCCS52A promotes nuclear division and produces a large number of polyploid nuclei, the area of giant cells and feeding sites increase, ultimately leading to the formation of galls in Prunus sogdiana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractured tight sandstone reservoirs are dual-pore systems including matrix pores and natural fractures, which both contribute to the system permeability. However, most previous studies either calculated the matrix permeability or obtained the fracture permeability to represent the system permeability in the logging evaluation of fractured tight sandstones because existing logging methods cannot distinguish the two types. In this study, a novel method is proposed to estimate the system permeability in fractured tight sandstones using geophysical logs. First, the fracture characteristics in the Upper Triassic Chang 8 member of the Yanchang Formation, southwest Ordos Basin, China, were analyzed. Based on the hydraulic flow unit approach, the formation classification criteria and the corresponding permeability–porosity models were established; then, the pure matrix permeability in the dual-pore system was calculated using geophysical logs. Based on the fracture characteristics, the relative pure fracture permeability was obtained using the Sibbit and Faivre method. By applying the Parsons' model in boreholes, the system permeability was then calculated by coupling the relationship between the two permeabilities. Finally, two field applications in the study area demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method, and the logging responses, application effects and applicable conditions of this method are discussed in detail. These applications indicate that the proposed method is suitable for tight reservoirs with fracture widths less than 200 μm, and considered to be dual-pore systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lichtheimia species are emerging opportunistic fungal pathogens in the Mucorales, causing serious skin and respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients. Established agents are Lichtheimia corymbifera and L. ramosa, while L. ornata is a novel agent. Available data on a species-specific analysis of Lichtheimia infections are limited. Methods: The first case of a fatal rhino-orbital-cerebral infection in a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipient caused by L. ornata is reported; the agent was identified by sequencing the ITS ribosomal region. We reviewed the literature on mucormycosis due to Lichtheimia species between 2009 and 2018, with an analysis of risk factors and epidemiological and clinical data. Results: In addition to our Lichtheimia ornata case, 44 cases of human Lichtheimia were analyzed. Lichtheimia predominated in Europe (68.2%), followed by Asia (16%), and Africa (9%). The most common underlying condition was hematological malignancy (36.3%), followed by trauma/major surgery (27.3%), while diabetes mellitus was rare (11.4%). Site of infection was mostly skin and soft tissues (45.5%) and lung (25%), while relatively few cases were disseminated (13.6%) or rhinocerebral (11.4%). Mortality (36.4%) was mainly due to disseminated and rhinocerebral infections. Conclusion: In contrast to Rhizopus, the most common agent of mucormycosis recorded in patients with diabetes mellitus, Lichtheimia infections were primarily associated with hematological malignancies and major skin barrier damage. Given the fact that classical rhinocerebral mucormycosis remains difficult to treat, independent of causative species, timely application of amphotericin B accessory to debridement may be required for patient survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2 μm/3 μm laser has been extensively applied to the fields of medical treatment, communication and detection. In this paper, the genetic algorithm is innovatively used to solve the fiber power transmission equation, which improves the accuracy of simulation results. According to the simulation results, a dual-wavelength Er3+:ZBLAN fiber laser based on composite Fabry-Perot (F-P) cavity was designed and constructed. A stable continuous dual-wavelength output was obtained with a pump power of 50 W. The center wavelengths were 2.79 μm and 1.59 μm, respectively, the maximum output powers were 8.19 W and 2.8 W, respectively, the slope efficiencies were 17.7% and 7.17%, respectively, and the stability of the wavelengths in 2 h were 4.6% and 3.1%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the present study were to optimize the purification parameters to obtain high purity polyphenols from Boletus edulis, and the antioxidant activities of polyphenols were also investigated. The purification experimental results showed that D101 resin was suitable for the purification of polyphenols from B. edulis. The optimal purification conditions were determined as follows: the sample concentration of 9 mg/mL, the sample solution velocity of 1.0 mL/min, elution concentration of 70% and desorption flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, under these conditions, the concentration of polyphenols was increased from 0.54 ± 0.02 to 4.89 ± 0.11 mg/g, and the purity was 3.5 times higher than that crude extract. The antioxidant activities of the purified polyphenols were significantly increased, and the IC50 values of DPPH·, ·OH, O2·− and ABTS·+ scavenging activity were 99.35, 1793.66, 1169.62, and 543.26 μg/mL, respectively. Results indicated that polyphenols from B. edulis had potential antioxidant activities and was beneficial for human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the potential competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in forecasting HCC development in patients with cirrhosis through a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis. Methods: Data mining from GEO and TCGA databases was employed to dig a spectrum of differentially expressed mRNA, lncRNA and miRNA profiles. Their expression was confirmed by RT-PCR in matched HCC cohorts (n = 6/group). The ceRNA network was constructed by co-expression analysis. Their reciprocal regulations and their roles in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process were validated by gain- and loss-of-function experiments at the cellular level. Kaplan–Meier method was applied to reveal prognostic values. Results: By intersecting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GEO and TCGA data sets and Pearson correlation analysis, 20 mRNAs, 24 miRNAs and 41 lncRNAs were identified. Of these, FOXD2-AS1, BLVRA and CYTH2 were markedly upregulated in HCC tissues and HCC cells with high metastatic potential (MHCC97H) compared with their adjacent normal/cirrhotic tissues and L02 and MHCC97L cells. However, dysregulated miR-139-5p exhibited the opposite expression pattern. Using miRanda algorithms, FOXD2-AS1, BLVRA and CYTH2 showed potential binding sites for miR-139-5p. FOXD2-AS1 knockdown induced a marked increase in miR-139-5p and EMT inhibition. The loss of miR-139-5p led to an increase in BLVRA and CYTH2 expression and EMT process. Conversely, miR-139-5p overexpression suppressed BLVRA and CYTH expression and EMT process. FOXD2-AS1, miR-139-5p, BLVRA and CYTH2 highly correlated with prognosis in patients with HCC. Conclusion: FOXD2-AS1/miR-139-5p/BLVRA or CYTH2 axis might be the underlying molecular mechanism that dissects HCC development caused by cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a typical metal–organic framework material, UiO-66 has good potential for removing pharmaceuticals and personal care products from water. However, the application of this powdery adsorbent has been limited by the difficult recovery from the liquid. To overcome this weakness, we prepared composite beads constituted by sodium alginate and UiO-66 by solidification in CaCl2 solution. The material was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, BET, and TGA methods. These composite beads were applied to remove a common antibiotic Levofloxacin (LOFX) from water, and the experimental parameters (i.e., initial LOFX concentration, adsorption time, pH, and adsorbent dose) were optimized. The adsorption data could be satisfactorily fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9871) and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.9990). The regeneration experiment of the composite beads revealed that the adsorption efficiency of levofloxacin was higher than 70% even after 5 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by progressive airway inflammation and irreversible airflow limitation, leads to serious decline in life quality. The acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) results in high healthcare costs as well as a significant mortality rate. The most common cause of acute exacerbation is infection. Immune deficiency, which induces dysfunction of anti-infection, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute exacerbation. As described in this review, the immune dysfunction in patients with AECOPD can be a major focus of efforts to therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments and simulations were used to investigate the effect of a range of engine operating parameters and fuel characteristics on the particle size and particle number (PN) concentration at low speed and idle speed condition. The occurrence, size, and concentration of particles were tested against a range of parameters including start of injection (SOI), common rail pressure, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) ratio and load. The results showed that the homogeneity of the mixture had the greatest impact on particle size and number concentration. The performance of particle is different at different levels of load. The particle were of nucleation mode at idle condition, and the cold idle particles had a slightly larger diameter than those produced at hot idle. By using the diesel and under high load, at EGR ratios of less than 20 %, most particles were of nucleation mode. At EGR ratios exceeding 20 %, nucleation-mode particles were gradually replaced by accumulation-mode particles. At EGR ratios above 30 %, most particles were of the accumulation mode. Under the same load, gasoline compression ignition produced particles of smaller size and reduced particulate mass (PM). The use of gasoline extended ignition delay, as the high volatility and octane number of the fuel improved the homogeneity of the mixture. Finally, a linear relationship was found between PM and PN. The relative contribution of the different factors to the formation of nucleationor accumulation-mode particles was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An advance optimized classification method is proposed to accurately predict the surrounding rock classification based on set pair analysis (SPA) and tunnel seismic prediction (TSP). Several factors that greatly affect rock mass classification are selected as evaluation indices of SPA based on analysis of TSP data. Evaluation indices are divided into five grades according to its response characteristics of seismic wave field, and their membership functions are proposed by using frequency statistical method. Entropy weight method is adopted to determine the weights of evaluation indices, and a SPA model is established for optimized classification of surrounding rock. Engineering application of Shimenya Tunnel of Yi-Ba Highway is taken as a case study, and proved that the evaluation indices are easy to obtain and the evaluation results are accurate and reliable. The SPA-TSP method can be further used for other tunnel engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel adsorbent based on the surface of magnetic graphene oxide-grafted cellulose nanocrystal molecularly imprinted polymers (Mag@GO-g-CNCs@MIPs) was developed for the selective extraction and fast adsorption of fluoroquinolones (FQs) from river water samples. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were grafted onto activated graphene oxide (GO), and the surfaces of the obtained magnetic GO-g-CNC particles were molecularly imprinted with polymers using ofloxacin (OFX) as a template molecule and methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer. The resulting Mag@GO-g-CNCs@MIP material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Under optimum adsorption conditions, the Mag@GO-g-CNCs@MIPs with large specific surface area were easily collected and separated using an external magnetic field. Mag@GO-g-CNCs@MIPs exhibited an ultra-fast adsorption profile for FQs (5 min to achieve the maximum adsorption capacity of 74 mg/g), with imprinting factor values ranging from 1.5 to 3.1. High recognition selectivity towards nine FQs from real river water samples was established through coupling with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the recovery of samples spiked with nine FQs was found to be in the range of 79.2-96.1%, with a detection limit ranging from 6.5 to 51 ng/g. Moreover, the data obtained adhered to the Freundlich isotherm model, and the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model. Finally, the Mag@GO-g-CNCs@MIPs could be regenerated and reused for seven consecutive cycles with only a 13% drop in adsorption capacity, indicating its effective application as a new, reusable, and selective adsorbent for the enrichment and separation of FQs from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]