Search

Vitamin C (VC), encompasses a group of related water-soluble substances, which plays an important role in the physiologic processes and health of aquatic animals. Most aquatic animals have a limited capacity to synthesize VC, thus obtaining VC mainly from diets. To date, VC has been widely used as an aquatic feed additive due to its antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and anti-inflammatory abilities. However, the requirement for VC varies greatly among different aquatic animals. This updated review presents a general picture of the possible physiological function of VC for farmed aquatic animals, with emphasis on the information on growth, antioxidant status, immunity, diseases prevention, and reproductive performance, as well as the synergistic effects of VC with other micronutrients such as vitamin E, glucans, and metal elements during recent years. Furthermore, the interaction between dietary VC and the intestinal microbiota of aquatic animals have also been discussed. Understanding the beneficial function and mechanism of VC is of great significance for extending the application of VC in the aquaculture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field observations in sedimentation and erosion-prone areas indicate that most natural sand deposits may contain a certain amount of non-plastic fines and are often under anisotropic stress conditions. A series of triaxial compression tests were performed on clean and silty sand with fines content fc ranging from 0 to 20% at an initial mean effective stress of p0′ = 100 kPa and varying consolidation conditions to understand the impact of initial stress anisotropy on undrained shear behavior. The results indicate that the state parameter ψ is a superior predictor for characterizing the responses of sand-fines mixtures compared to the global void ratio and relative density. A comparison of the behavior of clean and silty sand with a constant ψ (= − 0.03) confirms that the sample with 10% fc exhibits the strongest dilation and greatest shear resistance, irrespective of the consolidation conditions. It is also demonstrated that the initial stress anisotropy with a comparably higher static stress ratio ηs typically diminishes the shear strength of mixtures. However, the influence of initial stress anisotropy on soil stiffness is not unilateral. The sample consolidated to a negative ηs is stiffer than that under isotropic consolidation, while the presence of a positive ηs leads to a decrease in the secant Young's modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the associations between high uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) values and congenital heart disease (CHD) risk and whether they differed between singleton and multiple pregnancies. This hospital-based cohort study involving 52,047 pregnant women who underwent prenatal examinations from 2012 to 2016. Infants born to the included pregnant women were followed until 42 days after birth to identify those with CHDs. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the associations of high right UtA-PI (> 95th percentile) values with maternal preeclampsia and fetal CHDs. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using path analysis models to quantify the effect of high right UtA-PI values on fetal CHD risk. A total of 42,552 women and 43,470 infants (147 with CHDs) were included. Preeclampsia risk was associated with a high right UtA-PI in singleton-pregnant women (adjusted PR, 3.01; 95% CI 2.57–3.52). CHD risk was marginally associated with a high right UtA-PI in singleton-pregnant women (adjusted PR, 2.26, 95% CI 1.03–4.95). Considering only two factors, 96.0% of the fetal CHD risk was mediated by preeclampsia in singleton-pregnant women, while 93.8% of the risk was related to a high right UtA-PI in multiple-pregnant women. A high right UtA-PI was marginally associated with an increased fetal CHD risk in singleton-pregnant women and might play an important role in multiple-pregnant women. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings given the high loss to follow-up rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs a geophysical model of hidden disaster-causing anomalies in coal rock for simulation experiments based on the structural design of coal rock seams at the mine working face to study the geophysical response characteristics of geological anomalies in coal rock seams. The material ratio and petrophysical parameters of the coal seam, roof, floor, collapse column, and fault in a mining area in Shanxi were tested using homogeneous and orthogonal test methods, and their petrophysical parameters, such as Vs,Vp, resistivity, permeability, and dielectric constant, were obtained. The coal dust and sand–cement contents are the main factors affecting the wave velocity, whereas the dielectric constant and resistivity are highly influenced by the water content of the material. The response characteristics of the petrophysical parameters of various types of geological structures measured via experiments are consistent with the corresponding geophysical responses of actual geophysical exploration methods. The experimental data were comparatively analyzed with the original coal rock samples and field in-situ probing results, and the best construction ratios of each geological structural unit were as follows: coal seam ratios of 61.11%, 11.11%, and 27.78% were selected for coal dust, sand, and cement content, respectively; sand–cement and gypsum–cement ratios of 2:1 and 2:8, respectively, were selected for the roof; and sand–cement and gypsum–cement ratios of 3:1 and 4:6, respectively, were selected for the floor. The optimal ratios of 75% sand, 10% gypsum, and 15% cement were chosen for the fault; those for the collapse column were 66.7% sand, 6.67% gypsum, and 26.6% cement. This study focuses on the ratios of various geotectonic physical models and their physical properties, it provides data support for subsequent model construction and a good experimental platform for the demonstration of various geophysical exploration methods and techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat fragmentation impacts seed dispersal processes that are important in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. However, it is still unclear how habitat fragmentation affects frugivorous interactions due to the lack of high-quality data on plant-frugivore networks. Here we recorded 10,117 plant-frugivore interactions from 22 reservoir islands and six nearby mainland sites using the technology of arboreal camera trapping to assess the effects of island area and isolation on the diversity, structure, and stability of plant-frugivore networks. We found that network simplification under habitat fragmentation reduces the number of interactions involving specialized species and large-bodied frugivores. Small islands had more connected, less modular, and more nested networks that consisted mainly of small-bodied birds and abundant plants, as well as showed evidence of interaction release (i.e., dietary expansion of frugivores). Our results reveal the importance of preserving large forest remnants to support plant-frugivore interaction diversity and forest functionality. Smaller communities, such as those on islands, under ecological network simplification reduce interactions between specialist organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CACNA1A gene encodes the alpha-1A subunit of P/Q type voltage-gated calcium channel Cav2.1, which is associated with a broad clinical spectrum and variable symptomatology. While few patients with progressive ataxia caused by CACNA1A missense variants have been reported, here we report three unrelated Chinese patients with progressive ataxia due to de novo missense variants in the CACNA1A gene, including a novel pathogenic variant (c.4999C > G) and a previously reported pathogenic variant (c.4037G > A). Our findings and a systematic literature review show the unique phenotype of progressive ataxia caused by missense variants and enlarge the genetic and clinical spectrum of CACNA1A. This suggests that in addition to routine screening for dynamic mutations, screening for CACNA1A variants is important for clinicians facing patients with progressive ataxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radhakrishnan et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 124:110401, 2020) proposed quantum discord to multipartite systems and derived explicit formulae for any states. These results are significant in capturing quantum correlations for multiqubit systems. In this paper, we evaluate the geometric measure of multipartite quantum discord and obtain the results for a large family of multiqubit states. Furthermore, we investigated the dynamic behavior of geometric discord for the family of two-, three- and four-qubit states under phase noise acting on the first qubit. And we discover that sudden change of multipartite geometric discord can appear when phase noise act only on one part of the two-, three- and four-qubit states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report continuous-wave (CW) and passively Q-switched Nd :GdVO4 lasers on 4F3/2 → 4I13/2 transition directly pumped by an 880 nm diode laser. A widely investigated Nd :GdVO4 laser at about 1341 nm is operated with a maximum output power of 5.23 W and a slope efficiency of about 30.6%. Using an etalon for wavelength selection, we realize laser emission at about 1344 nm, for the first time to our knowledge, in a Nd :GdVO4 laser, with a maximum output power of 4.19 W and a slope efficiency of 20.1%. Moreover, we achieve simultaneous dual-wavelength lasing at 1341 and 1344 nm with a maximum output power of 2.27 W and a slope efficiency of 13.5%, respectively. Using V3+ :YAG as a saturable absorber, stable Q switching is obtained at about 1341 nm with a maximum average output power of 1.15 W. The pulse width is 52.8 ns at a repetition rate of 279.8 kHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the monogamy of multipartite quantum discord. In the article [Quantum Science and Technology 6, 4, 045028], Guo et al. show that quantum discord for multiqubit systems is monogamous provided that it does not increase under discard of subsystems. we illustrate that the above-mentioned preconditions are valid for a family of multiqubit states. Based on the analytical expressions of quantum discord and geometric discord of the family of states obtained in the articles [Phys. Rev. A 104, 012428] and [arXiv:], we investigate the dynamic behavior of these under the local decoherence channel, and show that the quantum discord of even partite systems have frozen phenomenon while the odd partite systems does not exist. For geometric discord, this family of states has the frozen phenomenon under local decoherence conditions. The results show that compound noises are not necessary for sudden changes in quantum correlation, and one qubit of the quantum noise is sufficient. The research of these non-loss conditions is of great significance for understanding the evolution of quantum systems in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we construct toy models of the black hole and the white hole by setting proper boundaries in the Minkowski spacetime, according to the modern definition. We calculate the thermal effect of the black hole with the tunneling mechanism. We consider the role of boundary conditions at the singularity and on the horizon. In addition, we show that the white hole possesses a thermal absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variable-order time-fractional diffusion equations (VO-tFDEs), which can be used to model solute transport in heterogeneous porous media are considered. Concerning the well-posedness and regularity theory (cf., Zheng & Wang, Anal. Appl., 2020), two finite difference ADI and compact ADI schemes are respectively proposed for the two-dimensional VO-tFDE. We show that the two schemes are unconditionally stable and convergent with second and fourth orders in space with respect to corresponding discrete norms. Besides, efficiency and practical computation of the ADI schemes are also discussed. Furthermore, the ADI and compact ADI methods are extended to model three-dimensional VO-tFDE, and unconditional stability and convergence are also proved. Finally, several numerical examples are given to validate the theoretical analysis and show efficiency of the ADI methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a clinical condition arising from stroke and causes significant changes to memory, thinking, and behavior. Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), the metabolite produced by gut microbiota, has mechanistic relevance to atherosclerotic diseases. This study aimed to investigate whether an association existed between elevated plasma TMAO levels and PSCI.Methods: Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke were prospectively enrolled during Jan. 2017 to Dec. 2017. TMAO concentration was measured within 24 h after admission. PSCI was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score after 1 year and defined as MMSE score ≤ 26. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the contribution of TMAO level in the prediction of PSCI.Results: Of the 256 patients studied (age, 67.1 ± 11.0 years; male, 54.3%), 86 (33.6%) patients were diagnosed as PSCI. The mean TMAO level was 5.6 ± 2.4 μM, with quartile level as follows: < 3.9 μM (first quartile), 3.9-5.1 μM (second quartile), 5.2-7.4 μM (third quartile), and > 7.4 μM (fourth quartile). After controlling for potential confounders, multivariable logistic analysis showed that higher level of plasma TMAO was an independent predictor for cognitive impairment in post-stroke patients (the quartile 1 was used as reference, the quartile 4 odds ratio, 3.304; 95% confidence intervals, 1.335-8.178; P = 0.010).Conclusions: This study demonstrated that increasing plasma level of TMAO may be associated with PSCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avibacterium paragallinarum is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes infectious coryza in chicken. It was reported that the capsule polysaccharides extracted from Av. paragallinarum genotype A contained chondroitin. Chondroitin synthase of Av. paragallinarum (ApCS) encoded by one gene within the presumed capsule biosynthesis gene cluster exhibited considerable homology to identified bacterial chondroitin synthases. Herein, we report the identification and characterization of ApCS. This enzyme indeed displays chondroitin synthase activity involved in the biosynthesis of the capsule. ApCS is a bifunctional protein catalyzing the elongation of the chondroitin chain by alternatively transferring the glucuronic acid (GlcA) and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) residues from their nucleotide forms to the non-reducing ends of the saccharide chains. GlcA with a para-nitrophenyl group (pNP) could serve as the acceptor for ApCS; this enzyme shows a stringent donor tolerance when the acceptor is as small as this monosaccharide. Then, UDP-GalNAc and GlcA-pNP were injected sequentially through the chip-immobilized chondroitin synthases, and the surface plasmon resonance data demonstrated that the up-regulated extent caused by the binding of the donor is one possibly essential factor in successful polymerization reaction. This conclusion will, therefore, enhance the understanding of the mode of action of glycosyltransferase. Surprisingly, high activity at near-zero temperature as well as weak temperature dependence of this novel bacterial chondroitin synthase indicate that ApCS was a cold-active enzyme. From all accounts, ApCS becomes the fourth known bacterial chondroitin synthase, and the potential applications in artificial chondroitin sulfate and glycosaminoglycan synthetic approaches make it an attractive glycosyltransferase for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infections associated with titanium-based biomaterials have been one of the most serious postoperative complications in the orthopedic surgery. Great efforts have been made to improve the antimicrobial property of titanium-based biomaterials by virtue of the surface modification strategy. From the biomimetic perspective of vegetation roots anchoring soil, alkali treatment was conducted on metallic titanium to produce a nanoroot-structured surface in the present study; then, antimicrobial peptide was anchored within the nanoroot surface by vacuum extraction and lyophilization. As a result, the obtained antibacterial peptide-leashed titanium surface showed a hierarchical structure combining the designed nanoroot topography and the anchored antibiotic peptide. Furthermore, this modified surface could steadily release for more than 10 h in a time-dependent manner. As a consequence, the elaborate antimicrobial peptide-loaded surface demonstrated a powerful antibacterial and biofilm-resistant capability against two types of Staphylococcus, without significant cytotoxicity. Specifically, Peptide-2 can kill the most planktonic and sessile bacteria for two gram-positive bacteria. Therefore, the integration of antibacterial peptide onto titanium-based implant surface may be a hopeful tool to prevent implant-associated infections in the orthopedic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a numerical model for plate heat exchanger that is capable of handling supercritical CO fluid. The plate heat exchangers under investigation include Z-type (1-pass), U-type (1-pass), and 1-2 pass configurations. The plate spacing is 2.9 mm with a plate thickness of 0.8 mm, and the size of the plate is 600 mm wide and 218 mm in height with 60 degrees chevron angle. The proposed model takes into account the influence of gigantic change of CO properties. The simulation is first compared with some existing data for water-to-water plate heat exchangers with good agreements. The flow distribution, pressure drop, and heat transfer performance subject to the supercritical CO in plate heat exchangers are then investigated. It is found that the flow velocity increases consecutively from the entrance plate toward the last plate for the Z-type arrangement, and this is applicable for either water side or CO side. However, the flow distribution of the U-type arrangement in the water side shows opposite trend. Conversely, the flow distribution for U-type arrangement of CO depends on the specific flow ratio (C*). A lower C* like 0.1 may reverse the distribution, i.e. the flow velocity increases moderately alongside the plate channel like Z-type while a large C* of 1 would resemble the typical distribution in water channel. The flow distribution of CO side at the first and last plate shows a pronounced drop/surge phenomenon while the channels in water side does not reveal this kind of behavior. The performance of 2-pass plate heat exchanger, in terms of heat transfer rate, is better than that of 1-pass design only when C* is comparatively small (C* < 0.5). Multi-pass design is more effective when the dominant thermal resistance falls in the CO side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The order-2 self-similar serpentine interconnects (SSIs) that joint rigid, functional devices can ensure mechanical integrity and stretchability in electronic systems under large deformations. However, the conventional design and analysis aim merely at the freestanding order-2 SSIs. The paper studies the design law and the stretchability of order-2 SSI that are bonded onto the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate in stretchable electronics through analytical modeling, finite element method (FEM), and experiments. The scale law formula is built to predict the stretchability of the order-2 SSI with geometry parameters based on FEM simulation results. The out-of-plane and in-plane bending strains during lateral postbuckling processes are proportional to the thickness and width of the order-2 SSI, respectively. The stretchability of order-2 SSI decreases with the increasing ratio β of order-2 space L to order-1 space L , and it would be approximate to the stretchability of order-1 serpentine interconnect when β > 32. The optimized order-2 SSI is demonstrated in stretchable electronics application with high stretchability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although many studies have explored clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a few literatures reported the mutational status of lung adenocarcinomas with lepidic pattern and whether there is difference between adenocarcinomas with pure lepidic component and lepidic predominant adenocarcinomas remain unknown. Methods: One hundred and thirty-three patients including 92 adenocarcinomas with pure lepidic component and 41 lepidic predominant adenocarcinomas were subjected to the study. All the clinicopathologic data, the follow-up information and the status of gene mutations including EGFR, KRAS, HER2, BRAF, AKT1, ALK, RET and ROS1 were investigated. Results: Of the 133 lung adenocarcinomas with lepidic pattern, 87.22 % (116/133) were detected harboring mutations in our tested genes, among which 90.52 % (105/116) harbored EGFR mutation. There are three KRAS mutations and two BRAF mutations in our cohort, and we revealed two ALK fusion and one RET fusion. No ROS1 fusion was discovered. There was no significant difference in gene mutations between adenocarcinomas with pure lepidic component and lepidic predominant adenocarcinomas except EGFR mutation ( p = 0.039). Lepidic predominant adenocarcinomas seemed to have more EGFR mutation. The post-recurrence survival was significantly prolonged in patients who received TKIs. Conclusions: Adenocarcinoma with lepidic pattern is a low-grade lung tumor with favorable prognosis and displays frequent EGFR mutation. Compared with lepidic predominant adenocarcinomas, lung adenocarcinomas with pure lepidic component have a better prognosis. On the basis of these results, we also suggested the application of EGFR-TKIs therapy for EGFR mutation-positive patients after recurrence could achieve prolonged survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-3 (TIM-3, also known as HAVCR2) is an activation-induced inhibitory molecule involved in tolerance and shown to induce T-cell exhaustion in chronic viral infection and cancers. Under some conditions, TIM-3 expression has also been shown to be stimulatory. Considering that TIM-3, like cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death 1 (PD-1), is being targeted for cancer immunotherapy, it is important to identify the circumstances under which TIM-3 can inhibit and activate T-cell responses. Here we show that TIM-3 is co-expressed and forms a heterodimer with carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1), another well-known molecule expressed on activated T cells and involved in T-cell inhibition. Biochemical, biophysical and X-ray crystallography studies show that the membrane-distal immunoglobulin-variable (IgV)-like amino-terminal domain of each is crucial to these interactions. The presence of CEACAM1 endows TIM-3 with inhibitory function. CEACAM1 facilitates the maturation and cell surface expression of TIM-3 by forming a heterodimeric interaction in cis through the highly related membrane-distal N-terminal domains of each molecule. CEACAM1 and TIM-3 also bind in trans through their N-terminal domains. Both cis and trans interactions between CEACAM1 and TIM-3 determine the tolerance-inducing function of TIM-3. In a mouse adoptive transfer colitis model, CEACAM1-deficient T cells are hyper-inflammatory with reduced cell surface expression of TIM-3 and regulatory cytokines, and this is restored by T-cell-specific CEACAM1 expression. During chronic viral infection and in a tumour environment, CEACAM1 and TIM-3 mark exhausted T cells. Co-blockade of CEACAM1 and TIM-3 leads to enhancement of anti-tumour immune responses with improved elimination of tumours in mouse colorectal cancer models. Thus, CEACAM1 serves as a heterophilic ligand for TIM-3 that is required for its ability to mediate T-cell inhibition, and this interaction has a crucial role in regulating autoimmunity and anti-tumour immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrotechnic mixtures can produce aerosol fire extinguishing agent by combustion and serve as an efficient and economic alternative to the halons. In this work, magnesium powder was used as an additive to improve the combustion performance of the strontium nitrate-based pyrotechnic aerosol fire extinguishing agent. Optimization was carried out regarding extinguishing time, residue mass, combustion temperature, corrosiveness, combustion product and mass burning rate. Even though magnesium powder is a high energy combustion agent, the results showed that the flame temperature could be controlled within a reasonable range of 700°C to 900°C by proper formulation, and the performance of the strontium nitrate-based aerosol fire extinguishing agent can be improved efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The impact of patellar denervation with electrocautery in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on post-operative outcomes has been under debate. This study aims to conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review to compare the benefits and risks of circumpatellar electrocautery with those of non-electrocautery in primary TKAs. Methods: Comparative and randomized clinical studies were identified by conducting an electronic search of articles dated up to September 2012 in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane databases. Six studies that focus on a total of 849 knees were analysed. A random-effects model was conducted using the inverse-variance method for continuous variables and the Mantel-Haenszel method for dichotomous variables. Results: There was no significant difference in the incidence of anterior knee pain between the electrocautery and non-electrocautery groups. In term of patellar score and Knee Society Score, circumpatellar electrocautery improved clinical outcomes compared with non-electrocautery in TKAs. The statistical differences were in favour of the electrocautery group but have minimal clinical significance. In addition, the overall complications indicate no statistical significance between the two groups. Conclusions: This study shows no strong evidence either for or against electrocautery compared with non-electrocautery in TKAs. Level of evidence: Therapeutic study (systematic review and meta-analysis), Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an emerging hypothesis that exposure to cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and selenium (Se) in utero and early childhood could have long-term health consequences. However, there are sparse data on early life exposures to these elements in US populations, particularly in urban minority samples. This study measured levels of Cd, Hg, Pb, and Se in 50 paired maternal, umbilical cord, and postnatal blood samples from the Boston Birth Cohort (BBC). Maternal exposure to Cd, Hg, Pb, and Se was 100% detectable in red blood cells (RBCs), and there was a high degree of maternal-fetal transfer of Hg, Pb, and Se. In particular, we found that Hg levels in cord RBCs were 1.5 times higher than those found in the mothers. This study also investigated changes in concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb, and Se during the first few years of life. We found decreased levels of Hg and Se but elevated Pb levels in early childhood. Finally, this study investigated the association between metal burden and preterm birth and low birthweight. We found significantly higher levels of Hg in maternal and cord plasma and RBCs in preterm or low birthweight births, compared with term or normal birthweight births. In conclusion, this study showed that maternal exposure to these elements was widespread in the BBC, and maternal-fetal transfer was a major source of early life exposure to Hg, Pb, and Se. Our results also suggest that RBCs are better than plasma at reflecting the trans-placental transfer of Hg, Pb, and Se from the mother to the fetus. Our study findings remain to be confirmed in larger studies, and the implications for early screening and interventions of preconception and pregnant mothers and newborns warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effectiveness of robot-assisted surgery remains contentious due to the lack of high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to elevate the level of evidence. We aimed to evaluate the postoperative radiographic outcomes of robot-assisted (RAS-THA) versus manual (M-THA) total hip arthroplasty. Methods: This multicenter RCT was performed from March 1, 2021 to December 1, 2021. Patients were randomly assigned to routine M-THA or to RAS-THA that used the TRex-RS orthopedic joint surgical navigation system. The primary outcome was to compare the acetabular component orientation, femoral stem alignment, femoral canal fill ratio, and leg length discrepancy between RAS-THA and M-THA using postoperative radiography. Subgroup analyses of the two groups stratified by surgical approach, gender, and BMI were also conducted. Results: Seventy-three participants were randomly allocated to the RAS-THA group, while seventy-two participants were assigned to the M-THA group. Compared to the M-THA group, the RAS-THA group exhibited less variability in the preoperative planning of the vertical center of rotation (VCOR; P < 0.001), demonstrated a significant advantage in femoral stem alignment (P = 0.004), and showed pronounced decreases in inequality and in the variability in leg length discrepancy (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the Lewinnek safe-zone ratio (P = 0.081) and the femoral canal fill ratio (P > 0.05) between the two groups. Further subgroup analysis also showed that the RAS-THA group had fewer horizontal center of rotation (HCOR) and leg length differences when stratified by surgical approach, gender, and overweight status. Conclusion: This RCT found that, regardless of the surgical approach, gender, or body mass index, RAS-THA can effectively improve the postoperative VCOR and significantly reduce the variability of leg length difference. RAS-THA should be considered an effective method to enhance surgical precision by achieving less variability in challenging patients with leg length discrepancies. Trial registration: ChiCTR2100044124. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let $${(G,\tilde{G})}$$ be a reductive dual pair over a local field $${\mathfrak{k}}$$ of characteristic 0, and denote by V and $${\tilde{V}}$$ the standard modules of G and $${\tilde{G}}$$ , respectively. Consider the set $${{\rm Max} {\rm Hom} (V,\tilde{V})}$$ of full rank elements in $${{\rm Hom}(V,\tilde{V})}$$ , and the nilpotent orbit correspondence $${\mathcal{O} \subset \mathfrak{g}}$$ and $${\Theta (\mathcal{O})\subset \tilde{\mathfrak{g}}}$$ induced by elements of $${{\rm Max} {\rm Hom} (V,\tilde{V})}$$ via the moment maps. Let $${(\pi,\fancyscript{V})}$$ be a smooth irreducible representation of G. We show that there is a correspondence of the generalized Whittaker models of π of type $${\mathcal{O}}$$ and of Θ ( π) of type $${\Theta (\mathcal{O})}$$ , where Θ ( π) is the full theta lift of π. When $${(G,\tilde{G})}$$ is in the stable range with G the smaller member, every nilpotent orbit $${\mathcal{O} \subset \mathfrak{g}}$$ is in the image of the moment map from $${{\rm Max} {\rm Hom} (V,\tilde{V})}$$ . In this case, and for $${\mathfrak{k}}$$ non-Archimedean, the result has been previously obtained by Mœglin in a different approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infection of orthopedic implantation devices with Staphylococcus is a serious concern within the biomaterial community. Treatments are not always successful because of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and serious biofilm infections. Human β-defensin 3 (hBD-3) is considered to be the most promising class of defensin antimicrobial peptides and its effect on antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus biofilms, combined with ultrasound (US)-targeted microbubble (MB) destruction (UTMD), has not been reported. In the study, we found that biofilm densities, the percentage of live cells and the viable counts of two tested Staphylococcus recovered from the biofilm were significantly decreased in the maximum concentration hBD-3 combined with UTMD compared with those of any other groups. Furthermore, results suggested that UTMD could also enhance 1MIC hBD-3 activity inhibiting the biofilm-associated genes expression of icaAD and the methicillin-resistance genes expression of MecA by simultaneously promoting the icaR expression. UTMD may have great potential for improving antibiotic activity against biofilm infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are three main approaches for reconstructing 3D models of buildings. Laser scanning is accurate but expensive and limited by the laser's range. Structure-from-motion (SfM) and multi-view stereo (MVS) recover 3D point clouds from multiple views of a building. MVS methods, especially patch-based MVS, can achieve higher density than do SfM methods. Sophisticated algorithms need to be applied to the point clouds to construct mesh surfaces. The recovered point clouds can be sparse in areas that lack features for accurate reconstruction, making recovery of complete surfaces difficult. Moreover, segmentation of the building's surfaces from surrounding surfaces almost always requires some form of manual inputs, diminishing the ease of practical application of automatic 3D reconstruction algorithms. This paper presents an alternative approach for reconstructing textured mesh surfaces from point cloud recovered by patch-based MVS method. To a good first approximation, a building's surfaces can be modeled by planes or curve surfaces which are fitted to the point cloud. 3D points are resampled on the fitted surfaces in an orderly pattern, whose colors are obtained from the input images. This approach is simple, inexpensive, and effective for reconstructing textured mesh surfaces of large buildings. Test results show that the reconstructed 3D models are sufficiently accurate and realistic for 3D visualization in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing 3 (Tim-3) is an inhibitory receptor that is expressed on exhausted T cells during infection with HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus. By contrast, Tim-3 expression and function are defective in multiple human autoimmune diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms modulating Tim-3 function are not well understood. Here we show that human leukocyte antigen B (HLA-B)-associated transcript 3 (Bat3) binds to, and represses the function of, Tim-3. Bat3 protects T helper type 1 (TH1) cells from galectin-9-mediated cell death and promotes both proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine production. Bat3-deficient T cells have elevated expression of exhaustion-associated molecules such as Tim-3, Lag3, Prdm1 and Pbx3, and Bat3 knockdown in myelin-antigen-specific CD4+ T cells markedly inhibits the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis while promoting the expansion of a dysfunctional Tim-3hi, interferon-? (IFN-?)loCD4+ cell population. Furthermore, expression of Bat3 is reduced in exhausted Tim-3+ T cells from mouse tumors and HIV-1-infected individuals. These data indicate that Bat3 acts as an inhibitor of Tim-3-dependent exhaustion and cell death. Bat3 may thus represent a viable therapeutic target in autoimmune disorders, chronic infections and cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fusion oncogene, promyelocytic leukaemia (PML)-retinoic acid receptor-α (RARA), initiates acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) through both a block to differentiation and increased self-renewal of leukaemic progenitor cells. The current standard of care is retinoic acid (RA) and chemotherapy, but arsenic trioxide also cures many patients with APL, and an RA plus arsenic trioxide combination cures most patients. This Review discusses the recent evidence that reveals surprising new insights into how RA and arsenic trioxide cure this leukaemia, by targeting PML-RARα for degradation. Drug-triggered oncoprotein degradation may be a strategy that is applicable to many cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic solid-state nanopores are being intensively investigated as single-molecule sensors for detection and characterization of DNA, RNA and proteins. This field has been inspired by the exquisite selectivity and flux demonstrated by natural biological channels and the dream of emulating these behaviours in more robust synthetic materials that are more readily integrated into practical devices. So far, the guided etching of polymer films, focused ion-beam sculpting, and electron-beam lithography and tuning of silicon nitride membranes have emerged as three promising approaches to define synthetic solid-state pores with sub-nanometre resolution. These procedures have in common the formation of nominally cylindrical or conical pores aligned normal to the membrane surface. Here we report the formation of ‘kinked’ silica nanopores, using evaporation-induced self-assembly, and their further tuning and chemical derivatization using atomic-layer deposition. Compared with ‘straight through’ proteinaceous nanopores of comparable dimensions, kinked nanopores exhibit up to fivefold reduction in translocation velocity, which has been identified as one of the critical issues in DNA sequencing. Additionally, we demonstrate an efficient two-step approach to create a nanopore array exhibiting nearly perfect selectivity for ssDNA over dsDNA. We show that a coarse-grained drift–diffusion theory with a sawtooth-like potential can reasonably describe the velocity and translocation time of DNA through the pore. By control of pore size, length and shape, we capture the main functional behaviours of protein pores in our solid-state nanopore system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply the dual algorithm of Chambolle for the minimization of the LLT model. A convergence theorem is given for the proposed algorithm. The algorithm overcomes the numerical difficulties related to the non-differentiability of the LLT model. The dual algorithm is faster than the original gradient descent algorithm. Numerical experiments are supplied to demonstrate the efficiency of the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract??In this paper, we described the direct somatic embryogenesis from both immature cotyledon cuts and nucelli in the same mango cultivar (Mangifera indicaL. varZihua), studied the effect of growth conditions of embryogenic cultures (EMs) on cryopreservation and compared the cryopreservation response of EMs induced from these two different explants. Histological studies demonstrated that EMs derived from nucelli could be induced directly from epidermal cells of both sides of nucelli, whereas EMs derived from cotyledon cuts were induced only from epidermal cells of the adaxial side of the cotyledons. EMs from either nucelli or cotyledon cuts could be maintained in liquid medium or on solid medium and cryopreserved using a vitrification procedure. Success of cryopreservation of EMs depended on the dehydration treatment and the defined growth conditions during culture but not on their origins. When EMs were sampled during their exponential growth phase in liquid medium and dehydrated with PVS3solution for 5 min, survival of the EMs induced from cotyledon cuts and nucelli reached 77.7 and 80%, respectively, after cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen for 24 h. Furthermore, when dehydrated with PVS3solution for 30?min, all EMs induced from cotyledon cuts and 96.7% of EMs induced from nucelli could survive after cryopreservation. Cryopreservation did not affect the plant regeneration potential of EMs through somatic embryogenesis. The protocols of somatic embryogenesis and cryopreservation of mango EMs established in this study may offer potential ways to improve mango germplasm conservation and genetic improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic code is not random but instead is organized in such a way that single nucleotide substitutions are more likely to result in changes between similar amino acids. This fidelity, or error minimization, has been proposed to be an adaptation within the genetic code. Many models have been proposed to measure this adaptation within the genetic code. However, we find that none of these consider codon usage differences between species. Furthermore, use of different indices of amino acid physicochemical characteristics leads to different estimations of this adaptation within the code. In this study, we try to establish a more accurate model to address this problem. In our model, a weighting scheme is established for mistranslation biases of the three different codon positions, transition/transversion biases, and codon usage. Different indices of amino acids’ physicochemical characteristics are also considered. In contrast to pervious work, our results show that the natural genetic code is not fully optimized for error minimization. The genetic code, therefore, is not the most optimized one for error minimization, but one that balances between flexibility and fidelity for different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the theory of elastic wave propagation in saturated soil subgrade established by the author of this paper, the axisymmetric vertical vibration of a rigid circular foundation resting on partially saturated soil subgrade which is composed of a dry elastic layer and a saturated substratum is studied. The analysis relied on the use of integral transform techniques and a pair of dual integral equations governing the vertical vibration of the rigid foundation is listed under the consideration of mixed boundary-value condition. The results are reduced to the case for saturated half-space. The set of dual integral equations are reduced to a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind and solved by numerical procedures. Numerical examples are given at the end of the paper and plots of the dynamic compliance coefficient Cv versus the dimensionless frequency a0 are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Understanding microbial compositions and functions in arable soils is crucial for effective agroecosystem management. While many studies have explored this topic, large-scale investigations are lacking, resulting in the absence of consistent and reliable patterns of communities and functions of soil microorganisms. Methods: To address this gap, we performed an integrated analysis of published sequencing data from the soils of three main arable fields: upland, paddy, and paddy-upland rotation. Results: Bacterial diversity (richness, Shannon) was highest in upland soils. Actinobacteria and Planctomycetes were enriched in upland soils, while Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Nitrospirae preferred paddy and paddy-upland rotation soils. Bacteria in upland soils have a greater functional potential to decompose aromatic compounds, as well as for chitinolysis and ureolysis. Methanotrophy, methylotrophy, sulfur-related respiration, and most nitrogen metabolic processes were enriched in paddy fields. Bacteria in upland soils are characterized by increased dormancy potential and a faster response to resource input than those in paddy and paddy-upland rotation soils. Stochastic processes poorly contribute to the bacterial assembly in paddy soils, indicating strong environmental filtering due to anaerobic conditions. The spatial turnover in bacterial community composition was much faster than the functional potential, indicating high functional redundancy, especially in paddy soils. Edaphic factors were the major contributors to bacterial composition, whereas the cropland type influenced the predicted functions. Conclusions: Land use defines microbial composition, functional attributes, and ecological characteristics (e.g., dormancy potential, assembly processes, and functional redundancy). These findings deepen our knowledge of microbial biogeographic patterns in soils of agricultural ecosystems and provide new insights into sustainable cropland management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G be a special linear group over the real, the complex or the quaternion, or a special unitary group. In this note, we determine all special unipotent representations of G in the sense of Arthur and Barbasch–Vogan, and show in particular that all of them are unitarizable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a challenge to make thorough but efficient experimental designs for the coupled mineral dissolution and precipitation studies in a multi-mineral system, because it is difficult to speculate the best experimental duration, optimal sampling schedule, effects of different experimental conditions, and how to maximize the experimental outputs prior to the actual experiments. Geochemical modeling is an efficient and effective tool to assist the experimental design by virtually running all scenarios of interest for the studied system and predicting the experimental outcomes. Here we demonstrated an example of geochemical modeling assisted experimental design of coupled labradorite dissolution and calcite and clayey mineral precipitation using multiple isotope tracers. In this study, labradorite (plagioclase) was chosen as the reactant because it is both a major component and one of the most reactive minerals in basalt. Following our isotope doping studies of single minerals in the last ten years, initial solutions in the simulations were doped with multiple isotopes (e.g., Ca and Si). Geochemical modeling results show that the use of isotope tracers gives us orders of magnitude more sensitivity than the conventional method based on concentrations and allows us to decouple dissolution and precipitation reactions at near-equilibrium condition. The simulations suggest that the precise unidirectional dissolution rates can inform us which rate laws plagioclase dissolution has followed. Calcite precipitation occurred at near-equilibrium and the multiple isotope tracer experiments would provide near-equilibrium precipitation rates, which was a challenge for the conventional concentration-based experiments. In addition, whether the precipitation of clayey phases is the rate-limiting step in some multi-mineral systems will be revealed. Overall, the modeling results of multi-mineral reaction kinetics will improve the understanding of the coupled dissolution–precipitation in the multi-mineral systems and the quality of geochemical modeling prediction of CO2 removal and storage efficacy in the basalt systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the image super-resolution (SR) method based on sparse representation has the problem that the reconstruction speed and quality are difficult to be achieved simultaneously. Therefore, this paper proposes an improved anchor neighborhood regression SR algorithm based on low-rank constraint. Firstly, considering the critical role of locality in nonlinear data learning, the locally weighted regularization weight is introduced in the calculation of the projection matrix, which can constrain the projection process according to the correlation between the anchor point and the atoms in the corresponding neighborhood. Then, in the reconstruction phase, based on the assumption of low-rank between similar blocks, further constraints are made on the reconstruction blocks to obtain better reconstruction image quality. Experiments show that our method can not only reconstruct more image details but also achieve better reconstruction speed. Compared with some state-of-the-art sparse representation method, it achieves better reconstruction results in objective evaluation criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a common process during tumor progression and is always related to residual tumor, drug resistance and immune suppression. However, considering the heterogeneity in EMT process, there is still a need to establish robust EMT classification system with reasonable molecular, biological and clinical implications to investigate whether these unfavorable survival factors are common or unique in different individuals. In our work, we classify tumors with four EMT status, that is, EMTlow, EMTmid, EMThigh-NOS (Not Otherwise Specified), and EMThigh-AKT (AKT pathway overactivation) subtypes. We find that EMThigh-NOS subtype is driven by intrinsic somatic alterations. While, EMThigh-AKT subtype is maintained by extrinsic cellular interplay between tumor cells and macrophages in an AKT-dependent manner. EMThigh-AKT subtype is both unresectable and drug resistant while EMThigh-NOS subtype can be treated with cell cycle related drugs. Importantly, AKT activation in EMThigh-AKT not only enhances EMT process, but also contributes to the immunosuppressive microenvironment. By remodeling tumor immune-microenvironment by AKT inhibition, EMThigh-AKT can be treated by immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Meanwhile, we develop TumorMT website (http://tumormt.neuroscience.org.cn/) to apply this EMT classification and provide reasonable therapeutic guidance. A pan-cancer study indicates two mesenchymal-like tumor subtypes with distinct intrinsic or extrinsic driving mechanisms and could be used to guide chemotherapy and immune therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumatic transportation systems (PTS) were recently proposed as a method to carry ready-for-injection diluted monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from the pharmacy to the bedside of patients. This method reduces transportation time and improves the efficiency of drug distribution process. However, mAbs are highly sensitive molecules for which subtle alterations may lead to deleterious clinical effects. These alterations can be caused by various external factors such as temperature, pH, pressure, and mechanical forces that may occur during transportation. Hence, it is essential to ensure that the mAbs transported by PTS remain stable and active throughout the transportation process. This study aims to determine the safety profile of PTS to transport 11 routinely used mAbs in a clinical setting through assessment of critical quality attributes (CQA) and orthogonal analysis. Hence, we performed aggregation/degradation profiling, post-translational modifications identification using complementary mass spectrometry-based methods, along with visible and subvisible particle formation determination by light absorbance and light obscuration analysis. Altogether, these results highlight that PTS can be safely used for this purpose when air is removed from the bags during preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Synaptic devices that mimic synaptic functions are discussed by categorizing them into electrically stimulated, optically stimulated, and photoelectric synergetic synaptic devices based on stimulation of electrical and optical signals. The working mechanisms, progress, and application scenarios of synaptic devices based on electrical and optical signals are compared and analyzed. The performances and future development of various synaptic devices that could be significant for building efficient neuromorphic systems are prospected.Neuromorphic computing simulates the operation of biological brain function for information processing and can potentially solve the bottleneck of the von Neumann architecture. This computing is realized based on memristive hardware neural networks in which synaptic devices that mimic biological synapses of the brain are the primary units. Mimicking synaptic functions with these devices is critical in neuromorphic systems. In the last decade, electrical and optical signals have been incorporated into the synaptic devices and promoted the simulation of various synaptic functions. In this review, these devices are discussed by categorizing them into electrically stimulated, optically stimulated, and photoelectric synergetic synaptic devices based on stimulation of electrical and optical signals. The working mechanisms of the devices are analyzed in detail. This is followed by a discussion of the progress in mimicking synaptic functions. In addition, existing application scenarios of various synaptic devices are outlined. Furthermore, the performances and future development of the synaptic devices that could be significant for building efficient neuromorphic systems are prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the accuracy of neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (NM-MRI) in Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis using a meta-analysis method. In PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar, the literatures were searched for the diagnostic value of neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging in PD. The literatures were screened in the light of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Data analysis was processed by Stata 12.0 software to obtain meta-analysis, heterogeneity analysis, and publication bias. Meta-analysis results showed by using NM-MRI observed substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) on PD, the pooled diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 0.82 (95% CI, 0.74-0.87) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.73-0.89), respectively. And the pooled positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) were 4.58 (95% CI, 3.08-6.82) and 0.22 (95% CI, 0.16-0.31), respectively. Moreover, subgroup analysis according to the measurement criteria of SNpc showed the SNpc volume should be used as good a marker for diagnosing PD. Finally, Fagan test demonstrated that when PLR was equal to 5, the posterior probability is significantly enhanced to 53%, compared with prior probability (20%). As for NLR (0.22), the prior probability is 20%, while the posterior probability remarkably dropped to 5%. In conclusion, SNpc signal detected by NM-MRI exhibited high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of PD, which was a high-performance imaging diagnostic method for PD. We recommend NM-MRI imaging technology to be widely used in Parkinson's diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare the peri- and postoperative outcomes of patients treated with conventional versus robot-assisted laparoendoscopic single-site radical prostatectomy (C-LESS-RP vs. R-LESS-RP). Data of patients with prostate cancer (106 who underwent C-LESS-RP, 124 underwent R-LESS-RP) were retrospectively collected and analyzed. All operations were performed by the same surgeon from January 8, 2018, to January 6, 2021, in the same institution. Information on clinical characteristics and perioperative outcomes was obtained from records at the medical institution. Postoperative outcomes were acquired from follow-up. Intergroup differences were retrospectively analyzed and compared. All patients had similar clinical characteristics in meaningful aspects. The perioperative outcomes were better with R-LESS-RP than with C-LESS-RP in terms of operation time (120 min vs. 150 min, p < 0.05), estimated blood loss (17.68 ml vs. 33.68 ml, p < 0.05), and analgesic duration (0 days vs. 1 days, p < 0.05). The drainage tube duration and postoperative stay did not differ significantly between groups. However, R-LESS-RP was more expensive than C-LESS-RP (56559.510 CNY vs. 44818.27 CNY, p < 0.05). The patients who underwent R-LESS-RP had better urinary incontinence recovery and higher European quality of life visual analog scale scores than those who underwent C-LESS-RP. However, no significant intergroup difference was noted in biochemical recurrence. In conclusion, R-LESS-RP could achieve better perioperative outcomes, especially for those skilled surgeons who have mastered C-LESS-RP. Additionally, R-LESS-RP accelerated the recovery from urinary incontinence effectively and presented some benefits in health-related quality of life with additional costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Considering the global demands in sustaining agriculture, use of organic amendments is gradually increasing. An improved understanding of the biological process is essential to evaluate the performance of organic amendments on agro-ecosystem.Methods: Soils subjected to different fertilization regimes were collected from a field experiment. Microbial community compositions are assessed with 16S and ITS rRNA gene sequencing and subsequent bioinformatics analysis. Microbial functions are characterized with the geometric mean of the assayed enzyme activities (GMea) and the microbial carbon-use efficiency:nitrogen-use efficiency ratio (CUE:NUE).Results: Compared with the chemically fertilized soil, the GMea significantly increased in organically amended soils. In contrast, the CUE:NUE was highest in chemically treated soil. These changes of microbial functional indicators were associated with shifts in the bacterial and not the fungal community composition, despite the fact that both the bacterial and fungal community compositions were significantly affected by the fertilization regimes. The abundances of specific soil bacterial taxa, especially the genera Luteimonas and Gemmatimona, were enriched by organic amendments. Soil organic carbon emerged as the major determinant of the bacterial community composition.Conclusions: Soil microbial activities and nutrient-use efficiencies were dramatically changed along with the alteration of bacterial community composition. Relatively greater abundance of Luteimonas and Gemmatimona taxa in soils might be useful indicators for soil amelioration. Our research could be helpful to provide better strategies for the maintenance of soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural soils with (M+) or without (M−) organic amendment were collected from four long-term field experiments to investigate soil fungal community composition and its relationship to the soil ionome by employing both the sequencing of fungal internal transcription spacer (ITS) fragments and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Fungal community composition was primarily impacted by physical location while organic amendment triggered community shifts in the same direction in all four sites. Overall, the fungal community was strongly correlated to soil pH that, conversely, impacted soil ion availability. Fungal community dissimilarity was strongly correlated to soil ionome (ionic profile) variability. Network analysis has been conducted to explore the biotic interactions in soil ecosystem, in which species (nodes) are connected by pairwise interactions (links). The results revealed that organic amendment led to a higher number of correlated nodes to soil ions, links, modules (a group of nodes more densely connected to each other than to nodes outside the group), and positive links within and between modules. Moreover, specific fungal modules were independently correlated with soil ions, suggesting that each module represents a functional guild or collection of similar fungal ecotypes. Module size (number of nodes in a module) exhibited no apparent influence on the scale of these correlations. The increase in cooperative/synergistic interactions with organic amendment suggests that application results in a better-organized and more efficient community with enhanced potential soil fungal interactions mediated by alterations in the soil ionome. Overall, this study indicates that these less commonly measured soil ions play an important role and may be used to reveal previously undetermined drivers of the soil microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different acquisition data approaches have been used to fetch the fluorescence spectra. However, the comparison between them is rare. Also, the extendability of a sensor array, which can work with heavy metal ions and other types of analytes, is scarce. In this study, we used first- and second-order fluorescent data generated by 6-Aza-2-thiothymine-gold nanocluster (ATT-AuNCs) as a single probe along with machine learning to distinguish between a group of heavy metal ions. Moreover, the dimensionality reduction was carried out for the different acquisition data approaches. In our case, the accuracy of different machine learning algorithms using first-order data outperforms the second-order data before and after the dimensionality reduction. For proving the extendibility of this approach, four anions were used as an example. As expected, the same finding has been found. Furthermore, random forest (RF) showed more stable and accurate results than other models. Also, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) gave acceptable accuracy in the analysis of the high-dimensionality data. Accordingly, using LDA in high-dimensionality data (the first- and second-order data) analysis was highlighted for discrimination between the selected heavy metal ions in different concentrations and in different molar ratios, as well as in real samples. Also, the same method was applied for the anion's discrimination, and LDA gave an excellent separation ability. Moreover, LDA was able to differentiate between all the selected analytes with excellent separation ability. Additionally, the quantitative detection was considered using a wide concentration range of Cd2+, and the LOD was 60.40 nM. Therefore, we believe that our approach opens new avenues for linking analytical chemistry, especially sensor array chemistry, with machine learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several important equilibrium Si isotope fractionation factors among minerals, organic molecules and the HSiO solution are complemented to facilitate the explanation of the distributions of Si isotopes in Earth's surface environments. The results reveal that, in comparison to aqueous HSiO, heavy Si isotopes will be significantly enriched in secondary silicate minerals. On the contrary, quadra-coordinated organosilicon complexes are enriched in light silicon isotope relative to the solution. The extent of Si-enrichment in hyper-coordinated organosilicon complexes was found to be the largest. In addition, the large kinetic isotope effect associated with the polymerization of monosilicic acid and dimer was calculated, and the results support the previous statement that highly Si-enrichment in the formation of amorphous quartz precursor contributes to the discrepancy between theoretical calculations and field observations. With the equilibrium Si isotope fractionation factors provided here, Si isotope distributions in many of Earth's surface systems can be explained. For example, the change of bulk soil δSi can be predicted as a concave pattern with respect to the weathering degree, with the minimum value where allophane completely dissolves and the total amount of sesqui-oxides and poorly crystalline minerals reaches their maximum. When, under equilibrium conditions, the well-crystallized clays start to precipitate from the pore solutions, the bulk soil δSi will increase again and reach a constant value. Similarly, the precipitation of crystalline smectite and the dissolution of poorly crystalline kaolinite may explain the δSi variations in the ground water profile. The equilibrium Si isotope fractionations among the quadra-coordinated organosilicon complexes and the HSiO solution may also shed light on the Si isotope distributions in the Si-accumulating plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daptomycin is a new lipopeptide antibiotic for treatment of severe infection caused by multi-drug-resistant bacteria, but its production cost remains high currently. Thus, it is very important to improve the fermentation ability of the daptomycin producer Streptomyces roseosporus. Here, we found that the deletion of proteasome in S. roseosporus would result in the loss of ability to produce daptomycin. Therefore, transcriptome and 4D label-free proteome analyses of the proteasome mutant (Δprc) and wild type were carried out, showing 457 differential genes. Further, five genes were screened by integrated crotonylation omics analysis. Among them, two genes (orf04750/orf05959) could significantly promote the daptomycin synthesis by overexpression, and the fermentation yield in shake flask increased by 54% and 76.7%, respectively. By enhancing the crotonylation modification via lysine site mutation (K-Q), the daptomycin production in shake flask was finally increased by 98.8% and 206.3%, respectively. This result proved that the crotonylation modification of appropriate proteins could effectively modulate daptomycin biosynthesis. In summary, we established a novel strategy of gene screen for antibiotic biosynthesis process, which is more convenient than the previous screening method based on pathway-specific regulators. Key points: • Δprc strain has lost the ability of daptomycin production • Five genes were screened by multi-omics analysis • Two genes (orf04750/orf05959) could promote the daptomycin synthesis by overexpression [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Paenibacillus spp. are widely considered to impact the fertility and health of soil. The aim of this study was to evaluate how different fertilization regimes affect the population size and community structure of Paenibacillus spp. over a long period of time in red soil. Methods: Soil samples were collected from a long-term experiment and were then analyzed using real-time PCR and PCR-DGGE. The correlation analysis, PCA and RDA were used to explore the relationships among Paenibacillus spp. population, community structure and soil properties in different treatments. Results: The pH was seriously decreased only by the application of chemical fertilizer. The largest population of Paenibacillus spp. was found in the soil treated with organic fertilizer application, while the richest diversity was observed in the soil treated only with the chemical fertilizer. The Paenibacillus spp., Paenibacillus alkaliterrae, Paenibacillus campinasensis, and Paenibacillus xylanilyticus were found in all treatments. Paenibacillus castaneae was found in the soil treated with NPK, and Paenibacillus pabuli was specifically observed in the lime-amended treatment. Paenibacillus taichungensis and Paenibacillus prosopidis were detected in the soil treated with only chemical fertilizer. Except for the ammonium and pH, all the tested soil fertility parameters (total C, total N, nitrate, available K and available P) could significantly affect both the Paenibacillus spp. population number and diversity. The soil pH was significantly correlated with Paenibacillus spp. diversity only. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the different long-term fertilization regimes have varied impact on both the Paenibacillus spp. population size and the diversity of the community associated with the soil properties tested. These results can help to enrich the information on the response of beneficial soil microbes to different long-term fertilization regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is overexpressed in primary and metastatic tumor. Molecular imaging of FSHR is beneficial for prognosis and therapy of cancer. FSHβ(33-53) (YTRDLVYKDPARPKIQKTCTF), denoted as FSH1, is a FSHR antagonist. In the present study, maleimide-NOTA conjugate of FSH1 (NOTA-MAL-FSH1) was designed and labeled with [(18)F] aluminum fluoride. The resulting tracer, (18)F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1, was preliminarily evaluated in PET imaging of FSHR-positive tumor.Procedures: NOTA-MAL-FSH1 was synthesized and radiolabeled with Al(18)F complex. The tumor-targeting potential and pharmacokinetic profile of the (18)F-labeled compound were evaluated in vitro and in vivo using a PC3 human prostate tumor model.Results: (18)F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1 can be efficiently produced within 30 min with a non-decay-corrected yield of 48.6 ± 2.1 % and a radiochemical purity of more than 95 %. The specific activity was at least 30 GBq/μmol. The radiotracer was stable in phosphate-buffered saline and human serum for at least 2 h. The IC50 values of displacement (18)F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1 with FSH1 were 252 ± 1.12 nM. The PC3 human prostate tumor xenografts were clearly visible with high contrast after injection of (18)F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1 via microPET. At 30, 60 and 120 min postinjection, the tumor uptakes were 2.98 ± 0.29 % injected dose (ID)/g, 2.53 ± 0.20 %ID/g and 1.36 ± 0.12 %ID/g, respectively. Dynamic PET scanning showed that tumor uptake reached a plateau by about 6 min. Heart peaked earlier and then cleared quickly. Biodistribution studies confirmed that the normal organs except kidney uptakes were all below 1 %ID/g at 1 h p.i. The tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-muscle ratio at 10 min, 0.5, 1, and 2 h after injection were 1.64 ± 0.36, 2.97 ± 0.40, 9.31 ± 1.06, and 13.59 ± 2.33 and 7.05 ± 1.10, 10.10 ± 1.48, 16.17 ± 3.29, and 30.88 ± 4.67, respectively. The tracer was excreted mainly through the renal system, as evidenced by high levels of radioactivity in the kidneys. FSHR-binding specificity was also demonstrated by reduced tumor uptake of (18)F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1 after coinjection with an excess of unlabeled FSH1 peptide.Conclusion: NOTA-MAL-FSH1 could be labeled rapidly and efficiently with (18)F using one step method. Favorable preclinical data suggest that (18)F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1 may be a suitable radiotracer for the non-invasive visualization of FSHR positive tumor in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is overexpressed in primary and metastatic tumor. Molecular imaging of FSHR is beneficial for prognosis and therapy of cancer. FSHβ(33-53) (YTRDLVYKDPARPKIQKTCTF), denoted as FSH1, is a FSHR antagonist. In the present study, maleimide-NOTA conjugate of FSH1 (NOTA-MAL-FSH1) was designed and labeled with [F] aluminum fluoride. The resulting tracer, F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1, was preliminarily evaluated in PET imaging of FSHR-positive tumor. Procedures: NOTA-MAL-FSH1 was synthesized and radiolabeled with AlF complex. The tumor-targeting potential and pharmacokinetic profile of the F-labeled compound were evaluated in vitro and in vivo using a PC3 human prostate tumor model. Results: F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1 can be efficiently produced within 30 min with a non-decay-corrected yield of 48.6 ± 2.1 % and a radiochemical purity of more than 95 %. The specific activity was at least 30 GBq/μmol. The radiotracer was stable in phosphate-buffered saline and human serum for at least 2 h. The IC values of displacement F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1 with FSH1 were 252 ± 1.12 nM. The PC3 human prostate tumor xenografts were clearly visible with high contrast after injection of F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1 via microPET. At 30, 60 and 120 min postinjection, the tumor uptakes were 2.98 ± 0.29 % injected dose (ID)/g, 2.53 ± 0.20 %ID/g and 1.36 ± 0.12 %ID/g, respectively. Dynamic PET scanning showed that tumor uptake reached a plateau by about 6 min. Heart peaked earlier and then cleared quickly. Biodistribution studies confirmed that the normal organs except kidney uptakes were all below 1 %ID/g at 1 h p.i. The tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-muscle ratio at 10 min, 0.5, 1, and 2 h after injection were 1.64 ± 0.36, 2.97 ± 0.40, 9.31 ± 1.06, and 13.59 ± 2.33 and 7.05 ± 1.10, 10.10 ± 1.48, 16.17 ± 3.29, and 30.88 ± 4.67, respectively. The tracer was excreted mainly through the renal system, as evidenced by high levels of radioactivity in the kidneys. FSHR-binding specificity was also demonstrated by reduced tumor uptake of F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1 after coinjection with an excess of unlabeled FSH1 peptide. Conclusion: NOTA-MAL-FSH1 could be labeled rapidly and efficiently with F using one step method. Favorable preclinical data suggest that F-Al-NOTA-MAL-FSH1 may be a suitable radiotracer for the non-invasive visualization of FSHR positive tumor in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Above- and belowground biodiversity determines the capacity of ecosystems to provide multiple functions simultaneously (i.e., multifunctionality), while their relative importance along environmental gradients remains unclear. Our objective of this study was to investigate how plant and microbial diversity along an altitudinal gradient affected soil multifunctionality in grasslands.The effects of plant and microbial (including bacteria, fungi and archaea) diversity on soil multifunctionality were estimated along a 2300 m altitudinal gradient across six grassland types in the Tianshan Mountain, China. The soil multifunctionality was calculated based on 12 parameters related to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous cycling, and soil nutrient status.The relative importance of plant and microbial diversity to soil multifunctionality shifted at an altitude of 1900 m while threshold for each soil function varied along altitudinal gradient. At low altitudes (< 1900 m), plant species richness showed a robust positive effect and had a more substantial impact on soil multifunctionality than microbial diversity. Altitude had a significant effect on plant species richness via indirect means by altering soil moisture. At high altitudes (> 1900 m), soil multifunctionality was influenced by a combination of plant and microbial diversity. Similarly, fungal richness was positively associated with soil multifunctionality, while archaeal richness had the opposite effect.The effect of plant and soil microbial diversity on soil multifunctionality was mediated by altitude in grasslands, which can guide the restoration efforts aimed to maximize soil multifunctionality in grassland ecosystems.Methods: Above- and belowground biodiversity determines the capacity of ecosystems to provide multiple functions simultaneously (i.e., multifunctionality), while their relative importance along environmental gradients remains unclear. Our objective of this study was to investigate how plant and microbial diversity along an altitudinal gradient affected soil multifunctionality in grasslands.The effects of plant and microbial (including bacteria, fungi and archaea) diversity on soil multifunctionality were estimated along a 2300 m altitudinal gradient across six grassland types in the Tianshan Mountain, China. The soil multifunctionality was calculated based on 12 parameters related to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous cycling, and soil nutrient status.The relative importance of plant and microbial diversity to soil multifunctionality shifted at an altitude of 1900 m while threshold for each soil function varied along altitudinal gradient. At low altitudes (< 1900 m), plant species richness showed a robust positive effect and had a more substantial impact on soil multifunctionality than microbial diversity. Altitude had a significant effect on plant species richness via indirect means by altering soil moisture. At high altitudes (> 1900 m), soil multifunctionality was influenced by a combination of plant and microbial diversity. Similarly, fungal richness was positively associated with soil multifunctionality, while archaeal richness had the opposite effect.The effect of plant and soil microbial diversity on soil multifunctionality was mediated by altitude in grasslands, which can guide the restoration efforts aimed to maximize soil multifunctionality in grassland ecosystems.Results: Above- and belowground biodiversity determines the capacity of ecosystems to provide multiple functions simultaneously (i.e., multifunctionality), while their relative importance along environmental gradients remains unclear. Our objective of this study was to investigate how plant and microbial diversity along an altitudinal gradient affected soil multifunctionality in grasslands.The effects of plant and microbial (including bacteria, fungi and archaea) diversity on soil multifunctionality were estimated along a 2300 m altitudinal gradient across six grassland types in the Tianshan Mountain, China. The soil multifunctionality was calculated based on 12 parameters related to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous cycling, and soil nutrient status.The relative importance of plant and microbial diversity to soil multifunctionality shifted at an altitude of 1900 m while threshold for each soil function varied along altitudinal gradient. At low altitudes (< 1900 m), plant species richness showed a robust positive effect and had a more substantial impact on soil multifunctionality than microbial diversity. Altitude had a significant effect on plant species richness via indirect means by altering soil moisture. At high altitudes (> 1900 m), soil multifunctionality was influenced by a combination of plant and microbial diversity. Similarly, fungal richness was positively associated with soil multifunctionality, while archaeal richness had the opposite effect.The effect of plant and soil microbial diversity on soil multifunctionality was mediated by altitude in grasslands, which can guide the restoration efforts aimed to maximize soil multifunctionality in grassland ecosystems.Conclusion: Above- and belowground biodiversity determines the capacity of ecosystems to provide multiple functions simultaneously (i.e., multifunctionality), while their relative importance along environmental gradients remains unclear. Our objective of this study was to investigate how plant and microbial diversity along an altitudinal gradient affected soil multifunctionality in grasslands.The effects of plant and microbial (including bacteria, fungi and archaea) diversity on soil multifunctionality were estimated along a 2300 m altitudinal gradient across six grassland types in the Tianshan Mountain, China. The soil multifunctionality was calculated based on 12 parameters related to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous cycling, and soil nutrient status.The relative importance of plant and microbial diversity to soil multifunctionality shifted at an altitude of 1900 m while threshold for each soil function varied along altitudinal gradient. At low altitudes (< 1900 m), plant species richness showed a robust positive effect and had a more substantial impact on soil multifunctionality than microbial diversity. Altitude had a significant effect on plant species richness via indirect means by altering soil moisture. At high altitudes (> 1900 m), soil multifunctionality was influenced by a combination of plant and microbial diversity. Similarly, fungal richness was positively associated with soil multifunctionality, while archaeal richness had the opposite effect.The effect of plant and soil microbial diversity on soil multifunctionality was mediated by altitude in grasslands, which can guide the restoration efforts aimed to maximize soil multifunctionality in grassland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]