Search

To compare the clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) detection rate between diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) 4 and DWI 3 with positive dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) (hereinafter called 'DWI 3/DCE+') lesions in the peripheral zone (PZ) and to explore the diagnostic performance of targeted biopsy (TB) or systematic biopsy (SB) in patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 4 lesions.We retrospectively enrolled 206 patients who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and had at least one PI-RADS 4 lesion in the PZ. All patients subsequently underwent combined magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound fusion-guided TB and ultrasound-guided 12-core SB. The chi-square test was used to compare the csPCa detection rates between DWI 4 and DWI 3/DCE+ lesions. Based on the TB + SB results as a standard reference, we analyzed the sensitivity, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of TB alone or SB alone.Patients with DWI 4 lesions had higher csPCa detection rate than those with DWI 3/DCE+ lesions when using TB + SB, TB, and SB, and the differences were significant for TB + SB (72.22 vs. 54.84%, p = 0.015) or SB (65.97 vs. 46.77%, p = 0.010). For DWI 3/DCE+ patients whose prostate-specific antigen levels ranged from 4 to 10 ng/mL, TB alone showed the highest negative predictive value (95% Cl 78.12-100).DWI 4 tends to have worse results than DWI 3/DCE+. TB has great diagnostic performances in DWI 3/DCE+ patients, especially for those prostate-specific antigen ranging from 4 to 10 ng/mL.

Background Kojic acid (KA) is a widely used compound in the cosmetic, medical, and food industries, and is typically produced by Aspergillus oryzae. To meet increasing market demand, it is important to optimize KA production through seeking alternatives that are more economic than current A. oryzae-based methods. Results In this study, we achieved the first successful heterologous production of KA in Aspergillus niger, an industrially important fungus that does not naturally produce KA, through the expression of the kojA gene from A. oryzae. Using the resulting KA-producing A. niger strain as a platform, we identified four genes (nrkA, nrkB, nrkC, and nrkD) that negatively regulate KA production. Knocking down nrkA or deleting any of the other three genes resulted in a significant increase in KA production in shaking flask cultivation. The highest KA titer (25.71 g/L) was achieved in a pH controlled batch bioreactor using the kojA overexpression strain with a deletion of nrkC, which showed a 26.7% improvement compared to the KA titer (20.29 g/L) that was achieved in shaking flask cultivation. Conclusion Our study demonstrates the potential of using A. niger as a platform for studying KA biosynthesis and regulation, and for the cost-effective production of KA in industrial strain development.

In this study, ceramics was prepared by slip casting (no pressure was used during shaping step) and atmospheric pressure sintering with low-melting point glass (LPG) powder as the binding material to facilitate the transformation of spodumene flotation tailings (SFTs) into ceramics at lower temperatures. The influence of sintering temperature and mass ratio of LPG on the mechanical properties (flexural strength and compressive strength) of ceramic materials was studied by orthogonal test. The results showed that when the mass ratio of LPG powder was higher than or equal to 20 wt% and the sintering temperature was higher than or equal to 550 °C, mutual adhesion between the sample particles was realised and consequently the ceramic materials could be prepared with good mechanical properties (the maximum flexural strength=19.55 MPa, the maximum compressive strength=42.25 MPa, average porosity=24.52%, average apparent density=1.66 g/cm3, and average water absorption=14.79%). The sintered ceramics were characterized by XRF, XRD, optical microscopy analysis, SEM, TGA-DSC and FT-IR. The formation of liquid phase at high temperature may lead to the mutual bonding between particles, which might be the main reason for the improvement of mechanical properties of ceramic materials. Overall, SFTs were successfully sintered at low temperature to prepare ceramic materials with good mechanical properties, which are crucial for energy conservation and environmental preservation.

Chemosensor arrays have a great potential for on-site applications in real-world scenarios. However, to fabricate on chemosensor array a number of chemosensors are required to obtain various optical patterns for multianalyte detection. Herein, we propose a minimized chemosensor array composed of only two types of carboxylate-functionalized polythiophene derivatives for the detection of eight types of metal ions. Upon recognition of the metal ions, the polythiophenes exhibited changes in their fluorescence intensity and various spectral shifts. Although both chemosensors have the same polymer backbone and recognition moiety, only the difference in the number of methylene groups contributed to the difference in the fluorescence response patterns. Consequently, the metal ions in aqueous media were successfully discriminated qualitatively and quantitatively by the chemosensor microarray on the glass chip. This study offers an approach for achieving a minimized chemosensor array just by changing the alkyl chain lengths without the necessity for many receptors and reporters.

A three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement method based on speckle-embedded fringe patterns (composite fringe patterns) and wrapped phase-to-height lookup table (LUT) is proposed. As an auxiliary signal, speckle is embedded into the phase domain of the projected fringes, and the wrapped phase and deformed speckle modulated by the objects are demodulated by phase-shifting algorithm. With the assistance of the LUT established in advance, the candidate heights are directly obtained by the wrapped phase. Subsequently, the speckle correlation is used to eliminate the height ambiguity, and then the absolute spatial height of the measured objects can be reconstructed without projecting any additional pattern. In this paper, the cooperation of embedded speckle and LUT allows the speckle to do correlation operation in some certain smaller area of the candidate heights’ location, instead of matching within the whole measurement range, thus it can improve the computational efficiency in the determination of the unique accurate height. Theoretical analysis and experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed method can achieve high-accuracy and robust 3D shape measurement of dynamic and static complex scenes.

Highlights The review discusses the key concepts, loss mechanisms and test methods of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding.The research progress of polymer matrix EMI shielding composites with different structures is detailedly illustrated, especially their preparation methods and corresponding evaluations.The key scientific and technical problems for polymer matrix EMI shielding composites with different structures are proposed, and their development trend are prospected., With the widespread application of electronic communication technology, the resulting electromagnetic radiation pollution has been significantly increased. Metal matrix electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials have disadvantages such as high density, easy corrosion, difficult processing and high price, etc. Polymer matrix EMI shielding composites possess light weight, corrosion resistance and easy processing. However, the current polymer matrix composites present relatively low electrical conductivity and poor EMI shielding performance. This review firstly discusses the key concept, loss mechanism and test method of EMI shielding. Then the current development status of EMI shielding materials is summarized, and the research progress of polymer matrix EMI shielding composites with different structures is illustrated, especially for their preparation methods and evaluation. Finally, the corresponding key scientific and technical problems are proposed, and their development trend is also prospected.

As a basic property of cloud, accurate identification of cloud type is useful in forecasting the evolution of landfalling typhoons. Millimeter-wave cloud radar is an important means of identifying cloud type. Here, we develop a fuzzy logic algorithm that depends on radar range-height-indicator (RHI) data and takes into account the fundamental physical features of different cloud types. The algorithm is applied to a ground-based Ka-band millimeter-wave cloud radar. The input parameters of the algorithm include average reflectivity factor intensity, ellipse long axis orientation, cloud base height, cloud thickness, presence/absence of precipitation, ratio of horizontal extent to vertical extent, maximum echo intensity, and standard variance of intensities. The identified cloud types are stratus (St), stratocumulus (Sc), cumulus (Cu), cumulonimbus (Cb), nimbostratus (Ns), altostratus (As), altocumulus (Ac) and high cloud. The cloud types identified using the algorithm are in good agreement with those identified by a human observer. As a case study, the algorithm was applied to typhoon Khanun (1720), which made landfall in south-eastern China in October 2017. Sequential identification results from the algorithm clearly reflected changes in cloud type and provided indicative information for forecasting of the typhoon.

Background The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (Mets) is closely related to an increased incidence of cardiovascular events. Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is contributory to the regulation of lipid metabolism, herein, may provide a target for gene-aimed therapy of Mets. This observational case control study was designed to elucidate the relationship between ANGPTL4 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1044250 and the onset of Mets, and to explore the interaction between SNP rs1044250 and weight management on Mets. Methods We have recruited 1018 Mets cases and 1029 controls in this study. The SNP rs1044250 was genotyped with blood samples, base-line information and Mets-related indicators were collected. A 5-year follow-up survey was carried out to track the lifestyle interventions and changes in Mets-related indicators. Results ANGPTL4 gene SNP rs1044250 is an independent risk factor for increased waist circumference (OR 1.618, 95% CI [1.119–2.340]; p = 0.011), elevated blood pressure (OR 1.323, 95% CI [1.002–1.747]; p = 0.048), and Mets (OR 1.875, 95% CI [1.363–2.580]; p p = 0.021); The interaction between SNP rs1044250 and weight management is a risk factor for increased systolic blood pressure (β = 0.075, p p Conclusion ANGPTL4 gene SNP rs1044250 is an independent risk factor for increased waist circumference and elevated blood pressure, therefore, for Mets. However, patients with wild type SNP 1044250 are more likely to have Mets when the body weight is increased, mainly due to elevated blood pressure.

The flow and friction behaviors of 6061 aluminum alloy (Al6061) at elevated temperatures were investigated to form a B-pillar by hot stamping with Al6061 sheets. The modified Arrhenius and Cowper–Symonds model were developed based on hot tensile tests at temperatures of 350–500 °C and strain rates of 0.01–1 s−1. The coefficients of friction (COF) at temperatures of 300–500 °C were also measured. The tribological test results show that the COF ranged from 0.95 to 1.05 with a loading force of 1 N and from 1.2 to 1.53 with a loading force of 10 N. Finally, hot stamping of a B-pillar using Al6061 sheets with different solution heat treatment temperatures and lubricants was conducted. Stamping experiments show that the B-pillar wrinkled badly and cracked in cold stamping with or without lubricants. The B-pillar also cracked in hot stamping without lubricants, but B-pillars without cracks could be obtained under lubricated conditions. Further finite element simulations with the implementation of Cowper–Symonds constitutive equation and the tested COF values (as references) were used to investigate the crack mechanisms that arise in hot stamping. Simulation results show that the crack was due to adverse friction and large temperature difference between the sidewall and rounded corners caused by non-uniform cooling. Lubrication not only reduces the friction to promote metal flow but also weakens the temperature difference. Thus, parts without cracks can be obtained.

Neomycins are a group of aminoglycoside antibiotics with both clinical and agricultural applications. To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of neomycin biosynthesis, we completed draft genome sequencing of a neomycin producer Streptomyces fradiae CGMCC 4.7387 from marine sediments, and the neomycin biosynthesis gene cluster was identified. Inactivation of the afsA-g gene encoding a γ-butyrolactone (GBL) synthase in S. fradiae CGMCC 4.7387 resulted in a significant decrease of neomycin production. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the transcriptional level of neoR and the aphA-neoGH operon were reduced in the afsA-g::aac(3)IV mutant. Interestingly, a conserved binding site of AdpA, a key activator in the GBL regulatory cascade, was discovered upstream of neoR, a putative regulatory gene encoding a protein with an ATPase domain and a tetratricopeptide repeat domain. When neoR was inactivated, the neomycin production was reduced about 40% in comparison with the WT strain. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the transcriptional levels of genes in the aphA-neoGH operon were reduced clearly in the neoR::aac(3)IV mutant. Finally, the titers of neomycin were improved considerably by overexpression of afsA-g and neoR in S. fradiae CGMCC 4.7387.

Modification of C4-dicarboxylate transport processes is an important strategy for the development of efficient malic acid producing cell factory in Aspergillus niger. However, there is a lack of identification and functional research of malic acid transport proteins, which seriously hinders the construction of high-yield malic acid metabolic engineering strains. A C4-dicarboxylate transport protein (DCT) DCT1 is identified as major malic acid transport protein and exhibits significant elevation in malic acid production when overexpressed. DCT1 is found by homology searches and domain analyses with SpMAE1 from Schizosaccharomyces pombe as the template. Phylogenetic and domain analyses show that DCTs belong to voltage-dependent slow-anion channel transporter (SLAC1) family and are members of Tellurite-resistance/Dicarboxylate Transporter (TDT) Family. DCT1 disruption dramatically decreases malic acid titer by about 85.6% and 96.2% at 3 days and 5 days compared with the parent strain, respectively. Meanwhile, the citric acid titers increase by 36.4% and 13.7% at 3 days and 5 days upon DCT1 deficiency. These results suggest that DCT1 is the major malic acid transporter in A. niger. Overexpression of dct1 with its native promoter significantly improves malic acid production yielding up to 13.86 g/L and 30.79 g/L at 3 days and 5 days, respectively, which is 36.8% and 22.8% higher than those in the parent strain. However, the citric acid has no significant change during the 5-day fermentation. These results demonstrate the importance of C4-dicarboxylate transporters for the efficient production of malic acid. Furthermore, enhancement of malic acid transport process is a feasible approach of efficient malic acid production in this citric acid producing A. niger strain. • A dicarboxylate transporter DCT1 is identified as a major malic acid transporter. • DCT1 deficiency results in significant decrease of malic acid. • DCT1 overexpression leads to increased titers of malic acid. • Enhancement of malic acid transport is vital for malic acid production in A. niger.